It's upon us!  The busiest time of the year.  The season of excitement, wishes and Christmas events.  People make and compare their "to do" lists.  These lists can get pretty long.  Sometimes these lists can make us miss the more important moments of the season.  And does busier really make everything better?

This Advent season I want to rewrite my “to-do” list…

Instead of worrying about the long list of presents, I want to try to be more present with my family and friends.  The connection is so much more rewarding and so is being in the moment.  What if those shepherds missed the moment the star shown above?

Instead of wrapping all the gifts with ribbons and bows, I want to wrap more people in hugs and cuddles.  Can’t you just imagine the hugs and cuddles at the manger?

Instead of sending the gifts to the east coast, I want to send more peace to all my family, friends and acquaintances near and far. Reminiscent of those “oh, so wise men” bearing gifts.

Instead of shopping for every ingredient at multiple stores, I want to donate more meals to multiple families.  Because giving to the least of these is what He would do.

I want to stay focused in this “to-do” list.  Stay focused in the moment, the real reason of the season and with the people most important to me.  My gifts from God!

This season #bePresent in the moments!

The meaning of the words religion and church have changed so much in the last decade.  Those two nouns used to convey a safe place for all people. They used to mean that you were accepted no matter what.  They used to mean that all who entered those doors or that community shared the belief in God’s grace and good.
 
Why do those intrinsic beliefs escape those two nouns now?
 
I was listening to an advertisement for the app “NextDoor” the other day.  The announcer said things like:
 
“connect with your neighbors”
“share issues that matter”
“exchange local help and advice”
“find a babysitter or someone to mow your lawn”
 
Aren’t those some of things that we  find in a church setting?  When I moved to a new town the first thing I did was find a church to help me get my bearings.   I needed to find people that I could trust.  People that could help me  find my way in a new area.  I needed a community of people.
 
Fast forward to this week…  I read some controversy about Ellen De Generes when she sat next to someone with a differing opinion at a sporting event (side note:  50% of us usually have a different opinion at most sporting events).  I am not pro- or con- on the team, the people she sat next to, her or her tweet after the game.  BUT I am so sad that we are looking to the entertainment industry for words like “be nice to them anyway.”  Isn’t that theme in the Bible?  Didn’t St. Therese offer that prayer?  Didn’t Mother Teresa share that? 
 
So why does today’s society look to social media and entertainers for comfort, support and guidance?  Churches were to be a place that  offers opportunities for unconditional love, self-reflection, growth, community and outreach.  And they still do...
 
I so would love to offer to have you visit our neighborhood.  Our religous community in Scottsdale, AZ.  I believe our community offers comfort, support, guidance and local  events and mission work. I would love to have you meet our pastors, teachers, and families.  We truly are a people for all people.  We truly welcome all.  We would love to be your neighbor.
 
Yes, you can connect with us through social media, but in person is so much more fun! #justsayin’  #bekindanyway

Over two decades and going strong.  Our congregation has been offering a family friendly Halloween alternative for over two decades.  It has been well received by our local community and it continues to grow.  We are hosting our 2019 event on Sunday, Oct. 27th from 4-6pm.

Here's a mini overview of this sweet event:

​This event provides an opportunity for church and community families to enjoy a safe, free and friendly trick or treating experience.  The event will begin at 4:00 p.m. with carnival games, snow cones and bouncer.  Food Trucks and other snacks will be  available  throughout the evening. Halfway through the event the N.S.U.M.C.    Youth Group will lead children in a costume parade.  The night will end with the awarding of trophies for exceptional costumes and decorated trunks, and the highly coveted “Trunk-or-Treating.”

  The basic Trunk or Treating guidelines include:

• Wear a friendly costume (please leave the scary ones at home)
  
  
• Back your vehicle into a N.S.U.M.C. parking space
  
  
• Decorate your trunk (creativity is good!)
  
  
• Set up folding chairs next to your trunk
  
  
• Place your treats (candy) in your trunk.
  
  It will be a sweet night of trick or treating planned for children.  
   
  Our mission project this year is to collect diapers for Helping Hands at foster care organization.    We would love if your family could donate one package of diampers. All donations can be brought to our Trunk or Treat event (items may be brought to your child's  Sunday School classroom.).  Thank you for TREATING those families to  an awesome Thanksgiving!
• 
  If your family  is available on OCT. 27th, please join us for some family friendly games, trunks and fun!

We can find messy in all seasons of our life.

Families go in so many different directions through out their seasons.  Keeping up can be unorganized, chaotic and messy. With our children at different ages and all with different interests we are in constant motion.  These interests keep our families learning and growing but just a little bit messy.   Generally in  all seasons of family life, we will still manage to squeeze in large doses of hugs and love!
 
