Announcements for December 5th, 2010
Foodbank donation for December is peanut butter.
Rev. Roy will lead worship at Goderich Place on the first Friday of every month at 3pm. (Next Date: January 7th.)
Rev. Roy will lead worship at Maitland Manor Sunday at 4pm.
Toni, the Parish Nurse, is in the North Street office Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00pm, and can be reached at the church phone number 524-2103 or by
e-mail: parish.nurse3@gmail.com
Caring for yourself when you’re caring for someone ill…When friends tell you to “take care”, take them seriously. Only by caring for yourself can you experience the fulfillment as well as the challenges of your commitment to care for another. Pace yourself, accept help, acknowledge your strengths, talk it over with family and friends, nurture your body (eat, sleep and exercise regularly), feed your soul. Learn what renews you emotionally and spiritually.
Every one is welcome to the Healing Service, at Knox, December 12, at 3pm in the Royal room. It will be a time of singing, scripture reading, quiet and anointing if desired.
Imagine...what your world would be like if you felt your church family didn't care. We are in need of at least 2 (TWO) caring people to visit the folks in the hospital on a rotating basis. This isn't a huge commitment folks! But it is so worthwhile! God doesn't call the qualified...He qualifies the called.
This Week at North Street
Monday – Sunday – Set up for the Christmas Bureau (if you are able to volunteer to help sort donations from 9:30am to 4:30pm please call Kathleen.)
Friday – Open House at the Nicol-Macdonald’s home from 2pm to 4:30pm
or from 7pm to 9pm
This is the LAST week that Observer subscriptions will be available. A one year subscription is $20. If you wish to renew or start a new subscription, please let Kathleen in the office know by December 10th.
The Advent season of hope and the Christmas season of miracles form a spiritually powerful time of year for the faith community. The wonder of these seasons also coincide in a very pragmatic sense with the nuts and bolts of balancing the budget. December is a very important month financially, a time where we move from a significant deficit to a balanced budget. Please remember North Street’s ministries in your Christmas giving. In a very real way your gifts during this season support all our activities throughout the year.
Skating Party: Please join us for a skating party today. We will meet at the church in the Fellowship Hall for pizza at 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Skating will follow from 7pm to 8pm at the Y.M.C.A. Maitland Recreation Centre. Please come to one or both sections of the celebration.
Fellowship of the Ringers will rehearse on December 6th and December 20th from 4pm to 5:30pm. January rehearsals will resume on January 10th.
Our Annual “Cookies and Caroling” will return next year. This year is the last of our 2 year hiatus during which we have committed ourselves to other outreach opportunities. Look for music and munchies next Advent!
The Christmas Bureau is asking for donations of pajamas. Please drop off these and any other donations between December 6th and December 10th at North Street United Church.
The Christmas Bureau is also in need of volunteers to help sort donations during the week of December 6th to December 10th from 9:30am to 4:30pm each day. If you are able to help, please contact Kathleen in the office.
Fair Trade: Christmas order. Now is your chance to purchase Fair Trade gifts and stocking stuffers! Some specialty chocolates, coffee, and teas are available. Orders received by Friday Dec. 10 at noon will be ready for pick-up on Sunday December 19 - deliciously fresh for Christmas. Please contact Laura for the full list at 524-1081 or at amullin@hurontel.on.ca Thanks to all who supported the Fair Trade booth at the Global Gifts Mall last weekend!
North St Pie Shoppe will be selling their pies and Christmas pudding on Dec. 12th and 19th at coffee time after church. There is a variety of both individual and large fruit and meat pies. Joan’s Christmas pudding and sauce is available also, while it lasts!
Ta Ta Tea with Toni: Saturday, December 18th at Knox Presbyterian Church from 2pm to 4pm. This is a chance for people from Knox Presbyterian, North Street United, and the community as a whole to show our appreciation with Toni Schaefer before she retires. Please join us for this come and go event.
Our knitters need more yarn. If you have any leftover yarn suitable for the pneumonia vests and toques that are sent to Honduras, and would like to donate it to this cause, please bring it to the church.
Thank you! Thank you to all those who participated in the Global Giving Weekend! It was a huge success! The total contributions from all the booths at the Global Giving Mall as well as donations collected during the “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!” concert were… DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!! (pause for dramatic effect)… wait… you’ll actually need to listen to the worship announcements!
In the Community
Alzheimer Society of Huron County offers Goderich Support Group. The 2nd Monday of every month at 1:15pm to 2:45pm at Knox Presbyterian Church. For more details call the Alzheimer Society office at 519-482-1482 or 1-800-561-5012.
Are you going to be alone of Christmas Day? You don’t have to be! Why not join us for Christmas Dinner at St. George’s Church on Christmas Day, December 25th. Doors open at 2:30pm – Meal served at 3:15pm. For singles or couples who are unable to be with family and friends. Come! Tickets are available in advance only for $7 at St. George’s church from Monday through Friday 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm.
Advent Noon Series at First Baptist Church, 39 Montreal Street presented by the Goderich Ministerial. The service each Thursday will begin at 12:10pm with lunch to follow at 12:30pm (free will offering.)
December 9th – Mary Jane Bisset
December 16th – Bryan Wornar
Update on Bicycles for Humanity-The collection of used bicycles at various places in Huron and Perth during the month of October resulted in about 700 good used bicycles being collected to send to Namibia, Africa. This was a tremendous response and we thank everyone who donated bicycles. The bicycles are now stored at Spring Breezes Greenhouses, near Blyth where the handle bars are turned and pedals removed to enable the bikes to be packed tightly together. The next stage is raising the finances to send the bikes to Africa, which works out to about $30.00 per bike. So that means we have to raise more than $20,000. We have gift cards available for $10 each that enables you to donate on behalf of someone. They're great for Christmas giving. Anyone wishing to purchase them, or make a donation please call Jack or Sylvia Nonkes at 519-523-9456 to make arrangements. We thank everyone for their bicycles, ticket purchases and financial donations. Your help to send these bikes on to the next part of the journey is greatly appreciated.
