In addition to the usual weekly or monthly events, the following will be happening this month. You can click the link to take you to that item in the newsletter.
Advent Sermon Series - Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist
For two thousand years, Christians have turned to the story and message of John the Baptist in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The Prepare the Way for the Lord sermon series brings our entire community of faith together to learn and take inspiration from John the Baptist. By exploring John the Baptist’s life and hearing his call to prepare the way for the Lord, we can grow together in faith and anticipate Christ’s coming with joy and reverence.
December 4, 2022 – Pregnancy, Birth, Circumcision, and Zechariah’s Prophecy
Text: Luke 1:57-79
Theme: God is gracious.
December 11, 2022 – John’s Ministry and Preaching
Text: Luke 3:1-8
Theme: Repentance and remembrance of baptism.
December 18, 2022 – Compassion and Generosity: Fruits Worthy of Repentance
Text: Luke 3:7-14, Mark 6:14-29
Theme: Repentance leads to a change of behavior characterized by a new mindset of compassion and generosity.
December 24-25, 2022 – Witnesses, Testifying to the Light
Text: John 1:1-14, John 3:22-30, Matthew 3:13-17
Theme: Like John the Baptist, we are called to point the way to Jesus.
You can find the daily readings online on the church's worship page.
You can also find the bulletin for the week there as well.
Jingle Jam!!!!
The Christmas Party Big Enough for the Whole Family is December 2nd at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There are games, prizes, a cool show, cookie decorating, and crafts. Be sure to preregister! For more information go to stpaulslawton.org/jinglejam22
Friday, December 2, 2022 at 6:00 pm
at
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
910 NW 38th Street
Lawton, Oklahoma
Midweek - November 30th - Comfort Food Week
Midweek - December 7th - Signature Dish Week (a dish you or a family member are known for cooking.)
For December, our last Midweek@St. Paul's for the year will be December 14th. Pizza at 5:30 p.m. We will have a birthday party for Jesus and Nativity Escape Room for the children and youth.
There is something for children, youth, and adults at Midweek@St. Paul’s
Family Promise Week
December 11-17
St. Paul's works with Family Promise, an organization that provides shelter for families who are homeless and works with them to find employment if needed and permanent housing.On our week, we provide an evening meal for the families staying there and have an opportunity to visit with them and get to know them. Please contact Maurine Wiseman to volunteer to bring a meal the week of December 11th.
It's Angel Tree Time
Incarceration can strain family ties to the breaking point. By providing Christmas gifts on behalf of incarcerated parents, Prison Fellowship Angel Tree allows local congregations to extend the hope of the Gospel to families with loved ones in prison.
St. Paul's will be participating with Prison Fellowship Angel Tree virtually. Following this LINK will take you to the St. Paul's Angel Tree page. There will be a pop up that asks whether you want to sponsor specific children or you can enter how many you would like to sponsor and they randomly pick for you. If you want to specifically donate to children in Comanche County, then click the button that says, "choose specific children to sponsor." Then you can tell them that you want to find children in Oklahoma, Comanche County. You can further narrow it down by gender and age.
You will be given the opportunity to give a gift card to the child's caregiver as well. It isn't required, but it is a nice gesture to care for those who care for others.
Once you have made your selections and are ready to check out, on the payment page it will ask if you are giving as an individual or collectively as a church/organization. Please let them know you are giving collectively with a church. You will be emailed a receipt for this tax deductible gift. If you have difficulty with the process, please contact Maurine Wiseman (580-585-5975)
UWF Christmas Party will be December 10th at 11 a.m. at Giuseppe's in Marlow.
203 W Main St, Marlow, OK
Christmas Caroling
December 18th at 4 p.m.
We will be caroling to those in our community who are unable to get out much. We will leave the church at 4 p.m. We will take the bus and we will also take personal cars. Be at the church by 3:50 p.m. so we can decide on the course. Merry Christmas!
Increasing numbers of churches are creating sacred space for people living through dark times. Such services are reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope. This service on the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice, December 21st, is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. This confluence invites making some connections between Thomas's struggle to believe the tale of Jesus' resurrection, the long nights just before Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss.
Join us for a very meaningful service on December 21st at 6 p.m. Bring a friend whom you think may benefit from this service.
December 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. (in person only) December 25th - Christmas Day Communion Service at 10 a.m.
(online and in person)
(on Christmas Day children are invited to wear pajamas
and bring a toy to be blessed)
There will be no Sunday School on Christmas Day.
United Methodist Men will meet on Saturday, December 10th, at 7:30 a.m. at the church in the dining room.
Questors - Uses the Adult Studies quarterly and meets in the office area.
Looking Glass - a study that goes with the worship series.
Connections/Pastor's Class - Current events and other discusssion.
Children and Youth Sunday School Classes
Seedlings - 0-36 months in the nursery Lil' Sprouts - 3-5 years in the toddler rooms Spouts - 6-8 years in the Children's Church room Saplings - 9-11 years at the end of the hall. Youth 12-18 downstairs in the youth room.
Join us for Christian Education on Sunday mornings!
Incarceration can strain family ties to the breaking point. By providing Christmas gifts on behalf of incarcerated parents, Prison Fellowship Angel Tree allows local congregations to extend the hope of the Gospel to families with loved ones in prison.
