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December 20th, 2021 - December 26th, 2021
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Pastor's Notes to Wesley
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“Fulfill.” Now that is a great Christmas word. So often we think of Christmas as a time of beginnings, new hope. The scriptures speak of Christmas as a fulfillment, a completion of a plan. As soon as we sin in the Garden of Eden, even before, God plans our redemption, that we would be saved by His hand. Christmas happens thousands of years later and is the completion of the plan. God sent His Son to save us from our sins.
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I love making plans. Doing the plan is another story. Often, I would rather have someone else finish the plan. Not so with God. In fact, God insists that He be the one to finish the plan. About Christmas, God tells us, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet…” Matthew 1:22.
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It is hard for me to remember a time when I made a plan and then it actually worked the way I thought it would. I think that is the point. My plans often run amuck. But then I am not God. He knows exactly the plan that will work and bring victory and success. God does what works in my own life too. My plans run awry because they are MY plans. When I live in harmony with God, His plans always work.
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As you look upon the tree this year, take a minute, turn out the lights, appreciated the lights in the darkness and ask God to help you understand His plan for your life. John tells us, “I Jesus was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood.” John 1:4-5
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A Christmas prayer: Father help us to trust your path for our lives. Let your light be so bright this year that we do not wander off. And thank you.
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I love being your pastor,
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Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
December 26th, 2021 at 9:00 AM EDT
Traditional Worship Service
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Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
December 26th, 2021 at 11:15 AM EDT
Contemporary Worship Service
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JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT!
Friday December 24th
One Candle Light Service with worship from the Bells, Praise Team and Chancel Choir TO celebrate the Birth of Jesus!
Service starts at 7:00 pm
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Every year, the Women of Wesley choose an organization, mission, or ministry to provide Christmas gifts to those who are benefiting from them. We bring the gifts to our annual Christmas party in lieu of exchanging gifts with one another. A few years ago, we chose that organization that was helping new single mothers, a couple of years ago, we chose the children at our sister church in Cuba, and this year we chose the girls who are staying at the first safehouse for survivors of human trafficking ever built in Florida. This was built by Bridging Freedom, an organization that WOW has been supporting with money raised in the bazaar for a few years now.
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Bridging Freedom currently has a full campus at 12 girls right now. These are all young girls, teenagers who have survived being trafficked and are now receiving love, nurturing, and education while being equipped to transition out of the program and back into society to be happy and healthy and be able to take on employment and become a vital part of the community wherever it is they decide to live. This is Bridging Freedom’s mission scripture: Psalm 82:3-4 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
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The ladies at Wesley overwhelmed these girls with the gifts that they brought both to the Christmas party and to church. I took them over to the Bridging Freedom corporate office and the volunteers and staff with the organization are going to have a Christmas gift wrapping party this week so they can wrap and organize for distribution.
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Al I can truly think about right now is the smiles on those young girls faces on Christmas morning when they open their gifts and realize how valuable and loved they are!
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Every Tuesday Morning, Pastor Ernie does a live devotional connected to scripture. Right now he is reading through the book of Hebrews. If the devotional moves you, Pastor Ernie encourages you to SHARE the video and leave a comment, so that someone else may be blessed!
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God has allowed me the privilege of sending out requests, since the day we did it by phone. However, now to bring the system up to giving new people the opportunity to serve in this manner, we're trying to change the way we do things. We are asking that instead of emailing me a prayer request, you can email the Church office ([email protected]) or use the link below (in blue) to enter your prayer requests on the Wesley Prayer Wall that is connected to the website. The steps on how to enter a request are featured below as well. If you could please help me in spreading the word on this change, I would greatly appreciate it.
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Thanks for your prayers and the privilege to serve.
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Let us pray for you: When viewing the Worship Service, share/type in your prayer requests in the Comment Field. Your prayer requests will be recorded and added to the Prayer Wall in the church's website so that prayer warriors who visit the Prayer Wall can include your requests in their prayer lists.
Please Note: Prayer requests from the previous services have been posted to the Prayer Wall. Please take time to visit it and pray for these requests. Many Thanks!
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We will no longer be having the Salvation Army Donation Drop Box here at Wesley. Unfortunately, there have been items that are too large being left outside of the Drop Box that couldn't be collected and it has become an eye sore & a difficult job for the Salvation Army workers. Below is a link for anyone that would like to schedule a pick up for donations through the Salvation Army.
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If you would like to have an event or celebration (birth, graduation, marriage, etc.) added to the ANNOUNCEMENTS section, please click on this link: https://wesleymemorial.net/media-request and fill out the form with requested information. On the form, please select 'Other' media and include an description of the announcement.
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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 6100 Memorial Hwy, Tampa FL 33615
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