A Season of Giving!
Our Labyrinth, Our Journey, Our Community
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Labyrinth at First United Methodist Church of Boulder!
Come on Saturday December 17th at 7:00pm and/or Sunday December 18th at 11:30am right after our regular 10:30am Sunday worship service for a brief ceremony, contemplative music, labyrinth walk and reception to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our sacred spiritual space, our Labyrinth, for a re-dedication ceremony. Dedication and blessing of our new Weeping Wall, a wonderful addition to this transformational space, will also be part of the celebration. Pastor Trevor Potter, part of the original founders of the Labyrinth will be participating in the re-dedication. Music begins at 6:30 pm and continues through the evening’s celebration.
Adult Forum
Advent Study continues through December 18, led by our pastors, Pat Bruns and Joe Agne. We will be using the study, Child of Light, written by Beth A. Richardson, the editor of Alive Now and friend of FUMC.
There will be no Adult Forum on December 25th or January 1st. Looking ahead to the new year Joan Evans will facilitate a discussion in the Adult Forum on January 8th. and 15th. She’ll be exploring these questions: How do you think about God? In your understanding of God is He approachable? We meet at 9am in the Parlor. All are welcome!
Sacred Bites
Sacred Bites will not be meeting for the next three weeks and will reconvene on Tuesday January 3rd. Have a Merry Christmas!
Family Life Ministries News
Gift collection for Attention Homes: Please stop by the Christmas tree located by the glass entrance/exit to the church and select a paper “ornament” made by the children of our congregation. There are still a few left! The ornament will have a description on it for the item(s) you can shop for to help less fortunate youth who are finding support at Attention Homes. Many of these young folks are homeless or have run away from home and may not have any other Christmas than what we can contribute to. Your gifts will be in the true spirit of Christmas and it will be the easiest shopping you do–gifts should not be wrapped! Please put your generous donations under the tree by Sunday, December 18th. They will then be delivered to Attention Homes in time to brighten Christmas for these at-risk youth in our community.
Help FUMC Youth fill the Rockin’ Sock Box for the Heartfelt Café! We are looking for new wool socks. You may drop them off from December 4th – December 18th in the Rockin’ Sock Box next to the Christmas tree by the front glass doors. We want as many pairs as possible to distribute on December 18th when the Heartfelt Cafe will be serving lunch to people who will appreciate not only having warm food in their bellies when they leave our church, but warm feet as well!
>Youth Group Holiday Party & White Elephant Gift Exchange
Wednesday, December 21st from 7:00-8:30pm. Be there!
>No Youth Group on Wednesday, December 28th – Happy Winter Break!
>Handbells are taking a break until mid-January
>There is Sunday School on December 18th, but not on December 25th or January 1st (for youth and children). We will resume the regular Sunday School schedule on January 8th 2012.
Reminder! This Sunday the 18th is the Youth & Families Potluck and Game Night from 6:00-9:00 pm in Mead. Contact Diane Schwemm (303-544-0266) with questions.
United Methodist Women (UMW) News
Wednesday, December 21st at 9:30 am in the Church Parlor, Ruth Circle will meet. This month UMW is collecting items for Attention Homes Welcome Baskets, please see the list on the UMW bulletin board, you can bring items to your group meetings or the Tea or the Holiday Bake Sale.
UMW is faith, hope and love in action!
Christmas Day Blessing of the Creches
If you will be attending the 10:30 service next Sunday (December 25) and wish to share your family creche with the congregation, please bring it to the Chancel area anytime after 9:00am that morning.
They will be blessed during the service on this very special day.
Christmas Hospitality
Between the Christmas Eve services, there will be a refreshment/conversation center in the Church Parlor. We are inviting members to bring 2 dozen cookies either that day or on Sunday, December 18th for the refreshments. This will be a time to greet old friends and meet new people.
On Christmas Day, all are invited to a simple meal in the parlor following the 10:30 am worship service. Stay and join us for food, fellowship, and sharing Christmas cheer. If you plan to come, please indicate that on today’s Connection Card. If you’re interested in helping with the meal, please contact Julie Powers at 303.442.5679.
Photo Directories are HERE!
Our new photo directories have arrived! The Directory Team will be handing out a free copy to those that came in for the photo shoot or made arrangements with us to have a photo submitted. If you are not in this group, you may purchase one for $6. We’ll have a table set up by the Welcome Table in the narthex on Sundays. Please stop by, if you don’t have yours.
**Let JoAnn Schmohe (303.494.3651) know if you find any errors or omissions!
Grocery Shopping Cards
Purchase your King Soopers and Safeway grocery cards on sale each Sunday following worship. Join this easy fundraising project-$5 for each $100 purchase benefits the designated project. In addition to $100 and $50 cards, we have some $25 cards available for your holiday giving. This month, funds support our Pastors Discretionary Fund. Stop at the table in the Parlor to purchase grocery cards or to learn more about the grocery card program.
A Sacred Celebration – Sunday, January 1, 2012
FUMC – Boulder, on the Labyrinth at 1:30-3:30 pm
A Time of Letting Go, Letting Be and Entering the Mystery
As we enter the New Year and the mystery that it beholds we will let go of the previous year, we will memorialize significant events, experiences and people that shaped 2011 and we will prepare ourselves for the unfolding newness of 2012.
You may choose to prepare by reading Theme 11 of Original Blessing (Matthew Fox) as that will be the context of our discussion.
Facilitated by Susan Coppage Evans, D.Min. and participants from the Via Positiva retreat that FUMC co-hosted in October. For more information e-mail Susan.
New Men’s Choir
On Wednesday evening, January 18, we will begin rehearsals for a Men’s Choir under the direction of FUMC’s organist, Gerald Holbrook. Rehearsals will be from 6:00-6:50 pm each Wednesday evening right here at FUMC. The choir will sing everything from early music to barbershop. All men are invited, and no audition is necessary; just come with a love of singing!
Matthew Fox Retreat Series Continues
FUMC is happy to be a co-sponsor of the Creation Spirituality (CS) retreat series facilitated by Matthew Fox and Susan Coppage Evans. CS is a tradition and a movement that combines the wisdom of religious traditions, science and creativity to offer paths into transformation, sustainability and justice making. It is highly experiential spiritual practice which includes art, dance, music, contemplation, study and community building. The next retreat is January 20-22 at FUMC and focuses on the way of mystery, letting go and letting be (with wisdom from 13th century mystic Meister Eckhart). It is a hope that this retreat will offer individuals increased comfort with times of unknowing and be of special support to those suffering or in caretaking positions. For more information go to www.wholeheartedretreat.com.