The Future Comes only One Day at a Time

4th Sunday of Advent
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that Sunday brought the gift of new people coming our way. They were presented to us by Rev. Bill Roth. They are as follows: Cale & Allison Hansen (Nora), Nolan & Cameron Watts (Caroline & Hudson), Barbara Wrobel, Barbara Liddle, Linda Roth (Rev. Bill Roth’s wife), Phil & Jennifer Douglas, Jeanette Wood, Howell & Becky Pruett, Randy & Ann Collins, Bob & Sue Grimm, Jim & Karen Dunlop, John & Kristie Lyerly (Grace & Cameron) and Ann Pate. What an amazing group joining us to make God’s love real to ALL as we Reach, Teach, Praise & Serve. They are a gift to us.

This second full week Advent has been so special: hosting our staff community at our home for lunch on Wednesday and then a trip to the movies (Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever), learning about the tools you’ve purchased for rebuilding in Western NC, Jingle Jam at Family Worship, and then Sunday evening with our 70-voice Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra. They have never sounded better. Thank you, Craig Estep, Eon Malan, Joel Mullis and so many others for an evening I/we will not soon forget. Click HERE to watch & listen.

Sunday morning brought our movement into the 3rd Week of Advent: we lit the pink Candle of Joy, Camille Gotta inspired us on the harp, Don Remley moved us with Joseph’s Song, our musicians in the 9:30 service gave us beautiful, unplugged versions of various carols and we went deep into the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Here are some highlights:

• Martin Luther, the great German reformer, remarked with a twinkle in his eye: “The Incarnation consists of three miracles: the first that God became man; the second, that a virgin was his mother, and the third that we are actually supposed to believe this.”
• I introduced you to a Dr. Suess book that many do not know, On Beyond Zebra.

                     So, on beyond Z! It’s high time you were shown
                    That you really don’t know all there is to be known.

• Friends, the only way you’re going to truly know Christmas this year is for you to wrap your heart around news that is too good to be true. News that is light years beyond zebra. If you missed being with us on Sunday, you can click here to worship.

Wednesday Devotional

I think one of the most captivating things about Abraham Lincoln was his deep wisdom, which he was able to communicate in such simple fashion.

Lincoln once said: “The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.” I think Jesus made much the same observation: “Take no thought for tomorrow. Sufficient for each day are the issues it carries.” (Matthew 6:34)

Let me share a few thoughts with you along those lines as we live into Week 3 of the Advent Season. My devotional is titled The Future Comes Only One Day at a Time.

Installation of HVAC System Moved to March

After a main heating component for the new HVAC system was delayed, the Building/Construction Committee determined with MUMC Facilities staff and Facilities Systems Services (FSS), our heating & air contractor, that the best course of action for the installation would be to shift the schedule to March. This timeframe would coincide with the installation of the new Chiller and HVAC cooling project and would allow for the work to be completed during more mild temperatures. As a benefit, the added cost of inefficient auxiliary heat would not be needed for children and staff on campus year-round at the Legacy School or in various spaces on campus that might need it during the week of installation.

If our current heating system were to fail before March, FSS is ready to begin work right away to ensure our campus heat is only down for a minimum amount of time. The cost of the project will remain the same since this was a supply chain issue.

Update on General Fund Giving for 2024

Please consider making a contribution to help us achieve our Year-End Goal. To meet our tithing budget for Fiscal Year 2024, we need $231,985 between now and December 31. It has been a wonderful year in countless ways, and we need this push to finish the year on an even higher note. You can click here to make a gift now and review Year-End Giving Guidelines here.

Mental Health Focus for December

Our Hope for Minds & Hearts Mental Health Ministry is focusing on the Holiday Season for the month of December. For many people, the holidays conjure up a Norman Rockwell-esque mental picture of people gathered to enjoy food, friends, and family, accompanied by feelings of love, warmth, and excitement. But for others, the holidays can cause them to feel anxious or depressed despite all the decorations and festivities. For further information, click here.

