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December 2019

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A Christmas That Will Last

This Christmas, when you’ve finished wrapping and unwrapping the gifts, and all the food is

eaten, what will have brought the greatest meaning? For many people fulfillment comes from

meaningful relationships, and for Christians, the most meaningful relationship is with Jesus.

In our fast moving world it is hard to develop relationships that are worthwhile, but that is the

purpose of Advent and Christmas. For Christians, Advent is not a season, but a decision!

It is a time to refocus our lives, to seek again the transforming power that we discover within

the measurements of a manger. We believe Jesus comes to bring that transformation to our

lives and to the world.

So, this Christmas, we invite you to Jesus’ House.

On Sunday, December 8 at 7:00pm we will hear Lessons and Carols from our Choir and

Choirs from Brooklin United Church, Northminster United Church and St. Stephen’s United

Church. In addition there will be Flute played by Pandora Bryce, Oboe by Kathy Beatty and

the Durham Wind Ensemble, led by our own Margaret Motum.

Then on Sunday, December 15 at 10:30am, our theme will be “Only Love Can See the Star”

while we celebrate Holy Communion.

On Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00pm we will share in our Longest Night Service where we

offer a special opportunity to be a supportive community for those who find Christmas a difficult

time due to the losses and struggles that life often brings.

Sunday, December 22 at 10:30am is the last Sunday of Advent preparations for Christmas.

Our theme will be “Jesus Slept Here”. Our Choir and Junior Choir will sing and there will be

liturgical dance as part of our celebration that day. Our children will also celebrate with their

Birthday Party for Jesus.

Finally, on Christmas Eve we have three afternoon Christmas Eve Services at 1:00pm,

3:00pm and 5:00pm, entitled “A Star is Born”. Of course live animals will make a visit.

At 10:00pm, we will celebrate Jesus’ birth with a Candlelight Communion Service.

Jesus is coming to Westminster, for a Christmas That Will Last.

You’re invited too!

Many Blessings, Rev. Dan

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First Sunday of Advent

December 1

10:30 a.m.

Family ADVENTure Day

December 1

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Second Sunday of Advent

December 8

10:30 a.m.

Lessons, Carols and

Candlelight Service

December 8

7:00 p.m. at Westminster

Third Sunday of Advent

December 15

10:30 a.m.

Longest Night Service

December 17

7:00 p.m.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 22

10:30 a.m.

J.a.M.

Jesus’ Birthday Party

December 22

10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Play

“A Star is Born”

December 24

1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight

Communion Service

December 24

10:00 p.m.

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What a Wonderful Bazaar!

Thanks to all who made it such a fun and successful community event!

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COMMITTEE This month, we are highlighting the

Worship Committee.

The worship committee has a very important role in the community we call Westminster United Church. It is responsible for supporting our Interim Minster,

Reverend Dan Yourkevich, in the presentation of the weekly Sunday morning service as well as coordinating other services throughout the year. A Sunday service can include Communion (Sandra K-C.) and Baptism (Ava T.) as well as Minute for Mission and Stewardship. Ensuring there are Greeters (Patti L.) for the front door and candle lighters is another role under the Worship Team umbrella. Handing out bulletins and aiding people to their seats as well as helping to collect the offering is the job of the Ushers (Ed R.) and after service there is Coffee/Tea/Juice (Heather M.) offered to everyone. Following the church calendar and lectionary, the decoration of the sanctuary and Narthex falls to the Sanctuary Committee (Heather Von Z.) which changes many times throughout the year. To organize all of this, we often meet throughout the year and thankfully have a Secretary (Sarah B.) and Co-Chairs (Ava T. and Heather Von Z.) to run the meeting. Our Minister of Music (Margaret Motum) and Reverend Dan attend the Worship meetings and provide invaluable input. Our committee is very grateful for all the dedicated volunteers who work on the various teams to support Worship at Westminster. Working on the Worship Committee provides an excellent

opportunity to be an integral part of your church family. Please consider volunteering and getting to know your community.

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Christmas Hampers

Thank you for continuing to support Westminster’s annual Christmas Hamper Program.

This year is our largest undertaking yet, as we will be providing 81 Christmas Hampers

for those in need in our community.

