Beginning this week, you are welcome to bring in Christmas cards for those at 2nd Ave for a card exchange. Please put the cards in the wrapped box that will be near the Gathering Place. Cards will not be distributed until after the gift giveaway on December 16. The box will be open until December 22 (you can bring cards on Sundays or during office hours, but please call ahead to ensure we are in). Cards will be available for pickup through January 4. Please only bring in cards for those who attend here on 2nd Avenue. If you have any questions, please contact me.

We will not be in the office during regular business hours tomorrow because we will be shopping for our Christmas giveaway. Please call if you intend to stop because we may not be present.

This Wednesday marks the final ROCK for 2025. Thank you to everyone who helped provide gifts for each child in attendance!

Our gift giveaway and soup and sandwich lunch will be held next Tuesday, December 16! The giveaway will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Help is required for both!

The Iron Bridge Dinner Theatre’s production of “Nuncrackers” will be performed here at 2nd Ave next Thursday through Saturday (18-20). There are no other activities taking place in the building this evening or on Saturday. They will be in the kitchen and social hall with their props, etc., beginning Sunday evening, December 21. Please be respectful of their belongings and the space they have rented from us.

Please note that the last Sunday we will have regular service times is this coming Sunday, December 14. On December 21, there will be a combined service with the 2nd Ave Kids Christmas pageant at 10:00 a.m. Services on December 24 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. combined service on December 28. These days, there won’t be a staffed nursery, Jr. Church, or Sunday school. If an adult needs to take a child under the age of three, the nursery will be available as a cry room.

The church office will close at noon on Tuesday, December 23 and remain closed through January 4. We will resume regular hours on Monday, January 5.

 

We hope you can join us this Sunday to commemorate the second Sunday of Advent and Holy Communion at both services. The services will begin at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Sunday is the last day to sign up for the church’s Christmas card for 2025.

Poinsettias are still available for order. You can find the forms on the entryway tables.

Here are some important dates for the rest of 2025!

• Tuesday, December 9, the office will not be staffed during regular hours as we will be shopping for our gift giveaway. If you plan to attend church, please call ahead as there may not be anyone present.
• Wednesday, December 10, marks the final ROCK of 2025.
• Sunday, December 14, marks our final Sunday of the year with regular service times. (Services on December 21 and 28 will both commence at 10:00 a.m. Please note that Sunday school, Junior Church, and the staffed nursery will not be held on these days.)
• Tuesday, December 16 will be our gift giveaway from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and our Soup & Sandwich lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., help is needed!
• The church office will close at 12:00 p.m. on December 23 and remain closed until Monday, January 5.
• The Christmas Eve Service on December 24 will have two service times: 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Both services will feature candle lighting.
• The New Year’s Eve family party at 2nd Avenue will begin at 6:00 p.m.

We started our Advent journey on Sunday with a message from Rev. Mark Stewart titled “Advent Understandings.” If you were unable to attend, you can watch it on our YouTube channel.

The ROCK will only meet two more times in 2025! We’re wrapping up donations for the annual Christmas gifts. If you are not aware, we provide a gift to each child who attends the ROCK each year thanks to donations from the congregation.

We are currently accepting poinsettia orders and church Christmas card signups.

Poinsettias can be ordered until December 14, or until we sell out, whichever comes first. Flowers will be available to take home after Christmas Eve services.

Next Sunday, December 7, is the deadline for church Christmas card sign-ups and payment. Your contribution of $10 or more will help fund our December 15 Christmas giveaway. (This year, sign-ups have been slow; as of right now, only 14 people have signed up; at least 35–40 people or families are expected to participate). You can email me your own image or one of the ones we provide.

We hope you will join us as the Advent season begins tomorrow, Sunday, November 30. Services are held at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Rev. Mark Stewart will deliver a message titled “Advent Understandings.” Pastor Brian will be there to lead both services.

Advent devotionals were sent out via email earlier this week, and printed copies are available at the church.

