1. family and parenting
2. children

Sunday, December 21, 2014
Advent IV—LOVE
Rideau Park United Church
2203 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa K1H 7L9
613-733-3156 rideaupark.ca
Welcome to Rideau Park United Church. Please note: Audio loops are available from the ushers. Prayer
requests for today’s services can be noted on the lists at the entrances. Childcare for pre-schoolers is
available in room B-12 (lower hallway). Quiet activity boxes are also available for children in the chapel
each Sunday. *Indicates where the congregation is invited to stand as able.
After the service, you are invited to join us for refreshments and conversation in Beecroft Hall.
December 21, 2014 - Advent IV - LOVE
We Gather Together
Organ Prelude:
In Dulci Jubilo
Buxtahude
Lighting of Chancel Candles: 2 Samuel 22: 29
“Indeed you are my lamp, O Lord. God lightens my darkness.”
*Call to Worship:
One: Our souls magnify God, and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour!
ALL:
All creation sings: from Mary of Nazareth to the prophets of old:
One:
The birds in the trees and the sheep in the field;
All:
The animals in the stable and the stars in the sky;
One:
The lion, the wolf and the bear.
All:
Each has a part to play in God’s Kingdom of peace.
One:
Our souls magnify God, and our spirits rejoice in God our saviour!
All:
Let us worship our God, Creator of all.
*Processional Hymn: 54 VU
Lighting the Advent Candles
“Unto Us a Boy is Born”
Zane Balkissoon
Ascension
Lockhart Family
Leaders:
The poet, George Herbert wrote:
“Love bade me welcome, but my soul drew back.”
It’s hard to look at the enormity of God’s love embodied in Jesus Christ.
We look at the candles and enjoy the special music of the season.
It’s easier to listen to the radio or
buy the red cup at the coffee shop, than to dwell on the mystery.
The psalmist knew it long before Jesus:
“For with the Lord, there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.’
God became one of us, out of love for all of us, then and now and forever.
When we light the candle of Love, we stop in awe of God’s unending love.
People: Whatever we face in life, God’s steadfast love surrounds us.
*Advent Song:
1-
So Near We Can Feel It
Chris Inrig
Hope comes as an angel to shepherds below,
“Fear not, grace is with you. Look, see the star’s glow!”
Refrain:
So near we can feel it; so close we’re aware:
Love touches our hearts, feels just like a prayer.
Bright flame of a candle helps us prepare;
To greet life anew and find God waiting there.
2-
Peace beckons in silence, “Come into the stall.
Feel God in the moonlight, new life for us all.”
Refrain: (as above)
3Joy gathers our burdens, calms with her song,
“Lie deep in the meadow; wait, it won’t be long!”
Refrain:
4-
Love, soft as lamb’s breath hangs in the crisp air.
“Warm glow from the manger, rich jewel so rare.
Refrain:
Listening for God’s Presence and Voice
Touch of Brass:
A Time for all God’s Creatures
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Dobrinsky
*Hymn: 69 VU
“Away in the Manger”
Cradle Song
(Following the hymn, grade 3 children and younger are invited to go to Sunday School
downstairs.)
