Seasons of the Spirit encourages setting up a Contemplative Corner for prayer during Advent and Christmas. There will be a space at the back of the balcony at St. Mark’s to gather for quiet prayer on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. through Advent. (November 29th, December 6th, 13th and 20th 9:30 in the morning) Everyone welcome. Nan is at St. David’s Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00. Drop by for a coffee.
41st General Council Youth Forum
General Council 2012 Youth Forum will be held in Ottawa, ON August 11-18, 2012, with the theme Seeking Justice, Loving Kindness, and Walking Humbly. The Youth Forum program will gather over 90 youth from each Presbytery/District in the United Church of Canada. Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery is now seeking interested youth who will be 15 to 20 years of age as of August 11, 2012 . The deadline for application is February 1, 2012. One Youth Forum delegate and one alternate will be selected from applicants. Please let young people know of this opportunity. Application forms are available in the pastoral charge office—speak to Nan for information and forms.
Introducing Gifts with Vision: A United Church Christmas Giving Catalogue
Now available online http://www.giftswithvision.ca/
Here's your chance to browse, consider, and choose gifts that are helping to create a better world. The gifts that you will find in the catalogue are visionary: they don't just sit on a shelf-they improve people's lives! Give one of these gifts and you provide food and shelter, improve health, promote peace and justice, and empower communities. The Gifts with Vision catalogue supports the work of Mission and Service partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and right here in Canada. Contributions create healthy places to live, promote justice, provide social services, and enliven worship. Through the Gifts with Vision catalogue, you can do something extra for Mission and Service national and global partners and support their work by making a gift in honour of friends or family to specific partner activities.
Worship Services:
December 11th – White Gift Services at St. Mark’s & St. David’s
Dec. 18th – Advent 4
Dec. 21st – Longest Night Candlelight Service 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s
Dec. 24th --Christmas Eve Service
6:30 p.m. – Service at St. Mark’s with Communion
8:00 p.m. – Service at St. David’s with Communion
Dec. 25th – Christmas Day Service: 9:30 am.. Combined Worship at St. Mark’s with Potluck Breakfast
Jan. 1st – New Year’s Day 11:00 a.m. Combined Worship Service at St. David’s
ST. MARK’S SUNDAY SCHOOL
Youth Group – For youth 10 and up on the first Sunday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church Hall.
White Gift Service—Sunday December 11th The white offering envelopes in the bulletins this morning are to facilitate White Gift donations next Sunday, December 11th. Please make cheques payable to St. Mark’s United Church and place in the White Gift offering envelope. This year St. Mark’s will divide the White Gift offering between the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank and Port Hawkesbury Seasonal Services. Alternatively, you may wish to bring an offering of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank. Another option is support of the Mission and Service fund with an additional gift at Christmas. This year you can support Mission and Service national and global partners by making a gift in honour of friends or family to specific partner activities. (see other announcement re “Gifts with Vision”)
Dec. 20th – Congregational Board Meeting.- 6:30 p.m. * Executive only
Members of St. Mark’s Congregation have formed a committee to compile a cookbook and we want your “tried and true” favorite recipes. If you want to share your recipes, please type them up and forward to Ruth MacRae at angus.macrae@sympatico.ca or write them up and put on the collection plate and I will type them up. We’re looking for recipes in all categories. This cookbook will be an excellent fundraiser for our church, so pass on your recipes. Any anecdotes re the origin of your recipe(s) or any other comments are most welcome.”
St. Mark's Worship and Pastoral Care Committee is establishing a Pastoral Care Visitation Team, an informal group of laypeople who will extend pastoral care and a compassionate presence to members of our congregation. Interested in helping us provide this ministry, supported by our minister, Nan? Please call the Church Office or speak to any member of the Worship and Pastoral Care Committee.
The UC Observer reports on national and international issues of faith, justice, ethics, daily living and popular culture. Cost is $20/yr.Please use one of the envelopes in the narthex to subscribe or renew and place on the collection plate by Dec. 11. For more info contact Lorna Harvey.
