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194 Avondale Ave. Stratford, On. N5A 6N4
519-271-3683 or 519-271-7946 Website: www.avondaleunitedstratford.com
SUNDAY Dec. 15, 2019 3rd week of Advent
10:00 a.m.
The flowers on the communion table today are in memory of Glee’s son McCaul (MC) Balmer
who passed away Dec. 9th. With love from Glee & Don
Worship led by Rev. Keith Reynolds, Rev. Kathi Urbasik-Hindley
Interim Music Director Karen Rempel, Senior Choir,
Joan Boshart, Choir Chimes, Reader Ryan Barkley
WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCE
For thousands of years, Indigenous people have walked on this land. We are gathered on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek and Haudenosaunee Confederacy and acknowledge their stewardship of this land throughout the ages. We also acknowledge with respect the history, spirituality, and culture of the peoples with whom Treaty 29 was signed and this territory wherein our church resides.
Announcements & Welcome Prelude: Still, Still, Still
Joan Boshart, Choir Chimes
Lighting of the Advent Candle: Joy
Theme Time
Hymn: Hope Is A Star VU 7, v.1-3
Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
Reflection on Joy: Brian Anderson
Opening Hymn: Good Christian Friends Rejoice VU 35
Opening Prayer: (in unison) And so we come, arriving here this morning to worship, Continuing this Advent season we wait and prepare, God, come to us once again in the joy of the Christ child, Fill us with the wonder of this season. When life takes us places we’d rather not go, help us, In moments we’d like to forget, may we realize Your mercy, When life’s worth is marked by busyness, let us be still, May Your long arc of forgiveness renew and restore… (silence)
Words of Hope and Healing: One: May the grace of the Christ child remind us of God’s little way.
All: With gratitude for God’s grace, we lean in and trust this way.
Amen.
WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD
Anthem: A Time for Advent Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-25
Message: Unexpected Joy
WE RESPOND TO GOD IN LOVE
Hymn: Twas In the Moon of Wintertime VU 71
Moment for Mission: People in Partnership Anna Meusel
https://youtu.be/emR7lpHgNqM
Offertory Music: I Wonder as I Wander
(featuring Susan Walker)
Offertory Response: All Poor Ones and Humble VU 68, v.1
Offertory Prayer (in unison)
With joy we present these gifts for Your mission, living God. We are shaped by giving. Let this offering shape us to grow in faith as Your people this Advent. Unwrap us to become living signs of Christ in the world. Use what we bring this morning to continue Your work here and throughout the world, Amen.
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn: Joy to the World VU 59
Sending Forth and Blessing Choral Benediction: Rise Up Shepherds and Follow
(featuring Leslie Belland)
Postlude: What Child Is This?
Joan Boshart, Choir Chimes
Please join us today in the Fellowship Hall for Refreshment & Fellowship
“Welcome to the World”
Wilder Dahms welcomes with love and joy
his baby sister Harper Grace Ann Dahms Born November 27th to
Brandi and Mike Dahms and 5th grandchild and 1st granddaughter of
Sally and Bill Zehr
Also Congrats to John & Kim Neeb on the birth of their granddaughter
Saje Mikaela (8lbs 13oz) Born December 5th
Hosts for Fellowship Time Today: Ron & Beth Bailey & Emma Carruthers
Greeters this week… Watson Adams & Bernice Sandham Ushering Team for December Clark Mitchell, Barrie Beech, Ian MacLean, Jeannette Dyer, Bob Gulliford & Chuck Dingman
Thanks to Heidi Dey, our Nursery/Toddler helper today.
Thank you to the worship team for providing a drama session for the Sunday school children this morning. There will be a presentation on Dec. 22nd.
Thanks to Bill Douglas for organizing and keeping the clipboards updated in the narthex for children to use.
