O Little Town of Bethlehem

 A Christmas Gift to Our Community

To all of our church family,

It is time to start thinking about Christmas.

December 13, from 6-8 pm Edwardsville United Methodist Church is starting what has become an annual event for our community.  We are asking that all members of our church reserve Saturday December 13 to participate in this special outreach for our community.

What better gift can we give our community than the story of the birth of the Son of God.  This will be a family friendly experience for us as well as the people that we will welcome into our church.

WHAT IS IT?  We will convert the New Fellowship Hall into a real live Bethlehem Marketplace that looks, feels and sounds like the town of Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago just hours after the birth of Jesus.  We will have a market filled with vendors selling and making all of their products including perfume, dried herbs and spices, candle makers, mosaic tiles, wagon or carpentry vendors, fabric vendors, leather crafters, food vendors and more.

What we need from you?

1. Prayer. Please pray that this outreach event will bring enlightenment to a family or child in our community.  2. Reserve that date.  Do not go Christmas shopping or have a family Christmas party or a work party that night.  3. In the next few weeks volunteer for something to help make this event a positive outreach to our community. 

If you feel moved by the Holy Spirit right now to volunteer to be a Chairperson or helper for one of the many facets of this special evening please call Pam Beckman @ 923-6195.

-Education Support Team-

CHECK YOUR CALENDAR!  Where has the summer gone?  The fall season has officially arrived, and before you know it, the holidays will be here!

Please note upcoming events:  Operation Christmas Child (see upcoming bulletins for details); Thanksgiving Basket preparation and distribution (Nov. 23rd); the Angel Tree should be in place by November 30th; and our Christmas Basket/Angel Tree preparation and distribution (Dec. 14th).

Notes from you Minister of Music:

It is not too late to join the choir for Christmas.  We've been so busy preparing for the Stewardship services that we are just now starting on Christmas music. Check the calendar. We are preparing a lovely cantata called Sing We Now of Christmas, and we are repeating a piece called “Gloria” that we wrote for the recently departed Alda Cecil a few years ago.

Come join us Wednesday nights at 7:30 - Check the calendar.

Make plans now for the annual Christmas Concert by the Commonwealth Brass Band at our church on Tuesday, December 9, at 7 PM.

Yours in Christ's service,
Ray