On Saturday, December 1st, at Fisk Memorial UMC in Natick, Millard Fuller will bring the keynote address at the UM Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Celebration.  For more information, see the Foundation website at www.umfnc.org, or call 800-595-4347.

Help others with your Christmas purchases this year and come to the Alternative Christmas Market on Sunday, December 2nd, in Martin Hall.  The Market will be open during the Family Pancake Breakfast (8-9AM) and during Fellowship Time (10:30 - 11:00AM).  Consider these possibilities:

Buy a Chicken or a Sheep....Or Even a Cow....for someone you love and support Heifer Project International.  You will be given a gift certificate that you can wrap up as a Christmas present that explains how you honored the recipient.

Buy a Kitchen Sink, or a Closet Door or Carpet for a Bedroom...for someone this Christmas and support the building of the 2nd Lexington Habitat House in Roxbury.  A gift certificate will be issued. 

A Gift Can Be Made to Our Friends in La Borgoña, Nicaragua, if you make  a donation to honor someone at the Nicaraguan Table. 

A Donation to the Waltham Battered Women's Shelter will gift a woman and her children with Christmas presents. 

Fair Trade Coffee will be for sale. What a great stocking stuffer!!

A Gift from Palestine....crafts made in the Holy Land by Palestinians will be for sale.  Each item will benefit a Palestinian craftsperson. 

Amnesty International will have its own table at our market.  Letter writing on behalf of political prisoners will be encouraged and gift certificates to benefit Amnesty will also be available. 

Members of the Children’s Choir will be taking a field trip on Thursday, December 13, to see a festival of lessons and carols presented by the Children’s Choir at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street in Boston.  The program is free, begins at 6:00 pm, and lasts a little over an hour.

The group will meet at the church parking lot at 3:45 and go to the Alewife T stop.  We will take the T downtown, get a bite to eat before the program, and will probably be home by 8:30.  See Becky Linton if you’d like to come along with the group.

The Christmas Pageant, “Journey to Bethlehem”, will be presented during our morning worship service on Sunday, December 16.  The dress rehearsal for all participants is on Saturday, December 15, from 10 am to 12 noon in the sanctuary.

All are invited to Martin Hall for brunch immediately after the pageant.  The Christian Education Committee is looking for volunteers to bring quiche or fruit for the brunch.  Sign up with Louise Kreutziger.

Pilgrim Church will offer a Longest Night Service on Wednesday, December 19th, at 7:30 pm.  This service of scripture, prayer, and music will acknowledge God's presence for those who mourn and struggle with ill health, insecurity, the pain of isolation, broken relationships.  God's Word is a light that shines forth in the darkness.  If you have a friend who might benefit from this service, invite him or her to accompany you.  Rev.  Susan and a number of the clergy from the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association will take part in the service.

  
  
Open House at the Parsonage
Sunday, December 23,
following morning worship

The Morrisons invite you to walk or drive to the Parsonage for a time of fellowship and light refreshments.  All are welcome!

Lighting a Candle for Peace

As a practice of mindfulness and prayer for a peaceful, non-violent resolution to the conflict that permeates our world today, please light a candle in a window of your home. The candle is intended to be a visible symbol of our hope for peace, our love for our nation, our compassion for the victims, and our commitment to being faithful disciples in difficult times. Let us light the candle daily as long as the current conflict persists.