A PHOTO JOURNEY AROUND CHURCH AT UMCAL THE WEEK OF SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2009....

With the CHRISTmas season upon us, there are many opportunities for giving at UMCAL including the MITTEN TREE, ALTERNATIVE GIFTS TABLE and the GIVE A RIDE PROGRAM. Judy brought a new pair of gloves for the tree today and Gladys and Marge helped her add them to the tree.


The NARTHEX is decorated so beautifully for the CHRISTMmas season and offers a warm, cozy place for everyone to chat.


Cora was looking over one of the displays of CHRISTmas ornimants....a fundraising table for the homeless in Freeborn County.


Behind all the beautiful poinsettias Merle was playing beautiful music before and DURING the service.


Playing for us today on the harp was Kristin Sandager. She played at the beginning of the service and then during the offering..it was beautiful! THANKS Kristin for sharing your talent on the beautiful harp with us--seems so fitting for the season!


JoAnn, Mattie & Kristin lit the ADVENT CANDELS and JoAnn represented mothers during the ADVENT season. Mothers are very important in the CHRISTmas story and JoAnn represented all mothers this holiday season. Kristin lit the LOVE CANDLE today.


Quite a few came forward for the YOUNG DISCIPLES time as Pastor John talked about the CHRISTMAS SEASON and even sang a NORWEGIAN carol--IN NORWEGIAN!


Marge Hamersly read the scripture lesson today from Luke 1:39-49.


Pastor John had the message today entitled "EXTRAVAGANT LOVE". There is so much LOVE in the CHRISTMAS STORY as we all make room in our hearts for the LOVE of God. Pastor John suggested the BEST GIFT we can give OR receive this season is the gift of LOVE! LOVE came down at CHRISTmas and all we have to do is make room in our hearts just the the innkeeper did for Mary & Joseph by offering the stable....Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, the innkeeper and JESUS HIMSELF all showed EXTRAVAGANT LOVE!


At the end of the service, the CHANCEL CHOIR under the direction of Eileen Nelson Ness joined with the congregation in a FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS. We all sang carols from AROUND THE WORLD and was a beautiful ending to today's service.


Pastor John, Mattie and Kristin prepare to walk out to the NARTHEX as we prepare for the upcoming CHRISTMAS WEEK.


Helen & Jim Davis were with part of their family after church. Their son Matt and his wife recently joined UMCAL and here Matt is with 3 of their children--Kelsey, Kristin & Garret. Mother & Grandma CORA is also with the family getting bundled up to go out into the snow.


Yes, we had a couple inches of snow Sunday morning and it was one of those PRETTY SNOWS with light winds and just beautiful flakes floating to the ground... LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!






THANK YOU FOR READING THE UMCAL WEBSITE and now you have the opportunity to send the MESSAGE OF UMCAL AROUND THE WORLD on the World Wide Web 24-7-365.....

QUICK RETURN TO THE UMCAL WEBSITE