www.calvaryunitedchurch.on.ca

CATALYSTC A L V A R Y

A D V E N T • C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 3

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:11

This is your invitation to Communion on December 1st, 2013. Delivered by:

Harvest Dinner ticket sales and taste testing!

As I sit at the desk and compose my message for this issue of The Catalyst, the trees still have

their leaves, some brightly-coloured, most still green. While the first snow has already fallen (briefly), Hallowe’en is still a week away and the World Series has just begun. In the sun and warmth, I’m living into winter, trying to put myself into an Advent and Christmas frame of mind, trying to plan worship services into February 2014.

This feels like a symptom of our world today. We are always thinking about tomorrow and what is coming next: back-to-school sales began in July; Christmas themes began appearing in October. We’re so trained to think about what is coming next to pay enough attention to where we are in the moment, in the now.

At this point in the nativity story, shepherds were simply sheep herding. Wise men in the east were watching the night sky, as was their hobby. Mary was feeling her baby grow within her, kicking and keeping her up at night. Joseph was wondering how to be a faithful fiancé and father-to-be in a very strange situation. Bethlehem innkeepers were catering to their clientele and hoping for more business.

The Christmas story of a baby’s birth, of a family’s journey, of a people’s hope, of God-with-us, interrupts life that is quite ordinary and unremarkable. Life is busy enough in the day to day without worrying

Sunday by SundayDec. 1 Communion, Welcoming New Members, Christmas Share Sunday The Mountain of Hope (Isaiah 2: 1-5)Dec. 8 Children’s Musical Sunday; The Root of Peace (Isaiah 11: 1-10)Dec. 15 Music Sunday; The Desert of Joy (Isaiah 35: 1-10)Dec. 22 The Sign of Love (Isaiah 7: 10-16)Dec. 24 Christmas Eve intergenerational service at 7:30 p.m.Dec. 29 Keeping Our Saviour Safe (Matthew 2: 13-23)

Jan. 5 Pulpit SupplyJan. 12 Gentle and Tough Justice (Isaiah 42: 1-9)Jan. 19 Lighten Up (Isaiah 49: 1-7)Jan. 26 Beyond Zebulun and Zebedee (Matthew 4: 12-23)

Feb. 2 Getting It Backwards (Matthew 5: 1-12)Feb. 9 Annual Meeting Sunday; Why Worship? (Isaiah 58: 1-9 a)Feb. 16 And the Kitchen Sink (Matthew 5: 21-37)Feb. 23 Baden Powell Sunday

Mar. 2 Moses Burning on a Mountain (Exodus 24: 12-28)

Future Forecasts and the Power of NowSee, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare: before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Isaiah 42: 9

too far into the future. Who has time for surprises? Who has time for God’s amazing grace to intrude and upset our earthly plans and preparation?

The prophet Isaiah’s words will be featured in worship over the next weeks and months. He was one with an eye to what was going on around him while also speaking (ranting, sometimes) about the future – dire and hopeful, destructive and inspired. He also knew that before we can get to tomorrow, grim or glorious, we had to get through today. The moment of action and decision, discernment and discovery, is not in some far off future, but is here, is now.

The Buddhist practice of mindfulness encourages us to slow

down, to rest in the present and simply be. If we could let go of all that is propelling us forward in such a hurry, we might appreciate the journey more. There is always a tomorrow but our hopes and fears for that time should not keep us from making the most of what we have now. Advent is a time of preparation – of looking ahead to the future and of taking action and making decisions in the present. May we prepare our hearts for the joys of today, hope for tomorrow, peace for the world and love for all.

May this season be one of blessing for you and yours, for all of your tomorrows and your todays,

– Rev. Kenji Marui

The Calvary Catalyst is published four times a year. Its purpose is to inform and report on news and events at Calvary United Church.

Submission deadline for the next issue is March 7th, for distribution by April 13th, 2014.Submissions should be sent to Bruce Jones at: scouterbruce@rogers.com

Calvary United Church 290 Ridout Street South, London, Ontario N6C 3Z1 Phone 519-434-5526 • E-mail: calvunitedchurch@execulink.com www.calvaryunitedchurch.on.ca

From the office filesCalvary United Church has been saddened by the passing of:

Al SmalleyMartin McLay

Worship Committee InvitationThere is a Communion Service five times a year. We are in need of people willing to help prepare and help with the distribution of the communion elements. If you feel you could help once or twice a year in this capacity please contact Kyle at 519-649-0986 or through the church office.

