This past week has included a number of special days: December 1st, World AIDS Day, Saturday, December 6th is not only St Nicholas Day, but also National Day of Remembrance and Action against Violence against Women, recalling the events in the Ecole Polytechnique and a call to make this world safe for all people.
Hymn. Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus #2VU
Advent CandleLighting:
1: Today is the second Sunday of Advent.
2: Today we give thanks for God’s gift of hope, and we pray for peace.
1: Today we wait for the coming of God’s messenger who offers us a vision and calls us to dare to believe.
2: We watch and wait for signs of God with us.
(Light 2 purple candles)
1: Today we light the candles of hope and peace.
2: and we pray for peace in our hearts, in our homes, and in our world.
Prayer: Creator God, you have made this world for joy and justice, prepare us to live accordingly with hope and tenderness for those we share this world with. We pray with thanksgiving for all that is strong and beautiful, for all that is resilient and flourishing. And we pray for all that is polluted or drought-stricken or drowning. We pray for the strengthening of all who defend and protect your world, for those who seek to heal and to comfort. We pray for agencies of care and for the aid and encouragement they bring. Keep alive in us all the dream of justice and mercy.
( We pause to reflect on the gifts and needs of this created world.)
Jesus the gift of life and hope, we pray that all who pray in your name may be inspired and equipped to live lives of hope and encouragement. And we pray for those who do not have hope or purpose, for the lonely, the forgotten, the overlooked, and the exhausted. May the gift of your life and love bring good news to our community and world.
(We pause to reflect on the gifts and needs of all peoples, especially those known to us.)
Spirit of the Living God, who inspires and revives, help us live alert to the surprising gifts in every day life and help us see and reveal the possibilities of your dream for us hidden in the world as it is.
( We pause to reflect on those in need of inspiration and healing and entrust our beloved to the care of our God.)
Living God, Creator, Reconciling Lover of all, Spirit that sustains, we pray in the name of the Christ who came among us for us. Amen. (from companions on the way.com.)
This Sunday there will be services in Ormstown at 9:30 and 11:00 in Howick. In Howick, this will be our White Gift service, when we collect non-perishable food items for the Howick Christmas baskets. They will be filled and distributed next Saturday.
Many thanks to all who donated, worked, and supported Howick’s Book, Puzzle, and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 6th, from 11-1:30 in the church.
Howick UCW will meet on Wednesday, December 10th at 6pm for a Christmas Potluck Supper. Please let Marlene Stuckey know what you are planning on bringing for the supper. We will also be collecting gifts for women for the Christmas baskets in Howick.
On Friday, December 12th the Ormstown UCW will be holding its Christmas Turkey dinner at noon in the hall. Meals needed to be reserved by Friday, December 5th. We will also be collecting personal items for the residents of Residence-Elle. The items are not gifts and do not need to be gift-wrapped.
Sunday, December 14th will be the White Gift service in Ormstown. We will collect non-perishable food items and donations for La Bouffe Additionelle, our local food bank. The gifts of hats, mitts, scarves etc. will also be given away after this service.
The deadline for making a gift to Howick’s Memorial Fund is December 30th. Please get your donation to Grace Brown by or before that date.
Worship Schedule for theAdvent-Christmas season:
Sunday, December 21st 11:00. Communion Sunday in Ormstown
7pm Candlelight Christmas Communion service in Howick
Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve service in Ormstown 7:30pm
Sunday, December 28th Christmas Sunday Carol service in hall in Ormstown 11:00
Advent Candle-Lighting 1. Today we begin the season of Advent.
2. Today we celebrate God’s gift of hope.
1. We listen to the prophets and apostles of long ago,
2. And we hear good news.
1. Even when we are tempted to despair,
2. We are called to be people of hope. (Light one candle)
1. Today we light a candle of hope
2. And we give thanks for God’s gift of hope.
Scripture Lessons: Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122 p. 845VU
Matthew 24:36-44
Message
Prayer: An Advent Candle Prayer
Encouraging God, we pray to be a spark of hope For those who need it most this Christmas.
Gentle God, we pray to be a bringer of peace, A creator of calm in a hectic season.
Celebrating God, we pray to be a reminder of joy, For this is a time of celebration.
Caring God, we pray to be an embodiment of love, To follow your teachings to care for each other.
