wellington square November 20, 2016 An Honest Look Acts 3:1-10

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1 wellington square November 20, 2016 An Honest Look Acts 3:1-10

2 welcome! We re glad you re here today. We re a group of people learning what it means to be followers of Jesus. This is a place where everyone is welcome, nobody s perfect, and anything is possible. We welcome and encourage you to share your life with us as we journey in faith together. What can you expect on a Sunday morning? Our worship services aim to be about 70 minutes long, with a mix of praise singing & prayer, and a time of inspiration and learning through the teaching that explores scripture, and issues of everyday life. We believe that by working together, sharing our faith and our lives, we can accomplish much more than we could individually. With God s help and the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe we can transform our community and our world as the hands and feet of Jesus on earth. If you re ready for us to get to know you, please fill out a Connect card from the pew and bring it to the Connection Point in the foyer after the service. We hope you too will find a place of belonging here, and share your life and faith journey with us. happenings New to our church? We would like to get to know you Please fill out a connection card in the pews and bring it to the Connection Point Table in the foyer, or hand it to one of the greeters. One 10am on these dates: Dec 4 - Graceland Christmas Sunday Dec 25 - Christmas Day Jan 1 - New Year s Day United Church 2017 Calendars There are a limited number of calendars for sale. $5 each available at the Connection Point after each service or please see Jennifer in the office during the week. Update from the Board Due to the new Governance model that was passed 2 years ago we need to inform the congregation of any vacancies on the board. The board is looking to fill 3 vacant positions. If you are interested in joining the board you can pick up an application form from the office, or download the form from our website. If you have any questions about joining the board, please speak to either Jeremy Cox or Lindsay Foster. Applications will be received until Wednesday Nov 30. You can either return the application form in an envelope to the office, or scan and the completed form to either Jeremy Cox, jcox@wsquare.ca or Lindsay Foster, lfoster@wsquare.ca Fellowship Lunch Please join us today after the 11 am service. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door.

3 Footsteps Library The Young Messiah - DVD Inspired by Scripture and rooted in history, The Young Messiah imagines a year in the boyhood of Jesus. When the mystery of Jesus' divinity begins to unfold in His early years, He turns to His parents for answers. But Mary and Joseph, in an effort to protect their child, are afraid to reveal all they know. How do you explain the ways of the world to its Creator? Follow the young Messiah as He and His family take the dangerous journey from Egypt to Nazareth and on to Jerusalem - where His true identity and profound destiny are revealed. Dove approved (Faith Friendly 12yrs and up). For Communion Sundays we will be linking children together with their families. For Sunday, November 27th, please note the following instructions: Parents/guardians will sign in their child as normal at the GraceLand reception area GraceLand leaders and helpers can be available in their classes to assist and/ or come along-side-of families for support Parents/guardians and children will enter the sanctuary and sit as a family - GL volunteers will sit on the side transept ALL will be a part of worship and communion Once communion is received, parents can lead their children to the side transept where GL leaders will be ready to lead children to St. Paul's Hall for Open session and the remainder of GraceLand Sign-out will be done as usual at the end of the service in the GraceLand classrooms The above details will flex and adjust as we seek the best spiritual experiences to worship together as ONE family in Christ.

4 Youth Ministry GraceLand provides a FUN, SAFE and FRIENDLY place where we learn about God's love and how to shine His light everyday. Nursery to Grade 8. Sunday s at 9am. 2016/2017 Participant Forms are required for each child every year. Available at GraceLand reception and on web. November Themes: Nov 20 - Journey to Bethlehem Nov 27 - Born in a Manger Sign-in/out procedures are important for us to follow to ensure safety for all children and leaders. Pager systems are available to provide extra comfort and ease for families. Christmas to inject more hope, love, joy and peace into this blessed season, GraceLand will be a part of celebrating Jesus birth. Most of our November and December Sundays, we will be unpacking the real meaning of Christmas along with preparing for our up-coming December 4th Christmas worship time and December 24th 4:30 pm family service. Please visit the youth ministry page on our website ( to see updates about what s happening for young people (Grades 7 through High School). You will also find links there to join our Facebook groups for Rockpile and Edge where we post reminders for upcoming events (and much more in the weeks and months to come). Also, there is a survey for young people and their families to complete that will help us develop our schedule for the New Year. Look for it in your , on our website, in the Facebook groups, or ask me for a copy. If you have questions, or would just like to connect, please contact me. I d love to hear from you! Spence Upcoming youth WSquare: Sunday, Nov. 10:30 Noon Edge (High School Youth) Wednesday, Nov. 7-8:30 PM Rockpile (Grade 7/8 Youth) Sunday, Dec. 10:30 Noon Rockpile (Grade 7/8 Youth) Wednesday, Dec. 7 9 PM Edge (High School Youth)

