december 17-24
***Denotes the announcement was highlighted during worship
STUDENT MINISTRIES
UPCOMING WEEK:
12/21 Sunday - FIRE & WATER Sunday School Only
Being the holidays we will only have Sunday School this Sunday. And as a reminder, there is no Sunday School the week after for our one worship service at 10:00a.
There's only a few weeks left before we close registration for the FIRE & WATER Winter Retreat. Find out more and sign up.
ALL CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
(NEW) THANK YOU FROM THE FOOD PANTRY
When our church family comes together to serve, the impact is extraordinary! This past month has been a beautiful example of that truth. Check out the amazing things you have helped accomplish:
Thanksgiving Food Drive:
Our annual church food drive ended on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, and we were truly overwhelmed by your generosity. Each donation over the past couple of weeks reflects the love and compassion of our church family. Thank you for giving so faithfully and blessing those in need. We are deeply grateful for every act of kindness. As a congregation, we collected 6,182 pounds which brought our Thanksgiving season of drives to a grand total of 32,611 pounds!
Crew Car Wash:
Thank you for supporting the Come To Me Food Pantry through your Crew Car Wash purchases. We raised over $500 with our fundraiser! We were able to utilize these funds to be awarded a matching grant from the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church to allow us to purchase new totes to assist in our storage needs of donated items.
(NEW) WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
Women of all ages are invited to take part in an 8 week study of Ruth beginning January 12, 2026 on Mondays at 1:00p in Room 203 (Enter Door 1). Ruth’s story confirms that there is hope for all of us found on the power and Protection of God, who always is watching out for us. The study will use the book “Ruth, loss, love & legacy” by Kelly Minter. We'd love for you to join us and feel free to bring a friend! If your interested or have any questions, please contact, Nancy Foust at .
***WHAT'S NEXT?
//Sunday, January 25, 9:00a, Bunny Room//
NEXT is four welcoming sessions for adults who want to connect more with God and Fishers UMC as we explore the Bible, our beliefs, God’s story, missions and ministries. NEXT helps you find out who we are, what we do and how you can enjoy meaningful participation at Fishers UMC. A different NEXT opportunity is offered each month for the total of four months and is a precursor to Membership Class. Sessions are facilitated by our Assimilation Director, Lisa Ellcessor. Our upcoming NEXT opportunity is "Word" and is on Sunday, January 25 at 9:00a in the bunny classroom which is located in the Preschool hallway, near the nursery. Sign up to attend by tapping the link.
CHRISTMAS CARD EXCHANGE
The Pathfinders Sunday School Class is once again hosting the Fishers UMC Christmas Card Exchange, making it easy and fun to share holiday greetings with one another! Stop by Connection Central through December 28, where you’ll find tables with labeled folders. Simply drop your Christmas cards into the appropriate folders and then check your own folder to see what cards are waiting for you. No postage required! Just a great way to spread Christmas cheer and stay connected with our church family!
JOIN THE PASTORS INTERCESSORY TEAM (P.I.T. CREW)
As we step into a year focused on Being Connected, one of the most meaningful ways we can stay connected as a church family is by praying for our pastors. The P.I.T. Crew offers daily prayer support for Pastor Mark, Pastor Ben, and Pastor Troy. These leaders pour so much into our church, and your consistent prayers help strengthen and encourage them as they guide us in ministry.
We’re looking for ten people each month who will commit to praying daily from home—just a few minutes a day, on your own schedule. Quarterly sign-up links are available below so you can choose a time that works best for you. You’ll also find a link with more details and a short FAQ about how the P.I.T. Crew works. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to John Hughes at . Thank you for helping us stay connected through prayer!
NOON YEAR'S EVE
//Wednesday, December 31, 10a-12p, Dining Room//
Ring in the new year a little early! Join us on Wednesday, December 31, for our Noon Year’s Eve celebration, a joyful gathering for all ages as we count down to noon instead of midnight. We’ll kick off the morning with a delicious pancake breakfast, followed by a variety of crafts and activities the whole family can enjoy. As we look forward to a new year together, there will also be a time for lighthearted reflection and planning for 2026, along with a brief devotion to center our hearts on God’s presence and guidance in the year ahead. And of course, we’ll wrap up the morning with a festive noon countdown, complete with confetti!
UPWARD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Beginning in January, Fishers UMC will kick off another exciting season of Upward basketball & cheerleading! The season runs from January 10 through March 14, and we are looking for volunteers to help make the Saturday games run smoothly. If you have any interest in being a referee, running the scoreboard, helping out in the concession stand, or just being a smiling face for visitors, reach out to Katherine Pittman at . No previous experience is needed for any of our volunteer roles – training will be provided. We just need you to bring your energy and enthusiasm and represent Fishers UMC!
