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Minister's Musing
By Will Sparks
There was a bishop in the church of England that was serving a conservative African diosis as they were going through a difficult conversation regarding the ordination of women in the church. It was a hard conversation because not only was it about the who is given authority in the church, but it revealed clear and deep cultural differences between the worldwide Church of England, and the local church. In a culture in which woman were never given public roles of authority, the church was asking that women be given key roles, like priest and even bishop, leading men in their work.
The bishop travelled to attend the meeting, and when he returned he shared the news that they were unable to agree to ordain women. People were mystified. In this day and age, how can this still be?
The bishop thought for a minute, and finally replied, “it is not so much a question of theology, or even church politics. It is more that they just cannot imagine a woman in that role. And they cannot do what they cannot imagine.”
In this season of Advent, we are following the story of Mary as she takes in the news that she will bear the Christ child. She visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant, and they share this astounding, life changing news. And then, in an outburst of joy and hope, she sings of how this child will change everything: The poor will be lifted, and the rich will be diminished, the mighty brought down from their thrones and the lowly raised. The oppressed will be set free, the hungry fed.
In this song, Mary’s bursts forth in an imaginative vision of the world changed. And all of the sudden, because she can imagine the world changed, change becomes possible.
In this season of getting ready, preparing, I invite you to let your imagination run a little wild. How can you imagine life differently because God is in the midst of it? See what images come to you as you, like Mary, dream of a world as it could be, not just as it is. The first step in changing the world is imagining it changed.
Blessings.
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Notice of upcoming Memorial
Wendy Grant's celebration of life with take place on Saturday the 17th of December at 1pm with a reception to follow in the lower Hall.
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Finance Update
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Advent Appeal 2022
WISH Drop-in Society
The WISH Drop-In Centre, on the DTES, is a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental space for women and gender diverse folks. Their mission is to improve the health, safety and well-being of those involved in street-based sex trade. 90% have mental health or addiction issues, 70% are homeless, 60% are First Nations, and 45% are seniors.
WISH has operated for 35 years in the DTES giving many women the only safe place they know. Their services include a drop-in centre, one-to-one support, temporary shelter, meals, employment support, indigenous programs, a learning centre, music therapy and outreach services.
There is a great need for financial support to enable the staff and volunteers to continue to provide the many services they do. Please consider donating to this important work through our Advent Appeal.
Further inquiries can be directed to Ev Leskiw - Leskiw@telus.net
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Senior Youth Event
Sign up HERE for the Senior Youth Even to Capilano Suspension Bridge. |
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Small Group Connections
Calling all creative crafters!
Join us for a session of creating Highlands own Christmas Cards.
Time and Date Tuesday, 13th of December between 1 and 4 pm in room 201 at the church. To join the fun contact: Pam Hollington at pamelahollington@gmail.com or Ann Echols
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Christmas Card Donation
Do you have left over Christmas Cards to give to the North Shore Shelter?
Donated cards will be given to the residents to send to their friends and families. Please place your card donations in the box at the church office or in the narthex.
Thank you Bonny Ball
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Connect to Highlands friends this Christmas. Send greetings and gratitude's to those you know and those you'd don't yet know well.
Use the traditional Canada Post or E-cards
Cards are available at the office
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Lights Up Production 2023
"Auditions for "LIGHTS UP!" will take place at Highlands on Sunday, December, 18, 2-5pm in the Highlands gym, and Monday, December 19, 6:30-9pm in the sanctuary.
Are you considering auditioning, but don't know what to expect? It's actually very simple...
First, you will complete an information form.
We will then teach everyone a song together and you will be asked to sing a very short section by yourself.
Then we will teach the whole group a short dance and you will be asked to repeat it with a small group.
That's all that you have to do. If you choose, you will be given the chance to sing a musical theatre song of your choice. Please make it no more than 32 bars long, and choose the sections that best showcase your vocal abilities. A pianist will be provided: please bring sheet music or an accompaniment that can be played through the speaker provided (male mini-jack will plug into phone or dongle).
Rehearsals through January will be Sunday afternoons and Monday and Tuesday evenings. Wednesday evenings will be added in February and the last two weeks will be almost every day. You will only be required at rehearsals for numbers in which you are cast for the first few weeks, but after we put the show together you will be required at all rehearsals.
We look forward to working with you in this production!
Doug and Gill, for Carolyn and Geordie and Joy.
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Highlands Hampers 2022
Please help us help the needy this Christmas. As in past years these hampers will be in the form of gift cards. Please donate via PayPal using the QR code in the 'present' above. Another option is to drop donations of cash or cheques to the church office during office hours or place them in the locked mail box in the north carpark entrance. Our goal is to deliver these hampers between the 15th and the 20th of December.
