I hope everyone had a happy, yet safe, Thanksgiving. We know that, while preparing for the Thanksgiving meal may have been simpler this year, the holiday contained other challenges in 2020 that provided an emotional and mental toll you do not always encounter on Thanksgiving. Also, as we have entered into Advent, we continue to wrestle with the pandemic as we will be worshipping online for, at least, one more Sunday. However, there are a number of things available to us during Advent that may help us navigate this holiday season in which we anticipate the return of Jesus the Christ and the full manifestation of the Reign of God on Earth as it is in Heaven.
First, thank you to those who have replied to the Christmas Eve survey as we seek to determine the best way to welcome Christ and God’s reign in a safe, yet meaningful, manner. We do, however, want to provide an opportunity for those who have not previously responded to the survey to do so. If you have not already responded to the survey, please respond by December 4, 2020, by clicking on the following link and answering the questions:
Next, I invite you to join us via Zoom on Thursdays during Advent from 7 to 8:30 pm for our annual Advent Study. We are studying the book Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience which leads us to explore an “altogether” love, hope, joy, and peace in our lives. It builds on John Wesley’s sermon “The Almost Christian” which called on Christians to follow Jesus the Christ with their whole hearts.
If you would like to join the study, books will be available at the church office and are available where ebooks are sold. Please call ahead to pick up a copy of the book. If you are unable to get out, please let us know and we can arrange delivery. You can join us on Zoom online by using the following:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 869 4928 6886
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86949286886
Meeting ID: 869 4928 6886
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,86949286886# US (Houston)
Also, we have ordered our annual Advent devotional. This year’s devotional is Praying the Jesse Tree and has an accompanying children’s devotional. These will be available at the church office. Please call ahead to pick yours up. If you are unable to get out, please let us know and we can arrange delivery.
Finally, Bishop McKee will be sharing weekly video devotionals that can be viewed at ntcumc.org/advent-2020, on the Facebook page North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the YouTube channel North Texas Conference of the UMC.
Grace and peace,
Rev. J.D. Allen
Senior Pastor
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