A few reminders for this week Oct. 25 – Oct. 31, 2021

FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK
This coming Sunday we celebrate the Reformation—Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead,” writes the Apostle James as he probes the nature of faith. He sees a trend in the church where faith has been reduced to holding a set of beliefs. A tendency in the face of opposition—even persecution—to retreat into a kind of interiority where faith became personal and private and had no impact on how a person lived. It was to reduce faith to mere ideation. The rationalism of our current era has had similar effect where Christian faith is thought of as simply to hold a certain set of beliefs or ideas about God. James understands faith as relationship with God in Jesus Christ who does a work in our lives such that we seek to obey him in our living. The Apostle Paul is on the same page with James in this matter; Paul said that he was “servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle for the gospel of God … to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles.” (Romans 1:1-5)
IN-PERSON WORSHIP
We continue in Step 3 of the “RoadMap to Reopen”. In this phase there are no percentage capacity limits, but physical distancing and masks are still required. To view the guidelines at Central United, please click here.
FORMATION OF INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
The trustees are forming an investment committee with 3 to 5 members to recommend investments and monitor their performance within the established policy. If you feel interested and that you could serve our church in this way please contact Bob Nebel, Chair of Trustees at nebelrwn@gmail.com by November 12th.
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
  1. Copy this address into your web browser https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8925458525 or click here
  2. 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:
  1. Call: 647 374-4685
  2. When prompted press: 892 545 8525 #
  3. Then when prompted again press: # to enter the call
ONLINE SUNDAY WORSHIP, October 31st
Sunday’s service will be available to watch via livestreaming at 10:00 am and is recorded for later viewing, 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.
We suggest, for joining the live stream, that you tune in early. You are encouraged to have your bible handy and please note that the text of this Sunday’s Sermon will be available on our Church website prior to Service time. This Sunday’s Scripture readings are Deuteronomy 6:1-9, James 2:14-26; 5:1-6, and Mark 12:28-34. You can also find a daily scripture message at the top of our website.
Please join us each week and spread this good word. Share our streaming information with family and friends, and via your extended social network, hopefully, more and more people will hear about our live stream services and join in each week.
 
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.
SMALL GROUPS BIBLE STUDY:
The Book of James by Francis Chan
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm
October 20th – November 24th
              
Session 3 of our small groups bible study will be held next Wednesday, November 3rd, starting promptly at 7 pm, so please join 10 minutes before the 7:00 pm start time. We look forward to our time together over the next several weeks!
Here are the details on how to join the meeting:
Access to Join Zoom Meeting from your PC, Tablet or Smartphone
1. Copy this address into your web browser https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85622865297 or click here.
2. If you are joining with the Zoom App the Meeting ID is: 856 2286 5297 (Note that you can also download the Zoom Application and use the Meeting ID to join)
Quick access by phone:
1. Call: 647 374-4685
2. When prompted press: 856 2286 5297 #
3. Then when prompted again press: # to enter the call
SAMARITAN’S PURSE – Christmas Shoebox
Our Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoebox Outreach event is well underway. This is an opportunity to share our love and give joy and hope to needy children in the world. You can participate by packaging a shoebox yourself or if you’d prefer Samaritan’s Purse to pack a box for you, you can do so with a $40.00 donation, just visit their website here.
The campaign runs for six weeks ending on Sunday, November 14th. Shoeboxes, brochures and shopping lists are now available at the church and can be picked up Sundays after church service or during the week. The church office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
Let’s support this great initiative again this year to bring joy to a needy child. What a wonderful way to share Jesus’ love.
 
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.
During this time of limitations on in-person visits, Rev. Dr. James Clubine is available for a telephone or video conference pastoral ‘visit’ and prayer. If you would like to book a visit, please contact Rev. Clubine at the church office 905.474.0183×228 or mobile office 416.358.4924 or by email jclubine@centralunitedchurch.com.
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
If you are interested in reading ahead a little, below are the readings for next week.

November 7th 2021
1 Kings 17:8-16
Psalm 146
James 3:1-18
Mark 12:38-44