Going back to school can be messy.  Children have to meet new teachers, classrooms, classmates and sometimes new schools.  Change can be messy but it can also be renewing and exciting. A great season for a fresh start!
 
Sometimes church life can be messy.  The people that come through the sanctuary doors come from all different walks of life.  That’s good!  What’s better is that many come with a personal check list.  The common denominator on most lists includes: “Growing closer to God.”  While we come from different demographics, genetics and with diverse characteristics, our common goal is love of God and a stronger relationship with Him.  So is it okay that we look, act and feel unique?  Will we all get along in this season?  If we follow Wesley’s philosophy of “Do good and do no harm.”  We can come to a common ground.  Maybe not total agreement.  Maybe a little messy.  But if we approach all people God centered and compassionate, we can be in community to work through our mess.  We don’t pretend to be perfect but we do try to meet everyone where they are because we know where we’ve come from.  We come as strangers but end up with lasting friendships!
 
NSUMC invites your family to “try church.”  Try joining some people with the common denominator of sharing God’s love and being in mission with others! 

​To make the introduction easier, we invite your family to Back to School Sunday School, Aug. 11th, 2019 @ 10am. We want all children to come, be welcomed in church and take a backpack tag to remind them that every school year will have hills, valleys and flat grounds.  Through their next season of life they will need to know that people beyond their family also support them through the messiness.  The backpack tags we give them during our service will help remind them that they are in the thoughts and prayers of a bigger family, their church family.  We also invite your entire family to stay for a Free Coffee House Concert  beginning @ 11:30am in the NSUMC Fellowship Hall.  Together we can chat with the performer, enjoy coffee, lemonade and an hour live music.  Could it be messy? Maybe, or just maybe it’s bringing good people together for one hour to share a cup of coffee, God's grace and the beginning of  a new friendship. It could be a new season for everyone! 

​Welcome summer! Welcome a break from the busy schedule. People suggest that summer months should be laid-back, calm and care-free.  Changing the hectic pace of the school year is a welcome concept.  Discovery and exploration are welcome activities on the dashboard of summer days.
 
At North Scottsdale UMC we have hosted a week long day camp for 40 years that allow children to explore.  We have a new theme and different scriptures every year, but introducing new concepts through science, crafts, drama, games, music and snacks keeps the discovery and learning happening.
 
This year our day camp is entitled “To Mars & Beyond.”  This day camp will help children discover the wonders of the universe.  They will become Voyagers on a journey through space, exploring the galaxies.  “To Mars & Beyond” offers energizing music, interactive bible puppetry, super science experiments, creative crafts, hands-on mission work, yummy snacks, and active games that are out-of-this-world! There will also be a 14’ waterslide for the campers to enjoy on Friday!
 
This camp adventure will be held Monday, June 24th-28th 9:00am until 12:00 noon at NSUMC.  It is open to all children ages three through twelve.  The requested donation is $45 per child for the entire week’s program.
 
Call the church office at 480-948-0529 to request a registration form or visit them on-line at http://www.nsumckids.info/vbs-day-camp.html and printout a registration form that can be returned to the church office (11735 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254).  Or just stop by Monday morning, June 24th with a completed registration form for each child.

We enter the season of Lent with a Mardi Gras Reflection service and luncheon.  As attendees enter the Mardi Gras Jazz Luncheon & Lenten Reflection on Sunday, March 3rd, they will be welcomed by the award winning Desert Mountain High School Jazz band.  The attendees will begin the Lenten Reflection by literally donning a mask.  This mask will represent the figurative mask that people wear.  . Pastor David Wasson will offer up a Lenten Reflection that will suggest that everyone take off their masks.  These are the figurative masks of self-deception, self-control, as well as the literal masks people are wearing. The reflective prayer will ask people to lay down the things that keep them from connecting to God.
 
After the opening reflection the attendees will enjoy jazz music from the DMHS jazz band and partake in a traditional New Orleans’s meal of gumbo, rice, French bread, salad and the meal will end with King’s cake shipped direct from Haydel’s Bakery in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 Lent is a season when we can focus on our relationship with God.  We often choose to give up something, strengthen our relationship with the Lord or volunteer and give of ourselves for others.

We also invite the community to our Ash Wednesday service. 
Lent officially begins on Ash Wednesday,  March 6th, 2019. NSUMC will begin the season with a traditional service including the imposition of ashes at 7:00 p.m. 

As the Lent season continues NSUMC will also offer multiple services during Holy Week. 

April 14th, 2019, 8:30 & 10:00 a.m./Palm Sunday Worship
The Palm Sunday service commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem which is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. Children are invited to join in the palm processional as the service begins.  Both services will also include music from the Chancel Choir.   Our AngleiX, KIds of Grace and Cherub Choirs will perform at the 10:00 am service.

