2022-12-11 Beacon

WELCOME

Shalimar UMC

Lead Pastor

Dr. Philip McVay

Dr. Brad Bradford Worship Pastor

Rev. David Garvin Youth Pastor

Rev. Matt Langford Associate Pastor

Gerald Batton Custodian

Chris Bennett Facility & Maintenance Manager

Pat Brantley Office Administrative Assistant

Abigail Denney Media & Communications

Joy Harris Financial Assistant

Denise Heath Finance

Sarah Hicks

Children’s Director

Karen Jadin Preschool Director

Tony Mallini Interim Church Administrator

Heyward McKenzie Chef

Katie Pascoe Nursery Director

Leigh J. Rice Respite Director

Dawn Rozofsky After School & Camp Director

Ben Savage Worship Arts

Jeremy Thiess Ministries Assistant

After Hours Emergency Pastoral Assistance

Dr. Philip McVay: (850) 607-1133

Dr. Brad Bradford: (850) 227-4328

Rev. David Garvin: (850) 319-0072

Rev. Matt Langford: (334) 437-3931

Table Of Contents

Our Vision

Tite Text Here Page No.

This Sunday in Worship Page 5

Philip’s Focus Page 6

What’s Happening | Church Life Page 8

Weekly Schedule Page 10

2022 Advent Calendar Page 12 Christmas Eve Services Page 13

Missions Advent Calendar Page 15

Page 16

The Bread House

Joyful Place Page 17

Our Mission

We REACH out to our congregation, community, and the world. We TEACH the word of God as provided in the Holy-Scripture.

We SEND our members and missionaries to be witnesses to God’s grace and His promise of eternal life.

Worship Services

Sunday at Shalimar

Traditions: 8AM & 11AM

Meet us in the Sanctuary as we celebrate through the rich traditions of our faith. Such as hymns led by organ and piano, seasonal vestments, and Traditional Methodist liturgy. Our Chancel Choir leads the 11AM service.

Connect: 9:30AM

Join us in the Sanctuary as we engage in a fourfold services of gathering, praise, ser vice of the Word, Holy Communion with candle stations of prayer, and sending forth. Worship is a blend of contemporary praise songs and upbeat hymns.

Freedom: 11:07AM

Located in the Family Life Center Gym as we come together and worship through modern music, Fellowship time, and listen to an inspirational message in a contemporary atmosphere.

This Sunday

in Worship

December 11, 2022

Advent 3: Joy & Elizabeth

8AM | TRADITIONS | SANCTUARY

In Person & Online

Chancel Choir and Orchestra Christmas Musical, Love Was Born a King

9:30AM | SANCTUARY

In Person & Online

Chancel Choir and Orchestra Christmas Musical, Love Was Born a King

11AM

| TRADITIONS | SANCTUARY

In Person & Online

Chancel Choir and Orchestra Christmas Musical, Love Was Born a King

11:07AM

| FAMILY LIFE CENTER

In Person & Online

Message by Rev. Matt Langford Worship Led by Ben Savage and The Freedom Team

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

- Luke 1:39-45 NIV

Philip’s Focus

Advent Brings Glimpses of Emmanuel

This is my 47th year serving in ministry during Advent. Oh, my goodness… Advent is such an incredibly special season! You can feel it in the air there is anticipation, excitement, wonder, and constant glimpses of mystery even Emmanuel “God with us.”

Of course, there is another influence that competes with the human condition. This spirit comes from the Evil one who always tries to wreck the message and work of God. The devil’s strategy is to distract everyone to think the season is about them and not Jesus. He can just relish in a season when there is over commercialization, greed, exhausting calendars, and most of all Christmas becomes about us instead of Jesus!

How do we counter? We counter by returning to the meaning of Advent. This JOURNEY becomes a time when we change our pace to get to know God better. How do we do this? There are three words I would like to offer you as a starting point.

The first word is CALM. The 23rd Psalm says, “Lord leads us beside still waters.” I think of this verse often when I need to slow down and gaze at the beautiful waters in our area. In fact, the name Shalimar means “by the beautiful water.” Our church name would then be understood as “By the Beautiful Water United Methodist Church.” What a great image for our church to be a people where our souls are by the still waters of God.

When we stay calm, we slow our souls down. We begin to quiet our soul from the noise, voices, and activity that clammers everything must be done now. We might even engage in less social media, television, and the barrage of bad news. Quiet and calm seem kindred to me. Zachariah was made mute when his wife Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist. His quietness for months was used by God in preparing for the birth of John the Baptist. This special baby also had a significant role. John would have the privilege of introducing Jesus. In our quiet and calm, we too prepare for Jesus’ coming.