Calling all Sunday school kids - during the month of December Elaine Bandermann and helpers will be going down to Sunday school to brainstorm and rehearse a Christmas presentation, which will be offered to the congregation during theme time on Sunday, Dec. 22nd. There is no Sunday school on Dec. 22nd - it will be an intergenerational service.
CALLING ALL FUND-RAISING volunteers – please come out for a planning meeting on January 19th following worship. New ideas as well as tried and true ideas welcomed! Grab a coffee and head down to the parlour.
Avondale Outreach Donations for the final quarter of 2019:
L’Arche $2000 for their New Building Programme (Local)
Canadian Aboriginal Issues (Local and National)
a) Save the Evidence at the Woodland Cultural Centre $500
– a donation to help complete restoration of the Mohawk
Institute Indian Residential School Building as part of the
Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford.
b) Water First $500 addressing local water challenges in First
Nations communities through education, training and
collaboration.
Local, National, and International - Canadian Foodgrains Bank
$500
Local and International - Ontario Christian Gleaners $500, Days
for Girls $500
Local - Stratford Kiwanis Christmas Basket Fund $500, United Way
Perth Huron $250
Choices for Change $500, Optimism Place $500, Shelter Link $250,
Change her World $250
Stratford House of Blessing $250, Huron County Foodbank $250
International - Doctors Without Borders $500
The FOOD SHELF is open Friday 9:30-11:00. Thank you to the Avondale congregation for regularly leaving items in the “Donation Depot”. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of many in Stratford. Note: that the Food Shelf is closed on Dec. 27th and Jan. 3rd. Thank you to the Food Shelf Committee for their gifts of cards and candy canes to be distributed to our FS patrons this Christmas.
Casserole Ministry
Our meal supply has been replenished again. Avondale members are welcome to deliver a meal if visiting someone recovering from illness or surgery. These are available on the top shelf of the Kitchen freezer.
The GIVING TREE During the winter months, please consider donating new or gently-used socks, gloves, mitts, scarves, & hats .......... for men, women, teens and kids. They will be distributed to Avondale Food Shelf patrons, youth at ShelterLink, and Emily Murphy Center families. Leave your items in box under “The Giving Tree”, located in the back hallway, near the Donation Depot. Your Outreach team THANKS you.
TODAY is Final Sunday to purchase Alternative Gifts for family & friends:
“Sleeping Children Around the World”
~ BEDKITS ($ 35). Also from Linda Straus (519-271-0984) “Days for Girls” ~ sponsor a hygiene kit ( $ 15 )
for girls and women in developing countries. Also available at Gentle Rain on Rebecca St. “HOPE Center” orphanage in Kenya
Beautiful cards for donations of $20 or more; Also available from Ruth Sealey (519-271-5487). “Gifts with Vision” ~ United Church catalogue.
Also available outside church office. “Avondale Foodshelf” Make a financial donation and receive a card to gift.
ALZHEIMER SOCIETY SOUP’S ON – Saturday January 11th, 2020: Time to Celebrate! We are thrilled to take part in the 25th Anniversary celebration of Soup’s On in support of the Alzheimer Society of Perth County. Our Food Shelf will be showcased in our display booth and feature our Taco Soup Meal Kit. We would appreciate your help with the following: soup preparation on Fri. Jan. 10th at the church and with our display (serving) at the Rotary Complex on Sat. Jan 11th. Creative ideas and helping hands are also needed for decorating our booth. The Sign-Up Sheets are in the Fellowship Foyer. "HOLA" .... the "SOUPS ON" team needs your help..... we are looking to borrow Mexican ponchos, blankets and sombrero hats for our "theme". Please call Ruth Sealey (519-271-5487). Items can be left in the church office. "GRACIAS"
Meals On Wheels Avondale United Church is responsible for delivering
meals for Monday to Friday, the week of Jan. 13th to Jan. 17th and the week of Jan. 20th to Jan. 24th 2020. If you are a volunteer, please contact, Emma Carruthers (519) 271-8635 for the desired dates that you are able to deliver. The schedule needs to be at the Spruce Lodge Office by Jan. 10th. There will be notification from the Meals on Wheels office in the case of inclement weather. Thank you for your support of our church and our community. Volunteers are welcome. The commitment is only 4 deliveries a year (Jan. Apr. July, and Oct.) Please contact Emma is interested in this worthwhile service. From your Vice Chair of Council – on behalf of Executive Team of Council we are seeking a number of members to serve on a variety of Council Teams. If you or someone you know may be interested please let either Terri Sparling or Art Duboyce know. We want to have a full team ready to go as of our Annual General Meeting in February.
