(Amanda Leeser for New Ministry Strategies) - Advent is in full swing, and Christmas is just around the corner. Although most churches have Advent and Christmas traditions established, the new church plants are forming traditions of their own.
Restoration UMC
Cottondale, FL
Restoration UMC kicked off Advent with a workday and decorated for Christmas. They hosted a booth at the Cottondale Christmas Festival where they shared information about the church and their upcoming Celebrate Recovery program that starts on January 1
st.
On Christmas Eve at 7:30 PM, they will have their candlelight and communion service.
Resurrection Fellowship UMC
DeFuniak Springs, FL
For each Advent Sunday at 9:30 AM,
Resurrection Fellowship UMC is having the Traditional Advent Candle-Lighting. On Christmas Eve, they will celebrate communion at the Woodlawn Community Center, which will be followed by a potluck luncheon.
Earlier this month, they had their All-Church Christmas Party. On December 17
th, they launched their monthly outreach at Chautauqua Nursing Home where they will sing carols and preach a short devotional message. Each resident who attends the service will receive church stoneware logo cups filled with goodies.
Emerald Coast Fellowship
Destin/Niceville/Crestview, FL
This up-and-coming church start currently meets at various sites for Sunday worship, but they will have their Christmas Eve Service at 4 PM at St. Andrews by the Sea in Destin.
3 Rivers UMC
Grand Ridge, FL
They hosted a Little Debbie cake walk booth at the Grand Ridge Christmas Festival on Friday, December 8
th.
Three Rivers UMC is just now getting their chairs and other furniture set up in their worship space, and they look forward to doing more events in January.
Magnolia UMC
Gulf Shores, AL
Magnolia UMC will have a Christmas Eve Service on Sunday morning at 9 AM. They’ll end with communion and then light the Christmas Candle and sing “Silent Night” by candlelight.
Foundry UMC
Opelika, AL
Throughout December,
Foundry UMC is collecting non-perishable food items and other necessities in anticipation of installing the “Foundry Free Pantry” on their campus. The pantry will be outside of the building and is there for anyone in need – no questions asked.
They had a Christmas party for the children, and they made ornaments to decorate the Christmas Tree in the fellowship hall. On the 10
th, they held a Modern Service of Lessons and Carols, which is their unique spin on the classic Lessons and Carols Service.
They are partnering with Auburn UMC and Grace UMC (Auburn) for a Longest Night Service on Wednesday, December 20
th at 5:30 PM. It will be held at Grace UMC, but the pastors from each church will be a part of the service.
Their Christmas Eve Service of Candlelight & Communion will be at 4:30 PM.
Open Door UMC
Pace, FL
On December 10
th, they held a worship service at Spirit Stables with Rev. Nancy Hart on December 10th.
Open Door UMC brought Christmas to over 50 underprivileged children and then had a devotional service with them. For the following Sunday, they worshipped at St. Mary’s Episcopal and had their
How a Weary World Rejoices Discipleship Study after the service.
Their Christmas Eve Worship will be held at Florida-town Park at 4 PM.
Abide UMC
Panama City, FL
During the Advent season,
Abide UMC is studying Adam Hamilton's
Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas.
Their Christmas Eve Service will be at 9 AM which will be followed by a potluck brunch.
Hiland Park UMC and The Ark
Panama City, FL
Hiland Park UMC provided a Christmas Eve worship for our Transformational Recovery Mission (TRM) on Sunday, December 17th. At the end of the service, they had a traditional Christmas Eve candle lighting.
On Christmas Eve 10 AM, they will take their worship service on the road to AWARE, a women's drug rehab program just north of Panama City, FL. Each year, the women of AWARE graciously and joyfully come to Hiland Park and decorate the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas.
The Ark mission took part in the Panama City Beach Christmas Parade on Saturday December 9th. Leadership, residents, and children of the Ark all took part in constructing the float and entering it into the parade.
Pike Road UMC
Pike Road, AL
It is a season of “firsts” for
Pike Road UMC: the first time they’ll light an Advent wreath and the first time they’ll hold their candlelight communion service.
They are working with their local schools to show their appreciation for the teachers, administrators, and staff as this semester comes to a close. They’re also partnering with Grace Episcopal to do outreach for “front line” workers who continue to serve others on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Pike Road UMC has their Sunday worship services in the chapel of Grace Episcopal Church. Between the two churches, they will have three Christmas Eve services: at 3:30 PM, a Children’s Service; at 5 PM, Candlelight Communion (Episcopal Liturgy); and at 8 PM, Candlelight Communion (Methodist Liturgy).
Grace UMC
Prattville, AL
Grace UMC has adopted a family of 6 from the community and are helping to provide their four children with Christmas. They are filling the family’s pantry with food as well.
They are having their Lessons of Carols service on December 17
th. On Christmas Eve, they are holding their Candlelight Service at 5 PM.
Wesley UMC
Troy, AL
Wesley UMC has been holding an Advent lectionary study on Sunday afternoons at 4 PM via Zoom. They will also have a special time of prayer for the international students at Troy and the students at the Wesley Foundation at Troy.
