UM Women

Up-coming Meetings

December 6-Agape Christmas party for CASA

6:30 pm all women are welcome to attend-bring two $5 gifts for Chinese

Auction

December 7-Church Women's United In-Gathering

Toys and clothing will be delivered for needy children. Please leave your donations in the office or in the box in the narthex.

December 18-Naomi Circle-10:00 am

Meet in the Wesley room. UMW is so appreciative of all those who support our mission projects.

Many thanks to Diane Gibson and Jeane Mash for the beautiful cornacopia displayed on the altar table. Items for the March Flea Market are still needed. We accept small working appliances, household/kitchen items, books, CD's, clothing, linens and jewelry.

The Florida Conference for UMW was held at the 1st United Methodist Church in Clermont. Winnie and Diane attended this outstanding program.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2013

Dear Allendale Family,

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and while we have a lot to be thankful for, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Allendale gives thanks for our many blessings. Verbal approval has been received from our District Superintendent to proceed with an application for a loan from the Florida United Methodist Foundation. A successful loan application, together with a successful capital campaign, will enable Allendale to complete much-needed roof replacements and other building repairs/modifications. Allendale is also thankful for the results of our Stewardship campaign and for the Consecration Sunday luncheon we enjoyed several weeks ago on November 11. We are in the early stages of developing an operating budget for the 2013 year.

Thus far, pledges totaling $190,782.00 have been received for the upcoming 2013 year. This total represents an increase in 2013 pledges per individual/family when compared with pledge amounts in 2012. We would like to make an appeal to you in the event that you have not turned in a commitment card for your stewardship during the upcoming year.   We trust God and invite you to join us in this step of faith.

May God bless each and every one of you and your families this Christmas season,

Clark

A poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others."-Mark 12: 42-43

Looking Back 2012

It's really hard to believe that in just a few more weeks we will be saying goodbye to year 2012 and saying hello to year 2013. So what happened to 2012?

To the casual observer 2012 may have seemed somewhat non-eventful but, after a closer examination we find the year full of familiar events as well as some new ones. We find that we made some tremendous improvements to the Allendale facilities. Here is just a partial list of what 2012 looked like at Allendale:

•  Fat Tuesday in February
•  Dr. Kalas in May
•  Chick-Fil-A Leadercast in May
•  The return of Vacation Bible School
•  AA continues to meet at Allendale
•  Salty Service Saturday (New)
•  UMW Flea Market
•  UMW and their Ditty Bag campaign
•  Bus trips to places of interest (New)
•  Green Team (New)
•  Expansion of small groups at Allendale.
•  Neighborhood Crime Watch Block Party (New)
•  Parents night out December 7th (returning after not doing it for a few years)
•  Flute Choir Concert December 9th (New)
•  Launch of new and improved Allendale Web Site.
•  New electronic Bellringer and e-mail system.
•  Upgrades to air conditioning systems in Sanctuary and Family Life Center.
•  Remodel of the women's restroom in the breezeway.
•  New media room.
•  New pump and irrigation system in the parking lot across the street.
•  The expansion of the Allendale Children's Center to include a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten
•  Program (VPK) and the expansion of class room space to accommodate.

So you see the Lord gave us plenty to celebrate in 2012. We are so grateful to those visionaries who could see and provide leadership to accomplish all this great work. What can we expect for year 2013? We of course will continue to build on the progress made this year but we will have some challenges ahead for 2013.

I believe that the key for a successful 2013 will be "Connection". How can we at Allendale be more connectional to each other, to our sister churches, and to our neighborhood and community? Jesus told us to "come and see" but he also challenged us to "go and tell". Many churches and I include Allendale as one of them are very good at inviting people to come to our thing(come and see) whether it is a Flea Market, a Spaghetti Dinner, a Movie Night or a Night Of Praise. In trying to reach people for Christ this is a great way to go for the low hanging fruit. That is the people who may have some kind of church history but not for those who have never had any connection to any church. How do we reach out to them? Just like Jesus and the women at the well we must be prepared to meet them where they are (go and tell). This is an important shift in how Allendale approaches evangelism or what I like to call Investing in the Spirituality of Others.

We will be having a Church wide meeting in January to outline a starting block for an aggressiveand fruit filled 2013. I am excited about the possibilities and the opportunities God will send our way if we will serve. Allendale is a special place for all of us. God has placed us here not to build up Allendale but to build his kingdom and I believe He will do that through Allendale United Methodist Church , a family of faith where you matter.

                       By Joe Deal

 Sandy's Christmas  Notes

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CHANCEL CHOIR. New members needed - please come to rehearsal on Thursdays at 7 pm. You need not commit to every single Sunday and Thursday rehearsal to be a member - we understand that everyone has other obligations which occasionally interfere. You need not have a great voice - just be able to carry a tune in a bucket. Thanks!   Prayers for a speedy recovery from a fall to our former member, Jean Hopkins.

Choir will not rehearse on Thursday, December 27 and will not sing on Sunday, December 28. Regular Thursday rehearsals will resume on Thursday, January 3, 2013.

TECH TEAM MEMBERS BADLY NEEDED. With Kenny Smoak out with health issues, we are really in need of more people to train to run the projector at 9 am and 11am services. Please contact Sandy.

