Sunday, December 13, 2020 Theme: Advent 3: JOY

Online VU = Voices United MV = More Voice Worship link can be found here:

https://stthomasunited.ca/

Order of Service: Prelude: Kari Orosz: My Little Drum by Vince Guaraldi Welcome to our Online Worship Service Acknowledgement of Treaty 7, Métis Region 3 Land

Candle Lighting & Silence

Introit: Hope is A Star (verse 3) VU#7

Call to Worship

Opening Prayer: Holy God, in brave words spoken in the midst of turmoil, of prophecy in the midst of promise, and rejoicing God’s abundance, we gather. We gather with hearts quivering, strength failing, and joy escaping sight. We gather with celebra-tion, strength, and rejoicing. With the good and the bad, and everything in between, we gather in a time of your presence. Be with us in this time, that together we might hear your words spoken by your servant into our lives once more to hear the joy that is possible this season. Amen. Hymn: A Light is Gleaming VU#82

Scripture: Luke 1: 46-55, Reader: Diane Paley

Ministry of Music: Youth Choir: The Procession by Walter &

Carol Noona

The Message: Those Who Dream Sow Seeds of Joy

Ministry of Music: Children’s Choir: Keep Christmas With You

by David Axlerod & Samuel Pottle

Invitation to Open Hands

Offertory Prayer: Holy One, in joy and thanksgiving we reach out with dreams of the future. In what we offer may our dreams be known. Through the gifts of our hands and the blessing of your joy, may we be partners in dreams coming true. Amen. Hymn 2: A Candle is Burning (verse 3 ) VU#6

Pastoral Prayers & Prayer of Jesus

Hymn: Joy Shall Come (x3) VU#2

Commissioning & Benediction

Postlude: Kari Orosz: O Tannenbaum by Vince Guaraldi

Choose Your Own Christmas Adventures as we are all “Home for the Holy-Days”

December 20: Teen Christmas Musical. Availa-ble at 4:00 pm and onward. If you’d like to join our coffee chat after watching the musical, please email the office and we will send you zoom instructions. We will meet around 4:45 pm for coffee and a chat

December 21: Longest Night: A Blue Christmas Service. Available at noon and onward. If this Christmas Season is difficult for you in any way, please join us for this service of Hope and Light for contemplation, prayer, and reflection.

December 23: A Country Christmas. Join us for a very special Christmas Service from Llewelyn-Bethel Chapel in SE Sask. Available at 10:00 am onward. See full details inside the bulletin.

December 24: the following 3 services availa-ble at 10:00 am onward: 1. Kids, Carols, and Chaos service (a kid/family

-friendly service re-telling the nativity story) 2. Adult Choir Cantata service (a musical re-

telling of the Christmas story) 3. Communion service December 24: Stations of the Birth: CANCELLED DUE TO NEW GATHERING RESTRICTIONS December 27: Hot Seat Sunday where Justin, Candace, and Tracy will ask each other interesting questions. Available at 10:00 am onward.

UPDATES

Coffee Chat Sunday Mornings! Join us Sunday mornings as we gather via Zoom for a time to watch the online worship service to-gether as community starting around 9:45 am with the service starting at 10 am. Then stay after the service for a time of checking

in and conversation. To register and receive the Zoom invite, send us an email at coffee-chat@stthomasunited.ca and we’ll email the info on Friday afternoons.

The 2021 UCC calendars are now available at $7.00 each. Please contact the office to arrange purchase, pick up or delivery.

Youth Group (grades 7-10) meets weekly for social events with a mix of in-person, physically distanced and virtual meetings. If you would like to join us, please email the youth leaders at youth@sttomasunited.ca.

Junior Youth Group (grades 4-6) meets virtually through ZOOM every second week. The next meeting is Dec 18. If interested, please email jun-ioryouth@sttomasunited.ca.

