ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2012 PALM/PASSION SUNDAY ALL AGES WORSHIP

Lenten Reflection with the Labyrinth

There is a long tradition of making the Season of Lent a special time for reflection, especially personal reflections on one’s faith journey. A labyrinth has been created in the hall of St. Mark’s for the season. Use our labyrinth each week during the Season of Lent to mark the journey of God’s promises and the pathway to Jerusalem. A printed weekly reflection will be provided on a stand in the hall. Nan will continue a guided contemplative practice--now with the labyrinth--on Tuesday mornings at 9:30. Please join her during that time to walk the labyrinth--or walk the labyrinth at your convenience at times that the hall is not being used for other purposes. Labyrinths are symbolic journeys, a distilled version of the path we walk through life guided by our faith. This year, Lent is a time of immersing ourselves in God’s promises of presence, love, and guidance – enjoy the journey.

MINISTER’S OFFICE HOURS:
Monday 9-12 noon
Tuesday 9-12 noon
Wednesday 9-12 noon at St. David’s
Thursday 9 – 12 noon
Friday – Minister’s Day Off
The Manse telephone number is 625-0407
Nan is at St. David’s Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00. Drop by for a coffee.

Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of each month.

Youth Group meeting for youth 10 and up on the first Sunday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church Hall

EASTER SERVICES:

April 5^th – 6:30 p.m.; Maundy Thursday Potluck Supper and

Worship Service at St. Mark’s.

April 6^th – Good Friday Service at St. David’s at 11:00 a.m.

April 8^th – Easter Sunday Service – Communion

6:00 a.m. – Easter Sunrise Service at St. David’s followed by Breakfast at the Fire Hall

9:30 a.m. – Service at St. Mark’s United Church

11:00 a.m. – Service at St. David’s United Church

Easter Flowers: Again this year on Easter morning, we invite members of each congregation to bring spring flowers and lilies to fill our church as signs and symbols of God’s gift of new life. Flowers may be donated ‘In Loving Memory Of” or as a gift.

50th Anniversary of The United Church Women
Come join the celebration
Come weave your story into Our Tapestry of Love
We invite all women of the United Church of Canada to gather April 14, 2012 to celebrate our past, share the present and anticipate the future at Warden United Church, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Registration forms available at the office.

More Voices for Camp Project

Called by earth and sky,
Promise of hope held high.
This is a sacred, living trust,
Treasure of life sanctified.    More Voices, #135

The Outdoor Recreational Ministry of the Maritime Conference Christian Life & Growth Committee invite your congregation to help with our “More Voices for Camp” Project.

We are inviting every pastoral charge to donate one copy of More Voices, either new or used, or the purchase price ($18) to our camps.

If this was done then it would allow for 30 or more copies in each camp. At Camp STUFF (a staff training weekend) in June we will be offering a workshop on music leadership and learning the songs.  We will also dedicate the books and distribute them to the camps.

Feel free to write a greeting inside the cover and imagine the children and youth of our camps singing praise at Vespers!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carolyn Francis, 902 836 3296
Chair of Outdoor Recreational Ministry

Janice Maclean, 506 536 1334
Maritime Conference Staff

Bring your donated copy to this year’s annual meeting--or send it 

with your presbytery delegate or minister!

ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

We welcome members of the Guiding Movement & their leaders to the Service at St. Mark’s this morning.

COURTESY CARIf you need a ride to church during the month of April,

call Larry Evans at 625-0305
Please make your Courtesy Car request well in advance if possible.

Sunday Worship requests should be made by the evening before

or by 8 a.m. Sunday morning at latest.

Reminder Are you saving your pennies for M&S? Palm Sunday is April 1st - the day to pass along your sock full of pennies for M&S!

PALM SUNDAY PARTY- APRIL 1ST

Don’t forget your sock for M&S on April 1st , Palm Sunday.

Socks will be collected and prizes awarded for the best, ugly and pretty sock!

Everyone is invited to the party in the hall, following the morning service...there will be good things to eat!

2012 World Vision 30 Hour Famine is taking place at St. Marks on April 27th and 28th. Youth between the ages of 12 and 18 are encouraged to participate in this annual fundraising event. Please spread the word and have those who would like to participate contact Kathy Barss @ 234-2707 to make arrangements to get your participation package.

There are still two DVD and two CD Versions of the Hymn Sing available. If anyone would like one of these, please contact Ruth MacRae (625-2424). There is no cost.

Prayer Shawl Knitting Circle Knitters and crocheters—gather together in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3rd Monday of each month. Monday, April 16th will be our next time of gathering... at 1:00 for conversation, prayer…and knitting. Can't come to our circle but are knitting at home? If you have a shawl ready, we will receive them on the 3rd Monday of each month--or anytime during that week. A Blessing of the Prayer Shawls will be part of Sunday morning worship the following Sunday.

Change of Date- April 16^th – St. Mark’s Congregational Board Meeting; 6;30 p.m. – Executive, 7:00 p.m. – Committees, 8:00 p.m. – Combined Board.

ST. DAVID’S
ANNOUNCEMENTS

TODAY – Official Board Meeting following the Worship Service.

Hall Cleaners for April-- Heather Graham & Helen Ryan

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The Food Bank would like small glass bottles with good covers holding approx. 1-1/2 cups They may be left at Church or Food Bank Monday morning.

Better late than never? Singing a Song of Faith Study Books have arrived!

Remember the Lenten Study book some of us ordered back in early February? Well, as we approach the beginning of Holy Week with observance of Palm/Passion Sunday this week, our Lenten Study books have finally arrived! Too late in Lent--but what about studying A Song of Faith together during the season of Easter? 

My proposal is to pick up our books and begin reading on the Wednesday following Easter (normally we would have begun reading on Ash Wednesday) and gather together for group study on Sunday evenings throughout the Season of Easter, finishing our reading and study on Sunday, May 27th. Written for Lent of 2007, these little books could be used at any time--perhaps we could share them with others next spring, and do the study again--during Lent this time.