Traces of Grace

In-Person Worship Postponed

Due to the increasing spread of COVID-19 in our immediate area, our building will continue to be closed to the public for worship until further notice. This also applies to any small groups or ministries... they will not be able to meet at our building until further notice. Caution has been shared from both conference leadership, as well as Camden/Burlington counties which are now in the high red zones of transmission rates for COVID-19. We desire to care for, love, and keep everyone safe at this time. This is a decision based on love.

Live Stream Worship Service

Don’t miss our live stream worship service Sunday morning at 10:00am, and Zoom fellowship directly following. Pastor Sam will continue our Advent series "ReDiscover Christmas... Good News In Troubling Times" with a message from Luke 2:8-20 called "Finding Peace In Our Struggles". We will also be celebrating communion together in the service, so please have communion elements ready to partake. Both links are available on our website at fumccollingswood.org, where you’ll also be able to view the service throughout the week.

At the close of this year our office secretary for over 21 years, Maria, will be retiring. We all have come to love and appreciate her cheerfulness and love for the FUMC church family throughout the years. We will be recognizing her years of service in the New Year.

We are now looking to fill the following position in order to care for the needs of our office staff and church ministries...

Office Manager - Twenty hours/week | Tuesday- Friday | 9am-2pm

If you or anyone you know might be interested in this position, please contact Carol Doran at bcdoran@aol.com for more information.

"A huge thank you to everyone who donated turkeys and gift cards to those needing food support this Thanksgiving! At Neighborhood Center, 342 families received a turkey and a $25 supermarket gift card. At Soul Café, 40 families received turkeys as well as a variety of food to last well beyond Thanksgiving day. In speaking to the families the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was humbled by how thankful they were, eager to speak of their Thanksgiving day and how delicious their turkey was. Without your generous donations, this would not have been possible!"

We recognize this year has been difficult for many families. If you have a need or know another family that could use a basket, please contact one of the staff, call (856-858-1186) or email (office@fumccollingswood.org) the church office so we might serve you or anyone in need!

A Sunday School teacher asked her class “What is Christmas a time for?”  She got the usual answers—Jesus’ birthday, a time of joy, a time to worship God… but then one child raised their hand and answered: "a time for sportsmanship, because you don’t always get everything you want." As we've been experiencing this pandemic this year we all can understand this little boy's comment; this has certainly been a year of things not going the way we expected.

However, whenever I think of God’s gift to us “Jesus... it is more than I could ever want or hope for.  Long before Jesus’ birth the prophet Isaiah foretold about Jesus in these words...

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” - Isaiah 9:6-7

This is a very unique kind of a gift. God is saying that He’s going to give us a child, a son.  And this son will have a government placed upon His shoulders. And this son will be so filled with wisdom and power and righteousness that when people speak of Him… they don’t just say His name, they speak of Him, describing Him in words filled with awe: ~ Wonderful Counselor ~ Mighty God ~ Everlasting Father ~ Prince of Peace … and this son will come to establish a Kingdom that will last forever.  This message has been shared for thousands of years bringing hope of the amazing gift God has given to us wrapped in amazing love.

Here are some prayer concerns for this week:

• Our country and the effects of Covid-19. Also, please remember all the families and care teams whose lives are deeply affected by this pandemic.
• Our church and the community
• Unity and reconciliation throughout our country at this time 
• The schools and the children and staff
• Our country and its leaders 
• Linkin Miller, Joy Evans, Margaret Robinson, Mary Mondatsos, Myrtle Aurig, Joel Shannon
• John and Betty Parsons with COVID-19
• A continually growing list of loved ones and friends who are dealing with COVID-19

If you have any prayer concerns or ways we can serve you, please let us know. We desire to journey with you even through these days of social distancing. Remember, you are loved!

In His Grace,  

Pastor Sam and the Staff