“Just as you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to me.”

At this time of year, I think of one of my favorite Christmas carols, “In the bleak midwinter” with its text by Christina Rosetti. Here’s the last verse:

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man I would do my part.

Yet what I have I give him: give my heart.

What does it really mean to give my heart to Jesus in a way that I can feel? Well, Jesus also said that whenever we clothe the naked, feed the hungry or visit the sick, it’s just like we are doing it for him.

And think about it: Jesus himself came into this world poor and homeless. His parents had to make do with a stable for a temporary home. They were a downtrodden people, ruled by foreigners. It’s amazing. God was willing to come to us, not just as a tiny, vulnerable baby, but also as one of the poorest of the poor. When we honor and serve people in our community who are poor, suffering or lonely, it’s just like we are serving and honoring Jesus.

There are several ways that you as students can serve Jesus during this Christmas season. We need 6 – 8 respectful and mature students to help serve a Christmas dinner for people at the Hudson River Housing project. This is the evening where the Angel Tree gifts are given out. It will be on Monday, December 20 from 3:45 pm – 7:30 pm.

John Flowers and his elves take donated stuffed animals to people in Poughkeepsie hospitals, nursing homes and children’s homes. You can help with this project in several different ways.

· Help collect new or good condition stuffed animals

· Help wrap stuffed animals at the bowling alley on Thursdays Dec 15 & 22

· Help deliver stuffed animals around Poughkeepsie in the days around Christmas.

More details on both of these projects will be posted on the bulletin board and in the Sunday bulletins.

Remember that your heartfelt service is the best gift that you can give to Jesus.

Christmas Progressive Banquet

Sunday, December 18^th, 4:30-8:30 pm

Meet at church for some Christmas worship with the youth music and drama teams.

Then make a pilgrimage from home to home, seeking the hospitality of families in our church. Bless them as they provide us with hors d’eouvres, dinner and dessert. REMEMBER to sign up so we can plan for drivers.

The schedule for this month…

Date	Activity	Details
Dec 3	Mission Fund-raiser	Christmas Candy making; 10 – 5 at PUMC
Dec 4	Family Advent Night	No youth meeting; Bring your parents and a dish to share and come enjoy the potluck dinner with your whole church family. Help with crafts, decorate the church, sing carols…
Dec11	Regular meeting 6 – 8 pm	Music and drama teams meet, 4:30 – 5:45 Junior Highs: Christmas crafts and quizzes Senior Highs: Advent prayer experience
Dec 18	Progressive Banquet 4:30 - 8:30 pm	Meet at PUMC. Junior and senior highs will be traveling to separate homes; junior high group will split into two sections for dinner. Sign up to attend.
Dec 20	Angel Tree	Meet at church at 3:45, return by 7 pm. Dress festively to serve a nice meal to folks at Hudson River Housing.
Dec 25	Christmas Day	No meeting
Jan 1	New Years Day	No meeting
Jan 8	Regular meeting	Junior Highs: meeting the Spirit of God Senior Highs: retreat planning

Future Dates for your calendar

Young Men’s VN #94	December 9 - 11, 2005
Senior High Winter Retreat	January 13 – 15, 2006
Young Women’s VN #95	March 3 - 5, 2006
Junior High Wintercamp	March 10 – 12, 2006
Youth Worship Service	April 2, 2006 (NOTE: DATE HAS CHANGED)
Young Men’s VN #96	April 28 - 30, 2006

Summer Mission Team News

The deadline for applications for the summer mission teams has been extended to December 1, 2005. This will be the final deadline. Please turn in your applications before this date, so that we can make final decisions about who will be part of each team before our Christmas candy fund-raiser.

The M-Fuge team still needs to decide which of two weeks we will go to Philadelphia. Our two choices are July 1 – 7 or July 8 – 14. If you are interested in this mission trip but cannot go the first week, we still ask that you please turn in your application. We will then make a determination based on which week is better for the greatest number of interested people.

We are planning our first large group fund-raiser on Saturday, December 3, 2005. Sign up for a time slot to help make Christmas Candy or to offer it for sale to our congregation and at local craft fairs.