SAVE THE DATE! There will be a joint worship service with West Market Street UMC called “Blue Christmas” on the evening of Monday, Dec. 21. Details to follow. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m., the Charge Conference, with Rev. Bev Coppley presiding, will be held for the purpose of voting on acceptance of the Transformation Journey recommendations and proceeding as a church in the covenantal Transformation Journey process. 

Charge conference sessions are open meetings in The United Methodist Church. If you are not a member of our church council/charge conference but wish to observe this charge conference session, please contact the church office for information about how to join the online meeting. Note: Only elected church council/charge conference members will be able to participate in the meeting and vote. 

United Methodist Women, Group 3, will collect donations for the Interactive Resource Center on Tuesday, Dec. 15, noon-1 p.m. Contact Betsy Brown for the collection location on Britton Street.

IRC donation requests include gloves, hats, coats, blankets, bottled water, lotions, toothpastes, toothbrushes, lip balm, tents and backpacks. For a full list or more information, visit https://interactiveresourcecenter.org/donate. 

The next opportunity to attend the Transformation Journey Town Hall Meeting via Zoom is

Saturday, Dec. 12, at noon. To join, use the same Zoom login used for Sunday’s service.

The Transformation Team’s report from Discovery Weekend will be discussed. Participants will be able to ask questions and share opinions.

Thank you for your generosity and support, which have enabled the church to pay expenses in 2020. The budget for the upcoming year is based on the pledges (tithes) from the congregation. To date, pledges received for 2021 are substantially less than those received for 2020.

If you have not submitted your 2021 pledge form, the deadline has been extended to Nov. 22. Any amount you can pledge will be greatly appreciated. You may submit your annual stewardship pledge online or via mail.

To submit your 2021 pledge online:

• Find the 2021 Pledge Form on the SMUMC website.
• Input pledge information on the fillable form and submit. Data submitted goes directly to the finance secretary and can only be seen by the finance secretary.

To submit your 2021 pledge by mail:

• If you do not have internet access, complete the pledge card you received in the mail and place it in the enclosed return envelope that’s addressed to the finance secretary. (Only the finance secretary will read the information.)
• Mail the card or drop it off at the church (use the mail slot at the Britton Street entrance).

Direct questions to Bill Gist, wgist51249@att.net, or Floyd Royal, froyal@netzero.net.

Happy Thanksgiving from the SMUMC Creation Care Ministry and Community Garden! Help reduce waste and contamination in recycling this holiday season by following these recycling tips in support of an environment friendly holiday season:

• After the holiday meal, remember to put all food scraps and leftovers in a trash bin or compost. Food scraps do not belong in recycling containers. While recycling containers do not have to be spotless, please don’t toss half-full jars of cranberry sauce and takeout from last month in the recycling. 
• Polystyrene (“Styrofoam”) products can be recycled at Dart Container Company, in Randleman, North Carolina. For information, call 336-495-1101. 
• Paper plates, napkins and paper towels cannot be recycled because they are too low quality to be recycled into new paper products. Additionally, disposable cups of any kind are not recyclable. However, you can recycle disposable plastic cups. 
• Disposable spoons, forks, knives and serving utensils cannot be recycled because they fall into the glass storage area. Anything that is not glass and cannot be pulled out with a magnet while sorting and will then go to the landfill. 
• And remember that grease should never be poured down a drain after holiday meals. Place it in a covered can or bottle and take it to the Household Hazard Waste Center for proper disposal. 

For more information, visit https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/services/vision-components/faq/-selcat-243#faq_a333.

The Oak Street Health Clinic and Old North State Medical Society will provide a free health clinic on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.–noon, in the Britton Street parking lot (in case of rain, in the Fellowship Hall). 

Services include the following: 

• Flu Shots (please call to schedule an appointment, drop-ins accepted) 
• Blood Pressure Checks 
• A1C testing 
• COVID-19 testing 

Scheduled appointments are preferred for flu shots, but drop-ins will be accepted. For appointments, contact Sierra Mapp by phone or email at 336-223-6010 or sierra.ludd@oakstreethealth.com, respectively. Please bring proper identification and insurance information, if possible. Face masks are required and social distancing observed. Direct questions to Michelle Thompson, 336-509-8683. 

The United Methodist Women wants to recognize the military veterans of Saint Matthews with a special video presentation during the Veterans Day church service in November. To participate, please send a picture that was taken during the time you served in the armed forces. If a this type of picture is not available, you may submit a portrait/picture you have on hand. Please include your name and military branch.

You may ssubmit the picture by using one of the following options: 

1. Scan and email the picture as a jpeg file (.jpg) to Pam Moye, pamelasiobohn@gmail.com, or Michelle Thompson, michelleathompson@hotmail.com.
2. Put the picture, along with your name and military branch, in an envelope and place it in the mailbox of Michelle Thompson, 1215 Eton Drive, Greensboro. If you use this option, please be sure to include your name and military branch.
3. Call Michelle Thompson at 336-509-8683 to arrange to have your picture scanned for you.

The deadline to submit your picture is Wednesday Nov. 4. 

Saint Matthews and West Market Street United Methodist Churches invite their members and friends to gather for prayers for perseverance in the work for justice, peace, health and unity of our city and country. The event will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, in the parking lot of the West Market Street UMC Early Childhood Center (ECC), 312 W. Friendly Avenue. Please park on Friendly Avenue or Commerce Place, bring a chair if you need to sit, and wear a face mask. Those with limited mobility are invited to park in perimeter spaces within the ECC parking lot.

Because of restrictions on in-person gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, members will be able to submit their annual stewardship pledge online. A new form or card must be completed by October 27th for calendar year 2021.

To submit your 2021 pledge online:

• Find the 2021 Pledge Form on the SMUMC website.
• Input pledge information on the fillable form and submit. Data submitted goes directly to the finance secretary and can only be seen by the finance secretary.

To submit your 2021 pledge by mail:

• A Pledge Card will be mailed to those without internet access.
• Complete the pledge information.
• Place the card in the enclosed return envelope addressed to the finance secretary. (Only the finance secretary will read the information.)
• Mail the card or drop it off at the church (use the mail slot at the Britton Street entrance).

Direct questions to Bill Gist, wgist51249@att.net, or Floyd Royal, froyal@netzero.net.