CALENDAR Sunday, December 24 9:00 AM - Contemporary Worship 10:00 AM - Sunday School 11:00 AM - Traditional Worship 6:00 PM - Christmas Ever Service Monday, December 25 Church Office Closed 10:00 AM - Christmas Day Service Tuesday, December 26 Church Office Closed Wednesday, December 27 5:15 PM - HPUMYF Youth Boys Refuel 7:00 PM - Adult Choir Practice Thursday, December 28 6:45 PM - Cub Scouts Wolf Den Sunday, December 31 9:00 AM - Contemporary Worship 10:00 AM - Sunday School 11:00 AM - Traditional Worship Trustee for the month of December Lynne Yaken:843-773-1497

OUR STAFF

Mike Henderson, Pastor……………………………………………..mike.henderson@hpumc.net

Kathy Hutchinson, Business Administrator……..…………kathy.hutchinson@hpumc.net

Beth Prosser, Dir. of Weekday Children’s Ministries………...beth.prosser@hpumc.net

Hope Whaley, Director of Youth Ministries……………………...hope.whaley@hpumc.net

Jeannette Braswell, Dir. of Children’s Ministries……..jeannette.braswell@hpumc.net

Andi Sauls, Administrative Assistant……………………………………..andi.sauls@hpumc.net

Fran Coleman, Choir Director…………………………………………..fran.coleman@hpumc.net

Wendell Prosser, Director Contemporary Music & Media

Becky Brown, Pianist

Evelyn Childers, Organist

Angie McCutchen, Nursery Coordinator

Bobbie Buffkin, Nursery Worker 1300 Second Loop Road

Florence, SC 29505 www.hpumc.net

Church Office: 843.662.1233 Children’s Weekday Ministries: 843.662.1242

Fax: 843.665.5692

Christmas at Highland Park

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! This year at Highland Park you will have several ways to make your Christmas the best so far. Here’s a calendar of events and ways for you and your family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. All Month– Add an ornament to the Highland Park Family Christmas tree. There’s a tree in the Narthex, and we are asking everyone to add an ornament that means something to their family. This tree will be special because it will be ours. And when you place yours on the tree, be sure to take one of the Highland Park ornaments for your tree at home. All Month– Where are the Wise Men? You’ll notice the Wise Men (“Magi”) are not on the manger scene. They are traveling “from afar.” They are in three places in the church buildings. Each week they will get closer and closer to the manger. See if you can discover where they are (do not disturb them– they are on an important journey!). They should arrive at the manger on December 31. All Month– Each Sunday we will add another part to the manger scene in the front of the church, unfolding the story of Jesus’s birth bit by bit for our children. December 24– 6 pm- Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service. One of the most meaningful services of the year. Bring your family and friends to hear again the wonderful story of the birth of Jesus. December 25– 10 am– Christmas Day Service– this will be our sixth year of having a service on Christmas morning. Come dressed as you are, bring your favorite gift, and start the day by focusing on Jesus, the reason for the season! December 31– 9 and 11 o’clock– The Wise Men finally make it to Bethlehem! We will celebrate Epiphany, thank God for 2017, and eagerly look forward to 2018. Be sure to check the website for more activities for children and youth

RightNow spotlight– Highland Park subscribes to RightNow Media, an online service with over 10,000 videos. There are movies, Bible studies, leadership programs to help you grow as a disciple of Jesus. All mem-bers of Highland Park have access without cost to RightNow Media. If you have not signed up yet, please contact the office and you’ll get an invitation.

January is coming up, we want to spotlight the video series by Andy Stanley “Brand New.” Every brand has a shelf life...even church brands. In this at times unsettling 5-part series, Andy Stanley tells us how we can return Christi-anity to the brand Jesus intended.

Highland Park United Methodist Church

December 24, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Advent

11:00 Traditional Service Welcome to Highland Park. Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever is going on in your life, you are welcome here and loved by God and God’s people! We are excited you came to worship with us this morning. For those who have little ones, our nursery is available and any usher will be glad to point you in the right direction.

The mission of Highland Park United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transformation of the world.

