This coming Sunday (November 28), we begin the season of Advent. Advent is an invitation. For many, it is the invitation to get into that Christmas spirit, to count down the days to the grand celebration, and let the holiday transform everything around us. We’re not all about Christmas, the holiday, December 25, with all the jingle bells and tinsel. We are about Christmas, the Mass of Christ, the celebration of the Incarnate one who comes to remind us that we are not alone, and God is with us. We are about the longing for the coming kin-dom, where we will study war no more, where people will walk in the light, where joy will be found, and love will be the tie that binds us together. That’s the home for which we long. That’s the invitation this Advent season: “Come home for Christmas.”
Here is a list of themes, scriptures, services, and small groups through the season of Advent (November 28-December 24):
Time to Go Home
Scripture: Jer 33:14-16, Ps 25:1-10, 1 Thess 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36
Worship: Sunday, November 28 at 10am
Small Group: Wednesday, December 1 at 7pm
The Fear of Home
Scripture: Mal 3:1-4, Phil 1:3-11, Luke 1:68-79, Luke 3:1-6
Worship: Sunday, December 5 at 10am
Small Group: Wednesday, December 8 at 7pm
The Joy of Home
Scripture: Isa 12:2-6, Zeph 3:14-20, Phil 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
Worship: Sunday, December 12 at 10am
Small Group: Wednesday, December 15 at 7pm
The Blessing of Home
Scripture: Mic 5:2-5a, Heb 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46b-55
Worship: Sunday, December 19 at 10am
Our Advent Series, “Come Home for Christmas,” is adapted from resources distributed by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church.
Longest Night Service
Join the Franklin United Methodist Church on the longest night of the year, Tuesday, December 21 at 7pm, as we acknowledge the darkness of our grief, pain, disappointment, and fear and find hope in the light that the darkness cannot overcome–Jesus the Christ.
This service will occur in-person in-the-sanctuary, in-person virtually using Google Meet, and live-streamed via YouTube. All are welcome.
Family (Pop-up) Christmas Pageant
Join the Franklin United Methodist Church for a Family (Pop-up) Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 5pm. We will sing Christmas Carols while our esteemed pageant directors pick the cast from those in attendance in order to set the nativity scene. Everyone will have a part to play. Everyone can be a star!
This service will occur in-person in-the-sanctuary, in-person virtually using Google Meet, and live-streamed via YouTube. All are welcome.
Traditional Lessons and Carols
Join the Franklin United Methodist Church for a traditional service of Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 11pm. This service will include scripture, song, and communion.
This service will occur in-person in-the-sanctuary, in-person virtually using Google Meet, and live-streamed via YouTube. All are welcome.