Make a donation to the Children’s Ministry for what you would have spent on postage, and our elves will deliver your Christmas cards to members who attend in-person. It’s a great way to spread some Christmas cheer while supporting our children’s ministries. Cards will be available for pick up and delivery on Wednesday evenings and during coffee fellowship on Sundays. Whatever you would have spent on postage can be donated to the children’s fund at church (in Realm under giving, there is a category for Peppermint Post or you can write a check and indicate Peppermint Post on the check).

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Peppermint Post mail works best for those members who attend regularly. Please refrain from including mail to members who are homebound or who live out of town. We cannot guarantee a timely delivery of mail to those who don’t attend services. Any questions, please contact Cindy Ponder.

This year during our coffee fellowship time on Sunday, we will feature some of BCOC’s talented pianists playing your favorite carols. Julia Peterson, Tim Liptak, Krystal Folkestad and Angela Ferguson will play for us as we enjoy our time together between worship and Sunday School each Sunday during Advent. We hope that you will be here to enjoy!

BCOC will collect toys and gift cards to support Christmas at Greater Birmingham Ministries. Please plan to bring your gifts to church on Sunday, December 1. We will have a special offering and blessing during the Children’s Sermon that day. However, gifts will be accepted at BCOC on Wednesdays and Sundays November 3 through December 8 if you are not able to attend the service on December 1.

The Ministry Committee would like to focus on children 10 – 12 years old because these children are often overlooked in toy drives. Of course, any gift will be lovingly received and distributed.

Suggested Items for 10 to  12 Year-Olds:

• Basketballs, Soccer Balls, Footballs
• Arts and Crafts Kits
• New Casual Clothing – especially with sports teams, Alabama and UAB are most popular
• Board Games
• Gift Cards – Walmart is usually most convenient and the suggested amount is $25. These will be used for parents to purchase gifts for their child.
• Skateboards, Bicycles, and Helmets

As part of our support of Greater Birmingham Ministries, we would like to ask our children to collect money (the Education Committee will supply a small bank) during the month of November. On December 1, the banks can be returned and all monies collected will go to the GBM Toy drive to assist with Christmas for local families. Banks will be given out in Sunday School classes and on Wednesday nights. 

Wear your tackiest Christmas outfit and come prepared to play Reindeer Games with your church family. This intergenerational evening will include games and making a Christmas snack. 

The Embellishments Handbell Ensemble under the direction of Phyllis Kirk will present their fall concert Christmas Favorites at BCOC on Sunday, December 8.

This exciting program of arrangements of some of your favorite Christmas tunes, both sacred and secular, can also be heard at Riverchase United Methodist Church on Thursday, December 5th at 7p.m.

Embellishments is an auditioned handbell ensemble comprised of ringers from Birmingham and the surrounding areas. If you are interested in ringing with Embellishments, please let us know.

Get ready for a night of festive fun, laughter, and holiday games! Bring your Christmas spirit and maybe a silly sweater or two! Reach out to Lindsey Bloodworth for details!

BCOC Youth will provide 3 hours of child-care to include supper; holiday crafts; packing Take What You Need bags, and games galore. Register your child to attend HERE.

One of life’s most essential lessons is that we are never meant to go alone. Beloved community is a gift of God. The Covenant Choir will remind us of the preciousness of this gift through their presentation of The Many Moods of Christmas, arranged by Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett. This arrangement of our favorite carols will warm our hearts and open our eyes to the love we share.

Intergenerational Christmas pageant complete with costumes and props.  Hot chocolate bar after.

Christ’s birth makes the vastness of God personal. The God who made the seas and the stars is also the God who made your beautiful hair and striking eyes. The God of creation takes on flesh, which means you are fully known. When the angels visit the shepherds in the fields, their message is global but also personal; “To you…a savior is born.” This birth is good news for everyone, especially those who are ignored or disenfranchised. On this night, God is born, and this God of love knows your name.