December 6, 2022
Calvary Compass – December 6, 2022 - Calvary United Church, www.calvaryuc.ca
Dear Friends of Calvary,
This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent and we will be lighting the candle of Joy (pink candle). It will be Music Sunday with wonderful music from Denise Jung and our Senior Choir. Also be aware that we will be having a mini-bazaar in the lower hall after the worship service where you can pick up Christmas gifts and other items.
Worship Services are all live-streamed:
• December 11 - https://youtu.be/Hn_qZQwlKWY
• December 18 - https://youtu.be/OlD39xFtSxU
Recorded service for December 4 - https://youtu.be/IfGGEDdtHHM
Calvary Green
Another GREENER CHRISTMAS .... Let's Dream
• Buy less... reduce waste
• Draw names for adult gift exchange ... one special gift.. Share names or do a Secret Santa gift.
• Buy local when possible ... craft/church fairs (our mini bazaar Dec. 11th). This helps to limit the transportation and therefore the greenhouse emissions.
• Choose gifts made from recycled material
• Homemade gifts .. so thoughtful and always appreciated.
• Give battery free gifts for kids when possible
• Regifting is OK (be mindful not to offend the original giver.) Have a fun family "regift" exchange.
• Make homemade cards/gift tags, etc. use up old greeting cards and get creative. Reuse gift paper, bags, bows and ribbons. Use old paper maps, wallpaper, calendars, sheet music, scarves, aprons, tea towels, napkins and pillow cases make wonderful wrapping.
• Use LED lights inside and outside and turn off at bedtime
• Connect with Nature. Start an annual family bird walk to identify and count the number of birds. Even young kids enjoy this activity.
• Decorate the outdoors with edible ornaments for the birds, squirrels and rabbits.
A friend once told me that she gives her kids:
- Something to read
- Something they need
- Something they want
... Love this mindful gift giving idea!
Our Greener Christmas starts now!
Turkey Dinner
Once again, Linda Arthur is taking orders for a Christmas turkey dinner that will be delivered for pick-up at Calvary on December 22nd. Meal includes turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green & yellow beans, cranberry sauce and cherry cheese cake. Cost is $24. To order, phone Margaret at 519-642-4664 by Saturday, December 17.
MINI-BAZAAR
Don't forget to bring some money to church on Sunday so that you can purchase something at our mini bazaar in the lower hall after our worship service. There will be frozen hash brown casseroles, frozen apple crisps, the remaining preserves and baked goods and crafts. I believe that the tourtieres have all been spoken for and there will not be another batch made until next Fall. Marg LaRocque will be the expert on that.
CLOTHING COLLECTION
Thank you to all who donated gently used clothing, boots, coats, etc. for the homeless. They are being sorted this Wednesday and Ark Aid will come to pick them up to be distributed to those in need.
OUTREACH ADVENT PROJECT
The Outreach Committee's Advent Project is Y.O.U. (Youth Opportunities Unlimited). This organization provides shelter, consulting, work experience, resume writing help and mentoring to homeless youth up until age 25. There is a residence on Clarke Road, a cafe on York Street that the youth are able to work at to get job experience and a new facility being built for homeless pregnant young women at the corner of York and Richmond being named Joan's Place after Joan Smith. The monies raised from Calvary's Advent Project will be for their current endeavours and not the new facility.
There are envelopes at the back and front of the Sanctuary for your donation.
FIRST ST. ANDREWS U.C./ ARK AID WINTER RELIEF PROGRAM
First St Andrews will again be providing overnight beds for persons experiencing homelessness this winter. They have provided us with ways to help:
-30 treats to go on pillows
-30 inspirational/ welcoming notes
-4-6 people to help with bed set up
-donation of 10 cans of soup (all the same) no tomato please
-help to clean up outside in the mornings
-help to serve at night or in the morning
-30 baked goods to go with a cup of coffee in the morning
-30 buns to go with soup
All food donations should be dropped off at First Baptist Church
Donations of the following will be ongoing needs through the winter response
-hot chocolate
-non plastic utensils
-margarine for buns
-socks
-underwear
-pajamas
-mugs
FSA is proud to be hosting ARK AID this winter again. It will look a little different but there are lots of opportunities to help if you would like. The sign up spreadsheet link is https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M6uir3oTWRTd9g-iOEj-8__LWG9oc5ClqrPj7IoIC7I/edit?usp=sharing
MITTEN TREE
Our sanctuary tree is slowly being fully adorn with colourful mittens, hats, scarves and socks for the London Community Chaplaincy - the people of Southdale and the people of Limberlost. You can either bring your mittens, hats, scarves, and socks to sanctuary on Sundays or drop them off at the parking lot door when the church is open. They are well appreciated by the adults, children and babies of the London Chaplaincy.
Gift Cards: The last ordering date for Christmas gift/shopping cards through Fundscrip program https://www.fundscrip.com is December 11th. This will be your last chance for cards this year. Gift cards are great for those-hard-to-buy for people or seasonal thank-you for your hair stylist, paper carrier, and helpful neighbour. Or use them yourself as "shopping cards" for groceries, gas. mittens for the tree, or even a little something nice for yourself?
We'll resume our alternate week schedule starting January 8th, the January 22nd, February 4th and so on. Thanks for supporting this ongoing fundraiser for the church! Contact Nancy Hind at nancyhind@rogers.com for details or with any questions.
UCW
You are invited to a UCW Candy-Cane Tea on Thursday, December 15th at 2 pm in the parlour. Please bring your memories of Christmas past, stories of the present and hopes for the future to share in-person or by Zoom. All are welcome.
PHOTO REQUEST
Please send photos as jpeg attachment files in an email to Ruthanne McLagan at r.mclagan@hotmail.com of one or more of each of the following subjects: your Christmas tree topper (star, angel, dove, or ?), magi at the creche, birds at feeder. The photos may be shown as screen images on Sunday, January 1st and January 8th. If possible, please send photos by Friday, December 23rd and be sure to include the name of the photographer in the email so that they can get credit for their image(s). Thank you!
Sharing Extra 2023 Calendars
If you receive any 2023 calendars which you don’t need, please consider dropping them off at the church. There are two drop-off areas – one at the back entrance off the parking lot and one at the back of the Sanctuary. Calendars will be distributed to various social organizations whose clients may find them useful.
If you find yourself in need of a 2023 calendar, please help yourself!
Offering Envelopes
For those that use Offering Envelopes, the 2023 envelopes are available for pickup at the back of the Sanctuary. If you wish to have envelopes and there isn't a box for you, please contact the Church office.
Seasonal Events:
• Dec. 10, 2022 Amabile Youth Singers, Prima: Amabile Women's Choirs present Stille Nacht, Starry Night, First-St. Andrew's United Church, 7:30pm
• Choral Connection would like to invite you to our performance of Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 17th at 7:30pm. This concert will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church in St. Thomas. To purchase tickets online, go to www.choralconnection.ca
Meetings this Week:
* CHAMPION - Wednesday at 1:00 - 3:30 pm
* Bible Study - Thursday at 11:00 am - 12 Noon via Zoom
* Affirming Committee Meeting - Friday at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Bible Study:
Thursday - 11:00 am - 12 Noon
Scripture Readings – Isaiah 35: 1-10; James 5: 7-10; Luke 1: 46b-55
Psalm for the Week:
Psalm 96: 1-4
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all people.
For great is the Lord and most worthy praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
Prayer for the Week:
God of joy, you embrace all your children with loving and open arms.
Help us to see your reflection in everyone we meet.
Fill us with a childlike faith.
Give us hearts that are open and welcoming. Amen.