194 Avondale Ave. Stratford, On. N5A 6N or Website:

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1 194 Avondale Ave. Stratford, On. N5A 6N or Website: Worship led by Pirie Mitchell, Interim Minister Music Director Lori Millian, Senior Choir, Reader Chris Hunking

2 SUNDAY Nov 20, :00 a.m. WE GATHER AS GOD S PEOPLE Prelude: Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Wm. Bradbury, arr. Victor Labenske Announcements and Welcome Lighting of the Christ Candle Opening Hymn: We Are One VU 402 Call To Worship: Pirie: For centuries Jesus has been proclaimed as king Cong: But surely he is a barefoot king shedding power and prestige as he went Pirie: Jesus was proclaimed as the Prince of Peace at his birth. Cong: He was labeled the king of the Jews at his death. Pirie: Today let us look at a new definition of peace Cong: and the business of being king. Pirie: Long Live the King! Opening Prayer: We come to you O God this Sunday remembering that we tried to make Jesus in the image of a king. Help us to see that his life in no way represented that of a king. His journey with us was a journey of peace. His interactions with us were peaceful. His exchanges with his enemies were peaceful. Help us today to emulate his royal behaviour as we learn and grow in ministry. Amen. Children s Hymn: Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore VU 563 Children s Time

3 Children s Prayer and Lord s Prayer Scripture Readings: Isaiah 26: 1-6 Psalm 34 (pg VU 761) Luke 1: WE LISTEN TO GOD S WORD Sermon: Let There be Peace on Earth WE RESPOND TO GOD IN LOVE Offertory: Fairest Lord Jesus Schlesische Volkslieder, arr. Labenske Offertory Response: Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New (once) MV 115 Prayers Of The People Closing Hymn: O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee VU 560 Benediction Parting Hymn: Go Now in Peace (three times) VU 964 Postlude: From All That Dwell Below the Skies DUKE STREET, arr. Dorothy Wells Fellowship and refreshments will follow 2:00 service to allow time for set up for the special dedication service. Today!!!!!! Special dedication of Avondale United Church 2:00 p.m. The Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell, 42 nd Moderator of the United Church of Canada is coming as well as other special guests and music. Light refreshments will be served following the service. All welcome.

4 ANNOUNCEMENTS There will not be a Jr. Choir practice at 11:00 today. Senior choir and Bell choir will be practicing in the Sanctuary following the morning service. Please respect their space as time is limited to prepare for the dedication service at 2:00. Christmas Choir If you enjoy singing Christmas music and would like to join the Senior Choir for this season, please contact Lori at (519) , lori.avondaleuc@wightman.ca or speak to her in-person. We will be practicing Christmas music Thursday evenings November 10 - December 22 for the Sunday services November 27 to December 18 and Christmas Eve. Donations required Looking for donation of cookies or fruit platters for upcoming Carolfest. There will be a sign up sheet in the Narthex or call Brenda Carr Thank you Sharon LaForme with the 4 year olds grade 2 and Bill and Marion Douglas with the grade 3 8 in the Sunday School this morning. Thanks to all who organized, donated baked goods, attended and consumed goodies from the UCW Christmas Bake Sale. Your support of the UCW is greatly appreciated and your contribution made for a successful day. Nursery care required We would like to attract young families to Avondale. In order to do that we require a person to look after, and coordinate, the nursery during church services on Sunday mornings. If you could help in this regard, please contact: Margaret Duboyce at or margen.duboyce@gmail.com

5 DONATION DEPOT - Can now be found in the Narthex. There are baskets for the following: Avondale Food Shelf; Shelterlink and Emily Murphy. The Outreach team thanks everyone for your donations. Foodshelf Open on Fridays 9:30 11:00. Stained Glass orders taken in June 2016 will be ready Nov 27 th in the narthex. And we are pleased to accept new orders for Forms also in narthex Faith Formation Christmas Fund Raiser Cheryl Schmidt and her family will provide greenery, (boughs), from their farm for Christmas decorations. Samples will be available today. Orders may be placed. Prices to be decided. An Important Message from your Accessibility Committee TRANSPORTATION SAFETY - Currently the Mobility Bus is required to pick up passengers at the front of the church during the construction period. We ask you to be patient and treat the Mobility Bus in the same way as any school bus. Please do not pass the bus while it is stationary and assisting passengers to embark/disembark the bus. This request is to support the safety of all. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. The Worship Team will again be asking for poinsettias for the Christmas season as memorial or tributes to loved ones to add to the festive atmosphere of our sanctuary. We would ask that you bring the flowers to the narthex on December 3rd between 10:00 and 11:00. A list will be published in the December 18th bulletin with the names of those being honoured. Thank you from the Worship Team.

