Because of inclement weather, there will be no Communion Study this evening (Sunday, December 15, 2019).
Worship is On
As of 7:46 am, both services are still on this morning (Sunday, December 15, 2019). Please attend only if it is safe for you to do so and remember that the 10:30 service is broadcast live on KABI 1560 AM and livestreamed on facebook at: https://bit.ly/2RVooWm.
Communion Study Tomorrow — Time Change
We’ll have the third meeting of our Communion Study tomorrow (Sunday, December 15, 2019). We’ll pick up where we left off on page 17 of This Holy Mystery. You can come at 9:35 a.m. or 5 p.m. Both sessions meet in room 200.
Please note the change in time from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. in order to accomodate the Abilene High School band concert.
Brass Ensemble this Sunday
By Clark Williamson
Playing arrangements of carols at our 10:30 worship this [coming Sunday, December 15, 2019] morning, is a Brass Ensemble. The group will be heard during the Gathering and Offertory special music. The seven musicians come from Abilene, Chapman, Enterprise, and Junction City and bring with them many years of talented experience. The participants include: David Carlson, trumpet; Chuck Brussow, trumpet, Aly Johnson, trumpet; Kasey Griffith, French horn; Stuart Workman, trombone; Vic Wong, tuba; and Virleen Carlson, piano. We thank them for blessing us with the uplifting sound of brass!
Voices: Why the Church Exists
There are a lot of different ways to understand the purpose of the church. This is a great one:
“The Church exists to keep alive in people’s heart the memory that God loves them. It exists to tell everyone, even those furthest away: ‘God doesn’t forget you, He cares about you’.” — Pope Francis on Twitter [1]
[1] Pope Francis, Twitter post, November 30, 2019, 6:30 a.m., http://twitter.com/Pontifex.
Hat and Mitten Tree
This year the Mission and Outreach Team is again sponsoring a “Hat and Mitten Tree” in the narthex (lobby). We’re collecting hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, underwear, and socks in all sizes from pre-k to high school. (Underwear and socks go under the tree!) We’ll turn these items over to employees of the Abilene school system around the first of the year.
Folding, Stapling, and Saving Money
We have a new (to us) copier in the main office. This one automatically folds and staples the bulletins. In addition to a new copier with that wonderful feature set, we got to keep the old one, the copier company will continue to maintain both, and the cost of the lease went down.
2019 Shepherd’s Run
Received from Kristy Engle and lightly edited.
Our Shepherds’ Run is First UMC’s way of expressing appreciation to those who work on Christmas Eve. Following our 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service we deliver plates of Christmas goodies to those who are working in nursing homes, hospitals, police and fire stations, convenience stores, and others.
Please have all cookies, loaves of bread, and candies to the church PRIOR to the 7:00 p.m. service. They can be placed in the kitchenette off the narthex. Thank you so much for being a part of this “gift of love” to our community.
Communion Study Tomorrow
We’ll have the third meeting of our Communion Study tomorrow (Sunday, December 8, 2019). We’ll be covering pages 11-18 or This Holy Mystery. You can come at 9:35 a.m. or 7 p.m. Both sessions meet in room 200.
This Coming Sunday: Pageant and Special Music
This coming Sunday (December 8, 2019) we’ll have the Children and Youth Christmas Pageant at both services. (We’ve cut the sermon and a few other things, and the service should still come in at an hour.) We’ll also have special music from some of our friends at the Great Plains Theatre: O Holy Night by Mitchell Aiello, Kimberly Camacho, Natalie Szczerba, Layne Roate, Ryan Scanlon, Melissa Ford (Hometown Girl and First UMC Member), Michaela Moore, Brian Baylor and Susie Jolink.
Update/Clarification: O Holy Night will only be preformed at the 10:30 Service.
Christmas Crafts and Cookies this Sunday
Christmas crafts and cookies (a come and go fun event for the whole family) will be held Sunday, December 8, 2019, from 1–5 p.m. in Peatling Youth Hall.
Laney Kuhn has Passed
We’ve received news that the Rev. Laney Kuhn, a retired pastor who was previously appointed to Abilene First United Methodist Church, died on November 24, 2019.