From Stewardship and Finance

Our open meeting last spring brought forth many excellent comments and suggestions from the congregation, all of which have been carefully

considered by the various committees of the church. Financially, we are seeing an increase in givings and have had a number of people sign up for PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance), which has helped our cash flow considerably, especially over the lean summer months. If PAR is something you might be interested in, please contact Karen in the church office.

At the end of September we were running an operating deficit (for the period of Jan.1 - Sept.30, 2013) of $11,400, which is a much better financial place than we were at this time in 2012. So the congregation is to be congratulated for stepping up. We still have a ways to go to end the current year “in the black” but thanks to the response of many of the congregation it’s not as dire as we feared last spring. Sadly, we started the year off $22,700 in the hole, so if we can end 2013 in a surplus position, then we’ll start nibbling away at that carried-forward debt.

– Submitted by Nancy Hind, Treasurer

The Light Ahead

Recently, driving home from a quick trip to Quebec we experienced travelling in sunshine, then overcast skies, more sunshine, a stretch of rain, back into

sunshine. As we neared Lucan an ominous, dark, low-lying cloud loomed ahead of us. That’s when snowflakes began smacking onto the windshield. It did not last long but the moments felt a little like an enacted parable of life.

Our life-journeys are surrounded by a variety of changes – some good, others, not so much. Now we start the approach to Advent and Christmas. For many, December feels like a low-lying cloud. Is it because of shorter days, cooler air, less sunshine or the anxiety of readying ourselves for stresses that accompany this special

time? The cloud of darkness can look scary and impenetrable until a ray of light peeks through and around the edges like a precious strand of silver. Seeing the light through the clouds may be our biggest challenge as we come to December and to the Bethlehem manger. I take hope in the experience of

Mary and Joseph who travelled a dark, inhospitable path but who birthed the Light of the World.

“Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the dark shadows.” Isaiah 9:2

May we all see that Light through the dark clouds of daily living.

Christmas Blessings of Light.– Rev. Gord Duncan

Attention University and College Students or Parents Please contact Phil Downes and inform him as to what institution you are attending, what you did in the summer and which courses you are taking plus a recent picture of yourself. We’ll try to get it into the next Catalyst.

– Thanks, Phil calvaryyouthgroupie@gmail.com

Shopping/Gift Card

Fundraising Project

So far this year Calvary has raised $2,500 through our Fundscrip shopping/gift card program. To order these and many other shopping/gift cards, raising big bucks to go toward

Calvary’s operating expenses, please see the order forms located at the back of the sanctuary, the lower hall, and the church office. Contact Nancy Hind at 519-434-4048 or nancyhind@rogers.com if you have questions. Upcoming order dates: Nov. 24, Dec. 8 & maybe 15th depending on Fundscrip’s holiday schedule. We expect to resume the program Jan. 5th. Nancy delivers the cards to you at Church on the alternate Sundays, or other arrangements can be made.

Christmas Shopping ListRemember to order Shopping / Gift Cards for:✔ Dec. 1st Christmas Share (formerly White Gift – see the Outreach article)

✔ Groceries (Metro, President’s Choice chain, Price Chopper, etc)

✔ Gas for travel (Esso, Canadian Tire, Petro-Can)

✔ Winners/Home Sense for Susan (she’s so trendy!)

✔ Best Buy for Trevor (who can guess what he’d like?)

✔ Fairmont Hotel (so Jim & I don’t have to sleep on Susan & Trevor’s sofa bed)

✔ The Bay or Sears for Jim’s mom (she can pick out what she’d actually use)

✔ Swiss Chalet for Jim’s dad (so the in-laws get a break from home cooking)

✔ Home Depot or Home Hardware for Lisa and Bill (they’ve just bought a house)

✔ Toys R Us for baby Sophia (actually so Lisa can pick)

✔ Pet Smart for Fido & Fluffy (ditto)✔ Cineplex for the letter carrier and my hair stylist

✔ Coles/Chapters for Jim (& hope he picks something I’ll read too)

✔ Shoppers for Tylenol, prescriptions, tape and last minute bits & pieces I’ve forgotten

…and that looks after nearly all of my “shopping”, except for one last thing…✔ Body Shop for me (something lovely for a long, relaxing bath after the festivities)

Whew... It’s great getting all that checked off!

