HARROWSMITH-VERONA PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF
CANADA
Worship Time: 10 am at
Trinity, Verona
Office Phone: 613-372-2525 or 613-374-2777
Retired Voluntary Minister: The Rev’d. Ian MacKay
Licensed Lay Worship Leader: Sheila Anthony
Office Administrator:
Rebecca Peters
Director of Music: Stan
Stinchcombe
Website: www.h-vpastoralcharge.org
e-mail: office@h-vpastoralcharge.org
Trinity United Church acknowledges the traditional territory upon which
we gather. For thousands of years, the First Peoples sought to walk gently on
this land. They offered assistance to the first European travelers and shared
their knowledge for survival. We seek a new relationship with the First Peoples
of this land, one based in honour and deep respect.
December
22, 2024
Advent
IV
Lay
Readers: Sunday School
Prelude:
Welcome and Announcements:
Introit:
VU #14 “To a Maid Whose Name was Mary”
We Gather
Lighting the Christ Candle:
One:
We light this candle to remind us that God is with us today and everyday.
(The
Christ candle is lit)
Call to Worship: (Responsively)
One:
We will sing about the wonder of your love forever, O God!
All: We will tell everyone we meet about your
faithfulness to all generations!
One: We will declare that your love stands firm,
All: that your grace is as enduring as the
heavens above!
One: Blessed are those who know you as their God,
All: for they walk in the light of your
presence!
**Hymn:
VU #64 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
1.
O Little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent
stars go by; yet in they dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes
and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
2.
For Chris is born of Mary; and fathered all above, while mortals sleep,
the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy
birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.
3.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So god imparts to human hearts the blessed
gift of heaven. No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear
Christ enters in.
4.
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray; cast out our sin, and
enter in; be born in us today. We hear
the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.
Opening Prayer: (Unison)
All: God of grace and glory: In this holy season of Advent, we
look again for the light of Christ to enter our lives in a new and challenging
way. It is a light which shines upon our world and each one of us. It reveals
the intentions of our hearts and the mysteries of creation. The light of
Christmas will never desert us. In his name we pray, Amen.
Words of
Assurance:
One: God’s promise to Israel of old,
and to God’s people today…I will bring you home, I will gather you together, I
will restore all things.
All: Thanks be to God!
**Hymn: VU #44 “It Came upon the Midnight Clear”
1.
It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels
bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold, “Peace on the earth, good
will to all from heaven’s all-gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
2.
Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world; above its sad
and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing, and o’er its Babel sounds the
blessed angels sing.
3.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long; beneath
the angel strain have tolled two thousand years of wrong; and warring humankind
hears not the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise, and cease your strife to hear
the angels sing.
4.
For, lo! the days are hastening on, by prophets
seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling, and the whole
world send back the song which now the angels sing.
A Gift of
Music: VU #12 “The Visit”
We Give Back
Mission and Service
Dedication of our Offerings:
VU #540
All: Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit
large and free,
that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.
Prayer: (Unison)
All: Giver of the supreme Christmas gift, we offer to
you our gifts to bring peace, as Jesus brought peace: to strengthen community, as
Jesus strengthened the disciple community: to bring healing, as Jesus made the
world whole. His hopeful name seals our prayers. Amen
Youth Time:
Lighting the Candle of Love:
One: Today we
light the fourth candle- the candle of love. With this flame we signify the
love of God that surrounds us and fills us at all times.
All: There is no greater power than love.
One: It is
stronger than rulers and empires, stronger than grief or despair, stronger even
than death.
All: We love, because God loves us.
(The 4th advent
candle is lit)
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
HYMN: MV #221 “I am Walking a Path” (Sung seated)
I am walking a
path of love.
I am walking a
path of love.
I am walking a
path of love, lead me home,
Lead me home,
I am home.
We Listen
Scripture: Luke 1:38-55 (Pg. 890) (Mary’s Song)
Following
the Readings:
One:
The Spirit speaks and we listen.
All: God, let our hearts be moved.
(Children and
teachers may leave for Sunday School)
Message: “A Story of
Faith”
Hymn:
MV #95 “How
Deep the Peace” (Sung
twice)
(Please
remain seated)
Prayers of the People
We are Sent Forth
**Closing Hymn: VU #7 “Hope Is a Star”
1. Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
When God
is a child there’s joy in our song. The
last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving
a promise of safety and worth.
When God
is a child there’s joy in our song. The
last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
3. Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling
the world that the Saviour is born.
When God
is a child there’s joy in our song. The
last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
4. Love is a flame that burns in our heart, Jesus has come and will never depart.
When God
is a child there’s joy in our song. The
last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
**Commissioning
and Benediction
**Choral
Benediction: Go Now in Peace (Don Besig/Nancy Price)
Go now in
peace, never be afraid,
God will go
with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith,
steadfast, strong and true,
Know God will
guide you in all you do.
Go now in
love, and show you believe,
Reach out to
others so all the world can see,
God will be
there watching from above,
Go now in
peace, in faith and in love.
Amen. Amen.
Amen!
Postlude:
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MEETINGS
Worship Leader
for Sunday January 5th:
Sheila Anthony
Lay Reader for
January 5th:
Marg Smith
Greeter for January 5th:
Rob Tapscott
REMINDER:
Please
note there will not be a church service next Sunday December 29th. Have a Happy New Year and see
you back on January 5th.
