Friday Message and what's coming.

Friday Message

What's Coming!

November 30, 2018

Season: Advent

'Sharing the Light'

The Candle of Hope

Rev. Kathi's Message

This week Advent begins again: that time of so much expectation and anticipation. It is a time of preparation – in our churches, in our communities, in our homes, and in our hearts. It can also be a time of great stress and pressure to make everything “perfect.”

I read a note on Facebook this week reminding us all that it doesn’t cost us anything to be nice to the people working in retail at this busy time of year, and my first reaction was: have we, as a society, become so grumpy and grinchy that we need to be told to be nice.? Why aren’t we always nice to the people who work in stores, or deliver mail and packages, or serve in restaurants? Why aren’t we pleasant, or at least polite, with just everyone we meet?

Then I thought about the messages we typically use in the church during Advent. Some time in the next four Sundays we will read about John the Baptizer: preaching in the desert, baptizing in the Jordan river, and raging at those who represented the religious establishment of his time. John wasn’t anyone’s idea of “nice.” He called people “you brood of vipers” He talked about “taking an axe to the root” of the tree and “wielding a winnowing fork.”

The prophet Malachi, in another passage that is read at Advent, says that the coming of God’s chosen One will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderers soap, to purify and purge. Not a gentle image.

So maybe we do need to be reminded to be nice – in Advent and all year round. We need to be gentle with each other because we don’t really know what might be going on with the person standing next to us. Another passage from the Bible says, “they will know we are Christians by our love.”

Some of you may have noticed that we have had a person dropping into the church after service the past few Sundays and also through the week. If you engage with him, you will find that his stories are confusing and that he is often agitated. He has told me that the church is the only place where he feels safe. We are treating him gently: feeding him when he is hungry, allowing him to warm up when he is cold, praying with him. By our love, we will be known.

This Advent we are going to be hearing about the people who were visited by angels in the time leading up to the birth of Jesus. Each time, the messenger begins with, “do not be afraid.” They delivered messages of hope and promise for their time and for ours. Do not be afraid.

Peace,

Kathi

P.S. On December 9, we are having our White Gift Sunday. You are invited to bring an unwrapped donation of unperishable food. During the service there will be a short play and I am looking for 4 actors to fill the roles. Please contact me if you want to be part of the play! kathi@emuc.ca (905)820-9466

Transitions

We are deeply saddened to report the death of Peter Merryweather on Tuesday November 20 ^th . We extend our deepest sympathies to Shelia, his wife and Shaun and Erica, his children. A memorial service will be held on Sunday December 2 ^nd at Glen Oaks at 1 pm.

This Week at EMUC

Sunday December 2nd:

10:00 am: Advent 1 'Hope' and Communion, EMU Club

Hebrew Scripture: Jeremiah 33: 14-16

Gospel: Luke 1: 5-25

Message: 'The Angel's Gift of Silence'

Tuesday December 4th:

2:00 pm: Advent Study Group

Wednesday December 5th

2:00: Prayer Shawl Knitting and Crochetting Group

6:45 pm: Prayers and Communion

7:30 pm: Advent Study Group

Thursday December 6th

7:00 pm: Chancel Choir

Next Sunday December 9th: Advent 2 - Peace and 'White Gift' Sunday

Refugee Sponsorship Fundraising Appeal Update

Target: $ 10 000

Total amount raised to date: - $6,870

In the fall of 2015, Erin Mills United, Erindale United, and Streetsville United churches formed the Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group to become refugee sponsors with the United Church of Canada as our Sponsorship Agreement holder. At that time, we accepted the responsibility of fully supporting the sponsored refugee(s) for one year following their arrival in Canada. In order to meet our commitment, the Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group will require a further $40 000. Erin Mills United Church has set a target of $10 000 for this appeal. Thank you for your generous support.

What's Coming!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Come Join Us! All are Welcome!