MONTHLY BOOK CLUB DECEMBER
The Fishers UMC Monthly Book Club will NOT meet in December. Everyone enjoy Advent and Christmas! The next meeting will be January 27 and will be discussing Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. More information on the book to follow. The Book Club meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7p in Room 280 – except for the month of December. If you are interested or need more information, contact Kim Arnott at 317-797-8612 or .
***CHRISTMAS AT FISHERS UMC
We’d love for you and your family to join us as we worship and welcome the joy of Christ’s birth.
CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP
Wednesday, December 24
4:00 PM – Family Worship
A distinct, family-style service that will feature children's ensembles, familiar Christmas carols, a brief children's message, and glow sticks (no candlelight).
6:00 PM & 8:00 PM – Traditional Worship
Traditional services that feature the choir, familiar Christmas carols, and candlelight.
NEW YEAR'S WORSHIP
Sunday, December 28
10:00 AM – One Worship Service
(No Sunday School)
OPPORTUNITY TO BE GOD'S FAMILY
Fishers UMC is excited to welcome George Kimani from January 9 through February 4! George is a pastor from Kenya and an online student working toward his master’s degree in theology at United Theological Seminary in Dayton. We are looking for three households willing to offer hospitality by providing George with a place to stay, meals, and help with transportation—each for one week during his visit. If you feel called to serve in this way, please email Pastor Mark at .
***LONGEST NIGHT WORSHIP
//Sunday, December 21, 6p//
Our Longest Night Worship Service is for anyone carrying grief, whether your loss happened recently or many years ago. This may be the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, a dream, or the realization that life hasn’t turned out the way you hoped. While the holiday season brings joy for many, it can also magnify pain and sorrow. If you need a quiet space to grieve, to breathe, and to remember God’s steady, ever-present love, we invite you to join us for this meaningful service.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
The holidays can be joyful, but they can also amplify stress, grief, or overwhelm. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one, experienced a major life change, or are walking through a difficult season. You don’t have to walk through it alone. Stephen Ministers are trained, caring members of our church who are ready to listen, support, and pray with you—confidentially and without judgment. Whether you need someone for a few weeks, a few months, or longer, a Stephen Minister can walk beside you through what you're facing. If you’d like more information or want to request a Stephen Minister, please contact .
SUNDAY MORNING GUEST SERVICES VOLUNTEERS
Extending hospitality reflects our mission- to love as Christ loved us. Every connection begins with a welcome and every welcome leads to growth in faith and fellowship. Our Assimilation Director, Lisa Ellcessor, is looking for friendly volunteers to serve in 2026 for either of our Sunday morning services. Specifically, we are looking for Greeters, Ushers and Connection Central Volunteers. Greeters enhance hospitality with a welcome at the main entrances and allow for guided assistance. Ushers help with seating, passing offering baskets and supporting order during the service. Connection Central is a visible, welcoming hub at both main entrances. Guests are greeted by trained volunteers who focus on hospitality and next steps of faith. Our goal is connecting people to ministries, missions and each other. If you would like to be a Greeter, Usher or Connection Central Volunteer, tap the link below to sign up.
CONFIRMATION 2026
Confirmation 2026 is coming in January! Confirmation is a journey for young people to make a public declaration of faith, confirm the vows made on their behalf at their baptism (or to be baptized during the journey), and become full members of Fishers UMC. Confirmation is open to students in Grade 6 or older. Learn more, view calendar and sign up by tapping the links below. Questions? Contact Liz Simmonds .
ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS
ITEMS NEEDED - TURN AWAY NO LONGER
United Women in Faith have partnered with Turn Away No Longer, an Indiana nonprofit faith based organization. Turn Away No Longer’s mission is to positively impact the lives of children in the foster care system. They believe no child should feel “forgotten” or “unloved” and strive to show them the love of Jesus in every program they create. As part of this partnership, Fishers UMC has become a donation location to collect items for their Swag Packs. What are Swag Packs? When a child or teen enters foster care, they may not get the chance to pack up their belongings and often they have to leave home or school with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. This is where Swag Packs can help. Each Swag Pack is age-specific, ranging from newborn to teens. Tap the link below to view their donation list for Swag Packs, all items must be NEW. Drop off items at Fishers UMC in the Turn Away No Longer Bin inside Door #1 by the Church office. You can find out more about Turn Away No Longer by visiting turnawaynolonger.org.
HELPING HANDS MINISTRIES
If you, or someone you know, are in need of minor lawn maintenance (weeding, weed eating, trimming bushes, etc.), a ride to an appointment or church, minor plumbing work, or minor home repairs (a light fixture, electrical socket, light switch, etc. being changed) email Pastor Ben at . If you’d like to add your name to the Helping Hands Ministry team, please let Ben know.
GIVE BACK WHILE YOU SHOP
Did you know Fishers UMC is part of rewards programs at Kroger? Kroger gives to Fire & Water student ministries through your purchases-at no additional cost to you! It's quick and easy to set up Fishers UMC as your charity of choice on your Kroger Plus card, tap the link below and enter our number of SN812.