Eastminster United Church November 20, 2016

Last Sunday after Pentecost Reign of Christ

*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit

“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” ~Dinos Christianopoulos

We Gather as God’s People

Prelude Words of Welcome

*Opening Hymn VU#268 Bring Many Names

Lighting the Christ Candle One: We gather around this flame to share faith, hope and life. All: In the glow of this flame there is room for all our stories. Opening Prayer adapted from Burton D. Carley We gather to reconfirm our covenant to seek wisdom in love; to strengthen our commitment to the common good. We come from many paths to explore that which is hidden; to consider the ways of our hearts; to confess how we have stumbled; to heal what is broken. We assemble in the effort to nurture our compassion and mercy; to deepen our understanding; to renew our courage; to remember who we are. Amen.

*Sharing the Peace

Covenanting with Rev. Jane Brushey Martin, Volunteer Associate Minister

The children are invited to Church School in the Hurndale Room.

We Share in Word and Song

Greek Scripture John 12: 23-24 Tracey Hoerner

Greek Scripture Luke 17: 5-6

One: The word of Hope All: Thanks be to God! Meditation The Story and the Song Sarah Miller & Hilary Donaldson

Anthem Si tuvieras fe / If You Only Had Faith Pablo Sosa “Si tuvieras fe como un granito de mostaza”

Eso lo dice el Señor “tú le dirías a esa montaña: ¡Muévete! ¡Muévete! Y la montaña se moverá.

“If you only had faith, just like a little seed of mustard,” This is what Jesus has said, You would be able to tell this mountain: “Move away! Move away!” And then the mountain will move away.

We Respond with our Thanks and Prayers

Invitation to Offer our Gifts and Ourselves Offering Hymn Comment ne pas te louer? Traditional, Cameroon; trans.

Andrew Donaldson

Please stand in body or in spirit during the last verse for the presentation of the offering.

*Dedication Prayer

Prayers of People & the Lord’s Prayer (sung) VU#959 Marlene Sagada

Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea Toronto Southeast Presbytery: St. Luke’s United Church

Eastminster Prayer Cycle: Church School and Nursery Leaders

We Go Out to Be the People of God

Life and Work of the Congregation

*Closing Hymn So That We Can Answer ‘Yes’

Will you stand upon the shoulders of the saints of old? Will you cherish their resolve to be alert and bold? Will you honor what they taught? Will you prize the gifts they brought? Will the vision that they caught remain alive in you? Will you claim the ‘now’ that’s dawning in this time and place? Will you give to all who come an unreserved embrace? Will your plea for peace be clear? Will you comfort every tear? Will the calling that you hear remain alive in you?

Will you battle with injustice and create shalom? Will you name the global village as your newfound home? Will you live the life of prayer? Will you witness everywhere? Will the call to risk and share remain alive in you? These are questions, Loving Lord, that shake us to the core. Yet your goodness makes us bold to answer these and more. Now inspire us, called and blessed, all our worries to confess, so that we can answer “YES,” and be alive in you.

*Blessing & Sending Forth

*Sung Blessing Who’s Goin’ to Tell the Story Natalie Sleeth

©1976, Hinshaw Music, Inc. Reprinted with permission via OneLicense.net #A-723573.

Postlude

Today

Scriptures: John 12: 23-24 p.106 Luke 17: 5-6 p. 80

** Congregational Meeting following the service **

* Welcome to Eastminster Please sign the guest book in the Narthex and include your email address if you’d like to receive the weekly e-blast announcements from Eastminster. Prayer requests can be added to the Prayer book also in the Narthex. Children are invited to Nursery (up to age 4) and Church School following the Children’s Time. Please pick up children from Church school and Nursery following the service.

* Advent Decorating! Advent comes early this year - starting on the last Sunday of this month. It's nearly time to decorate

our sanctuary for Advent and you can help! If you'd like to assist with decorating, please speak with Susan Bower, 416 270-7280, slbower@bell.net. The tentative plan is to decorate at 10:00am to noon on Friday November 25th. We have all the supplies, just need 3 or 4 people to help out. Hot chocolate will be provided!

* Refreshments Volunteers Needed!

Please sign up to bring refreshments after church for a Sunday or two this fall. Our custodian prepares the coffee and tea. You bring milk, cream, juice and cookies. The sign-up sheet is at the back!

Eastminster Events * Tues. November 22 from 7-9pm: Exploring our Faith Our fall study group explores issues of faith, ethics and life. The group meets every week for 6 weeks in the Parlour. We will begin with the DVD study Living the Questions. All are welcome to attend. * Wed. November 23 @ 7pm: Financial Planning Workshop Offered by the EUC Stewardship Committee. What is financial planning? Janet McGinty will work with

you on setting Goals, setting budgets, reducing stress, sorting out differences. Learn tools to work with your spouse on financial goals and explore what you want to teach kids and how to go about it.

