Weekly Notices - December 21st, 2022
Note from the Rector
My Friends,
What can I say - here we are the week before Christmas. It has been a busy time for us all as we have prepared and participated in the many events of the season. Personally, it has been a difficult time as we draw ever closer to the day where families gather to share a meal and the love that we all feel this time of year. This Christmas will be very different for my family, as it will be the first one without my mother present. I know there are others in our community who will feel the weight of loss this year for various reasons - but I am thankful for our Church family to celebrate with. That being said, I also know that there is a greater love than all of our sorrows, worries or fears combined. A love that arrived one dark night and arrived in the form no one ever could have imagined, as a tiny baby in a bed of straw.
So as we head into this week where we celebrate the coming of the Christ child - I invite you to hold in your hearts those who may be having a harder time this year. I also invite you to remember that love was born at Christmas, as a tiny child that changed the world. And no matter how you celebrate Christmas this year, whether you have a big family gathering, or it is small intimate and quiet - Christ comes just the same and the love of God will find you and keep you this Christmas and well into the new year.
I wanted to share this song with you all as a reminder of the tiny baby born for you this season. The song was written by the previous musician at St. Peter Quamichan, Barry DeSilva. During my time at St. Peters as their seminarian, he and I recorded a number of Christmas songs and made CDs to give to those who were shut in during the first Covid Christmas. So as we head into this week of Christmas I share the link to his song, Just A Tiny Baby that we recorded together. It isn't perfect, as we are not professionals, but I hope that the meaning of the song carries through and finds its way to your hearts - Jesus was born, the light and love of the world, born for you and me.
May the peace and comfort, and the love and joy of the season find you where ever you are and however you celebrate this week. Know you are loved, cherished and prayed for.
Christmas blessings to you all,
Kirsten +
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Songs for Christmas Please click HERE to enjoy, after clicking on “I ACCEPT” |
The Bishop's Christmas Message
Please click HERE to view.
Please Note: both the church and the Diocese offices will be closed between Christmas and the New Year. They will reopen on Tuesday January 3, 2023.
NOVEMBER 2022 FINANCIALS
Total Income $22,627.73
Total Expenses $12, 635.51
Profit $ 9,792.22
NOTE: Please understand that this does not reflect the Ukrainian payout from the Christmas Fair made in December.
Changes to Pre-authorized Giving
Effective February 28, 2023, the Diocese will discontinue the current Electronic Collection Plate (ECP) program. They are recommending that parishes join the United Church Pre-Authorized Remittance Program (PAR) which will continue electronic giving but in a slightly new way.
Our parish has applied to become part of this program, but we need your help! In order to transition to the new program, all those who currently use the ECP program as well as any new users will need to complete an Authorization form and provide a voided cheque. It is important that we begin the transition process as soon as possible in order to have everyone registered by the end of February.
Those who are already active ECP users will receive an email/letter which will be sent out in early January. This will contain the Authorization form, more information about the program and some instructions, and we ask you to return it to the office as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about the new program or have any issues with the forms, please let us know - we are here to help!
For those not yet part of the program, please seriously consider using the new PAR program as your method of giving to the church. Information regarding the program and Authorization forms will be available in the office for anyone who wants to move to online giving. There are many benefits; ask those who use the program, or ask Malcom or Rev. Kirsten for their experiences with electronic collections.
2023 CANADIAN CHURCH CALENDARS (Anglican Edition)
These are available at the office if you would like to pick one up. An offering of $10 would be greatly appreciated!
THE 2023 WEEKLY 'MY OFFERING' ENVELOPES HAVE ARRIVED
Please pick up yours at the back of the church as soon as you can.
Rev. Alan Naylor's last Sunday with us is SUNDAY JANUARY 1, 2023
Rev. Alan has been with us for a while now. He will celebrate and preach that day. His years of experience, calm ways, kindness and thoughtfulness will be sorely missed. His next assignment is at St. Anne & St. Edmunds Anglican Church in Parksville. If you can, please come to the hall after the service for a bunwich, treats and refreshments and say farewell!
SAVE TO YOUR CALENDAR
READINGS JANUARY 2023
January 1 – Naming of Jesus
Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 8 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 2:15-21
January 8 – The Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-43
January 15 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-12 1 Corinthians 1-9 John 1:29-42
January 22 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1,5-13 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23
January 29 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Micha 6:1-8 Psalm 15
JANUARY
Birthdays
January 10 Margaret N
January 22 Dagny N
January 30 Fred H
January 31 Will L
Anniversaries
January 15 Shirley & Alan B
January 26 Sue F & Will L