eNote

New Sermon Series “Love Your Neighbor” – This Sunday in worship we begin a new sermon series that will help us learn how to love beyond the surface. How do we have a heart that Christ creates in us that transforms us? Join us for “Love Your Neighbor” to learn how to be more loving people studying the teachings of Christ.

Interfaith Prayer Service Tonight – Floris UMC will join other faith communities in our area in an Interfaith Prayer Service for our nation following the unrest at the U.S. Capitol Building yesterday. You are invited to join by Zoom or YouTube, 7:30 tonight, January 7. The service will last 45-60 minutes and will include scripture, reflections and prayer for our political leaders, citizens and nation.

Christmas Eve Giving Update – Thank you for your incredible generosity this Christmas. Your support of our ministry partners will transform lives in our community and world. The Christmas Eve Giving total through January 4 is $387,958. You can see updated Christmas Giving and Covid-19 Relief Fund totals here.

“Journey to Christmas” Opportunities – We are excited to offer a special Christmas and Advent experience in our parking lot, December 11-12. “Journey to Christmas” is an outdoor, drive-through live nativity with scenes that tell the Christmas story and share the good news of Christ’s birth. Volunteers are busy building sets and sewing costumes. We now have opportunities for people and families to be a part of the tableaus and are also looking for parking lot attendants. This is a wonderful way to give back to the community during the Advent season. Sign up to be a part of this special event here.

Christmas Eve Giving – Floris UMC will continue our annual tradition of Christmas Eve Giving with all funds going to ministries and partner organizations that transform lives. This year our giving will support Cornerstones, Helping Children Worldwide, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter and Floris UMC’s Community and World Impact Fund. We have suspended the collection of donations for the COVID-19 Fund until after the holidays. Find out more about Christmas Eve giving here.

Floris Christmas Vault – We are opening our “Christmas Vault” and invite you to experience an array of Christmas cantatas and concerts from prior years. Enjoy the beautiful music of the season and listen to the sounds of our traditional and contemporary choirs and musicians from past years here.

Christmas Jazz Concert Saturday – Don’t miss our Christmas Jazz Concert Saturday, December 5, 7-8 p.m. You’ll hear soulful renditions of favorite Christmas songs. Special guest Kwan McKnight, Director of Worship and Arts at First Baptist Church Vienna, joins members of our contemporary band for this virtual event.

Facebook Live “Christmas Conversations” – Join Rev. Tom Berlin on his Facebook page Wednesdays in December at 7 p.m. Each week different guests will join him to talk about how to have a meaningful and joyful Advent and Christmas in these unique times. Next week Tom is joined by Kelly Johnson, author, speaker and life coach, to discuss how to get the most out of Christmas. You can view Facebook Live Christmas Conversations here.

Contribution Statements – We are sending out contribution statements this week to those who submitted a 2020 Estimate of Giving card. These statements will give you an opportunity to see where you are with your giving to the Dream and General funds for 2020. Please contact Karen Heier with questions.