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Dec. 5,2022 - Dec. 11,2022
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Hello Wesley,
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I have begun an exercise in remembering for my parents. They are at a difficult spot in their life journey and so I thought I would each week write them a letter and remember something great about growing up. I do know not everyone has this kind of family connection, so I do not take it for granted. I know my parents read my first letter because I got to talk with them on the phone this week. I could hear a change in their voices.
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I want to encourage you to do some deliberate remembering. Find something good in your past relationships and send a letter out to perhaps a parent or a sibling or a friend you have, What it has done for me is give me an attitude of gratitude. The letters make me smile.
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Paul tells us, " as far as it is up to me, be at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18 Remembering something with a smile might do someone else some good and it certainly could not hurt you. Look thru some pictures. That is what I am doing. I just sent a letter to my grandson Isaac on the anniversary of his fishing triumph. He caught two three inch sunfish and we cleaned them and ate them. He remembered that outing and said it was one of his favorite memories. Let's do our best to help someone else smile through the season.
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I love being your pastor,
Ernie
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The Christmas Tea is this Saturday, Dec. 10th from 11:00am to 1:00 pm. This English Tea event to celebrate the Christmas season has been a tradition at Wesley Church for many years. Church members welcome the community to join together to sing songs and fellowship.
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KLASSIKA COMES TO WESLEY!
Sunday, Dec.11 from 9-10am
Church Sanctuary
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INVITE YOUR FRIENDS,NEIGHBORS,
FAMILY MEMBERS & CO-WORKERS!
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Klassika combines popular music with a classical twist. They will be performing first service only. If you typically come second service, we encourage you to come early for an extended worship experience!
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Tues., Dec. 13th from 9am to 11am
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Join us in the church sanctuary to lift up to the Lord the Administrative Board members and their plans, discussions and decisions to be made at their next meeting.
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This prayer gathering is for the sole purpose of asking for God’s guidance in giving our leaders discernment as we go forward. This is a shared commitment we all make as brothers and sisters in Wesley to pray and contend for the faith and our church. If you are unable to come to the gathering this month, please, during this time, lift up your prayers at home, work, school, wherever you.
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Contact Renee by email [email protected] or call her (813-885-5674) for any other information or inquiry.
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May the Father of all lights gather us all to His heart and weave us into a wonderful "Tapestry of Light".
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Poinsettas are $8 each and you have a choice of red or white.
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This year we will have one Christmas Eve Service only which focuses on the entire family. In addition to our traditional Christmas Carols, presented by both the Praise Team and Choir, the Promiseland kids and parents will perform "Little Drummer Boy" and the GodGang Youth group will be presenting a live nativity scene along with scripture readings from the Bible. Pastor Ernie will give a short sermon on the final word in the advent series which is "faith" as a gift from God. We will end in our traditional candle lighting ceremony to symbolize the light of Christ coming into the darkness in the world.
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HABANA HEALTH CARE MINISTRY
A big thank you to the Needles Group (Specifically, Nancy Blunk, Kathy Gruver and Karen Marotz) for making fabric pouches to hold scripture cards made for the Habana residents. Nancy added some Christmas tissues making it all perfect!
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We will be giving these Christmas gifts to Habana residents, along with cookies from the Cookie Ministry, this Sunday, Dec. 11 at the SINGSPIRATION starting at 2:30 PM . All are invited to join us in singing some traditional Christmas Carols as we share the love of Christ. We need more voices ... and no worries if you are not a great singer! It will be a great and blessed afternoon. Hope to see you there!
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HOMELESS MINISTRY
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THANK YOU to WOW (Women of Wesley) who had a Christmas packing party earlier this week, wrapping up hats, socks, etc. along with gift cards to hand out to the Homeless this Christmas Season.
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PACKING PARTY FOR UKRAINE THURS., DEC. 15TH AT 2:30
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Many of you are aware that the fighting as been very fierce in Ukraine leaving most of the country without power and water; with winter approaching the citizens of Ukraine will have special needs.
They have asked for cold medicines, vitamins for adults and children, warmwear, sleeping bags and blankets.
I have begun collecting donations and I'll lay these out on tables in the Fellowship Hall after the Christmas Tea. I invite you to add to the collection and to help box these with me for shipping directly to Ukraine next Thursday, Dec. 15th at 2pm.
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Shaun has recently spoken with the social worker at Dickinson and they let her know that they have a few families that could really use some help in addition to the Pack a Sack bags. If you are able to help, they are looking for the following:
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· Jewelry kits – for older girls
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· Nail polish and hair accessories – for older girls
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This is just a sample of ideas given to Shaun
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If you are able to help by purchasing any of the above, and bring to the church – we will make sure they get delivered to the school so they can help these families with Christmas. If you have any questions, just be in touch with Jamie or Shaun
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OUTREACH MINISTRY
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Outreach packets are now available sharing the love of God as well as information about our Wesley Church. We invite visitors, new attenders and those who would like to share with others to take a bag located at the info desk at the back of the sanctuary. We can provide plenty more packets if you wish to gather several to share in your neighborhood! Included in the packet is a flyer with all the Christmas events that will be happening at Wesley.
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Thank You to Pastor Ernie and
all the volunteers that helped last Sunday
deliver 190 packets to the Bay Crest area!
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If you would like to have an event or celebration (birth, graduation, marriage, travel, etc.) added to the ANNOUNCEMENTS section, please email [email protected] , including description of announcement along with any photographs.
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Wesley, you are such a faithful church! We thank you for your generous and giving hearts! You can Text To Tithe your offerings for Wesley Memorial UMC at this contact number - 813-699-4304. Within a few minutes, you’ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt of your donation via email. You can even text “repeat” to make it a recurring donation. Give + Text is one of the fastest and easiest ways to give.
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Or by standard mail by sending cash or check to
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6100 Memorial Hwy, Tampa FL 33615
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Office hours are Monday - Thursday 9am-3pm.
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We are here to help you with any of your needs.
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Church Contact Information:
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Pastor Ernie is continuing his series "Finding Jesus in the Old Testament". This is a not to be missed study focusing on a spiritual approach to the Old Testament that needs to be watched and shared with neighbors and friends! Join us every Tuesday morning at 7:30 am on Facebook or you can watch it later as well.
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We need more Prayer Team Members!
It's really very simple. You will receive an automated email message when someone posts a prayer on the prayer wall. You can pray, hit button that says "I prayed" and comment if you wish, all from the email notification without going to the website. This can be done on your phone, laptop, or computer.
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If you would like to be part of the Prayer Team , text the word "Prayer" to
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813-592-1788. (Save this number in your phone as Wesley Memorial Tampa.)
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Please note, you must wait for text prompts to fill out form with your information.
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If you do not text, you can simply reply to this newsletter.
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Let's be a Praying Church for each other,
the church, and the world!
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The sermon this Sunday will be
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"The Heart of Christmas brings JOY to all Circumstances"
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"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
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so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
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"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
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People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged."
Hebrews 6: 13-18
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