Advent Hub
Welcome to our Advent Hub! Below you will find a list of all of our Advent-related events!
Giving Opprotunities
Poinsettia Fundraiser
Orders Due Dec. 8 | As we prepare for the Advent season and the celebration of Christmas, we invite you to participate in a beautiful tradition that allows you to honor or remember someone special while also supporting a great cause. You can purchase a poinsettia to be placed on the Sanctuary stage during our Advent services. The poinsettias will fill the stage with vibrant color and serve as a meaningful symbol of love, remembrance, and hope.
- Click the button above to order your poinsettia online. You can dedicate the plant in honor of or in memory of a loved one.
- Paper forms available at our reception desks
- Each plant is $14, and all proceeds benefit our community partner, Meals on Wheels.
Angel Tree
Gifts Due by Dec. 17! Share the joy of Christmas with a child in need!
Welcome to the 2024 McFarlin Angel Tree. Your generosity helps bring Christmas cheer to children who might otherwise go without, and we’re so grateful for your support! If you need help navigating the Angel Tree or prefer to have a child assigned to you, contact Scott Meier at smeier@mcfarlinumc.org.
3 Ways to Give:
- Choose a child from the Angel Tree. Purchase gifts and bring them to McFarlin unwrapped with the child’s Color and Number clearly marked.
- Select a child from the Angel Tree. Order gifts online and have them shipped directly to McFarlin. Ensure the Color and Number of the child is included in the shipping label.
- Donate online, and we’ll shop for you. Click Here to give online and choose the “Angel Tree” from the drop-down.
Christmas Offering
Because of what God is doing in our church through you, we are excited to once again designate this year’s Christmas Offering to the McFarlin Food Pantry. The opportunities for ministry are great and we believe God is at work in the lives of people in our community and will continue to multiply our ability to give as you generously share your special Christmas Offering. The McFarlin Food Pantry depends on a robust Christmas Offering each year.
Click the button above to give online by selecting “Christmas Offering” from the drop-down, OR bring your offering with you to one of our worship services.
Special Events & Services
Advent Festival & Handbell Concert
Dec. 1 | Advent Festival, 3pm | Handbell Concert, 6pm
Kick off the Advent season with joy and creativity! Join us for an afternoon of fun, fellowship, and festive activities at McFarlin’s Advent Festival. This annual event is the perfect way for families and individuals of all ages to prepare their hearts for Christmas and celebrate the start of this sacred season. Come enjoy music from our McFarlin’s talented children’s choirs, crafts with friends and family, and seasonal treats! This family-friendly event offers something for everyone and is a wonderful way to reflect on the true meaning of the season. Free and open to all—bring your family, friends, and neighbors to share in the joy of Advent!
Celebrate 40 Years of Beautiful Music! Join us for a milestone event as we commemorate the 40th Anniversary of McFarlin’s Handbell Concert. This year, we are thrilled to welcome back Venita MacGorman, our past director and one of the key visionaries who helped start this cherished tradition.
UWF Christmas Program
Dec. 3, 6:30pm in Fenn Hall
Join us for an unforgettable evening of story and song as United Women in Faith presents “The Spirit of Giving.” This cherished annual Christmas program is open to all, inviting the community to rediscover the wonder of giving through heartwarming childhood tales and uplifting carols.
Family Movie Night
Dec. 6, 5:45pm in Fenn Hall
Get ready for a heartwarming holiday movie night! Bring the whole family to enjoy an evening of festive fun. Join us for a cozy night filled with Christmas cheer, where we’ll laugh, sip hot chocolate, munch on popcorn, and let the spirit of the season warm our hearts—just like the Grinch’s heart that grew three sizes! No registration is required—just bring your friends and family, grab some treats, and settle in for a night of holiday magic.
Centennial Sunday Celebration
Dec. 8 | 8:30 & 11am Sanctuary | 11am Modern
Celebrate 100 Years of Faith and Ministry! Join us for a momentous day as we honor McFarlin’s Centennial Anniversary. On this special Sunday, we will reflect on 100 years of worship, service, and community, and look forward to the next chapter in our story of faith.
McFarlin’s inaugural worship services were held on December 7, 1924, and each year we celebrate our anniversary on the Sunday closest to that date. This year, we are delighted to welcome Bishop Laura Merrill as our preacher, making this occasion even more meaningful.
During the Sunday school hour please join us in the Atrium where we will have refreshments, a debut of our Centennial Wall, and open the time capsule. You won’t want to miss this historic moment!
Let’s celebrate this extraordinary milestone together! We invite everyone in our community—long-time members, new attendees, and guests—to join us for this once-in-a-century occasion.
Candlelight Carol
Dec. 15, 6pm in the Sanctuary
A Community Tradition to Prepare for Christmas! Join us for McFarlin’s most beloved worship service of the year—the Annual Candlelight Carol Service. This cherished tradition brings together all of our choirs and handbell ensembles in a moving celebration that prepares our hearts for Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Come enjoy performances by children’s, youth, and adult choirs as well as all of McFarlin’s handbell choirs.
This service is a highlight of the Advent season, blending music, worship, and fellowship into a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. All are welcome—bring your family, friends, and neighbors to experience the wonder of the Candlelight Carol Service.
Blue Christmas
Dec. 22, 1:30pm in the Sanctuary
A Service of Reflection, Hope, and Healing. The Advent season can be difficult for those experiencing grief, loss, or challenges in finding joy. McFarlin’s Blue Christmas Service is a time of quiet reflection and comfort, offering hope through the message of Emmanuel—God With Us.
This service is a reminder that even in moments of pain, God’s light shines, offering peace and hope. All are welcome to join this meaningful service, where you’ll find comfort in community and the assurance of God’s love.
Christmas Eve Eve
Dec. 23, 6pm
Join us for a magical evening of Modern Worship on Dec. 23 at 6pm in Fenn Hall as we kick off the holiday season in style! Our Modern Worship band will set the stage for an unforgettable experience, and Pastor Trey Witzel will deliver a message that will fill your heart with wonder and joy.
We’ll come together to sing “Silent Night” by candlelight, creating a serene and reflective atmosphere. Afterward, stay with us to enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, a perfect way to warm your spirits and celebrate the season in the company of friends and fellow worshipers.
Christmas Eve
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve is a special day at McFarlin, and we encourage you to invite your friends and family to one of our services.
Evening Christmas Eve Services
- 4pm Family
- 7pm Sanctuary (Livestream available)
- 11pm Sanctuary Candlelight Service