Saxapahaw UMC
Shall we gather at the river!
The mission statement for Saxapahaw United Methodist Church:
To know Christ and to make Christ known though loving, learning, and serving.
Advent and Christmas remind us of the light that shines in the darkness, giving us hope. We fill the season with celebrations as we anticipate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. All are welcome to participate in any and all of our upcoming activities. These are kid-friendly events, and a great way to enjoy this season without all the commercialization of the world around us. In addition to these special events please feel free to join us for worship on Sundays at 11 am. If you have questions please contact Pastor Billy at wsander@nccumc.org or 919-988-0616.
Opportunities to Participate This Christmas
Hanging of the Greens Thursday, December 1st at 5:30 p.m.
We will gather at 5:30 pm for supper with the Hanging of the Greens Worship service immediately to follow. Come out and learn about our Christian holiday traditions.
Advent Craft Night: Fun For All Ages
Sunday, December 4th at 4:30 p.m.
Children and adults of all ages are welcome as we gather to make Christmas crafts – ornaments, small gifts, and edible crafts. Pizza will be provided. Bring a friend and come have some fun as we kick off the Advent and Christmas season!
Christmas Pageant: Celebrate the Birth of Jesus
Sunday, December 18th at 5:30 p.m.
All are welcome as we sing Christmas carols and hear the Christmas story as told by our children. Stay for a soup & sandwich supper and a visit from Santa Claus! Practices are on Sunday December 4, 11, and 18 from 10:00 am to 10:45 am (instead of Children's Sunday School).
Christmas Eve Worship: Rejoice in the Gift of Jesus
Saturday, December 24th
For Christmas Eve, Pastor Billy will be in the sanctuary from 11 am until 5 pm serving communion for all who come (all are welcome). At 5 pm we will gather for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Come and worship the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
Christmas Day Worship Sunday, December 25th at 10:00 a.m.
For our Christmas Service we will have a special start time at 10 am. We will be reading scriptures and singing our favorite carols. We will be serving apple cider and you are invited to come as you are (Pajamas are highly encouraged).
Opportunities to Give This Christmas
During the Season of Advent, the Youth will be Having Two Fundraisers!
First, they will be doing gift wrapping at the church each Sunday during the season of advent until December 18 ($2 per gift donation).
They will also be selling luminaries (from now until December 20) for Christmas Eve for $5 a piece in honor of or in memory of someone special. Contact Mary Sander at 919- 819-5711 for all the details regarding youth advent fundraising.
Snack Pack Ministry Christmas Tree
We are building a Christmas tree to the ceiling with snack pack items donated between now and Christmas. Suggested items: Peanut butter, Squeezable Jelly, Cans of Spaghetti O's/Beanie Weanies, etc., and Pop Tarts.
Please put donations in the corner of the sanctuary outside the adult class. Contact Nancy Bare for details.
Christmas Cheer is Here!
We have adopted 2 local families through Christmas Cheer and would like to supply each with Christmas gifts and a holiday meal. There are gift tags on the tree in the church vestibule area. Choose a gift that you’d like to provide, take the tag and please put your name on the log next to the tag you chose. If you would like to contribute monetary gifts for larger purchases or for family gift cards for meals, please contact Samantha Belden layt5988@gmail.com or call/text 336-269-5740. Place the gift items in the vestibule or in the adjacent Sunday School room. They should be unwrapped. We’d like to have all gifts back by December 11th if possible. Thank you so much for all your support and love for these families!
You can also donate money towards the purchase of gifts.
Please write Christmas Cheer on the memo line of your check or you can donate online at saxumc.org by clicking on the “Give Today” button and selecting the Christmas Cheer Fund.
The Gift for Someone Who Has Everything: ZOE Empowers
Consider alternative giving. Alternative giving is a form of gift giving in which the giver makes a donation to a charitable organization on the gift recipient's behalf, rather than giving them an item. You can give the gift of life to orphans in Africa in honor of a friend or loved one.
Check out the Gift Catalog at Saxapahaw UMC in Barbara’s Sunday School room and pick up your alternative gifts today. These alternative gifts are bookmarks that describe the gift, such as rabbits for $10, school supplies for $25, a goat for $50, carpentry tools for $100, and Bibles for $250. Each of these gifts will significantly impact our orphans in Zimbabwe. Checks made out to Saxapahaw UMC (please put Zoe Empowers on the memo line) can be dropped in the envelope (which is checked regularly) or you can donate online at at saxumc.org by clicking on the “Give Today” button and selecting the Zoe Empowers Fund.
Christmas Eve Offering: Let’s Raise $3,000 for our Children
All of the offering from our Christmas Eve service will be given to our children. Give any time before the end of the year. Please write Christmas Eve Offering on the memo line of your check or you can donate online at saxumc.org by clicking on the “Give Today” button and selecting the Christmas Eve Offering Fund.
Give a Gift to the Church in Honor or Memory of a Loved One
These gifts support the mission and ministry of this congregation and, with our Tithes & Offerings, undergird all of the many ways we seek to know Christ and make Christ known. Write "In honor/memory of ___" on the memo line of the check. Alternatively, you can give online at saxumc.org to Tithes & Offerings. If you give online please email Laurie Newlin at saxumcbulletins@gmail.com with the amount of the gift and a note referencing to whom the gift is given in honor/memory of.
