Dear Fellow Congregants, 

 Welcome to our Advent season for 2025.We appreciate your understanding for us as we had to cancel last Sunday’s morning worship. We made that decision because of the road conditions for parishioners who don’t live near, and for the challenge of clearing our parking lot and sidewalks to make them safe for everyone before service.

I hope you take a moment to view Pastor Kate’s video on YouTube as an alternative way to celebrate the first week of Advent; the link is available here: https://bit.ly/ORUCCAdvent1

 Two other things for your special attention this week: 

1. We are approaching the last stages of our 2026 Stewardship Campaign. So far, we have 130 individuals or families pledging $458,682 for next year’s budget of $570,000. If you have not yet turned in your pledge for next year, please mail it in, or drop it by church, or put it in the offering basket next Sunday. We appreciate your help because it helps us figure out what we can do next year! Most of the money goes to the salaries and benefits of our staff and to the maintenance of our property. Your support is essential! 

2. Our Giving Tree for local families is in need of volunteers who will buy gifts for a child whose families can’t afford to buy gifts. You can evoke the spirit of the Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus by viewing our online Holiday Gift Tree and selecting one (or more) children. 

Gift Tree link:  https://bit.ly/ORUCC-Gift-Tree

You will buy gifts for your selected children, wrap them, and bring them to church by Sunday, December 14th. This gives our partner agencies time to distribute gifts to families before Christmas. I hope you will be a part of this community ministry.  

There are many more joys to celebrate this Advent, and I hope to see you in Church or online for each of the rest of the Sundays in December. Thanks in advance for all you give and do for our community and in support of our ministries.  

Advent Blessings to you, 

ORUCC Leadership Team