THE SUNDAY NEWS

DECEMBER 16, 2007

ELORA BETHANY PASTORAL CHARGE

The United Church of Canada

PO Box 737, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 — 519.846.0122

www.elorabethanyuc.org elorabethanyuc@bellnet.ca

MINISTERS: All the Congregation

Ordained Minister: Greg Smith-Young

Music Coordinators: Louise Elder (Elora)

Suzanne Flewelling (Bethany)

Office Hours: Rev. Greg Smith-Young is usually in the office on weekday mornings.

Secretary Judy McMullan is in the office Thursdays & Fridays from 9:30 to 4:00.

Minister for Children and Youth We are most pleased to announce that, at the Joint Congregational meeting on Nov. 25th, both congregations unanimously ratified the Joint Search and Selection committee’s recommendation for our Designated Lay Minister for Children and Youth. Barb Smith-Young will begin her duties in January 2008.

The CBC Reading of a Christmas Carol will take place at Bethany United Church this week, Thursday, December 20^th at 7:00 pm. Help support the Centre Wellington Food Bank by attending this inspired reading of a Christmas Carol by Marcia Williams, Mayor Ross-Zuj, Michael Counsell, Rev. Greg Smith-Young, Dr. Forrest Caldwell and Denise Beckham. Tickets are $15.00 and available at Little Katy’s, Ron Wilkins and by calling the church office at 846-0221.

Advent Worship: As we move into to time of preparing for Christmas, our worship theme will be: “Singing the Season – Exploring the Hope behind our Favourite Carols”

December 2 Joy to the World

December 9 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

today O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

December 23 Bethany – No-Rehearsals-Required Christmas Pageant

Elora – Children’s Worship

Christmas Eve Worship

Elora Christmas Celebration 5:00 pm

Bethany Christmas Celebration 7:30 pm

Christmas Communion (at Elora) 11:00 pm

In January: Exploring A Song of Faith. Nope, this is not a singing group. We won't even hum (okay, maybe a little). A Song of Faith is the United Church of Canada's new statement of faith. In January, Greg will be hosting a 6‑week long opportunity to explore it together. We'll try to understand it, discuss it, and look at how it might help us to better follow Jesus. Here's the info: Elora UC; Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30; from Jan 14 to Feb 18.

Stamps at Elora As your Christmas cards come in, you will be receiving plenty of stamps. Please remember to clip out the stamps, leaving about ½ cm of the envelope all around, and bring them in to the ZUMAT jar in the front lobby.

Elora Care Callers Your Care Callers packed and mailed cheer boxes to 12 of our church family college and university students on Nov. 26^th. Many thanks to all who generously contributed.

Observer magazine: articles that make you think. We are in the process of re-ordering Observer subscriptions (the United Church of Canada magazine) for Elora congregants. If would like to have your name added to the list, please call or email the office or otherwise let Judy know. She can also remove your name from the list, if you prefer. At Bethany, please speak to Gloria Bird.

Carpets at Elora A team is needed to help with cleaning of the carpet in Fellowship Hall on January 2^nd. If you can help, please speak with Greg Smith-Young or Brent Hyndman.

Events This Week – December 16 to 23

Today: after worship Elora Junior Choir rehearsal

Monday: 1:00 pm Elora Quilters meet in the Bissell Room

Wednesday: 7:00 pm Elora Choir rehearsal **note change of date **

Thursday: 7:00 pm CBC Radio/Bethany reading of A Christmas Carol

Sunday: after worship Elora Junior Choir rehearsal

Coming Up

Monday, Dec 24 5:00 pm Elora Christmas Celebration

7:30 pm Bethany Christmas Celebration

11:00 pm Christmas Communion (at Elora)

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The Mission and Service Fund supports the work of Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving with the Christian Council of Mozambique.

Karen and Bill tell what it’s like to be in Mozambique for Christmas:

“In Canada, we often think of Christmas as a time for children. It’s a time of shining decorations, pageants and loud parades. There are catalogues to riffle through, beckoning store windows, gift lists and Santa.

“In rural Mozambique, where 80% of the population lives, many children have never seen a store-bought toy or even a store. Children here do have toys. Boys use sticks, string and sardine cans to build toy trucks. Girls play hopscotch in the dirt or clapping games with elaborate patterns. They cuddle dolls made from corncobs and bits of yarn. Mozambique children just don’t associate toys with Christmas.

“A rural Mozambique child on Santa’s knee would ask him to make rains come and for seeds to plant. They’d ask for a cure for AIDS which is taking away their parents and older siblings. Christmas here is family time. People travel to their rural homelands and enjoy singing, dancing and drumming.

“Above all for Mozambicans, Christmas is the birth of a baby. Here, nothing is more important than children. They remember that Jesus was born in poverty and survived to adulthood. For many here, that is cause enough for celebration.

“Please support the work we do with partners in Mozambique and in many African countries with your gift to Mission and Service.”