If you are helping to provide for the families and individuals of this program

and you have already received your “Christmas Hamper “Tags”,

please take note of the important dates below…

...and Thank You in advance for your generosity!

Saturday, December 14th

Drop-off gifts in the gym (12:00pm to 4:00pm)

Sunday, December 15th

Delivery of Christmas Hampers

(After the worship service, Volunteer drivers needed)

CO

RN

ER

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Come Out and Get Your

GAME ON!

Friday, December 6th

7:00pm - 9:30pm (For Adults and those over 10 years of age)

Hope to see you at this

Fun, Free Event!

Come and be part of this

Awesome Small Group!

This monthly “come as you can” group

brings adults of all ages and genders together

for a time of discussion, food,

fellowship and prayer…...all in a casual

and comfortable environment.

Faith & Fellowship

will meet on the following dates,

from 1:30pm - 3:00pm:

December 18 and January 8

Hope you can make it!

For more information, contact Cathy Shaw at: cshaw@westminster-uc.ca or 905-723-6442

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Advent Labyrinth Meditation

An opportunity to walk the

Labyrinth’s circuitous path

as symbolic of a pilgrimage and

a spiritual journey, transformation,

healing and wholeness in Christ.

During Advent, take time to slow down, to be still and to be awake

to the Divine Mystery that looks so common, so ordinary and yet is

wonderously present.

Prepare your heart to receive a blessing of peace from the Prince of Peace.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

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J.a.M Kids

You’re Invited to a

Sunday, December 22

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It’s official - the cupboards are bare at our Food Bank!

Our demand is increasing and we are in great need of just about everything

(except pasta and chic peas)...we need canned meat/fish, canned vegetables

and canned fruit, snacks (granola bars, pudding, etc.), juice boxes, coffee, tea,

cereal, peanut butter and non-refrigerated milk (boxes of Almond, Soy, etc.)

We are also in need of toiletries. We thank you for your generosity to our Food

Bank and for helping to keep our shelves stocked. If possible, please check for

expiry dates on food donations...many thanks!

Grocery Cards Here’s a great Christmas gift idea, especially for that student living away from

home or that hard to buy for person in your life. Grocery gift cards are available

for purchase at face value during coffee time after service on Sunday or from the

church office during the week. The added bonus of purchasing these cards is that

Westminster receives a percentage for each card sold,

The Outreach Committee invites you to add child and adult sized mittens and

gloves to our Annual Mitten Tree. All donated items will be distributed during

the first few weeks of January to area schools and community groups that

have expressed a need.

If you are looking for a wonderful Christmas Gift idea, then look no further than the Fair Trade Table in the Gym each week. Not only are there wonderful Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate and other goodies to purchase, but at this time of year, there are also beautifully prepared Gift Baskets for that special person in your life.

Monies raised from our Fair Trade sales help with the costs of our Fellowship coffee time after church on Sunday mornings. Many thanks to everyone who supports this ministry! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ̂

The Longest Night Service

will be held on

Tuesday, December 17

at 7:00pm.

This service offers a time of care and concern for those who may be grieving or sad during

this Christmas Season or for people who are feeling stressed or ‘out of sync’ with the seasonal

emphasis on happiness, togetherness and family gatherings.

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Gentle God,

let the grace of this sacred

season take hold of me.

Free me from distractions

that steal away glimpses

of your goodness.

During these days and weeks

of anticipation

and expectation,

make me mindful of joy

and hope and the wonder

of your incarnate love.

Amen.

Bridge to a New Home

Our latest family, the Nwers, welcomed a baby boy on Nov 22, almost exactly one year after their arrival in Canada. Mom and baby (Tameem) are doing well and Fareeza is thrilled to be a big sister! Our committee has been busy, helping with continued support for these wonderful families. We are thrilled to welcome Tameem as our first Canadian citizen!

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How Might You Consider a Greener Christmas?

At least once a generation we are asked to consider that “Small is Beautiful!”. Right now rampant

consumerism is threatening many of the ecosystems that make our planet habitable. This hurts.

So we are sure that many of you are thinking of making the Christmas holidays a little greener

this year. We feel that our Lord would approve. Here are some ideas to get you started!

Talk with your family about traditions that are important to them and ways that they might suggest

that you simplify (scale back/prioritize/eliminate excess).