COMMUNITY WINTER BREAKFASTS: We will be
hosting a series of community breakfasts starting the first Saturday in January. We hope you can plan to attend.
NATIVITY SCENE: Debbie Lovegrove
has set up a nativity at the back of the church sanctuary
which she created and has loaned it to us for the season of Advent. It is beautiful and well worth the time to
study it. Please do not touch
it though.
CHURCH DECORATING: A huge thank you is extended to
Noreen Peters and her helpers who decorated our sanctuary and hall for
our advent season. Thank you Jean
Clair, Terry Moore and Linda Porter for your help in decorating the sanctuary,
and Eve Buckley and Muriel York for decorating the fellowship hall! You ALL did an amazing job making
our sanctuary and hall festive.
TRINITY CHOIR PRACTICE: A friendly reminder that our practices have
ended and will resume on the Thursday afternoon of January 9th at
1:30 pm.
TRINITY SHARING CUPBOARD: The cupboard will reopen on Wednesday January 29th,
2025. This will give us time to
restock as many of the items in the cupboard were used for the Hampers. Items that are always useful are pasta sauce,
cereal, and peanut butter. Thank
you for your continued support!!
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS 2024: Our hampers rolled out on Monday December 16th,
hopefully making the season a little easier for 24 local families. Your generosity and support of this important
outreach truly makes a difference. This
is what we do as a church! May God bless
all of you!!
BELATED THANK YOU: Thank you so much for all the birthday
wishes, and to everyone who donated for the fundraiser in celebration of my 65th
birthday for camp Quin-Mo-Lac renovation fund. It is greatly appreciated to keep this
special place in good condition for the children campers and all who use
it. It was a wonderful day celebrating
with family and friends. Special
thanks to Jean Clair and my family for helping with coffee and food enjoyed by
all. I’m very blessed to call
you my family and friends. God bless you
all. Lots of love,
Darlene Nicol.
STORIES OF CHRISTMAS: Reading the Christmas stories of long ago,
and bringing them into our Christmas this 2024 season may revive family
memories of twinkling lights, warmth by the fire, delicious smells from the
kitchen, and mouth-watering foods on Christmas day. They may also remind us of
the gifts of anticipation, of excitement, of a child’s innocent belief. These
feelings were often generated through story, both oral and written. We adults
need those feelings this Christmas. Stories told us of a gift-bringer named
Santa, and other donors called shepherds, the Magi, and of an amazing MIRACLE
gift the Baby Jesus. Let us not allow
the chaos of forces beyond our control in our world rob us of these ancient
sensations of well-being. Rather let us
ground ourselves in the traditions of Christmas lights, Christmas church,
Christmas carols wherever sung, Christmas giving of food, time and money -and
-Christmas story.
The following are
some Christmas readings, I have enjoyed- stories told and retold because they
kindle LOVE at a time when it seems in short supply…
1) Always THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS- read
aloud with gusto, recited from memory.
Take turns reading. Memorize 8 lines each and then recite the whole
thing. Read several versions to enjoy
the illustrations. Act it out in your living room with your grandkids. Ad lib
your own lines. Make it hilarious as in “ I don’t care
WHO you are, get those reindeer off my roof”!
2) Google the NEW YORK SUN EDITORIAL from 1867
titled IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS?
Will it convince you? It convinced me.
3) THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by
Barbara Robinson. Yes, you may well be moved to tears at the tender ending. I
read it aloud to my husband in sections year to year and laugh and sniffle
anew.
4) Find the famous
short story THE GIFT OF THE MAGI. BY O.Henry.
It can be read on the internet under that above title, or get a public library
copy. THEN on the internet, read the
FASCINATING story of O. Henry’s life.
Does it relate to our own life?
Also, later in the new year when we’re deep in
snow, ice, cold, read O. Henry’s longer hilarious story THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF. Did you know any kid like that in your
childhood? Were YOU one?
5) There are many other wonderful reads out
there-THE OTHER WISE MAN by
Henry Van Dyke and the sweet little SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES TALE.
6) The ABSOLUTE
MUST READ is found in the King James version of THE
HOLY BIBLE. Read aloud LUKE Chapter 2, verses 1 to 17.
Picture yourself a young child, sitting in church perhaps Christmas Eve,
absorbing these words; your whole family, perhaps
generations with you. Now allow yourself to be overwhelmed with gratitude for
all you have been given over a lifetime. Give thanks and MERRY CHRISTmas
this year.
From Linda Brown at Trinity United Church, Verona
WAS IT ONLY A
STAR
Was it only a
star among so many
That lit the
evening sky?
Unique in
light-giving brilliance,
Capturing the
searching eye,
It guided
three of royal blood
Riding upon
their camels’ back
To a
shepherds’ stall,
Where on that
day a baby lay,
The King of
kings and Lord of all.
Majestic
gifts were given
To honour the
baby’s birth,
But no one
knew in those early hours,
One day, in
sacrificial love,
The baby’s
gift to us –
A much
greater gift –
Eternal life, and a home with Him above.
Was it only a
star? If that was all,
We would
never know
Light in our
darkest hours,
A star still
guiding us today
Along our
journey here below,
To a
shepherds’ stall,
To the King
of kings and to the Lord of all.
Written by
Don Zeller 2021