I lost my aunt yesterday to a heart attack. Soon we will have a memorial service to celebrate her beautiful life. But what happens to those who die who have no family or no place to call home?
This Friday, St. Petersburg will hold an annual funeral service for those without family and who died without a house. People who were invisible to many of us in life. It will be a way to offer dignity to persons who seek a final peace.
Some names will be known. Others not. Those whose names are known are mostly male and white. The youngest was is 25 and the oldest 90.
It remembers that each person had their own story. They are somebody’s son, daughter, mother, father. Somebody’s friend.
Please plan to attend the Homeless Memorial Service at 4:30 PM this Friday, Dec 17 at Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg, 100 Mirror Lake Drive, N.
“Jesus the Homeless” is by sculptor Tim Schmalz
Homeless Memorial Service
This Friday, Dec 17 at at 4:30 PM
at Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg, 100 Mirror Lake Drive, N.
BRING COOKIES TO WORSHIP ON SUN DEC 19
for a cookie exchange following worship!
Gifts
Click the picture to give online
Text-to-give: 727-312-0808
Amazon Smile: Allendale United Methodist Church
Check out last Sunday’s worship service!
Fri Dec 17 Homeless Memorial Service (UU St. Pete) 4:30 PM
Tue Dec 21 Longest Night Worship Service (Sanctuary) 6 PM
Wed Dec 22 Dinner With Santa (Community Center) 5 PM
Wed Dec 22 Impromptu Christmas Pageant (Sanctuary) 6:30 PM
Fri Dec 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Sanctuary) 6 PM
Sun Jan 9 New Member Sunday (Sanctuary) 10:30 AM
Sun Jan 16 Allendale Tru-Time Orchestra Concert (Sanctuary) 4 PM
Mon Jan 17 Allendale Tru-Time Orchestra Concert (Sanctuary) 7:30 PM
Mar 14-18 Youth Spring Break Trip to Montgomery Lynching Memorial
Sign-up at www.allendaleumc.org/montgomery
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! \
Friday, Dec 24 – 6PM
CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP:
There is no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn. They are displaced from their home, journeying to fulfill their civic requirements to be counted in the census. And yet, the time comes to give birth where they are, and so a humble home is found. A place is made, among the feeding trough, in a cramped room abounding with chaos. In many ways, Jesus is born without an invitation, and yet, he devotes his life to inviting people who are cast out. In the same way, we might imagine the story of Christmas as God’s invitation to be welcomed home despite all barriers. How will we respond?
WANT TO JOIN ALLENDALE?:
New member Sunday is this Sunday, January 9!
Sign up at www.allendaleumc.org/join
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
Click the image to download the Advent Devotional
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
Ed Lally – Dec 15
Philip Dinkins – Dec 15
Dr. Jim Light – Dec 17
Ruth Spangler – Dec 19
Greg Davidson – Dec 21
Helen Sterin – Dec 22
Chris Reich – Dec 22
Liam Oliver – Dec 22
Rook Ringer – Dec 24
Miguel Iturralde – Dec 25
Adrian Waldon – Dec 27
Jorge Sanchez – Dec 27
Patti Pierce – Dec 30
Laura Hutton – Dec 30