Christmas at the Bridges: A Benefit Concert for Huron Women's Shelter on Sunday, December 19, 2010 2:00 pm. Bridges Landing adjacent to Seaforth Golf Course $20.00 Advance Tickets Only - Limited Seating Phone 519-524-5333 Huron Women's Shelter Also available at Pete's Paper Clip, Seaforth. Join us for an afternoon of Christmas music and desserts featuring the Huron Carolers. All proceeds to Huron Women's Shelter.
Best Wishes for the Advent season from Camp Menesetung. Blessings to your families and congregations, and Thank You for your continued support throughout the year. With the coming of the Advent season, or at any time of the year we welcome financial donations to help send a child to camp. Charitable receipts are available for donations of $10 or more. Gift cards are also available upon request. Cheques should be made out to 'Camp Menesetung' and mailed to Glenn Lamb, 121 Rich Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 1X4. A child in need will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Kincardine Brass Band presents: Carols in Brass. Bring along your brass instruments or you voices and join in performing some favourite carols. Saturday, December 11th at 3pm at Suncoast Mall in Goderich and Sunday, December 12th at 3pm at Kincardine United Church. Interested instrumentalists, please register early by emailing kincardinebb@gmail.com
CHRISTMAS SWELL on Tuesday, December 21 from 7pm to 9pm. Wesley-Knox United Church in London, Ontario.
Join us in remembering: A Memorial in Honour of 14 Women on December 6th at 6pm. South Street Steps, Court House Park in Goderich.
Breakfast with Santa: In Memory of Sue Munnoch on Saturday, December 11th from 8am to 11am at Knox Presbyterian Church. Crafts for kids of all ages and visit with Santa. Adults $6, Children $4 and Families $20. Proceeds to Huron Women’s Shelter.
Decorating our annual “Hope Tree” began last week. During Advent our penny collection adds loonies and toonies to the regular collection of loose change and each week decorations are added to the tree to acknowledge these gifts. This year our projects are as follows:
Advent 1 (November 28) Hope—Bring hope to the people of Mozambique. Watering Cans ($15) and a Wheelbarrow ($40) will be provided to help care for “Gardens for Medicinal Plants” which are useful in treating conditions brought on by AIDS/HIV. These Gardens were planted with the help of the Christian Council of Mozambique.
Advent 2 (December 5) Peace—The people of the Dohoku Centre in Hokkaido, Japan engage in peacemaking activities. Making and selling “Peace on Earth” Tomato Juice ($5) helps support these endeavours. The Centre also promotes peace through work promoting the recognition of Japan’s aboriginal people. They publish a children’s book called “Growing Up Ainu” ($5).
Advent 3 (December 14) Joy—Nicaragua is a country where 50% of the population is under the age of 14. We work with our partners the Moravian Church to help bring joy to some of these children. Job’s Hall, a Sunday School building was destroyed in the last hurricane and now the property is unused. The community hopes to build a basketball court so that the young people can have a safe place to play. ($100) The entire cost is $12,000.
Advent 4 (December 21) Love—We strive to demonstrate the unconditional love that Jesus showered on the world, particularly those people who find themselves on the margins of society. The Southdale Chaplaincy ministers in London’s largest public housing complex. Amongst their many pastoral care and support functions they provide After School programs five days a week. Craft supplies ($20) and/or staff for one day of the program ($35) can share our love with many young children.
For those who would like their donations credited to their givings, please use an envelope with either your number or your name and address to make your donations. The envelope should also be marked “For Hope Tree Project.” Thanks.
Interfaith Corner
December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action to End
Violence against Women (Canada)
This day commemorates the tragic Montreal Massacre on December 6, 1989 where women were killed at the Université de Montréal because of their gender. The Centre for Research on Violence against Women and Children was established in 1993 with funding from the Canadian government to conduct community-centred research to help end the violence. While this is primarily a Canadian observance, it provides an opportunity for any group to focus on violence against women, and hate crimes in general.
December 7 – Al Hijra (Islamic New Year)
This is a remembrance of the migration (or hijra) of Mohammed and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. This event marked the beginning of the growth if Islam into a world faith. It is not a holy day for Muslims, and as such there is no required, religious ritual for the day. The Qur’an uses the word hijra to mean “moving from a bad place or state of affairs to a good one.” On Al Hijra, Muslims may contemplate how their faith helps them leave behind bad habits or unhealthy ways of living in order to achieve a better life.
December 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
On this day in 596 BCE, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) vowed to meditate under the Bodhi Tree until he attained enlightenment. Some Buddhists decorate their homes with lights on this day.
December 10 – Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day recognizes the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations on December 20, 1948. Following World War II and the Holocaust, there was a strong desire to ensure that such human rights violations would never happen again.
Please contact Linda Wiebe to add or update any information about North Street United on this website.
We continue to collect:3 ply worsted yarn needed for the knitting of pneumonia vests that go to Honduras and prayershawls for people in our local community.
Zehrs Grocery Tapes go to benefit the work of the Women of North Street. Leave in the Zehrs' tape boxes in the narthex or drop them off at the church office.
Eyeglasses go to Rayjon Share Canada to be fitted and distributed in Haiti and Nicaragua. Please leave your used eyeglasses in the collection bag in the narthex. We had 38 pair of glasses donated this year. Thanks to all participants.