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      FRIDAY MESSAGE  &  Upcoming Events

                         December 8, 2017

 
Season:  Advent                                       emuc.ca

                   Rev. Kathi's Message:
 
As I write this on a windy Wednesday, Christmas music is playing in my office and a wonderful team of volunteers is busy putting together the Christmas packages that will soon be delivered to our neighbours in need of a little help this year. The Christmas spirit abounds!

Here is a poem for the season:

In Search of Our Kneeling Places by Ann Weems

In each heart lies a Bethlehem,
            an inn where we must ultimately answer
            whether there is room or not.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
            we experience our own advent in his.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
            we can no longer look the other way
            conveniently not seeing stars
            not hearing angel voices.
We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily
            tending our sheep or our kingdoms.
 
This Advent let's go to Bethlehem
            and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.
In the midst of shopping sprees
            let's ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.
Through the tinsel
            let's look for the gold of the Christmas Star.
In the excitement and the confusion, in the merry chaos,
            let's listen for the brush of angel wings.
This Advent, let's go to Bethlehem
            and find our kneeling places.

Peace,
Rev. Kathi

                This Week at EMUC

Sunday at 10:00 am:
 
White Gift Sunday
                                      Worship led by Rev. Kathi Phillips
                                      Advent 3 - Lighting the Candle of Joy
                                      Scripture:  Isaiah 61: 1-2, 8-9, 11 
                                      Gospel:   John 1: 6-8, 19-28  
                                      Sermon:  'Jesus, John and the Alpha Male'
                       United Nations Human Rights Day - Letter Writing Campaign

Tuesday at 6:00 pm:  Leadership Circle Dinner & Meeting
                   
Wednesday at    2:00 pm:  Christmas Tea
                           6:45 pm: 
Prayers & Communion

Thursday at   7:00 pm:  Chancel Choir

Next Sunday at 10:00 am:  Worship 
led by Rev. Kathi
                            7:00 pm:  Candlelight Carol Service
 
                                                                
Upcoming Events:

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
For many years, EMUC and friends have been generous sponsors of our Christmas program.  To allow for more consistent giving across families and to address the dietary and cultural needs of those we are helping; rather than having a gift tag tree, special offering envelopes are available for individuals, families or even EMUC committees to make a donation towards the purchase of gifts for the children of our sponsored families.  You could also chose to sponsor a family through your donation, with monies used to provide food vouchers for a special Christmas meal.  Envelopes are available throughout November and will be collected on or before White Gift Sunday (Dec. 10th). Our youth, both within EMUC and our local community groups, will be assisting this year with the shopping of items and the packing and wrapping of the gifts.  Delivery or pick up of gifts and food vouchers will be made in the usual manner around December 10th Please consider making a contribution this year to help make this holiday special for families in need, in our wider community.  Remember to use the envelopes provided so your donation can be recorded through the church for your income tax purposes.  For more information, contact Sandra Witterick at sandra.witterick@gmail.com .

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WRITE FOR RIGHTS EVENT
  • The Interfaith Justice and Peace Building Committee will mark International Human Rights Day on
  • Sunday, December 10 with a "Write for Rights" event  in support of prisoners of conscience and victims of harassment and human rights abuses around the world.  
  • Join us immediately following the service to write letters to government officials, send a card or note of support to prisoners of conscience to remind them that they are not alone, or sign a petition. 
  • Complete information on this year's cases will be available ahead of time. For further information on this event speak to any member of the committee: Dianne Hope, Muriel Hamdani, Hilton Jeffers, Debby Sturgeon, Larry Van Goozen.
'FUNDSCRIP' PROGRAM
We are continuing with FUNDSCRIP, an innovative fundraising program that asks you to purchase gift cards in order to pay for regular items you buy every month.  A percentage of the cards we purchase through FUNDSCRIP is donated back to our church.  Order forms for gift cards will be available the last Sunday of every month. The November cards can be picked up this Sunday.   The next order date is Sunday, December 31.  Please see the display board at the back of the church or speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.

THE OUT OF THE COLD PROGRAM 
The Out of the Cold program is starting up again.  Donations of gently used, clean winter outerwear as well as blankets would be appreciated.  Please bring your donations to EMUC & leave them in the coat room.  They are brought to the Open Door at Square One for distribution to their guests.  Thank you.

DEACON'S CUPBOARD
The Cupboard continues to receive more and more guests each week.  Please help by donating food and personal care items (the box is at the back beside the elevator) or making a financial contribution to Erin Mills United - Deacon's Cupboard. Please remember that we have no overhead. Every worker at the Cupboard is a volunteer. Currently there is a need for pure apple and orange juice in large boxes or juice boxes, peanut butter, and fava beans.




About EMUC

Vision: 

EMUC is a thriving Spirit-filled congregation: Diverse, inclusive,and engaged with the community and creation

Mission:

The mission of Erin Mills United Church is to offer opportunities for all persons to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ.


Put down your roots and let your spirit soar!

Erin Mills United Church | office@emuc.ca | http://emuc.ca/