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Christmas Shopping at Highlands
Gifts that Give Twice!
These are gifts that keep on giving: because you are giving to someone close to you as well as giving something to someone who really needs it.
You buy something that supports one of Highlands' partners; or maybe you make a donation instead of buying a physical gift.
Some ideas:
Buy a Multifaith Calendar: "Building Our Future Together"
Almost all the holidays of almost all the world's faiths explained!
Supporting the ministry of the Multifaith Action Society. At the Action Table or call Simone: 604 987 2595
$15 each or 2 for $25.
Donate to First United Church Community Ministry:
First United's vision is a neighbourhood in the Downtown Eastside where everyone's worth is celebrated and all people thrive. For information about First's work and about donating visit https://firstunited.ca/donate-now.
Gifts with Vision:
A Giving Catalogue from the National United Church.
Help change the world! Booklets available at the church or online: https://giftswithvision.ca/
Donate to Artesana:
The Artesana Collective, our long-time partner in Guatemala, works with imprisoned women and supports their children. You can donate to Artesana through CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev); More information here: https://www.highlandsunited.org/OutreachandSocialJustice
Leaflets available
Buy a Veggie Bag:
Ev Leskiw has sewn lightweight cloth bags to use and reuse when you buy produce. Save the oceans from plastic bags!
Donate to Camp Fircom:
Camp Fircom relies on donated funds to create incredible experiences for kids and families of all backgrounds and financial means. Your donation can give a "Campership", Visit
https://www.fircom.ca/ and click DONATE, or call 604 662 7756
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Healing Pathway
The Healing Hands ministry will be offering sessions at 12:30pm and 1:15pm on the second Wednesday of the month. If you'd like to book a session, please call Lorraine Elliott at 604-985-4502.
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A Crash Course on the UN Biodiversity Conference
Here’s a look at COP15 from Canada’s National Observer – explaining the threat to biodiversity, conserving nature, paying up for biodiversity, empowering Indigenous peoples, and why we should care. Click this link.
Stopping the use of fossil fuels
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a proposed international agreement to end all new exploration and production of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), and phase out existing production of fossil fuels to reach the 1.5°C global climate target.
Read about its progress in this recent CBC article, and see the list of many governments, organizations and individuals who have endorsed the concept (including the Districts of North Vancouver and West Vancouver).
Climate Change Cover-Up by Big Oil and Gas Exposed!
Albertan Geoff Dembicki researched oil and gas company documents and interviewed climate change victims in writing his new book, The Petroleum Papers: Inside the Far-Right Conspiracy to Cover Up Climate Change. As investigative journalist Dembicki reveals in this explosive book, the decades-long conspiracy to cast doubt on climate change and keep the oil flowing would turn out to be one of the biggest reasons for the world's failure to stop the climate crisis. In this excellent interview he shares his findings.
His book is available in all local libraries.
"The petroleum industry is guilty of a Big Tobacco-style public cover-up, according to this vivid exposé."-- Publishers Weekly
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Shelter to Home
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Children, Youth & Families News
Thursday G2 (Youth choir grades 4 to 12) will meet 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Gods Free Spirits ( age 4 to grade 3) will meet 6:00 to 7pm in the choir room.
For more information please contact Allie Keir or the church office.
Sunday children's programs this Sunday, please ask your children to follow Allie after theme time.
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Companion Adventures
Have you ever wanted to go somewhere like the theater, Grouse Mountain, a restaurant or a movie but not wanted to go alone? Why not link up with others who enjoy the same activities and who would like some company. Sign up here and add your ideas, someone will be in touch either by email or phone to connect you with another person who has the same interest as you. Together we can make it happen!
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Highland Book Circle
All are welcome whenever a particular book catches your interest and/or your schedule permits. We are a Circle not a Club!
Date: Monday, January 23rd (4th not last Monday for this month only)
Time: 7:15pm
Place: Faith Formation Room at Highlands United Church (the front door will be open until at least 7:30pm)
If you have any questions, please call Phyllis at (604) 328-6428.
Cloud Cuckoo Land (2021) by Anthony Doerr
Traces the preservation of the ancient story of Aethon, who longs to fly to a paradise in the sky. The main settings are a library in besieged Constantinople five hundred years ago, a modern library in Idaho and an inter-stellar ship in the not-so-distant future - "a magnificent tapestry of times and places that reflects our vast interconnectedness"
**************Multiple copies of Cloud Cuckoo Land are available from the Book Club sets at the NVDPL*************
Thank you
Phyllis
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Highlands Church Office
Opening Hours - Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 3:30 pm
Telephone number - 604 980 6071
Email address - churchoffice@highlandsunited.org or melissa.wilkin@highlandsunited.org
If you have an emergency outside of office hours please call
Will Sparks on 778 968 7718.
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