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A Message from Rev. Karen Lumley
Well…what a week I have had celebrating with my mom her 90th birthday, visiting family and friends. I saw Betty Lorimer (Bookstore Betty) who moved from Winnipeg to Perth, Ontario to be close to her family and Roy Drewitt in Kanata, just outside Ottawa. It was a whirlwind week celebrating!
Coming back, I realize we as a church family are celebrating in a way as we await the birth of the Christ Child this Advent season. The hope of the season is upon us-hope for family gatherings, shopping days ahead, food and celebrating in ways we have been unable to for the last few years. The anticipation and the waiting is almost more than we can bear. We are hopeful anticipating gatherings of family and friends.
As a faith community we hope for Christmas Lessons and Carols sung by some members of our choir. We hope for a Family Christmas Celebration presented by the youth of our church to be viewed on December 24th pre-recoded earlier. We anticipate the Christmas Eve communion just before the lessons and carols as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.
This Advent season as we build our crèche the manger scene and its characters come alive in the candle lighting beginning with the Candle of the Angels. This Sunday we celebrate communion together and light the Candle of the Shepherds who join our crèche. Come celebrate the manger scene as we build it week after week.
May the Christ of Christmas put hope, peace, love and joy in our hearts this Christmas season.
Our Prayer for the Week-from United Church of Canada Resources.
Holy One,
Give us the courage to be ourselves, as we prepare for Christ’s arrival,
so that, like the Magi, we can take a different path,
seek help from unlikely places, and
like all of the people who have followed the star,
own and love our part in Christ’s story.
Help us to be ourselves, as we prepare.
Amen.
—a prayer inspired by Advent Unwrapped
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Christmas Eve Services
Christmas Family Service Friday December 24th at 12pm: Pre-recorded and viewable online. This was performed by our youth.
Christmas Eve Communion Friday December 24th at 9:15pm.
Lessons and Carols Friday December 24th at 10:00pm
*The evening services will be recorded and edited and will be available as soon as possible after Christmas*
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Proof of Vaccination Policy
The Church Council has implemented a policy requiring proof of vaccination to attend in-person services at St. Andrew’s. This practice started as of Sunday November 14. We will maintain a record of those fully vaccinated so that the vaccination card needs only to be presented once. Of course, young children who currently are not able to get vaccinated are welcome.
For those that cannot be vaccinated for medical or personal preference reasons, the on-line service option is available.
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A Message from Derek Morphy
Dear friends at St Andrew’s
A huge “Thank you” to everyone for a very memorable retirement luncheon last Sunday. I was truly humbled by the generosity. It has been a great honour and pleasure to serve as Musical Director at St. Andrew’s for the past thirteen years, and have appreciated the spirit and camaraderie we have enjoyed.
Thank you, Karen for being such a such a kind and supportive colleague, and to Charlotte for always being a pleasure to work with. To the choir, many thanks for your hard work, joy and dedication in worship each week, and also, of course in preparing and performing our annual shows. To the soloists, thank you for consistently providing leadership, selflessly sharing your musical talents and always going above and beyond when asked.
To Wes, it has been a highlight of my musical life to work alongside such a fine musical partner. You consistently manage to enhance all our musical efforts, and I have always appreciated your meticulous preparation and superior keyboard skills.
I look forward to eventually moving from the front of the choir to join the basses in the back row, in order to continue making music at St. Andrew’s.
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You can continue to support St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church through pre-authorized on par or sending cheques to the office(mail is picked up daily). We now also have the option of E-transfer, please contact our Treasurer Bill Craddock on 204-488-1130 for information on E-transfer, leave a message and Bill will return the call.
Thank you for your continued support of the life, work and ministry of our church.
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Thanks to our quintet: Susanne Reimer, Nolan Kehler, Paul Forget, Katy Harmer & Judy Oatway. Thank you to Fred Cross who will be reading the scripture, for offering their gifts in the service this weekend.
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Don't forget to pick up your Cookie Walk cookies on this Saturday December 4th between 9am-10:30am and this Sunday after church service! We have a list of who has ordered cookies to ensure the right number of boxes gets to you!.
Note to all Council and Interest group members: Please deliver your cookies to the church today Thursday morning December 2, you can deliver them to the upstairs kitchenette.
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This Sunday, December 5th we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Communion. Elements are supplied for those who attend church those online please bring your elements if you wish to participate in communion.
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Robert Cleland passed away on Tuesday November 23rd in the evening. Remember Verla and her family in your prayers at this time.
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Gordon McDiarmid is in Palliative Care at the Grace Hospice.
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Bible Study continues! Come join us Wednesday's at 9:30am until 10:30am in the lounge. We will be studying Ecclesiastes 10 & 11.
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December 10, 2021 is National Human Rights Day
St. Andrew’s Outreach Group is planning an event
to commemorate the NHR Day.
What? This will be a virtual online tour of the Human Rights Museum; we will explore exhibits and hear human rights stories.
we will explore exhibits and hear human rights stories.
- We will have an online tour guide to narrate
- We will see live videos along with the narration
- The guide will showcase architecture and engage us in conversations regarding human rights in Canada and around the world.
Date? Friday, December 10 2021
- At no cost to you, you can take the tour from your home with a link sent to you or
- Come to the church where we will have the Virtual tour on a large screen in the sanctuary so enter through the kingsway doors, the oak st entrance will be available for those with mobility difficulties. Time 6:30-7:30 Come a bit early; to catch the entire event.
