Celebrations: We have lots of things going on at the church. We had our Friday night family movie Dec 5th, Over 60 people came to watch “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” It was a great time of friendship and fellowship with both church family and neighbors.

I'd also like to thank all those who've helped in decorating the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. They both look very festive. Saturday was the Foster Kid's Christmas. Mariann and her team helped decorate, prepare food, and bought presents for 120 foster children. The number of foster children in Hernando County keeps rising every year. Please keep them all in prayer. Special thanks to all the foster parents for their open hearts and their homes to children in need. And, thanks to all of you who have given of your time and resources to make sure they know they're not alone, or forgotten. It's one small way we can share with them the love of Christ, and the true meaning of Christmas!

Advent Devotional: (My apologies for not getting this opportunity out to you sooner). Our advent series is based on a book, Brought to the Light: Advent for All Who Need It. It is written by Anna Grace Legband, who works for Seedbed. It includes a daily devotional. The "Wake-up Call" will still be available for all who want to use that, or you can order this devotional from Seedbed.com.

Women’s Fun & Fellowship now meets the second Friday evening of each month in building B. All ladies are welcome to join us. Depending on the ‘season’ our time can be filled with games, crafts or even a movie. We next meet January 12th for a pot luck and movie night. More info to follow. Mark your calendar and plan to come join the fun.

Want to save money and spread Christmas wishes at the same time? Our handy “Post Office” is now in the lobby of the Sanctuary so you can 'mail' Christmas cards and wishes to each other in church. Please use this to send cards only to those who come to church in person. Cards not picked up will not be mailed. If you need an address for the homebound or others, the office will be happy to provide you with a current address.

Prayer Requests Ministry: 45 Prayer Partners receive updates on all prayer requests via email, to pray over and intercede for requests each week. You may wish to be included as a prayer partner so call Lorenda in the office to add your email to the group. Submit prayer requests through our website or call the church office. We celebrate Praises and answers to prayer also. Prayer requests, updates and praises are shared each week as the Prayer list is updated and sent to all in the Ministry either via email and on the printed copy found in the Sanctuary lobby each Sunday.

Prayer Shawl Ministry: Our Prayer Shawl will not meet in December, but gather again Wednesday January 14th at 10:30 am in classroom 2 of building D. Kudos to all the ladies creating beautiful prayer shawls and baby blankets! We know the recipients are very appreciative of your talents. Did you know last year they created colorful purses for each for the girl's Christmas Shoeboxes (Oct MOM), as well as hats for cancer patients, and more. We also have a supply of yarn for you to use when making the shawls.

If you like to knit or crochet, you can bring your finished shawls to the meeting or to the office for Pastor to bless. It's very important to follow the size guidelines. We have found these sizes to be best… For Baby Prayer Blankets: approximate size 29” by 29”. NO fringe please, and also solid soft colors are preferred. For Adult Prayer Shawls - please keep them to this size: 26” by 60” (no fringe), or 26” x 55” (with fringe). This adult size is very important—if they are too short, they don’t wrap around an adult comfortably. If they are too long and have extra fringe, they can get caught in the wheels of a wheelchair and create a safety hazard. ~

LIBRARY MINISTRY—Our library has a huge selection of fiction, non-fiction, devotions, biographies, Bible studies, reference books, humor, CD's DVD's, and more. Check out the web for our a vast collection of cataloged material. We recently received a donation of 4 bags of fiction and historical fiction stories. There is always something new at the library! Our books can be lent out for a month at a time to our regular church attendees. We even have a "Freebie section " as you enter to the left. These are free for the taking, for your own home library to read and to share with others.

Volunteer Opportunities:

· Tuesday mornings from 10 – noon, on a rotation schedule.

· Sunday mornings 10:00 – 10:30 and 10:30 – 11:45 on a rotation schedule.

· We can discuss additional opportunities if it better suits your schedule.

Library circulation remains active. We appreciate donations and we evaluate each one for cataloging into the library, or place them on the “free shelf”, or donate to other entities depending on condition, topic, and if the item is currently available in the library. Check out the web for our a vast collection of cataloged material.

The library is open whenever the church is open. If the librarian, or volunteer, are not available, you can check out books by writing your name and the complete date on the card and leaving the card on the desk. You will find the card in the back of the book, CD, or DVD. If you can only make it during the week, the office will be happy to let you into the library to "check out" our material.

Thank you for your continued interest and support in the SpringLife Church Library. ~Lois Johnson, Librarian

Congregational Care - Monthly Report

“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Care Companions are matched with a care receiver and are given a guide to share the love of Christ with these persons. Sometimes its just a phone call or card sent in the mail,, while others like a monthly visit to them in their home or Nursing Home/Rehab.