Grocery Gift Card Sales are available for Safeway/Sobeys, Co-op and Superstore in $50’s and $100’s. Email fundrais-ing@stthomasunited.ca with your order and we can arrange pickup/delivery. Thank you. -Richard Taylor-Kerr

Wanda’s Preserves: I am still managing to make lots of delicious preserves. Enjoying my time in our beautiful kitchen. I will be mak-ing more ANTIPASTO, and HOT PEPPER JELLY, if you feel like treating yourself, or giving it out as gifts. I have an inventory list which I can send you and I am happy to deliver to you. Thanks for your great support everyone. 403 239 5964. wandaveer47@gmail.com.

UPDATES

Newsletter Deadline: Please have your Jan-Feb Newsletter submissions in to the office by Tuesday, Dec. 15. Submissions should be emailed with “Jan-Feb Newsletter” in the subject line. Word docu-ments are preferred and please avoid formatting for easier editing on our end. Thank you so much for your assistance! Halyna

BEYOND ST THOMAS

A Country Christmas: Join us for a Christmas Service from the Llewelyn-Bethel Chapel near Bangor & Atwater in SE Saskatchewan. Built in 1910 and the oldest Welsh congregation in Western Canada. In 1934, the con-gregation joined the United Church of Canada and is part of the Little Cutarm Pastoral Charge, which is served by Shelly Morris (lay supply and Sacrament Elder) and Rev. Susan Griffith (Pastoral Charge Supervisor) Side note: Rev. Susan Griffith is the mom of our very own Kari Orosz! Evening services are usually held there twice a year - on December 23 for Christmas Eve and Good Friday. There is no electricity in the building and a wood-burning stove is the only source of heat. Usually on Christmas Eve there are a number of candles & oil lamps lit in the windows to give the church it's light, and music is provided by the pump organ. We are honoured and priv-ileged to be able to offer this service as one of your adventure choices dur-ing this time of being “Home for the Holy-Days” and hope people share it widely with friends and family. When you are out shopping, please consider the following wish list from the Veteran’s Food Bank. All donations may be dropped off at #10, 820—28 St NE or at our church. Please call the church office to arrange your drop off time. Thank you.—Loree Irving

SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER BODY WASH LOTION SHAVING CREAM DISH SOAP HAND SANITIZER CLEANING SUPPLIES PAPER TOWEL COFFEE COOKIES CRACKERS

PEARS - CANNED MANDARIN ORANGES CREAM CORN MIXED VEGGIES SALAD DRESSING RELISHES HONEY HASHBROWNS – COSTCO CRANBERRIES PIE FILLING

KRAFT DINNER HAMBURGER HELPER BAGGED OATS PANCAKE MIX INSTANT RICE SARDINES & OYSTERS SALAD DRESSING BBQ SAUCE APPLE SAUCE CANNED TUNA & SALMON

BEYOND ST THOMAS

Adopt A Family is online: This year we offer an opportuni-

ty to sign up online for the gift you would like to give our

‘Adopt A Family’. We will adopt 3 families again this year,

two we have been supporting for years; the Yalda’s, our ref-

ugee family from Iraq, our All Roads Lead Home family and

a third family that comes to us from BowWest. To donate a gift, sign up at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ky4CQSXuFnYnKlscJ_Vm8gMhNxzJRykj/view.

If you have a Gmail or Google account: Sign in. Place cursor at top of the

page and click on ‘open with’ at the top centre and choose Google docs. Fill in

your name and contact info. Exit the page to save text. If you don’t have a

Google account: Place cursor on the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner.

Highlight the gift you wish to donate and another plus sign (+) will appear on

the right side of the page. Click on the new plus sign and add your name and

contact info in the text box. Click on the word “comment” to save that text.

Exit the page to post your comment. If you have any issues, please contact me

at karenkavanagh80@gmail.com or 403-286-8073.

