Sunday, December 8, 2024 The Second Sunday of Advent

 This Sunday is White Gift Sunday in our congregations. We are collecting non-perishable food items for the Christmas baskets and the local food bank. 

Hymn      Hark the Glad Sound #29VU

Scripture Lessons:      Philippians 1:3-11

                                    Luke 1:68-79 p.900VU

                                    Luke 3:1-6

Message

Prayer :  O God, enlarge my heart that it may be big enough to receive the greatness of your love. 

Stretch my heart that it may take into all those who with me around the world believe in Jesus. 

Stretch it that it may take into it all those who do not know him, but who are my responsibility because I know him. 

And stretch it that it may take in all those who are not lovely in my eyes, and whose hands I do not want to touch; 

Through Jesus my saviour. Amen. ( a prayer of an African Christian from With All God’s People, a World Council of Churches resource.) 

Hymn.       Hark the Herald Angels Sing #48VU

This Sunday’s services will be Howick at 9:30 and 11:00 in Ormstown. It will be the White Gift service in both congregations, when we collect non-perishable food items for the Christmas baskets and the local food bank. 

We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family of Dwight Cullen who died recently and whose memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 14th in Georgetown Presbyterian Church. 

The organizers of the Ladies’ Christmas Dinner would like to sat “Thank you” for all of the items brought in for Residence-Elle. It was a very generous amount of donations that are very much appreciated by the organization. 

Howick UCW will be holding its Christmas Potluck on Wednesday, December 11th at 6:30 in the church. Please let Marlene know what you are planning on bringing (appetizer, main dish, salad, or dessert) so we can have enough for all. 

Next Sunday the services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. In Ormstown this will also be a Communion Sunday. In Howick we will continue to offer craft activities for young people. 

There will be a Winter Solstice gathering held in Hemmingford at the Community Hall at 476 Frontiere, that will include music, poems, silence and candlelighting on Saturday, December 21st at 3pm. This is intended particularly for people who may not be feeling jolly this Christmas. 

On Sunday, December 22nd there will be no morning service in Howick. Instead there will be a Family Candlelight service held that evening at 7pm. 

There will be a Christmas Eve service held in Ormstown at 7:30pm. 

There will also be a combined Christmas Sunday service held on December 29th at 11:00 in Howick. Coffee and cookies etc. Will be available from 10:30.