Poinsettia order forms are available on the entryway tables, and payment is due with the order.

Sign up for the church Christmas card with a $10 or more donation to help provide gifts for some needy families this Christmas! Sign-up forms are available on the front table, near the ROCK Christmas board.

A reminder that the office will be closed on Monday and reopen on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. As we enter this busy season, we recommend calling ahead to let us know you plan to stop by, as we may not always be in the office. During this time of year, we may have errands to run or be in other areas of the building and not hear the door buzzer.

 

Please be advised that the office will be closing tomorrow, November 25, at 1:00 p.m. until Tuesday, December 2. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact Pastor Brian directly. Phone messages and emails will not be returned until December 2.

We are now accepting orders for Christmas poinsettias. These beautiful flowers will be available for pickup after Christmas Eve services. Each poinsettia is priced at $7.

Church Christmas card sign-ups commenced yesterday, and we’re making excellent progress! A donation of $10 or more will ensure your greeting is featured in both the video and printed cards. The video card will be showcased during our combined service at 10:00 a.m. on December 21. All donations will be dedicated to our Christmas giveaway.

Our daily Advent devotional will commence on Sunday, November 30th. Each day, the scripture, devotional, and prayer will be shared on Facebook. Physical copies of the devotional are available at the church, and the PDF version can be accessed by clicking here. Additionally, the scripture verses are also included in our daily reading calendar.

The ROCK is still collecting donations for their annual Christmas gift for each child. They are approximately $500 short after yesterday’s donations. Please let Ashley know if you have any questions.

Thank you to everyone who generously donated toward our Thanksgiving meal giveaway! The meals were distributed this morning. We couldn’t have accomplished this without your unwavering support!

 

We hope you can join us this Sunday as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday of the liturgical year. Pastor Brian will share a personal account from Luke 19:1-10 titled “Come Down” at both 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Next Sunday, November 30, marks the beginning of the Advent season! To prepare for this special time, we will be decorating the church on Tuesday, November 25, at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join us in this festive activity! Please enter through the 2nd Street door.

The church office will be closed from Wednesday, November 25, through Monday, December 1, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Phone messages and emails will be returned on Tuesday, December 2.

Poinsettias are now available for order! Order forms will be available in the bulletin on Sunday, or you can place your order online BY CLICKING HERE!, We had to pre-purchase them, so they will be available for order until we run out or December 14, whichever comes first. Payment is due at the time of order. Flowers will be available for pickup after Christmas Eve services. We kindly request that everyone take their flower. If you don’t want it, you can give it to someone here at church or a neighbor/friend. However, we don’t want them left at the church to wither and be discarded.

Church Christmas card sign-ups commence this Sunday. A folder containing images is located on the front table, near the ROCK bulletin board. You can select an image from the folder, fill out the form, fold it with your donation of $10 or more, and place it in the offering plate. Alternatively, if you prefer to choose your own image or use a family picture, kindly email it to Jill by December 7, along with your greeting. 100% of the donations from the card sales will be dedicated to our Christmas Giveaway.

As we approach this extremely busy season, we kindly request that if you intend to visit the church during our regular office hours, kindly give us a call in advance so that we can anticipate your arrival. Occasionally, we may be occupied with errands or other tasks in different areas of the building, and we might not hear the door buzzer. 

If you missed services yesterday, please note that you can catch up on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@2ndaveglobalmethodist. There was an issue with the 10:45 recording, so only the 8:15 recording is available.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all individuals who contributed their time and efforts on Saturday to the Hope Chest and luncheon. Our event was a resounding success, serving over 80 families.

Thank you to our Social Committee for hosting the scarecrow event on Saturday! Please take a look at the upcoming Christmas events they have planned. Sign-up sheets and information are available at the church.

Our Advent devotional is now available for physical pickup. Additionally, a PDF version will be emailed to you next week.