Enjoy some Christmas Fiction!
Check out the display in the Avondale Library.
For 7-11 year olds Zack the Dective: the Missing Manger Mystery by Jerry D. Thomas The family under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson Adult Fiction Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon A Treasury of Christmas Miracles by Karen Kingsbury Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder Borrow one or more books after the Service today. From your Stewardship & Finance Team – a huge thank you to all of you who support the work of all of our Avondale Ministries! Your time, participation and financial contributions all help to make our faith community so vibrant! Special thank you all who submitted their Commitment Forms.
This information helps us to plan for 2020. We would still welcome receiving this information.
A huge shout out to our Rental team for all that they do to support this source of funding
Another shout out to all who have helped with fundraising; income from rentals and fundraising make up close to 40% of our total income!
Upcoming Events Lunch and Learn – Tuesday, Dec 17 @ 12:00 noon in the Parlour.
Luke 1:26-38 will be the reading for the December 22nd service. Bring your lunch. Everyone Welcome.
Advent & Christmas Events & Services Sunday, Dec. 22nd 10:00 a.m. – 4th week of Advent Sunday School presentation during theme time.
Tuesday, Dec. 24th – Christmas Eve Services 4:00 p.m. – a casual and interactive Christmas Eve service in the fellowship foyer
7:00 p.m. – our regular Christmas Eve service in the sanctuary
Sunday, Dec. 29th 10:00 a.m. – 1st Sunday after Christmas
Community Events Community Carol Sing with the Wiebes. Monday Dec 23rd 7pm-8pm. in Stratford’s Market Square. Free admission….bring your own mug & lawn chair. It promises to be an amazing night complete with some musical surprises and free hot chocolate so bring along your mugs! Hope to see you there. (Bad weather back up location is Knox Presbyterian)
Weekly Calendar
SUNDAY Dec 15 - SUNDAY Dec 22 Today
10:00 Sunday Service Sanctuary
11:00 Fellowship & Refreshments Fellowship Hall
1:30 Buddhist Community Meeting Gathering Room
2:30 Music Rental Choir Room
Monday
3:00 Daly Music Academy Narthex
4:10 Mindfulness Meditation Library
6:30 Beavers 3rd Group Gathering Room
6:45 Cubs 3rd Group Fellowship Hall
7:00 AA (Women's Closed) Parlour
Tuesday
12:00 Lunch & Learn Parlour
5:00 Frank's Driving School Story Room
6:15 Beavers 12th Fellowship Hall
7:00 CMHA Jam Session Parlour
8:00 AA Choir Room
Wednesday
12:00 ABI Choir Room
6:00 Meditation Library
6:30 Cubs 12th Fellowship Hall
7:00 Scouts 12th Gathering Room
7:15 Support Group Library
Thursday
10:00 Avon Co-Op Sanctuary
11:30 Minister Meeting Parlour
7:00 Choir Practice Choir Room
7:00 Scouts 3rd Gathering Room
Friday
10:00 Avon Co-Op Sanctuary
5:00 Kiwanis Club Christmas Fellowship Hall
5:30 Widow's Support Group Swiss Chalet
8:00 AA Choir Room
Saturday
Next Sunday
10:00 Sunday Service Sanctuary
11:00 Fellowship & Refreshments Fellowship Hall
