We hope you’ll see something here that peaks your interest & nudges you to come & help us “Rethink Church”. Everyone is invited to participate in the family of Clever United Methodist Church.
The new nursery is up & running, serving children up to 2 years of age. A group of dedicated care providers are being trained in United Methodist Safe Sanctuary policies & look forward to greeting the tiniest ones at Clever UMC.
Our 2012 Confirmation Class has grown & is progressing well. In May, a group of about 12 young people will be accepted into full church membership. Please keep them & their adult mentors in your prayers as they make this journey of growth & discovery.
A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be celebrated at 7 PM with a Candlelight Communion Service at 11:30 PM. Everyone is invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Please bring family & friends to these very special times of worship. All who accept Jesus as their Savior are welcome at the table of Holy Communion in the United Methodist Church.
On Christmas Day, there will be no Sunday School, but there will be a Worship Service at 11 AM. Please bring any guests in your home for the holidays.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Women’s Circle will resume their very popular monthly themed dinners in January. More information will be forthcoming regarding the specific themes for 2012.
A special concert is being planned on March 8 of 2012 by the Clever Ministerial Alliance. The Watoto Children’s Choir will perform at the new Performing Arts Center at Clever High School. There is no admission charge, but the choir will accept a Love Offering and will sell CDs along with handmade treasures.
SPECIAL MINISTRIES
Our community food bank at First Baptist Church is always in need of donations. Our church offers collection bins & there are green barrels throughout the community for food deposits. They’re labeled “Hunger Stops Here”. The local markets all offer nice prices each week on selected items along with member cards for special bargains. Any non-perishable food items are greatly appreciated.
Clever UMC also has other collection ministries including Travel toiletries & tab tops to assist Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks along with Best Choice labels which are passed along to the Festival of Sharing to be redeemed for cash that will aid people in need around the globe.
GOD CALLS
GOD CALLS us to come home for Christmas. God calls us to come back from all those places where we have settled for less than the fullness of life promised to us in Christ.
God calls us back from all the ambitions and possessions we have pursued, thinking they would satisfy us.
God calls us to let go of any bitterness and resistance to forgive that block the light of love from warming us.
Preparing for Christmas means looking deep within ourselves and asking if our hearts are truly at home in the lives we are living.
God calls us to come home and to rest, to be embraced by one who loves us as we are. God offers us a place where we are fully known and also fully accepted.
Mary Lou Redding
While We Wait
Open hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors….the people of the United Methodist Church.