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Fairhaven UMC

E-Messenger

Thursday, December 12, 2024

 

Mission:  To Love, Live and Serve like Jesus

in our church, community and world.

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Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! During the season of Advent, we have a time of spiritual preparation to open our hearts to the Divine presence in our midst. May this be a holy time of anticipation as we prepare for Christ’s coming among us. We hope you enjoy your weekly e-newsletter and pray you will read the many announcements about the ministries and activities of Fairhaven UMC and the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

 

Sunday Worship

Join us in person or online at 10:30 a.m. as we continue our Advent series Come, Let Us Adore Him. Leah Huggins will offer the message this week, inspired by Isaiah 12:2-6. The Sanctuary Choir will sing Angels We Have Heard on High by David Lanz III. Andy Mollard will accompany on drums.

 

The link to last Sunday’s worship service: LINK

 

Happening This Week

Sunday is the last day to order Poinsettias:  If you wish to donate to receive a poinsettia that you can take home after Christmas they are $13 each. Please complete a Christmas Poinsettia Order Form. Please make checks out to Fairhaven with Poinsettias on the memo line and give check or cash to Bunny Kowalski. Poinsettias - $13 red or white.

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Save the Dates For Future Events!

December 22: Christmas Cookie Coffee Hour

December 24: Christmas Eve Family service, 7pm; Candlelight service, 10pm

January 25: MLK Prayer Service

 

Additional New and Important Updates

Santa Visiting: Santa Claus visited with several of Fairhaven's children and adults last week. The children made a special request that he return again this week (December 15) during Coffee Hour. Kids young and old are invited to visit and have a picture taken with the "jolly, old elf!"

 

Christmas Eve Worship Services – Tuesday, December 24th - 7:00 pm – Family-friendly Service: our children and youth lead us in a celebration of Christ’s birth (in person and online) Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 892 8116 3333   Passcode: 299928   301 715 8592

10:00 pm – Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols – Holy Communion will be celebrated (in-person only)

 

Nativity Display in Garden Room: As he has done in recent years, Jason Clawson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kentlands has generously loaned us a number of nativity scenes.  These are now on display in the Garden Room.  There is a much larger group of nativities on display at the Mormon Church itself.  They also have what they describe as “an immersive biblical retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ.”  This a unique display of synchronized music, narration, and light, illuminating timeless Nativity masterpieces.”  Showings are at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm on December 13th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.  All members of Fairhaven are invited to attend one of the showings.

 

We join the rest of the world in rejoicing over the restoration of Notre Dame, one of the great icons of the Christian faith for almost all denominations. Please take a few moments to enjoy an“Amazing Grace” performance from the recent re-opening ceremony at Notre Dame. The singer is Pretty Yende, a South African coloratura soprano who is making quite a name for herself in the opera world.  LINK

 

Teacher/Staff Appreciation opportunity for our Jones Lane partner school: The Community Engagement Team invites you to consider volunteering to provide a crockpot of soup for lunch on Wednesday, December 18th at Jones Lane Elementary School feeding 55 staff, or help set up the lunch tables and food at 11:15 am that day. Please let Sylvia Craig know if you can do either (funnysyl@yahoo.com or 785-554-4074). Thanks!

 

Christmas Cookie Coffee Hour:   ALL OF US are invited to be Coffee Hour hosts next Sunday, Dec. 22.  If you would like to participate, please bring a plate with a dozen cookies (homemade or store-bought) and a note indicating who they are from. This is not a cookie exchange, but sandwich bags will be provided if there are any leftovers.

 

Share your Christmas Cards with your Fairhaven Family.  Send one of your cards to the church (12801 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD  20878) and all cards will be displayed on the church bulletin board.

 

New Member Classes: If you have been attending and worshiping with us for a time and would like to know more about Fairhaven UMC, membership classes are being planned for early in the new year. If you are interested in becoming a member of Fairhaven UMC or if you know anyone who may be interested, please contact Debbie Miller 301-538-2486 or drmiller323@gmail.com.

 

OUTREACH-Lord’s Table:  We are looking for volunteers to prepare, serve and cleanup on Tuesday, December 31st from 1-3 pm and 3-5 pm. Thank you to those of you who answered our request for help Thanksgiving weekend. If you are able to assist on either or both of these shifts next month, please contact Debbie Miller. Thank you so much for your continued giving spirit. 

 

2025 Financial Commitments:  If you have not done so, please complete and return your 2025 Commitment cards. Your pledges help us to plan for ministry in the coming year. Thank you, in advance, for your faithful giving.

 

MLK Service: Please mark your calendars for Saturday, January 25, 2025 for the annual MLK service.  Details to follow.

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The Pastor’s Bible Study: The Advent Study, On the Way to Bethlehem, by Rev. Rob Fuquay will conclude next week, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. in a hybrid format. Those gathering in person meet in the Garden Room. The next study will begin January 7.

 

News from Washington Region and 

Baltimore-Washington Conference   

Join in a fun spiritual practice. Plan to participate in the denomination’s Advent Photo-a-Day 2024.

 

To stay connected across the Baltimore-Washington Conference area, read the latest e-Connection or subscribe today.

 

Weekly Schedule 

Office Hours This Week: 

Pastor Ken:  Tuesday 9:30-4 p.m.; Wednesday 10-4

Rita Green:  Mon. – Thurs., 9 am - noon

 

Sunday Worship: Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ZOOM Link   

Meeting ID: 156 030 351         Passcode: 324036        Dial-In: 301 715 8592   

We ask that you remain muted during the Sunday service once worship has started. The service is edited and posted to our YouTube channel within a couple of hours after the service concludes. 

 

Pastor’s Bible Study: will meet online, Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 9:30 a.m. to conclude our Advent Study, On the Way to Bethlehem, chapter 4 by Rev. Rob Fuquay.

ZOOM LINK    Meeting ID:  775 496 640   Passcode: 656327 Dial-In 301 715 8592

 

Adult Bible Study:  Tuesday Evenings 7-8 pm by Zoom.  Mala Prasad is leading a study on The Bible With and Without Jesus by Amy Jill Levine and Marc Zivi   Brettler.   ZOOM LINK   Meeting ID:  811 8541 4235 Dial-In 301 715 8592

 

Weekly Prayer Service: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Need a mid-week spiritual lift? All are welcome to join us online at 7:00 p.m. for our weekly Thursday evening prayer service. ZOOM LINK. 

 

Grief Support Group:  Will meet in person on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 pm.  If you are interested in participating in the group, please reach out to Rev. Gerry at therevjr@msn.com for more details.  

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Of Continuing Interest... 

Remember our Sick and Shut-ins 

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Contact Information 

Pastor Ken Hawes:  pastorken.fairhavenumc@gmail.com; 240-329-7638 

Deacon Megan Blanchard: rev.megan.blanchard@gmail.com  

Rita Green: fairhavenumc@gmail.com,  301- 648-8294

Christina Mollard: ycmollard@gmail.com  

Leah Huggins:  lhuggins1306@students.wesleyseminary.edu 

 

General Announcements 

Financial Giving to Fairhaven: Thank you for your continued generosity for the ministry of Christ through Fairahaven UMC. There are 3 ways to make an offering:

 

You may designate your gift to several funds:

  • General Fund: the primary fund covering budgeted expenses

  • Discretionary Fund: helps people in need on an emergency basis (at the pastor’s discretion)

  • Capital Expenses: for ongoing church building needs

  • Invest in Fairhaven: a specific capital campaign to do building upgrades

  • Building Use: for community members who use the building to pay their use fees

  • Other funds are activated-deactivated through the year for specific causes (Huree, SAVE, UMCOR, etc)

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