Dear Church Family,

With the Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas season not that far away there are some holiday traditions that mark this season in our church.  First our season kicks off with our Thanksgiving baskets.  In years past we have collected food and purchased turkeys for Thanksgiving baskets for needy families.  Our WMU and women’s ministry have led in this outreach.  Stay tuned for details on that effort.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC) is another compassionate outreach where we collect boxes and fill them with items that individuals and families have purchased and send them to Compassion International for underprivileged children around the world.  Our boxes are in, so pick up yours and get to shopping.  The OCC boxes need to be returned to the church by Sunday, November 15!!

December is also a month where we highlight the Lottie Moon Global Missions offering.  Please consider giving above and beyond your regular tithes and offerings to the church and give what you can to this vital program that promotes missions around the world.

Finally, we have had an Angel Tree located in the FMC that is “decorated” with “ornaments” made of paper that indicate the gender and age of a child that needs a Christmas gift.  Again, stay tuned for details on that important effort.

Finally, the Advent and Christmas schedule has been finalized.  As in most things this crazy year it will look much differently than years past.  Judy will be sending out via a separate REALM email the details but here is what it will look like:

• Sunday, November 29: 1^st Sunday in Advent

Regular Sunday morning schedule

• Sunday, December 6: 2^nd Sunday in Advent

Regular Sunday morning schedule

• Sunday, December 13: 3^rd Sunday in Advent

Combined service in the sanctuary at 11am.

• Sunday, December 20: 4^th Sunday in Advent

Regular Sunday morning schedule

• Thursday, December 24^th:  Christmas Eve
  • 5pm – Contemporary Worship Service in the FMC
  • 6:30pm – Traditional Worship Service in the sanctuary
  • Both services will include carols, readings, communion, Christmas message and “Silent Night” candlelighting.
• Sunday, December 27: Combined service in the sanctuary at

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Church Family News

Prayer Ministry.  Daniele Cushing has been burdened to help our church grow in intercessory prayer.  Here are the opportunities to gather for prayer:

• Sunday mornings at 9am in the Philathea room with Pastor Frank. We will be praying for our morning worship services as well as for our church.  If you cannot join us, you can call in using the number and code below.
• Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm via phone. The phone number is:

712-432-8399 and the access code is:  279785#

Remember in prayer:

1. Jamie Schumann’s mother who is facing several serious medical issues.
2. April Colgan’s daughter, Katie who was in a severe car accident this past Sunday
3. Nancy Markham in the hospital
4. Margaret Lewis in the hospital
5. Bob Martin’s niece
6. All our frontline workers, in and out of our church, who work hard each day serving and protecting us during this pandemic.

I love you all,

Pastor Frank