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Dear friend,
Join us for Blue Christmas: A Worship Service of Endings and Beginnings, on Wednesday, December 18, as we come together to share a meal, reflect, and worship in community:
- 5:00 PM – Potluck Dinner in the Community Center. Bring a side dish or dessert to share, or simply bring yourself. Everyone is invited to participate in the dinner, the service, or both. We encourage you to stay after dinner for Blue Christmas, even if you aren’t feeling blue, as a show of support and solidarity for others.
- 6:00 PM – Worship Service in the Sanctuary. This simple service will make space for grief around endings and anxiety around new beginnings, offering a place of quiet reflection and collective support. Our seating is set up in the round, and it’s one of the only services we hold in the sanctuary after sunset, creating an intimate and powerful atmosphere.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
This Blue Christmas service is an opportunity to acknowledge and embrace the full range of emotions the season can bring, and to find hope in the midst of it all. Whether you are carrying grief, searching for peace, or simply seeking a space to be present, you are welcome.
We hope to see you there, and please feel free to extend this invitation to anyone in your circle who might benefit from a service like this.
Looking ahead, we also invite you to join us for our Impromptu Christmas Nativity Pageant on Monday, December 23, and Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24, both at 6 PM.
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER MENU
Wed Dec 18
Potluck Dinner
The main course is Ham & Turkey with Vegetarian Option
We encourage everyone to bring a side or dessert
or just bring yourself!
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Potluck Dinner & Blue Christmas
On Wednesday, December 18, we will have a potluck dinner at 5 PM in the Community Center, moving at 6 PM into the Sanctuary for an evening Worship Service, making space for difficult emotions during the holiday season, particularly grief around endings and anxiety around new beginnings. Anyone is welcome to attend both the potluck dinner and this service. You’re invited to bring a side dish or dessert to the dinner, or just bring yourself. This service will also be live-streamed on our Website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
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Annual Homeless Memorial Service
Join the St. Petersburg community at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 100 Mirror Lake Drive N. in downtown St. Petersburg, on Friday, December 20 at 4:30 PM for the seventeenth annual Homeless Memorial Service to remember and honor those who died in 2024 without shelter in Pinellas County.
This powerful one-hour interfaith service will feature singing, reflections, a reading of the deceased’s names, and a candle lighting ceremony. The service will end with a procession and “Amazing Grace” played on bagpipes. The Unitarian Universalist Church’s weekly sunset supper will follow.
The service is sponsored by Celebrate Outreach homeless aid coalition and the Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Visit www.allendaleumc.org/events for more details on upcoming events.
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Impromptu Christmas Pageant
We will have our annual Impromptu Christmas Pageant at 6 PM on Christmas-Eve-Eve (December 23). Children and families will participate in telling the Christmas story. Please bring your children dressed as any nativity character/animal or borrow a costume from us during the service to help us tell the nativity story. It will be chaotic, messy, inclusive, and beautiful, just like when Jesus was born.
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Candlelight Christmas Eve
Join us on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec 24, at 6 PM. Hear the Christmas story concluding with Silent Night by candlelight in the Sanctuary.
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Drag Gospel service of Lessons & Laughter
Join us at Allendale UMC for a one-of-a-kind worship experience filled with joy, laughter, and celebration! Featuring drag performances, uplifting music, and moments of connection, this special service invites us to lean into the good news of Christmas: Christ’s birth brings joy for all people.
Come as you are, and let’s explore the power of laughter, community, and hope together. Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, there’s a place for you here!
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Concert with Bobby Jo Valentine
Allendale UMC is thrilled to host a concert with Bobby Jo Valentine on Wednesday, January 22 at 6:30 PM. Known for his soulful, spirit-focused lyrics and hopeful melodies, Bobby’s music speaks to the gentle spiritual awakenings of an openhearted life. His journey—from strict church lines to a faith focused on love and growth—shines through his inspiring songs and stories.
🎟️ Tickets: $20 or pay what you can—everyone is welcome!
**Buy Tickets Here**
📍 Location: Allendale UMC’s Sanctuary
🎶 More About Bobby: bobbyjovalentine.com
Don’t miss this evening of music, storytelling, and hope! Bring a friend, and let’s come together for a night of love, inspiration, and community.
Preview some of Bobby’s music here:
“Ready to Be Found”
a song about the longing to belong.
“The Edge of the World”
a song about the courage to say yes to adventure.
“Trading In”
a song about learning to let go old beliefs,
and trading them in for better ones.
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WANT TO JOIN ALLENDALE?
Our next New Member Sunday is on Jan 12 at 10:30 AM
Sign up at www.allendaleumc.org/join
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Ongoing Classes
Grief Support Group – Every other Sun at 9 AM
Next Meeting on Dec 29
Scripture Class on Zoom – Mon at 6 PM
Join via Zoom: www.allendaleumc.org/online
Wednesday Night Classes – Wednesdays
Dinner at 5 PM | Classes at 6 PM
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DIGITAL BULLETIN
Download a PDF version of our weekly bulletin containing an order of worship for our Sunday service, updates on our church family including birthdays and prayer requests, and more.
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ONLINE WORSHIP
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No Hate Radio
Our podcast hosted by Don Windle called “No Hate Radio” is now available! Listen on your favorite podcast app by searching for No Hate Radio or visit www.nohateradio.com.
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VIRTUAL GATHERINGS
In addition to worship being offered in-person,
we also live stream our worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM.
Watch on Facebook Live or Vimeo.
Our Archive of past services can be found here.
We also offer studies, classes, and other virtual gatherings via Zoom.
View a list of virtual events and when they occur.
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YOUTH GATHERINGS
Youth (6th-12th grade) meets on Sunday nights from 5:30 PM-8 PM.
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Church Council
Allendale’s church council meets every other month and is an open meeting. If you wish to attend this meeting, sign up below to get emailed meeting reminders.
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