ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY DECEMBER 6TH 2015

Ministering through leadership in worship this morning are:

Organist:                                 Al Fougere

Lay Reader (St. M.):               Bruce Corrigan                       

                    (St. D.):               Mary Jess Mac Donald

Advent Wreath (St. M.):         John Mac Leod Langley

                          (St. D,):         Cathy Mac Lean

Greeters & Collectors (St. M.): Terry & Marlene Morrrison

Greeters (St. D.):                     Robert Mac Kinnon

Collectors (St. D.):                  Ashley Mac Leod, Marie Davis

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday           9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s

Tuesday           9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s

Wednesday     9-12 noon, Nan at St. David’s, Jane at St. Mark’s

Thursday         9-12 noon, Jane at St. Mark’s

Friday              Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon, Jane at St. Mark’s

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

Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.

Prayer Shawl Knitting Circle: Knitters and crocheters gather in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3^rd Monday of each month. Next time of gathering is Monday December 14^th at 1:00 p.m. for this month only.

Copies of the “UPPER ROOM’ for Nov.-Dec. are available

Reading and Reflecting through Advent & Christmas

A contemplative corner has again been set up in St. Mark’s sanctuary—a quiet space for the Advent and Christmas seasons. There you may light a candle, read and reflect. In the corner, you will find the book “Awaiting the Already: An Advent Journey Through the Gospels” by Magrey R. DeVega. Read a chapter each week you visit the corner. Spend some time with the reflections, activities and prayer that are provided at the end of each chapter. Let us prepare for Christ’s coming, one Gospel at a time.

Advent and Christmas Worship and Events

December 13th – Advent 3 White Gift

December 20th – Advent 4

December 21st -- Longest Night

6:30 p.m. --   Service at St. David’s

December 24th – Christmas Eve Communion

6:30 p.m. – Service at St. Mark’s

8:00 p.m. – Service at St. David’s

December 27th – Christmas 1, 9:30 a.m. St. Mark’s  

The ‘UPPER ROOM” for January- February are available.

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ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers:

December 13^th – Karen Mac Kinnon

December 20^th – Rachael Robitaille

December 21^st – Longest Night – Combined with St. David’s

December 24^th – Multiple readers

December 27^th – Combined Service at St. Mark’s

FundScrip Financial Report and Order/Delivery Schedule

Promotions

Petro-Canada                                        3% ( Regular 2% )

Gap/Banana Republic/Old Navy              7% ( Regular 5% )

The Children’s Place                               10% (Regular 8%)

Pizza Pizza                                            12% (Regular 10%)

The Delivery Sundays are December 6^th and 20^th and the Order Sunday is December 13^th. FundScrip will resume in early January. To date our earnings for 2015 are slightly over $1200.00 which is  $300.00 higher than the same time last year. With just one more order for the year supporters of the program are encouraged to continue with their support and members of the congregation are encouraged to use the program to purchase cards to use as gifts. Please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838 if you have any questions of if you wish to join the program.

50^th Anniversary! In 2016, St. Mark’s will be celebrating their 50^th Anniversary. 50^thAnniversary weekend will be June 10^th to 12^th, 2016. The next meeting is January 11^th at 1:30 p.m. in the parlour.

It’s Observer Time again! Please consider ordering a new subscription to this award winning United Church Magazine. To our present subscribers, please note there is a price increase (first time in 5 years) to $25.00 a year. If we could get 5 new subscribers, we could keep the cost to $20 for this year only. The list must be returned Dec 15th, so please act now if you are interested. Contact Lorna Harvey, lorna.harvey3@gmail.com or 902-625-0535. As in past years, please place your payment on the collection plate with your name and address, clearly marked “Observer”.

December 15^th – St. Mark’s Board-Executive Only

December 20^th – 8:00 a.m.; St. Mark’s Men’s Group Meeting.

ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers:

December 13^th – Sunday School Readers

December 20^th – Kenzie Mac Lean

December 27^th – Kevin Pierce

Cleaners for December are Jean Hatcher and Marjorie Langford.

The White Gift Service will be held on December 13^th  at 11:00 o’clock.

St. David’s United Church, Port Hastings,  “Longest Night” Service Dec. 21^st at 6:30 p.m.

The treasurer will close the books for the year on December 31 and all entries/donations have to be submitted by then.

$766.00 was raised by the Pastoral Airs Concert at St. David’s. This amount was donated to the local food bank. Thank you all who supported this event.

The Angel Tree in the front entry was set up to facilitate the collection of food and Christmas gifts for Christmas dinner boxes. You are invited to choose an angel(s) and bring the item to the White Gift Service on Dec. 13^th. Please wrap the gifts for children in white paper and attach the angel that you chose. If you picked the angel (s) with perishable items (fruit, vegetables), it would be very helpful if you would be able to get these items to us later in the week of Dec. 13^th (Dec. 17^th-19^th). We will begin packing the boxes on Saturday, December 19^th and they will be delivered to families and individuals in our area early on Dec. 20^th.

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 COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Community Kitchen & Music Therapy sponsored by Mental Health Services & Public Health  December 8th, 2015 April 12th, May 10th, June 14th 2016.  St. Mark's United Church, 504 Bernard St. Port Hawkesbury NS. Community Kitchen from 10:30 to 1:00 Music Therapy 1:00 to 2:00 PM  Come help prepare and enjoy a healthy, well balanced, budget friendly meal then listen to music therapist Tom Curry.   To help us plan lunch be sure to phone (902) 867-4500 ext. 4345 OR leave a message at (902) 625-7200 to let us know you will be attending

Rotary Club “Carolling in our Community” Friday, December 18, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Church, Port Hawkesbury. Free-will offering to go to Seasonal Services in Port Hawkesbury. Followed by refreshments. Everyone of all ages welcome. For more information, please contact Rotary Club of Port Hawkesbury President, Chris Cook, via 902-631-2858

Longest Night/Blue Christmas Services

Trinity United Church, Mulgrave offers a special “Blue Christmas” service Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and St. David’s United Church, Port Hastings, a “Longest Night” service Dec. 21^st at 6:30 p.m. Come and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, hymns, and scripture that acknowledge God’s presence for those who mourn, for those who struggle and that God’s Word comes to shine light in our darkness.  Everyone, regardless of church background, is welcome!

 

“Merchandise and More Auction” Saturday, December 12th at 1:00 p.m.   Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Reeves St. Port Hawkesbury.  Come get some Christmas shopping done!  Great gift certificates, new merchandise, and great baking to be auctioned off. 

Princeville United Church will celebrate their annual Christmas service of readings and beloved Christmas music on Sunday, December 13^th at 7PM.  Refreshments will be served following the service

Mabou Farmers Market Christmas Market   

Sunday, December 6, 11 to 3  Dalbrae Academy, Mabou  

All your Christmas gifts!
Croissants, cheese, Bavarian sausage  Scarves, photos, fused glass jewelry  Honey, basketry, leather  Live music  Join us for lunch!