WINTERGARDEN WEEKEND UPDATE

Dearest Faith Community Near and Far- First, as this year comes to a close, many are looking forward to a new year, a new beginning. Advent is that time as well. Advent marks the beginning of a new year in our faith journey and the Christian calendar. This Sunday marks the 4th Sunday of Advent and we will explore the Magnificat in Luke. We are going to embrace this season using the theme from A Sanctified Art called “From Generation to Generation”. From the creators of this theme: From Generation to Generation… reminds us of the ways our lives, histories, actions, and stories are interconnected and woven together. In the midst of narratives, policies, and rhetoric designed to divide us, what does it look like to practice belonging to one another? The work of God is always unfolding— in and through us. This Advent season, how will we carry it forth?I’m praying this theme will carry us forward as a faith community through so much unknown. I mean, shouldn’t we learn more about what it means to belong to each other and God when we have gone through so much? Praying you join us for this journey on Sunday mornings as well as Wednesday evenings at 5pm for arts and crafts, potluck meal, and a brief bible study.  Second, the roof is almost finished for the main building! Food pantry roof coming soon!  Third, for Breakfast Church, please bring a dish to share. Thanks for making Breakfast Church such a beautiful experience of communion with one another.  Fourth, for worship, we will continue to have “Breakfast Church” on Sunday mornings. What will breakfast church look like? We will gather in the garden around tables to eat breakfast. With this meal, we will enjoy fellowship, prayer, a scripture lesson, and being in community together. We are going to embody breaking bread together and being the body of Christ in a different way. We will gather at 9:30 and this Sunday, please bring a dish to share.  Keep checking in for us around 10am. We are still trying to work out the issues with streaming. Sorry it is taking so long…so, check out Facebook around 10 and hopefully we will be going live! Fifth, Sacred Space will be on Sunday, December 18 at its new time, 8:00am. If you are joining us from home, please grab bread and juice for communion. We will not have Sacred Space on Sunday, December 25 or Sunday, January 1. Seventh, we heard from our General Contractor that there is a huge possiblity that framing and walls will be coming to our Sanctuary prior to the end of the year!   And last, if you need anything to help with recovery from the Hurricane, please let me know. Just call, text, or email. Call me at 941-525-6671. Also, please continue to pray deeply for our community at large. If you have any questions or wonderings or concerns, please let me know. Call, text, or email. Blessings to you all!Much love, Pastor Devon

Worship with Wintergarden
Sunday, December 18, 2022
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Sacred Space @ 8:00 am
At the Fountain and on Facebook Live
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Casual Breakfast Church 
@ 9:30 am in person
@ 10:00 am for Facebook Live
In the Garden and on Facebook Live 
Please bring a dish to share for breakfast. 
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How to access the bulletin:
Bulletin HERE
How to Access Services Online:
Join us on Facebook for Worship Services
https://www.facebook.com/wintergardenpres
Remember, you don’t need a Facebook Account
to join us for worship. 

You can also click HEREfor the Facebook link.

SUNDAY AT WINTERGARDEN

Fourth Sunday of Advent From Generation to Generation We See God in Each OtherLuke 1:39-58

BREAKFAST CHURCH
Join us in the Garden at 9:30am for a time of Fellowship, Scripture, and Prayer. Please bring a dish to share this Sunday. 

As we start to wrap up 2022, I wanted to take a minute and say thank you for how everyone is giving of their time, energy, and financial gifts. This year, I have personally been overwhelmed by your generosity and kindness throughout the year and especially since the hurricane. YOU are part of our journey to live out our mission in our community…to feed people physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally in our community. YOU are helping us truly be the hands and feet of Christ in our community. Without every single person, it would be a beautiful statement without living it out. What I love about our faith community, is that we are truly living out our mission. We couldn’t do that without YOU!

As you think about year end gifts, I pray you consider if you would like to make a special year end gift to Wintergarden. You can do that by mailing in a check (it needs to arrive before 12/31, dropping off check/cash at the church, or using our secure online giving platform). I truly am not sure what 2023 has in-store for our faith community…but if we continue to follow our call in our world, I believe God will continue to bless us and the lives of those we touch. Thank you for making our mission a reality.

If you would like to give through the online giving, please click HERE. 

SUNDAY SCHOOL IS BACK! 
See you after service to continue the study in the book of Hebrews. 

Every Monday Lectio Divina at 8am Food Truck Delivery Wednesday (7, 14, 21, 28) Every Thursday Food Pantry 12-4pm   CNS Care N Share Food Pantry-CNS will be Dec. 29 On Wednesdays (12/7, 12/14, and 12/21), join us for A potluck dinner and Advent/Christmas Crafts, and bible study. Bring the kiddos!Dec. 20 Homeless Coalition meal Dec. 21 Longest Night of the Year Service at 7pm after dinner and crafts Dec. 23 Christmas Eve Eve Dinner Church at 4pm- with lasagna, salad, bread, dessert  Dec. 25 Christmas Morning Service at 9:30am (wear your Christmas Jammies!) Dec. 30 Family Fun Night (ice skating early afternoon, followed by dinner and movie)

Join us for a Potluck Dinner and Advent/Christmas Crafts, and Bible Study on Wednesday, December 21.  Bring the kiddos!

Dec. 21 Longest Night of the Year Service
at 7pm after dinner and crafts

This is a service that recognizes that this time of the year isn’t always easy, joyful, or full of hope. Join us for this time of worship as we embrace God’s love for us through all different seasons of life. 

Dec. 23 Christmas Eve Eve Dinner Church at 4pm
with lasagna, salad, bread, and dessert! 
All are welcome! 

Dec. 25 Christmas Morning Service at 9:30am (wear your Christmas Jammies!)

Dec. 30 Family Fun NightI
Ice Skating early afternoon, followed by Dinner and a Movie
Holiday fun for the entire family!

FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Please contact the church office at 941-743-5335 or email at foodpantry@editor

At Wintergarden Presbyterian Church we’re eager to pray for you!   Please let us know how we can pray by submitting a Prayer Request online (link below). The prayer requests are emailed to Pastor Devon once submitted.

Prayer Request

Lectio Divina for Monday, December 19, 2022All are welcome to join us as we continue to engage in the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina together as a community.  Our Scripture Lesson is Luke 2:1-20. We will gather via zoom for an intentional time of listening, reflecting, responding, and resting in the Word of God. We will meet on Mondays from 8-9 am.  Here are some details about Lectio Divina.  Lectio Divina, literally meaning “divine reading,” is an ancient practice of praying the Scriptures. During Lectio Divina, the person listens to the text of the Bible with the “ear of the heart,” as if he or she is in conversation with God, and God is suggesting the topics for discussion. There are four movements for Lectio Divina:  1. Lectio: (Listening to the Word of God or Reading God’s Word) 2. Meditatio: (Reflecting on the Word of God) 3. Oratio: (Responding to the Word of God) 4. Contemplatio: (Resting in the Word of God) Here is the Zoom Link:  Join Zoom Meeting: Click HERE https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87832080869?pwd=TUxCRThUcEdRbTNTWmJ6emZRamUyZz09  Meeting ID: 878 3208 0869 Passcode: 396015 +16465588656,,87832080869#,,,,*396015# US (New York)