Readings for next Sunday, 29thNovember, Advent 1; First reading: Isaiah 64.1-9; Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19; Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1.3-9; Gospel: Mark 13.24-37
Prayer and Pastoral Care
Please pray this week for – Anne; Margaret and Jennifer; Toby- Lindsey- Erin- Theresa and family; Victoria plus Karen and Debbie; Nelson; Ray; Margaret; Pat and Sean; Brenda; Laurel and Rob; Nancy June; Susan; Stephanie and Ron; Scott and Logan; Beth, Mary Anne; Don and Shirley; Cathy and Susan; Charles and Pauline; Irene and Yoli; Izzy; Phyllis; Jen; Alison; Donna; Wendy; Jamie and Cathie plus Keith and Cate, Loraine and Gord, Diane; Fred and Marlene; Margaret and Anita; Davina and Sangceta; Amanda; Fran and Bill; Brian; Sheila; Matt; Jennifer; Joanne and Baby Charlie.
Rest in Peace – Doug McKenzie (son of long term Parishioners Jan and Bob); Diamond Micks (son of parishioners Gord (Loraine) Micks); Mrs. Anya Laurence-Thiel, (wife of the Reverend Andreas Thiel) and the Rev’d David Fuller (rector Parish of Rondeau Bay and father of Matthew and Sarah). May the souls of Doug, Diamond, Anya and David find rest eternal, and light perpetual shine on them as they rise in glory. Pray for family and friends and all who grieve the loss of these loved ones, and may they find strength and comfort at this difficult time.
Pray for all those preparing to enter into Advent the time of waiting and expectation during Covid, as the world is upside down, especially remembering Bishop Todd and our priest Bill. AND for those who are in need of prayer but have no one today to remember them by name; and those known to each of you alone.
Cycle of Prayer for December – Transformation – Transforming Society “To seek to transform unjust structures of society”, to challenge violence of every kind, and to pursue peace and reconciliation, is a call to go beyond charitable giving and help change a world that creates human needs. To join in God’s work in building the Kingdom by transforming society. Prayer: Lord, let the fire of your goodness and justice burn into us and through us that we may seek to transform the unjust structures of society. Let your glory fill this place, Let your glory fill this world!
We honour ministries in support of TRANSFORMING SOCIETY, the Fourth Mark of Mission. Support for: New Comers To Canada, LIRSA, North East Neighborhood Group, Marriage Canon Work- Marriage inclusivity, Pride walk, Crisis Response, PWRDF, London Food Coalition, IJM (International Justice Mission) Prayer Partner.
Chancel Guild
A message from the Chancel Guild – With the coming of the festive season that celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we look to our parish family to make a donation towards the cost of Christmas flowers and greens that will decorate our sanctuary and church. This year especially, even as so many of us cannot be at the church celebrations, we are still going to celebrate through the beauty of floral decorations, and we invite you to be a part of that. Donations can be a gift of happiness, thanksgiving or as a memorial. Please provide your donation and dedication by Monday December 14th. Your gift will be recognized at the services, and with the Update before Christmas Eve, to be published on December 23rd.
Outreach
The Outreach Committee – would like to thank everyone once again for their generous donations toward the Christmas Bale to Kenora. These things are distributed to people in need under the direction of the cathedral there. The shipment of 7 boxes of various sizes weighing 200 lbs. included adult clothing, jewelry, children’s toys, games, coloring books, crayons, markers, underwear and socks. Pictures are available on the website. The ACW pays for the shipping costs, and the gentleman at the UPS store at Huron and Highbury continues to give us a discount.
An Outreach Update from Cheryle Anne MacBelford – The Outreach Committee supports many agencies through funds from the Nearly New Shop, Broadway Singers and generous church members. Below is a partial list of some of the agencies.
1. Bridges Out of Poverty – Circles Initiative: A program to help end poverty in London, has successfully helped 72 people make the transition since it began four years ago. They support individuals who are currently on Ontario Works. Looking at where people have been, look at what they like to do and what their skill sets are and we develop a plan with them. That plan includes meeting four times a week and being partnered with a mentor. Together, those involved in the program create a sense of community. Meals and babysitting are available at the meetings.
2. LUSO Emergency Food Cupboard – LUSO helps children, youth and adults in the community with basic needs, literacy support, newcomer settlement program, community connections, cultural awareness, Settlement Workers in schools, and sensitivity for housing sectors.
3. Rotholme Family Shelter – through Mission Services: Family Shelter primarily accommodates families (two parent and single parent families, both male and female led). There is accommodation for approximately twenty families. Self or agency referrals are accepted, and the length of stay varies from one day up to thirty days.
