Mark your calendar for the 2nd Saturday of every month, 11:00–11:30 AM, and grab a warm, delicious meal to go! Just enter through door 14 and head to the kitchen. Know someone who could use a meal? Email MaryAnn at m.a.hamilton2@gmail.com, and let’s share the love! Don’t miss this chance to enjoy great food and brighten someone’s day—see you there!
After months of prayerful planning, Reach Beyond is ready to help PUMC extend its mission and share God’s love in powerful new ways! This inspiring project will transform our Worship Annex into a warm, welcoming hub for hospitality, outreach, and worship.
We’re making meaningful updates: replacing broken windows, upgrading 25-year-old carpet, modernizing the electrical panel, and adding cozy seating. The refreshed space will also feature a permanent prayer wall, art tracks, and more—a beautiful reflection of God’s love for all.
With a total project cost of $65,000, we’re already over halfway there! As of December 26, 2024, we’ve raised $37,888.66. Every gift brings us closer to our goal.
This revitalized space will bless PUMC and our community, offering new ways to connect, grow, and share the Good News of Christ. Your support matters—together, we can make this vision a reality.
Let’s do this, PUMC! The best is yet to come.
Are you looking for a community to connect with and deepen your faith? At PUMC, we understand the importance of fellowship and spiritual growth, which is why we’ve launched a new “Groups” page at pumc.org/groups. This page serves as a hub to help you find a variety of small groups and book studies that meet regularly, offering opportunities to grow in faith alongside others.
Whether you’re just beginning your faith journey or are looking to take the next step, our groups are open to all. You’ll find a supportive and welcoming environment where you can explore God’s word, share life experiences, and build lasting relationships. From Bible studies to prayer groups and fellowship gatherings, there’s something for everyone.
Each group is designed to provide a unique experience, and you can read detailed descriptions on the Groups page to find the one that aligns with your interests and needs. If you’re ready to join, simply contact the group leader for more information about meeting times and locations.
We invite you to explore the new “Groups” page and connect with others who share your faith and passions. Together, we can grow in Christ and support each other on this journey of faith.
This Sunday is packed with opportunities for fellowship, worship, and excitement with PUMC Youth! We’ll kick things off at 9:40 AM in Room 204 with a fun Youth Gathering—don’t miss the donuts and fellowship before worship starts. It’s a great time to connect with friends and get ready for a powerful morning!
At 10 AM, join us in Room 200 for Youth Worship as Brock Kinnamon brings an inspiring message titled The Influencer. We’ll reflect on how the Christmas season brings out the best in us—more kindness, more joy, and more grace. But what if the joy of Christmas doesn’t have to end after the season? This week’s message reminds us that Jesus’s arrival was meant to change everything, forever, and that His love and influence don’t fade after December. Be sure to read John 1:45-46 and John 3:16 ahead of time to dive deeper into this powerful message.
In addition to Sunday Worship, we’ve got some exciting events coming up!
Don’t miss this Sunday—there’s something for everyone! Let’s gather together to worship, grow, and look ahead to all the amazing things God has in store for us in the coming year! Questions? Contact Pastor Bob for more details. See you there!
Barbara Baker, in memory of my husband Bill and our parents
Betty Barding, in memory of loved ones, Keith Barding
Mary and Lori Bazan-Sargent, in memory of Ruth and Fred Sargent and Tom Bazan
Kay Blevins & Family, in memory of Jack Blevins, husband and father
Wanda Clark, in memory of our parents and grandparents
Carol Clem, in memory of Fred Clem
Carol and Clayton Foxworthy, in memory of our parents, Doyle and Rosemary Bilyeu and Lee Foxworthy
Cynthia Gaunt, in memory of Patty, Rich, our parents, and siblings in heaven
Norm and Mary Geible, in memory of our loving son, Nick Baar
John, Sue, Andy and Mollie Hylton, in memory of John’s parents and Andy’s and Mollie’s grandparents, Byron and Ellen Hylton, and Sue Castleman Hylton’s parents and Andy’s and Mollie’s grandparents, Tom and Thelma Castleman
Tamara and Terry Jones, in memory of Ken and Carolyn Jolly, and Jack and Carolyn Miller
Nick and Lori Kellum, in memory of Paul and Louise Kellum
Daniel and Debi Kinnamon, in memory of our mothers, Carol Edmondson and Valerie Clark
Melinda Lambert, in memory of Jean Lambert
Abby Lietz, in memory of my grandparents, Jim and Janet, Hafe and Rita
Rachel McGinn, in memory of Harry & Sally Mitchell, and Debbie McGinn
Brent and Jenny Miller, in memory of our parents, Bob Coffer and Jack Miller
Karen Carter Pennington, in memory of George and Marsilee Carter
Treva Rubsam, in memory of dearly loved ones in Heaven!
Larry and Anne Rudy, in memory of our grandson Brayden Smith
Jonathan and Prudence Sims, in memory of Earl and Evelyn Sims; Dennis LecClier
Vern and Lou Sullenger, in memory of Philip Sullenger and loved ones
Eleanor Vermillion & Family, in memory of Ed Vermillion
Judy Watts, in memory of Robert R. Watts, Charlotte M. Watts, and Robert C. Watts
Barbara Baker, in celebration of my children and grandchildren
Carol and Clayton Foxworthy, in celebration of our mother, Pat Foxworthy
Cynthia Gaunt, in celebration of our children and grandchildren
Jane Iles, in celebration of Lynn Blosser’s music ministry to PUMC
Jane and Tom Iles, in celebration of our children, Kimberly, Laura and David, and our grandchildren, Henry, Gracelyn and Lucas
Melinda Lambert, in celebration of mother
Abby Lietz, in celebration of the children of PUMC
Gary and Jeannine Neuen, in celebration of our grandchildren: Addison, Anna, Bryce and Lucia
Jim & Martha Roath, in celebration of our grandchildren
Treva Rubsam, in celebration of dearly loved ones on earth
Dedications will appear in the Christmas Eve Worship folder. Poinsettias can be picked on December 26, 2024.
