Organist: Al Fougere
Lay Reader (St. M.): Bruce Corrigan
(St. D.): Mary Jess Mac Donald
Advent Candle (St. M.): Sally Oh (Kyounghee Oh) and Alan
(St. D.):
Mission Moment (St. M.): Sarah Chiasson
Greeters & Collectors (St. M.): Larry & Lucille Evans
Greeter (St. D.): Robert Mac Kinnon
Collectors (St. D.): James Mac Fadyen, Alicia Vink
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday & Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Wednesday 9-12 noon, Jane at St. Mark’s
Thursday 9-12 noon, Nan & Jane at St. Mark’s
Friday Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon, Jane at St. Mark’s
Please note: No Office Hours at St. David's during the winter months. Please call 902-625-2229 if you wish to meet with Nan.
Copies of the “UPPER ROOM” for Nov.-Dec. are available.
Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.
Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of the month.
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 Monday, December 11th at 1:00 p.m.
Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events
December 3rd Advent 1Pastoral Airs, St. David’s 7:00 p.m.
December 9th Inverness County Singers, St. Mark’s 7:30 p.m.
December 10th Advent 2 White Gift
December 17th Advent 3
December 21st Longest Night Service at St. David’s 7:00 p.m.
December 24th Advent 4—Combined service at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m. No morning service at St. David’s
Christmas Eve Services with Communion:
4:00 p.m. – St. David’s 6:00 p.m. – St. Mark’s
United Church Calendars are available at the Office for $6.00 each.
Gifts with Vision Catalogues have arrived! You can find a few copies of the catalogues on the table in the church entry. This Christmas give a gift that will make a real difference.
ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coffee time following Church today. There is a sign up sheet in the hall for anyone who would be able to prepare coffee on the first Sunday of each month.Lay Readers:
Dec. 10th – Malcolm Matheson
Dec. 17th – Barb Mac Intyre
Dec. 24th – Wayne Simpson
Dec. 24th – Christmas Eve – Multiple Readers
Dec. 31st – Combined Service – St. Mark’s – Joyce Oliver-Snair
FundScrip
The December Promotions are as follows:
Esso 3% ( Regular 2% )
Canadian Tire 5% ( Regular 4% )
Winners/Home Sense 8% ( Regular 6% )
American Eagle Outfitters 8% ( Regular 6% )
La Vie en Rose/ Bikini Village 11% ( Regular 8% )
Hudson’s Bay/ Home Outfitters 5% ( Regular 3% )
Way Spa 13% ( Regular 10%)
Pet Smart 6% ( Regular 2% )
Gap-Baby/ Banana Republic/Old Navy 10% ( Regular 5%)
FundScrip Order date is December 3rd. The Delivery date is December 10th. Please note December 3rd is the last Order date before Christmas break and FundScrip will resume in January date not yet determined. If you have any questions or wish to join the program please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838.
CHURCH TREASURER
Gladys Knight will be leaving her position as church treasurer at the end of Jan, 2018 after many years of service, for which we thank her.
If you or someone you know in our congregation may be interested in taking on this important job please contact me at your early convenience at 902 625 1062 or 902 631 0934
Thank you,
Clark Brander, Chairman, Trustees & Finance Committee
White Gift Offering
Envelopes for White Gift offering will be available on December 3rd for donation on the offering plate on White Gift Sunday, December 10th. St. Mark’s White Gift offering is divided between Port Hawkesbury Food Bank and Seasonal Services.
It’s Observer Time again! Please consider ordering a new subscription to this award winning United Church Magazine. Price is $25.00 a year. This list must be returned Dec. 22nd so please contact Lorna Harvey at lorna.harvey3@gmail.com or 902-625-0535. For those subscribers who wish to renew for 2018, please let me know. Observer envelopes can be found in the Narthex and can be placed on the collection plate. If you can’t get out to church you could e-transfer the money to me or mail a cheque (8 Langley Court, B9A 2L2) and I will ensure it is submitted. Cheques should be made out to St. Mark’s.
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ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lay Readers:Dec. 10th – Erin Hart-Breen
Dec. 17th – Margie Mac Intyre
Dec. 24th – Kevin Pierce
Dec. 31st – Bruce Corrigan
The White Gift Service will be held during regular Service on December 10th The congregation is reminded to pick up angels from the angel tree. This will enable them to have gifts to present during the Service. A lunch of sandwiches and sweets will follow the White Gift Service.
The Angel Tree in the front entry was set up to facilitate the collection of food and Christmas gifts to go in the Christmas Dinner Boxes. You are invited to choose an angel(s) and bring the item to the White Gift Service on December 10th. Please wrap the gift for the children and attach the angel(s) that you chose. If you picked an angel(s) with perishable items, please bring them on December 17th.
Hall Cleaners for December are Jean Hatcher & Margorie Langford
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Anyone wishing a drive to New Glasgow or Truro, please contact Margie Mac Intyre at 902-625-1361 for dates and times.Donate your gently used clothing to Port of Welcome Settlement Association. Drop off clothing at Cathy's Consignment shop and ask that proceeds of sales go to the POWSA account (act#4488). Once our family arrives they will be able to use the credit in that account.
Pastoral Airs Concert, will be held at St. David's United Church, Port Hastings, Sunday, Dec. 3rd, 7 p.m. Local Talent. Free Will Offering in support of the Strait Area Food Bank.
Once again we are preparing to provide Christmas dinner boxes for those in need in the Town. Anyone wishing to donate financially may do so by contacting Jo-Anne MacDonald @ 625-3003.
A Rotary Christmas Ceilidh on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 2 p.m. at SAERC Auditorium. Admission by donation. Supporting Rotary Club Port Hawkesbury.
L’Arche Cape Breton Christmas Tea
Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 3rd when we will hold the annual L’Arche Cape Breton Christmas Tea. Once again the tea will be held at the Whycocomagh Waterfront Centre at 2 p.m. Join us as we retell the Christmas story, sing beautiful Christmas music, and of course, there will be lots of delicious tea and shortbread. We look forward to seeing you!
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Trip
There is just one seat left for this day trip to Halifax to attend the Tattoo, a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on June 30th, 2018.If you would like to participate in this outing, please phone Margie MacIntyre at 902.625.1361.
The Princeville United Church Annual Christmas Service will be held Sunday December 10th 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.
Blue Christmas Service 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. We need space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern and to know we are not alone. For this reason, Trinity United Church in Mulgrave offers a special “Blue Christmas” service Dec. 14 at 7 pm Come and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, hymns, and scripture.
Port Hawkesbury Destination Reeves Street Open House Everyone is invited to the Destination Reeves Street Project Open House on Monday, December 4, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the Strait of Canso Yacht Club. Town officials, engineers/designers and Steering Committee Members will be in attendance to discuss the project and to receive feedback on this exciting project.
