Pastor’s Pause: “Hope”

The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill my gracious promise with the people
of Israel and Judah. - Jeremiah 33:14 CEB

It is that time of year again. Christmas music is on the radio, Christmas lights are everywhere,
Christmas trees are going up, and we as Christians start out the season of the church year that we call
Advent. The word Advent comes from the Latin Adventus, which means “the coming of the Savior.” It
is a holy season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Church decorations are mostly greenery, representing the evergreen hope, love, joy, and peace of
the coming of our Lord. The liturgical color is purple, signifying great royalty in the coming of our lord.
And the Advent candles represent a journey, that bring us closer and closer to Bethlehem.

The first Sunday in Advent, the candle we light represents hope. The hope represented by that
candle, is a much greater and much grander hope. It represents the hope of an entire nation, it represents
the hope of the entire world. It represents something that you and I often take for granted.

Jeremiah wrote to his people about the great hope that they had. They would not have to make
atonement forever and ever, soon there would come the Lord who would never lack. The prophet
Jeremiah is saying “the throne will never by empty and the debt will forever be paid upon the coming
of our Lord.”

We cannot enjoy the joy of Christmas without the pain of the cross. All of the hope of the coming
messiah hinges on the true purpose for the coming of the messiah, freedom from sin and death. So, as we
begin our journey to Bethlehem, let us remember this hope as ones who do not take the gift for granted.

Let us look to the babe in the manger through the eyes of a shepherd, gazing on his Lord for the
first time, fully understanding what a huge fulfillment of hope the baby represented. Let us look forward
to December 25th with that same hope in our hearts, knowing the price that has been paid for our souls,
and knowing what a joyous and hope-filled thing it is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Pastor Bonnie
 Calendar of Events

Dec. 1st– 7PM– Bible Study @ CA

Dec. 5th– Poinsettia Orders are DUE @ CA
Dec. 6th– 7PM– Lions Club @ CA
Dec. 8th– 7PM– Bible Study @ CA
Dec. 12th– Special Offering– Board of Child Care
Dec. 12th– 12noon– AD Council @ CA
Dec. 13th - 6PM– Ruritans @ CA
Dec. 14th-7PM– AD Council @ SP
Dec.15th– 7PM– Bible Study @ CA
Dec. 19th-4PM– Blue Christmas Service @ SP
Dec. 20th– 7PM -Lions Club @ CA
Dec. 20th– 10AM-1PM Open House @ CA
Dec. 24th– Christmas Eve Services
-7PM– St. Paul’s
- 10PM– Calvary-Asbury
Dec. 20th-10:00 AM Food Pantry @ CA
Dec. 21st-6:30PM– Food Pantry @ CA Dec. 24th– Christmas Eve Services
-7PM– St. Paul’s
- 10PM– Calvary-Asbury

“A Savior for All People”-

This is a study of the Christmas Story.

New Ministry Opportunity in the New Year!

Do you like weddings? We are looking for some people to
serve as wedding coordinators. A training session will be
offered in January. Contact Pastor Bonnie for more
information.
 “First Coming”
A poem by Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,

till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release,

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinner in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

Till hearts were pure. In joy he came

to a tarnish world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
He came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait until the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came to Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

We are collecting gloves, mittens, hats, scarves for

school children. There will be collection baskets in
each church.
The Evangelism team would like to thank everyone that contributed to
Operation Christmas Child. Whether you filled boxes, provided financial
support or prayed, we could not have done this without each and every-
one of you!! 102 Boxes have been sent from the Sudlersville Charge, to
children all around the world.

Many, many blessings to everyone this holiday season!

Luke 1:37– For nothing will be impossible with God.

Friends of Dudley’s Chapel,

Due to Covid19 & the uncertainty of the new

variant, Dudley’s Chapel will NOT have their
Christmas Candlelight Service this year. Thank
you for your support as we work toward in-
stalling a new roof next spring.
Stay safe and Merry Christmas!!

Loretta C. Walls & Trustees of Dudley’s

 Sudlersville United
Methodist Charge
Pastor: Bonnie Shively
Parsonage Phone: 410-438-6127
Cell Phone: 410-739-0301
Church Office:
P.O. Box 202
103 North Church Street
Sudlersville, MD 21668
Office Phone:
410-438-3816
Office Hours:
Monday– Thursday:
9:00 AM-1:00PM
Email: office@sudlersvilleumc.org
Facebook.com/sudlersvilleumc
Website:
http://www.sudlersvilleumc.org/
Any information you want
in the bulletin or
announcements, needs to
be sent to the office no
later then Wednesday’s @
Noon.
Prayer List
Pastor Ben & Robyn Allen, Barbara Bostic, Jeff Carroll,
John Carroll, Henry Covington, Brian Crossley,
Nathan & Olivia Culver, Buck & Judy Dashiell,
Betty Davis & Family, Mackenzie DeMoss,
John Donnolley, Charlotte Dukes, Karen,
Mike Keuchler, Bettye Larrimore,
Alex Lorenz, George Mansfield, Rev. Linda Mariner,
Minette Mitchler, Jay Quimby, Pam Richards,
Claire Saunders, Lisa Palmatory Shrader,
Pastor Bonnie & Lynn Shively,
Wyatt Starkey, Marion Swindell, Karen Walls,
Patty Waters, Rachel Weedman, Lisa Williams
Caroline —Little girl with cancer
Caregivers
Those Serving in the Military
Jeffery Coleman, Garrett Faber,
Alex Lorenz, Erik O’Brien, Alex Walls
If you or someone you know would like
a visit from the pastor, please contact Kari in
the church office.