Advent 2018

‘Sharing the Light’

Sunday Dec. 2 10 am. Advent 1 – ‘Hope’ & Communion

Sunday Dec. 9 10 am. Advent 2 - ‘Peace’ & White Gift ( unwrapped donations of food, gift cards or cash are collected for those in need in our community)

Wednesday Dec. 12 2 pm. Christmas Tea (all are invited for Christmas tea & desserts, conversation & carol singing)

Sunday Dec. 16 10 am. Advent 3 - ‘Joy’

7 pm. Candlelight Carol Service & reception

Wednesday Dec. 19 7:00 pm. Service of Hope & Healing – a service for those struggling with loss in this season of celebration

Sunday Dec. 23 10 am. Advent 4 - 'Love'

Christmas Eve.

Monday Dec. 24 6:30 pm. Family Service

9 pm. Candlelight Communion Service

STEWARDSHIP 2018 - Update

After four weeks of our 2018 Stewardship Program, we have received 53 responses compared to 59 at this stage last year. The good news continues to be that these commitments are in total $3132 above those made by these individuals or families in 2017.

If you have not returned your form, please do so by placing it in the box in the church foyer, leaving it in the church office or mailing it using the self- addressed envelope enclosed with your package. Our Envelope Secretary, Mike Ogilvie, will deal with your estimate in confidence.

In December we start to develop our 2019 budget and the more returns we have the more reliable our revenue projection will be.

ADVENT STUDY GROUP

For those who want an opportunity to go a little deeper into Christmas, I am offering a 3-week small group seminar called Living Nativity, to start on December 4th. Focusing on the traditional creches that we bring out to decorate our homes and churches, we will take a closer look at the figures and how their presence in the story connects with our own spiritual journey. We will explore incarnation in the bigger picture of love and as a practice of cooperation. We will see how each figure can infuse the ordinary, and we will ask who is always in the story and never in the creche.

Our beloved figures take us deeply into the mystery of incarnation and the divine longing at the heart of “the hopes and fears of all the years.”

Each week there will be 2 opportunities to participate – a Tuesday afternoon session at 2pm and a Wednesday evening session at 7:30pm.

Please sign up on the sheet on the back bulletin board or contact Kathi or leave a message at (905)820-9466.

OUT OF THE COLD - Winter Coats, Jackets

As in previous years, we are collecting warm outer wear for the Open Door at Square One. There is a special need for kids’ snow pants. Please drop off your clean, in good repair items at the church. Thank you.

POINSETTIA FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Erin Mills Youth Centre is once again selling poinsettias to raise funds for United Way of Peel Region. Plants will be available for pick-up at EMUC by December 2nd. You may dedicate a poinsettia in memory of a loved one and donate it to decorate the sanctuary during the Advent and Christmas season. All poinsettias may be taken home following the Christmas Eve services.

For further information please contact Lorraine Brignall or Debby Sturgeon

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'WRITE FOR RIGHTS' EVENT

The Interfaith Peace and Justice Committee will mark International Human Rights Day on Sunday, December 9 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. This year’s cases focus on women’s rights activists who are being persecuted for standing up for human rights. Copies of this year’s cases are available in the narthex if you wish to prepare your letters ahead of time. Donations to cover the cost of postage will be gratefully received.

Sign up to participate on our public event page at: https://act.writeathon.ca/events/interfaith-peace-and-justice-write-for-rights

For further information on this event speak to any member of the committee: Dianne Hope, Muriel Hamdani, Hilton Jeffers, Debby Sturgeon, Larry Van Goozen.

LOAVES AND DISHES

Toutieres and shepherd's pies are ready for pickup in the EMUC kitchen after the service on Sunday.

Turkey pot pies will be available in January 2019. An order sheet is on the sign-up bulletin board at the back of the church. Please place your orders there.

' FUNDSCRIP' PROGRAM

FUNDSCRIP is 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 purchased through FUNDSCRIP is donated back to our church.

Order forms for gift cards are available the last Sunday of every month. The next order date is this Sunday, December 16th. Speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program. This is the last time to order for Christmas!