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 EmilyEMILY'S MESSAGE  
Family Christmas Service, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m.
Our children and youth lead us in Christmas carols, reading Scripture and a retelling of the Christmas story. A family favorite service for all ages. Cookies in the Courtyard and on the preschool playground following the service. In the Sanctuary.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Confirmation
We need two more Small Group Leaders for our Confirmation classes that run January through April. We will meet on Sunday evenings from 5:30-8 p.m. and each class has two adult leaders. If you are interested contact  Dave.

Christmas in the hospital can be bland. A few stockings hang at the main desk, a paper animal in a holiday scarf hangs on a wall. The staff work their best, create a cheerful mood, while in the center of the room, a motorcycle group brings stuffed animals for every child in the ward at Christmas. Each child is there for their own reason, but the truth of the holidays is not every family is having a happy Christmas.
 

We sometimes think of Christmas as a time to receive, to receive gifts and spend with with family. But all around the world are those away from home, in the military, bed bound in a hospital, or perhaps feeling too poor to celebrate. There are many reasons ones magical holiday is not full of magic.

God is with each and every one of these people, and us all. While those of us fortunate celebrate, lets keep all those struggling in our prayers. 

 

Melanie Shepherd

Communications Connector 

Plant High School, Junior

BIRTHDAYS
December Birthdays:

 

23 - Caileigh Potter
23 - AndrewWiltshire
23 - Jacqueline Brooker
24 - Andrew Puckett
24 - MatthewMulfinger
24 - Mark Mulfinger
26 - Madeleine Townsend
26 - Jake Connery
26 - Garrett Schneider
27 - Jackson Spurgin
27 - Skylar Casanova
28 - Ryan Holcomb
29 - Olivia Schmiedeke
30 - Kayla Nelson
30 - Blair Tolrud
31 - Thomas Harmon II
31 - Peter Duryea
31 - Andrew Duryea
31 - Megan Green 

Middle School Sunday School, Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
No Programming for Dec. 26 & Jan 4

Merge
No activities until Jan. 4. Enjoy the holiday!Merge - No Programming on Dec. 26

Sunday, Jan. 4, 5:30 p.m. 
What are you afraid of? Spiders? The dark? People who twerk? Most of us have at least a few things that scare us. Sometimes they're surface fears. Simple fears. But most of us also have a few deeper fears. Those are the ones that we don't talk about as much. And, if we're not careful, they will cause us to miss out on some really great things in life. Zacchaeus was a little man with some big fear. Fear that controlled him and caused him to keep a safe distance from everyone, including Jesus. In his story we find that getting to know Jesus and what he really cares about, can flip our fear and lead us closer to him. Remember to bring a friend and you both get a free gift. Dinner is $5 in the Harnish Activity Center.

Middle School Bible Study, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
No Programming Dec. 24 and Dec. 31

 NewsNEWS AND EVENTS 
Scholarship Opportunities
Calling all high school seniors and current Hyde Park college students (of any level including those continuing on to grad school)! There may be scholarship opportunities available to you! For more information and for the application, seniors click here and college students click here. Deadline is March 31, 2015.

High School Mission Trip, Guatemala
(July 19-25)
Groups will partner with local ministries and churches to serve those in need through hands-on projects to bring homes back to livable conditions. Youth will minister in the community through children's outreach ministry and serving in clothing and food distribution centers. Cost is $1,200 with deposit due in December. Click here to sign up.

Confirmation 
Are you a 7th-12th grade student ready to grow deeper in your faith?  We would love to have you join us on the Confirmation Journey! Confirmation Kick-Off is January 4, 2015 in the Magnolia Building. Classes will be held Sunday evenings from 6-8 p.m. from January through March. Click here to sign up!
DatesIMPORTANT DATES 
Click here to view a calendar.


 December

Today: Nicaragua Family Mission Trip Deposit due ($650)

Tuesday: Family Christmas Service, 5:30 p.m., Sanctuary
24, 28, 31: No Merge activities 

 

January

4: Confirmation Kick-Off, 6 p.m., WC 3rd floor

4: Merge resumes, 5:30-8 p.m., AC

7: High School Mission Trip Deposit Due ($600)
18: No Merge due to Martin Luther King Weekend
24: Gasparilla Parking Fundraiser, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 

Building Key:

HAC = Harnish Activities Center, KH = Knox Hall, MB = Magnolia Building,WC = Wesley Center

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Hyde Park United Methodist
Youth Ministry
500 W. Platt St.
Tampa, FL 33606
813.253.5388