Thursday, December 20, 2018

Dear Friends in Christ,Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah’s homeand greeted Elizabeth.Luke 1:39-40

Greetings!Whether you are home or traveling this holiday, please know that Jesus is born to each ofus, with love overflowing!

May your moments throughout this week before Christmas find you moving, like Mary, inthe joy of the Lord!

Grace and peace,Pastor Sherrie

Adults

Thank YouThank you to all the people of St. Paul's that helped Tom and I move on December 14.-- Sally & Tom Young

Longest Night Service,Dec. 21When the season is difficult, when youdon’t feel like shouting Merry Christmas,when a more reflective time of gathering

with others would be a blessing, come onFriday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 pm. Come alone,Come with family or a friend, Come andsimply be. Linger with a cup of cider, if youchoose. Linger with hope in Christ.

Christmas Offering, Dec. 23This year, we will partner with Johnson STEAM Academy to support our ongoing efforts topromote literacy in young readers.

Each year, the first Sunday of Advent marks the start of the church’s year as we begin ourjourney with Jesus anew. In the year to come, we will hear of the good news again:healings, miracles, parables, conflict, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and theascension of Jesus. But, it doesn’t start with the fulfillment of all that. No, it starts with apromise: the promise that God is up to something new. This year in the season of Advent,we will take the four weeks to prepare our hearts once more to hear the best news of all:the news that God has come close to us to redeem all things. Each week we will hearthis call: “People, Get Ready!”

Christmas Eve DayDinner, Dec. 24St. Paul’s Christmas Eve Day Dinner isfor EVERYONE – those who arestruggling, those who are thankful,those who are lonely, and those inneed of good food and conversation.St. Paul’s will host a FREE ChristmasEve Day Dinner with all the fixings in

the Wesley Center on December 24, 12:00-2:00 pm. Meals are also delivered to shut-ins.After guests are finished with their meal, dessert and games and more fellowship will beoffered in the new Gathering Space. Guests are welcome to join us for our FamilyWorship service at 2:30 pm in the Sanctuary. No donations will be asked. Call UnitedWay 739-4211 (211) to make reservation or if homebound to have a meal delivered.

Christmas Eve Family WorshipFamilies are invited to join us for our family service on Monday, December 24th 2018 at2:30 pm. Children are invited to participate as story characters and may join along withour children’s choirs to sing, Joy To The World. This is a wonderful way to celebrate thebirth of our Savior Jesus with your family, friends and loved ones.

Christmas Eve Schedule of Events, Dec. 24Noon-2:00 pm | Christmas Eve Dinner2:30 pm | Family Worship* A family-oriented service including an opportunity forchildren to participate in the story of Jesus’ birth. 8:30 pm | Traditional Worship* A traditional service including the choir andcandlelight. 10:30 pm | Communion Worship* End your evening with a quiet, candlelitservice of Communion.

* Twenty minutes before each worship services there will be a Christmas Eve musical prelude.

Be on the Lookout for St. Paul's UMCBillboardsBe on the look out for 2 billboards in CedarRapids through the mid January:

1271 1st Avenue SE (over BrewedAwakenings) (picture shown on left)5416 Center Point Road NE

Marcus Cedar Rapids CinemaView a movie at Marcus Cedar Rapids

Cinema, be right on time as it is the firstcommercial that airs pre-trailer. St. Paul's30 second full motion commercial will beaired before all movies at the theatrethrough December 27th. Can reach up to100,474 people.

5340 Council St NE, Cedar Rapids

KCRG - Channel 9St. Paul's UMC 30 secondcommercial will air on KCRG -Channel 9 News through December.Air times vary. Can reach up to134,500 people.

Are You A Good Listener?As the first phase in the Wellington Heights Investment Strategy, Sending to Serve willtrain and equip a group of volunteers to have listening conversations with targetedorganizations and individuals living, working and serving in our neighborhood. If you’dlike to learn more, please contact Clint Twedt-Ball (karlaclint@yahoo.com) or anySending to Serve member. Our goal is to recruit and train at least ten listeners in early2019.

