Sunday, November 30, 2025 The First Sunday of Advent

 

Hymn        O Come O Come Emmanuel #1VU

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.