December 17, 2023
Calvary Compass – December 19, 2023 - Calvary United Church, www.calvaryuc.ca
Dear Friends of Calvary,
Message from our Minister:
There is glimmer of hope for a white Christmas, as witnessed in the skiff of the white stuff covering sidewalks and lawns this morning. Whether or not we experience freshly fallen snow for Christmas in this part of the country, God is with us as we continue to prepare our hearts and homes for Christmas day. In the preparations are our hopes and dreams for a joyous time with family, friends, and neighbours. In our own unique ways, we once again welcome the Christ child into our celebrations, our hearts, and into the hope we have for peace on earth and good will to all.
As we look forward to the Christmas eve services on Sunday, Dec. 24th and the end of the year worship (with our ugly sweaters) on Dec. 31st, we come as a church family to recognize the beauty in all things, in all persons, and in caring for one another.
May your time with family, friends, and neighbours, whether those times be near or far, be filled with hope, peace, joy, and the love we experience in the waiting and celebration of the Christ child.
Blessings for a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and happy New Year.
Rev. Kerry Stover (he, him)
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This Sunday, December 24th, we are having two worship services. The 10:30 am Worship Service will begin with a Carol Sing at 10:15 am. After the service, there will be a Coffee Hour with cookies decorated by the Sunday School children, some regular and gluten free sugar cookies by Marg LaRocque and some shortbread cookies by Mary Kannakko.
Christmas Eve Family Service will be at 7:00 pm. It will be an interactive pageant. Anyone who wishes to participate is welcome to do so. Everyone is asked to bring either their cellphone or a flashlight.
At our Sunday December 31st service, we will again have a carol sing during the service. Rev. Kerry has asked if you have a favourite carol or Christmas song that you want us to sing, please contact Kim by this Thursday. We have been asked to wear our ugly Christmas sweater that Sunday.
The church will be closed and Rev. Kerry and Kim Knowles will be off December 25th to January 1st. However if you have an urgent message, you can leave a message on the church's phone answering machine and Rev. Kerry will be made aware of it. Thank you to Nancy Hind for checking messages during this period.
There will be no Compass while the church is closed. It will resume on January 2nd, 2024.
We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2024!
Worship Services are all live-streamed:
December 24 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EHnb9tBdAc
December 24 (Christmas Eve) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOgPab_YWw
December 31 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p42Uz17SZ5E
Recorded service for December 17 (Music Sunday) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vNckB9ElSc
CALVARY'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
One cold Monday afternoon a few weeks ago, John Dickie and Rev. Kerry Stover put up Christmas lights on the church to make it more decorative. Thank you very much for doing this.
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
SHARING EXTRA 2024 CALENDARS
At our Community Breakfast on December 16th, those who attended were able to choose some 2024 calendars for their personal use. The leftover calendars will go to Southdale Chaplaincy for some of their residents. Thank you for donated your unused 2024 calendars.
MITTEN TREE
Thank you for all of the wonderful hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and socks that people have already donated and put them on and under the trees. We will continue to collect them until the beginning of January for the London Community Chaplaincy - Southdale and Limberlost.
Bible Study
Thursday - 11:00 am - 12 Noon
Scripture Reading: Luke 1: 26 -38
Psalm for the Week
Psalm 89: 1 2 ( Contemporary English Version translation)
Our Lord, I sing of your love forever.
Everyone yet to be born will hear me praise your faithfulness.
I will tell them, " God's love can always be trusted,
and his faithfulness last as long as the heavens"
Prayer for the Week
Living and Loving God,
you speak to us from the mountain and the seashore.
Your voice calls us to hear and proclaim the story of your deep love.
Encourage us to listen to your voice calling us to new ways of being in
and for community. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.