Door Locking PolicyNOTE: New door locking policy. The only door that will be unlocked in the evening is thehandicapped door at the 2nd Ave entrance.

Do You Shop on Amazon?If so, use AmazonSmile and support St. Paul’s UMC Foundation at the same time, at nocost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices,vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the addedbonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price. To shop at AmazonSmilesimply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobiledevice. On your first visit to AmazonSmile smile.amazon.com, you need to select St PaulsUnited Methodist Church of Cedar Rapids Foundation. Amazon will remember yourselection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result ina donation.

Curio Cabinet Display

Stop by the parlor to see Barb Newhall's collection for Christmas.

Visit our Facebook Page

African Nationals

Cross-Cultural Christmas CelebrationOur last day of tutoring for the year took a festive turn as we learned about Christmas inAfrica. Perpetua Nsabimana led us in song, Barb Oakland shared images of AfricanChristmas traditions and our tutoring team provided food and gifts.

The highlight was an African Christmas parable acted out by Ester Mwamikazi, NancyOwen, Joyce Johnson and Jan Frischkorn. Adapted from a universal story, it told of a self-important woman named Kwiyolecha who implored Jesus to come to her home onChristmas Day. Jesus promised he would visit her after three days.

While waiting, Kwiyolecha decorated her house inside and out, prepared special foodand dressed in her finest clothes. Early on Christmas morning, a series of visitors cameto her house – a bent old man, a woman dressed in rags and a boy with twisted legs –but she rebuked them all and sent them away. And, although Kwiyolecha waited patientlyfor Jesus, he never came.

The next day, she asked Jesus why he didn’t keep his promise. Jesus replied that he hadcome to visit her three times, but Kwiyolecha did not receive him. At that moment sheremembered the words of Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of theleast of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Kwiyolecha’s heart waschanged, and she looked for another opportunity to welcome Jesus in the form of hernew friends. If you’re seeking Jesus in the faces of others, you don’t need to look further than thepeople pictured here.

Seeking VolunteersWe are Seeking Volunteers who would enjoy helping to watch small children Tuesdaymornings from 9:30-11:45 am at St. Paul’s, while their parents or grandparents receiveEnglish and citizenship tutoring. You can choose how often you volunteer. This is a veryrewarding ministry! Please contact Stephanie Heifner at 918-805-1260 (cell) orstephanie.heifner@gmail.com.

Arts Ministry

Fitzgibbons FamilyChristmas CardsNow through December 30th in the Upper Room

For over 30 years, St. Paul's member DaleFitzgibbons has designed and published greetingcards using various media including ink, paint, andcomputer graphics. On display now are five recentdesigns illustrating scriptural passages inspired byMedieval fine lettering manuscript practice.

All are invited to join Creative Expressions Sundayschool class Sunday, December 2nd in the UpperRoom at 10:30 am to hear Dale share and answerquestions about his work.

Care, Serve, & Outreach

Be Healthy. Be Green. TaskForce Invites You to aMending Party! - January 19Taking care of the stuff we have, instead of throwingit away and buying more, new stuff, is one way to

help the planet and our wallets. I’m sure all of us have some potential mending projectstucked into our drawers and closets. Mending parties are a growing trend. Let’s gettogether with some basic supplies and sew on that button, mend that hole, sharevaluable skills and knowledge, and enjoy fellowship together as we chat over coffee andgive new life to our stuff!

Saturday, January 19, 10:00 am -12 noon in the Annex

Bring your expertise to share or projects to work, and materials if you have them. Basicneedles, thread, buttons, other notions and sewing machines will be available. Anyquestions, contact Stephanie Heifner or Barb Oakland.

Homeless Overflow Shelter MinistryYou may have read in the Cedar Rapids Gazette that the Homeless Overflow Shelter forCedar Rapids opened on December 1 at the old Salvation Army Store site on Third AvenueSE. It is being run by the Willis Dady Shelter. It is open as a place for evening shelterthrough March. This is the “shelter of last resort” for many of our least fortunatebrothers and sisters. The shelter is in need of volunteers, and the people using theshelter are in need of many things. SPUMC member Brad Colton is putting together aministry team to support the shelter and the people who use it. If you are interested inbeing on this ministry team, please contact Brad at 319-329-0351 or brcolton@msn.com.

