Christ. Christmas. Community.
Published Dec. 5, 2022|Sponsored Content on Tampa Bay Times
The old saying goes that to raise a child, it takes a village. Reverend Dawn Worden of Christ United Methodist Church would take it a step further by asking, “What does it take to raise society?” The answer, according to Pastor Dawn, is starting with a single community. In this past year, that is the goal that Pastor Dawn and the members of Christ UMC set out to achieve, becoming THE community church for St. Petersburg.
This past year the church has been purpose-driven to go outside the walls of the church and show that they are here for their community with multiple mission projects. Some of those works included making meals that they distributed to the homeless, making stuffed bears and toy bags for 35 kids in Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and helping Hidden Rivers residents clean up from Hurricane Ian. Their families also wrote cards and made cookies for state prisoners and made items while preparing for Christmas where they will celebrate and take presents to a local assisted living home.
The church has a small and dedicated team of volunteers that develops new outreach ideas every month through its Mission: Possible program, showing through its namesake that there is no task too large to accomplish. Some of the work from that program has included collecting books for local elementary schools, toiletries for the St. Pete Clinic, food for released VA Hospital vets, clothing for kids aging out of our adoption system, backpacks for children in need who are headed back to school and a host of other community nonprofits. The work of a Christ UMC extends outside of the local community, playing host and liaison between the Florida United Methodist Conference and those of the Argentine Methodist Episcopal Church. Christ UMC people will also depart for work with their sister church in Cuba in February 2023.
As we come into the holiday season, Pastor Dawn wants everyone to know that they are welcome at Christ UMC with open arms every day, and especially at their services celebrating the season and looking forward to the new year. Absolutely everyone is embraced and valued! Come also to meet their new Pastor of Students and Outreach Ministries, the Rev. Travis Taylor and his family of seven, who joined the church this past August, having moved from Indiana. Rev. Taylor’s mission will be focused on supporting and improving the youth and young adult work in the community. He will also be assisting with development of the church’s new website that will now host everything going on at Christ UMC.
Finally, all are invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ at Christ United Methodist. The church will be holding its Christmas Eve service starting at 5 p.m. with a variety of Christmas music to get into the mood, followed by a traditional candlelight service with a telling of the Christmas story. The next day come in your best Christmas pajamas and flip-flops for a ‘Casual Christmas in the Courtyard’ at 10 a.m. Come for the free brunch and stay for the Christmas carols!
Christ UMC wishes everyone a peaceful and hope-filled Advent to celebrate with greatest enthusiasm this Christmas season. May we be the first to say, come and rejoice with The Community Church, Christ Church, here in beautiful downtown St. Pete!
