Welcome to Grace! We hope you will join us for IN-PERSON worship on Sunday at 10 am. If you cannot make it to the church, you can be online. Click here to join us live on Facebook. A recorded version of the service is publicly available on Facebook by noon each Sunday. Throughout this publication, you will see underlined items. These are all hyperlinks, taking you to a website, Facebook page, or email to contact for more information. Give one a try by clicking on one of them, like the donation link. A hard copy of this publication is available in the office. Grace depends on financial contributions. You can support fantastic programming by going to our webpage, http://www.graceunitedchurch.ca/donate, or filling out a pre-authorized remittance form, available from the office. Grace depends on financial contributions.
What’s Happening This Week
Dec 19
Piano Recital - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Dec 20
Senior Luncheon Prep - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Staff Meeting - 2:30 pm
Dec 21
Senior Luncheon - 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Voice Recital - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Dec 22
Outreach Cupboard - 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Dec 23
Office Closed
Dec 24
Christmas Eve Service - 7:30 pm
Dec 25
Christmas - Office Closed
Dec 26
Office Closed
Dec 27
Office Closed
Dec 28
Office open am only
Dec 29
Office open am only
Dec 30
Office - Open all day
Dec 31
Office closed
Outreach Shopping List
o Canned & fresh fruit
o Pasta Sauce
o Canned veggies/tomatoes o Pasta
o Freezable meats
o Lunch meat
o Cereal o Rice
o Crackers o Juice boxes
o Canned protein (ham, chicken, tuna)
(Larger cans for families)
o Instant oatmeal pkgs
o Granola bars
o Toilet paper/ Kleenex
o Shampoo, body wash, deodorant
ORDER OF WORSHIP – December 18, 2022
Advent 4 - Love Sunday
A Whole New World… Where We’re No Longer Alone
Worship led by the Grace Choir, Grace Ringers, Rev. Cathy Kinsman,
Jonathan Rollheiser, Lois Sonnega and Garnet Weaver
GOD INVITES US TO WORSHIP
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (vs. 1,3,4) VU #60
English Trans. Frederick Oakeley, 1841 Music:attr. John Francis Wade, 1743
CANDLELIGHTING “In the Quiet Stillness of Creation” Gladys Jack
“In the quiet stillness of creation, in the quiet stillness of home.
In the quiet stillness of our being, God reminds us that we’re not alone”
CENTERING PRAYER
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING The Hurd Family
CHILDREN’S TIME “Cloth for the Cradle”
Cloth for the cradle, cradle for the child,
the child for our every joy and sorrow:
find him a shawl that’s woven by us all,
to welcome the God of each tomorrow.
Tune: Wae’s Me for Prince Chairlie (Scot’s trad.)
Words and Arrangement: Iona Community 1997 – Wild Goose Worship Group
WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD
PRAYER OF HEALING
God who is with us, closer even than our breath, reveal to us the Saviour.
Like so many before us,
we fall short of your hope for us and need the hope of healing. Reveal to us the Saviour. Like David and prophets of old, we need your promise of love. Reveal to us the Saviour.
Like Mary and Joseph, may we have peace and joy. Reveal to us the Saviour.
Like all the saints who have gone before, grant us the gift of life. Reveal to us the Saviour. Free us from the ways we fail to be your people, your children.
Free us from the ways we have hurt, ignored, and fallen short. Reveal to us the Saviour.
(A moment of reflection)
WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT
Friends, hear these words from scripture. The prophet Isaiah declares,
“A young woman is with child, and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel,”
which means “God with us.”
May we take the radical realities of God’s forgiving love deep into our hearts and know that we are indeed, refreshed, and freed from the past.
We offer God’s love freely and without expectation,
Knowing we are never alone. Thanks be to God.
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
(Please see the screen for congregational liturgy)
HYMN “A Little Child the Saviour Came” (vs. 1-3) VU #445
Words: William Robertson ca. 1861, alt. Music: Trier Manuscript, 15th C
adapt. Michael Praetorious 1609
Rowan Cecilia Organ
Born April 1, 2022 in Lloydminster
Proud parents are Linsay Rowan Organ (Kelly) and Joseph Roger Organ
Grandparents Shae and Phil Kelly & Roger Organ and Step-Grandmother Joann Goosney
Birth Mother to Joseph, and with us in Spirit – Cecilia Organ
THE SCRIPTURE SPEAKS TO US
SCRIPTURE READING
Hebrew Scriptures - Old Testament – Isaiah 7:13-16 – The sign of Emmanuel
New Testament – Matthew 1:18-25 – Joseph’s Dream
In this is God’s Holy Word. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Christmas Carol Fest” Grace Ringers
Music: Douglas Wangner;
MESSAGE “Twas the Evening Before Christmas” Grace Sunday School
HYMN “Away in a Manger” (vs, 1,2,3) VU #69
Words: Author Unknown Music: William James Kirkpatrick 1885;
arr. Desmond Hassel 1992
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND
OFFERING INVITATION
OFFERING HYMN “In the Bleak Midwinter” (vs. 4) VU #55
Words: Christina Georgina Rossetti ca. 1872 Music: Gustav Theodor Holst, 1906
OFFERING PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
WE GO FORTH IN FAITH
CLOSING HYMN “People Look East” (vs. 1,4,5) VU #9
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1928 French Folk Melody, arm. Martin Fallas Shaw, 1928
ANNOUNCEMENTS – Life and Work of the Church
BLESSING
CHORAL BENEDICTION “I am Walking a Path of Love” MV #221
Words and Music: Janet Bauman Tissandier
Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission. One License #A-7252
STEWARDSHIP SECONDS
God loved the world so much that God gave. Why do you give? How does your giving expand love?
