The bulletin for the 10 am Service for December 10th is posted below.
To read or download bulletins from previous weeks, click here to go to the Bulletins page.
THIS WEEK’S PARISH NEWS – December 10 – December 17 (**New Items, *Revised Items)
**Thank You from Daniel – Dear friends: As I return from my holiday time over this last month, I have witnessed parish activities running in tiptop shape. I am deeply grateful for all who have worked so hard to help all things run smoothly. Thank you to the parish executive, Brenda, Heather, and Barb, for all your hard work. And to Carol Turnham and all the team and workers for the very successful Christmas Bazaar. I am especially thankful to those who stepped up to lead and preside at services in my absence. These include our lay leaders of Morning Prayer services in the Chapel: Adrienne Lamothe, Ray Lett, and Frank Sanz. I thank Sean Tiernay and Tara Poilievre for leading Sunday 10 am Morning Prayer/Service of the Word. Finally, thanks to our guest clergy, The Very Rev. Ansley Tucker, Dean Emerita, and Pastor Lyle McKenzie who led our Eucharistic Services. I also want to mention Susanne Reul-Zastre who organized the First Sunday of Advent "As the Dark Awaits the Dawn" Service last Sunday evening. Indeed, I am deeply grateful and blessed to continue to journey with you all.
*Please stay for Coffee Time this Sunday after the 10 am service – Coffee Time will be in the Sequoia Room (Lounge) today.
**Did you know? It is 800 years since St. Francis of Assisi first introduced the live pageant. It was in 1223 in Greccio, Italy.
**Next Sunday’s 10 am Service, December 17th, will be an Advent Lessons and Carols Service with special music by the choir, and vocal and instrumental soloists.
**Longest Night Service – Next Sunday, December 17th, 7 pm – This time of year can be difficult for many people because of loss or changes in our lives. This service of light in the midst of darkness is an opportunity to come and enter gently into a quiet holy time, and is open to everyone. You are welcome to invite a friend to come and share with you in this service of remembrance and hope.
**Thank you for your donations last week at the First Sunday of Advent Combined Service with Church of the Cross. The collection of $316 from this service was donated to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the Christmas Bazaar bake table this year. We had three tables full of baking and sold everything!
*Community Musical Celebration – The Victoria Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) is presenting a Community Musical Celebration TODAY, Sunday, December 10th at 3 pm at the Pemberton Memorial Chapel at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. The program includes multi-themed music by Peace Lutheran Church Choir as well as by Organists of the Victoria Centre of the RCCO. Admission is by donation with proceeds to Spiritual Health at the Royal Jubilee Hospital and maintenance of the Casavant organ.
*Winter Wonderland with Edie Daponte - A Benefit Concert for the Shelbourne Community Kitchen – TONIGHT, Sunday, December 10th, 7 pm at Church of the Cross. Join captivating vocalist Edie DaPonte, and the Bob Watts Trio as we celebrate the holiday season. With Attila Fias on piano, Ryan Tandy on upright bass, and Bob Watts on drums, these talented musicians will bring to the stage everything from holiday favourites to jazz and gospel, spanning several musical genres and songs that are sure to warm your heart this holiday season.Tickets are $25/person and include a warm beverage and sweet treat at intermission. They are available from the Shelbourne Community Kitchen website, with limited tickets available at the door. See more information at the Events page.
**The December Faith Tides is now available online at the News page of St. Luke’s website. Print copies are available in the church or from the parish office. Or please call the office (250-477-6741) to ask to have a copy delivered. This issue includes pictures from our services and events in November to remember veterans. See more information on the News page.
**Contributor Boxes – If you didn’t pick up your box of envelopes last week, please pick up your box at the back of the church this week.
**Invitation Cards in the Bulletins – Please use the invitation card in today’s bulletin to invite a friend or neighbour to the special services through Advent and over Christmas. Or post the card on your fridge as a reminder of the services over Christmas. Extra invitation cards are available on the table at the back of the church. Invitation cards for the Christingle service and Longest Night Service are also on the back table.
**Donations for Flowers for Christmas – The Altar Guild invites your donations for flowers for the Christmas services. Donations can be made in memory of a loved one, in celebration of a special event, or simply as a thanks offering. Donations can be mailed, handed into the office, or added to the collection plate. If you would like a tax donation receipt for your donation, please use one of your donation envelopes, and mark "flowers " or Altar Guild on it. Please make cheques payable to St. Luke's. For more information, please contact Ann Séguin.
Christmas Stocking Project – As in previous years, we have chosen a World of Gifts Project through the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund as our Christmas Stocking Project. We are starting our Christmas Stocking Project today, the first Sunday in Advent, and it will continue to Christmas Day. Our project will be buying goats for Community Health Workers in Malawi in Africa. You are invited to drop your gold coins (Loonies or Toonies) into the Christmas stocking at the back of the church or to put a special donation into the collection plate labelled “Goats Project”. Money designated in the collection or collected in the stocking from now to Christmas Day will be sent to the PWRDF to buy goats for Community Health Workers in Malawi.
Pre-Authorized Remittance Program (PAR) – A number of people noted on their givings cards that they would like to increase their PAR or start using PAR. To make a change or start using PAR, please send an e-mail to St. Luke’s Givings e-mail (givings@stlukecedarhill.ca) and include the following information as noted. To make a change to PAR, include your envelope #, the date you would like the change to happen (eg December 1, 2023 or January 1, 2024, etc.), and the amount of the change. The PAR comes out of one’s account on the 20th of the month but changes have to be sent in prior to the 10th of the month. To start using PAR, send an e-mail to St. Luke’s Givings e-mail (givings@stlukecedarhill.ca) and a form to enrol will be sent to you. The Envelope Secretaries will follow up with everyone who indicated that they would like to change their PAR amount or start PAR in case they have any questions.
St. Luke’s Players Panto Tickets – Tickets for St. Luke’s Panto, Beauty and the Beast, are available now through EventBrite. With plenty of traditional pantomime audience participation and huge helpings of laughter, this is a family show not to miss! Dates are: evenings at 7:00 pm on December 15, 16, 20, 21, and 22; matinees at 2:00 pm on December 16, 17, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. See more information at the Events page.
**Lots of pictures from the Service of Remembrance and No Stone Left Alone are posted at the News page.