Christmas 12 days

Into our world, where we usually stay busy and frequently feel tired, God comes. God comes to us where we are, somewhere between darkness and light. God comes to us as we are, anxious and worried, hopeful and blessed. God comes to us as wonderful and surprising as angels singing to shepherds on a hill. God comes to us now as a small baby in a manger.

Let us marvel at the Holy Child, worship on bended knee, and sing with the angels. Let us be blessed by the gaze of the Christ child. God looks at us with love and great joy that spreads to all people.

- Larry James Peacock
Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms, and Prayer

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Parkland UMC Dec. 24th 7:30 pm

Cooperative Parish also has the following opportunities:

Family Oriented Christmas Eve Service at The Bridge UMC 5:20 pm

Bethany: 10 Coffee/Dessert Hour

11 pm Candle Light Service w/Communion

Christmas Thoughts

Christmas tries to point to an inner light,

a tree of lights inside the house of our being,

and invites people to come close

and ponder its beauty.

We notice this light because

it is contrasted with an outer darkness.

And it defies the darkness,

refusing to allow the outer world

to dictate the terms of existence.

- - - John Shea, in Starlight

Advent Thoughts

...it is precisely this experience of simultaneous leave-taking and homecoming that lies at the heart of Advent. As we travel toward Christmas, these weeks draw us into the stories of those who let God lead them beyond the lives they had known... Even as they allowed God to stretch them beyond the landscape they had known, each of these folks moved further into God's longing for their lives. As they welcomed Jesus--this wild and wondrous Word made flesh--they found their own welcome that took them deeper into the heart of God. This leaving-and-homecoming brings a tension that is not always easy to hold. Yet this is the price--and the gift--of incarnation: that as we open ourselves to the Christ who still comes among us, as we offer our own daring yes to him, as we turn our faces starward, as we leave our familiar landscape in this season of waiting and anticipation, we will find ourselves walking toward the One who has been waiting for us all along. -Jan Richardson www.janrichardson.com

Thoughts for Advent

Bill McKibben From McKibben's article, "The Problem with Christmas" Bill McKibben "Our environmental problem, at root, isn't that the stuff we're buying uses too much energy or too much plastic, or that its paint has lead in it, or that it's been shipped too far. Our environmental problem is that we consume way too much because we've agreed to try and meet basic human needs -- status, respect, affection -- with material ends. And no time more so than at Christmas, when Santa rides in on a Norelco razor. It's a kind of joint conspiracy that few of us dare break out of, even though we all understand at some level that it's not working. What if you don't give your kids a proper Christmas? "But the second you do break out of it -- the second your family becomes one of those that exchanges used books at Christmas, or decides to follow St. Francis' Yule tradition of wandering the park and throwing seed so that the birds too could celebrate, or makes it an annual custom to serve turkey dinner at the homeless shelter -- then you start sharing in the deep human secret that consumer society is set up to obscure: the things that please us most are almost always counterintuitive. We need to be out in the cold air, we need to think about others, we need to serve."

Thanksgiving Thoughts

We give You thanks for You sustain us

with real food and real drink.
You nourish us with friends as real as food
with joy as clear as water
with love as good as this meal.
This is enough .

We do not ask for more.
This is more than enough reason
to bless Your name forever.
Make us always mindful of those
who do not have enough
food and friendship
water and love and joy.
Give them enough
that they too may be thankful
Amen.

- - Mary Jo Leddy, in Radical Gratitude

Thanksgiving Services

Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, 7-9 p.m. Presented by Associated Ministries and Christ Episcopal Church 310 North K St. Tacoma, WA 98405 All faiths and congregations are welcome to this year's Thanksgiving Interfaith Service. Experience the religious ceremonies, symbols, sacraments and music of different faith traditions as we join togehter in thanksgiving. A reception will follow the service. For information, call 383-3056, ext. 107, or visit www.associatedministries.org.

Thoughts

The trust to which God calls us is not a timid trust. It is a bold, courageous trust that is written large so that even a passing runner can read it. It is a deep and hearty trust, one that leads us ever closer to God.

- Jan Johnson

The Upper Room Disciplines

Thoughts for November 7

Make me worthy, Lord, to serve you and all the world’s people who live and die in loneliness, hunger, poverty, and sickness. Give them through my hands this day their daily bread, and by my love, give them peace and joy.

- Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job

A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God

Thoughts for Nov. 1

May I see today

the largeness of your love

in even the smallest part of creation.

May I be ravished

by traces of your beauty

in earth and sky.

May I experience

the eternity of your grace

pulsing within each moment.

- Sam Hamilton-Poore

Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation

10-Fold Movement

Imagine a movement that mobilizes tens of thousands of people in 10 days.

It is called 10-Fold.