Newly arriving God, Help us live in the spirit of Christmas all the rest of the year. Amen. (from the Mission and Service Unit of the United Church of Canada)
Hymn O Lord How Shall I Meet you #31VU
This Sunday’s service will be a combined service held in Howick at 11:00. We will begin at 10:30 for coffee and the service will be followed by a soup luncheon. (Please note that Esther Guillien who was going to be our guest speaker, is not able to join us. We are hoping to welcome her in the new year.) This will close our annual campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. There are envelopes in our churches or donations may be made online at food grains bank.ca.
We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Garth Cavers and Peter Eddie, who have died recently. The memorial service for Garth Cavers will be held in St Paul’s in Ormstown on Saturday, November 29th at 2pm with visitation beginning at 1:00 in the church.
Please keep in mind the Rudolph Run which will be held Saturday, November 29th from 9-11:00, from the Ormstown Rec Centre. This event raises money for the Christmas baskets in the area and the minimum donation requested is $5. Much appreciation to Elen Cameron and the 4-H members who have taken on the organization of this event this year.
Tomorrow, December 1st is the deadline for applying for the Holden-Templeton bursaries. They are available to CEGEP, university, or vocational school students who are members or adherents of Howick United Church. Applications should be given to Marlene, Stuckey, Debbi Templeton or Scott Templeton.
St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, December 3rd at the home of Wendy Denison at 7:30pm.
Friday December 5th is the deadline for reserving a meal at Ormstown UCW’s Christmas Turkey Dinner to be held on Friday, December 12th at noon in the hall in Ormstown. The cost is $25. We will also be collecting items for residents of Residence-Elle ( these are not gifts and so do not need to be wrapped.)
On Saturday, December 6th Howick United Church will hold a Book, Puzzle, and Bake Sale from 11-1:30 in the church. Books and puzzles can be dropped off anytime, and the baking can be dropped off Saturday morning.
Sunday, December 7th will be White Gift Sunday in Howick United Church. We will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Howick Christmas Baskets.
Howick UCW will hold its Christmas Potluck Supper will be held on Wednesday, December 10th in the church at 6:00.
Sunday, December 14th will be White Gift Sunday in Ormstown. We will be collecting non-perishable food items for La Bouffe Additionelle, the local food bank. This will also be the last Sunday we will be collecting hats, mittens, etc., so they can be distributed.
Prayer: O God, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others;
Open my ears that I may hear their cries;
Open my heart so that they need not be without succor;
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong.
Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, and use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. Amen. (a prayer by Alan Paton printed in Richard Foster’s Prayers from the Heart).
Hymn. Rejoice the Lord is King #213
This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. There will be crafts for children and families in Ormstown, in the church during the service. Also, there will be an organ concert at 2pm in St Paul’s in Ormstown.
We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Garth Cavers, who died last week. The memorial service for Garth will be held on Saturday, November 29th at 2pm in St Paul’s in Ormstown, with visitation beginning at 1:00.
Next Sunday November 30th there will be a combined service in Howick United Church. Coffee will be available at 10:30 before the services, the service will begin at 11:00 and will be followed by a Soup Luncheon, to bring our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank to an end for this year. (Unfortunately, our guest speaker Esther Guillien has had to cancel, so she will not be joining us on that day, hopefully early next year.)
The deadline for applying for the Holden-Templeton bursaries is fast approaching. The deadline is December 1st and bursaries are available to CEGEP, university, and vocational school students who are members or adherents of Howick United Church. Applications are available in the church or on the website. Please get your application to Marlene Stuckey, Debbi Templeton, or Scott Templeton by the deadline. We hope to present the bursaries at our Candlelight Christmas service, December 21st.
On Saturday, December 6th Howick United Church will be holding a Book, Puzzle, and Bake Sale in the church from 11:00-1:30, leading up to the Santa Claus parade in Howick. Donations of books and puzzles can be brought in now, and the baking can be brought in earlier Saturday morning.
Sunday, December 7th will be the White Gift service for Howick United Church. We will collect non-perishable food items for the Christmas basket program.
The White Gift service for Ormstown will be held on Sunday, December 14th at 11:00. We are collecting non-perishable food items, for La Bouffe Additionelle along with hats, scarves, mittens etc for the Mitten Tree.
