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Welcome Grow Serve Celebrate
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Completing the PuzzleOne truth we find in scripture is that God created a very relational world. We are connected to God, to one another, to the earth itself. As church, we live into another connection. We are the body of Christ. The apostle Paul spoke of our connection in Christ as he said in Romans 12:5, “We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another." The body of Christ is like one worldwide puzzle. We each have our own gifts and we each have our own part to play. The puzzle is just not complete if one piece is missing. Each piece is important, we are all valuable and we are all called to discern what our piece of the puzzle might be. Over the next few weeks during worship, we will reflect on this piece of wisdom we find throughout scripture and specifically in the letters of the New Testament. As we do, we invite you to spend time in reflection over the piece you feel called to add within your Parkway Hills family not just in your walk as a disciple of Jesus Christ but also in your giving. Our pledge cards this year are puzzle pieces and will be located throughout the chairs Sunday morning in worship. Pick one up, fill it out, and place it in the basket located on the front corner table. When you do, pick up one or two puzzle pieces and place them on the board so that we can watch as our Parkway Hills puzzle comes together as we each do our part.
Today we are also releasing a brief video looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024. This video is available on our YouTube channel as well as our Facebook and Instagram, and we invite you to share it as a further means to invite others into what God is doing at Parkway Hills. We truly do best what we do together.
—Dawn
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Wednesday Night re:treat postponed to January 24
Need a midweek break from thinking about dinner? Want to engage in fellowship and conversation? Join us at Parkway Hills at 5:45 pm beginning Wednesday, January 24 for a fellowship meal followed by programs for all ages. We usually wrap up by 7:15, and a nursery is provided for our littlest disciples. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under with a family max of $27. We do ask for a reservation by noon the Monday before so we may be good stewards of our resources and know how much to prepare. You can RSVP here, by calling the church office, or by filling out the form in the bulletin each Sunday (Please RSVP for January 24).
Here is a look at what we have planned, adjusted for this week's weather:
January 24: Meal at 5:45 followed by Intergenerational Table Talk
January 31: Bridge, Youth, and Adults: Ministry Fair highlighting all the ways to connect at Parkway Hills and sharing about our Mission & Ministry Day Apart. Kids 4th & Under: Science Night.
February 7: First meeting of our 2024 Leadership Board. Adults: Conversation in Worship Center. Youth: Homework Night. Bridge: Menchies Night Out. Kids: Spiritual Practices.
February 21: Bridge, Youth, and Adults: Conversations around our questions coming from Scripture, Part 1 (more info to come). Kids: Art Night.
February 28: Bridge, Youth, and Adults: Conversations around our questions coming from Scripture, Part 2. Kids: Storytelling/Drama Night.
March 6: Adults: Book Club Night on Inspired by Rachel Held Evans. Bridge/Youth: Beds for Kids. Kids: Game Night.
March 20: Last Fellowship meal followed by Intergenerational Table Talk.
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Mission & Ministry Day ApartJoin your Parkway Hills family in the Garden room Saturday, January 27 from 8:30am-1pm for a morning of sharing, dreaming, and planning. A light breakfast will be provided. If you want to attend but need childcare, let us know by Wednesday, January 24.
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It's time for our 3rd Annual Secret Galentine Signup!
Technically Galentine's Day is officially February 13, so let's spread some love among us!
If you are interested in participating, you will be responsible for dropping off a Valentine-themed surprise to a PHUMC Galentine between February 9th and February 13th. There is a price suggestion of approximately $25. The gift should include a gift tag with your name. The sign-up form info will allow us to pass along some of your preferences to your secret valentine. Sign up here.
The last day to sign up is January 31st and we will be randomizing the list of participants and sending out the secret Galentine names and responses on February 4th. Please let us know if you have any questions about this event!
With Love! ❤️❤️❤️
Tatia Kiser
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The Southeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy has released a letter to the SEJ delegates detailing their recommendations that will be presented to the SEJ Conference.
To prepare their recommendations, the SEJ COE used input from every annual conference and each bishop about the future needs for episcopal leadership in the SEJ.
As a result of their work, the SEJCOE will present the following recommendations that will be voted on at the SEJ Conference in July:
-There will be no election of bishops in 2024.
