Advent and Christmas at the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz

Welcome to the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz, as we seek to be faithful to God by being fully inclusive.  We have open hearts, open minds, and open doors.  Join us as we deepen our resolve to share love generously.  This is a time for sharing the love of Jesus Christ with our neighbors and the world as we grow deeply in our faith.

Join us as we seek to build relationships with spiritual depth, reaching out to the world.    

We remain committed to offering a healthy and safe ministry in the midst of this COVID Pandemic, offering Hybrid Worship and Hybrid/Zoom Small Groups.  Check out our website for the latest information, and “Like Us” on Facebook!  

Whoever you are and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome to grow with us.

Welcome Christmas into your heart as you hear the faith stories of all the ‘Advent Characters’ who are approached by the Angel!  The Angel prepares our way today by introducing us to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds … the unsuspecting people of faith!

Prepare your hearts with Hope … Come!  Prepare!

Zoom Participants, prepare a ‘holy snack’. Continue to journey this season as we prepare our hearts.  We move from a place of Hope as we prepare our hearts for Peace.  Allow the Angel to deepen your spirit with the message of Peace, given to the  Shepherds.  Allow this message to infuse your soul! 

Our journey unfolds as we focus on Love this day.  Imagine being silenced by an Angel like Zechariah or visited by an Angel every time you slept like Joseph!  We would probably not get any Christmas cooking done!  See how these two characters prepared their lives for the Love of God.  Are we preparing for a times such as this; are we prepared for this kind of Love?

We arrive at our journey’s end in Bethlehem, where Joy awaits us!  Are your hearts prepared to receive and share this gift with your neighbors far and wide?!

The Angel comes with reassurance to Elizabeth and Mary, as the Angel came last week to their partners.  May we find the kind of Joy in our hearts like Mary and Elizabeth found, when they received such news!

We have been anticipating this night all season!

On this night, Jesus is born!  Saving Grace is poured upon us as we celebrate this gift of new birth! 

Please invite others to join you as we celebrate this gift of new light in our lives…our world!  Join our Hybrid Service of familiar carols and ‘light in the dark moments of life’.  Bring, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love with you!

We rarely get to celebrate Christmas Day in Worship.  So, leave the wrappings of your Christmas gifts under the tree, and join us for music and the hearing of how everything started from John 1:1-14.  Be the Light of the World this day, as we begin to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas!  Join us next week as we continue to celebrate on New Year’s Day!  And then come back once again on January 8^th as we celebrate the Epiphany.  Be a blessing in 2023!

May we find the welcoming place of God as we invite others to share in this journey of the Spirit at Christmas!