I am a firm believer of waiting until after Thanksgiving to do anything Christmas: no decorating the house, no playing Christmas music. And yet, by the time you read this, Advent will soon be upon us! So, below I highlight our plans at Mulberry for Advent. I hope that you and your family and friends can make plans to join us for as much of it as possible!
Common Devotional | Why this Jubilee? By James Howell
This Advent season, we as a church will be learning and experiencing the season together through Christmas Carols! We’ll read a daily devotional together focused on Christmas Carols, Why This Jubilee? by James C. Howell; hear sermons keyed to the readings and hymns from the devotional for that week; and sing and hear those same songs in worship. This is a wonderful way to come together as a church during a wonderful and beautiful season. Purchase the book and begin reading on Sunday, November 27!
Sunday Worship
November 27 marks the first Sunday in Advent. Each Sunday, we will light the Advent Candle and sing hymns that we’ll read about in the common devotional and hear preached in the sermon that morning. Also, the Gloria Patri and the Doxology will change to mark the season. In these ways, our worship will take on the themes and sounds of the season, adding to our worship together.
Zoom Study
Dana and I will be teaching The Angels of Christmas by Susan Robb via Zoom. I’m looking forward to co-teaching with Dana and to learning together with you! Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/mbisPkcurp
Special Worship Opportunities
Family Chrismon Tree Decorating | Thursday, December 1, 6:00 p.m.: Join together for a festive time of learning and worshipping together, designed for the young and the young at heart. We’ll sing together, learn about the symbols on the tree, decorate the tree together, and then light it for the first time! Worship will be followed by dinner together in the Fellowship Hall.
Service of the Longest Night | Wednesday, December 21, 6:00 p.m.: This service is designed for when all is not merry and bright. While Christmas brings joy, it can also bring sorrow, difficult memories, and melancholy. And that’s okay! Join together in worship to give space to those emotions and to find encouragement through being a church family together.
Christmas Eve
Family-friendly service, 3:30 p.m.: This service is designed with children in mind! Kids are invited to come to worship in their pajamas, ready for the evening’s festivities! Ms. Elisa will read the Christmas story during a children’s moment, much like at the 11:00 a.m. service. The communion liturgy is kid-friendly and we’ll gather together after the service is over for cookies and cocoa.
Sounds of the Season, 5:30 p.m.: A church favorite! Come early for the later service to hear sounds of the season played by our own Zachary Golden and other local talent.
Traditional Service, 6:00 p.m.: A joyous occasion featuring communion and singing by candlelight. Mark the highlight of the Advent season by joining together in worship!
See you after Thanksgiving!
– Ted
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