Ormstown UCW will be holding a Christmas Turkey Dinner on Friday, December 12th at noon in the hall in Ormstown. The cost for the meal is $25, and if possible, it is requested that that would be prepaid. Meals must be reserved by Friday, December 5th by contacting Lynn Bryson, Anne Carpentier, Wendy Dennison or Shirley Vandor. We will also be collecting personal items for the residents of Residence-Elle. These are not gifts, so they do not need to be gift-wrapped.
Prayer: Today we celebrate the gifts of children, gifts of love, trust and joy. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them.
Today we remember the needs of children, for food, clean water, safe homes, education, and medical care. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them.
Today we acknowledge the vulnerability of children to war, violence, abuse, and neglect. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them.
Today we recognize the openness of children, to faith and belief, to surprise and discovery, and to joy and delight. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them.
Today we consider the ambition of children, to grow and to become, to learn and to experience And we ask for God’s blessing upon them.
Today we recall that Jesus offered a child as an example of both humility and greatness. Today we remember Jesus’ words that it is to children that the kingdom of God belongs And we ask for God’s blessing upon them.
Today we hear God’s promise that we are all children of God And we ask for God’s blessing upon us all. Amen. ( prayer from the United Church’s resource, Seeds and Sowers, adapting resources prepared by the Children’s Defense Fund)
Hymn. How Firm a Foundation #660VU
This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown.
We are saddened to hear of the death of Garth Cavers of St Paul’s United Church. We hold Ruth and all of the family in our thoughts and prayers.
The newsletter for the Advent-Christmas- New Year’s season has been printed. If you cannot pick one up, one will be delivered to you, on request.
The time has come to apply for theHolden- Templeton bursaries. They are available to students of CEGEP, university, or vocational school who are connected (members or adherents) of Howick United Church. The deadline for applying is December 1st. The applications are available at the church or on the church website. Please get your application to Marlene Stuckey, Debbi Templeton, or Scott Templeton by the deadline. We hope to present the bursaries at the December 21st Christmas Candlelight service.
St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, November 19th at 7:30 pm. We will be reviewing the results of the MRC inspection of the church and the hall.
Next Sunday November 23rd at the 9:30 service St Paul’s will hold a Craft Day for children and families, in the church, at the same time as the service. All welcome.
Sunday, November 23rd we have asked Emily MacDonald to offer us an organ concert, at 2pm in St Paul’s. Come and hear what our pipe organ can do!
Keep in mind the Rudolph Run this year, which is being organized by 4-H. It will be held on Saturday November 29th from 9-11:00, departing from the Ormstown Rec Centre at 9:00, and followed by goodies once you have finished your course. You can choose your distance to run or walk. A minimum donation of $5 is requested (more would be accepted!) to help raise funds for La Bouffe Additionelle for the Christmas baskets and continuing to provide food for families into the new year. If you have questions, please contact Elen Cameron.
On Sunday, November 30th, there will be a combined service held in Howick United Church at 11:00. We will be welcoming Esther Guillien as a guest speaker from the Regional Council. We will follow the service with a Soup Luncheon to bring our campaign for the CFGB to an end.
The Mitten Trees are now up in both churches. We are collecting hats, mittens, scarves and socks as part of our Adventure preparations.
The UCW in Ormstown is once again planning a Christmas Turkey Dinner for Friday December 12th at noon. The cost is $25 and if possible, it is requested that it be prepaid. If you wish to reserve a place, please contact Wendy Dennison, Lynn Bryson, Shirley Vandor, or Anne Carpentier. We will be collecting items for Residence-Elle: toiletries and other personal items for the use of the residents. These are not gifts, so they do not need to be gift-wrapped.
On Saturday, December 6th, the day of the Santa Claus parade in Howick, Howick United Church and its UCW will be holding a Book, Puzzle, and Bake Sale from 11-1:30 in the church. Donations of books and puzzles would be appreciated earlier, and the baking can be dropped off that morning. Thank you for your support.
Prayer: God, we know you take no joy in death. We know you take no joy in our wars, in our battles, in our conflicts. We know that your tears are for all your children, of every land and race, in every time and place.
We know that what you want for all creation is life — abundant.
And so we ask for your wisdom.
We ask for your guidance.
We ask for your peace. Your shalom. Your salaam.
We ask for your hands to guide your creation, for your love to sustain your creation, for your grace to surround your creation— now. Forever. Amen. ( a prayer by Richard Bott, then of Maple Ridge BC, later Moderator of the UCC, printed in Gathering Pentecost 2 2016.)