Please email the office to arrange for drop off of the gifts by Dec. 14. If you

are not able to drop off, please contact Karen to arrange pickup. The grocery

gift cards can be purchased through fundraising@stthomasunited.ca, please

advise Richard they are for Adopt A Family. If you are unable to shop and still

want to support the program you can send or drop off a cheque, by Monday

Dec 7, to the church. This has been a difficult year for many people and this

is a wonderful opportunity to bring some real Christmas cheer to these fami-

lies that are struggling. Thank you for showing them God’s love. —Karen Ka-

vanagh

BEYOND ST THOMAS

The Centre for Newcomers is asking for winter wear such as jackets, scarfs, gloves, touques and winter boots for both women and men. If you have any items, new or gently used to donate, please contact Hope Cochran at hopeco7@gmail.com. I can come pick it up or you can take it to Community Wise at 223 - 12 Ave SW. Thank you for your support for those less fortunate.

It is important this year to be socially conscious with our hard earned Christ-

mas shopping dollars! Consider Global Wonders Products of Hope for your

gift giving this season. Global Wonders products are designed and hand-

made by survivors of sexual exploitation who are a part of the SA Founda-

tion’s recovery programs! Shop local by booking a private, Covid-safe ap-

pointment at our Global Wonders Boutique in NW Calgary (all Covid proto-

cols are in place and you would be the only shopper) OR shop online at

www.beaglobalwonder.com. 100% of the proceeds goes back to supporting

her journey from slavery to freedom. Special for our supporting churches:

Use the coupon code CHAMPION25 for 25% off your purchase at either the

boutique or online! To book your private, local shopping appointment, text

Melonie at 403-875-5111. Thank you!

www.safoundation.com 403-875-5111.

Links: http://www.beaglobalwonder.com http://www.safoundation.com

Melonie Michaud, SA Foundation Alberta Ambassador

BEYOND ST THOMAS

The COVID-19 outbreak has changed our daily routines and adjusting hasn’t been easy. Not for anyone. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed and struggling to cope, help is available—24/7. Visit alberta.ca/mentalhealth to find resources.

THIS WEEK AT ST. THOMAS

Sunday, Dec 13 10:00 am Online Worship Monday, Dec 14 no events Tuesday, Dec 15 no events Wednesday, Dec 16 9:00 am Worship Filming 7:30 pm 12 Step Group Thursday, Dec 17 9:00 am Worship Filming 6-7 pm Virtual Children’s Choir 7-8:30 pm Virtual Adult Choir Friday, Dec 18 1:30 pm Al Madinah Islamic Assembly 6:30 pm Virtual Junior Youth Group 7:00 pm Virtual Youth Group Saturday, Dec 19 no events

Ministers: Rev. Tracy Robertson Rev. Justin McNeill

Office Administrator: Halyna Kinasevych

Music Team: Pam Bazinet, Barb Robertson, Dick Worton, Erin MacLean-Berko

Accompanists: Kari Orosz, Kloria Wen

Youth Leaders: Heather Robertson Caitlin Hornbeck Jacqueline Verwaayen

Sunday School Coordinator: Erin MacLean-Berko

Upcoming Service Themes: Dec 13: Advent 3—Joy Dec 20: Advent 4—Love Dec 21: Blue Christmas Dec 23: A Country Christmas Dec 24: Christmas Eve Services Dec 27: Hot Seat Sunday

Through our gifts we commit ourselves to live out the mission and ministry of the church. Please give generously to the Mis-sion and Service Fund to make this possi-ble.

St. Thomas is an Affirming Ministry within The United Church of Canada. LGBTQ2 people are whole people and full mem-bers in this community of faith.

The United Church of Canada St. Thomas is proud to be part of the United Church of Canada which ministers to close to 3 million people in 3,500 congregations across the country. For more info about the United Church visit www.united-church.ca

100 Hawkwood Blvd. NW Calgary AB T3G 2S9

office@stthomasunited.ca www.stthomasunited.ca

403-241-0366

Each Sunday we acknowledge that we are on Treaty 7 land, not out of guilt or shame, but in recognition of the land on which we gath-

er. We give thanks for the traditional territo-ries and oral practices that have lived on this land for thousands of years through the Indigenous Nations of the Siksika, Kanai, Piikani. Stoney-Nakota and Tsuut’ina and all people who make their homes in this, our Treaty 7 region of Alberta, and the Region 3 Métis Nation.