REMINDER TO CHOIR AND INSTRUMENTALISTS: The basket in the Sanctuary for "used" music has been removed, so please either leave your "used" music on the stand, or return it to the file basket in the Choir room.

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE: We want to grow our Instrumental Ensemble. If you play an instrument, no matter what level, please consider joining us. Contact Sandy for further information.

SOLOS/SMALL ENSEMBLES:   Soloists, vocal or instrumental, and small musical ensembles are welcome and encouraged to perform - please contact Sandy for further information.

PRE-SERVICE SLIDES: Sandy prepares the Pre-Service Slides (Announcements) which are shown before each service. If you have something you want announced on the Pre-Service Slides, please email Sandy your slide(s) prepared on Powerpoint, or if you don't have Powerpoint, send the text you would like and Sandy will prepare the slide.   You can also email photos.

ATTENTION EVERYONE: Reminder of VIDEO RULE: If anyone wants to present a video during services, you must get it first to Joe Deal, who will test it before the Sunday it is to be presented.

FLUTE CHOIR CONCERT. On Sunday, December 9 at 3 pm, the Tampa Bay Flute Choir will perform a Christmas Concert in the Sanctuary. Free admission - love offering will be taken. The Flute Choir is led by Judy Davis, who we had the opportunity to hear along with Marsha Reese when they played at the 11am service in August. This will be a beautiful concert - all are invited to attend.

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Several of our choir members are participating in the Pasadena Community Church Christmas Concert, which will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the Pasadena Community Church Sanctuary, at 227 -70th St. S., St. Petersburg, FL. The concert will include traditional and new carols with choirs from 6 churches and guest instrumentalists. Please invite your friends and neighbors to this delightful event.

For Participating Choir Members: Community Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal is Saturday December 15, 9am-noon, Pasadena UMC Sanctuary

ALLENDALE CHILDREN'S CENTER

"Where Children Are the Center"

Jesus is the reason for the season!

 

Courtesy of the Tadpoles' Class:

During the holiday season we will explain the meaning of Christmas by reading the story, The Candy Cane, which describes how the two colors (red and white) and the shape (hook) represent Jesus. Ms. Ashley and Ms. Nicole will also teach the children about the concept that it is better to give than to receive. We have asked each child to bring in a toy, in which they will wrap themselves, and donate it to CASA for children who may not have toys on Christmas. Happy Holidays!

 

Courtesy of the Wizards' Class:

Christmas is a wonderful time of year! With all the hustle and bustle to get the house decorated with lights, decorating the tree, and shopping for presents, it's easy to forget that Christmas is a time for family, tradition, and most importantly, the birth of Jesus. We will begin the season by discussing all of the fun things there are to do this time of year, like making gingerbread cookies, singing Christmas carols, decorating with our families and eating yummy food. We then will shift our focus on to the true meaning of the season, the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. The children will make gifts for their parents, read stories of faith, listen to holiday music and end the month with a big birthday party for Jesus on Friday, December 21st. The Wizards' class would like to wish you and your family a blessed and Merry Christmas!

 

Courtesy of the VPK Explorers' Class:

Winter has finally arrived in Florida and the VPK Explorers' class can't wait to celebrate the holidays. We will learn about Advent and the Nativity. In addition to celebrating the birth of Jesus, we will learn how different families celebrate their traditions, including Chanukah and Kwanza. Our class will conclude the month with a "Polar Express" Week in which students and staff will be encouraged to wear their "jammies" to school for some added fun.

 

Ms. Jeni and Ms. Angie would like to say thank you to AUMC for your continued support and hard work throughout the year. We wish you all a wonderful, healthy and very happy Christmas season and New Year. God Bless!

 

In God's Love,

 

Jeni Lyn Smagacz

Preschool Director

 

 

We will be ordering our Christmas Poinsettias from Lou's Florist at the price of $9 per plant. This price includes foil wrapping. The DEADLINE for ordering ALL plants is Sunday, December 16

The plants will be available to take home after the 11 pm Christmas Eve worship service or Monday, December 25 worship service.

Please make checks payable to Allendale UMC. Call the church office, 527-6694 and we can take your order over the phone.

Outreach Ministries

Sharing the love of Christ through acts of service in our community

Service Saturdays

As you know, our Service Saturday Team serves in our community on the third Saturday of each month. We alternate months between the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter and the Pinellas Trail.   On November 17th, Nancy Wall led us in serving as "bellringers" for the Salvation Army. On December 15th Gary Chapin will lead us in collecting trash and litter as we hike a section of the Pinellas Trail. We will meet in the church parking lot at 8 am on December 15th. Please join us on the third Saturday of each month in ministry to our community. Many volunteers needed. Contact church office (527-6694) for more information

Ronald McDonald House

We are always seeking new volunteers to help in providing dinner each month to the families living at the Ronald McDonald House at All Children's Hospital. Call Tim and Susan Haley (525-4818) for more information.

Women's Residence Team

This group prepares and serves dinner on the first Tuesday evening of each month to 20 women living in a transitional housing program in St. Petersburg. Our next service date is Tuesday, December 4th. We welcome new volunteers. Call Suzy Hutto (906-9454) for more information.

Green Team

These folks work together to encourage our church and community to reduce, reuse and recycle to promote a healthy environment and pursue sustainable practices which honor and protect God's creation.

The youth chili cook-off was a huge success!