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7 Highlights from the 2016 Malawi Mission Visiting our dear friend Efrida, who, though in ill health, was overjoyed to see us - to meet her grandson Duwanga who is now a pastor and leading the children at Efrida's orphanage that is still caring for and feeding up to 150 children per day Visiting and singing with the youth at the Chirwa children s reformatory - being thanked for our caring and kindness that "reminded them of their parents, that they have not seen for many years" Being joyfully received by remote church plant communities, and worshipping with them, led by Pastor Moses and his team of pastors Teaching the "Alpha program" basics to 24 eager and faith-filled pastors in the Word of Grace community Listening to, and learning from Pastor Moses' inspiring and Spirit-filled preaching at Word of Grace and his remote church plants Communion with Word of Grace community (held only twice per year), including all pastors and choirs - hundreds of people sharing the sacrament together Visiting the parched land of the future irrigation project planned for the Bimbi community Seeing the "Learning Village" where hygiene, sanitation, tree planting, crops and health initiatives are implemented - and "Watershed project" to capture rain to be used for irrigation all being led by community leaders aided by Emmanuel International Learning how widows in remote communities live and care for each other, as part of EI's "Widows Welfare Group" Learning about, and seeing the hope-filled plans, and huge potential of Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM)Half Way House led by our dear friend Rodrick Zalimba Daily devo's with Rodrick and his staff at the beautiful chapel of the Half Way House Helping the staff of the PFM Deli -to learn cake-decorating, new recipes, and basic business skills to help the Deli be successful, and provide sustainable income to the Half Way House Teaching and discussing business skills and entrepreneurship, as the residents prepared to leave the Half Way House to become successful contributors to their communities Seeing the improved conditions of the Ntcheu prison, led by Prison Fellowship Ministries Meeting Bisan, an ex-prisoner of 24 years, now a Chaplin and sharing his story at conferences Gaining a greater understanding of the consequences/effects of years of drought and devastating flooding -the starvation, the lack of water of its' dire effects on everyday life

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10 Adult Faith Ministry For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them Matthew 18:20 For a complete listing of small groups this fall, see the brochure in the foyer or go to Advent The first Sunday of Advent is November 27th. Enrich your Christmas preparations by picking up your copy of PEACE, HOPE & LIGHT. This is a devotional based on the writings of C.S. Lewis. Available at the Connection Point Table. Please contribute a loonie or toonie if able. ADVENT STUDY: BECAUSE of BETHLEHEM - LOVE IS BORN! HOPE IS HERE! This 4 week study for Advent will be on Tuesdays (Nov 29, Dec 6, 13 & 20th.) Sign up at the Connection Point for the afternoon sessions (2 pm) or the evening sessions (7 pm). Participant s Guide: $10 Facilitators: Orville James, Katie Southon, Spencer Edwards, Joy Magwood. Alpha coming to WSUC Jan 14 - Feb 18, 2017! Monday Men Lunch and discussion on topics that influence Christianity. Mondays 12noon-1:30@WS Contact: Ross Patterson rosspat@wsquare.ca Kettles on Tea Please join us Monday Dec 12 from 1:30-3:00pm in the Pritchard Room for our afternoon tea. All are welcome. Thursday at Seven New Series, Starting Point by Andy Stanley, book and DVD study A Conversation About Faith, please contact Bruce: bmagwood@torrlane.ca Jesus Calling devotional now available again at the Connection Point ($11). Small Groups If you would like to start a small group or have an idea for a small group, please contact Joy. jmagwood@wsquare.ca Thank you to the Thursday at Seven men s group that worked together to share their construction skills, time, finances and prayers in building a shed for the Friday Night Community. This dedicated group of 18 guys from Wellington Square as well as 5 other churches took this on as a project when they learned of the needs last spring. This initiative is part of their small group covenant to contribute to worthy causes in the community. Thanks to this generosity, the Friday Night team will be able to store may of the items needed to run the dinner, as well as to have the ability to take larger donations when necessary. What a huge blessing that will in turn have a positive impact on so many friends in our community. Saturday Men s Breakfast Come join us on Sat Nov 26, 8:30-10:30am in the Pritchard Room for a great breakfast and fellowship. Our Youth Ministry Director, Spencer Edwards will be joining us and sharing about Faith that Sticks. Sign up at the Connection Point or contact Gary Brown at gbrown@wsquare.ca