Christmas Cards: Buy them from a charity – Reuse last year’s (cut and paste) – Reuse card

fronts by putting a ribbon in a hole in the corner allowing them to be hung on the tree, a lamp or a

doorknob – Substitute with a phone call, especially to an old friend far away.

Christmas Tree: An artificial tree lasts for years and is comfortingly familiar - Buy a real tree that

can be replanted (you have to plan a hole ahead!) - Buy from a local, organic tree farm.

Ornaments/Décor: What do you have already that can be updated with red or gold accents –

Get out your warm shawls and throws to warm up bodies and rooms - Natural items like pine

cones will accept paint, sequins, ribbon or beads and will sparkle! - Cut or folded paper chains

add pizzazz – And don’t forget cookies and popcorn chains on your tree.

Gifts: Consider gifts of your time or talents (baking, preserves, knitting, sewing, bubble bath

(Ivory liquid, glycerin and sugar!). With your close family, share memories with a scrap book or

pass on appropriate treasures of your own (books or jewelry) – Consider sharing with several

others a “Gifts with Vision” donation. Many adults now make charitable donations in lieu of gifts.

Wrap your offerings in what you have: comics, maps, children’s art, wallpaper and tie with ribbon,

yarn or dental floss!

Reduce your travel. Treat loved ones to local theatre or musical productions instead of driving

to Toronto.

Traditions are important. Substitute or add a simple new one (a walk in the snow before

Christmas dinner) - Record your child reading the Christmas story or a Grandparent reading

The Night Before Christmas – Watch a particular Christmas video together – Make Westminster’s

Christmas Eve Service and Play an annual event.

Food and Drink: Challenge yourself to aim for the One

Hundred Mile Diet! Visit local markets (Macmillan and

Algoma have fresh and frozen offerings) – Use hot cider,

herbal tea or eggnog instead of coffee and hot chocolate –

Consider a pot luck which heightens everyone’s investment

in the event.

As you change your mindset and open your heart to the

season, the planet will thank you and the colour of your

Christmas will be enhanced!

The CDMC

(Climate Disruption Mitigation Committee)

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UCW Report

A hearty thank-you to everyone who so generously supported our

requests: the Spring request for soap and face cloths for Africa,

and our fall requests for Camp Quin-Mo-Lac supplies

and hygiene items for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

With your generous support, we donated the following: 318 bars

of Ivory soap, 20 hand towels, 2 dish towels, 49 dish cloths, 191

face cloths, and 4 preemie vests to Dr. Simone who ships them

from Lindsay to Guyana, Africa. Thank you to Bob and Glenda

Locksley for taking them to Lindsay. We sent: 4 footballs, 3 soccer

balls, 4 basketballs, 2 softballs, 2 hockey pucks, 5 various balls,

6 – 60-watt lightbulbs, 6 Noma lightbulbs, and 4 - 9-volt batteries

to Camp Quin-Mo-Lac. Thank you to Tena and Jack Darroch for

delivering them to the Lakeridge Presbyterial representative. We collected and gave: 4 towels,

41 tooth brushes, 10 tubes of tooth paste, 9 combs, 1 hair curler, 2 hair brushes, 14 packages

of sanitary pads, 89 packages of face soap, 1 hand towel, 12 packages of laundry soap,

3 sponges, 3 containers of deodorant, 3 packages of band aids, 1 package of sponges, 5 bottles

of body lotion, 1 bottle of body cream, 7 bottles of body wash, 14 hair products, 2 packages of

sponge wipes and 1 large bag of assorted clothing for the MCC personal hygiene drive. Thank

you to Mark Clarke and Carol O’Neil for picking it up and delivering it to MCC.

Our heartfelt gratitude to all the people who donated. Without you it could not have been done.

Thank you.

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If you’re a Youth in

Grade 6, 7 or 8

then this Youth Group is for you!

Every Thursday evening from

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Games,

Outreach,

Hot Topic Discussions,

Fun, Friends and Food…

…there’s something for everyone!

Bring your friends and make this group your own awesome place to

hang out on Thursday Night. Can’t wait to see you!

Note: Our Youth Group will not be at the Church on Thursday, December 5th, as they will

be shopping for Christmas Hamper Gifts!