All are welcome! * Sun. November 27: Community & Discipleship Meeting following service * Tues. November 29 @ 7pm: Post Election Gathering for Progressive People of Faith Join a gathering of local United Churches to discuss our response to the US election and how to

organize around issues of social justice. Meet in the Parlour

* Sun. December 4: Trustees Meeting following service * Tues. December 6 from 7-9pm: Exploring our Faith Our fall study group explores issues of faith, ethics and life. We will begin with the DVD study Living the Questions. All are welcome to attend. Please note this session will meet in the Jackman Room.

* Thurs. December 8 @ 10.40am: Chester Village Service Pls. Speak to Rev. Sarah if you can help

** REMINDER ** As we head into the holiday season this is a reminder to please not leave any items of value or your

personal belongings unattended anywhere in the church.

Christmas Events!!

* Sun. November 27: First Sunday of Advent – Hope!

* Poinsettia Donations Anyone wishing to donate a Poinsettia in memory of, or in gratitude for a loved one is asked to make a

$10 donation in the envelopes marked Poinsettia Donations today. The flowers will be displayed in the sanctuary on Dec. 20th and then delivered to those in the congregation who are unable to attend services. (Please print details clearly)

* Sun. December 4: White Gift Sunday - Peace! This year we are collecting gifts for Out of the Cold. Please fill your white bags with new men's &

women's underwear M- XXL, gloves, razors, small shaving creams, small toothpastes and Tim Horton’s gift cards.

* Tues. December 6 @ 7:30pm: Tidings of Comfort and Joy Christmas Concert! Please join the Toronto Community Orchestra, the Eastminster Choir and the

Young Voices Toronto Children's Choir as they present Tidings of Comfort and Joy. Allow the pastoral melodies of Beethoven's 6th symphony, humour of Haydn's "Surprise" symphony, and warm voices featured in John Williams' Home Alone Suite to comfort you this holiday season. Eastminster

United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. Admission is free, donations are very welcome. (see poster on last page)

* Sun. December 11 @ 7.30pm: Eastminster’s Candlelight & Choirs Christmas Concert! Join the Eastminster Choir for a festive evening of beautiful and moving music of the season, inspired

by the journey toward the manger.

* Sun. December 18 @ 10.30am: Eastminster’s Christmas Pageant

* Tues. December 20 @ 7pm: Blue Christmas Join us and other East End churches for a meditative service for those who have experienced loss or

long for a moment of quiet in this busy season.

* Christmas Eve, December 24 @ 7pm: Christmas Eve Pageant @ 11pm: Candlelit Communion

THE ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE for the Eblast/Newsletter & Sunday Bulletin is: Wednesday at 9am. Please send to Sue at: eastminster@bellnet.ca Thanks!

Weekly Events

Mondays: 1:00pm Prayer Shawl Knitters - meet in Sarah’s Office

Thursdays: 6:00 - 6:45pm Children’s Choir – meet in the Parlour

7:30 - 9.30pm Adult Choir - meet in the Sanctuary

From Our Friends

* Sat. November 26 from 11to 3pm: Candy Cane Tea and Bazaar! Location: Presteign-Woodbine United Church, 16 Presteign Ave. www.presteignwoodbineuc.com 416 755 8352. This is the famous Candy Cane Tea and Bazaar from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm where you can buy your holiday gifts, crafts and baked goods and then lunch with family and friends in our wonderful tea room. * Sun. December 4 @3pm: Riverdale Share Concert

The Riverdale Share Concert is a diverse holiday celebration held every December in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood. The 24th Riverdale Share Concert is on Sunday, December 4th, 3pm at the Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. The show features a range of festive music, comedy and dance and provides great entertainment for all ages! Proceeds of the show are donated to local community non-profit programs. Tickets are $20 and are available at The Big Carrot, 348 Danforth Ave. and Treasure Island Toys, 581 Danforth Ave., or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information visit www.riverdaleshare.com or follow on Twitter @RiverdaleShare (see poster on last page)

* Read Beth Baskin’s Justice Note- bi-weekly updates & events notice here: https://torontoconference.ca/torontosoutheast/outreach- social-

justice-project.php or contact Beth at: bbaskin@united-church.ca

Staff Rev. Sarah Miller, sarah.bmiller@bellnet.ca Office: 416-463-2179 ex. 100 Cell: 416-209-1181

Rev. Jane Brushey-Martin, Volunteer Associate Minister Hilary Donaldson, Pastoral Musician music.eastminster@bellnet.ca

Scott Pietrangelo, Music Leader

Jane Sanden, Youth & Intergenerational Ministry janesanden@bellnet.ca 416-463-2179 ex. 102

Sue Swann, Church Administrator eastminster@bellnet.ca 416-463-2179 ex. 103

Gerald Gordon, Property Manager property.manager@bellnet.ca 416-463-2179 ex. 104

Alex Sinclair, Bookkeeper: pmsinc@interlog.com 416-463-2179 ex. 105

Custodians: Jessica Aguiar, Joshua Somers, Jordana Kuhn,

Soloists: Michelle Suzanne - soprano, Andrew Hodwitz - bass, Jeff Schissler - tenor, Joy Klopp – alto