The Lord be with you, All!

I do hope that you are feeling the Holy Spirit move through you as you prepare for the birthday of our Savior.  If you're feeling underwhelmed so far, maybe going to this Friday night's Christmas Cantata will be a help.  We will have a very special evening with fellow Christians, and folks from around the area, as we celebrate the reason for this Season.  

The Cantata will be this Friday, 12/20/19 at 7:00 PM (with a brief musical prelude) at Center Street United Methodist Church (406 E Center Street, Tucumcari), followed by a reception.

I thank Marjorie and Kenna McKenzie for their hosting of the Potluck Dinner this past Sunday.  The china was lovely and so was the company!  Further, a special thank you to Emily Priddy for lending her vocals and piano during worship the last two weeks for special music.  

Please hold in prayer:
People who are traveling this season
For those who have no shelter in the cold 
Those who grief:  the Anayas, the Chavez Family, Melvin Cordova's family, Miguel Gallegos' family
Jenna - for knee injury
Thanksgiving for Annette Ross' graduation from UNM!
Ruth Johnson
For the lonely during the holidays

Christmas Eve Service at 6:00PM:  Friends, I hope that you planning to come to church on Christmas Eve! Worship begins at 6:00PM.  We will have a special service, ending with candlelight.  

This week:
Yoga meets today at noon.  It's open to the community!  
Exercise, Eat and Pray:  Wed and Fri morning at 10:00AM in the exercise room behind the kitchen (perfect place to burn some calories, ha ha)

Today, make sure that you tell Sharon Huffman Happy Birthday!

Friends, if you plan to attend the Christmas Eve Service and can do a reading or special music, please let me know.  I am also looking for more people who like to read on regular Sunday morning worship!  The more the merrier.

I hope that this day fills you with the joy of this season.  May God bless you and keep you this day, cold outside, but warm inside.

Blessings,
Rev. Amy

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
This past Sunday we had some special surprises.  Linda Randals joined the church - Yahoo!  We enjoyed some very special music from Emily.  And, June Greenfield was our guest accompanist and it is a pleasure to welcome her, for June is just one of our church's "extended family."

Speaking of "extended family," after Sunday worship, I headed over to Clovis for a 3PM meeting with their Session. My responsibility to help others within our Presbytery and Synod is part of my ordination vows.  They send us their Advent greetings.  I will be moderating their next Session meeting on Sunday, March 1st.  Please hold them in prayer as they discern how to govern and organize themselves in the absence of a pastor.  (it was a windy day for a drive in the country!)

Prayers:
Please hold in prayer - Tom Anderson
Ruth Johnson 
Ryan Pottenger (home in Hawaii for the holidays - safe travels!)
For the Peace of Jesus Christ to prevail upon us all
For the family and friends of Jimmy Chavez in their deep grief
For the family and friends of Flip Anaya 
For Pizza Hut employees
Our country and for our leaders
People who are alone during this season
Sheila Martinez - heart troubles
Those remembering Ron Wilmot (today is Ron's Birthday)
Persons having trouble making ends meet
Students, families and teachers at end of semester
Our church, seeking to grow and adjust to growing

Health Check:  Sometimes it is during the holidays that we feel the greatest need for prayer.  That's normal.  It can indeed be a lonely time for many people, even if surrounded by the joy of others.  It's normal to miss and even grieve more during this time.  I hope that if you are having a Blue Christmas, that you call someone, call me or someone else.  An impartial counselor is available by calling the National Helpline for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  They are a part of US Health and Human Services.  <---click this link to learn more.

This Week:
Yoga class meets today at noon.
Session has a meeting today at 4:00PM.
Exercise, Eat and Pray will meet tomorrow and Friday at 10:00AM.
Church Potluck is this Sunday, December 15th.  Good Times are ahead!
Friends, I hope that you're getting ready for the next few days!  It's getting cold!  

Party this Friday evening:  There will be a White Elephant Christmas Party at the church at 6:00PM in Fellowship Hall.  Please bring a gift to swap, wrapped but unmarked. And, bring a little snack to share.  We have so much fun with this tradition!

Cantata on Friday the 20th!  Remember that there is also a Christmas Cantata next Friday night at Center Street United Methodist Church.  We have a strong Presbyterian presence.  Be sure to get there early to secure a seat.  The performance begins at 6:00PM!

Christmas Joy Offering:  There are envelopes available in the sanctuary.  To learn more about the Christmas Joy Offering, or to donate directly online using a card, you can go here:  PCUSA Special Offerings Christmas Joy.  

This Sunday we light the candle of Joy (the pink one).  Let's imagine how to hold the joy of Jesus Christ in our hearts this week.  Here is a link to one person's thoughts about the joy of our Savior and how she tries to find joy in our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.

Let's find the joy within us, and to witness the joy around us.  Remember your greatest memories of your joys, and maybe they can be discovered anew!  
May you have a blessed day and week.
Much love,
Rev. Amy

​Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
I hope that your Thanksgiving was a blessed one.  

We had a nice trip to Santa Fe to see family, and see the beautiful snow.  

I am grateful for you and for Commissioned Pastor Wayne Head for leading worship and communion on Sunday!  I was a bit rushed last week to line things up for our first Sunday in Advent, thanks to all who helped make that worship special.  We will be back on track this Sunday. There will be a couple of special surprises this Sunday.  So, just because it's a second Sunday in the month, don't put it off.  Come and see!

As I had to cut the week vacation short due to Ron's funeral service on Wednesday, I will be hiding out a little the first part of this week.  (call it a "working vacation?")  If you all need anything, please text or call me.  

This week's activities:
No Yoga today!
Wednesday, Friday and Monday at 10:00AM - Exercise, Eat and Pray
Saturday, PW Christmas Party at 11:30 Del's Restaurant - RSVP needed!
Sunday - worship at 11:00AM.  2nd Sunday in Advent.

Presbyterian Women Christmas Party - we are going to Del's for our Christmas Party this year.  PLEASE text or call Theresa Goldston at 575-403-7151 to RSVP so we can get a headcount, no later than this Friday at 9:30AM.  It is Dutch Treat, which means we each pay our way.   Lunch will be at 11:30 this Saturday, December 7th.

Next week, the Session has a meeting on Tuesday at 4:00PM, December 10th.

Proposed Christmas Party Date:  Each year, we have a Christmas Party with a White Elephant Gift Exchange.  I am polling everyone now for the best date.  Please vote NOW for the day you best can do it:  Friday, December 13th, Saturday, December 14th or Saturday, December 21st.  
Please remember that the Christmas Cantata is on Friday, December 20th.  

Prayer Requests:
Tom Anderson and Dr Jean - return of cancer in lungs
Travelers
Our nation
Mike Ellis
Family and friends grieving for Ron Wilmot
Those who are lonely, depressed, hungry, or ill
Ruth Johnson
Students and their teachers, at the end of the Fall Semester
Those discerning God's call

As I was not in church on Sunday, other prayer requests may have come out. If you want me to add you to my prayer list, please let me know!

A prayer I would like to also add is that we still need to find a church Treasurer.  Sharon Huffman has been doing a wonderful job for many years and she is ready to hand it to someone new.  You will get all the training you need.  It involves paying the church's bills, balancing our accounts each month, and providing a report to the Session on our financial status.  Please contact me if you have an interest in doing it!

Friends, it is good to be back in Tucumcari.  I hope that no matter what you do and where you go today, you let God use you as an instrument of goodwill and peace.

Much love and many blessings,
Rev. Amy