Please remember that Westminster

is a Fragrance - Free facility.

We thank you for not wearing

scented products.

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Making Bible Brownies

in the Garden of Eatin’

(Snack Workshop)

Our Just Jammin’ Class...

...working on a

Scripture

Puzzle.

(Matt 22:37-39)

Spending time in the Good News Room

(Lesson Workshop)

learning about the

Body of Christ

and how each of us have

special gifts to share…

...we cannot all be an eye or an ear or a

mouth or a hand.

Making Christmas cards in our all-ages

J.a.M Session!

One for each of the Christmas Hampers!

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Date: Tuesday, December 17

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm.

Place: Westminster’s Gym

To Book an Appointment:

1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

www.blood.ca

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Affirming Sundays

With the support of Council, it has been agreed that Westminster United Church regularly

designate the fifth Sunday in a month to be an Affirming Sunday. These Sundays will

connect our faith to our continuing journey to be an affirming congregation. The Affirming

focus will include a variety of topics which will be reflected upon in our prayers and other

parts of the service. As well, there will be opportunities for information displays in the gym,

workshops/information sessions/luncheon after service.

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Diversity

Embraced

Here

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...Our Food Bank has had a very busy Fall. The number of clients continue to grow.

Many thanks for your generosity in keeping our Food Bank stocked! Please remember that

the need is great throughout the entire year.

...Have you noticed the number of children attending J.a.M.? How positive is that? A big

thank you to our Christian Education Committee and the J.a.M Teaching Team for all their

hard work, care, love and positive influence on our children!

...Have you noticed how well the music ties in with the key message of the worship service?

This does not happen by accident and involves the collaboration of our Worship Leaders.

...What a wonderful experience to hear Luke Yourkevich, son of Rev. Dan and Joanne, play the

trumpet so meaningfully on Remembrance Sunday. Thank you Luke!

...Our thanks to Rev. Dan for moving and greeting in the sanctuary before service every Sunday

and to Cathy for trying to “wrangle” him in time for the Service to begin.

...Are you aware that there is a group at Westminster which provides respite meals for those

who may need them temporarily? If you would like to be one of these meal providers or know

someone who might need this service, please contact Teena M. through the church office.

...Many thanks to the CDMC (Climate Disruption Mitigation Committee) for their presentation on

the plastic crisis which was held after service on Sunday, November 24th. It was an informative

session which opened our eyes to the need for action.

...Anything can happen on a Sunday morning. Were you there during the Children’s Time when

Rev. Dan asked each one how they squeezed their toothpaste, only to admit that he, himself

was a Bottom Squeezer! His comment didn’t phase the children, but it sure made the adults

chuckle. How wonderful that God gives to us laughter!

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There will be no Wine, Women and the Word in the month of December.

This group will resume on January 14, 2020

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JUST

FOR

LAUGHS

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You’re invited… Worship Service - Advent 2 - Peace

10:30am

Lessons, Carols and Candlelight Service

7:00pm

Sunday, December 8

NOOMA DVD Series (Small Group)

7:00pm - 8:00pm

Monday, December 9

Youth Group (Grades 6,7,8)

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Thursday, December 12 (every Thursday evening)

Christmas Hamper - Gift Drop-Off

12:00pm - 4:00pm

Saturday, December 14

Worship Service - Advent 3 - Joy - Communion

10:30am

Christmas Hamper Distribution

After Worship - Volunteer Drivers Needed!

Sunday, December 15

Blood Donor Clinic

4:00pm - 8:00pm

Longest Night Service

7:00pm

Tuesday, December 17

Faith & Fellowship (Small Group)

1:30pm - 3:00pm

Wednesday, December 18

Worship Service - Advent 4 - Love

10:30am

Jesus’ Birthday Party

(For J.a.M Kids, during worship)

Sunday, December 22

Christmas Eve Family Services - “A Star Is Born”

1:00pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm

Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service

10:00pm

Tuesday, December 24

Worship Service

10:30am - Intergenerational Service

No Nursery or J.a.M classes today

Sunday, December 29

Worship Service

10:30am - Intergenerational Service

No Nursery or J.a.M classes today

Sunday, January 5

Living Alone Lunch

12:00pm

Wednesday, January 8

Wishing you and your family an abundantly blessed holiday season…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!