OFFICE HOURS|DEC 23 – JAN 3 |GUC
The office will close at 3:00pm on December 22nd, for the remainder of the holiday season the office hours are as follows:
Dec. 23rd – Dec 27th closed
Dec. 28th & Dec 29th – morning only
Dec. 30th – Regular hours
Dec. 31st – Jan. 3rd – closed
THANK YOU
The Pastoral Care committee thanks all those members of our congregation who supported the Poinsettia Project, either by making a monetary donation or by delivering the poinsettias. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas
ON THE DOORSTEP OF GRACE
The theme for the December issue of On the Doorstep of Grace is Hobbies and Interests. We want to hear from our readers! Answer the following questions in a few sentences and submit your answers to the church office, in person to Brenda or Alison, or through email. We look forward to your responses!
What is your favourite pastime or hobby?________________________________________
How long have you been participating in this activity?________________________________
How did you get started? ___________________________________________________
How does it fill your cup? ___________________________________________________
Submit to brenda.ellison36@gmail.com or to agweaver@hmsinet.ca
COMMUNITY THANK YOU
We want to say thank you to the Lloydminster Royal Canadian Legion for their Generous donation of $1,500.00 to the outreach program.
FAMILY CHRISTMAS│DEC 18TH│10:00 AM│GUC
Join us in the Hall for Hot Chocolate Cookies and Cake "Twas the Evening of Christmas", by Glenys Nellist. Thank you to all of our Sunday School Children & Youth actors! Thanks also to Edith Cunningham for being our reader for such a special story! AND, to all of you for taking your part in this re-creation!
YOUTH NITES│JAN│6:00-8:30PM│GUC
YOUTH NITES are an opportunity for youth ages 11-18 to gather in a safe and welcoming space to learn more about each other, take in a mental health strategy, and have fun in the main activity. With the help of the Border City CareAvan this week, the YOUTH went shopping for an Outreach family we chose to support. What a gift to be able to give back to someone in need. Special thanks to a special donor who gifted the youth with a $1000.00 donation to help support this young family well beyond the Christmas season. So, with personal monies and this donation, it was a fun night shopping!!! YAY GOD!!!
YOUTH get started again in January with the following schedule.
Thursday, January 12th- JUST DANCE in the Hall
https://form.jotform.com/221654825281255
Thursday, January 19th- BOWLING *** change of time*** 4:00 - 5:30
https://form.jotform.com/223476882652264
Thursday, January 26th- A Special PAINT NITE with Michelle Lake
https://form.jotform.com/221655078621254
HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, RAH RAH RAH
There were a lot of long faces when the kids figured out there was no more Homework Program until 2023. This past week the students wound up Homework Club with a Pizza Party. A huge shout out to Boston Pizza for giving us a great deal on pizza for kids, teachers, tutors, and kitchen helpers! Homework starts up again January 10th.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY│JAN 25TH│10:00 AM – 12:30 PM│GUC
My Life is an Open Book Series- partly funded by the Canadian Government - New Horizons Senior Program
MARK THIS UPCOMING DATE on your Connecting Community Calendar.
Wednesday, Jan. 25th
10:30 - 11:00 - Coffee and Fellowship
11:00 - 11:30 - To the Core Pilates Studio Ltd. - Donna Schellenburg
11:30 - 11:45 - Personal Break
11:45 - 12:15- Lunch
12:15 - 12:45- Nutritional Tips for Everyone
12:45 - 1:00 - Personal Break
1:00 - 2:00 - Your Life is An Open Book Series Speakers
As beloved children of God, all are included in the life and ministry of the Grace Family
where diversity is celebrated.
Grace remembers, as we celebrate God’s presence in worship,
that Grace United Church gathers on Treaty 6 land,
the traditional territory of the Plains, Wood Cree, Assiniboine and Métis peoples.
As Treaty people,
we seek to live with respect on this land and live in peace and friendship with all our relations. Minister - Rev. Cathy Kinsman - 1-204-294-2142 gucminister@telus.net
Executive Director - Bev Thurlow 780-875-8959 gucbevthurlow@gmail.com
Administrative Support - Ashley Barber 780-875-8959 gucoffice22@gmail.com
Treasurer - Lynda Campbell 306-821-2575 blbcampbell@gmail.com
Bookkeeper - Wendy Walker - 780-875-8959 guctreasurer@telusplanet.net
Family Support Worker - Lana Lane - 1-403-901-8385 lanalanegraceu@gmail.com
Playschool Coordinator - Lori Haygarth - 780-808-0959 dannyandlori@telus.net
Choir Director - Karen Fawcett - 780-875-4642 karenfawcett@hotmail.com
Affirming Support Worker - Jenson Brown - 780-875-8959 gucjensonbrown@gmail.com
Board Chair - Darrel Howell - 780-870-1671 dhhowell@telus.net