Subject: This Week at Medford UMC -- December 3, 2021


This week at Medford UMC for {today}.

Register Now to attend indoor, in-person worship service this Sunday.
Masks are strongly encouraged for all and required for anyone who is unvaccinated.

A Word from the Pastor

Friends in Christ,

I pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and what a joy it is to be celebrating with you all during this Advent season! I'm very excited about our new series that Pastor Joe kicked off last week about "Singing Our Faith." On any normal day, music is vitally important to my happiness, but then you add the Christmas season into that and I can't live without it! Many of the sacred Christmas Carols we sing during this time of the year aren't just comforting tunes but are deeply rooted in history and interpreting scripture.

This Sunday, as we are lighting the candle of love, we will be looking at the beloved Christmas tune, "Love Came Down on Christmas" and the beauty of Christmas being a love song from God to us. I hope you'll join me for worship either in person or online!

Peace,
Pastor Rachel

PS. If you would like to see me and my partner, Matthew, as Mary and Joseph, you should come early to the Live Nativity at the Dickens Festival tomorrow! 

 



 

Evaluating Our Ministry

The Medford United Methodist Church Council has formed a Ministry Evaluation Task Force to review and evaluate our current ministries. Your input is vital to help us to make the best decisions for the future of our church. If you have already completed the survey, thank you! If not, click here to fill out the survey now. Please plan to spend approximately 15 to 20 minutes completing the survey.

Paper copies of the survey are available outside the Sanctuary, in the Family Life Center lobby, and in the church office. You can also access the survey on the home page of MedfordUMC.org where you can complete it online or print the survey from the website.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Heidi Polhemus or the church office.

 

Christmas Poinsettia Orders

Please help us decorate our church for Christmas by purchasing poinsettias! It is a nice way to remember and honor special people in our lives. Download an order form by clicking here. Simply print it out and drop your completed form in the special box located just outside the Sanctuary or bring it directly to the church office. Orders must be received by Sunday, December 12. 

 



 

Opportunities to Serve & Give

 

Dickens Festival: The Dickens Festival is back for 2021. Join us on Saturday, December 4 from 4:30 - 9:00 pm to share this gift of the Christmas story with the Medford community. There are multiple ways to be a part of the festivities:

  • Sharing the Story: We are looking for families to be the Angels, Shepherds, Wise Men and Holy Family. If you would like to volunteer or would simply like more information, please  contact Bethany Carl or Patty Rosvold
  • Cookies: The MUMC hospitality table at the Dickens Festival needs your cookies! Please consider baking four dozen chocolate chip, oatmeal or sugar cookies for distribution at the live nativity on December 4. Click here to sign up or email Coleen Lombardi.
  • Friendly Faces: We need your sweet disposition and your ability to hand people treats! We are looking for people to serve cookies, hot cocoa and apple cider to visitors to our hospitality table.  Please click here if you can spare two hours to help MUMC make this important connection to the community.
 

Angel Tree 2021: Each year, Medford UMC's Outreach Committee offers an "Angel Tree" as a way for our friends and members to provide gifts to less fortunate children in our region. For the 12th year, MUMC is partnering with Wesley UMC to provide gifts for 150 children who live in the south Trenton area. Our gift-selecting site is now up and running. Follow this link to select a gift recipient. Detailed instructions on how to participate in this gifting project are available there. Need help selecting an angel? Look for our Angel Tree Helpers this Sunday, December 5 after each worship service.

Gifts must be returned to the church by Monday, December 13. In addition to dropping off your gifts during worship hours on Sundays, you may bring them to the church during regular, weekday office hours. Please note -- the office will not be open on December 13; however, someone will be available in front of the Sanctuary that day from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Questions? Click here to send an email to the Angel Tree team. 

 
Staff Love Gift: Each year, our Staff Parish Relations Committee offers an opportunity for us to express our appreciation for our hard-working church staff with a monetary gift. Once collected, the offering will be distributed among the staff in appreciation for the special gifts they share with us throughout the year. You will receive a letter next week containing an envelope to use for making a gift (either by mail or in the offering plate). You can also contribute online with this direct link. 
 

Thank You for Your Financial Support: During this month, we celebrate giving as something wondrous and magical. When we teach our kids about Santa, we are helping them experience generosity that goes above and beyond for all kinds of people, all around the world. During this season, know that your gifts help to make the love of Jesus Christ real not only in New Jersey, but in so many nations where the UMC is at work. Whether it's helping to get people vaccinated or responding to natural disasters, our ministry makes a difference. We thank you for your support. To make a donation to Medford UMC, you can use the app, text "medfordgive" to 833/700-2226, visit us online at medfordumc.org/give, or mail a check to the church office (2 Hartford Road, Medford NJ 08055). 

 



 

Small Groups & Spiritual Growth

We are now welcoming small groups to meet indoors. If your small group would like to gather indoors, please contact Pastor Rachel for details and training on protocols.
 
United Methodist Women Christmas Dinner: You're invited to the UMW Annual Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, December 15 at the Medford Village Country Club where we will enjoy a lovely dinner while discovering the history of the Christmas card. Details can be found here. Tickets can be purchased at church or by visiting the church website. 
 

Children & Youth Ministries: Our December Program Details can be found here. As always, email Bethany Carl with any questions you have or if you would like to receive the CYM Newsletter.   

 



 

Weekly Calendar
 
Date Event / Registration Link Time Place
Sat Dec 4 Men's Bible Study 8:00 am Zoom
Pickle Ball 10:00 am FLC / Lot
Dickens Festival 4:30 pm Main Street
Sun Dec 5 Traditional Worship 8:15 am Sanctuary
  Contemporary Worship 9:30 am FLC
  Traditional Worship 11:00 am Sanctuary
Confirmation 12:00 pm
Tues Dec 7 Sarah Circle 9:30 am Medport Diner
Pickleball 3:00 pm FLC / Lot
Online Yoga 6:00 pm Zoom
  Jubilation Ringers 6:45 pm  Sanctuary
  Wesley Choir 7:45 pm Sanctuary
Wed Dec 8 Band Rehearsal 7:30 pm FLC
Thurs Dec 9 Women's Bible Study 10:00 am  
  Celebration Ringers 6:45 pm Sanctuary
  Garwood Choir 7:45 pm Sanctuary

 



 

Get our app for easy access to worship videos, daily devotionals, giving, and all the latest news! Text "medfordapp" to 833/700-2226 to download.

 
 
 
Medford United Methodist Church
2 Hartford Road, Medford NJ 08055
609/654-8111

 

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