World AIDS Day Concert is TONIGHT at FUMC!
Our church is proud to partner with the Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) to present a concert commemorating World AIDS Day. BCAP welcomes the Resonance Women’s Chorus, directed by Sue Coffee and the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, directed by Ben Riggs, in concert here at FUMC on Thursday, December 1st, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at www.bcap.org, by calling BCAP at 303-444-6121, or at the door. All proceeds benefit BCAP. World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, remember those who have died, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.
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. We meet at 9am in the Parlor. All are welcome!
Sacred Bites
Join us for Sacred Bites on Tuesday, December 8th, at the Lazy Dog Saloon (on the Pearl Street Mall at 14th and Pearl). Gather around 11:30 am for catching up and ordering lunch; discussion of the week’s scripture passage, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 begins at noon. Please join us!
Family Life Ministries News
FUMC children present The Very Important Christmas Pageant:The Story of the Birth of Christ Told with Humor, Mystery and Awe! during worship on December 4th. Come and see the story told in this special way. The pageant was written by Dennis Hartin and is directed by Jennie Elliott.
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. 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!
Sunday Brunch with the FUMC YAMs
Join the Young Adult Methodists (YAMs) for their monthly brunch Sunday, December 4th, after church. We will meet at the welcome table in the Narthex and decide where to go from there. The YAMS is a group for Young Adults in their 20’s and 30’s to build relationships and support our church community. If you have questions, please feel free to email Christina.
1st Half of Annual Church Conference
This Tuesday, December 6th, at 7pm, we will hold the first half of our annual Church Conference. At this special meeting we will elect leadership for our committees and ministry teams, set our pastor’s salary and receive an update on our financial campaign. The second half of our Church Conference will be held in January. At that meeting we will celebrate our ministry, mission and outreach in 2011, look forward to the year ahead and consider our working budget for 2012. Everyone is welcome to participate in these meetings.
Help BCAP Make the Holidays Special
Many of Boulder County AIDS Project’s clients live at or below the federal poverty line and rely on our food pantry to supplement their basic nutrition. Each holiday season BCAP endeavors to offer additional food items around Thanksgiving and the December holidays so that these clients may have a special holiday meal with their families. Please consider helping us provide a special holiday meal to those in our community living with HIV/AIDS. Just $24.50 buys a complete holiday dinner with turkey and all the trimmings.
Want to help? Here’s how:
1. Bring any or all of the above items to BCAP weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (before December 14th for the December holidays.)
2. Or send a monetary donation to BCAP:
ATTN: Holiday Meal Fund, 2118 14th St., Boulder, CO 80302
To make a donation by credit card or for more information contact Eric Berkemeyer at 303.444.6121.
United Methodist Women (UMW) News
The next Working Women gathering will be tonight Thursday, December 1st at 6:30 pm at the home of Connie Takamine; contact Connie with any questions. Other happenings: Wednesday, December 7th at 9:30 am, UMW Executive Committee in the Church Parlor. Tuesday, December 6th at 10:00 am the annual Sarah Circle holiday gathering at the home of Bonnie Harms, contact Joan Nordgren at 303 440-1047. Friday, December 9th at 9:30 am Quilters will meet at Barb Frey’s to have a tour of her studio and will come back to church for quilting. 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.
Coming Attractions! December 11th, world famous UMW Holiday Bake Sale. Calling all bakers for cookies, pies, cakes, breads and any other goodies. Proceeds go to support mission around the world and locally. Also, December 14th at 1:00 pm, is our Christmas Tea. Come celebrate Peace with Mother Earth, join in a carol sing and share fellowship.
UMW is faith, hope and love in action!
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 andmeet new people.
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.
Poinsettias for Advent
The Music and Worship Committee will be ordering poinsettias for the Advent season. The poinsettias will be used in the chancel to celebrate the season and may be taken home on December 25, 2011 after the Christmas Day Service. A 6-inch pot of red poinsettia is $10.00. Please make checks payable to FUMC, memo: Poinsettia. Order through the church office or place in offering plate by December 4th.
Amahl and the Night Visitors!
First United Methodist Church of Boulder presents a family performance of
Amahl and the Night Visitors! A perennial holiday favorite of audiences everywhere, Gian Carlo Menotti’s short opera tells a tale of the three Magi taking respite from their travels in the hut of a poor widow and her crippled son. More secular than sacred, it is a universal story of self-sacrifice, compassion, generosity and the miracles that can occur when one boy takes a leap of faith. Amahl and the Night Visitors has been the most frequently produced American opera in the world since its premiere on television (NBC) in 1951 on Christmas Eve. Stunning music, beautiful costumes, singing, dancing, and an inspiring story make Amahl an opera that will brighten your holiday season. Sung in English by a cast of 35, this one-act opera is offered free as a gift to Boulder families to brighten the season. Canned goods for Emergency Family Assistance Association are welcome at the door.
Showtimes are Saturday, December 10th at 2 pm and Sunday, December 11th at 10:30 am. Don’t miss it!
Help With Stage Crew for Amahl 12/10 and 12/11
Evanne, Gerald, and the Chancel Choir could use some help with stage crew for the two performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors on Saturday, December 10th at 2:00 pm, and Sunday, December 11th during worship. Also, they could use a volunteer or two to help with lunch for the cast on Saturday, December 10th. Please contact Evanne if you’re interested.