Children & Youth

Pajamas, Popcorn,and a Movie!Children are invited to join us forjammies and popcorn on Sunday,December 23rd following the children’smessage at 9:00 am service forpopcorn, cookie decorating and ashowing of the movie, The Star. For

children not attending traditional service the movie will start at 10am in the children’sparlor. We hope to see you then!

All Smiles Here!We are all smiles around here as we eagerly awaitour Christmas Eve Family Service at St. Paul’s UMC.We invite all children and their families to help uscelebrate the birth of Jesus at 2:30pm. Each childwill have an opportunity to participate in the storytelling and we will be blessed with a song from ourcombined Wesley Choir, Star Choir, PathfindersSingers and our African Nationals Sunday SchoolChoir.

Thank you to Marty Lee for creating these beautifulstoles for all of our children's choir singers! We hope to see you there!

Senior High News:No HS Sunday school December 23 BUT December 30 we will meet.No TGIW December 26 or January 2

Confirmation News (7th-8th)Reminder: No Confirmation on December 23 or December 30!No TGIW December 26 or January 2Thanks to the Finnemans for hosting our Christmas Party and for Remington, Jenna,and Abby for the entertainment!January 18-20 Winter Retreat “Who Do You Say I Am?” at Pictured Rocks nearMonticello! More info coming!

Club 56 NewsNo Club 56 December 23 or December 30No TGIW December 26 or January 2Save the date of January 26, 2019 from 1-8 pm for the Winter Retreat! We will belearning how to put on the Armor of God. Dinner will be served around 5:00 pm.

Prayers

Stephen MinistersStephen Ministers, wearing the bluebadge, are glad to talk privately withanyone going through a rough time.

Pray for...

For spiritual disciplines of a weekly fast Thursday after dinner to Friday mid-afternoon, and pausing to pray at 2:23–2:26 daily for our church’s mission and wayforward.

Continued healing and grace for:Quinn Anton Jensen (Nancy & BriceAnton Jensen’s son)Jean ShibleyJanet HardingSteve Miceli (Esther Miceli’s son)Gerol GoodloveChar O’BrienSusan Moore (Lee Moore’s sister)Jody SloanKathy Davis (Steve)Tom Titus (Susan)Haley and Kaleb Admire (Kay & BillGalli’s granddaughter and family)Joe Boots (relative of Chris and MikeCrilley)Craig Ekstorm (Colton Valenta’sfather)Theodore “Teddy” DvorakTom Smeed (Bill’s father)Louise Single (Fred)Barb Zahradnik (Bob)John MatthewsAudrey SwalleyCheri Young (Gene & Carrie Young’sdaughter)Patricia Hartwell (Heather Moore’smother)Sally FordDianne Berrett (Bob)Linda Hadley

Justin Ilg (Sherrie & Larry Ilg’s son)Clyde SatterlyNeoma Starnes (Duane)Katherine MartensenAngela ShultzRhonda ViktoraCarrie Cummins (Jamie’s daughterand Steve and Kathy Davis’granddaughter)Edie NekolaJim & Rose MildenRaine Allen (Dixie & Roger Allen’sgranddaughter)Charman Banks (John)James WaheNora Mae VanceSandy Pingel (Gloria Ford’s daughter)Robert Moore (Lee Moore’s father)Marti & Spence Grayson (DaveMahlke’s sister and brother-in-law)Mina Arbore (John)|John McQuilkin (Jean Kwader’sfather)Ryan VickPam AnslynKris Yahn (Steve)

Memorial prayers for the families andfriends of:

Myrna CooneyMark Streff (Steve Streff’s brother)Paul Wrider (Darrel Wrider’s son)

View Worship Times

Worship is for the whole family. While childcare is available in our nursery for allSunday morning services, we welcome children of all ages at all worship services.

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