Sunday, December 2, 2018 Advent I - Hope

Transcription

1 Northlea United Church Love God ~ Connect with Others Nurture the Spirit ~ Serve the World 125 Brentcliffe Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 3Y7 ~ Sunday, December 2, 2018 Advent I - Hope At Northlea United Church, we encourage one another as we: Love God ~ Connect with others Nurture the spirit ~ Serve the world

2 Welcome to Northlea! Northlea is proud to be a safe space and accessible for those with mobility assists such as wheelchairs, and scooters. We welcome pets and invite you to bring your coffee to service! If we can help improve your experience by providing you with assisted hearing devices, a large print hymn book or large print order of service, we have them just ask one of our Welcomers. Infants, toddlers, and children are welcome as part of our worship in the sanctuary! Following the first part of the service each Sunday, many of our children and youth go with their leaders to Cool Church. Children who are visiting are invited to join in! After the service, everyone reconnects in the Community Room over refreshments. We encourage everyone to wear name tags, so if you don t have one, and would like one, please let one of our Welcomers know. Thank You for Helping with Today s Service: Welcoming: Anne & Stan Murray Advent Candle: Stan Peck Reading: Rita Donlan Communion: Jackie Morris Sound Technician: Roger Touw Kitchen Hospitality: Rosalind & John Dekker Announcements: Diane Carlton Flute: Marcia Camaraire If you are interested in volunteering to help with Sunday Morning Ministries, please contact Marnie Phoenix through the church office or sign up on the sheets posted outside on the Welcome Board. Supply Minister: Rev. Dr. Ellen Redcliffe Minister: Lee-Ann Ahlstrom on medical leave Music Director: David Jafelice david@northleaunited.ca Office Administrator: Tricia Reid office@northleaunited.ca Facility Manager: Robert Pringle building@northleaunited.ca Children & Youth Leader: Jo Dullard jo@northleaunited.ca Consider Financially supporting Northlea United through Canada Helps by going to signing up for PAR (Pre-Authorized Debit) through the church office using offering envelopes Please contact the church office if you would like more information or office@northleaunited.ca ** Prayers (various) taken from The United Church of Canada - Gathering - resources for worship planners Advent, Christmas, Epiphany Year C ISSN M 08/18 CHI

3 Northlea United Church Sunday, December 2, 2018 (*) Please stand if you are comfortable and able. Bold letters indicate words to be said by the whole congregation. Please ask one of our greeters if you would like a large- print bulletin, a large-print hymn book or an assisted hearing device. Gathering Before or during the prelude you are welcome to come to the front and light a candle and/or enter your prayer requests in the book provided. Your prayers can be included in the prayers of the people during the service. Carol Sing 10:20 am Welcome *Gathering Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel Voices United #1 Announcements, Joys and Concerns Call to Worship: Today we kindle the Advent candle of Hope. (1 candle is lit) st We welcome the light that pierces the shadows, the light that affirms God s presence, the light that enables us to move forward in faith. Come, Holy stranger, beacon of hope on this Advent journey: welcome us as we welcome you. We receive the light of hope. Advent Candle Lighting Hymn: Hope is a Star Voices United #7, v. 1 Hope is a star that shines in the night Leading us on till the morning is bright When God is a child there s joy in our song The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong And none shall be afraid. Words copyright 1989 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net # A Opening Prayer: Holy Light, in the dawning of Advent, awaken us to signs of your presence. Be with us in this time of waiting. May the eager anticipation, so much a part of this festive time, be transformed into a deep yearning, for your reign of hope and love. We pray in the name of the One who comes. Amen. 3

4 The Lord s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us away from temptation and deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Listening *Hymn: All Earth is Waiting Voices United #5 Prayer for Understanding God, we come this morning in anticipation and in hope, waiting for your Word to come alive in our hearts, bringing your message of peace and good will to all. Amen. Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36 Response In this reading we hear God s voice. The Spirit is still speaking, thanks be to God. Anthem: Soon and Very Soon Andrae Crouch Message Responding Invitation to the Offering: We dream of a world where people feel safe to say what they need and can be confident the best will be done to provide for them. To that vision, we offer these gifts. May they be the beginning of hope. Amen. Offertory Music 4

5 Offertory Response: In the Bleak Midwinter Voices United #55 vs. 4 What can I give him, poor as I am If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb If I were a wise man I would do my part Yet, what I can I give him, give him my heart. *Offertory Prayer: The seasons of the church year come and go, they change our lives from one season to the next, yet the call of the gospel remains constant. May God give us what we need to answer, here I am, send me. Communion Greetings of Peace - The congregation is invited to share the peace of Christ with one another. Communion: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Voices United #473 Let us remember together that vision of God s reign Shown to us in Jesus at table: He shared food with followers and friends With saints and sinners With crowds of thousands on a hillside And a few friends in an upper room On the night before he died, he had supper with his companions He took a loaf of bread and after giving thanks he broke it And gave it to his friends, saying, Take, eat, do this in remembrance of me Then, he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he passed it among them, saying, Drink this. Do this in remembrance of me. Through this loaf and cup, Jesus lives among us. Come, for all is ready. Communion is served. Sung Response: Confitemini Domino / Come and Fill Our Hearts (in English) More Voices #16 Prayers of the People *Closing Hymn: People, Look East Voices United #9 5

