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 24 - Christmas Eve Service - 7:30 pm
Dec 25 - Christmas Day – Closed
Dec 26 - Boxing Day – Closed
Dec 27 - Office Closed
Dec 28 - Office – Morning only
Dec 29 - Office – Morning only
Outreach Cupboard - 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Dec 30 - Office- Open all day
Dec 31 - Office closed
Jan 1- New Years day Service - 10:00 am
Jan 2 - Office Closed
Jan 3 - 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 24, 2022
Christmas Eve – Carols, Candles and the Christmas Story
A Whole New World… Filled with Love and Light
Worship led by Adrienne Christopherson, Rev. Cathy Kinsman, Boni Rish,
Katie and Rheanne Thackeray and Garnet Weaver
GOD INVITES US TO WORSHIP
GATHERING MUSIC “Twas In the Moon of Wintertime” - Adrienne Christopherson
Words: Jean de Brébeuf, ca. 1641; English Trans. Jesse E. Middleton, 1926
WELCOME
OPENING CAROL “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (vs. 1-3) VU #60
English Trans. Frederick Oakeley, 1841 Music:attr. John Francis Wade, 1743
CENTERING PRAYER
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING - The Rollheiser Family
WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD
PRAYER OF HEALING
Gracious God, for all our Advent waiting and preparing – champing at the bit to blast trumpets and sing tidings of joy, impatiently asking,
“Are we there yet? – finally, here we are!
Yet we arrive tired and grumpy and perhaps even disillusioned.
“Is this it? This is what we have been waiting for?”
Forgive our grand expectations and our bittersweet disappointment.
Stir within our hearts a humble gratitude that acknowledges the irony.
We were waiting for something that is already here, something that is always with us.
Help us to remember you are with us even when we feel alone, uncertain or unwell.
(A moment of reflection/prayer)
WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT
Fear not! The angels say. I bring you tidings of great joy!
Love is born in a lowly manger, not just on this night, but again and again and again.
Love is born and re-born in our hearts,
bringing hope, grace and comfort.
Thanks be to God - Christ is with us, tonight and always. Amen.
HYMN “Dream a Dream” MV #158
Words: Shirley Erena Murray, 1996 Music: Ron Klusmeier, 2005
THE SCRIPTURE SPEAKS TO US
SCRIPTURE READING
Hebrew Scriptures - Old Testament
Isaiah 9: 2-7 – A child has been born for us - Jensen Manners
SPECIAL MUSIC “Go Tell It On the Mountain” - Katie and Rheanne Thackeray
Words: John Wesley Work II, 1907 Music: African-American Spiritual, 19th Century
New Testament – Luke 2: 1-7 – Jesus’ birth - Alice Robinson
CAROL “While Shepherds Watch” (vs. 3,4,6) VU #75
New Testament – Luke 2:8-14 – A sign for the people - Lawrence Davidson
SPECIAL MUSIC “What Child Is This” - Katie and Rheanne Thackeray
New Testament – Luke 2:15-20 – Let us go to Bethlehem - Rachel Young
CAROL “Away in a Manger” VU #69
Words: Author Unknown Music: William James Kirkpatrick 1885; arr. Desmond Hassel 1992
MEDITATION
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
CAROL “Joy to the World” VU #59
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719 Music Attrib. George Frideric Handel, 1742
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
WE GO FORTH IN FAITH
CLOSING CAROL “Silent Night” VU #67
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818; English trans. John Freeman Young 1863 Music: Franz Xavier Grüber
BLESSING
Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission. One License #A-7252
STEWARDSHIP SECONDS
Thank you for all the ways you are generous. Your gifts to this congregation and to Mission and service really do help to change the world God loves. Your gifts help bring new life to this community. Thank you.
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
HOMEWORK PROGRAM!
Homework starts up again January 10th.
KIDS PRAIZE (Ages 5-10)
Begins again February 8th, 2020. 4:00 - 5:00 pm in the Sanctury. Braing a friend along!
YEAR END RECEIPTING
We ask that you bring any donations for year-end receipting to the church by 2:00pm on December 30th. If you are using the machine, donations must be at the church by noon, December 29th. If we don’t receive donation by December 30th as the office is closed, receipts will be applied to 2023
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 favorite 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
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
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 - 780-875-8959gucjensonbrown@gmail.com
Board Chair - Darrel Howell - 780-870-1671 dhhowell@telus.net