Please click on the link below for more information.
http://www.10-fold.org/

Thought of the Week

Somewhere each day we have to fall in love,
with someone, something, some moment,
event, phrase, word, or sight.
Somehow each day we must allow the softening of the heart.
Otherwise our hearts will move evitably toward hardness.
We will showly become cynical without even knowing it -
that's where too much of the world is trapped.

- - Richard Rohr

Wedding Announcement

Michael Joyner & Diana Erickson

Request the honor of your presence
At the marriage of their daughter

Amber M. Joyner
to
Gregory L. Adams

October 2, 2010

Parkland United Methodist Church
3:30pm
12223 A St. S
Tacoma, WA 98444

Reception
5:00pm
306 134th St. S.
Tacoma, WA 98444

Amber & Greg are registered at Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Yoplait's Save Lids to Save Lives

For every Yoplait yogurt pink lid mailed in by December 31, Yoplait will donate $0.10 to our local Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This program runs September through December.

Collect pink lids - rinse them, flatten them, and return them to Parkland United Methodist Church or missions program coordinator, Pam McMillen.

In 2009, we collected 82 lids. This year we need to double that amount.

Read about past missions and ongoing missions under the "Missions" tab.

Remembering Sept. 11

Please take a moment and reflect out of your day today about those that were lost nine years ago. Pray for their families, our current issues, and for our soldiers still overseas.

Click on the tab "9/11 message from UMC Bishops" for a note from Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster President, Council of Bishops &
Bishop Neil L. Irons Executive Secretary, Council of Bishops from the Northwest Annual Conference.

Rummage Sale!

Don't Forget that coming up this weekend on September 10th and 11th is the Rummage Sale!

This event will run 9:00am to 4:00pm on both Sat. and Sun.

Items included are household goods, furniture, toys, books, clothing and teaching supplies (including NEW kids books).

Combined Worship for August 29!

On August 29th we will have a combined worship at the former Asbury Facility for all Bridge Congregations (Parkland, Bethany, St. Paul's and Sixth Ave.) There will be NO Service at Parkland UMC on this Sunday.

Also worship will start at 10:00 am with a potluck following. The Asbury Facility is located on 56th and Puget Sound.

Hymn of Promise

Birth Announcement

Congratulations!!!

To Stephanie & Nathaniel Bartlett who welcomed

Ojala Elizabeth Elaine Bartlet on 8/6/2010.
Bryce will have fun being a big brother!!!
And congrats to Eric & Debbie Hansen
on their first granddaughter.

It is time to clean out those closets. Out with the old and in with the new they say, right? Well, anyhow it is the time again to gather those things around your home for a Rummage Sale that will be held in late September or October (to be determined yet). Bring your gently used items to the church.
Please NO computers/etc. or exercise equipment.

Worship & Baseball = A Great Family Fun-Filled UMC Day at Cheney Stadium

On July 25, 2010 we met with other United Methodist Churches in Tacoma at Cheney Stadium to have a united worship service with the Bishop Grant Hagiya. We were lead by a great worship team and song lyrics on a huge screen behind them. There was even a new twist on Amazing Grace sung to the tune of House of the Raising Sun! After the worship service a great feast of a tailgate party in the parking lot was held. Friends old and new had a great time seeing each other.

The Tacoma Rainiers were taking on the Sacramento River Cats. Bishop Hagiya threw out the first pitch to get the game rolling. The game was pretty uneventful scoring wise until the top of the 5th when Sacramento scored. The Rainiers came alive at the bottom of the 6th with a homer and 2 runs in. The game ended with the score 3-2 in favor of the Rainiers! YEAH!!!

Just a little reminder........

"Take me out to the ballgame........."

Please remember that Sunday, July 25, 2010 there will not be any worship at Parkland United Methodist Church. This is when all Methodist Churches of Tacoma are invited to attend a joint worship service at Cheney Stadium for 10:00 am worship with the Bishop. Parking will be $5 per car.

Following the 10:00 am worship service there will be a Shared Tailgate Party. You are asked to help create a bountiful Shared Tailgate Party by looking at the following list of 'Alphabetized Potluck' items.
Find your Last Name Initial and bring to share the appropriate item:
A-F: Meat or other protein dish
G-L: Salads
M-Q: Desserts
R-V: Non-Alcoholic beverages
W-Z: Disposable picnic eating ware (plates, cups, eating utensils, napkins)
The game starts at 1:30 pm with a combined Methodist choir singing the National Anthem. Bishop Haygi will be throwing out the first pitch. The cost of the game is $10 and includes a hot dog, soda, and chips. WOW!!!

Important Dates!! & A warm welcome.

Please note that on:

June 20 - There will be no worship service at PUMC because of the annual conference worship service at UPS at 10:30 a.m

July 25 - There well be no worship service at PUMC because of the Cheney Stadium worship with other Methodist Churches at 10:00 a.m

______________________________________________________________________

A Warm Welcome

We would like to welcome new members Jim and Debbie Kusmerz to the congregation. It is great to have you join us.