6 From the Affirming Team Q & A Q We re already welcoming, so why become affirming? A Being an Affirming Ministry is not merely about welcoming gay, lesbian, and transgender people. Words like welcoming or inclusion suggest those on the inside have the power to choose to accept those on the outside. This makes it sound like an act of charity to welcome those who are different or marginalized. However, it is not our place to welcome anyone because church is not a private club and we are not the gatekeepers. As soon as one new person comes through the doors, the community becomes a new community. An Important Message from your Stewardship & Finance Team thank you to all who have completed their information and commitment forms back. This year has been a challenge as we have worked to combine membership lists and reach out to all members. If you have not received a package please let Yvonne know and she will be pleased to get you one. And, if you have not yet done so, please take the time to update your information form for our records and also indicate your commitment. Even if there is no change to your contributions it helps us to budget by knowing what will be coming in. If you wish a magnetic Avondale United Church nametag (cost $8.75), please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or call Doris at Nametags with pins are available for those with pace makers. Please indicate on order sheet. UPCOMING EVENTS QUR AN READING PROJECT Monday November 21st from 5.00pm to 6.00pm. This will be held in the toddler room. Contact Alan Carr (acbc@wightman.ca) or Marg Duboyce (margen.duboyce@gmail.com)

7 Mindfulness Meditation: Monday 4:10 to 5:00 Sit time is 25 minutes Currently in the Toddlers Room This is an unguided meditation. A time of quiet to still the mind, be mindful of each breath, block outside stimuli. Coming Soon... Christian Meditation: In a world that is growing increasingly aware of its need for stability and depth, Christian Meditation is speaking to more and more people. It is rooted both in Christian tradition and experience. If you are interested in learning more about this form of contemplative prayer, the Christian meditation group at Avondale United will meet on Wed. Dec. 7at 6 pm. (location to be determined prior to start date) Lunch and Learn Tuesday, November 12:00 noon in the Narthex. Bring your lunch. Everyone Welcome. Community CarolFest Get into the spirit of Christmas by singing Christmas Carols led by a mass choir and enjoying the music of the Stratford Concert Band, École Anne Hathaway Junior Choir, and Shout Sister Choir. Freewill offering with all proceeds going to the Stratford House of Blessing. This Stratford community event will be held in the sanctuary of Avondale United Church on Saturday, November 26 th at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments to follow. Nov. 27th we are decorating a float and taking part in the Santa Claus Parade and are looking for helpers to decorate and riders to join in the fun. We will decorate on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1pm. The float will leave the church at 4 pm for the parade line up and the parade starts at 5pm. Please see Cheryl Schmidt or Chris Hunking for details. We are also looking to borrow a generator. If you can help with this please let one of us know.

8 MOVIE NIGHT - Wednesday, November 30th at 7 pm in the sanctuary. God s Not Dead2. A High-School Teacher s response to a student s question about Jesus, lands her in big trouble, leading to an epic court case that could cost her the career she loves and expel God from the classroom and the public square once and for all. Everyone is welcome. Join us and bring your friends. Upcoming Youth Events Fri. Nov The Game of Life at Clinton United Church A Youth Retreat for Huron-Perth Presbytery. Gr. 5-8 (with High School Leadership) Friday, November 25(7pm)-Saturday 26(11am) $10 Register with Kathy Douglas, or kathymdouglas@hotmail.com THE GAME of LIFE with a Pokemon Theme Youth Retreat Friday, November 25(7pm)-Saturday, November 26(11am) Overnight is optional. $10 ($5 for Friday only) Grade 5+ High School aged youth can offer leadership. Clinton United Church GRINCH: Christmas Fun Night for Youth Friday, December 9 (6:30-9) $5 Grades 5+ High School aged youth can offer leadership Wingham United Church Christmas SWELL: Massive Youth Worship Service Where Youth Worship Saturday, December 17, 7:00 p.m. Wesley Knox United Church, London - The CHURCH CUP: Huron Perth Presbytery Hockey Tournament Wednesday, January 4, am-3 Watch for Details and consider entering your church community team. Blyth Community Arena Community Events

9 Innerchamber will present its next concert, titled "All Ages Bach," on Sunday, Nov. 27, at Factory 163, 163 King Street, Stratford. Using period instruments, the Factory Arts Ensemble will perform a selection from J.S. Bach's vast output of music, including the sonatas, preludes and fugues, and a suite of dance music movements used in the famous Suzuki Method of violin books. A light dinner will begin at 6:00 pm., followed by music at 6:45 pm. Tickets $42 or $10 for students at or Fanfare Books. To include a light dinner, please purchase tickets by Friday Nov. 25. After that, concert only tickets are available at the same prices online or at the door from 6:30 pm. Christmas Tradition with the Stratford Concert Choir! Join the SCC as they present Handel's "Messiah" Saturday December 7:30pm at St James Anglican Church, Stratford along with the Blythe Festival Singers. Jessica Richardson-Tweddle, soprano; Amanda Weatherall, alto; Marcel van Helden, tenor; Patrick Bowman, bass; Ian Sadler, organ; Sharon Poelstra, guest conductor. Tickets $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Children 16 and under are free. St. Andrew s Church in Stratford is hosting a Children s Christmas shopping day on Dec. 3rd at their church on St Andrew s church (beside the library). From 9 am to noon. The children come and do their Christmas shopping while the grownups visit each other. St Andrew s Church is also hosting a Messy Church on the 3rd Thursday of every month and we are welcome to attend from 4 to 7 pm.

