During the season of Advent and Christmas our worship will focus on the
first readings assigned for the day. All of them are from the Book of
Isaiah, Jesus’s favorite prophet. We can count on Isaiah, the poetic
prophet, to give us some stirring visual images. Curiously, Isaiah 2
begins: “This is what Isaiah, Amoz’s son, saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem.” Isaiah is reporting a vision he was given by God. It’s as if the
prophet says, “I’ve heard about tomorrow. I’ve seen the future. And this
is how it looks.”
Vivid poetic images of a plow (Isaiah 2), a stump (Isaiah 11), a clear
flowing river (Isaiah 35), and a vulnerable baby (Isaiah 7) are used by
Isaiah to speak to us. The future that God is working on is so
unimaginable, so beyond our present expectations, that we can only think
about it through poetry, through stirring images that stoke, fund, and fuel
our imaginations. That’s what Isaiah wants to do in our church.
In chapter 1 Isaiah graphically lays out what he saw in the present
moment. It’s not a pretty picture: violence, bribery, unfaithfulness,
desolation, trampling on the poor. Sure, there are brief interruptions as
God calls for repentance and change offers a glimmer of hope, but those
moments are overcome with violence and disregard for God’s ways.
Isaiah wrenches our gaze beyond the heartache and horror of the present
moment and lets us in on what God is working on for the future. “In the
days to come,” when the peaceable kingdom becomes a reality, things will
look radically different. God will overcome our sin with divine creativity.
People everywhere will make their way to God, even those who were once
sworn enemies of God. God’s truth will shine on the whole wide world.
Some people hear Isaiah’s prophecy about the future and insist that we
must be more realistic. Sure, the vision is inspiring, but it’s not real. This
isn’t the way the world works. People must adjust and adapt to what the
world is. That’s the only world there is.
Isaiah will have none of it. He is a faithful visionary, able to see a world
being birthed, a future better than anything we’re able to fashion on our
own. Isaiah’s prophetic poetry enables people to see more than they
could before. Perhaps Advent and Christmas 2022 will open the eyes and
hearts of despondent, fearful, and disheartened people so they can see
the vision of God’s peaceable kingdom?
O come, O come, Emmanuel!
Warmly,
+ Dave V.P.
Nov 27 Advent 1 The Peaceable Kingdom: 1. God’s Future for Us
Dec 4 Advent 2 The Peaceable Kingdom: 2. Ukraine (Niki Nauta)
Dec 11 Advent 3 The Peaceable Kingdom: 3. Joy in the Wilderness
Dec 18 Advent 4 The Peaceable Kingdom: 4. The Disruptive Child
Dec 24 Xmas Eve The Peaceable Kingdom: 5. Christmas in Bethlehem (7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Bring your cell phone flashlight)
Dec 25 Xmas Sunday No Service
Jan 1/23 Xmas 1 Blood in Bethlehem (Christmas Communion)
The SYNERGY 150 Christmas Concert and Old Fashioned Christmas Village
The SYNERGY 150 Christmas Concert and Old Fashioned Christmas Village were both a great success, with both shows sold out and many items purchased in the Village. Quite a few children attended the Saturday rendition where they enjoyed listening to Christmas Stories from "Granny Sue", or making their own Gingerbread Person, and going for a ride on the Miniature Wagon pulled by Miniature Horses. Rudolph was apparently checking out the competition Friday night, as whispers of red lights circling above were heard among the folks enjoying hot refreshments in The Village.
A huge round of applause for the SYNERGY 150 choir and many of our congregation who helped construct the village store fronts, brought in and erected 24 Christmas trees - yes, I counted them ! - and set out the food and other wares for sale. Thanks as well to the folks who sold goods at each store, and the three minstrels who sang carol after carol after carol as they strolled through the village and the narthex. The flurry of snowflakes overhead added to the festive scene, thanks to the many snow-people who created them, and to the tall men who strung the wires hither and yon. And we cannot forget all the volunteers who stayed after the festivities to clear everything up and return the room to almost normal conditions - the snowflakes remained on high, while the elves disappeared into the darkness! And last but not least, thanks to all the people who came to the concert, lifting their voices to the rooftops as they joined the choir in many songs, then stayed to enjoy the Village and purchased many treasures to take home for the holidays. We know Santa was very pleased with the outpouring of Christmas Spirit !
Angel Tree
Food Bank Sunday for December
The Mission & Education Committee will be sponsoring the Food Bank Collection each month. December we will be collecting “Items for Christmas Dinner” on Sun., Dec. 18th so they can get to those in need before Christmas. The need is really great this year and we encourage you to generously donate. You can drop your donations anytime during the month in the box in the narthex. Any other food donations will be gratefully accepted. Thank you for your support of the this project.
Camlachie Christmas Families You can help Santa put presents under the tree and a feast on the table for someone on Christmas Day by giving to our “Camlachie Families.” Once again
Niki will be Santa’s Helper. Cheques are preferred. Please designate the funds for the “Camlachie Christmas Family.” This year we are sponsoring a family with three young children through the Inn of the Good Shepherd. There are over 400 families enrolled in the Adopt a Family Program this year. Niki is looking for donations to help provide our family with a little bit of Christmas Cheer. Donations will be accepted until December 18. Any questions please speak with Niki Nauta.
What better way to shop for family Christmas gifts! What grandchild would not appreciate a McD card or a Subway, or Boston Pizza? Orders go in December 11 with arrival on the 18th, just in time for easy Christmas sharing.
UCW will meet December 20th at 2 pm at the church. All women of the congregation are welcomed.
As events pick up and our church building gets busy, please remember to always check in with Heather in the office if you are looking to book a meeting or event in the building. Heather is the only one who can tell you whether a room or the kitchen is being used at any given time. It also allows Niki, our custodian to ensure the cleaning schedule is current with the events happening. Thank you! You can reach Heather at camunited@xcelco.on.ca
All of our church services are available on You Tube. If you missed the very uplifting Music Sunday Service on August 14, it can now be watched on the You Tube Channel under Camlachie United Church, and also for those in attendance they may be able to enjoy it again.
Here is the link for our You Tube Channel - CLICK HERE
Weather Cancellation Policy - 2022/2023 On some occasions in past winters, it has been necessary to cancel Sunday morning worship services because of severe weather conditions. Should this be necessary this winter, please be aware of the following:
The Chair of the Unified Board, the Chair of the Worship Committee, and the Minister will make any required decision to cancel services. If all are not available, then one person in consultation with any other member of the Unified Board may make the decision, hopefully by 8:00 a.m.
Notices will go out by email to those on the subscribed congregational list, a post will be posted on Facebook and our website. Phone calls will go out to key members of the subscribed list that do not have email.
If you do not get an email, see a post or receive a phone call (if you are not on the email list) please be advised that church will be proceeding as normal. It is your responsibility to be safe and make the best decision for you whether to attend.