Scripture Readings for the Week Dec. 25-31

Theme: A New Way Dec. 25– Luke 2:1-19 Dec. 26– Isaiah 43:18-19 Dec. 27– Ezekiel 11:19 Dec. 28– Psalm 98:1-3 Dec. 29– Rev. 21:1-13 Dec. 30– Ezek. 36:26 Dec. 31– Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24, 2017

"Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world." -C.S. Lewis

* Prelude Go, Tell It On The Mountain arr. Robert Thygerson * Lighting the Candles and Processional Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High Hymnal No. 238 * Passing the Peace of God

God’s peace be with you! And also with you!

* Hymn of Praise It Came upon the Midnight Clear Hymnal No. 218 * Prayer of Invocation * Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed Hymnal No. 881 Gloria Patri Welcome and Announcements Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle– The Prince of Peace : Isaiah 9:6-7 Danny and Lynne Yaken

We light this fourth candle as a symbol of the Prince of Peace . May the visitation of your Holy Spirit, O God, make us ready for the coming of Jesus, our hope and joy. O come, O come, Emmanuel.

A Time of Prayer ending with The Lord’s Prayer Offering and Offertory Still, Still, Still arr. Dan Edwards * Doxology Children’s Moments Pastor Mike

Following Children’s Moments, children are invited to join their parents to enjoy the music!

Anthem Good Christian Friends, Rejoice arr. Hal Hopson Christmas Carols and Their Stories * Benediction and Sending Forth

Today is a day of expectation. Expect Jesus to show up in some surprising way!

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

* Sending Forth *All who are able, please stand.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parking Lot Ministries is on January 6th at 7:45 am. We are collecting peanut

butter and jelly during the month of December. For more info, please contact Kim Bonnoitt at 843-661-5346, kimbonnoitt@gmail.com.

Children’s Corner

It’s almost a new year, so it’s time to update current participation waivers. These are being mailed out with January mailings and are also available on the bulletin board across from Mrs. Jeannette’s office. We must have these on file for your child to participate in church activities without a parent present. Your child’s safety is our top priority!

Our next Confirmation class is on January 7th. We will be discussing What is the Holy Spirit? Thank you to Sissy Smith and Lee and Jennifer Calcutt for our meal this night!

HPUMC Africa team has t-shirts for sale. Navy or grey for $15. There will be a table set up in the Narthex to place your order.

Women’s Ministry: Highland Park Women’s Ministry asks your help in refurbishing our supply of table cloths used for hosting events. A donation of $50 will provide a monogrammed table cloth with the name of an honored or memorialized individual stitched on the hem. Forms are located on the women’s ministry table in the Narthex. We have two women’ s conferences coming up. Women of Joy in Myrtle Beach in May and Beth Moore in Boone, NC in March. If you’d like information on either trip, sign up sheets are on the Women’s Minsitry table in the Narthex. We have two Bible studies starting up after the holidays: “We Saved You A Seat” to be led by Gewels Martone and “Finding I Am” to be led by Cathy Edwards. Sign up for more information on the Women’s Ministry Table in the Narthex.

The 2018 Flower Calendar is up in the hallway across from the Children’s Ministry Office. Please feel free to start filling in the dates for the upcoming year.

Brief Financial Report_________________________________________ Received December 17, 2017 GENERAL BUDGET INCOME……………………………………………………$20,152.50 DESIGNATED GIFTS………………………………………………………………....$4,956.00 YTD GENERAL BUDGET INCOME……………..………………………….$672,577.37 YTD EXPENDITURES………………………………………………………….…$693,990.00 Attendance__________________________________December 17, 2017 9 AM Worship………………………………………………………………………………….134 Sunday School…………………………………………………………………………………...50 11 AM Worship………………………………………………………………………………..201 Acolyte and Crucifer___________________________________________ This Week: Kathyrn Rowe, Julia Rowe Next week: (December 31) Sydney Jarrell, Abi Doke Ushers for this service_________________________________________ Don Behling, Beth Behling, Thomas Meggs, Richard Harrington, Phillip Gibbs, Britt Poston If you are not getting our weekly email, please contact Andi at andi.sauls@hpumc.net so that she can add you to the list.

Please check out our webpage at HPUMC.net. It is updated weekly with upcoming events.

All Contributions need to be in the church office by December 31, 2017 to be considered 2017 contributions.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To ensure deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file your 2017 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgement of your contributions from the church. You may lose a deduction from some contributions if you file your tax return before receiving a written acknowledgement of your contributions from the church.