-Bishop Bill McAlilly will retire under mandatory retirement effective August 31, 2024.
-The SEJ COE will be composed of 10 Episcopal Areas for the next quadrennium. The Mississippi Annual Conference will continue as the Mississippi Episcopal Area.
To read the letter in it's entirety from the SEJ COE, click here.
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| Children's Sunday School will meet this Sunday in the Garden at 9:30 am. Ages 3 years old - 4th grade are welcome to attend as we continue working through our Celebrate Wonder Curriculum. We begin with a gathering time activity in the Garden Room and an introduction to the lesson. Then the children will break off into
age-leveled classes to further explore the lesson. This month's theme is "Include." We will explore stories of Jesus's baptism and the calling of the disciples to learn about how welcoming and inviting God's love is for all. To volunteer click the link.
All volunteers must submit a background check before volunteering with children and youth.
2nd - 4th Graders are invited to join our Bible 101 class starting Jan. 28. The class will be held in the usual Sunday School time starting at 9:30 a.m. Drop off will be in the Garden Room before heading to their classroom. It is important that your child brings their Bible to these sessions. If your child does not have a Bible, contact Pastor Haven. This will be an important course as the students learn more about the history and books of the Bible and how to navigate looking up scriptures. The class will last until Sunday, March 17.
To stay connected to all KidMin events, get the Remind app and text @phumcc to 81010.
—Haven
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Our Bridge Sunday School class (5th and 6th graders) meets Sundays at 9:30 in the Bridge room located upstairs in the Worship Center.
Sunday Night Bridge will meet 5:30-7:30 January 21 for food, faith formation, and games.
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| Start the New Year fully ENGAGED!
-Regular Engage resumes January 21! Engage is the center piece of the PHUMC Youth Ministry, a weekly chance to gather at the table and grow in faith together. Adults: we need your help, including for this week, Jan 21. To provide dinner and volunteer with weekly Engage or other semester events, click here.
-The Connection is coming February 23-25! This is a new spiritual formation weekend created by UMCs in our area. Registration is $55 due by February 7 via the Vanco app or by clicking here. This is a great chance to invite a friend!
There are lots of ways for PHUMC to help make The Connection happen! Needs include host homes, drivers, volunteers, and food providers. Click here to get signed up, or contact Geoff for more info. We're also accepting donations of bottled water and individually wrapped snacks for Friday night worship.
To stay connected to all youth events, get the Remind app and text @phumcy to 81010.
—Geoff
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Meeting This Week:
Thursday: Men's Group at 7:30 am in Garden
Handbell practice 9:00 am
Sunday: Small Groups at 9:30 am
Worship 10:45 am
Choir practice and Youth Engage and Bridge Group at 5:30
Monday: Quilters from noon to 3:00 in Garden Room.
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January Communion OfferingIn English, the phrase Becas con Bendiciones means “Scholarships with Blessings.”
This month, your Communion gifts will supply scholarships for impoverished Honduran students.Though public school in Honduras is technically "free" to attend, there are uniform requirements, shoes, sports clothing for P.E. classes, matriculation fees, maintenance fees, and basic school supplies which put formal education out of the reach of many children. In January 2006 PHUMC's Wednesday night children's program studied United Methodist missions in Honduras, learning a little Spanish, sampling some Honduran foods, and discovering that kids in Honduras got only four or five years of schooling because their parents couldn't afford to pay for uniforms, school supplies, and fees. So our kids jumped in to help.They began collecting change at home and at church, made announcements to the congregation, decorated collection boxes for Wednesday night supper tables, and quickly raised $300 for "Scholarships with blessings" to help kids in Honduras stay in school longer. Since that beginning in 2006, Parkway Hills has sponsored dozens of Honduran children. We receive thank-you letters and pictures from our sponsored kids every year.They are so grateful for our support!
Last year we provided 17 scholarships!
Your gift of $120 provides 100% of the school-related needs for a child in this program. Learn more by clicking here. Thank you for giving generously.
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RECORD OF OUR FAITHFULNESS
End of Year 2023
Income: $576,451.54
Expenses: $578,639.84
January Communion Offering, $1,421.00 to date, supports Becas con Bendiciones, Honduran "Scholarships with Blessings."
A donation has been received for the Memorial Fund in memory of Ann Weissenborn.
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