Although Jesse Lee United Methodist Church is currently worshipping virtually, its members have been busy behind the scenes preparing for Advent and Christmas.
Our annual Giving Tree was filled with donations of Target gift cards that were taken to Golden Hill Methodist Church in Bridgeport for their outreach, and we are also collecting to aid Summerfield United Methodist Church of Bridgeport in their service mission.
We welcomed a new pastor, the Rev. Cleaven Johnson, in August who immediately had to learn how to do virtual services as we were all in lockdown. We have a vibrant outreach program that keeps in touch with our elder shut-in population.
We recently had a drive-by birthday party for member Paul Rawson on his 99th birthday and many members participated in the drive-by party for member Luella Ostrofsy’s 104th birthday. Although our popular 75-year tradition of the Annual Turkey dinner had to be postponed this year, we are already planning for next year.
For our Advent services, we have been having virtual lightings of our Advent Wreaths by parishioners from home. This Sunday at the 10 o’clock service the Hull family of Easton will be lighting their Advent Wreath. For our annual Christmas Eve service this year on Dec. 24 we will have a 4:30 p.m. organ recital by Joe Swindon, church organist and choir director, who is celebrating his 50th year with the church.
The service of Lessons and Carols will begin at 5 p.m. and includes a Youth Pageant entitled “What the Innkeeper Missed” by Andrew and Susanna Little. Participants are Quenton Haines; Elisabeth, Jeffrey and Jonathan Berg; Brian Sideleau; Juliette, Amelie and Avery Lin; and Suzanne Herlihy.
Soloist Joanne Kant, soprano will sing “O Holy Night” and the pastor will direct all in lighting candles from home. At 6 p.m. the pastor will ring the church bells in conjunction with Methodists around the state. We invite you to go to your door and ring bells then, too.
The Christmas Eve service, as all our services, is open to the public. To access the service go to
“zoom.us<http://zoom.us>”
Meeting ID #969-591-158
For telephone
Dial +1. 646 558 8656 ID # 969-591-158. Then press the # symbol when prompted for participation ID.
Information is available on the website www.jesselee.org including the ZOOM and telephone links. Email jesselee.umc@gmail.com.
