December 12, 2023
Calvary Compass – December 12, 2023 - Calvary United Church, www.calvaryuc.ca
Dear Friends of Calvary,
This Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent and our Music Sunday. Our Sunday School children are going to be staying up for the service. Marg is preparing a fun booklet for those that wish something to do besides listening to the wonderful music and scripture readings.
This Sunday there will be a Carol Sing beginning at 10:15 am. Come a little bit early to sing your favourite carols!
Blue Christmas on December 13th at 7pm.
If you have not submitted your donation for the UCW Stewardship Campaign, please remember to either put it in the offering plate or mail it to the church. The cheques are to be made out to "Calvary United Church Women".
Worship Services are all live-streamed:
December 17 (Music Sunday) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vNckB9ElSc
December 24 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EHnb9tBdAc
Recorded service for December 10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUDqSQDFB_w
Offering Envelopes
Kim Knowles, our Office Administrator, has prepared the Offering Envelopes for 2024. They can be picked up at the back of the sanctuary. If you received envelopes this year, but do not use them, please let Kim know so she can allocate the 2024 envelopes to someone else. If you would like offering envelopes, notify Kim.
Also if you wish to participate in the PAR Program (Pre-authorized Remittance), where your donation is automatically debited monthly from your bank account, contact Kim. PAR is very convenient and supplies a reliable income for our church.
Calvary T-Shirts
We still have Calvary T-Shirts available! Price is $15. They could make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. Contact Kim in the office if you would like one.
We have the following sizes:
Small – 4
Medium – 1
Large – 5
XL – 5
2XL - 2
OUTREACH
On behalf of the Outreach Committee, we would like to thank the congregation for their generous support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, our Advent project for this year.
The soup lunch held on Anniversary Sunday raised $653. The proceeds from the apple pie sales were $250. The receipted CFGB envelope offerings amounted to $4,055. The grand total going to CFGB, Caradoc Growing Project this year is $4,958. Fun Fact - we only exceeded this total one time since 2013. At that time, we still were holding the Harvest Dinner.
We would also like to thank everyone for their generous donations to Life*Spin. So far, we have taken 7 carloads in total on 2 occasions to their Dundas St. free store. People living in precarious economic situations appreciate Life*Spin's ability to provide warm clothing, toys, towels, bedding and kitchenware at no cost. A special shout out goes to the Girl Guides and Embers who contributed to Calvary's collection. Final day to drop things off is Wednesday December 13. Thanks again for your ongoing generosity.
Karen Butt and Bonnie McNichol, co-chairs of Outreach.
CAMP KEE-MO-KEE WINTER DAY CAMP
Camp Kee-Mo-Kee is offering a day camp at Calvary from January 2 to 5. Cost is $45 per day.
SHARING EXTRA 2024 CALENDARS
If you receive any 2024 calendars which you don't need, please place in the drop-off boxes at the back of the sanctuary or in the foyer off of the parking lot. Calendars will be offered to those who attend the Community Breakfast or others.
MITTEN TREE
The Christmas trees in the sanctuary are up. We will be continuing with our practice of decorating the trees with mittens, hats, gloves, scarves and socks for the London Community Chaplaincy.
TOURTIERES
The tourtieres are all sold. Thank you to everyone who purchased one or more. Enjoy them!!!
Upcoming Seasonal Events:
• The Music Makers Seasonal Concert, Riverside United Church, December 16, 2pm, Tickets $25
• Choral Connection - Knox Presbyterian Church - St. Thomas - December 16, 7:30 pm- http://www.choralconnection.ca for tickets
Posters can be found on the bulletin board at the Parking Lot entrance.
Meetings this Week:
* CHAMPION - our Christmas party - Wednesday - 1:00 - 3:30 pm
* Blue Christmas Service - Wednesday - 7:00 pm
* Bible Study - Thursday - 11:00 am - 12 Noon - via Zoom
* Community Breakfast - 9:00 - 10:30 am
Bible Study:
Thursday - 11:00 am - 12 Noon
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61: 1 -4: 8 -11: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 -24;
Psalm for the Week:
Psalm 126: 1 - 3 (New Life Version translation)
It was like a dream when the Lord brought back to Zion those who had been held in another land.
Then we laughed with our mouths, and we sang with our tongues.
Then it was said among the nations, " The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad.
Prayer for the Week:
God of Joy;
you listen to the prayers of your people. You have filled your beloved children with laughter
and shouts of joy. Help us to recognize and celebrate all the great things you have done.
Help us to bring joy to the world in our words and deeds. We ask this in the powerful name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.