Inspiring Worship Opportunities Just Ahead

Well, here we go! Already, we are approaching the third Sunday of Advent. Hard to believe there are only two Sundays left before Christmas! 2022 will begin in less than four weeks. As we continue the journey to Christmas Eve, let us prepare our hearts to worship Jesus, the newborn King! And worship we will.

In the coming weeks, Shalimar United Methodist will offer great worship opportunities. One of the things I know is how blessed we are at Shalimar UMC with the uplifting special music productions. We are blessed! This Sunday, December 12th; Our Chancel Choir and Orchestra will present the Festival of Christmas. This special “extravaganza” will be offered in the Sanctuary at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00am. I hope you will make it a point to be in worship for this special Sunday.

If you desire a service with a sermon, Rev. Matt Langford will be focusing on the Gospel of Luke’s message about the birth of Jesus at the 11:07 service. So, as you consider worship this Sunday, you can actually “double-dip” in both the Sanctuary and Family Life Center and encounter two completely different services. Matt and Ben will also lead us in worship regarding the third Sunday of Advent.

On Wednesday, December 15th, there will be an informal time of “Christmas Caroling” for some of our members. If you would like to join the caroling, gather in front of the Family Life Center at 2:30pm. No singing tryouts necessary! Everyone will be welcome for this time of caroling and joy of the season.

Sunday, December 19th, we will focus on the Gospel of John’s introduction of Jesus for our Advent Mosaic. This message will be preached at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, and 11:07am and will mark the fourth Sunday of Advent. This Sunday will continue to lead us to prepare our hearts for Christmas Eve, which at that time, will only be five days away!

On Christmas Eve, we will return (after outdoor services last year) to our regular service times and locations of previous years. Our Family-Children’s service will be at 3pm in the Family Life Center. Our traditional services will be at 5pm (Youth-led) and 7pm (Chancel Choir-led). Each Sanctuary service will have lessons and carols, a short homily, and end with communion, candlelight, and the singing of Silent Night. Our final service for Christmas Eve will be at 11:07pm. The service will feature contemporary Christmas Music, a homily, communion, and candlelight as well!

As families are spending time together, and as many in our congregation are traveling, we will have only one worship service on December 26th. The Sunday after Christmas will feature the one service at 9:30am in the Sanctuary. We encourage you to come as you are and share in worship if you are in town.

Let me give you a sneak peek into January. The first Sunday, January 2nd, we will share in Epiphany Sunday. Then, on January 9th, we will give everyone a chance to remember their profession of faith in Jesus and remember our baptism. We will also welcome persons to plan their baptisms this Sunday.

Finally, on January 16th, we will begin our new series, WIN THE DAY. We will seek to leave our past behind, live fully in the present, and lean into the future. If you want to prepare for this series, you can secure the book by Mark Batterson called WIN THE DAY.

Well, as you can see, there are great worship opportunities just ahead! We hope you will be present with us for these special days!  

Shalom,
Philip