December 3, 2006

Morning Worship

Good Morning & welcome to Unity in this Advent Season! As we patiently await the day of Christ’s birth we celebrate the blessing God has sent to us. What an amazing thought that Christ came for us and our sins. May God's presence be known to you and your family in this upcoming Christmas season. Have a blessed week.

As part of the worship grant project, Pastor Jeff and Wendy are visiting other churches this weekend to gather more resources to help us deepen our understanding of how worship space communicates what we believe and apply that to our new worship space.
The office will be closed Thursday, December 7th, for various staff activities.

The Weekly Calendar

The Monthly Church Calendar can be viewed at www.unitycrc.org/calendar Today (1st Sunday): 10:00am: Morning Worship Children will be invited by announcement to go to Children’s Church. 12:00pm: Christmas Program Practice, all cast and crew

Monday:
4:45pm: Worship Planning Meeting
6:15pm: Deacons Meeting
6:15pm: Elders Meeting
7:00pm: Full Council Meeting

Tuesday:
9:30am: Ladies’ Bible Study
7:00pm: Ladies’ Jail Ministry
7:00pm: Cookie Exchange

Wednesday:
7:00pm: GEMS at First CRC
7:00pm: Youth Group (9-12)
7:00pm: Wild at Heart Men’s Adventure
7:00pm: Men’s Jail Ministry
7:00pm: Dave Ramsey FPU

Saturday:
7:30am - 11:30am: Youth Group Fundraiser, Dad’s Belgian Waffles at Willmar CRC

Next Sunday (2nd Sunday):
8:45am: Children’s Choir 2nd - 5th
9:00am: Sunday School 6th - 12th
9:15am: Sunday School 2nd - 5th
9:30am: Children’s Choir 3 years - 1st grade
10:00am: Morning Worship
12:00pm: Christmas Program Practice all cast and crew
4:00pm: Christmas Caroling

Life at Unity

Christmas Caroling
Lets go Caroling next Sunday, December 10 at 4:00pm. We would like to form groups so we need to know how many people are interested! PLEASE sign up TODAY in the back of church.

Reminder!
Just a reminder, if you are using the church facility for meetings, bible studies, or any other activity, please check with April in the office to make sure there is conflict with other activities. Thank you.

Housing Needed
The Dordt College Concert Choir will perform at First C.R.C. on Sunday, January 14. Hosts are needed to provide overnight lodging, breakfast, and transportation to CMCS the next morning. This is a great opportunity to connect with Dordt students! If you are able to host, please contact Steve & Angela Zwart.

Adult Sunday School
The final session of this class will be Sunday, December 17 with Pastor Jeff addressing what seminaries are teaching about the interpretation of Genesis 1-2. You are invited to join us for these fascinating discussions.

Cookie Exchange
You are cordially invited to a cookie exchange on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:00pm. Please bring 5 dozen cookies. Following the exchange we will have a time of fellowship with tea and goodies. Sign up in the back of church. Everyone is welcome!

Angle Tree Study Bible
There is a young DOC man at the jail who would love to have a study Bible. Teen Challenge had given him a nice one, but trusting that God would replace it, he gave it to a new Christian who was being transferred to Saint Cloud. It would bless his socks off to have it replaced! (He would also love visits and/or letters).

Youth Group Fundraiser
You are invited to come and eat all the waffles you can along with sausages, toppings, and beverages. Bring your family and friends! What a great way to start off your Saturday! It will be held at Willmar CRC Next Saturday, December 9th from 7:30am to 11:30am. It is a free-will donation. We will also have carry-outs available. Please come and support the Solid Rock Youth Group!

FEED MY LAMBS
This ministry is in need of more people willing to bring a meal to the family of a new born baby or if mom suddenly has to go on bed rest before baby comes. We will set up about 6 meals in a two week period after the baby is born. If we can get your help with this we would only ask you to bring a meal occasionally. If you are unable to bring a meal when called upon don't worry we can call someone else on the list. We will then check with you the next time. Many moms and their family’s have been so blessed by this ministry that we want to continue to offer it. If you would like to be on this list please fill out the card on the bottom of the page and place it in the box in the office or you are welcome to call April Swierenga in the office to let her know. If you have any further questions please give Natalie Vander Beek a call.

Community Announcements

CMCS Christmas Programs
Central Minnesota Christian high school students invite you to their Christmas Concert on Monday, December 4 @ 7:00 pm. in the high school gym. Groups performing will be the jazz band, girls chorus, male chorus, concert band, and concert choir. All groups are under the direction of Michelle Mulder.

"Happy Birthday Jesus!" will be presented by CMCS students in grades K-4 on Friday, December 8, at 7:00 pm. in the high school gym. The theme of our program shares the peace, joy, love, and happiness Jesus can bring into our lives, not just at Christmas, but always. All are welcome. Students are under the direction of Barb Swanson.

"Totally Christmas!" will be presented by CMCS students in grades 5-8 on Friday, December 15, at 7:00 pm. in the high school gym. Through traditional and contemporary choral and band music, our student musicians celebrate the "Joy" of Christmas. All are welcome. Groups are under the direction of Barb Swanson and Michelle Mulder.

December Events for West Central Christian Singles

"Come! Celebrate Christmas" concert at Willmar Evangelical Free. Saturday, December 9. Meet in the gathering area at E-Free church at 6:30pm so that we can sit as a group. We are going to go to McMillan's afterwards for coffee and fellowship. Please RSVP by Friday, December 8 by emailing us.

7th Annual Community Carol Celebration
The First Christian Reformed Church of Prinsburg invites you to share with the pipe organ to sign the music of Christmas at their 7th Annual Community Carol Celebration. It will take place today December, 3 at 7:00 p.m. Gar Jasper will be the song leader. Special music will be provided by the CMCS Male Chorus, CMCS Girls Chorus and vocalist Richard Yague. Holiday cookies and goodies will be served during a time of fellowship following the program.

2007 Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort
Duane Bonnema is organizing a group of adult volunteers from area churches to lend a helping hand to Hurricane Katrina victims in Gulfport, Mississippi. This group will be leaving on Friday morning, January 12, 2006, and returning 10 to 12 days later. We are looking for additional volunteers, especially those with skills in carpentry, sheet rocking, shingling, and wiring. The projects we plan to complete on this trip are not yet finalized so watch your bulletin for updates. If you are unable to join us, but are willing to help, we are in need of supplies, food, and financial support as well. If you have any questions or can help in any way, please contact: Duane Bonnema or Andy Ypma.

CMCS Cookie Fair
Let us help you with your holiday
baking! Central Minnesota Christian School is sponsoring a "Cookie Fair" prior to the concerts on Monday, December 4 and Friday, December 8.This will be in the high school cafeteria, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Please come check out the variety of homemade cookies.