April 18th, 2019, 7:00 p.m./Maundy Thursday Service 
Begin the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross with this special service of Dramatic Storytellers, Music and Communion.  The powerful and moving act of stripping the sanctuary will follow Holy Communion.

April 19th, 2019, 7:00 p.m./Good Friday  Service
Join us on Good Friday, March 30th at 7:00pm in the NSUMC Sanctuary as our Chancel choir shares their talents for our Good  Friday  Service.   This service will begin at 7:00pm in the  NSUMC 600 seat  sanctuary.   Nursery care will be available.

April 21st, 2019, 6:30a.m./Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.
Come in your blue jeans and join us for the first service of Easter morning on the Outdoor Sports Court! There will be music, Holy Communion, coffee and sweets afterward! Come early and wake up with joy in the Son! 

April 21st, 2019, 8:30 a.m/Worship Service  with  Communion at 8:30 a.m.
Join us NSUMC the Sanctuary bursts into the colors of spring and both of the choirs fill the Choir Loft with the music and an accompanying trumpets. NSUMC will have activities for children in the Fellowship Hall during the service. Adults and children are encouraged to stop by the Fellowship Hall after service for coffee and sweets.

April 21st, 2019, 10:00 a.m./Traditional Worship Service & Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m.
Adults may join NSUMC as the Sanctuary bursts into the colors of spring and both of the choirs fill the Choir Loft with the music.  Activities and crafts for children will be in the Fellowship Hall during the service. The Easter Egg hunt will occur on the playground.  Please stop by the Fellowship Hall after service for coffee, sweets and friendly fellowship!
​
We invite you and your family to one or all of our Lenten experiences to support how your choose to  strengthen your relationship with God during this holy season.

Christmas brings hope.  Hope brings light in the darkness.  The greatest gift that we have received is the birth of the Christ child and in His birth we can find hope. Hope isn't something stagnent.  It is regenerating and endless.   So never let go of hope.  What appears to be the end  could be the beginning of a miracle!

Come help us celebrate the miracle of hope found in the baby Jesus!

Please consider joining us at the service that works best for your family.

Christmas Eve 4pm Young Family Service
Our children-friendly Christmas Eve service begins at 4:00pm.  It offers an informal children's play, Christmas carols and scripture.  It features our three children's choirs; AngeliX, Kids of Grace and Cherub.  This service will end with the dimming of the sanctuary lights and the lighting of glow sticks by all attendees.

Christmas Eve 7pm, ​Candle Light Service
Our 7:00pm Traditional service offers Christmas hymns, scripture and sermon.  It features our adult Chancel choir. This service will end with the darkening of the sanctuary and the lighting of candles by all attendees.
​
Christmas Eve 11pm Communion ServiceAt the 11:00pm Christmas Eve worship service you may receive communion.  It also includes the traditional hymns sung by our Chancel Choir, scripture, and sermon. This service will end with the darkening of the sanctuary and the lighting of candles by all attendees.

Fall is a little different in Arizona (at least in the metro Phoenix area).  We don't get to welcome the crunch or colors of the leaves.  We don't get to welcome the cool, crisp air.  We do get to welcome the joy of temperatures under 100 degrees, though! And we still symbolically welcome the harvest, too!

Our welcoming at North Scottsdale United Methodist church is ushered in with a fall festival we call Trunk or Treat.   We welcome the entire community to share in this free festival. 

We are hosting our 20th annual Trunk or Treat Festival from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, October 28th in the NSUMC church parking lot located at 11735 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254.
 
This event provides an opportunity for the community families to enjoy a free, safe and friendly trick or treating experience.  This year’s event will begin at 4:00 p.m. with carnival games, snow cones and bouncers.  food trucks will be onsite selling dinner options. Halfway through the event the NSUMC Youth Group will lead children in a costume parade.  The night will end with the awarding of trophies for exceptional costumes and decorated trunks, and the highly coveted “Trunk-or-Treating.”
 
The basic Trunk or Treating guidelines include:

• Wear a friendly costume (please leave the scary ones at home)
• Back your vehicle into a NSUMC parking space
• Decorate your trunk (creativity is good!)
• Set up folding chairs next to your trunk
• Place your treats (candy) in your trunk.

 
It will be a sweet night of trick or treating planned for children. 
 
NSUMC asks that attending families donate canned and dry goods for Vista del Camino Children’s After School Recreation Center in Scottsdale, AZ.    We would love if your family could donate canned goods, dry goods, cereal, baby food, diapers and other nonperishable Thanksgiving meal items. All donations can be brought to our Trunk or Treat event (you may also bring items to your Sunday School classroom.).  Thank you for TREATING those families to an awesome Thanksgiving!!!