Hi, Friends!
In light of the recent surge coming off of the Thanksgiving holiday, we met with our COVID Advisory Team in collaboration with the Board to determine the safest and most responsible way forward with our Advent gatherings. After much discussion, we decided to take this weekend off from in-person gatherings. This will allow us to take the time needed to examine and tighten our safety protocol and make sure we have the safest ways to gather going forward. It also allows one more week of distance in case anyone was exposed during Thanksgiving travel. Next week we plan to return to gathering with some extra protocols in place (like increased spacing between seats, temperature checks, etc.). Our goal is to continue to move through advent together as safely as possible.
So, that also means we have decided to postpone the Advent Liturgy for Families with kids by one week, but we still have a special and safe drive-by event happening tomorrow during the time we would have had the liturgy in the park. Read on for all the details!
Saturday, December 5th
We will be at the church tomorrow at 10:30AM with hot cocoa, cookies, and some very special Advent materials for you to use at home. You can drive by anytime between 10:30-11:30AM and pick up your Advent supplies and yummy treats. Our kit has an Advent wreath for you to make and a special devotional just for families and kids. We want you to have it this week so that you can celebrate and "do" Advent well! Drive by on Union Street to pick up all your goodies from the safety of your car.
Saturday, December 12th
We will then have our Advent Liturgy for Families with Kids next Saturday at 10:30AM in the park with all the usual joy and fun. We hope you will join us both Saturdays for the chance to celebrate Advent and connect safely with one another!
Friends In Deed Gift Drive
As part of the Advent liturgy in the park, we are also inviting our families and kids to embrace a spirit of generosity and love for our neighbors. As you may know, each year at FBCP we participate in a gift drive for Friends In Deed. They know the neighbors in our city who are most in need, and we get the joy of buying Christmas gifts for them. This is a fun and special way that we get to love others and remember God's generosity to us. It's simple—just click on the button below to see the sign up sheet and all the instructions. We hope you will take a look at the list of kids and their gift wishes so that you have time to purchase something and bring it to our Family Liturgy on December 12th. Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for being Jesus to other kids in our neighborhood!
Winter Crafts
We've had pretty beautiful weather, but if you are craving some snow and ice then check out these fun activities to help bring winter into the house! In each project, use ice (or creative substitutes) to get hands-on with the “magic” of winter. I love the ice lanterns!
Sunday
Kids
This week we have another story for Advent and ways you can use your Advent wreath. We hope you will make time to celebrate as a family and really savor the days leading up to Christmas!
Youth
This week we will have a Youth Zoom gathering at noon, and we will be sending lunch via DoorDash! Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. Parents, I will send out an email to get their lunch orders.
Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!
With gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary