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Ministers Musing - Julie
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Wow. 2023. And we’re already a week in. How did this happen?
Soon (Jan 15) we will be blessed with Rev. Deb Bowman’s series “Consider the Birds” based on Debbie Blue’s book of the same name. So, this Sunday we will explore all things Epiphany from the magi to Jesus’ baptism. And I doubt any of us will notice that we go from baby Jesus to adult Jesus in less than an hour!
The season of Epiphany is about showing, revealing, making known. The Saviour’s birth was a birth for all. Not just for the powerful, not just for the wealthy, but for all. This would be a leader like no one had seen before. A leader who would give life, not take life; a leader who would live with people and serve, not wield power and demand; a leader who would seek and save the lost, not ignore them.
This is a leader who will be with us. And not just “us” but US – everyone. No one is shut out.
Often we personalize this notion of Epiphany and Jesus’ birth by thinking about “what will the light shine on in my life? What will it reveal in me that I need to work on? How am I not “for all” the way Jesus was?” Or, it may speak to us in the form of “look over there … look what the light has illuminated. I can go help there.”
As David Lose says “God is at work fashioning an Epiphany people, people of the light, people who know that the joy and grace of Christmas is not a gift to be admired but one to be put to work for the sake of the world God loves so much.”
Blessings, Julie
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Sunday Service
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It’s with sadness that I share with you the news that Gloria Strong died over the Christmas season. Gloria had been unwell for some time but she had been able to join her sons and their families for dinner on Christmas Day. She became critically ill the following day and died at Lions Gate hospital on December 28th. Gloria and her husband Edward, had been members here at Highlands for many years and had many good friends here. She will be very much missed by her children Greg, Derek and Lorna and their families. The family is very grateful to all those friends and members of Highlands who supported their Mom over the last few years, especially after the death of her beloved Edward in 2020 and through the challenges of cancer.
I had the good fortune to have several lovely visits with Gloria in the last month and she was able to attend the Christmas concert here in the sanctuary in early December, so no doubt some of you would have caught up with her then.
A memorial service will be held on March 10th at 2pm.
- Colleen Blair
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ELL 2023 Registration
In January, we are running the following ELL Classes:
- Beginners Class – in person in Room 201 at the church - Thursday afternoons 1-2:30 beginning January 19.
- Intercultural Conversations on Zoom – Tuesday mornings 10 – 11:30 beginning January 17
- Speakers Group Thursday mornings 10 – 11:30 on Zoom beginning January 19.
All classes are $40 and you can access the registration form by clicking HERE or the poster above. |
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Senior Youth Shipyards Skating Event
It's back, and this time...
on a Friday!
On Friday, January 13th join us down at the Shipyards Skating Rink for an exclusive Highlands United Youth Group ONLY skating night! We will meet down at the Shipyards at 7:45 for treats and fun before our Ice time from 8:30 - 9:30 pm. Youth can be picked up at 9:45 pm at the Shipyards. Pickup and drop off will be down at the Shipyards Skating Rink Area.
We would like to open this Senior Youth Event to all youth in grades 5 - 12! This great opportunity is always a good time to invite the grade 5's to join us :)
The cost for the event is $5.00 if you have your own skates, or $10 if you need to rent skates.
All youth under 12 years old must wear a helmet, they have them for free if you need one.
Once everyone has registered we will be sending out a waiver that MUST be signed if the youth would like to skate.
We cannot wait to see you on January 13th! The deadline to register is Wednesday, January 11th. Sign up here and do not miss out on the fun https://forms.gle/V26fZUtrbyqV9AxDA
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns to gowens13@shaw.ca
Please note: there is a cap of 50 people maximum, if we hit that number we will have to close the registration. Thank you for understanding!
Don't wait to register!
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Lights Up Production 2023
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News from HUGG
The Year in Cheer: 183 Ways the World Got Better in 2022
From Reasons to be Cheerful: For instance: Every large parking lot in France will soon be covered in solar panels, generating green energy equivalent to running 10 nuclear reactors; and, starting next July, Connecticut will become one of the first American states to mandate climate change studies across its public schools as part of its science curriculum. The requirement follows in the footsteps of New Jersey, which in 2020 became the first state to mandate K-12 climate change education across its school districts. Read all 183 ways here.
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Boxing Day Special at Highlands
At the Action Table this Sunday!
Multifaith Calendars only $12
"Building Our Future Together"
Almost all the holidays of almost all the world's faiths explained!
Supporting the ministry of the Multifaith Action Society.
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Flea Market Drop Off open January 14, 10:00-noon
Click here to volunteer
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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. Next session 11th of January 2023. If you'd like to book a session, please call Lorraine Elliott at 604-985-4502.
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Shelter to Home
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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 a pastoral care emergency outside of office hours
please call Julie Lees 604 738 3708 or Colleen 604 862 4574
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