It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas is only about 6 weeks away! We have entered a very busy time here at the church. There is lots going on and we don’t want you to miss out on anything. Below are some important dates in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving & Christmas:

1. The church office will be open during regular hours this week. Next week, we will only be open on Mondays and Tuesdays.
2. The office will be closed from November 26 to December 1.
3.   Starting this Sunday, November 23, you can order your Christmas poinsettia and sign up for the church Christmas card. More information on both will be provided at the end of this week.
4. Advent begins on November 30. We will have regular services on November 30, December 7, and December 14. Additionally, we will have combined services at 10:00 a.m. on December 21 and December 28.
5. The Christmas Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 21, at 10:00 a.m.

2026 Offering envelopes can be picked up on Sunday in the Elevation room or during office hours. If you didn’t sign up for them but would like a box, please inform Jill. She has extra envelopes and can prepare a set for you.

TheThe ROCK is collecting monetary donations for the annual Christmas gift that the congregation has so generously provided for the past many years. Envelopes are available in the sanctuary, but you can use any envelope and mark it for “ROCK Christmas.” Please contact Ashley if you have any questions.

 

Today, on Saturday, November 15, we have our monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Hope Chest will also be open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Additionally, our Social Committee will be organizing a scarecrow stuffing and bonfire event at 3:00 p.m.

See Jill Sunday between services to pick up your 2026 offering envelopes. She’ll be in the Elevation Room.

Starting this Sunday, you can pick up a copy of the Advent Daily Devotional from the table in the sanctuary. A PDF version will be sent out via email before Advent begins on November 30.

There are still 2026 calendars on the table. Please take one for your household.

The church office will be closed from Wednesday, November 26, to Monday, December 1, to observe the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, December 2, at our usual hours.

We are currently collecting donations for Thanksgiving meals. Non-perishable items can be brought in on Sundays or during office hours. Please wait to bring items like rolls, pies, and other perishable goods until the Sunday before Thanksgiving. If you have any questions, please let Pastor Brian know.

Jill is currently in the office, but if you call, you’ll need to leave a message. She has some sort of virus and is unable to speak.

A friendly reminder that this Saturday, November 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. we’ll be hosting our Soup & Sandwich lunch. Additionally, the Hope Chest will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Saturday will also feature our scarecrow stuffing and bonfire, starting at 3:00 p.m.

Next Monday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m., we will have our Church Conference. Although there are no major issues to be voted on this year, all members are encouraged to attend and participate.

Starting this coming Sunday, 2026 Offering Envelopes will be available for pick-up. Please visit Jill before or between services to collect yours. You’ll likely have a different number than last year. Jill will keep track of the numbers associated with each name, but we kindly request that you write your name on any envelopes you submit for distribution to ensure accurate tax credit.

The 2026 church calendars are available for pick-up on the table in the sanctuary. To ensure everyone has access, we kindly request that each household take only one calendar.

The Advent readings, which commence on November 30, will be available starting this Sunday. They will be placed on the table in the sanctuary. Our December reading calendar will feature the daily verses, and the verses and readings will be posted on Facebook. However, if you prefer a copy of the verses accompanied by the reading and prayer, please take one.

 

This Sunday, we will be blessed with a message from John Nihart at both 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

A friendly reminder, the pageant practice for 2nd Ave Kids has commenced during the 10:45 service. To participate, children must attend at least 5 out of the 7 scheduled practices. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ashley.

Starting this Sunday, there will be 2026 calendars available on the table in the sanctuary. Please limit yourself to one calendar per household for the time being.

Starting next Sunday, November 16, 2026, envelopes will be available for collection. The numbers are randomly assigned, so you’re unlikely to receive the same number as last year. These are simply randomized numbers provided by the company. Please ensure that you write your first and last name on the envelope, as this is how we track donations.

On Tuesday, November 11, the Trustees will convene at 6:00 p.m., while the Church Council will meet at 7:00 p.m.

Our annual Church Conference will be held on Monday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. We encourage all church members to attend.

The church office will be closed from Wednesday, November 26, through Monday, December 1, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.