Organist: Al Fougere
Guest Preacher: Margie MacIntyre
Lay Reader (St. M.): Joyce Oliver-Snair
(St. D.): Margie MacIntyre
Advent Wreath (St. M.): The Langley Children
(St. D.): Julia MacKinnon
Mission Moment (St. M.): Bruce Corrigan
(St. D.): Yvonne Fox
Greeters/Collectors (St. M.): Valli Ross, Linda Howlett
Greeters (St. D.): Robert Mac Kinnon
Counters (St. M.): Annabel Butts, Anna Marie Langley
Collectors (St. D.): James Mac Fadyen, Alicia Vink
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday & Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Wednesday & Thursday 9-12 noon, Jane at St. Mark’s
Friday Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon, Jane at St. Mark’s
The “UPPER ROOM” for January-February are available.
Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of the month.
Deadline for items for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.
Prayer Shawl Knitting Circle: Knitters and crocheters gather in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3rd Monday of each month. The next time of gathering is December 10, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.
United Church Calendars are available at the office for $6.00 each.
Next morning worship at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home will be Christmas Eve, December 24th at 10;30 a.m.
Longest Night Worship—December 21st 6:30 p.m. St. Mark’s
The Longest Night service is a way to acknowledge the pain which the Advent and Christmas seasons cause some people. The emphasis on family, joy, giving and “good cheer” can be very difficult for those of us who have experienced loss of another through death, relocation or broken relationships, those who live with depression or other illnesses, those who have no jobs or little money for giving, and those whose addictions make the emphasis on parties very stressful. “Longest Night” services, held on December 21st – the longest night of the year – are sometimes referred to as “Blue Christmas”. Even on the longest night of the year, God is with us and promises a new day. Everyone welcome to join us for the Longest Night, a quiet, reflective worship service.
December 24th – Christmas Eve Services:
10:30 a.m. - Service at Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home
4:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service at St. David’s
6:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service at St. Mark’s
December 31st – New Year’s Eve 11:00 a.m. St. Mark’s
On the final day of the year we reflect on the events of the past and look ahead to the future. This is a worship service devoted to a new covenant with God, to a new commitment to witness and service. Nan’s final day and worship service with these pastoral charges.
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ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lay Readers:December 16th – Wayne Simpson
December 21st – Longest Night – 6:30 p.m.
December 23rd – David Chapman
December 24th – Christmas Eve – 6:00 p.m. Multiple Readers
December 30th – First after Christmas – Combined Service at St. David’s 11:00.
December 16th – 8:00 a.m.; Men’s Group Breakfast meeting.
There will be an Executive Meeting of the Church Board, Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 pm.
White Gift Offering donations received on the offering plate on White Gift Sunday, December 16th.
St. Mark’s White Gift offering is divided between Port Hawkesbury Food Bank and Seasonal Services. White Gift Offering envelopes are inserted in your order of service today for use next Sunday.
Gifts with Vision Catalogues
The new Mission and Service Gifts with Vision catalogues can be found on the table in the church entry. Online orders can be placed at https://www.giftswithvision.ca/
The Worship and Pastoral Care Committee feels worship will be enhanced if we fill the front rather than the back pews. Please move forward if you are comfortable doing so.
Collection Counters/Recorders Needed - Please sign up. The load gets lighter when many helping hands participate.
The December FundScrip Delivery Date Sunday December 9th. Please note that this is the last order for 2018 before FundScrip resumes in January 2019. Please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838 if you have any questions or if you wish to join the program.
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ST. DAVID’S CHRISTMAS TREE
The Christmas tree at St David’s is placed there in memory of Lewis Smith by Maxine and family
ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lay Readers:December 16th – Mary Jess Mac Donald
December 23rd – Kevin Pierce
December 24th – Christmas Eve Service 4:00 p.m.
December 30th – First Sunday after Christmas – Julia Mac Kinnon
Hall Cleaners for December are Jean Hatcher & Marjorie Langford
White Gift Sunday December 16th – You are asked to please wrap children’s gifts in white paper.
The Angel Tree in the front entry is set up to facilitate the collection of food and children’s gifts for our Christmas Dinner Boxes. You are invited to choose an angel(s) and bring the items to the White Gift Service on Dec. 16th. Please wrap the gifts for children in white paper and attach the angel that you chose. We will begin packing the boxes on the week of Dec. 17th and they will be delivered to families and individuals in our area early on Dec. 23rd.
St. David’s UCW will meet on Wednesday, December 12/18 at the home of Maxine Smith at 12:30
The December FundScrip delivery Date Sunday December 9th. If you have any questions or wish to join the program please contact Wanda Radford at 902-870-1015.
December 24th – Christmas Eve Service – 4:00 p.m.
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Princeville United Church Annual Christmas Service will be held Sunday December 9th at 7PM. Come and join in a wonderful evening of beloved Christmas music and readings in our beautiful old church decorated in Christmas finery. A fellowship will follow. Everyone is welcome. The church is located at 1041 River Inhabitants Road.Fundraiser for the Canadian Food Grains Bank Sunday, December 9th, 3 p.m. The St. John’s Pastoral Charge will hold a Christmas Carols & Readings at St. John’s U.C., Strathlorne. All proceeds from this event will be sent to the Canadian Food Grains Bank. There will be favourite Christmas Carols and songs of the season plus special readings. Following the service there will be tea, hot cider punch and light snacks. Please plan to attend and help this organization.
Floor curling at St. Mark’s each Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. Drop in when you like. $2.00 per week. Bring indoor footwear.
Seasonal Services is preparing to provide Christmas Dinner Boxes for those in need in the Town of Port Hawkesbury. Anyone wishing to donate financially to this project may do so by dropping your sealed donation with your contact information in the collection basket, or dropping it off to the RBC on Granville Street, the Port Hawkesbury Post Office, email transfer to seasonalservices@mail.com or by contacting Sandra Praught @ 902‐227‐5858 by Dec 25th. Please connect with us if you are interested in delivering the dinner boxes on Dec. 16.
Trinity United Church, Mulgrave, will host a Blue Christmas Service, Thursday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome regardless of religious background or church experience. Christmas can be a painful time for some, it may be the first Christmas without a loved one, it may be a time which has always been difficult. The constant refrain on radio, television, malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or never had. The loss of a loved one, anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation- all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know we are not alone. Come and join us in sharing in prayer, hymns and scripture that acknowledge God’s Word comes to shine light in our darkness.
