On Sunday we light the second Advent candle – the candle of peace!
This week in Sunday worship we will sing:
Put Peace Into Each Other’s Hands
and
Faith communities have been looking east, and lighting candles of peace for centuries, and praying for peace without ceasing.
Advent reminds us that we are to be peace-makers. That we are to make peace by living in ways that bring healing, reconciliation, forgiveness and hope to people throughout the world.
Advent reminds us to notice the moments and acts of peace, even in the midst of times of conflict and tension.
The United Church of Canada’s website Advent resources, include an article on‘Peace’ written by Shannon Bernier after visiting Palestine-Israel on a young adult pilgrimage in August 2019.
As you make plans for the season, please know you are welcome:
Christmas Messy Church on Friday, December 16 starting at 5:30. As Christmas Messy Church will include dinner, your RSVP is appreciated but not required. (tmuc@shaw.ca)
And – the Blue Christmas service on Sunday, December 18 at 7 p.m.
And – the Christmas Eve service is at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 24.
On Sunday December 25, we celebrate Christmas morning with communion at 10 a.m.
On Sunday January 1, we will gather for our traditional ‘Worship around the Breakfast Table’ in Yale Hall.
If you want to think more about Advent, the United Church of Canada’s Advent Unwrapped contains a variety of resources, including ideas families can use for reflection and prayer at home. The ‘Advent unwrapped’ resource includes a template for creating a paper Advent wreath, a ‘Names for Jesus’ prayer activity, and a ‘who do you say…’ reflection page.
This Sunday, we worship in-person at 10:00. If you cannot be present, you are invited to join in the livestream.
Here’s the ZOOM link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7538449219
Other church news:
Thanks to everyone for your support of the Metal Drive. We raised $1039.46. Thanks to Meridian Hauling and Ben Zinn and all the Building and Property Team for your generous leadership.
Offering envelopes are available for 2023 and are in the office for pick up.
Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support of TMUC’s ministry. Donations online can be made through CanadaHelps.
TMUC is preparing Christmas Hampers for 10 families. This week our food requests for Dec. 4 are Bake the Season Bright: 2.5 kg bags of flour, cookies, and crackers. We still need some things for Decide on Dinner: canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, and rice. For Rise’n Shine – cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, jam, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and juice and for Lean into Lunch – tuna. Dec. 11 we will Sweeten it Up: jello, canned fruit, and Dec. 18 is Catch Up and Clean up: Dish soap, and an updated list of what we are missing. We will keep you updated when we reach the amount needed for each item otherwise keep everything coming! All donations are appreciated! Donations should be brought to church on Sunday or dropped at the office by arrangement. Monetary gifts are also possible and specially marked envelopes are available.
Office hours are irregular, so please email to make sure someone is there if you want to drop by.
Other community news:
Bird’s Hill United Church Christmas Tea and Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3rd, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The event features fancy sandwiches and dainties, a free will offering, raffle tickets, ‘white elephant’, handicraft and bake tables including perogies and meat pies.
Westworth United Church is hosting Taize Advent Prayer, on December 4 at 7 p.m. – a candlelight service of meditation and chants with flute, cello and cantor. (Masks are strongly recommended.)
L’Arche Winnipeg is hosting a fundraiser event -Songs of Christmas – on December 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church. Tickets are $15. To order, contact L’Arche Winnipeg at 204-237-0300.
We are still collecting pop cans for recycling (so far we have raised just over $170!) and partnering with TruEarth for fundraising
Office hours are irregular, so please email to make sure someone is there if you want to drop by.
We keep you in our prayers,
Carol and Jeff