This Sunday we are finishing our sermon series where we delved deep into the Fruit of the Spirit. These are traits we should be cultivating in our lives as those who are disciples of Jesus Christ. While our faith opens up the ability for the Holy Spirit to work within us to transform us to be more like Christ, we have a life long call to do the work and put in the effort to help us transform. Unfortunately, many Christians stop growing after they commit themselves to Christ, thinking the hard part is done and they can just wait until they enter the heavenly kingdom. Scripture tells us that we are to work our whole lives to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us to be the most loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kindhearted, good, faithful, gentleness, and self-controlled people we can be. I pray that we have realized in what areas we are lacking (because we all are in some ways) and have started to allow God to work in us to grow these traits in us. It is not easy work but it is rewarding and I hope that it will yield a glorious crop of love and grace in our lives and with all we are in relationship with. The sermons and a portion of each of these services are always available on our church website for you to watch for the first time or to rewatch at: https://www.tomscreekumc.com/service-videos
Starting the next Sunday we will be starting a new series for Advent that takes clips for old time Christmas classics and lifting up the Gospel message that is within them. Many of them have hidden gems in them that if we study we can see a glimpse of God at work within the world and our lives. These classics used to be staples for families to watch every year but now have been harder and harder to find and are not as widely watched. We will reviving them and looking at them in a new way. It should be a fun but also thought provoking sermon series as we look at preparing ourselves for God's kingdom to be fully unleashed on the world.
Attached is this weeks bulletin. The bulletin always contains more than just the service details but information regarding ministries of the church and opportunities for you to grow as a follower of Jesus. We hope that it allows those that are not able to be in the church building to be able to stay connected to this outpost of God's love and grace. One item listed in the bulletin is the poinsettia orders. Each year we decorate the church with poinsettias that people give in honor of loved ones. If you are not able to get to church to fill out a form but want one on the altar for Christmas Eve services reach out to us and let us know. You can get the $4.50 per poinsettia to us via mail or online.
If people are not able to join us in the sanctuary for worship we continue to livestream at 8am (it will be available to view after too) services via Facebook ,(https://www.facebook.com/tomscreekumc) or YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6E7eCwH2ZGYspkSCF0CGw). If you join and follow our Facebook page or subscribe to our YouTube channel, they will let you know when we are live. You can always watch any videos we post later because we leave them up. Also Sunday afternoon a shortened version is available on our website and on YouTube.
We are not passing offering plates so the wooden boxes are available to put your offering in. Of course you can also give online, use text to give (844-406-0358), or mail in the offering to church. In addition, we will be collecting prayers in the prayer box on the table in the parlor. Also, if you have announcement that you need to be shared please write them down( or email them) and get them to me before the service. This will be an ongoing practice for prayers and announcements to help ensure that they are heard and understood by all (especially those worshipping with us virtually).
This is the last Sunday before Thanksgiving so let us come this Sunday ready to give a big thanks to God for all that God is doing in our lives and our church. For those that have had a harder year while it might be harder to give thanks there are always blessings that you can give thanks for. Let us come prepared to worship and give thanks to God!
Blessings,
PH
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