11 Outreach OUTREACH INITIATIVES In many countries in Africa, the average ANNUAL salary is less than $1,000 per year and a significant number live on a dollar a day. Your donations can make a huge difference in the lives of orphans in Sierra Leone and those suffering from the severe drought in Malawi. Your gifts of Christmas Joy will help those in our local community and across the globe. Please visit our displays in the foyer. WOW! What a wonderful start to Angel Wings There are only 5 angels left who need to be sponsored. We will see you in the coffee area outside St. Paul s Hall on Sunday to assist you in selecting your Angels. Please remember if you do not like to shop, you can still support Angel Wings through cash donations. This year Angel Wings will be using the cash donations to purchase food certificates and support families in need. Thank you for your generous support of this outreach program. Remember to bring your unwrapped gifts to St. Paul s Hall next Sunday November 27, If you have any questions please contact Chris Carver (905) Friday Community It is always a special blessing when we can share holidays and celebrations with our friends at the Friday Night Community. This past Friday we took some time to remember those who have fought for our country, given their lives for our freedom as well as those who continue to serve to make our country and world a better place. As was reiterated in the dinner blessing, "We pray for peace, and peace starts with us." One of our friends who has been coming on Friday for a number of years commented that this was the best meal that he had ever had. Although the chicken burritos were delicious, I imagine this feeling had more to do with the support and care he received from so many friends, as his partner who he has attended with for a number of years is now in hospital with a serious illness. We are happy that friends feel supported and cared for during difficult times. Most needed items: *snacks for children's lunches (fruit cups, pudding, cookies & crackers, apple sauce...) *plastic spoons for children's lunch bags *$5 Tim Horton s Gift cards *advent calendars for children *double bed (frame, mattress & bedding) *medium & large storage bins with lids *winter coats/snow pants (clean please) *all sizes of gently used winter boots *all sizes of running & street shoes *men s long underwear *snow pants for children *diapers and pull-ups size 4-6 *salad bar toppings For information contact: fnc@wsquare.ca

12 Caroline St, Burlington ON L7R 1L7 Office Hours: Mon to Wed 9am-4pm, Thurs 10am-3pm, Fri 10am-2pm Children/Family Ministry (GraceLand) Heather Mackey (ext. 21) Youth Ministry Spencer Edwards (ext. 11) Adult Faith Ministry Joy Magwood (ext. 23) Friday Night Community Coordinator Lisa Lunski (ext. 0) Music Ministry at 11am Juanita Maldonado (ext. 20) Administration Catherine Wagg (ext. 15) Jennifer Erbiceanu (ext.10) Outreach Missions Coordinator Karen Guyatt (ext. 0) Finance Karen Dobson (ext. 16) in Wednesdays Custodian Team Randy Taylor (ext. 12) / Raul Gutierrez Ministerial Team Rev. Dr. Orville James (ext. 19) ojames@wsquare.ca Rev. Katie Southon (ext. 14) ksouthon@wsquare.ca Rev. Tom Chire (Voluntary)