A Thrill of Hope
This Advent, we gather under the theme A Thrill of Hope to let the message of O Holy Night lead us deeper into the mystery of the incarnation. Hope is not vague optimism; it is the steady assurance that God has drawn near in Jesus to name our worth, heal our weariness, and set a new morning in motion. As we sing of a weary world rejoicing and a soul that feels its worth, we remember that Christ’s coming anchors our identity in belovedness and calls us to live his law of love and peace. In a season crowded with hurry and headlines, we will practice paying attention to the light that shines in the darkness, the joy that interrupts despair, and the freedom God brings to every chained place. Our focus on hope is crucial: to receive it, to be reshaped by it, and to share it so that our community—and our world—might glimpse the new and glorious morn.
Advent Events
Family Pajama Movie Night: Featuring "The Grinch" - Friday, December 19th, 5pm | Worship Center
Grab your favorite pair of pjs, a comfy blanket, and join us for a Pajama Movie Night from 5pm - 7pm in the Worship Center. We’ll have a popcorn bar with lots of mix-ins and an interactive lesson as we watch the 2018 version of Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic, “The Grinch”!
Celebrate Christmas Eve at Suntree
Christmas Under the Stars - Tuesday, December 23rd, 7pm | Front Lawn
Gather with us outside on our front lawn for night-time worship featuring familiar carols, candle lighting (of the LED variety!), and communion. Bring your own chair or blanket!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship - Wednesday, December 24th
4pm - Family Worship - Worship Center | A service for the whole family! This is an interactive service that features the age old Christmas story told through a different way, including some fun and games. We'll also celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. Great for families with little ones!
6pm - Contemporary Worship - Worship Center | A more modern twist on familiar carols featuring our worship team. This service will also featuring a inspiring message from one of our pastors, Holy Communion, and Candlelighting.
5pm & 7pm - Traditional Worship - Sanctuary | A classic Christmas Eve service featuring carols from our Chancel Choir and accompanied by our Pipe Organ, and inspiring message from one of our pastors, Holy Communion, and Candleighting.
Advent Devotional Series
Below is a weekly Advent Devotional. We hope you will use this guide to help foster quiet and calm this season. Each guide includes four weekly devotions, plus short, daily scripture readings with a reflection question. You’ll receive a printed copy of the devotions each week in your bulletins, or you can use the links below to download a printed copy.
Red Stocking Stories
At Suntree, we are grateful to be able to serve our neighbors in extraordinary ways. One of the ways that we are able to serve in extraordinary ways is through our beautiful campus! We have so many groups that gather on a regular basis in and around our church facility. From support and recovery groups to concerts, unhoused families through Family Promise, our incredible Suntree United Methodist School, and so many others! Below are some of their stories of impact that we’ve seen because of your generosity.
When you make a gift using the Red Stocking Envelopes, it goes to ensuring that we can continue to meet the needs of our community by offering a place for healing, creativity, hospitality, and growth. You can give today by using the Red Stocking Envelopes in your bulletin, or by going visiting to SuntreeUMC.org/Give and selecting “Red Stocking” from the dropdown menu.
Healing
We are honored to be a place of light and healing in our community. Did you know we have 35 support and recovery classes and groups that meet on our campus each month? We are also proud to host an annual “Dare to Care Mental Health Fair” where leaders in the Mental Health field are invited to share their experience and wisdom around mental health issues, along with community resources and breakout groups led by local Mental Health experts. We are proud to be a place where people can come and find healing.
Arts
We are delighted to be a place where creativity thrives! We are honored to host many community concerts throughout the year by local arts organizations such as Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Central Florida Winds, Space Coast Flute Orchestra, Melbourne Municipal Band, and many more! Beyond music, we also have crafting and scrapbooking groups that meet on our campus on a regular basis. We are overjoyed to be a place where people from all around our community can come and express their creative gifts and talents.
Hospitality
We pride ourselves on being a place that shows hospitality in extraordinary ways. Four times a year, we partner with Family Promise to host families experiencing homelessness by offering them a safe place to stay on our campus, a warm meal, and a genuine desire to welcome each person as a human being who is loved by God. We are also proud of our Blue Sky Community Garden, which produces over 1,000 pounds of food each year to help fill local food pantries. Fresh produce, lovingly grown, for our neighbors in need.
Grow
We grateful to be a place where people can come and grow in mind, body, and spirit. The Suntree United Methodist School offers a safe place for students from as young as 2 years old through Kindergarten to grow together spiritually, socially, emotionally, academically, and physically. We are also home to Scout Troop 720 and Cub Scout Troop 720. These students meet on our campus on a weekly basis to learn important life skills, character development and leadership skills. These, along with our many other Grow groups, offer a place for people of all ages to grow in all kinds of ways that make our community a better place and reflect the extraordinary love of God!
Check out these stories from people in our Suntree Community who have experienced extraordinary love because of your generosity:
Deb Holland, NAMI