A Letter From Pastor Mark-December



Dear Friends,

Wow!  It is hard to believe that we have already moved into the Christmas season.   I have been seeing signs of Christmas in stores for weeks, but I try to ignore all that until after  Thanksgiving.

With Christmas right around the corner, I want to lift up some of the ways we will be      celebrating the birth of Christ at Southport United Methodist Church:
· Operation Christmas Transformation:  This is an opportunity to spend less on our celebrations of Christmas and give a birthday present to Jesus using the money we saved by cutting back.  You can make a contribution to this fund or you can buy picture poinsettias for $10 each in honor or memory of a loved one, and the money will go to the Operation Christmas Fund.  All proceeds will be divided equally between the Pastor’s Benevolent Fund to help those in financial need and to the Pastor’s Ministry Fund to help with outreach ministries in our community.
· There will also be a special sermon series to help us celebrate Christmas.  It will start December 5 and 8.  The titles are as follows:

    • Christ Calls Us
    • Christmas Confronts Us 
    • Christmas Encourages Us
    • Christmas Challenges Us
    • By a Different Road



I hope you will be able to hear and benefit from each of these messages.
· On Sunday, December 15, we will have a very special treat.  Mary and Joseph are  going to interrupt their journey to Bethlehem and will be stopping by worship       services on that day.  They have agreed to have their picture taken with the children.  Bring your children so they can meet Mary and Joseph!  To show our hospitality to our guests, our fellowship meal for December will be that day as well.
· As always we will have special Christmas Eve worship celebrations:

    • 5:00 p.m. Family Service – children will be singing
    • 7:00 p.m. Contemporary Candlelight Service
    • 9:00 p.m. Candlelight  Communion Service
    • 10:30 p.m. Celebration in Music (with the Chancel Choir and handbells)
    • 11:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service

As you can see, Southport United Methodist Church will truly be a place that is celebrating what Christmas is all about, the birthday of Jesus!  I invite each of you to be a part of all the celebrations this month.

In Christ’s Abundant Love,
Pastor Mark


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