December 22, 2019 Advent IV - LOVE Vibrant Christmas Sunday
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Northlea United Church
In the community. For the community.
125 Brentcliffe Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 3Y7
www.northleaunited.ca ~ 416-425-5252
December 22, 2019
Advent IV - LOVE
Vibrant Christmas Sunday
At Northlea United Church,
we encourage one another as we:
Love God ~ Connect with others
Nurture the spirit ~ Serve the world
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We want to make everyone feel welcome at Northlea! Our facilities are accessible for
those with mobility assists, such as wheelchairs and scooters. We welcome pets and
invite you to bring your coffee to service! If we can help improve your experience by
providing you with assisted hearing devices, a large print hymn book or large print
order of service, we have them – just ask one of our Welcomers.
Infants, toddlers, and children are welcome as part of our worship in the sanctuary!
Following the first part of the service each Sunday, many of our children and youth go
with their leaders to “Cool Church.” Children who are visiting are invited to join in!
After the service, everyone reconnects in the Community Room over refreshments.
We encourage everyone to wear name tags, so if you don’t have one, and would like
one, please let one of our Welcomers know.
Thank You for Helping with Today’s Service:
Welcoming: Lucy Platt & Jody Kinsey
Reading: Jackie Morris
Sound Technician: Ron Scott
Kitchen Hospitality: Rosalind & John Dekker
Bedford Park Jazz Band:
Jesse Boxer-Meyrowitz, Marcia Camaraire, Felix Fox Pappas, Richard Brisco
If you are interested in volunteering to help with Sunday Morning Ministries, please
sign up on the sheets posted outside the office on the Welcome Board.
Minister: Lee-Ann Ahlstrom lee-ann@northleaunited.ca
Music Director: David Jafelice david@northleaunited.ca
Office Administrator: Tricia Reid office@northleaunited.ca
Facility Manager: Robert Pringle building@northleaunited.ca
Children & Youth Leader: Jo Dullard jo@northleaunited.ca
Consider Financially supporting Northlea United
● through Canada Helps by going to www.northleaunited.ca
● signing up for PAR (Pre-Authorized Debit) through the church office
● using offering envelopes
Please contact the church office if you would like more information
416 425 5252 or office@northleaunited.ca
** Unless otherwise indicated: Prayers (various) are taken from “The United Church
of Canada - Gathering - resources for worship planners” Advent-Christmas-Epiphany
2019-2020 Year A Worship, Music, and Spirituality ISSN-0823-1869 3.45M 08/19
190020 CH11103
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Northlea United Church
December 22, 2019
Carol Sing
(*) Please stand if you are comfortable and able.
Bold letters indicate words to be said by the whole congregation.
Please ask one of our greeters if you would like a large- print bulletin,
a large-print hymn book or an assisted hearing device.
̴ Gathering ̴
Before or during the prelude you are welcome to come to the front and light a candle
and/or enter your prayer requests in the book provided. Your prayers can be included
in the prayers of the people during the service.
Welcome
*Gathering Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Voices United #1
Announcements, Joys and Concerns
Call to Love:
God can do great things through us.
From generation to generation God has been with us.
If we say yes to God,
the disadvantaged will get their chance, the proud will be brought low.
If we say yes to God.
the refugee will find a home, the immigrant will be supported.
If we say yes to God.
those who have so much will share and the deprived will get what they
need.
Today, we say yes to God, as Mary did and answer the call to love.
Lighting the Advent Candle:
In this season of expectant waiting,
we hold our breath.
We yearn for love that makes us whole.
When we feel lonely, when we feel alone,
when we feel abandoned,
when we don’t feel lovely, when we know not where
to turn, when we despair,
God settles into our hearts, loving.
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On that foundation, on that potential, on that
created reality within,
we trust with growing confidence.
Into the vacuum of loneliness, love seeps;
into the ugliness of abandonment,
love caresses and coaxes;
into the depths of despair,
divine love fills to overflowing,
as the flame of love is gifted from the One who transforms.
~ The candle is lit ~
May the peace of Christ be with you all
And also with you
Sung Response: Prepare A Way Bryn Nixon
Greetings of Peace - This week we invite you to be part of our Vibrant Christmas
Sunday photo. Join us on the chancel stairs.
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Sung Response: Maranatha More Voices #19
Maranatha, maranatha, come, Lord Jesus, come.
Maranatha, maranatha, come, Lord Jesus, come.
Text: traditional liturgical text. Music: Copyright © Louise Skibsted. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net # A-724837
Opening Prayer:
We search, loving God, for those aspects of our lives and for those aspects of
our faith community that are not in harmony with your will and purpose.
You know us through and through.
You know that change is possible.
You will give us the strength of mind and spirit to bring change.
God we open our hearts and minds to your will and ask you to lead us in your
way.
Amen
̴ Listening ̴
*Hymn: To a Maid Whose Name Was Mary Voices United #14
Prayer for Understanding
Holy One, we pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit you
will open our hearts and our minds to your mystery and grace.
Guide us to the truth and wisdom we most need to hear,
as we listen for your still small voice in our sacred story. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Response
In this reading we hear God’s voice.
The Spirit is still speaking, thanks be to God.
Anthem: Come to Set Us Free Lloyd Larson
Message:
̴ Responding ̴
Invitation to the Offering:
Regular offerings enable us to serve this community and the community
beyond these walls. Saying yes to God means giving of ourselves in ways that
we are able. Offerings make it possible for us to do more as a community than
we could do by ourselves.
