This Sunday begins Advent—and then the season of Christmas.
When something hits close to home, it affects us deeply. During the Advent and Christmas season, we journey through scriptures and rituals that are tender, heavy with emotion, and vulnerable. We carry the memories and truths of this season close to our hearts. Our theme “Close to Home” acknowledges the “already but not yet” tension of our faith: Emmanuel is with us, and yet, God’s promised day—our everlasting home—is not fully realized. It names our deep longing for God to come close to us.
Close to Home also names the pain many of us will carry into this season. The holidays can poke at our grief. Many will be missing loved ones lost to sickness and tragedy. The traumas of the pandemic will still be with us. Many will have lost homes—due to natural disasters, economic hardship, and unjust policies. Many do not feel safe in their own homes due to poor living conditions or harmful family dynamics. Many feel alone and isolated at home.
This Advent, may we be comforted by the One who dwells intimately with us. May we expand safety and sanctuary for everyone wandering far from home. May we come home— wherever home is found—to live fully with joy, hope, and courage.
PS…
2022 Pledge Update: 85% there!
Visit www.allendaleumc.org/pledge to help us reach our goal of $300K
Christmas Choir signup Sign up ASAP to join our singing workshops and sing in this year’s Xmas Choir!
And more..
Be sure to look below for details about our Christmas services, Dinner with Santa, and other opportunities coming up.
2022 Pledge Campaign – 85% to our goal of 300K!
Make your financial pledge ASAP for 2022 so that Allendale can plan for programming and staffing to fulfill our mission in the coming year. Click the image about to make your pledge!
Gifts
Click the picture to give online
Text-to-give: 727-312-0808
Amazon Smile: Allendale United Methodist Church
Caroling Opportunities:
Fri Dec 3, 7-9 PM – Caroling at Homeless Shelters
Begins at Unitarian Universalist (100 Mirror Lake Dr)
Sat Dec 4 and 11, 5:45 PM – Neighborhood caroling
Meet at Allendale – Caroling with Tru!
Click the image to register for Allendale’s Christmas Choir workshops and singing in worship
Missed Sunday’s worship service! Click the image to watch.
Tuesday, Dec 21 – 6PM
Longest Night Worship Service: for those grieving during the season and for all to stand with them
Join us on the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice, as we take time to lean on one another in our collective grief and sorrow, holding space for loss in this season that tries to insist on us being jolly.
Dinner with Santa and Impromptu Xmas Pageant
Wednesday, Dec 22
5-6:30 Dinner with Santa (come anytime)
6:30 Impromptu Christmas Pageant RSVP: www.allendaleumc.org/santa
There will be Christmas crafts, fun games, and a spaghetti dinner!
Impromptu Christmas Pageant: The children will participate in telling the Christmas story in whatever costume they would like! Dress up as Mary, Joseph, a donkey, or camel, Batmans, fairies, Pokemons, or dress up any way your child would like! If you do not have a costume, we have some available to grab before the service begins. They will join the manager scene when their character is called (whichever character they would like to be!). The Christmas story is meant for everyone! We will have multiple Josephs, some boys that want to Mary, and a superhero or two. It will be beautiful!
Friday, Dec 24 – 6PM
Christmas Eve Candlelight worship service
Youth/Adult Spring Break Trip to Montgomery Lynching Museum
Join us March 14 -18, 2022 for our discovery trip. We will be going to Montgomery, AL to learn the history of slavery and how it intersect with our current problem of mass incarceration. We will travel by charter bus and visit the Equal Justice Initiative Museum, the Monument of Peace and Justice, have a walking tour of the south and many more activities. This trip is in partnership with Community Tampa Bay. We hope you can make it! Fill out the application at www.allendaleumc.org/montgomery
SCHEDULE OF VIRTUAL GATHERINGS
Gatherings will be held via Zoom. Click event to join!
Click on an event at the appropriate time to join!
In-Person Youth Gatherings
Youth will meet on Sunday nights from 5:30pm-8:00pm
LaDonna Hill – Nov 01
Pat Kofflin – Nov 06
Christine Durrance – Nov 08
Vickie Dunn – Nov 10
Jane Schwarz – Nov 12
Diana Moore – Nov 18
Vivian Moore – Nov 18
Ann Preus – Nov 19
Alex Wise – Nov 20
Reba Younce – Nov 20
Jack Hutto, Jr – Nov 20
Midge Mitchell – Nov 22
Rachel Oliver – Nov 23
Melissa Davidson – Nov 24
Mark Morrison – Nov 27
Jen Clark – Nov 29