Next Step?
- Pick one of the above and let Charlotte in the office know your choice asap. (Deadline to join is December 8th)
NOTE: All of St. Andrew’s current Covid 19 Protocols will be closely followed including proof of full vaccination, social distancing and masking.
Thank you from, our group: Peter, Kelvin, Jennifer, Sonja, Vinny and Joan
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Printable PDF version of this form is available HERE and a form without the writing above is available HERE There are extra copies of both forms in the narthex.
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For those of you who purchased lights on the Memory Tree, your Memory cards are available to pick up in the Narthex on Sunday morning - they are in individual envelopes in a basket.
Please call or email the office if you are not going to be at the church in person and we will mail your cards out to you.
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PDF version available to print HERE There are extra copies of this form in the narthex.
The deadline for wreath orders is this Sunday December 5th 2021. |
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Prayer Requests : Anyone who has prayer requests for our Church family to remember in their own prayers and in our Community Prayers for church, please send them to Rev. Karen Lumley.
All prayer requests shared are with permission only.
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Knitters are needed to knit prayer shawls which are used to give to people in times of grief and illness. If you are a knitter the pattern is available in the lounge or contact the office and we will share it with you. We presently only have two left.
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Scripture Readings for next week:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18
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The council meeting minutes for November are now available to view HERE |
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Gifts with a Vision is a program of the United Church of Canada that helps our community ministries all across across Canada and our partners in other countries. Books are available at the back of the church or go online giftswithvision.ca |
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If you or anyone you know has a special birthday, anniversary or celebration coming up let us know so that we can announce it.
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Thanks to all who make the Church services possible,
Charlotte Lindsay and Michael Cuthbert for recording and editing the services, Tyler Craddock on the Soundboard, organist Wes Elias, Katy Harmer our Music Director who ensure singers or soloists are available for each service, Colleen Watters who arranges readers every week, Ruth McKenzie who ensures everyone is signed in and protocols for Covid are followed and David Wreford who opens the church on every rental occasion sometimes multiple times a day, thank you so much for going out of your way to ensure rentals have access.
A special thanks to our soloists and singers: Sarah Witiuk, Fred Cross, Chris Donlevy, Paul Forget, Nolan Kehler Heather Kozak, Nicki LeGrand, Judith Oatway, Aaron Hutton, Susanne Reimer. Thank you sharing your gift and ministry of music with us.
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Community News & Outreach
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Oak Table-1Just City needs new or used shoes and boots for the upcoming season of winter. Bring them to church or drop them off during the week.
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Our Needs are listed below, and are updated consistently. We have items that we always need, some we need only on a seasonal basis, and some that we do not accept.
Please visit our website to see our list with larger text
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News
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Moderator’s Advent Message 2021
Nov 28, 2021 07:00 pm
In his Advent video message, Moderator Richard Bott reminds us that our Advent preparations might help the light of Christ’s love to shine in the night’s sky. |
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Hello Youth, Young Adults, Parents, and Youth Allies (please share)
Registration Now Open for December Travelling Youth Group!!!
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Thanks Westworth for hosting November Travelling Youth Group!
23 young people met at Westworth, each decorating a mug showcasing their own art as an expression of their faith. They also expressed their faith in song and dance led by the new Travelling Youth Band.
Youth are welcome to try out the youth band which will be meeting the next two Tuesdays (Nov 30th and Dec 7th) from 6:30 to 7:30 at SMRUC (St. Mary’s Road United Church), 613 St. Mary’s Road. The youth band will be preparing a couple new songs for the next Travelling Youth Group to be held at 613 St. Mary’s Rd on December 10th hosted by Spirit Path and SMRUC.
With the event's Advent/Christmas theme, the band is going to work on at least one brass/woodwind Christmas carol as well as a song with ukulele and more. You are welcome to join us if you like playing any of those instruments, or singing. Reminder: attendees to Travelling Youth Group or band must be able to show proof of Covid vaccine.
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| Thanks to those who've come out to walk with the Thunderbirdz. If you wish to walk again, or if you haven't yet had a chance to join in, let us know. The group who walked on the 23rd reported wishing they had had more mitts to offer, so if you are able to help out by sewing, knitting or buying warm winter wear please be in touch. See pictures here from Nov 11th walk. Below see the post from Nov. 23rd. |
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If you no longer wish to receive info about youth opportunities,
you may unsubscribe at the bottom of this email. |
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*** Click the icons below to visit us online. The first three pertain to Young Adults and Youth (YAAY). The last 2 are specific to Young Adult Recreational Gatherings (YARG) ***
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The Christmas Store is coming!
Bring your items to the church by December 10th.
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It's that time of year, and we hope you will join us once again to make sure that West End children have great gifts to wake up to on Christmas morning!
You can help by donating new and unopened toys, games, books, craft supplies, warm winter clothing, or anything else you think a child would be excited to receive on Christmas morning.
We can also use donations of gift wrapping supplies, so that we can send gifts home beautifully wrapped and ready for Christmas morning!
All donations can be dropped off on December 9 or 10 between 8am and 4pm.
Or maybe you'd prefer to avoid the Christmas crowds? You can also donate cash through our website at www.1justcity.ca/donate and we will purchase the toys on your behalf. All toys will be purchase from a local West End business, Scout Coffee + Tea.
Please be in touch with Josh at josh@1justcity.ca if you have any questions, or if you would like to volunteer.
Thank-you!
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