UMCOR SUNDAY – UKRAINE: A Special Collection
Jim Sorbie
SUN., MARCH 27
UMCOR SUNDAY – UKRAINE
A Special Collection
for Ukraine
You can help the church in Ukraine provide for neighbors.
UMCOR will provide assistance as possible to United Methodists in Ukraine
by responding to the needs of internally displaced persons through its
International Disaster Response and Recovery (IDR) fund.
Make check payable to:
Empire United Methodist Church
Memo: Advance #982450-Ukraine
December Missions Giving
Jim Sorbie
December Missions Giving
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund
The discretionary fund is administered by the pastor of the church. The funds are used primarily for those in need within our general area, or for those associated with our church. Thank you for helping to make Christmas a little more joyful for local families in need.
The Church Office is Now Open
Jim Sorbie
The church office is now open
Church Office hours: Mon., Wed., & Thurs. 9am – 1pm
Administrative Assistant – Christine, Office #231-326-5510
Pastor – Rev. Melody Olin
Parsonage: 231-835-2614 Cell: 989-560-1667
Facebook.com/Empire United Methodist Church
Church Email: EmpireUMC@gmail.com
Pastor’s Email: melodyolin@yahoo.com
Website: empiremiumc.org
Pasties Time
Jim Sorbie
EMPIRE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
There are still some delicious Pasties available for sale they are $5/each and would make a great & easy Sunday Dinner.
GET YOUR ORDER IN TODAY!
$5 each
CONTACT: Jean Petersen for more info
MERRY CHRISTMAS: Empire UMC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Jim Sorbie
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88144719847?pwd=K3hXRDkwd2lnOUZlMHczUklncmR6dz09
Meeting ID: 881 4471 9847
Passcode: 780069
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,88144719847#,,,,*780069# US (New York)
OR View our Christmas Eve Service on our webpage at:
Advent/Christmas Devotions
Jim Sorbie
Advent/Christmas Devotions for the Church Family
Attached is an Advent devotional that EUMC members created in 2005 and we’d like to share part of it again for this Christmas season. We re-printed the liturgy and prayers for each Sunday of Advent beginning Nov. 29, through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We hope you find it inspirational.

The Tradition: Advent wreaths are circular, representing God’s infinite love, and are usually made of evergreen branches, which “represent the hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ”. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy, and peace. … [Hope, Love and Peace are purple or royal blue, joy is pink; the Christ Candle in the center of the wreath is white]. Some traditions use a rose-colored candle on the Third Sunday of Advent to represent Mary’s Prayer (Luke 1:46b-55) and joy.
Enjoy!
The EUMC Worship Team
LENT BEGINS – ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 – 7:00 PM Worship Service
Jim Sorbie
Imposition of Ashes
A PRAYER FOR LENT Father God, help us never forget that Jesus knew his time was coming. The rest of us pass blissfully through life knowing we will die “someday.” Jesus knew the time was near, yet he continued to show love and faith. He continually put himself on the line, when most of us would have run away in fear. God, during this time of Lent, give us just one small taste of what it must have been like for him. Help us appreciate the great love your Son had for us — a love that kept him living for others, even when he knew he was going to die. Amen
“Important Things”
Jim Sorbie
What are most important things within your life?
In the Old Testament God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom to rule the nation rather than money, a long life, or victory over his enemies. I always thought that to be an interesting story but as I consider life, I realize that there have been times when I have prayed for health, the finances to make ends meet or even more, and yes, in some shape or form victory over situations and even people who have opposed me.
I do believe that God does answer prayer; although not always in the affirmative. Sometimes we are better off without, or better off learning to deal with the conflicts within life. Life is often a matter of not getting what we want or being where we want to be, and often it is in the more or less uncomfortable places that we find wisdom –perhaps that which we really needed but didn’t ask for. We discover that God is with us even if we are down and out and struggling to just get along through the day.
What do you pray for? What about knowing Jesus better? Perhaps in our Christian walk this is where God is striving to lead us anyway. Jesus once said what does it profit a person to gain the whole world and yet loose his or her soul? We can reverse the thought. What does it cost a person to loose the whole world and yet gain one’s soul? God wants to give us that which is eternal and permanently ours –A life that will never be taken away.
Dear we pray for a deeper faith? At first we might consider this to be a dangerous prayer. What changes might it bring for you? What blessing might it bring?
Pastor Russell
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