Pastor’s Pause: “Advent: Season of Anticipation and Hope”

Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know what day the Lord is coming. Therefore, you also should be
prepared, because the Human One will come at a time you don’t know. – Matthew 24:42,44 CEB

Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on
the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on
Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent,
with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.

The word Advent means “coming”; or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is preparation to
celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of
Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a
2,000-year-old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ
whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. Scripture readings for Advent reflect an
emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming,
judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.

Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. This is one of

the few Christian festivals that can be observed in the home as well as at church. In the home an
Advent wreath is often placed on the dining table and the candles lit at meals, with Scripture
readings preceding the lighting of the candles, especially on Sunday. A new candle is lit each
Sunday during the four weeks, and then the same candles are lit each meal during the week.
This provides the opportunity for family devotion and prayer together. Even today, the prayer of
Advent is still: Come, O Come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel! How will your family
celebrate this Advent season?

Blessings,
Pastor Bonnie

(Resource: Christian Resource Institute)

Birthdays:
12/5 Katrina Schmidt
12/6 Chantraar Buttrill
12/6 Frank Waters
12/12 Faith Rossing
12/17 Angela Kreis
12/20 Pam Walls
12/27 Betty Davis
12/31 Christine Skinner
December 1st – 5:00PM @ Carletto's.
What’s on your mind? Come sit and
chat with Pastor Bonnie!
December 19th– Mitten Tree Project– We are
collecting mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for
school children through December 19th. There
will be collection baskets in each church.
Why the Nativity? Docudrama–
Experience the sights and sounds of the very
first Christmas like never before!
Showing Friday December 16th, 6:30PM
@ Calvary-Asbury.
There will be refreshments.
Anniversaries:
12/16 Rob & Stacey Mansfield
Holiday Services:
Christmas Eve– Candlelight Services:
7:00PM @ St. Paul’s
10:00PM @ Calvary-Asbury
Christmas Day– 9:00AM One
Combined Service @ St. Paul’s
New Year’s Day– 10:00AM One
Combined Service @ Calvary– Asbury
Dudley’s Chapel will not be having a
Christmas Candlelight Service this year.
The roof has been covered with a tarp for
the winter and they are hopeful that a new
roof will be installed in the Spring.
Advent Bible Study- “The Angels of
Christmas: Hearing God’s Voice in Advent”
Wednesdays 9:30AM or 6:30PM at
Calvary-Asbury.
Do You Have the Remind App? Sign up for text
message reminders:
Calvary-Asbury: text @4cal to 81010
St. Paul’s: text @4stp to 81010
 January 21st-4:00PM– Pot Luck Dinner & Church Visioning at St. Paul’s.
All are welcome to join us in food, fellowship and the sharing of ministry ideas
and suggestions for our church and community.

February 5th– 12:00Noon– Soup & Sandwich Lunch & Church Visioning at
Calvary– Asbury. All are welcome to join us in food, fellowship and the sharing
of ministry ideas & suggestions for our church and community.

Holiday Blessing Baskets for the

Sudlersville Food Pantry from the
Sudlersville Superstars 4-H Club.

The Evangelism team would like to thank each and everyone of you that
contributed to the Operation Christmas Child boxes. Whether you filled
boxes, provided financial support or prayed, we could not have done this
without you!! 132 Boxes have been sent from the Sudlersville Charge,
to children all around the world. Many, many blessings to everyone this
holiday season! Next year our goal is even bigger!!

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

 9AM-12PM
Pastor’s In

5PM– Table
Talk

9AM-1PM 9AM-1PM
Pastor’s In Pastor’s In 9AM-12PM
1:00PM– 7PM– 4-H 9-11AM-
Caroling @ Meeting 9:30AM Bible Pastor’s In Breakfast with
5:15PM– Girl
the Lions Club Study @ CA Santa @
Scouts meet-
tree lot 6:30PM Bible Ingleside
ing @ CA
Study @ SP Com. Ctr.
7PM-Lions
7:30PM– Charge
Club
Conference @
SP

9AM-1PM 9AM-1PM 9AM-1PM

Pastor’s In Pastor’s In Pastor’s In
SP– NO Ad 9:30AM Bible
Council Meeting Study @ CA
6:30PM Bible
Study @ SP

9AM-1PM
9AM-1PM 9AM-1PM Pastor’s In Christmas
Pastor’s In 9AM-1PM
Pastor’s In Pastor’s In Eve Services
9:30AM Bi-
10AM– Food 6:30PM– Food ble Study @
CA
7:00PM @
Pantry @ CA Pantry @ CA SP
6:30PM
7PM-Lions Bible Study
Club @ SP 10:00PM @
CA

Christmas Office Closed

7PM -4-H
Christmas
9AM- Dinner
Combined
Service @
SP
 Sudlersville United
Methodist Charge
Prayer List

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
Phone: 410-438-3816
Hours: Monday– Thursday:
9:00 AM-1:00PM
Email: office@sudlersvilleumc.org
Facebook.com/sudlersvilleumc
Website: http://www.sudlersvilleumc.org/
Robyn Allen, Barbara Bostic, Kenny Coleman (Galena),
JoAnn Collins, Charlie Conley, Buck & Judy Dashiell,
Charlotte Dukes, Sharon Eaton, EJ Elliott, Kari Faust,
Pat Hastings, Debbie Hoffman, Patty Keeney,
Doug Lanter, Bettye Larrimore, Alex Lorenz,
Rev. Linda Mariner, Joey McHenry, Eddie Palmatary,
Pam Richards, Wyatt Russum,
Lisa Palmatary Schrader, Aaron Seeney, Lynn Shively,
Ralph Starkey, Debbie Williams, Jimmy Wilson
Caroline —Little girl with cancer
Situation in the Ukraine
Our Churches

Any information you

would like in the bulletin
or announcements,
needs to be sent to
the office no later then
Wednesday’s @ Noon.

Pastor’s Visitation

If you or someone you know would

like a visit from the pastor, please
contact Kari in the church office.