Erie Street United ESUC Advent

Church

NewsletterDecember 1, 2019

7 Erie Street North Ridgetown, Ontario N0P 2C0 Website: www.eriestreetunited.org Email: eriestreetunited@live.com Phone: (519) 674-3453

Upcoming Services December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22 December 24 December 29 January 5

Advent I, Baptism, Confirmation and Communion Advent II, White Gift Sunday Advent III Advent IV, last Sunday before Christmas Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Erie Street Church at 7 pm, joined by Mt. Zion Church Jim Stirling will lead the service at Erie Street United Church Epiphany and Communion

Dear Friends in Christ, For the past six weeks, I have been spending time with four young people in our congregation, talking about the Symbols of the Christian Family, as they prepare for confirmation. We have discussed the symbols of Baptism, or the Power of Water; Communion or Eating Together; the Bible or Christian Family Stories; the Cross or Christians All Over the World and The Creed or Words to Live By. We keep discovering our connections with our congregation, with our parents and grandparents and with Christians everywhere. These symbols remind us that we are all connected in God’s love. Now we are coming up to Christmas, a season absolutely full of symbols. We have wreaths (eternity), evergreens (eternal life), Christmas trees (the Tree of Life), candles (the Light of the World), and even Santa (Saint Nicholas, known for gifts to children, especially the poor).

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These are all symbols of life and joy and celebration. But the beauty of them is that they are also symbols to remind us that even in the darkest times of life (darkness of winter nights), even when life takes us unawares and is distressing (Mary having to deal with those who would shame her for her pregnancy), when we feel cast out (the Holy Family became refugees in Egypt when Herod

was after their son), God gives us light and life and hope. We also remember that we are never alone. God is with us. So many brothers and sisters in Christ are with us. We are all connected by the love God. May you have a blessed, joyous, encouraging, and hopeful Advent and Christmas season. Many blessings, Rev. Judith

From the Board Chair Rev. Judith has made discipleship a theme of her sermons and her leadership in 2019, emphasizing not only the work of discipleship but its joys as well.

As I near the end of my two years as Board chair, it's the main impression I take with me. There have been so many times when we as a Congregation might have said, “Well, let's just do the minimum.”

Instead, like you, I recall hearing, “Let's do that,” and “How about this for an idea,” and “I can help.” Think of the roof, GAP, the Lunch Bunch, Belarus, Vacation Bible School, our mission work, our music programs, and so much else.

Of course we see the future as a challenge, too, and of course it's true for me, as it has been for every chair, that my job is to send out a reminder how important it is that we all contribute as we are able to the Fall Canvass, and that we sign up for PAR (just ask Stephanie or me), and that we regularly review whether our givings are keeping up with inflation and our needs.

Still, of the words I associate with ESUC, a vital one is “Next”. We're always getting ready for tomorrow and next month and next year. There is always something next on our calendar, something next we are thinking of.

It's infectious, and it's also something we are good at sharing. Would you like to get more involved? Do you have a few hours to work with others and help? Is there an area you're especially interested in? Do you know someone who might appreciate being asked?

Before you turn the page, think of a name (it could be your own!). Then let us know. We'll see what we can make happen next.

With best Christmas wishes.

Tom

Confirmation Class The Confirmation class continues their weekly sessions with Rev. Judith preparing for Confirmation on December 1st. They are preparing unleavened bread for communion.

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Christian Education Report

Fall has been full of fun and learning for the GAP kids. They helped kick off the filling of grocery bags by taking a trip to Foodland on World Food Day. The children selected food items they thought a family in need would appreciate and then brought the full bags back to Erie Street to be included in the donations going to the Salvation Army for Christmas hampers.

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The children also enjoyed making a "Joyful Noise to the Lord" using their very own handmade tambourine. Once again, their Halloween party was a hit with fun costumes and games enjoyed by all.

GAP kids learned all about the work being done to help families in Belarus and assembled jars of hot chocolate mix to continue raising more funds. This activity reminded us how blessed we are to have so many older students as GAP helpers! Jars are available for sale in the church foyer following the service. They

make great Christmas gifts, so get them for $5 each while supplies last!

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Watch for exciting activities coming up, including a Birthday party for Jesus and other celebrations around the birth of Jesus. The GAP leaders.

ESUC Anniversary Service On November 3, 2019 we celebrated our 144th Anniversary with a cake made by Norine Paine and a luncheon provided by the ESUC Board. The theme was Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord.

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Missions On November 17th, Margaret Campbell returned to give us an update on her work in Belarus. We enjoy seeing pictures of the people that we have come to know over the years. We saw pictures of the family that got a new well this year allowing them to have running water and also an inside bathroom. We saw the children delighted with their stuffed animals and dinky cars. We have raised $1960 to date for the Belarus mission.

December 1st is the last day to bring in your grocery bag for the Salvation Army. Thank you to Eleanor Stevenson for pickup up of the 50 grocery bags donated by Pierre Monette at Foodland and encouraging us during this donation time. We have over 50 bags returned which the Salvation Army will be picking up on December 4th. Thank you to everyone who filled a bag with much needed items- food, toys, paper and hygiene products.

Our congregation is always very supportive of our Mission & Service Fund and we have raised $4118

to date. Marilyn Snary

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UCW

The evening unit UCW held its last meeting for the year with a potluck dinner on Monday November 25, 2019. Their next meeting will be in March 2020.

Remembrance Day Thanks to Elaine Stevens and everyone who contributed to the Remembrance Day display!

and Marilyn Snary! enjoyed the pizza lunch courtesy of Wayne Following Margaret’s presentation everyone

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Meat Pies On November 16th a group of about 20 people got together in the kitchen and Friendship Hall and made close to 600 roast beef and turkey pies. Another 73 turkey pies were made on November 21st to meet the rest of the demand. In total 660 pies were made! Thanks to everyone who helped make and who purchased the pies. We will be back at it again in February and March making turkey, roast beef, ground beef, tortiere and chicken.

Church Roof The church roof replacement is complete and enough money was raised to pay for it. Thanks to everyone who supported the project!

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