What You Already Know
Thanksgiving reminds us of what we already know: to show our gratitude for the blessings we’ve received. Things like family, friends, health, food, and all the rest. Admittedly, if you have a day off to be surrounded by loved ones and feast on all manner of food, it can be pretty easy to feel thankful! What can be harder when you’re back to work a few days later (and a few pounds heavier) is to remember that gratitude is an ongoing operation.
At the end of his first letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul offers a series of reminders to the church. They don’t really need to be said, but he says them anyway. They are like the “P.S.” instructions. Among these, he writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 16-18). It’s not enough, Paul says, to rejoice when a prayer is answered, or to pray when you’re in dire need, or just to give thanks during a feast–each of these should be our default state. He’s reminding them and us of things we already know.
It may be that in these recent days, you’ve forgotten to practice what you already know. Thanksgiving is a great reminder to help us get started. A children’s book encourages kids to adopt this practice of ongoing gratitude by beginning each morning, immediately upon waking up, by looking around their room and naming and thanking God for things they’re grateful for: the warm blanket, the favorite toy, the photos from a vacation. Just a reminder of what they already know. It is that reminder that connects all of life with the God who gives Life. Sounds like a great practice for all of us.
Take Peace,
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Christmas Eve Services
10 a.m. Worship Service with Communion in the Chapel
4 p.m. Family Worship Service with Candlelight in the Sanctuary
6 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service in the Sanctuary
11 p.m. Candlelight and Communion Service in the Chapel
There will be one service in the Sanctuary at 11:15 a.m. on December 26 and January 2.
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Affordable Meals To-Go will take a break the week of Thanksgiving and resume Tuesday, November 30.
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Christmas Festival Concerts
The Christmas Festival Concerts are Friday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 12 at 3 p.m. A limited number of complimentary tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Worship Arts Office, Sanctuary Building; Main Office, Chapel Building; or by calling 770.594.0512.
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Service of Remembrance
Join us Wednesday, December 1 at 6 p.m. in the Chapel for a Service of Remembrance. Whether a recent or distant loss, the clergy of RUMC stand with you to acknowledge your grief as we enter this season of Advent. If you would like your loved one’s name read during the service, please email us with their name by November 22.
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Job Networking
Please join us this Monday, November 22 starting at 1 p.m. for six informative workshops; a new offering by Mark Myette, “Stand at the Crossroad – On Purpose;” and special guest workshop by Marty Gilbert with “30 Ways to Get Unstuck in Your Job Search.” For more information and the full agenda, go to our website.
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Birthday Party for Jesus
All children are invited to join us for a birthday party for Jesus on Sunday, December 12 at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, Chapel building! We will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with a live nativity, crafts, and fun. Parents of children five years and younger are requested to attend; children in grades 1 through 5 will attend with their Sunday School class. Please bring a gift for Jesus—hat, gloves, or mittens that will be given to the Foster Care Support Foundation for children who are in foster care.
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Christmas Gift & Craft Show
Join us December 2-4 in the Dodson Youth Center for a festive show and bake sale supporting RUMC Student Ministry Missions and 80 small, local businesses. Pre-sale raffle tickets are available online for items from each of our 80 vendors. Sign up online to donate a home-baked item for our bake sale.
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Christmas Gift & Craft Show
The Annual Pecan Sale running through November 28 supports the Boy Scouts, missions in Jordan, and other Discovery Sunday School outreach efforts. Pecans are available for purchase by cash or check in the Main Office, Chapel building from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or purchase online anytime. Cost is $10 per bag; 3 bags for $26; or a case of 30 bags for $250.
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RUMC Kids and Roswell Student Ministry Update
In accordance with Fulton County Schools updated guidelines and because of the decline in numbers of COVID-19 positive cases in Fulton County and the city of Roswell, RUMC returned to a mask optional status for children and youth beginning November 1, 2021. We will continue to monitor rates and reported cases in our various classes and groups. If any class or group experiences an increase in COVID-19 positive cases, that class or group may move to a mask required status.
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Volunteer for Thanksgiving
Come share your gratitude for all God has given by helping to pack and deliver Thanksgiving meals to share with our ministry partners in the community! You can sign up online for shifts on Tuesday, November 23 or Wednesday, November 24, and thanks in advance!
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Angel Trees
The Angel Tree for InCommunity (formerly EnAble) and Noah’s Ark will be available beginning December 5 in the south lobby, Sanctuary building. The Angel Tree for families with Vickery Mill Elementary are currently available in the Chapel Roswell Connection Center. For information on InCommunity, contact Rev. Melissa Kime-Hall; for Vickery Mill, contact Gilma Cantu.
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Volunteer
Are you a people person? Or maybe you are tech-savvy and want to serve in production. Maybe you have a heart for Missions or you love to rock babies in the nursery. No matter what your skills or background, we have a place for you! To learn more about how you can get involved, check out our website.
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Job Openings
We would love to have you as part of our family! Click here to learn more about open positions at Roswell UMC.
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