Scripture: Reading Isaiah 11: 6-9
Lay Reader:
Music:
The Jesus Gift
Scripture Reading: Luke 2: 8-16
Morgan Roy
Martin
Lay Reader:
*Hymn: 56 VU
(verses 1-3)
“Jesus, Our Brother”
Guest Speaker:
Veterinarians Without Borders
*Hymn: 56 VU
(verses 4-6)
“Jesus, Our Brother”
Hailey Laliberté
Orientus Partibus
Jaime Gardner
Orientus Partibus
Offering Ourselves In Service
Offering
Offertory Music:
Soloist:
Joseph’s Lullaby
Ryan Hofman
Kavanagh
*Offertory Response: 55 VU (verse 4)
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring him a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Concern
The Life and Work of the Church
*Hymn: 59 VU
“Joy to the World”
Antioch
*Commissioning and Benediction
Voluntary:
Postlude on “Adeste Fidelis”
Thiman
Rideau Park News
2203 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON K1H 7L9
(613) 733-3156 rideaupark.ca
December 21, 2014
Upcoming Worship Events
Sunday, Dec. 21
Christmas Celebration Concert
3:00pm
Sunday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
6:30, 8:30, 10:30pm
Wednesday, Dec. 25 Christmas Day Service
10:00am
Today, Sunday, December 21, our one 10:00 am service is multigenerational, with a special
guest speaker, Jaime Gardner. Jaime participated in Vets without Borders this summer, and
the RPUC Foundation was able to help sponsor her time in Africa. We will be raising up the
role played by animals in the Christmas story and animals who are part of the Bible’s
message of peace in creation. Children (and the young at heart!) are invited to bring a
stuffed animal up for Children’s Time.
PLEASE NOTE: The office will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th at 1:00 p.m. until
Monday January 5th, 2015. DEBI BROWN our Administrator, will be in the office on
Wednesday, December 31st from about 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to receive any last minute
donations that members of the congregation may wish to bring in. Steve Clifton will
have the pager in the event of any emergencies. This time off is a thank you and in
appreciation of the staff for all the work that they do during the year.
Nativity: Did you enjoy watching last Sunday`s Pageant make you wish that you
could don some angels wings, or dress like a Bethlehem shepherd? If you are an
adult attending the 6:30 service on Christmas Eve we would like help to create a
living nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, angels and shepherds. We have a Holy
family lined up, complete with a real baby. We are looking still for Gabriel and a
few shepherds. You won’t have to remember any lines. You need only dress for
the occasion. If you can help out with this please speak to Steve.
Thank you Andrea!!! Congregation, staff, participants, and parents of participants, join in
extending our great appreciation to Andrea Laliberté for “shepherding” last week’s
magnificent Pageant. Andrea has led us through 15 Pageants, and every one is unique and
wonderful. Thank you so much Andrea for this great gift that you generously give us all.
CHRISTMAS CHEER 2014: We are moving towards reaching our goal of $15,000 but still need
to raise about $6,000 more. We thank all who have volunteered to assist with the packing
and delivery of the hampers. We have also had a generous donation of boxes to use for
delivery of the food. Note: For your convenience additional envelopes are on the tables at
the entrances to the Sanctuary. Thank you.
Prayers for Father Rex Reyes, Philippines: Fr. Rex Reyes, General Secretary of the United
Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and a member of The United Church of Canada
Partner Council, has been diagnosed with colon cancer. He and his family have opted to
undergo natural healing methods. We ask for your prayers for Father Rex Reyes and his
family as they face the days ahead. Please include also in your prayers the National Council
of Churches in the Philippines who have been working under Fr. Reyes leadership.
United Church Emergency Appeal for the Philippines - Typhoon Hagupit: The United
Church of Canada has issued an Emergency Appeal for the Philippines who, just 13 months
after Typhoon Haiyan,were recently hit with another typhoon. Typhoon Hagupit left less
destruction, but damage to buildings, infrastructure, and farmland is significant and 23 were
killed. Because of these back to back storms many Filipino people, children in particular are
suffering traumatic effects. The Filipino people and our Mission and Service Partners in the
Philippines need our prayers even more as they start once again to rebuild their lives. The
United Church has sent $10,000 to ACT from our Emergency Response Fund for livelihood
restoration and trauma counselling. We are also welcoming donations from members across
Canada in order to increase our capacity to respond with needed financial support. As the
destruction is further assessed, it is likely that additional needs will be reported. Please go to
the United Church web-site to see how you can donate.
Pause Table: We joined with Riverside United and Anglican Church of the Resurrection at the
Carleton Exam Pause Table last Tuesday, where we served 1000 students. Thanks to our
volunteers and to everyone who donated baked goods and food. Your kindness was very
much appreciated.