Hymn Thou Shalt Arise
This Sunday’s service will be held at 10:30 at Georgetown Presbyterian Church (no services in Howick or Ormstown). We will be holding a combined Remembrance Sunday service for the community, including the Community choir as well.
Ormstown will also be hosting a Remembrance Sunday Parade and service with the Legion at the Cenotaph that afternoon, on Church Street.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Father Gabriel Clement. We hold his family and friends as well as the parish of the Church of Saint Joseph in Huntingdon in our thoughts and prayers. He will be missed and we give thanks for his ministry in our community which was both a gift and a blessing.
St Paul’s Session will meet this Wednesday at 1:00 in the hall.
Howick UCW will meet in the church on Wednesday evening at 7pm.
The time has come for students in CEGEP, university, or vocational training programs who are members or connected with the Howick United Church to apply for the Howden-Templeton bursaries. The deadline to apply is December 1st. The applications are available on the website or in the church. Please submit your applications to Marlene Stuckey, Debbi Templeton, or Scott Templeton. We hope to present the bursaries at Howick’s Christmas Evening service December 21st.
Please do keep in mind our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. As we hear distressing news about wars, storms, earthquakes, and more, our gifts to the CFGB help make a difference in the lives of people and in the world. Donations may be made with the envelopes in the churches or online to foodgrainsbank.ca.
The Mitten Tree baskets are now in the sanctuary in St Paul’s to collect both hand-made and bought mittens, hats, scarves and socks for families in need. They will be in the church until White Gift Sunday.
Barbara is hoping to print a newsletter next week. If you have items to be included, please let her know, by phone or by email.
The Craft Sale season has arrived! The Hospital Bazaar is/was Saturday November 8th at CVR.
Howick Elementary School will be holding its Craft Sale next Saturday, November 15th, from 9:00-3:00.
These sales support the work of local organizations, please support them if you can.
St Paul’s In Ormstown will be holding a Craft Day for families Sunday, November 23rd at 9:30, alongside the Sunday service.
Also on Sunday, November 23rd at 2pm in the church, Emily MacDonald will be offering an organ concert to continue our Centennial celebrations of the United Church of Canada. We look forward to hearing what our Casavant pipe organ can really do.
Plans are being made for the UCW Christmas Turkey Dinner in Ormstown. It will be held Friday, December 12th at noon. The cost for the dinner is $25. The deadline for registering is December 5th. We will be collecting items and cash for Resience-Elle at that time. All welcome.
Sunday, November 30th will be a combined service held in Howick United Church for the Ormstown and Howick congregations. We will be welcoming Esther Guillien, a staff person of the Regional Council, to the service and the service will be followed by a Soup Luncheon, to bring to an end to our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank.
This Sunday can be observed as All Saints Sunday and All Souls Day. It can also be observed as Reformation Sunday, remembering our Protestant heritage. However we observe this day, we give thanks for God’s faithfulness throughout the ages and generations.
Hymn For All the Saints #705
Scripture Lessons: II Thessalonians 1:1-4,11,12
Psalm 137-144 p.841VU pt 6
Luke 19:1-10
Message
Prayer: O God, we thank you for the many people throughout the ages who have followed your way of life joyfully;
for the many saints and martyrs, men and women, who have offered up their very lives,
so that your life abundant may become manifest.
For your love and faithfulness we praise and thank you, O God.
O God, we thank you for those who chose the way of Christ. In the midst of trial, they held out hope;
In the midst of hatred, they kindled love;
In the midst of persecutions, they witnessed to your power;
In the midst of despair, they clung to your promise.
For your love and faithfulness we praise and thank you, O God.
O God, we thank you for the truth they passed on to us: that it is by giving that we shall receive;
It is by becoming weak that we shall be strong;
It is by loving that we shall be loved;
It is by offering ourselves that the kingdom will unfold;
It is by dying that we shall inherit life everlasting.
O God, give us the courage to follow in the Christ’s way.
For your love and thankfulness we praise and thank you, O God. ( a prayer from the National Council of Churches of the Philippines and printed in the UCC’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence)
Hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God #262VU
This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. We will be observing this Sunday as an All Saints Sunday, singing hymns nominated by our members and remembering past members, and giving thanks for their lives.