CALVARY LIBRARY

Your Library is brimming with Advent and Christmas resources, suitable for the youngest to the oldest of our congregation. Displayed on the book cart

and on special Advent/Christmas shelves are books with stories of the Nativity, heartwarming and humourous stories, poetry, meditations, program ideas, crafts, dramas and Christmas carols. Also, there are CDs and DVDs. And, don’t forget the Christmas Survival Guide!

Great Joy is written by Kate DiCamillo and the beautiful luminous illustrations are by Bagram Ibatouline. This is a story about an organ grinder and his monkey on the streets of New York City during a cold, snowy winter. A little girl worries about the two and invites them to her Christmas play. With her one-line part in the play, she proclaims the simple

but perfect Christmas message as they enter the church. I found the book moving and heartwarming and believe that it can be enjoyed by people of every age, not only the suggested 4-8 year old crowd.

Angel’s Christmas Cookies is written and illustrated by Sam Williams. Angel and Elf are fetching in their green and red footie pajamas. As they hang their overbaked, but nevertheless sweet-smelling and nicely-decorated, Christmas cookies on their friend, the snowy Christmas tree, they joke that he looks good enough to

eat. This story is one of friendship and kindness involving an elf, an angel, a Christmas tree AND a huge diaper-wearing baby bear. Those 4 years and up would enjoy this book.

The Calvary Library Committee wants to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas.

– Darlene Sanderson

From the Property CommitteeThe Property Committee is undertaking the installation of some new low-flow toilets. This is a money-saving plan as well as a conservation initiative. It is based on a suggestion made last spring, when the Finance Committee was looking for ideas from the congregation.

– John Dickie

Beth’s Bulletin BoardContact Beth Parsons at 519-434-5526, email elizabethparsons@execulink.com

or on Facebook

Calvary’s Annual Advent PartyCome and enjoy lunch, games and crafts at our Advent party on Saturday, Nov. 30th at 11:30 to 2:00. Please RSVP by Sunday, Nov. 24th This is for youth grades JK-4.

The Waiting Begins

As Advent begins, so begins the waiting.

Waiting for one that brings peace to

the world, waiting for the child that

speaks of love. Unfortunately, for a lot of us,

waiting will come in different ways. There

will be the waiting for a parking spot at the

mall. Waiting for the store clerk to help us

find that perfect item we need for Christmas.

Then of course, the waiting at the cash

register to pay for the perfect item we need

for Christmas. Then the waiting in line to

return the perfect item, that wasn’t so perfect

after all.In Matthew 6: 19-21, the scripture speaks

of treasures that go beyond this life.

We can own lots of beautiful things, but

the treasures of our heart, such as love, faith,

family and God, are where our riches truly

are. Those treasures can never be stolen, get

lost or have to be returned.

With Jesus, we don’t have to wait. He is

here now! He is in our lives and in our hearts.

Jesus is our treasure, our gift from God.

Wishing everyone all the blessings of

Christmas!

– Peace, Beth

Mark your calendars on

Sunday, December 8th

for our

Annual Christmas Musical

This year’s show comes to you live from

a mall where “Murphy in the Morning”

and the WISHFM singers are taking

requests for special Christmas wishes.

Tiffany Buffington and her friends are

out to win... even if it means stacking the

odds against Carol... who instead has a

miraculous idea of her own!

Come and see the awesome talent of our Calvary family!

The Miraculous Christmas Wish

Radio Show

Time for us all to Get Involved

I attended the Official Board meeting in October and presented some ideas to help inform the public of our existence and encourage them to attend services here at Calvary. I was asked to make a presentation to the Official

Board Executive in November. If they agree, here are the ideas:The first idea requires purchasing some labels on which we will print the

following:

Compliments of Calvary United ChurchYou and your family are cordially invited to attend Calvary United Church Sunday at 10:30 a.m.290 Ridout St S. 519-434-5526 www.calvaryunitedchurch.on.ca

This notice will then be attached to an Observer magazine. The label will be placed over the label that has your name on it. Then the next time you go to the Doctor’s office, or your local mechanic, or barber shop, take this magazine and read it while you wait. Leave it when you leave. Wherever there is a waiting room is the place to leave one of our magazines.

I have no idea if this will work or not, but if we work together and leave magazines wherever we can, we could cover the city in a matter of months.

