Season of Advent
The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning coming or visit, begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians.
During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation, and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward to anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.
The Christmas season begins at sundown on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and lasts until Epiphany of the Lord (January 6). This period is popularly referred to as the Twelve Days of Christmas.
A list of the events, activities, services, and volunteer/giving opportunities at First Church this Advent season are listed below. Make plans to worship with us at First Church as we anticipate the coming of Christ.
Click HERE for more info on
Advent Studies offered this season.
WEDNESDAYS IN ADVENT
Wednesday Night Dinners
Wednesdays, December 4 & 11 | 5:00 – 5:45pm | The Wright Place
Join us in Advent for dinner and fellowship with your church family. The cost is $10 for adults (10 and older) and $4 for children with a $27 family max.
An Invitation to Advent
Wednesday, December 4 | 6:00 – 7:00pm | Wesley Abbey
All are invited to join us for An Invitation to Advent to help us prepare for the season. We will have a message with special music from our music ministry. We will have childcare for infants – 5 years old.
Caroling
Wednesday, December 11 | 6:00 – 6:30pm
All ages are welcome to join us for a special night of Christmas Caroling! After dinner, we will take a short walk over to the Wesley Haven to share the hope, love, joy, and peace of the Advent Season.
SERVICES, CONCERTS, & EVENTS
FUMC Pensacola Heritage Sunday
50 Year Member Recognition & Church Anniversary
Sunday, December 8
Join us as we recognize our newest fifty-year members during all of our worship services. We will also celebrate the 203rd anniversary of FUMC Pensacola with an unveiling of a new exhibit in The Consulate as well as birthday cake!
The Great Day of Giving & Mission Partners Fair
Sunday, December 8 | 9:00 -10:45am | Gym
The Great Day of Giving is a church-wide event that promotes giving to ministry partners and families in need in our community. This program offers children, youth, and adults an opportunity to prepare and deliver 75 Christmas food boxes. It includes activities such as making gifts and cards for our homebound. We will also have a special visit from Santa! He will give a blessing of the boxes, a word about giving, and will also be available for pictures.
The same morning, there will be an FUMC Missions Partners Fair for the entire congregation. This Fair will give our partners an opportunity to celebrate and share what they are doing in our community and offer ways to get involved. In this season of giving, you will have an opportunity to financially support these agencies directly at this time. Our ministry partners include Bright Bridge Ministries, Disaster Relief, Embrace Florida Kids, Family Promise, Gulf Coast Kids House, Milk and Honey, Ronald McDonald House, Serve the Hungry, Teaming with Tanzania, United Ministries and Weekend Feeding Program.
White Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 8 | 5:00pm | Main Sanctuary
Start the season with some festive Christmas music presented by our Children’s, Tween, and Youth Choirs. A special offering will be collected to benefit Embrace Florida Kids. Afterwards, everyone is invited to join us for pizza and cookies in The Wright Place. Nursery provided.
Pensacola Bay Concert Band Presents: “Christmas Lights Shining Bright”
Community Christmas Concert and Carol Sing-Along
Monday, December 9 | 7:30pm | Activities Center | FREE
The Pensacola Bay Concert Band (PBCB), a 110-piece community concert band, will perform a FREE Christmas Concert and carol sing-along in the Henry Roberts Activity as a thank you to our church for the temporary use of our facilities for practice space. Please bring non-perishable food items for Manna Food Pantry.
Sanctuary Choir Christmas Concert with Orchestra
Sunday, December 15 | 7:30pm | Main Sanctuary
This is a traditional evening of classical Christmas favorites presented by the First United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir under the direction of Rick and Heidi Branch. A full professional orchestra will accompany the choir. A reception will follow the concert in The Wright Place.
Electric Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 22 | 6:00pm | Gym
An exciting concert of music from the Mannheim Steamroller Fresh Aire Christmas series, presented by members and friends of the FUMC Music Ministry.
Journey To Bethlehem
Saturday, December 14 | 3:30 – 4:45pm | Wesley Abbey & Lawn
The nativity story will come to life as you go through live stations narrating the event leading up to the birth of our Lord. This experience will combine indoor and outdoor venues and take approximately 20 minutes. Make sure to stay for a cup of hot chocolate!
Longest Night Service
Thursday, December 19 | 6:00pm | Chapel
Christmas can be a painful time for some, especially for those who are grieving or in despair, so each year around the longest night, we hold a contemplative service of healing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledges God’s presence for those who mourn or struggle. All are welcome. This service is provided in partnership with Center for Sacred Space.
Epiphany Concert
Monday, January 6 | 7:00pm | Main Sanctuary
Join us for a very special last concert of the season, “Journey to the Manger”, featuring local musicians from area churches.
Giving & Serving OPPORTUNITIES
Great Day of Giving Food Drive
The Great Day of Giving Food Drive is a church-wide event to promote giving to families in need and to our ministry partners in the community. Each age group is asked to bring in the listed non-perishable items below by November 26th. We will prepare 75 food boxes at our Great Day of Giving event on December 8. We will have designated drop-off bins in the Church Office and Children’s Education Building. Monetary donations are also appreciated and used to purchase any items we don’t collect. Checks can be made payable to FUMC with the memo: Great Day of Giving and turned in to the front office.