We continue to hold the family and friends of Gordon Lang in our thoughts and prayers. Gordon died last week and his funeral was held on Saturday at St Paul’s.
This is the absolutely final day to order the Canadian Church calendar. Please speak to Anne if you would like one (or more!). The cost is $15 and the order should be going in tomorrow.
This afternoon the reception to recall the history of the old Ormstown Medical Centre and to have a chance to thank the doctors for their many years of care and service will be held from 1-4:00 in the hall.
Next Sunday November 9th we will be participating in a combined Remembrance Sunday service at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, beginning at 10:30am. This will be a service for the Georgetown, Howick, and Ormstown congregations.
Now is the time to apply for the Holden-Templeton bulletins, which are provided for students in CEGEP, university or vocational training who are members or connected with Howick United Church. The application can be found in the church or on the website. The deadline for applying is December 1st with the bursaries given at the Sunday, December 21st evening service. Please give or send your completed application to Marlen Stuckey, Debbi Templeton, or Scott Templeton by December 1st.
Barbara will be printing a new newsletter for Sunday, November 16th. If you have items to include, please get them to Barbara by November 13th.
On Sunday, November 23rd St Paul’s will be offering a Family Craft Day on Sunday, November 23rd at 9:30am. We will be making Christmas decorations to decorate the church or home.
We will be offering an organ concert in St Paul’s that afternoon at 2pm. As part of our celebrations for the Centennial of the United Church. We are hoping that Emily will really let her rip so we can appreciate the instrument we have in our church.
Sunday, November 30th we will be holding a combined service in Howick United Church at 11:00 (coffee and goodies at 10:30). We will also be welcoming Esther Guillien from the Regional Council as a guest. We will be sharing a Soup Luncheon following the service to close off our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. (There are envelopes in the churches and donations may also be made online to food grains bank.ca.)
St Paul’s has now placed baskets in the church for mittens, hats, socks, etc. (I am sure Howick’s will not be far behind!) They will be there to collect items until the White Gift service in December.
St Paul’s UCW will be holding its Christmas Turkey Dinner on Friday December 12th at noon at MacDougall Hall. The cost will be $25 and the deadline for signing up is December 5th.
Prayer: God, our creator and sustainer, you loved us long before we knew ourselves to be lovable, and you loved us long us still.
Give us, we pray, a greater awareness of your love for all people, and a confidence in the action of your grace in us and in your church. Inspire us with a greater sensitivity to the poor and oppressed. Give us the courage to act on their behalf.
We praise you today for your mysterious ways among us: for your presence in the midst of human affairs and your seeming absence. By the power of your Spirit, may we grow in the truth that impels us to act justly, and thus give expression to the compassion of your child, Jesus. This we ask through this same Jesus Christ, who lives among us as friend and Saviour. Amen. ( a prayer from Janet Schaffran and Pat Kozak’s More Than Words)
Hymn. What a Friend We Have in Jesus #664VU
This Sunday’s services are 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick.
In Ormstown this will be a Baptism Sunday and in Howick this will be a Family Craft Day followed by a mini-pizza lunch. All welcome. You can let Wilene Cullen know if you are planning to come so we can have enough supplies and food for everyone.
We have been deeply saddened by the news of the death of Gordon Lang this past week. We hold his wife Thelma and all the family in our thoughts and prayers.
We continue our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. Envelopes are available in our churches and donations may also be made online to: foodgrainsbank.ca.
Next Sunday will be All Saints Sunday and I am inviting people to suggest or nominate hymns to sing on that Sunday. They may be your favourite hymn or a hymn chosen in memory of someone else. Boxes have been placed in the churches for suggestions, or you can speak to Barbara directly.
Next Sunday there will also be a drop-in celebration for the Ormstown Medical Centre and its doctors, from 1-4:00, in MacDougall Hall in Ormstown.
Do you want a copy (or copies) of the 2026 Canadian Church calendar? If so, please speak to Anne Carpentier by November 1st. They are available at a cost of $15.00.
On Sunday, November 9th there will be a combined Remembrance Day service for Ormstown, Howick and Georgetown held at the Georgetown Presbyterian Church, beginning at 10:30am.
Barbara will be preparing a new newsletter for the Advent-Christmas season as well as the New Year, for Sunday, November 16th. If you have items to be included, please let Barbara know.
