FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK
… the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. (Matthew 4:16) In satellite pictures of the earth at night you can see where the cities are by the concentration of lights. It is clear that we don’t like darkness. Humans flood their lives with lights of our own making. The gospel proclaims that in the coming of Jesus into the world a great light has come. A light that dispels a darkness we don’t perceive perhaps because of all these lights of our own making. Indeed, Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ This Sunday our choir is leading worship with a joyous musical message in celebration of Christmas, ‘The Promise of Light.’ I encourage you to come and bring someone with you. The story of Christmas is the story of “The true light, which enlightens everyone, coming into the world.”
Your Input is Required for the Church Strategic Plan by December 18
CUC’s Strategic Planning Committee requires your input on some important questions. We believe that you can provide us with some valuable insight that will shape the future of our Church.
The following link will take you to a Members and Attendee’s Survey that we ask you to complete by Sunday, December 18, 2022. We thank you for taking the time to complete the survey and for the insight you will provide us, as we develop CUC’s Strategic Plan.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CVZVFCB
For those who prefer working with a hard copy, please either pick up a printed survey in the church lobby or contact the church office for a survey to be mailed to you.
Sincerely,
CUC’s Strategic Planning Committee.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
Central United Church welcomes you to our Worship Service Sunday morning at 10:00 am and we would love to have you join us. We rejoice that we can worship together and give thanks, offering prayer and lifting our voices in song.
Sunday services will also still be available to watch via livestreaming at 10:00 am through the Church website. To watch live or view a recording later, go to the Church website, scroll down and click on Central United’s Live Stream Page or click here. A copy of the bulletin for this Sunday’s Service is attached here.
This Sunday’s Scripture readings are Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55. You can also find a daily scripture message at the top of our website.
CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY
WORSHIP SERVICES
We would like to remind everyone about our upcoming Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services. We will celebrate with two Christmas Eve services at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m; come and enjoy carols, choir and the reading of the story of the birth of our Saviour. The Christmas Day service will take place at 10:00 am. At all services we will share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
2023 OFFERING ENVELOPES
2023 Offering Envelopes are now available and can be picked up in the narthex this Sunday or you can drop by the church Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday mornings to pick them up. If you are unable to come in and pick them up please let Sharlene know in the church office and she will make arrangements to have them delivered to you. These new envelopes are to be used as of January 1st. If we have missed your name and you would like a set of envelopes, please speak to Sharlene and she will be pleased to look after that for you.
CHRISTMAS OUTREACH INITIATIVE
We would like to thank all of you who so generously supported the school bag & duffle bag outreach to the Children’s Aid Society this past year. As you know we have in the past purchased Christmas gifts for a number of vulnerable local families through the Children’s Aid Society. This year we have agreed to support a youth who has been in foster care for a number of years. His foster family is relocating and he has decided to move into his own apartment. If you are interested in helping this young man there is a list posted on the bulletin board in the foyer. The Children’s Aid Society has also requested that we donate common store gift cards, like Walmart, and they can give them to families to choose what they need in lieu of Christmas gifts. Information about how to donate from Central will be on the bulletin board, or contact Éilis Wu at eilisannwu@gmail.com. The deadline for donations is this Sunday, December 11th.
CHRISTMAS GIFT BAGS
Christmas Gift Bags, a meaningful gift with a charitable donation, will be for sale on Sunday after Church in the Narthex. Each gift bag contains a tree ornament made by an artisan in a developing country along with a message that the ornament symbolizes a donation was made to the Markham Food Bank. Suggested donation is $20 minimum with 100% of the proceeds going to the Markham Food Bank, with a tax receipt provided.
MITTEN TREE
We are accepting donations until this Sunday, Dec. 11th for the Mitten Tree which is set up in the Friendship so that we can deliver them to the Salvation Army before Christmas. They can be dropped off at the church this week between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm or if you’re attending in person worship on Sunday morning and prefer to drop them off then, that would be fine as well.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING & TIME OF FELLOWSHIP
Please come and join the Thursday prayer meeting tonight at 7:00 pm. After the prayer time we have some time for fellowship to allow us to catch up with each other a little. The meeting is held using the Zoom technology. Please join 10 minutes before the 7:00 PM start time.
Here are the details for those that wish to participate:
Access to Join Zoom Meeting from your PC, Tablet or Smartphone
- Copy this address into your web browser https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8925458525 or click here
- If you are joining with the Zoom App the Meeting ID is: 892 545 8525 (Note that you can also download the Zoom Application and use the Meeting ID to join)
Quick access by phone:
- Call: 647 374-4685
- When prompted press: 892 545 8525 #
- Then when prompted again press: # to enter the call
ONLINE DONATIONS
Donations for the work of Central United Church can be made online.
- You can donate to Central United by clicking here:
- You can continue to specify how you want your donation to be allocated by either selecting the appropriate category on the website or by typing in your choice in the MESSAGE box.
- Donation receipts will be issued directly by Canada Helps, so there is no need to include your envelope number.
- If you have any questions, email finance@centralunitedchurch.com.
In addition to the online donation option, your church offerings can also be mailed to the church.
PASTORAL CARE
Should you become aware of any illness, bereavement, hospitalization, etc., among people of our church, please notify the church office as soon as possible.
If you would like to book a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Clubine at the church office 905.474.0183 or mobile office 416.358.4924 or by email jclubine@centralunitedchurch.com.
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