December 2014 The newsletter of the people of St. George s of Forest Hill Anglican Church www.stgeorgesofforesthill.com THE DRAGON FLYER this issue FROM FATHER DON MESSY CHRUCH Getting to know You OUTREACH UPDATE FROM FATHER DON Dear Friends in Christ, The feast of Christmas, unfolds for the world and for us who believe in Jesus, our savior, as the great journey of God coming among us as man and the journey of humanity to God. The whole Christmas season is revealed in Sacred Scripture, as a pilgrimage of faith and life. The Angel Gabriel is sent from heaven to earth to announce to Mary that she is to be the mother of the Most High. Immediately Mary goes in haste to the hill country of Judah to visit her cousin Elisabeth. As the time for Mary to give birth draws near, she and her husband Joseph must journey to Bethlehem, and finding no room at the Inn, Jesus is born away from home. With the birth of our savior the pace of the journey picks up and we see shepherds going in haste to see for themselves the news of great joy that an Angel announced to them. The Christmas season winds down with the mysterious visit of the Magi from afar, and eventually the flight into Egypt of the Holy Family to escape the persecution of King Herod. It is so perfect that Christ s Church is called The Pilgrim Church. God s Son has been sent among us to bring us and all of creation home to our Creator. Indeed, God has set out on a pilgrimage towards us. God has traveled the longer part of the journey. Now God invites us in this Christmas season: come and see how much I love you. To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. I pray that you will come out and be blessed in the life and worship of our parish community during the Advent and Christmas season, and that your homes will be filled with the peace that comes of knowing just how much God loves you. Merry Christmas to you and your families. The Rev. Fr. Donald A. Davidson Christmas Services Christmas Pageant Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve Christmas Day Dec 14 10:00 a.m. Dec 14 7:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Family Service 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. Dec 28 Single Service at 9:00 a.m. Optimist Spaghetti Supper Feb 27 5:00 p.m.
The Electric Train Mom and Dad scrimped for months to buy their son Eric, an electric train for Christmas. Not a fancy one, since money was scarce, but a nice one. Then, just before Christmas, a well-to-do uncle brought a large gift and put it under the tree. Eric could hardly wait to see what was in the box with his name on it. On Christmas morning he eagerly opened the gift. It was a large, fancy electric train, with all the whistles and bells. Wow! Then he opened the gift from his parents. Ho hum. Another electric train but not nearly as extravagant. Guess which one Eric played with most? Mom and Dad were hurt. Their outlay was more sacrificial then that of his uncle. But all Eric could see was the glamour of an expensive train. The gift from his parents was merely a nice accessory. Our heavenly Father spends many disappointing Christmases. Amidst the glittering ornaments and flashing Christmas lights, the hurry and hustle of shopping and wrapping and family gettogethers, parties and presents, trees and turkeys who really cares about His gift? What gets more attention from us: our Father s gift of life in Jesus Christ or the quickly- wrapped department store gifts from family and friends? Stewardship...it s a way of life Messy Church - Fun for all Ages OUTREACH Your Outreach Committee would like to thank everyone who has generously supported all the various outreach that our parish does. This fall we collected ground beef for St. John s Kitchen as they frequently do not have enough meat to make meals with. We will also be providing our annual Christmas/New Year dinner at St. John s Kitchen at the end of December. Details will be provided at a later date and sign up sheets will be posted on the bulletin board. To ensure more people will be warm this winter our Share The Warmth collection of outside winter wears has been very well received. There is a vital need for warm winter wear so remember to collect your things from this year and put them aside in a corner of your home so next year, we will be able to help provide warmth for others once again. love to others. This year we are providing complete Christmas for three families. In providing these Christmas gifts, we provide for some of the families basic needs, such as clothing, and grocery vouchers. We also like to provide some fun things, especially for the children. Our parish is very generous in providing for others who are less fortunate and this is what following in the footsteps of Christ means--- To Love Our Neighbour As Ourself! Look for more Outreach initiatives in the spring. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Our Angel Tree is an incredible show of God s
From The Deacon s Bench Brother Mark, S.B. I can hear Bing Crosby singing and may all your Christmases be bright. I love that song and the sentiment that goes with it, but while watching Marcus Cirillo I wondered. How bright can it be? As bright as you want it to be! That was the thought that trickled through my mind. I can make it bright or at least make a contribution along with you to dispel the darkness of the day. Peter Benenson, founder of Amnesty International, coined the phrase, Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Light a candle this Christmas. Oh and another thing Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Toonies for turbans I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have dropped Toonies into our jar to help offset the price of material to make the cancer turbans for GRCC. (Each toonie pays for two turbans) I also would like to thank all the faithful helpers who help assemble the turbans and deliver them to the Cancer Center. As the saying goes, Many hands make light work It was brought to my attention recently that some people have made memorial donations to our Outreach Turban fund. This is greatly appreciated and I would be more than happy to send an acknowledgement of your gift to the greaving family. If you wish to do this please let me or the church office know the pertinent information so a card can be sent. Thanks for your support. Fran Rothenberg Brother Mark, S.B. The Tater Tots St. George s Praise Band
RENEW IS COMING TO ST. GEORGE S! Your RENEW Planning Committee will be presenting the St. George s RENEW plan to the Parish early in 2015. The input from our Parish has been extensive and challenging in a very exciting way. The final version will be ready soon. Several new initiatives are occurring already. We thank the many parishioners who provided input and we took forward to implementing the plan. There will definitely be a focus on involvement from all of us. --- The RENEW Planning Committee FAther Don & The ALS Challenge 38th Scout Group Brother Mark a Chaplain for Scouts Canada and Chaplain Leader for the 38th Scout Group Men s Breakfast The first St George s Men s Breakfast in October was a great success with 13 men in attendance. It was held at the Country Boy Restaurant at Fairway Road and Manitou, Kitchener. We plan to meet once a month at 9.00 am. at the same location and in 2015 likely will have an informal program, once we have an idea of interest. Beer & Bibles Beer & Bibles meets every Wednesday night at 7:00 at Caseys in the SunRise Plaze Watch for announcements in the Bulletin and check the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. We welcome all of the men of St George s, young or old, new or long time members, to meet with us over breakfast. The breakfast is also a great opportunity to introduce a friend or neighbour to St George s. Mike Stredwick. The newsletter of the people of St. Georges of Forest Hill Anglican Church 321 Fischer-Hallman Road, Kitchener, ON N2M 4X9 519.744.4751 www.stgeorgesofforesthill.com church_office@stgeorgesofforesthill.com