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The Final Week of Advent

As we wrap up this crazy year in hope, peace, joy, and love, our attention turns to the baby in a manger. What a poignant and powerful symbol of new life and redemption for all! Christmas Eve holds a story of promise for each of us, whether you find yourself in the pews or on the couch at home. To prepare for this service of reflection on Christ’s birth next Thursday, please:

RSVP your intentions for worship: 5pm, 7pm, or online!

Click here to RSVP your Christmas Eve plans

Send In Your Photos of Light and Joy!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5

On Christmas Eve we will be lighting candles during each service, and want to include those in our church community who cannot be physically present. Send a photo or short video of you/friends/family holding a light in the dark and/or what brings you joy in this season- Simply open the Google Drive link below to drag and drop your images.

Or email Pastor Emily by Monday Dec 20th. THANK YOU!

Add Your Photo or Video Here!

This is our final email communication of 2020. May you and your loved ones experience holy stillness and wonder in days to come. Merry Christmas!!

Luke 1: 30-33
When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

Follow the Daily Bible Lectionary Here!

Worship & Events

On Dec. 20, We listen to the legacy of love in Luke 1: 26-38
Mary Carries Love Into The World

On Dec. 24, We will offer a 5pm & 7pm Christmas Eve Service
Worshiping at Home? Be sure to prepare a candle
and communion elements!

Each child will also be offered a gift on Christmas Eve,
donated with love by Jo Cummings. For families not physically present, these gifts will be available Mon-Wed. (Dec. 21-23) in the office or by letting us know you’d like one delivered!

IMPORTANT NEWS: Virtual-Only Worship on Sunday Dec. 27th

Although no substitute for our annual children and choir program, The virtual A Very UCC Christmas Pageant will lead us into the heart of the season
on Sunday, Dec. 27th.
Tune into Facebook to worship live with one another!

Sun. Jan. 3rd: We kick-off 2021 with a Communion Service back in our hybrid format (in pew and online).

Virtual Worship 10am Sunday on Facebook- Join us!

Your Love Fund At Work

You inspire this grateful pastor with your donations to the love fund. It’s a consistent ethic of concern for our neighbors, expressed in tangible financial assistance. I celebrate that your generosity has spread THIS WEEK to 4 neighbors who received $100 Dakotamart vouchers, 1 neighbor who received a $50 Dakotamart voucher, and a $200 contribution to Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center, whose mission is to
Protect and serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault &
Prevent abuse through education.

Thank you for making this commitment to bettering our community, one family at a time.

Annual reports due next week!

If you lead a group, board, or committee at church, NOW is the time to begin preparing your annual report! Cherlyn has graciously agreed to continue serving through January, in part because she knows the value of pulling together an accurate Annual Report Booklet, summarizing our many ministries for 2020. Reports are due first of the year.

On Sunday Jan 31st, we will hold our Congregational Annual Meeting via ZOOM so we can see as many faces as possible. Please reserve 12pm on Sunday, Jan. 31st for our Annual Meeting. More details to follow regarding the zoom link and how YOU can participate and vote.

For those who cannot access zoom at home, Pastor Emily will zoom from the church sanctuary. If it is safe for you to join the meeting in this way, you are most welcome. We do, however, value seeing one another’s faces, and joining zoom on your own device is preferred.

Community Connections

I, Pastor Emily, want to let you know that I cherish receiving word from each of you. Many of you have my cell phone number, and for that reason I need to share a functional issue I’ve been having with my cell service. Often times, my phone won’t register a missed call or voicemail until hours after it is received. I replaced my phone a month ago, thinking a new one would solve this issue, but it hasn’t. Please don’t hesitate to follow-up a missed phone call with a text, if it’s urgent. For whatever reason, texts seem to make it through on-time!

If you have news, events, or prayer requests that you’d like included in our e-news, please reach out with an email. This is the most effective way to keep our information flow organized.

Spread The News: We’re Hiring!

We have officially posted our administrative assistant position on several Facebook spaces and on southdakotaworks.org. If you know of someone interested, be sure to send them the full job description:
Details of the position can be found here.

 Get Involved This Christmas

The UCC Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund is a national UCC offering we take each year on Christmas Eve that primarily supports retired clergy. Your donation will provide Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks for retirees and those facing unforeseen financial hardship.

Join with others in the United Church of Christ to make “the light shine in the darkness” for those who have given so much to our church. Envelopes are available on Christmas Eve & in the front entrance of church for the next few weeks.

Living Our Mission

Year-End Gifts!

We are looking to complete our fiscal year in good strength, AND we welcome your extravagent generosity this Christmas as a vote of confidence in our ministries leading into 2021. THANK YOU for the ways you go above and beyond to support our community and collective mission.

Support our Mission: Give Online Today!
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