2024 Advent & Christmas Ministry, Worship, & Event Schedule

Advent Outreach Ministries:

• The United Women in Faith are collecting gloves, thick socks, hand, toe and body warmers, hats, and vacuum-packed blankets through Dec. 29th. They will be delivered between Christmas and New Years to the Beehive organization and Care Beyond the Boulevard,  two organizations that help the homeless population throughout the Kansas City area. Any items you purchase can be brought to the Christmas Tea event on Dec. 12 or hung on the tree at the back of the Sanctuary.
• Holiday Gift Cards for Stilwell Elementary School - The Counselor and Social Worker for Stilwell Elementary School both shared that they are in the process of collecting gift cards to places like Price Chopper, Wal Mart, Target, etc. These gift cards have been so helpful for families to be able to cover holiday meals and gifts for their children. If you are interested in helping the school community in this way, please contact Pastor Phil if you have any questions and review the following notes for purchasing gift cards:
• A gift card in any amount is welcome! The school staff will disperse them as there is need, but gift card denominations of $25/$50/$100 are easiest to work with.
• All gift cards can be turned into the church office or given to Pastor Phil (who will take them to the school).
• For Christmas Gift Cards for Meals and Gifts, the deadline is Sunday, December 15th.
  

Worship & Event Schedule:

• Sunday, December 1 – The First Sunday of Advent
• Worship Service at 10:00 am featuring the Handbell Choir
• Sunday, December 8 – The Second Sunday of Advent
• A 10:00am Service of Lessons & Carols with special musical selections from both the Praise Band and Choir of Stilwell UMC
• Thursday, December 12 – United Women in Faith - Christmas Tea
• At 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall,  Our guest speaker, Jennifer Hull, will share information about the Bee Hive and Care Beyond the Boulevard, two organizations that help the homeless population throughout the Kansas City area. Refreshments will be served.
• Sunday, December 15 – The Third Sunday of Advent
• After our 10 a.m. worship service, families of all ages are invited to stay, enjoy a meal, decorate cookies, and then spread holiday joy together by caroling and delivering cookies in the community. This event is perfect for kids, parents, and grandparents alike, with activities everyone can enjoy. Bring the whole family for a day of laughter, creativity, and shared holiday cheer - it’s a special way to make memories and celebrate the season together! Please contact Jennifer Hoggatt to let her know if you would like to carol, drive in the car pool, or know of someone homebound or in a nursing home who would like to be serenaded with a few Christmas carols!
• Join us for the Youth Christmas Party on Friday, December 15th, from 5:30 to 7 PM at Stilwell UMC! This festive evening is open to all 6th–12th graders and will be packed with fun, games, laughter, and holiday cheer. Bring your friends and your holiday spirit for a night of friendly competition and festive vibes. We can’t wait to see you there!
• EVENT POSTPONED - Tuesday, December 17 – Observatory Night
• Observatory Night Postponed! Unfortunately, it looks like the clouds will not cooperate this month, and our Observatory Night is being postponed until sometime in 2025. We look forward to rescheduling this event in the spring when, hopefully, the skies will cooperate and allow us to marvel at the heavens together. Until then, let us continue to seek God in all places – under clear skies or cloudy ones - and trust that the stars are still shining, even when we can’t see them.
• Wednesday, December 18 – Blue Christmas Worship Service
• At 6:00pm all the pastors of First Baptist Church Stilwell & Stilwell United Methodist Church are inviting you to a community Blue Christmas Worship Service that acknowledges the suffering and grief in our lives and world, and also proclaims the hope and expectation of Christ into those darkest places. The worship service will take place at Stilwell UMC. Click here to learn more about what a Blue Christmasservice is about.
• Sunday, December 22 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
• Worship Service at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary
• Tuesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve
• A Special Candlelight Service with Holy Communion at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary
• Sunday, December 29 – The First Sunday of Christmas
• Worship Service at 10:00 am - Everyone is invited to wear their Christmas pajamas, or favorite Christmas sweater.
• Sunday, January 5 – The Second Sunday of Christmas
• A Special Wesleyan Covenant Service at 10:00 am