November 14, 2023
Calvary Compass – November 14, 2023 - Calvary United Church, www.calvaryuc.ca
Dear Friends of Calvary,
Thank you to all the UCW women who participated in the worship service last week and the honoured guests. It was a wonderful tribute to all of the women who have been involved in Calvary's UCW over six decades.
If you wish to view the PowerPoint presentation that contained historic photos of the UCW, go to https://www.calvaryuc.ca/ucw and click on PowerPoint slides.
This coming Sunday is Anniversary Sunday and Rev. Gordon Duncan will be our guest speaker. He had been our Minister of Pastoral Care for several years and occasionally he still comes for our worship services. Hopefully all of you have received your Anniversary letter and envelope and also the Call to the Church letter and survey. Please remember to turn them back in. Following the service we are serving lunch as a fundraiser for CFGB at a cost of $10. Children will be free..
Worship Services are all live-streamed:
November 19- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh0dfLnh_qk
(Anniversary Sunday with a lunch afterwards with the profits going to CFGB)
November 26 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh0dfLnh_qk
Recorded service for November 12 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE-z36U1vbg (UCW Sunday)
YARD WASTE CLEAN-UP DAY
Saturday, November 18 at 9 am. If you can, please bring a rake and gloves.
GIFT CARDS
After many months' deliberation, a decision has been made that it is time to wind up Calvary's participation in Fundscrip program. We've had a long and successful run, raising an average of over $3,000 each year from 2007 to 2019. Then the pandemic hit. With closures and broken ordering habits, our profits averaged out to $800/year over the 3 year span from 2020 -22. We've never really recovered to our old levels of participation, but can't blame it all on Covid. Much of it has to do with store loyalty programs, credit cards, bonus points and general distrust of gift cards.
Our last ordering dates for gift cards are Sunday, November 26 and Sunday, December 10. A list of available cards can be found at fundscrip.com. Write your order on a slip of paper or print off an order form, accompanied by cash or cheque to "Calvary United Church" and either hand it to me or place it on the offering plate. I'll have your cards for you the following Sunday. Gift cards are great for teenagers, millennials (Amazon or Best Buy) or a small thank you (Tim Hortons? Indigo/Chapters?) Don't forget your day-to-day purchases for groceries or gas too and maybe even a little treat for yourself?
Thank you to everyone for all your support in ordering gift cards for 17 years! We had a great run.
Nancy Hind (nancyhind@rogers.com or 519-434-4048)
CHAMPION
On Wednesday, November 15th, we will have guest speakers who are the authors of the book entitled "Knowing No Defeat". A few years ago, Peter Telford, a history teacher at South C.I. decided to write a book with Connie Weir and Jerry Selk, both teachers also from South, about the young people who participated in the Second World War. Photos were taken of their family homes and details about each of the young people were presented. You will find this presentation very interesting. All are welcome to attend. You do not have to be members of CHAMPION to attend.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Outreach Committee has two initiatives for their annual fundraiser for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank which is also the 2023 Advent Project. On Anniversary Sunday, November 19, following the service we are serving lunch as a fundraiser for CFGB at a cost of $10. Children will be free. Some gluten-free options will be available.
We are also trying a new PILOT project this year. Outreach is selling apple pies (frozen). Proceeds to CFGB. If you'd like to order a pie please contact Bonnie McNichol-519-681-6677 or by email: bbmcnichol@gmail.com (first come, first serve)
Pies can be picked up from Kim in the church office during office hours starting on Tuesday, November 28. Please note: KIM WILL NOT BE TAKING ORDERS.
Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity.
The Outreach Committee
LIFE*SPIN Advent Project
You can now bring your items for Life*Spin to the church leave them on the table in the foyer off of the parking lot. They are looking for the following:
• Winter clothing - long sleeved shirts, sweaters, sweat pants, pants , warm pyjamas, slippers
• Winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, mitts and boots
• Both children and adult clothing
• Kitchen items
• glasses, cups, plates, bowls
• cooking pots and serving utensils
• cutlery
• toasters ( they always need toasters)
• children's games and stuffed animals
• Baby clothing and blankets
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.
TOURTIERES
There are still some tourtieres available and we will be making more soon. The price is $20 for a 10 inch pie. Please place your order now with Marg LaRocque - mglarocque@rogers.com or 519-681-7810 Last year, we sold out.
NON-PERSISHABLES FOR LONDON COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY
We will be collecting non-perishables for LCC. Breakfast items in particular are needed. If you are able, please bring them to the church until Sunday, November 26th.
Did you know that the food is delivered to Southdale Chaplaincy by Bonnie and Brian McNichol. If there is a need at Limberlost Chaplaincy, some of the food is taken up there by their staff. Southdale has a bigger storage area than Limberlost so it is stored at Southdale.
CHORAL CONNECTION
Choral Connection would like to invite you to a performance of Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 16th at 7:30 pm. This concert will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church in St. Thomas. To purchase tickets, please visit website http://www.choralconnection.ca or call Lucy at 519-661-6902
Upcoming Seasonal Events:
• Rowntree United Church Poinsettia Bazaar, Saturday, November 18, 10am - 1pm
• Holly Berry Bazaar, Lambeth United Church, November 18, 11am to 1:30pm
• UCW Roast Beef Dinner, Richards Memorial Church, November 18, 5 to 7pm, Adults $20
• November 19, Coro D’Argento Amabile Concert, Calvary United Church, 3:30, Tickets $20
• Annual Christmas Bazaar, White Oaks United Church, November 25, 12noon to 3pm, $2 admission
• Christmas Bazaar, Wesley-Knox United Church, December 2nd, 10am to 2pm, also Hot Lunch for $10 with advance ticket.
• Silver Bells, Christmas Concert, Wesley-Knox United Church, December 2 at 7:30pm. Tickets $25
• RCCO Carol Service, December 3 at 7:30 pm, Metropolitan United Church
• The Music Makers Seasonal Concert, Riverside United Church, December 16, 2pm, Tickets $25
Posters can be found on the bulletin board at the Parking Lot entrance.
Meetings this Week
* CHAMPION - Wednesday - 1:00 - 3:30 pm
* Church Council Meeting - 7:00 pm via Zoom
* Bible Study - Thursday - 11:00am -12 Noon via Zoom
Bible Study
Thursday - 11:00 am - 12 Noon
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25: 31-46, Exodus 14: 10 - 14
Psalm for the Week
Psalm 123 (from the Evangelical Heritage Bible)
To you I lift my eyes,
to you who are seated in heaven.
Indeed, as the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their bosses,
as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he shows us his grace.
Show grace to us, O Lord.
Show grace to us,
for we have had our fill of contempt,
Our souls have had their fill of the scorn of the smug
and the contempt of the arrogant.
Prayer for the Week
Gracious and caring God, how wonderful it is to lift up our eyes to You in prayer and praise, for You are our God and Saviour.
Thank You that there is no circumstance in life that You do not permit for our spiritual development and eternal good.
Keep me and those that I hold deep within my heart to be ever walking in spirit and truth and looking to Jesus.
This I pray in His holy name. Amen.