Centennial E-mail-November 2019 Page 1

Centennial Happenings Advent 2019

P.O. Box 384, 234 William Street, Stayner, L0M 1S0 Phone: 705-428-3711 E-mail: office@ucstayner.ca Web-site: www.ucstayner.ca

From the Minister

Years ago, my Grandma Peters knit me a nativity set with

Mary, Joseph, & the Baby Jesus in the manger, two

shepherds with three sheep, and three wise men bearing

gifts. Years later my Mum knit me a donkey as well. Every

year when I take it out at Christmas time I am flooded with

memories of my Grandma and Christmases past. Their soft

knitted bodies speak to me of the hope, peace, joy and love

of the Advent season as we draw near to the baby born in a

stable and the incarnate love. As these characters draw near

to the manger throughout our Advent worships and activities

may we draw near to the light of a star and the song of the

angels and be inspired by God with us: Emmanuel!

If you have a favourite nativity you’d be willing to share with the church this year we’d love to find a place to display

it in the church for the season. Please e-mail me jennifer@ucstayner.ca to arrange.

From the Board

2019 has flown by. As the new year approaches the Centennial United Church Board looks back over 2019 and

marvels at how far we have come with Jennifer's grace filled, energetic, inspired leadership guiding us. We are truly

blessed that our paths have crossed. Time and again we have been amazed and thrilled at the new ideas/challenges

that Jennifer has put before us. We have come to trust that all will be for the good if Jennifer is there to shepherd

us forward. As we peek over the edge of 2020 we are a little eager, a little nervous, and a whole lot hopeful that we

will have another memorable year of living out the love of Jesus in our church family and in the world beyond.

On behalf of the Board, may each of you have a peaceful, blessed Advent and Christmas and may you be blessed

with rich helpings of hope, peace, joy and love.

Jim Beecroft, Chair, Centennial Board.

Prayer Bench Advent Email Series: Starlight Stories

It’s not to late to sign-up and receive an e-mail each week right to your in-box. Enjoy reading the stories then reflect on them with questions, prayer prompts and an Advent spiritual practice. Please contact Jennifer to add your have your name added to the email list. The Welcome e-mail arrived Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

Retreats arrive in your inbox on: Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21.

Centennial E-mail-November 2019 Page 2

Financial Update

OCT 2019 TO DATE 2019 TO DATE 2018

INCOME $7,159.50 $89,281.85 $80,051.27

EXPENSES $8,839.00 $98,539.49 $97,662.49

DIFFERENCE -$1,448.50 -$9,257.64 -$17,611.22

MISSION & SERVICE $807.00 $7,627.75 $6,363.00

Despite running a deficit again in the month of October we are thankful to see an overall improvement in our financial status compared to last year. We are grateful for your continued support of our church which allows us to run so many wonderful programs and helps us to fulfill our mission as Centennial United Church:

to become open, caring and loving to all people to work together as Christians in harmony

to show love, respect and forgiveness to share our talents, listen and respond to the needs

of our congregation and the local and global community to provide opportunities for involvement of

children, youth and young families to celebrate God’s presence in our lives,

grow spiritually, communicate and build faith.

We also give thanks for the $4312 raised through our Turkey Dinner along with a generous donation of $3000 from the Centennial Women made at their October meeting which will go a long way to off-setting our year to date deficit. In this season of giving we hope you will consider making a special Christmas gift to Centennial in the envelope provided. Christmas Donations can also be made on-line through Canada Helps at www.ucstayner.ca.

In all our giving God’s love is born among us.

Fundraisers Update

Nearly New Sale and Bake Table Thanks to all the volunteers and those who donated clothing and bake items for our recent sale. The poor weather impacted the number of shoppers, however we did raise $350 from clothing sales and remaining items were very gratefully received by Hope Acres, Salvation Army and the Clearview Food Bank. The energetic church youth baked many delicious Christmas treats and raised $270 for the Youth Program. Thanks to all who supported these initiatives.

Sunday School Craft Mission Table

The Sunday School have been making lots of crafts for

you to buy! With your help we hope to support the

following projects from Gifts for Vision: equine assisted

learning in Saskatchewan, where troubled youth learn to

ride and care for horses; a program in war-torn Columbia

that provides transportation and meals for children so

they can go to programs with music, theatre and art;

mittens for children in Northern Alberta and we want to

buy an olive tree for Palestine, where the trees have

been destroyed. With your help we can do it! Our youth

have already contributed $40.00 from Hallowe’en.

In September, the church was gifted a gorgeous autumn coloured quilt by the Stayner Stitches group that meets each month in the church as a thank you for the use of the space and part of their charitable work in the community. After much discussion the board decided that having a Fundraising Quilt Draw was the best way to raise money for the church from this gift. This was a difficult decision to make given the strong position against gambling taken by the General Council of the United Church of Canada. It is not our intention to condone the gambling economy with our quilt raffle. We are excited to see who ends up getting to take this beautiful gift home from our Country Christmas Party on December 14th. Tickets are available in the church office if you’d like to buy one or help sell.

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Upcoming, Advent & Christmas Services & Gatherings

December 1 1st Sunday of Advent with Sunday School Christmas Craft Sale for Missions to follow

December 8 2nd Sunday of Advent

December 11 Centennial Women Lunch Meeting with Christmas Gift Bag Creation 12:30pm

December 14 Centennial Friends Country Christmas Party entertainment by Lance Dobinson 6:30pm

December 15 3rd Sunday of Advent—White Gift Service—The Sunday School will be helping to lead this special service wondering where we find Jesus this Christmas. Please consider making a Christmas offering to the Mission and Service Fund, bringing in a non-perishable donation for the food bank, making your gift to the Christmas Family or donating through Gifts with Vision.

December 19 Free Fellowship Lunch Everyone Welcome to share a meal with us. 12:00pm-1:00pm

December 21 Christmas Movie Night Help pass the longest night with a Christmas Classic 7:00pm

December 22 4th Sunday in Advent All-ages Christmas Worship Old-Fashioned Christmas Carol Festival Carol singing & Special Music 2:00pm

December 24 Christmas Eve Service 7:00pm

December 29 Sunday After Christmas A Special Service of stories and song led by Board Members

All our worship services are followed by refreshments and fellowship in our CE Hall

Outreach & Social Action Christmas Family

We are collecting donations for the Christmas Family Program. Through Ontario Works we have been given a family from Stayner

consisting of a single mother with three children with whom we can share the hope, peace, joy and love

of the Christmas Season through our donations. Please make donations through your giving envelopes and mark the donation

“Christmas Family” We also have a “Wish List” for those wishing to buy a Christmas gift.

Donations will be accepted until the White Gift Service on December 15th.

Broadview Magazine (formerly The Observer)

Annual Subscription only $25

Christmas Cards and Caring

For those in our church family needing some extra love this Christmas. To volunteer to deliver a card or suggest a name speak to Valerie Willock.