2nd of Advent: A Bake sale and a Women's Circle

This Sunday at church we will light the second candle of Advent. The miracle of Christ’s birth is coming closer every day! Designated Lay Minister Beryl Barraclough will lead worship this week. The main scripture is from Luke 1: 68-79, also known as the Song of Zechariah.

Immediately after the service there will be a bake sale downstairs, so don’t forget to bring some pocket money! It is also time for the monthly Women’s Circle led by Beryl, which will begin about 11:30. All who identify as women are welcome.

Passages: Faye Wakeling, in memoriam

It is with great sadness that we announce that Rev. Faye Wakeling, partner of Rev. Pierre Goldberger, has been called home by her Creator after a life well-lived as mother, partner, friend, minister and source of inspiration to so many because of her leadership.

 A service of celebration will be held at St. Columba House (2365 Grand Trunk, Montreal, H3K 1M8) on Saturday, December 15, 2018 with visitation beginning at 1  pm, and the service at 2 pm.

  

C'est avec tristesse que nous annonçons le décès de la Révérende Faye Wakeling, conjointe du Révérend Pierre Goldberger. Elle fut appelée à la maison par son Créateur après une vie bien vécue en tant que mère, partenaire, amie, pasteure, et une grande inspiration pour tant de personnes grâce à son leadership.

 Un service de célébration aura lieu à la Maison St-Columba (2365, Grand Trunk, Montréal, H3K 1M8) le samedi 15 décembre 2018 avec visite à partir de 13h et le service à 14h.

Minister's Message: The Time is Coming?? When?

 The time is coming when I will fulfill the promise
that I made to the people of Judah and Israel.
At that time I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David.

Jeremiah 33: 14-15

 

I was recently bemoaning my lot to a friend that the house has not yet sold. When is it going to happen? How long will it take? My pragmatic listener asked how long it had been on the market and were there many visits: only one month and 50 visits said I. Change brings anxiety and I am both nervous and excited about the future. But honestly, one month is not long and there is a lot of interest. As you can see, I am not a very patient person. Waiting is not my strong suit. In fact, once I decide something, I want it to be done, yesterday!

I thought I could sell, move and be ready to celebrate Christmas in a new home, with the tree decorated, lights installed and a gift for Santa at the chimney.

The season of Advent is all about anticipating and preparing for the birth of Jesus. It is about waiting for the promise. It is also a quick four weeks that move through each candle of the Advent wreath, and before you know it the baby will be in the manger of hay. Waiting and savouring the present moment helps recover the wonder of this starlit season and lets me prepare my heart and spirit for renewal, joy, and the inevitable chaos that birth (and new birth) brings.

My four weeks with a for sale sign on the front of my property is nothing compared to the centuries between the promise made by the prophets of Messiah and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. 500 years of waiting! That’s a LONG wait, a lot of patience, hope and trust in God’s promise.

The psalmist writes:

I wait for God with longing;
I put my hope in God’s Word.

(Psalm 130:5-6) 

And so I pray in the waiting for the sale and in this Advent season;

God of the unexpected and undreamt:
In this holy season, instill your hope in our hearts.
Prepare us;
prepare us so we can hear again the song of the angels
and see again the beckoning star. Amen.
  
(Celebrate God’s Presence, UCC)

 - Rev. David

 

 

Minister's Message: Advent

La lumière brille dans l’obscurité,
Mais l’obscurité ne l’a pas reçue.

Jean 1.5

The light shines in darkness,
And the darkness has never put it out.

John 1:5

Christmas/ Noël 2018

 

Dear Friends at Emmanuel and SouthWest,

The days have grown shorter and night arrives late afternoon. We come home and wake up in darkness. This will change in a few weeks when slowly the daylight hours will lengthen once again.

It is significant that Jesus is born at this time of year, at the darkest time, when we need his light the most.

As Advent candle lighting begins this Sunday it is a way of anticipating how one light, then another can brighten a day, a room, a life and a community. It is a simple gesture that can be done in worship either at church or at home. The liturgy provided last week and available in paper form can be used wherever you find yourself, a way to stay focused on the deep power of the Good News of Christmas .

We welcome this light into those dark places of our lives, relationships and world. 

We celebrate Christ’s light in many community celebrations once again this year and hope you can join us!

 

C’est significatif que Jésus soit né à ce temps de l’année, au moment le plus sombre, alors que nous avons le plus besoin de sa lumière.

Nous accueillons cette lumière dans les recoins obscurs de nos vies, de nos relations et de notre monde.

 

In hope, joy, peace and love,

Dans l’espérance, la joie, la paix et l’amour,

Rev. David

Services at SouthWest United - 1445 rue Clemenceau - this holiday season:

Advent 1: Dec. 2 10AM
Advent 2: Dec. 9, 10AM
Advent 3: Dec. 16, 10AM
Advent 4: Dec. 23, 10AM

Plus:

On Sunday December 16, join us for Carols by Candlelight / Chantons Noël, at 4PM

On Monday, December 24th, Christmas Eve service is at 7:30PM

Sunday, January 6, 2019, Epiphany service at 10AM followed by a potluck brunch.

And don’t forget, at the Mission - 631 Melrose :
On Wednesday, December 26th, it’s our Boxing Day community turkey meal. Sittings at 12:30 and 2PM. Call the office to reserve. 514-768-6231.

Mini-Market December 5, 2018

Le mini-marché de ce mercredi sera l’avant dernier de 2018. Nous prenons pause pour les fêtes, de retour en janvier. Venez nous voir mercredi de 10h30 à 15h30 à la Mission. Télécharger la liste pour savoir ce qui sera offert la semaine prochaine.

This is the second-to-last Mini-market until the Christmas break. Join us Wednesday, 10:30 to 3:30 at the Mission. Download the list to know what they will have on offer next week.

Christmas by Candlelight/ Chantons Noël 2018

Chantons_Noel.jpg

Christmas by Candlelight † Chantons Noël

December 16 at 4 o’clock

† le 16 décembre à 16 heures

 

Come join us for our beautiful celebration of Christmas: the candles will be lit, the choir will lift their voices, and we will be wrapped in the magic once more…

Venez nous rejoindre pour notre célébration annuelle à la lumière des bougies et dans une véritable bain de musique : chœur, solistes, et nos voix unies. Noël !

 

United Theological College Open House Dec. 4

UTC's Christmas Open House - Dec. 4 @ 5:30PM - Portes-ouvertes de Noël:

Warming Our Place

CAROLS, CHOCOLATE, AND FRIENDS AT UTC

It’s the end of the semester and the beginning of Advent.
We hope that you will join us for this open house and celebration:

 The United Theological College
3521 University Street, Montreal 

December 4, 2018 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

___________

Soirée d'hiver au Séminaire

CHOCOLAT ET CHANTS DE NOËL ENTRE AMIS

 

C’est la fin du semestre et le début de l’Avent.
Nous espérons que vous vous joindrez a nous pour célébrer a la soirée portes-ouvertes du Séminaire:

 Le Séminaire Uni
3521 rue Université, Montreal

 Le 4 décembre 2018 – 17h30 à 19h30

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