Another thought is to make a Church calling card. On it will be a message and an invitation to attend. There is a spot on the back for you, the church member, to sign your name and phone number. These cards will be handed out to friends or relatives that you have personally invited to join us at Calvary. Ask your friend to bring the card with him and give it to the usher when they arrive. The usher can then direct your friend to you so you can enjoy the service together. My suggestion is that we make two cards for each church member. The hope of course is that each of us will hand out both of our cards to folks with whom you would like to attend church services.

The final idea has to do with flyers. The size would be four flyers to an eight and a half by eleven inch sheet of paper. The message and style will need to be agreed upon. Eye-catching or Religious? Controversial or Quaint? Funny or Informed? Regardless of our decision, the ultimate message will be asking people to attend church with us.

In the hopes of saving money it has been suggested that we deliver the flyers ourselves. If we each took a handful and deliver them to our neighbours on our own street we could again cover the city in pretty quick order.

More information about these ideas will be distributed as soon as we know in which direction we are headed. We can accomplish a lot if we each help a little.

– Phil Downes

Calvary Marathon BridgePlay resumed on the 19th of September with eleven teams. We wish all members good cards and a fun season of Bridge. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Spring luncheon to be held at Calvary on May 29, 2014.

– Cheers, Linda Karl

Annual Christmas Share Program(Previously White Gift Sunday)Below is an excerpt from the St. Paul’s Daily Bread Program regarding the annual Christmas Share initiative.“For a variety of reasons, we (Daily Bread) have decided to change to a gift card program. This will offer those we serve the dignity to be able to make their own choices for gifts for their families and food for Christmas dinner. Participants in the program will need to come to St. Paul’s to be registered by Nov. 15th and will be asked to come back and pick up their gift card package the week of December 9th.”

For many years, Calvary has supported the Christmas Share program with tangible gifts and financial donations which have been collected at our annual White Gift Sunday.

In keeping with the changes requested by St. Paul’s, the Calvary congregation is being asked to participate by donating gift cards instead. Suggested cards are from Giant Tiger, Metro, Price Choppers, President’s Choice, Sears, Walmart and movie theatres. Not only will the purchase of gift cards be in keeping with the needs expressed above, but many of the cards can be purchased through the Calvary Fundscrip program. By doing so, our church will benefit financially from each card sold. Fundscrip order forms are found at the back of the sanctuary, in the lower hall or from the office.

In order to ensure delivery of cards to St. Paul’s by Dec 2, gift cards from the Fundscrip program must be ordered no later than Nov. 24. Additionally, a few cards will be available for purchase from the Outreach Committee during coffee hour after church. Financial gifts are also appreciated, with cheques made out to ‘St. Paul’s Christmas Share Program’.

A festively wrapped Christmas box will be available to deposit cards or financial donations.

Thank you for your support!

The youth group started the fall season off with a bang. We went to East Park and enjoyed a day of activities including the driving range, climbing wall,

miniature golf, bumper cars and go-carts. Then later that week, we held our first dance of the season. We are still struggling with our numbers but we did manage to make enough money to be able to help our family in India.

The meetings have been fun as the members have been learning how to play snooker. The students also learned a new game using chestnuts on a string (well new to our group. It’s actually an old English game called Conkers which I played as a kid and we called it Chestnuts.) First you need to collect some chestnuts. Then you drill a hole in the ones collected. A string is then threaded through the hole and a knot is made to hold the nut. Player one

then places his chestnut on a string on the ground.His opponent, using his chestnut on a string, strikes

and tries to break his opponents chestnut off the string. If he misses, the roles are reversed and striker becomes the strikee. The first chestnut to fall off the string is the loser. Sounds simple, eh? WELL IT’S NOT! It took us half an hour to finally break one off the string. During that half hour there were lots of laughs and sighs of frustration and friendly camaraderie was displayed. It was a fun activity to experience.

The lights in the youth area have now been fixed. Thanks to Dorothy Anne and the property committee, our meetings are far more illuminating than they were in the past!– Merry Christmas to everyone from the Calvary Youth Group.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank local initiatives update/Harvest Dinner

Dessert anyone? The Outreach Committee is ready to serve: Linda, Bonnie, Isabel, Marg, Beth, Grace, Kathy, Liz, Marlene and Kathie.

The third annual Harvest Dinner in support of the Canadian Foodgrains

Bank was a great success! A sold out crowd of over 120 people enjoyed many delicious vegetarian dishes prepared by Calvary’s Outreach Committee. A profit of $1274 was realized, which will be added to individual donations made and forwarded to the CFGB national office. A full report of the Caradoc Growing Project’s financial success, including profit from the 15-acre soybean crop will be presented in a later issue of the Catalyst.