10 Advent is coming... I know it sounds early, however, the Worship Team wants you to know the upcoming plans for the Advent Season in order for you to update your calendars. Starting this week, in the Narthex you will find the "Angel Tree" with stars attached. Each star represents a child or a Mom currently living at the Emily Murphy Centre. You are invited to remove one of the stars and shop for that child or Mom. On December 4th, the children from Sunday School will bring the parcels forward at our morning service and they will be sent on to the Emily Murphy Centre. For the Moms, apparently gift certificates from grocery stores are appreciated, however, the choice is yours. Nov. 23rd at 9:00 a.m., we invite anyone that is able to join us to help decorate the sanctuary and narthex and anywhere else we are able to go. This will prepare the sanctuary for Carol Fest, a community event, which will take place on Nov. 26th in the evening at 7:00 p.m. involving wonderful Christmas music organized by the Congregational Life and Work Team together with our own Lori Millian. Refreshments will be served. If you are able to make cookies, please speak to Susan Wigan and all donations will be gratefully appreciated. November 27th is the official beginning of the Advent Season and communion will be served at our morning service. On December 4th, a Blue Christmas Service will be held in the evening in the sanctuary for those feeling loss and having difficulty with the joys of the season. Refreshments will be served following the service. December 11th our morning service will be a choral service led by our senior choir together with the junior choir; December 18th - The fourth Sunday in Advent will be White Gift Sunday and we are asked to support our Food Shelf with gifts of food. If you are tired of shopping, cheques made payable to Avondale United Church can be placed in the white envelopes included in your bulletin. December 24th - Our annual Christmas Eve service for families will take place at 7:00p.m. December 25th - Christmas Day A service of carol singing and readings will be held in the Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m.

11 As you can see, there are lots of ways you can celebrate the Christmas season and many different ways you can donate your time or talents to the various endeavours. As you can see, your Council Teams have been working very hard together with the Ministerial staff and our Music Director to bring a joyous Christmas Season to Avondale United Church. Come out and get involved. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Jocelyn Miller Chair, Worship Team From the Office: (Office Hours Mon Thurs 9:00 4:00 Fri or Yvonne.avondaleuc@wightman.ca For all Pastoral Care please contact Rev. Kathi Urbasik-Hindley. Contact Info: kathi.avondaleuc@wightman.ca or To reach the Interim Minister, Pirie Mitchell Contact Info: pirieminister@gmail.com ext 26 Cell or Home Padded Chairs- To date, there has been 45 chairs $75 each. If you would like to buy a chair for the sanctuary in your name or in memory of a loved one, please see Yvonne in the office. A charitable donation receipt will be given. Note: If your group requires any set up, please call the office or send me an and I will forward this information to Dave our custodian. Also, please keep in mind that our site is still considered to be under construction and with that comes addition traffic and dirt. If you see anything that needs attention, please call the office and we will make sure it gets attended to. Thanks in advance for understanding.

12 Weekly Calendar SUNDAY Nov 20 - SUNDAY Nov 27 Today 9:30 Choir Warm Up Parlour 10:00 Sunday Service Sanctuary 11:00 Senior Choir Practice Sanctuary 12:00 Out for Lunch Bunch Revival House 1:15 Bell Choir Practice Sanctuary 2:00 Special Dedication Service Sanctuary Monday 4:10 Meditation Toddler Room 5:00 Quran Reading Group Toddler Room 6:30 3rd Beavers Group Gathering Room Tuesday 12:00 Lunch & Learn Narthex 8:00 AA Gathering Room Wednesday 9:00 Decorate for Christmas Sanctuary 12:00 ABI Narthex 7:00 Shout Sisters Sanctuary Thursday 7:00 Choir Practice Sanctuary Friday 7:00 Military Whist Narthex 8:00 AA Gathering Room Saturday 9:00 Music Practice (Do not disturb) Sanctuary 7:00 Carolfest Sanctuary Next Sunday 9:30 Choir Warm Up Parlour 10:00 Sunday Service Sanctuary 11:00 Fellowship & Refreshments Narthex 11:10 Bell Choir & Jr. Choir Practice Parlour

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