Wow, we have an amazing church community filled with Saints who have stepped up in awesome ways to help with the BBQ after Jeanne and Chucks car accident on Monday. Saints is a funny word that people often think only apply to the dead and yet we who have faith are called Saints. It is holy mystery how we are sinners and yet through our faith in Jesus Christ we are called Saints! Yet, that is what Scripture declares to be true and I give praise for that.
We also give praise that through faith in Jesus we can be assured we will one day be with those Saints that have already been laid to rest. This Sunday in worship we take time to remember the Saints and especially the Saints in our church family that have gone on to their glory this year! It is always a moving service when we take time to honor the Saints we miss and one day will be with again.
Some have brought pictures to place on the table where we will light candles of rememberence. Other pictures will be up on the screen for everyone to see. We add to the collage of pictures on the screen every year which means the faces in the picture collage keep getting smaller but that does not mean our love of them has faded. If you wish you can still bring a picture to place on the table Sunday morning or you can just bring a picture of your loved one to have in your hand during the service.
This is a Communion Sunday and just like last month we will be offering it in many ways. I will offer the bread of life to all who come up BUT we will also have bags of individual bread on the table for any who want to be more COIVD safe. On the table will be 2 chalices that you can dip your bread into. There will also be a ceramic container that will hold individual cups of sealed juice for those that want to be more COVID safe. For those that want communion but are trying to be extra, extra COVID safe you can come up after the service and receive from the table elements that were consecrated for you to take with you. Those of you joining us from home please feel free to assemble elements to be blessed and join us at God's Table of Grace that extends to meet us wherever we are. This month our communion offering will go to a couple of local mission projects where we are doing some small repairs on homes. And this month we focus on the fact that when we come to the communion table the Saints join us at the feast.
We are not passing offering plates so the wooden boxes are available to put your offering in. Of course you can also give online, use text to give (844-406-0358), or mail in the offering to church. In addition, we will be collecting prayers in the prayer box on the table in the parlor. Also, if you have announcement that you need to be shared please write them down and give them to me before the service. This will be an ongoing practice for prayers and announcements to help ensure that they are heard and understood by all (especially those worshipping with us virtually).
If people are not able to join us in the sanctuary for worship we continue to livestream at 8am (it will be available to view after too) services via Facebook ,(https://www.facebook.com/tomscreekumc) or YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6E7eCwH2ZGYspkSCF0CGw). If you join and follow our Facebook page or subscribe to our YouTube channel, they will let you know when we are live. You can always watch any videos we post later because we leave them up. Also Sunday afternoon a shortened version is available on our website and on YouTube.
Don't forget to invite people to come to our BBQ fundraiser this Saturday from 11am-5pm for amazing food. Also invite them to come to church this Sunday. It is going to be a moving and powerful service.
Blessings,
PH


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