Christmas Share – St. Paul’s Social Services is busy preparing for the extra demands during the Christmas season, and welcome your help. They prefer donations by cheque, which they use to buy gift cards for their guests, but if you were to buy and send gift cards from our FundScrip Program, they would be very helpful as well. Mail to: 472 Richmond Street, N6A 3E6. They also ask for our prayers as they continue this valuable, but exhausting, work.
Community Breakfast Program – We are putting together Christmas gift bags for our Saturday Community Breakfast guests, and will give them out at the breakfast on December 19th . The bags will include gloves, socks, hats, toiletries, treats etc. In our ongoing efforts to care for one another, we have a couple of shoppers who will purchase the items rather than have multiple parishioners out in the stores. Financial donations towards the bags however would be very much appreciated. Donations can be placed on the Offertory plate on Sundays, added to your givings with a note, or dropped off at the church office by December 1st. Your ongoing support of this outreach ministry makes a real difference to those in need in our community. Thank you! Needed – We have a couple of six year old boys who come to the Breakfast Program in need of jackets, running shoes, boots, and jeans. If you can help, please bring your donations to the church, or let us know and we can pick them up. Thank you. The next take out breakfast is Saturday, 5thDecember, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
PWRDF Christmas cards – are available in packages of 12, for which they ask a minimum $25.00 donation to the work of PWRDF. They have two styles to choose from. Just Google “PWRDF” and you will get a choice of links, choose PWRDF Christmas Cards.
Fundraising
The Wednesday Craft Group – has some crafts and jams available for sale, and for pictures of these, please go to the church website (look under Update for 4th November). See the crèche Dave Cornelius made. It’s beautiful! Most of you know what we have but these are some ideas : kitchen towels, dish clothes, scrubbies, aprons, hot pads, micro bowl cozy, long dusters, catnip mice, cloth books, quiet books, crib quilts, knitted kids toys, knitted hats, scarves and throws, pet beds from sweaters, pet blankets, soup mix, chocolate chip cookie mix and much more. We do have a Christmas hanging, advent calendar, tree skirt and wreaths as well. We have some jam for sale thanks mostly to Dave Cornelius. Strawberry-gooseberry, gooseberry, black currant, marmalade, grape, one vanilla-pear-berry, cherry, and Governors sauce. Nancey and Cherie are willing to meet people one on one by appointment. Please call Nancey 519 453 2858 or Cherie 519 850 0582.
Advent Turkey Dinner – The Take out Advent Turkey Dinner is this Saturday, November 28th, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and is sold out! Thanks for all your support.
FundScrip – Soon Rick will be taking your orders for cards, and this is a hint that they make great Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers par excellence!
ACW – We made apple pies this week and they can be purchased for $10.00. Contact Glenda Hayward at [email protected] or 519-951-8154 to order, or purchase after the services on Sunday. Due to their popularity, we have to set a limit of two per family. We will be making meat pies again before Christmas and apple again in the new year. Thanks for your support!
Around The Deanery
Advent Study Series at St. Aidan’s Church – Deanery Advent Event – Last chance!! – Homelessness is a growing and increasing issue within our city, and the London Anglican Deanery has identified it as a concern. You are encouraged to participate in the upcoming Deanery Advent Event. A three evening on-line Zoom education opportunity, in line with Bishop Todd’s vision and mission for Huron. World famous speaker and author Rev’d Nadia Bolz-Weber will speak at 7:30 pm on November 25th and December 2nd, followed by a presentation by Indwell on December 9h. Indwell is a non-profit Christian based organization that is putting up affordable housing to help with homelessness in London. Parishes are being asked to consider making donations to their churches clearly identified for the “Deanery Indwell” project. (St Jude’s Outreach Committee, The Prayer team, and an individual, have already committed to this). It is hoped that contributions from the Deanery will help support this project, and our city’s most needy and vulnerable members. You might be able still to register for the Deanery Advent session. If you want to join this study, please do so as soon as possible by emailing [email protected] , or telephoning 519-471-1430. There is no charge for this series.
Home Needed
Home Needed – Home needed for Lola, a 4 year old black and white spayed female cat with her claws. If you have a place for Lola, please call Jane Scott at 226-997-8060.
Newsletter
Family Newsletter –Cathy is already working hard on the December edition, and welcomes your contributions – Christmas, of course! Memories, ideas, plans, suggestions, poems, etc. Email your ideas to the church, or direct to Cathy at [email protected].
Legal Advice
The Family Law Information Centre – wanted to pass along information that they are providing free legal advice and remote services for those in need. Contact, at the London Courthouse, Lana, Information Coordinator at 519-660-3001.
Let’s Celebrate!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! – Susan Goodbrand, (24th November) and Kayla Robak (26th). Hope you both had/have a happy day!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! – Janette and Ken Newcombe, and Elizabeth and Steve Potter, who celebrate their wedding anniversaries on 26th November.
~ This week’s picture is one of the PWRDF Christmas cards ~
Have a great day and stay positive!