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Offertory Music
Offertory Response: Grant Us, God, the Grace Voices United #540
Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.
*Offertory Prayer:
God of Love, we offer you our gifts, that love may come to our troubled
world. Help us to embody love, to live with compassion and offer kindness
wherever our lives touch others.
Prayers of the People:
The Lord’s Prayer: David Haas Voices United #959
*Closing Hymn: Go Tell It on the Mountain Voices United #43
*Commissioning
*Amen: Danish Amen Voices United #967
Postlude
We acknowledge with respect the history, spirituality, and culture of the
Mississauga peoples who came to this place long before us, and our
responsibility for the territory wherein our church resides.
Reading December 29, 2019: Isaiah 9: 6,7
1 Thessalonians 5: 11-22
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What’s Happening?
Littlest Angel Christmas
Pageant & White Gift
was so much fun!
It was a non-traditional
version of the Christmas
Story that told of the
journey of the littlest angel
on her way to Bethlehem
and wowed the crowd. The
kids, big and small, had a
wonderful time and all
White Gift donations went
to Youth Without Shelter.
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Christmas is almost here!
• Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - Christmas Eve
o 7:00 pm Family Service
o 11:00 pm Communion Service
• December 25, 2019 – January 5, 2020 – the church facility will be closed
for the holidays except for Sunday services at 10:30 am.
• Sunday, December 29, 2019 - 10:30 am Lay Worship Circle will lead a
Carols and Christmas Stories service.
What’s happening in January?
• Sunday, January 5, 2020 – Service at 10:30 am
• Wednesday, January 8, 2020- Lee-Ann will hold office hours on
Wednesdays starting in January. If daytime hours or Wednesdays are a
challenge, just give her a call to arrange another time to meet.
• Wednesdays, January 8, 22, 29, 2020 – Cluster Discussion Group: Beyond
Tribal Wars and an Angry God: the Bible and Evolving Human
Consciousness - 7:00 pm
• Sunday, January 12, 2020 – Lay Worship Circle Meeting after service.
• Wednesday, January 15, 2020
o Annual Reports are due to the office
o All Staff meeting and lunch from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
o Lee-Ann will not hold office hours that day.
o Council Meeting 7:00 pm
• Friday, January 17, 2020 – Youth Night – 6:30 pm
• Sunday, January 19, 2020 – Rev. Cynthia Stretton and the Bedford Park
Band 10:30 am
• Wednesday, January 22, 2020 – Trustee Meeting 8:00 pm
• Thursday, January 23, 2020 – Food & Friendship Dinner – FPM 6:00 pm
• Sunday, January 26, 2020 – North Toronto Cluster Pulpit Exchange with
Rev. John Joseph Mastandrea 10:30 am.
Ongoing programs:
• Tuesdays at 10:30 am: Bible Study Christmas Break: December 17, 2019,
returning January 7, 2020
• Wednesdays at 2:00 pm: Flemingdon Park Conversation Group - Christmas
Break: December 18, 2019, returning January 8, 2020.
• Wednesdays, January 8, 22, 29, 2020 – Cluster Discussion Group: Beyond
Tribal Wars and an Angry God: the Bible and Evolving Human
Consciousness - 7:00 pm
8• Thursdays at 1:30 pm: Art Circle - Christmas Break: December 19, 2019,
returning January 9, 2020.
• Thursdays at 7:30 pm: Choir Rehearsal –Christmas Break: December 26,
2019, returning January 9, 2020
• 3rd Fridays at 7:00 pm: Youth Night - every 3rd Friday of the month. Next
date: Friday, January 17, 2020.
Carols by Candlelight
What a wonderful evening of
music and lessons! Many thanks
to David for arranging the music
and conducting the choir, our
talented Leads and guests
whose voices filled the church
with beautiful traditional and
contemporary music. Thank you
to Senan Whelan for so expertly
accompanying the choir again this year. The
readings were wonderfully varied, some poetry,
some Scripture and even the Christmas
transformation of The Grinch which were presented
flawlessly by our three talented readers. The quiet
candlelit conclusion with Silent Night was a perfect
ending to a beautiful Advent service.
The Community Room was the centre afterwards for
delicious refreshments and lively conversation.
Thank you to everyone who brought treats and to
those who helped serve. Both the Sanctuary and the
Community Room were alight with the glow of
candles thanks to Sharyn Varty and her helpers. Truly an evening to remember!
Thank you to all of those who contributed to the
2019 Mitten Tree.
Special thanks go to Joyce McMaster and her group
of knitters, Dale Blayney for contributing 36 hand
knit scarves, to all who submitted beautiful and
useful scarves, mittens, hats and sweaters. The
Massey Centre, CRC Regent Park and The
Neighbourhood Organization (TNO) were all
9grateful for your thoughtfulness and kindness including them in your Christmas
wish list. Thanks again. Best wishes for a happy, healthy Christmas and holiday
season.
Beyond Tribal Wars
and an Angry God
The Bible, particularly the Old Testament,
illustrates compellingly, an angry
vengeful God, solely concerned for the
family of Abraham. This image of God,
and others, will be explored through the
lens of Spiral Dynamics. Using Clare
Grave’s model of expanding human
consciousness, we will notice how various understandings of God throughout
scripture are related to different levels of consciousness. What level are we at?
Can we be at more than one level? How do we manage differences at different
levels?
Come and explore with Lee-Ann, Wednesday, January 8, 22 and 29 from 7:00 -
9:00 pm in the Community Room. Bring your curiosity and an open mind.
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