Bible Explorations: Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 a.m., in the Parlour, please join us
to explore the lectionary text for the coming Sunday worship service. Led weekly by the
Minister preaching on the Sunday, participants engage in conversation about the meaning of
texts for their daily living, adding to the Minister’s reflections about the text also. Please
note that Bible Explorations will start up again on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at the same
time and location.
Please keep in mind worshippers who have limited mobility, especially now that winter has arrived. Parking
in the parking spots beside Cunningham makes it easier for them to come to church, so if you don’t have the
need, please use a parking spots on the Beecroft side or in the back parking lot off Woodcrest. Thank you.
TREASURER’S NOTE: Noted below are the figures of year-to-date revenues and expenses
for the period ending November 30, 2014 for the “Rideau Park Ministries and Program”
(RPMP) and the “Mission and Service” (M&S) Funds, along with a comparison to 2013 and
2012 for the same period:
2014
2013
2012
Revenues
563,732
$555,793
$546,331
Expenses
593,083
$577,400
$553,896
Shortfall
(29,351)
(21,607)
(7,565)
All of the shortfall relates to the Rideau Park Ministries and Programs Fund, which as
everyone knows is our operating fund out of which we pay salaries and other operating
expenses during the year. It is not unusual for this fund to be in a deficit position at the end
of November. However, it is important that the RPMP Fund at least break even by year end
in order to be in strong financial shape to start the new year. Consequently, we depend on
the congregation’s generosity in responding to our December appeals. At the same time,
Stewards are aware that there are significant demands on everyone’s financial resources at
this time of year. With this in mind, Steward’s will be looking to develop a long-term
financial plan in the new year so that we can reduce the need for, and size of, our year end
appeals. Thank you.
Joyful Noise Choir: This year the Joyful Noise Choir, directed by Ian Bevell, have a fantastic
opportunity to sing the National Anthem at an Ottawa 67’s game on Saturday, February 21,
2015 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $18 each and can be purchased from the Allo Family.
2015 Offering Envelopes are ready for pickup on the Sunday School Counter. Thank you.
Activities Calendar: December 21– December 27
Sunday:
Christmas Choir Concert
Dec. 21
3:00pm
Sanctuary
Monday:
Christmas Cheer
Oasis (AA)
12:30pm
8:00pm
Tuesday:
Christmas Cheer
9:00am
Beecroft
6:30pm
8:30pm
10:30pm
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Wednesday:
Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Eve Service
Coffee Hour Volunteers
Beecroft
Brackenridge
Thursday:
Merry Christmas! Office closed.
Susan & Colin Townsend
Barry & Joan Dewis
Dec. 28
Janet Buske-Wischer
Doug & Barbara Robinson
Joan Gold
Sunday Duty Officers
Dec. 21
Dec. 28
Friday:
Boxing Day—Office closed.
9:30am
Karen Humphries
11:15am
Nancy Begg-Durkee
10:00am
Doreen Hamilton
Counting Volunteers
Saturday:
Office closed.
Dec. 22
Lois Jensen
Dec. 29
TBC
Main Office is open Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm
Ministers’ pager number: 613-786-4340
Visit our website: rideaupark.ca
Playgroup meets most weekdays 9:30am B-12
Elizabeth Bryce—Minister
Steve Clifton—Minister
Georgina Fitzgerald—Minister
Ted Colwell—Interim Minister
Ian Bevell—Music Director
Debi Brown—Administrator
Debby Gerro—Admin. Assistant
Paul Sorg—Custodian
Prayer Chain: Ext 227 or [email protected]
Church Staff: 613-733-3156
Mon-Thurs
ext 224
Tues-Fri
ext 225
Tues-Thurs
ext 226
Tues-Thurs
ext 229
Mon-Wed
ext 223
Mon, Wed-Fri
ext 228
Tues-Fri
ext 229
Mon, Wed-Fri
ext 229
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]