Today was the second week of this year's Advent series "Welcome the Stranger." We explored the theme of peace today, and I shared how and why I have always struggled with this week's Advent theme.

Thank you to Rebekah Hede, who blessed us with the song Your Peace will make us One. Several have asked to read the lyrics of that powerful song. You can click here to read the lyrics and/or click here to watch the video of the song with lyrics from the artist Audrey Assad.

If you were not able to join us in person this week for our worship service, you can watch the full recorded service below:

Click here to watch today's service.

Participating in our Welcome the Stranger Advent Campaign

As we explore the call of Biblical hospitality throughout scripture and highlight how it is embedded in the nativity story this year, we have created additional ways for you to engage in this study.

1. We have an Advent calendar that you can use this holiday season, which will have different activities such as documentaries, readings, videos, and opportunities to connect with our community. There is also a kids' version on the back for ways that they can explore our theme of Welcome the Stranger.

2. There are packets that go along with our Advent Calendars that have the links to the videos, readings, etc... in them.

You can pick these up at the Welcome Desk in the Narthex or you can find the digital links on our website by clicking on the button below.

Our Welcome The Stranger Advent Series Online

Today's Announcements

1. Coat Drive: We are currently doing a kids’ coat drive of new and gently used coats in a wide variety of kids’, youth, and adult sizes. Donations can be placed on the table outside the office through Christmas Eve. All coats will be donated to the Yakima School District Health Center that serves all Yakima students.

There is also a box next to our table that the UU Church is using to collect hats, gloves, and scarves if you have any gently used ones that you would like to share. They will be giving these to St. Michael's Mission to hand out to our unsheltered neighbors this holiday season.

2. Adopting Families for Christmas: Each year, we support local families to partner with them to provide wishlist gifts to them to give to their kids. This year, we have partnered with Yakima Immigrant Response Network to adopt three local families whose father and primary provider has been detained and/or deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

There are notecards on the tree in the Narthex with an item for these families. If you take one, please bring the item back wrapped with the notecard tag attached to it by Sunday, December 21st, so that we can organize and deliver them to families. You can also see the remaining cards that need to be adopted after service today by clicking here and sign up for the one(s) you would like to cover.

If you have any questions about this effort this year, please reach out to Christie.

Current Sign Ups

We have two upcoming events that you can sign up to participate in:

The first one is to join Curtis Young on Sunday, December 14th, at 3 PM to go Christmas Caroling to our homebound members.

The second is to work a one-hour shift table outside of Wrays grocery store on Saturday, December 13, to help us collect food for the Yakima Community Aid organization that helps to provide food to those who cannot access traditional food pantries in our communities.

Click to Access our Online Sign-up Sheets

Church Directories

Several of you have asked about getting new updated church directories. Dawn has printed some of those off, and you are able to pick one up in the office. You can also access our directory online through the password-protected area of our website.

To access the password-protected area, click here and enter the password: LoveOutLoud

Joys and Concerns

Continue to pray for Kathy Helseth as she is recovering at Memorial Hospital from an emergency surgery last week and an infection. She will be moving to a local nursing facility for a few weeks in the coming days to be cared for as she continues to recover from the events of the last couple of weeks. David has said that she would enjoy short visits from people.

Continue to pray for Ronnie Grey, who was moved from The Terraces this week into a more permanent space at Brookdale here in Yakima. A big thank you to all who helped him move this week!

Continue praying for Delila Roulston as she continues to heal from several injuries that have occurred over the last few months.

Pray for Bryson Stuehmer (Love), who is recovering at home from knee surgery.

December's Connection Group Schedule