MCA Preschool: Mac ‘n Cheese, Canned Ravioli, Canned Beefaroni, Spaghettios, Canned Chili
Children: Oatmeal, Canned Fruit, Canned Veggies, Rice
Youth: Peanut Butter, Jelly, Saltine Crackers
Adults: Pancake Mix (add water), Spaghetti Sauce, Spaghetti Noodles, Rice, Soup, Canned Veggies, Canned Fruit
Angel Tree
Click HERE to Sign Up Online
The Angel Tree returns on Sunday, November 10! Children from N.B. Cook, Milk and Honey, and some of the most needy children in our local area are included on our tree this year. Each child will have two angels placed on the tree: one for their clothing needs and one for their interests, likes, and toys. The tree will be set up in the church office starting Sunday, November 24. You can pick your own angel from the tree (no need to register online), OR you can register online and one will be chosen for you. All angels must be signed out and returned with unwrapped gifts to the church office no later than Sunday, December 8. The difference our congregation makes in the lives of our Angel Tree participants each year is extraordinary, and we are thrilled to set up the tree again! Please get in touch with Sarah Bullock-Head in the church office with any questions. SHead@FUMCPensacola.com (850) 432-1434.
“Be a Santa to a Senior” Tree
Click HERE to Sign Up Online
The “Be a Santa to a Senior” Tree returns on Sunday, November 10! For many seniors, the holiday season can be a difficult time of year marked by loneliness and depression. Home Instead leads this annual program by partnering with community organizations that work with seniors. They identify the needs of seniors who may not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. For the fifth year, First Church is hosting a tree with bulbs that include gift needs and wishes from seniors in the Pensacola area. Last year we supported 150 seniors in our area, and were the largest host in Pensacola for this annual national program! The “Be a Santa to a Senior” Tree will be set up in the church office starting on Sunday, November 24. You can pick your own bulb from the tree (no need to register online), OR you can register online and one will be chosen for you. All bulbs must be signed out and returned with unwrapped gifts to the church office no later than Sunday, December 8. Please contact Sarah Bullock-Head in the church office with any questions. SHead@FUMCPensacola.com (850) 432-1434.
White Christmas Donations
Financially support the abandoned and neglected children in our community through Embrace Florida Kids (United Methodist Children’s Home). Give at EmbraceFLKids.org or mail a check to: Embrace Florida Kids, 5414 Highway 90, Pace, FL 32571. Donations can also be given at the White Christmas Concert on December 8.
KIDS, TWEENS, YOUTH, & FAMILIES
Advent for Kids
Wednesday, December 4 | 6:00 – 7:00pm
Preschool -5th grade children will learn the meaning of Advent through story, crafts and activities. Drop off in gym.
Caroling
Wednesday, December 11 | 6:00 – 6:30pm
All ages are welcome to join us for a special night of Christmas Caroling! After dinner, we will take a short walk over to the Wesley Haven to share the hope, love, joy, and peace of the Advent Season.
Journey To Bethlehem
Saturday, December 14 | 3:00 – 4:15pm | Wesley Abbey & Lawn
The nativity story will come to life as you go through live stations narrating the event leading up to the birth of our Lord. This experience will combine indoor and outdoor venues and take approximately 20 minutes. Make sure to stay for a cup of hot chocolate, and Christmas crafts and games just for kids!
Baby Recognition
Sunday, December 22 | 11:00am | Main Sanctuary
Please join us as we welcome the newest members born into our church family in 2024 and celebrate them as a child of God. A reception for families and friends will be held at 10:15am in the Wright Place, Dining Room. Please contact Lisa Bond (LBond@FUMCPensacola.com ) if you would like your child recognised if you have not been contacted.
Poinsettia orders
Click HERE to place order
You may honor, celebrate, or memorialize individuals or events by purchasing poinsettias for $14.00 each this Advent Season. Please register online no later than December 15th. Email Sarah Bullock Head (SHead@FUMCPensacola.com) with any questions.
christmas eve
Nursery is provided for children under 5 at the 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00pm services. Email Lisa Bond (LBond@FUMCPensacola.com) for more information.
4:00pm | Main Sanctuary
Christmas Eve at First Church starts at 4pm with a service of candlelight and Christmas carols that includes a children’s moment and a time of holy communion. There will also be music from the artists formerly known as youth choir members. As the sun goes down, we’ll light our candles (battery powered for the little ones) and sing Silent Night.
5:00pm | An ICON Christmas in Wesley Abbey
An ICON Christmas starts at 5:00pm in Wesley Abbey. This is an intimate, family-friendly, candlelight, and communion service. It includes a special children’s time with a reading of the Christmas Story and music from the ICON band.
6:00 & 8:00pm | Main Sanctuary
At 6 and 8pm, join us in the Main Sanctuary for a traditional service of candlelight, Christmas carols, communion, and special choral music. (There will be a children’s moment at 6:00pm). Music will be provided by the Sanctuary Choir at each of these services.
11:00pm | Main Sanctuary
Our final service of the night will be at 11:00pm. We’ll sing Christmas carols and have special music. There will be a time of communion. And just before midnight we’ll light candles and sing Silent Night. At midnight we’ll ring in Christmas day and sing Joy to the World.
looking ahead…
Combined Service
Sunday, December 29 | 11:00am | Main Sanctuary
We will have one combined service with communion at 11:00am in the Main Sanctuary.