Upcoming Events

• Carols After Work – Drop in on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 18 – 20 between 5:30-6:15 pm in the Sanctuary to celebrate the season with song.
• Christmas Eve Services
  • United Kids Multi-Generational Family Worship 1:00 pm (50-minute service followed by Nativity with live animals), 2:30 & 4:30 pm Candlelight Services with Communion
  • Contemporary Candlelight Worship with Communion at 6:00 pm
  • CCH Spanish Worship at 7:30 (Gym)
  • Traditional Candlelight Worship with Communion at 9:00 & 11:00 pm (followed by Midnight Nativity with live animals)
• ONE Combined Worship Service – Sunday, December 29 at 9:30 am. Details
• View details for all the Christmas happenings at MUMC

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you this Sunday to join us in person at 8:15 (Traditional), 9:30 (Contemporary) and 11:00 (Traditional), or online at 9:30, 11:00 or 12:30 (Spanish – in person or here on demand).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) community, Sunday brings the conclusion of Pastor Roldan’s Advent series, Closer Than We Think. This week he will speak from Philippians 4:4-7. His sermon title is We Live Up to Expectations.

This Sunday is the fourth week of Advent, and we light the next candle on our Advent Wreath, the Candle of Love. In addition, we move toward the conclusion of our Advent worship series, A Baby Changes Everything with the sermon, Surrendered, as we dig deeply into Mary’s story from Luke 1:26-38.

This Sunday is one of our highlights for the year. It is when our children enact for us the birth of Jesus at the end of each of our worship services. We call it our Children’s Nativity. What a Sunday to invite someone to experience the joy and the wonder of this magical day!

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and hopeful days, remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

A Baby Changes Everything.
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that Room In The Inn has started Thursday nights? We feed & host 14 men each week through March. Please consider helping as individuals or as a small group. Sign up to serve here, or donate new/gently used M-3XL sweatshirts, coats, sweatpants, T-shirts, new boxers, new socks & long underwear from the Amazon Wish List.

Did you know that Tasty Tuesdays served 170 people last Tuesday after the wonderful Melody Makers Concert? This was a record-breaking number for our Tasty Tuesday group! They would like to thank all the volunteers and MUMC staff who helped make this wonderful mealtime possible. If you would like to check out Tasty Tuesdays, the next one will be January 7 at 11:00 am. Find out all about it here.

Did you know that members of the Family Covenant Sunday School Class have traveled to Kenya to visit and learn about Zoe Empowers? Following a presentation this summer, the class purchased a cow (yes, a cow!) at $500 for a Zoe team there. Upon further consideration, the class has committed to a half sponsorship of a Zoe Empowers group, a three-year commitment of $4,500 per year. The class sponsors the Imani “Faith” Riaki Empowerment Group, in which there are 24 heads of household, ranging in age from 16 to 19, providing for themselves and 76 siblings. Zoe teaches skills so they can become self-reliant and empowered entrepreneurs and business owners.

Did you know that bikes and scooters were delivered to our Angel Tree recipients on December 16? Our partnership with the Matthews HELP Center makes it possible for families to pick up your donated items and “shop” for gifts each year at a special event hosted at Town Hall.

Did you know that Global Impact Disaster Relief delivered 72 kids’ presents (assembled by United Kids) and 70 adult presents (assembled by Rainbow Ministries) on Monday? Gifts went to residents in Swannanoa where homes were damaged by Hurricane Helene. Your generosity made these gifts possible and brought smiles to children and adults. Want to help? Bring donations to God’s Pod on MUMC’s campus – open Mondays thru Jan 6 from 1-3 pm and by appointment by calling the Church Office. Please only donate NEW Items from this Supply List.

Did you know that our MUMC men’s group hosted Hoskins Park residents for their Christmas Party on December 11? Thanks to several Sunday School classes, gifts were abundant and fellowship was amazing!! MUMC men were given a surprise gift, a plaque thanking them for their years of partnering with the men at Hoskins Park.