The second word is THOUGHTFUL. Recently, I walked by the beautiful Chrismon Tree in our sanctuary. Instead of walking past in my frenzy of busyness, I stopped and gazed at the symbolic gold and white Chrismons adorning the tree. Each Chrismon is a symbol expressing something specific about the beautiful message of Jesus…a dove for the Prince of Peace, and various “X’s” which are symbols for Christ and His Lordship. When I returned to my office, I studied more about the meaning of Chrismon’s. As it turns out the “X” was a symbol of Christ for those around 2000 years ago who could not read. Wow! How awesome the symbols tell the message of Jesus both then and now! The wonder and exploration of the meaning of Chrismon deepened my thoughts about Advent. Becoming more thoughtful helps us engage in the glory of God.

The third word is PRAYERFUL. Preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus this Advent is a

journey of Prayer. What do we pray about? Pray about that which makes you afraid. Ask God to calm your fears. Ask, seek, and knock to resolve problems and open doors of op portunity. Pray for others that have health and life issues. Pray to draw closer to God and see His glory! Pray for whatever is on your mind today. Pray you will journey to celebrate Jesus’ birth this year.

I pray these three words will help you in Advent. Be CALM, THOUGHTFUL, and PRAYERFUL. May the good news of Jesus’ birth keep you in this time and even give you glimpses of Emmanuel!

Shalom Philip

Lead Pastor Dr. Philip McVay philip@shalimar-umc.org

Stay Up To Date CHURCH LIFE

with what’s happening at Shalimar United Methodist Church.

On Sundya, December 18 our Youth Choir is hosting their Dinner Theater Preview Party in the music Suite. There will be door prizes, food, and fun!

After the Preview Party, join the rest of the youth group at their Annual Winter Bonfire from 5-7pm. It’s the last Sunday of the year for youth!

Join us as we carol around Shalimar on Sunday, December 18. We will meet in the Family Life Center at 1:30pm and go from there. All singing voices are welcome!

If you have any questions please contact, the church office at (850) 651-0721 or office@shalimar-umc.org

We would love for you and your family to join us at any of our three Christmas Eve Services. All services include Holy Communion.

For more information about each service see page 13.

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WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, December 11

SS Adults 9:30AM

SS Youth 9:30AM

SS Special Buddies 9:30AM

Kidz Worship 9:30AM Kidz Worship 11AM Special Buddies 5PM Student Worship 5PM ReBoot 7PM

Monday, December 12

Bread House 9AM Threads of Love 10AM

Connect Rehearsal 5:30PM Lighthouse Rehearsal 6PM Alanon 6PM AA 8PM

Tuesday, December 13

Joyful Place 10AM

3rd Grade Bible Study 3:30PM

Blue Star Moms 5:30PM

Freedom Rehearsal 5:30PM

Joy Ringers Bell Rehearsal 5:45PM

Prayer Group 6PM

Men’s Group 6PM

Wednesday, December 14

Bread House 9AM Splash of Joy 2 9:30AM Blessings for Children 10AM ReBoot Graduation 5PM Fellowship Dinner 5PM Youth Small Groups 5PM Shalimar Kidz 5:30PM Advent Bible Study 5:45PM Gloryland Rehearsal 6PM Rejoice Rehearsal 6PM Choir Rehearsal 6PM AA 8PM

Thursday, December 15

Joyful Place 10AM 4th & 5th Graders 3:30PM Alzheimer Support Group 6PM EC Barbershop 6:30PM

Friday, December 16

Bread House 9AM Above the Rim 9PM

Saturday, December 17 Pickleball 9AM

announcements & articles

If you are interested and are available, we are in need of bus drivers on Sunday monings!

Every Sunday morning we pick up those who need a ride to the 11am service from the senior living community, The Meridian at Westwood. If this is something you feel led towards or have any questions, please contact Keith Latimer at (850) 218-2366

MISSIONS MAKING

A DIFFERENCE Advent Offering

Listed below are the beneficiaries of the Advent Offering:

Children in Crisis (CIC)

Ukraine Resettlement Program

Ministry

I am pleased that Bishop Graves has chosen to focus on Prayer during the Advent season. Please read the article below and join us in Prayer throughout Advent.

-James Brantley Shalimar UMC Prayer Ministry Team Coordinator

Year of Prayer

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is centering its work around prayer in the coming liturgical year. Daily conference work, meetings and conferences will all have prayer as the focus.

The first prayers are centered around Advent. Below you will find the date, scripture passage, prayer prompt and the verse or verses.

Musical selections, written by Rev. Darrin Isaac of Pt. Washington UMC, are available below in a video format and sheet music.

Joyful Place

Our friends and volunteers made super cute doggie bone ribbons for 4 legged friends at our local animal shelter. We hope all the dogs find loving homes before Christmas. We love completing meaning and fun projects that bring JOY to all.

Thank you to Denise Heath for donating the perfect Christmas tree to us. We have decided to fill the tree with ornaments with the word JOY or JOYFUL on them. Our friends have made JOY ornaments and we are also asking for others to add to our festive tree with other ornaments with the words JOY or on them. Ornaments can be previously loved, hand made or purchased.

If you have one you’d like to add to our tree, feel free to bring it by on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 10 and 2.