Gifts with VisionGifts with Vision... a perfect way to start and finish your Christmas shopping. Check out the United Church catalogue, Gifts with Vision.

You could buy:

1. A female goat.2. Lunch for 10 people at The Downtown Mission in Windsor.3. A camp experience for a child.

There are many choices. You can choose the RIGHT gift:

1. Online – log on to www.giftswithvision.ca2. By telephone – call 416-253-5456 or toll-free at 1-800-288-7365.3. By mail.

There are also catalogues at the back of the church. You can choose the perfect gift and support the Mission and Service Fund of our United Church of Canada.

There was fun, friends and good food to be had this year at our annual Girls’ Retreat @ Bimini. Many thanks to my CIT’s Jennifer and Laura for all your awesome work. Thanks also to Carol (Bimini’s Coordinator) for your energy and fun.

If you ever have a chance to drop by Camp Bimini... do it! It is truly a paradise full of God’s presence and love.

– Beth

5th Annual Girls’ Retreat @ Bimini!

From our Catalyst Youth Correspondent, Kayla Lindsay

The weather is changing and the leaves are falling. Thanksgiving has passed and it was a time to

remember what God has given us. A time for our families to get together and have a nice turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy.

It is also the time to start enjoying all of the fun winter activities you might have going on... whether it’s hockey, curling, skating, and more.

Merry Christmas, Kayla

The Christian Development Committee will be putting up the Christmas tree on

November 27th for Advent. We are asking the congregation to bring in new hats and mittens to put on or underneath the tree.

In January, we will take all of the hats and mittens to either the London Community Chaplaincy (Southdale and Limberlost now combined) or East London United Church Outreach (ELUCO).

The Christmas Musical will be Sunday, December 8th. Please come out and see our young people put on this wonderful show.

Thanks, Mary Kannakko

Hats & Mittens Christmas Tree

An update on the James family

In mid-October, 2007 the Calvary congregation became the host family for a Karen refugee family. Originally from

Myanmar (Burma), Bway Paw (mother), Truly (father) and their children, lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for many years where the children were born. As government-sponsored refugees, the family was provided interim financial support by the Canadian government, including an apartment, some furnishings and a small living allowance in order to set up their new home in London.

Working with the Cross Cultural Learners’ Centre, our congregation acted as their hosts. Our role was to support and be friends to them, assisting wherever needed to help them assimilate into life in our community.

The James family are now Canadian citizens. They have relocated to Leamington where Truly, Bway Paw and Christina work for the Highline Mushroom Company.

Christina graduated from Fanshawe College’s two-year Police Foundations Program with dreams of eventually becoming an RCMP officer. As well she obtained a G2 driver’s licence. Portia is in Grade 11 and is a very beautfiul, smart and studious girl. Sophie, who was born here, is now in Senior Kindergarten.

Blu Moo Ba and Truly’s mother Ku Paw have now moved to Leamington to be closer to Truly and Bway Paw’s family.

Solomon was married in August to Hsa Hay Tha and a few members of Calvary were honoured to be invited to the wedding.

– Grace Truly and Sophie. Beautiful smiles from Grace and Sophie.

Hsa Hay and Solomon.

Bway Paw Bway

Too

Ku Paw

Truly

Ba Blut Moo

(Blue)

Sophie

Solomon

Hsa Hay Tha

Shan GyiPortiaChristina

Teresa

Winter Service Hidden Pictures By Linda Mahood Morgan

This family shoveled steps and left cookies for a neighbor. You can do service for others too. In this picture fi nd a bandage, banana, baseball, bird, book, boomerang, boot, butterfl y, candle, comb, fi sh, hamburger, horseshoe, ice-cream cone, pear, pencil, rabbit, screwdriver, and whale.

F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 2 43

bandage

banana

baseball

bird

book

Hidden Pictures By Linda Mahood Morgan

Can you find all the things hidden in this picture of a family doing a good deed?

boomerang

boot

butterfly

candle

comb

This family shovelled steps and left cookies for a neighbour. You can do service for others too. In this picture can you find:

pencil

rabbit

screwdriver

whale

fish

hamburger

horseshoe

ice-cream cone

pear

When you’ve found everything you can colour the page!