Do you have someone on your list who’s tricky to shop for? Spread joy this season by giving a meaningful financial gift in their honor or memory to one of the many impactful missions at PUMC! It’s a heartfelt way to celebrate someone special while supporting a cause that makes a difference. Visit the table in the main lobby to explore how you can share love, kindness, and generosity this holiday season. Together, let’s brighten lives and create lasting memories. Give the gift of hope, compassion, and change—because every act of giving matters!
At PUMC, we’re blessed to support many mission projects that share God’s love with those in need. Your generosity—whether through financial gifts, donations of supplies, or hands-on service—helps us make a lasting impact in our community and beyond. If you’d like to contribute, please mark your undesignated gifts to PUMC missions with “Missions” in the memo field. This helps our Missions Committee direct your gifts to the areas where they’re needed most. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to spreading God’s love through these important projects. Together, we’re making a difference!
Join us for our Last Saturday Lunch—a heartwarming, community meal filled with great food and even better company, completely free of charge! Happening on the last Saturday of each month, it’s the perfect opportunity to gather with friends and family for a delicious and uplifting experience. Enter through Door 14 on the north side of the Sanctuary, and enjoy lunch served from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Got questions? Contact Mary Ann Hamilton at m.a.hamilton2@gmail.com. Come hungry, leave happy—we can’t wait to welcome you!
After months of prayerful planning, Reach Beyond is ready to help PUMC extend its mission and share God’s love in powerful new ways! This inspiring project will transform our Worship Annex into a warm, welcoming hub for hospitality, outreach, and worship.
We’re making meaningful updates: replacing broken windows, upgrading 25-year-old carpet, modernizing the electrical panel, and adding cozy seating. The refreshed space will also feature a permanent prayer wall, art tracks, and more—a beautiful reflection of God’s love for all.
With a total project cost of $65,000, we’re already over halfway there! As of December 15, 2024, we’ve raised $34,988.66. Every gift brings us closer to our goal.
This revitalized space will bless PUMC and our community, offering new ways to connect, grow, and share the Good News of Christ. Your support matters—together, we can make this vision a reality.
Let’s do this, PUMC! The best is yet to come.
Inspired by his travels to the Holy Land, Saint Francis of Assisi created the first live nativity scene in 1223 to help children understand the true meaning of Christmas. The friar wanted to portray the birth of the holy child in a way that people might remember Christ’s humility and poverty. He showed the onlookers that the holy can be found outside the physical structure of the church. Crowds gathered holding candles and torches at a cliff side in Greccio, a small town 50 miles north of Rome, to see the reenactment of the manger with Jesus, Mary and Joseph alongside live animals. The story goes that the onlookers experienced a miracle, seeing a real infant appear in the empty manger with St. Francis taking the beautiful child into his arms, holding him in a loving embrace.
In the late 15th century, brothers Pietro and Giovanni Alamanno began creating life-size sculptures of religious figures for display in local chapels. This included creating the scene of Christ’s birth. A Christmas creche craze had begun. Soon, small-scale nativity scenes became a popular collector’s item among the wealthy. In 1567, the duchess of a small town in Italy commissioned more than 100 crèche figurines for display in her home, including camels carrying treasure, dogs, an elephant, and a giraffe.
Emerging in the 16th century, the Protestant branch of the church took issue with nativity scenes, rejecting and destroying them as materialistic distractions. Figurines of baby Jesus were called out as idolatrous icons distracting from a personal relationship with the living Christ. But hostility towards the nativity scene softened. Some Protestant Christians settling in the Americas brought nativity figures with them as domestic decorations. When Christmas became celebrated as a national US holiday in the mid-19th century, the popularity of nativity sets grew tremendously.
Today, artists have pushed the boundaries in merging the nativity scene with cutesy or current characters. Relevant Magazine reveals what they consider to be “17 Very Theologically Questionable Nativity Scenes You Can Own.” When Jesus and his earthly parents are represented by gnomes, ducks, woodland creatures, or Frankenstein, we might be missing God’s gracious revealing in coming to dwell with us, like us.
Through the years our family has collected a number of nativity sets for display in our home. One holds significance because it was hand painted by my grandmother. Another olive wood carved creche was purchased in Israel. They each remind me of the presence of Christ known in the giftedness and kindness of the artist that made them. They also capture my eyes, directing me to God’s self-giving in the form of a humble child. I see God’s loving nature, God’s willingness to stoop down into hardship and discomfort. I glimpse the first to worship Jesus beaconing my praise. I spy an angel reminding me of God’s intention to continue sending messages of assurance, renewal, and call. And I chuckle at the sight of a camel, a cow, and some sheep, pointing me to God’s beautiful creation which also reveals God’s holiness.
Do you own a nativity scene? What stories does it tell about God and about you? Enjoy the moments to see again the miracle of Christ’s birth and the gift of God’s miraculous love. Merry Christmas!
Plainfield UMC Today 