6 *Commissioning and Benediction *Sung Amen: Great Amen More Voices #208 Donald Patriquin Postlude We acknowledge with respect the history, spirituality, and culture of the Mississauga peoples who came to this place long before us, and our responsibility for the territory wherein our church resides. Reading for next week: Luke 3:1-6 Thank you to Sharyn Varty and her Christmas Elves for decorating the church. Office Hours for Rev. Ellen Ellen will be in the Minister's office and available every Tuesday morning from 9:00 am to noon. Please feel free to drop by and say Hello! Please note: The office will be closed from 5:00 pm December 24, 2018 to 9:30 am January 2,

7 7

8 8

9 What s Happening at Northlea? December 2, 2018 Weekly: Tuesdays at 10:30 am: Bible Study Thursdays at 1:30 pm: Art Circle Thursdays at 7:30 pm: Choir Practice & Christmas Choir Sundays in Advent 10:20 am: Christmas Carol Sing Christmas carols before the service Each Sunday in Advent, we will sing Christmas carols from our hymnal, 10 minutes before the service. Just come into the sanctuary at 10:20 AM and we ll sing some of your favorite carols. This Week: Wednesday, December 5 o Senior s Lunch 12:00 o Council meeting 7:00 pm 9

10 SENIOR S LUNCH - DECEMBER 5 AT NOON Rev. Ellen will be providing soup and sandwiches to seniors and caregivers at noon on the 5th in the Community Room. This will be a wonderful chance for old friends to chat and new acquaintances to begin. Coming Up! Sunday, December 9 - Advent II Peace o Christmas Carol Sing 10:20 am o White Gift Sunday - 10:30 am - with Rev. Beverley Williams, Flemingdon Park Ministry o Caroling in the Pines - 7:00 pm Saturday, December 15 Pageant Dress rehearsal 10:00 am Sunday, December 16 - Advent III Joy o Christmas Carol Singing in Sanctuary 10:20 am o Christmas Pageant 10:30 am o Carols & Candlelight 7:00 pm with refreshments following Sunday, December 23 - Advent IV Love Christmas Carol Sing 10:20 am Monday, December 24 - Christmas Eve: o Family Service - 7:00 pm o Communion Service - 11:00 pm Thanks to Allison Dixon for taking on the Christmas PJ Project! Northlea United is accepting donations of new Pyjamas of all sizes. Bring your donations to the church by December 16 th. Allison will then arrange to take all donations to the following shelters: Nellie s, Street Haven, Amélie House, The Redwood and/or Flemingdon Park Ministry & Thorncliffe Park: The Neighbourhood Centre. Please contact the office for more information. 10

11 Claxton Cakes The UCW is again selling Claxton Cakes as a fundraiser. The prices are: single $7.50 and box of 3 - $22. They will be on sale each Sunday or you can call Jackie Morris at to order. Thanks for all your support. Milk Pail Update Thanks to those who contributed $71.50 to Northlea s Milk Pail for the Christian Resource Centre (CRC) during September and October. This brings our total to date to $ The CRC enriches the downtown east community by increasing their access to housing, providing healthy meals and clothing, teaching new skills, building connections and finding employment. They are most appreciative of our support. DECEMBER 9 TH : GIVING & CAROLS! MORNING - WHITE GIFT SUNDAY at 10:30 am Northlea will hear from guest speaker, Rev. Beverley Williams of Flemingdon Park Ministry. Our refreshed Refugee Support Group has been working with this group to bring resources to new Canadians. AND Northlea United Church is also maintaining the long-standing tradition of White Gift Sunday to provide anonymous gifts to individual guests and residents of Youth Without Shelter. Select gift items from the Youth Without Shelter Wish List, posted on the church bulletin board or online at: Bring items to the morning church service to be collected and delivered. Note that gift items may be decorated with ribbons and bows but should not be wrapped so that staff can identify and distribute gifts appropriately by gender and need. EVENING - CAROLING IN THE PINES at 7:00 pm Caroling in the Pines is for the whole community so join the gang and bring friends and family to sing, drink hot chocolate and visit with Santa! The Metropolitan Silver Band will return this year to provide rousing accompaniment. Candles and song sheets will be available at the event. See you all there!! All net proceeds to Youth Without Shelter. 11

12 DECEMBER 16TH HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ALL DAY LONG!! Christmas Pageant at 10:30 am At this time of year, do you begin to wistfully think back to the time you were the "second angel from the left" in the Christmas pageant? Did you absolutely rock it as Herod? Now is the opportunity to relive those glory days and join the Christmas pageant! Just like last year, we are having an intergenerational pageant and we are looking for some willing adults to join in the fun with the kids. Please speak to Jo about making your nostalgic dreams come true. The pageant will be held during service on December 16th with dress rehearsal on December 15th at 10:00 am Carols & Candlelight Service at 7:00 pm The choir will be leading a wonderful evening of carols and lessons at 7:00 pm. Invite your friends and family and come to sing to your heart s content. Carols & Candlelight Service Refreshments Following the Carols and Candlelight service on December 16 th, Northlea invites all the guests and choir members to the Community Room to enjoy a time of refreshment and fellowship. If you can help provide treats, please sign up on the flip chart outside the Community Room starting December 2nd. Please note that the organizers would appreciate finger food (things that don t need plates or utensils) such as cookies, squares and fruit, cut up and arranged on a disposable plate or on a well-labeled plate with your name on it. Please remember to pick up your plate after the event. We thank you for your generosity and kindness and hope you enjoy this wonderful annual choir event. CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24 FAMILY SERVICE at 7:00 pm Bring your family and friends for a beautiful Christmas Eve service and celebrate the true spirit of the season! COMMUNION SERVICE at 11:00 pm Join Reverend Ellen for a service of reflection on the meaning of Christmas. Connect with the spirit of the season through shared Communion. 12