Wow, church!

What a joy-filled Sunday! If you missed last week’s Christmas Cantata and Nativity Play, please go to our Youtube and Facebook pages to check it out! Many thanks to our Music Director Hassan, Lori, Jennifer, Jennifer, our actors, and our choirs for leading us to see and reflect more deeply upon the birth of our Lord!

As we continue our journey through Advent, this Sunday December 22^nd we will worship together using our regular schedule, lighting our fourth candle: Love. 

Please see below for our Advent and Christmas schedule

Grace & Peace

Pastor Caitlin     

WEEKLY E-NEWS 

Upcoming Christmas Schedule:

Latino Ministries Christmas Celebration: Saturday December 21^st at 6pm (Family Life Center)

Advent 4 Worship: Sunday December 22^nd (Regular schedule at 9am, 10:45am, 11am, 2pm)

Latino Ministries Christmas Service: Sunday December 22^nd at 2pm (Gym)

Christmas Eve Service: December 24^th at 4pm (Sanctuary)

Combined Service Wesley Covenant Renewal: Sunday December 29^th at 11am (Sanctuary)

Watch Night Service: Tuesday December 31^st at 10pm (Sanctuary)

 Join Bishop Carter and Friends for a One-Year Journey Through Luke and Acts

This Advent season, you are invited to join Bishop Carter and other leaders from our Conference and denomination on a transformative journey through two of the most impactful books of the New Testament—Luke and Acts. Together, they make up 52 chapters, nearly 30% of the New Testament, and offer a compelling narrative of hope, salvation, liberation, forgiveness, and healing. You may click here to learn more. Contact the church office if you want to purchase a book ($1.50 each) for your class or small group.

HGUMC Children & Youth

There will be no children and youth Sunday School on Sunday December 29^th due to the Christmas holiday. We will see you all back in Sunday School on January 5^th!

January 12^th Youth Lunch

Join HGUMC youth for lunch and fellowship from 12pm-2pm in the Parlors on Sunday January 12^th.

FINANCIAL REQUEST

From Randy Bunnell, Finance Chair: We are coming to the end of our calendar and fiscal year. Unfortunately, we are quite a bit behind our budget and financial requirements to keep the church operating. We are asking for you to first, pray hard for our church and then secondly, see if it is possible for you to give a bit more before the end of the year to our General Fund. Our target is $42,000. We have approximately 150 active members at HGUMC. If each member could give $280 over their normal giving, we can hit our target and start 2025 without a deficit. Thank you in advance for your consideration and assistance - may God bless you and your families this holiday season!

Wednesday Night Bible Study

All are invited to join us every Wednesday night for Bible study and reflection on Zoom each week @ 7:30pm. The Zoom meeting ID# 81541770673 and Passcode: 522533. Reach out to Pastor Colston or the church office if you have any questions. We will not be meeting December 25^th or January 1^st, and will resume on January 8^th.

HGUMC Young(ish) Adult Small Group meets weekly in a virtual format using Google Meet on Mondays at 7pm. Right now we are going through the Gospel of Luke. Our next meeting will be Monday January 6th. Reach out to Pastor Caitlin or the church office if you have any questions.

“Connecting to Creation:” A Creation Care Ministry Workshop

This workshop will be led by Heather Bennett, Director for Blessed Earth Tennessee. In this workshop, you will learn about: Biomimicry and Eco Theology. It will take place on Saturday March 1, 2025 from 9:30am-2:30pm at Harrison UMC in Pineville, NC. The cost is $25 per person. The deadline to sign up is February 1, 2025. You may click here to register.

WECARE: Food Needs

Please help us restock the shelves at WeCare:  mixed vegetables, carrots, peanut butter, and peas. Our WeCare Food Pantry and Clothing Closet will reopen on Saturday January 18^th.

SNACK Pack

Please consider making a financial donation to the SNACK pack program to help 48 Hickory Grove Elementary School students. If you have any questions, please call Jennifer Stribling at 704-617-2520.

Ways to Help: WNCCUMC Disaster Response

For the latest update on how you can help respond to Hurricane Helene victims can be found on the WNCCUMC website HERE.

 WeCare 2024

Thank you to all who supported WeCare this year whether it was with your time, food donations or monetary donations. Your generous donations allowed us to provide food throughout the year and provide Christmas to 151 families. The Christmas families consisted of 328 children/youth 18 or younger, 239 people 19 – 64 years of age and 33 people 65 or older for a total of 600 people.Thanks to all who were a part in sharing Gods love!

January Edition of Grove Echoes

Article submissions for the January 2025 newsletters are due by Friday December 20^th.

The Church Office will be Closed December 24^th – January 1^st in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. It will reopen on Thursday January 2^nd.