December 17th, 2015
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are due in the office each week by noon Wednesday for publication the following day. Submissions may be edited for length, accuracy, or clarity. 

Need a Ride?

Do you need a ride to Sunday worship, a church meeting or study group, a doctor's visit, or other transportation need? If so, call Celeste Maia Cron 530-304-5524 or email [email protected]."

From the Trustees
If you see something that needs repair or replacement please contact Brian Horsfield at 503-902-5796 or email to [email protected].
This Sunday, December 20th
Worship at 8:30 and 11:00 am

Theme: "For Everyone Born: A Place for Joy Too!"
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-55

The reading from Luke's gospel shares a tone of celebration! Mary rejoices in God! The child in Elizabeth's womb leaps for joy! In lieu of a sermon, this Sunday the choir will offer John Rutter's Gloria, a very celebratory piece, as we emphasize the tone and feeling of celebration on this Advent Sunday closest to Christmas. We find the thematic tie between scripture and hymn through Advent liturgy and prayer, rather than through the sermon. Mary was too young to be a mother; her cousin Elizabeth was too old (it was thought) to conceive. Generations connect, expecting yet a new generation. Luke's gospel (in the Magnificat) says, "God shows mercy to everyone from one generation to the next." When the pregnant Mary greets the pregnant Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth's womb "jumps for joy!" Our hymn reminds us of the connection between young and old.

Special Offering: "Help the Homeless"
Donations go to support Davis Community Meals and Habitat for Humanity


Classes
9:45 amChildren's ChoirEducation Wing
9:45 amAdult Bible Study
Topic: "Dedication of the Firstborn"

Rothe Room
9:45 amContemporary Issues Forum
Topic: "Paris, San Bernardino, and Muslims in America" with Helen Roland

Walker Room
11:00 amChildren's Sunday School
Topic: "Advent IV"
Pre-K - K Teachers: Sarah Williams and Alice Harvey
1st - 6th Teachers: John Uhte and Brian Williams

Education Wing
6:00 pmYouth Group
White Elephant Gift Exhange
Grace Cafe

Other Events
12:10 pmChristmas Pageant Rehearsal

Sanctuary
12:30 pmChristmas Band Rehearsal

Walker Room
7:00 pmBlue Christmas Service
The "Blue Christmas" service offers a message of comfort and hope to help us through times of struggle during the holidays. All are invited to attend. Childcare will be provided.

Can you help move furniture? Please come at 6:15 if you can help us set up the Sanctuary. We need a few strong backs! RSVP to Pastor Kelly so we'll know if we have enough muscle. 
Sanctuary

Events
1. 
Unity & Peace Rally for San Bernardino 
Against Hate, Dec. 19th 

Saturday, December 19th from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the State Capitol hosted by MLK 365, the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento, and many more. 

For more info, contact Helen Roland at [email protected].

2. Contemporary Issues Forum This Sunday:  "Paris, San Bernardino, and Muslims in America" with Helen Roland.  

The DVD "An American Mosque" documents the destruction of the new Islamic Center in Yuba City, CA in 1994. The attack was the first hate crime to destroy a mosque in the US. This film shows how many other faith congregations in the community banded together to support the Muslims and to show that all Americans are entitled to a religious sanctuary and the right to practice their religion openly. Helen will comment on the current anti-Muslim backlash and the need for community support as in Yuba City.

3. Christmas Band Rehearsal Schedule

All are welcome to join this band which traditionally plays at the first Christmas Eve service. Rehearsals will be help on Sunday, Dec. 20th in the Walker Room and Wednesday, Dec. 23rd at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary.  For more information, contact Stan Johnson at [email protected] .

Announcements
1. Church Finances - 2016 Budget

If you haven't already read the December 6th appeal letter from Pastor Kelly with information about the church's current financial position, please do. You can find it here.

If you are planning to make a pledge for 2016, or increase your pledge, you can download a pledge form here or find one in the brochure rack in the Narthex (lobby to the sanctuary). 

For those of you wishing to make one-time special gifts to help us avoid budget cuts, you can turn in a check or cash to the church office, or mail it, or place it in the offering plate. Please include a note so we know this is a special gift and not part of your 2015 pledge. (See article below if you want to make sure gifts count for your 2015 taxes.)

Thank you so much for your support of DUMC!

2. Year-End Giving Policy


In order to comply with IRS guidelines regarding year-end giving, all donations must either be received in person by December 31st or postmarked by December 31st if mailed. 

For mail-in donations received on or after December 31st, the envelopes will be retained in order to confirm that the donations were postmarked by December 31st.  Financial Secretaries will verify the postmark dates and will retain the envelopes with the Income Statement files in the church office.  If you are working with a banking or other financial institution to make your donation, you must ensure that the institution can provide the December 31st postmark.

For drop-in donations, staff will be available on Thursday, Dec 31st until 12 NOON to accept your walk-in donations for 2015.
 
3. 
Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter Update

Things are going smoothly at the shelter and our guests are grateful to have a warm dinner and place to sleep. Thank you for the many ways you support this ministry.

We have a family staying at the shelter this week. Grandma, mom and four children are recently homeless and came here in their van from Alameda County. All of the women's shelters are full. We are blessed to have "room at the inn", they are sleeping in Grace Caf�.

Please hold this family in prayer and all of our community who are trying to help them.

4. Davis Community Meals Needs Microwaveable Foods

The shelter is in DESPERATE need of food that can be microwaved:

Lasagna
Taquitos
Burritos
Cup-o-noodle
Etc...

It can be dropped off at 1111 H Street between 8 am and 12 pm Monday-Friday barring Holidays! 

Harmony Scopazzi
Volunteer Coordinator
Davis Community Meals
Phone: (530) 220-4089
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.daviscommunitymeals.org

Davis United Methodist Church | 530-756-2170 | [email protected] |
1620 Anderson Road
Davis, CA 95616