Greetings!
YouTube Videos and Live-streaming Worship Services
When we begin live-streaming our services on November 28th, you will need to:
· click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJQ5ljHCSPBV3F8TmIhvVA OR
· go to YouTube and google Spirit West United Church.
Either action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page. There you will see all of our services that has been posted to YouTube. The live-stream will also show there.
THIS SUNDAY – FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT - HOPE
In this Season of Advent, how do we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled? How do we prepare for God’s justice in the world?
This Sunday marks the beginning of the Season of Advent, a time of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Each week we will add the light of a candle to our Advent Wreath. Consider creating a wreath for home use as well. See below for prayers to use at home (a pdf booklet version will be sent as an attachment as well).
These are the readings we will hear in this week’s worship service.
• The Book of Jeremiah 33:14-16
The prophet Jeremiah lived in the 6th Century BC, during the time when the people of Judah were in Exile in Babylon. He encouraged the people to return to their faith, so that God would bring them back home.
• The Gospel of Luke 21:25-36
This passage is set in Jerusalem during the week before the crucifixion of Jesus. Using apocalyptic imagery (see last week’s notes on the Book of Revelation) Jesus teaches his followers about “signs and portents”.
Do the “signs and portents” we perceive around us lead us to despair, or to hope? How does that affect our preparations?
Stuart
RE-OPENING FOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP – Nov. 28, 10:30am
Remember that the following conditions will apply:
1. Worship will be on a first come first served basis in order to keep to the physical distancing required under government regulation.
2. You will be asked to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the worship service; you will be given a “vaccine registry number” card which you can then use for subsequent Sundays instead of having to show your proof of vaccination
3. Masks are to be worn at all times
4. Not attending when feeling unwell
5. Answering the Covid questions and signing in upon entry;
6. Following the patterns of movement within the church
7. Maintaining physical distance at all times from others who are not members of your household or cohort
8. Bringing your own food or beverage
9. Listening to the music presented but not singing
10. Leaving immediately after the service ends
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE *** UPDATE ***
We are continuing our second two round of interviews and discussing the results of the interviews.
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that people still face challenges and difficulties not related to Covid-19, and we cannot forget them. Our Prayer Chain continues to be active. If you have a prayer request, please send it to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com.
These requests will be shared regularly with the prayer chain and will form part of the Prayers of the People in our Sunday Worship videos.
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed. Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch
YOUR BOTTLES FOR THE CHURCH
You may have bottles piling up for recycling. You can bring them to the church (or you can call for pick up). If you want to bring your bottles (and any other recyclable beverage containers) in during our office hours and put them directly in the Bottle Shed (by the garage), give us a call, and we can have the shed open for you. All money raised from the return of bottles goes towards paying down the principal and interest on our mortgage.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We can now accept donations by eTransfer. The contact name for the eTransfer is Spirit West United Church, and the email address is spiritw@telus.net . If you include a security question with your eTransfer, please notify Norma at the church office by phone or email. And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance), you can also mail in cheques to the church office (Spirit West United Church, 7003 – 199 St. Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8, include your envelope number if you have one.) The church office is open and you can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors. You can also donate online, see below…
ANOTHER WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO SPIRIT WEST DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
You are stuck home, Spirit West is not holding services, you are not on PAR, but you want to make a financial contribution to the work of Spirit West, because the church has bills to pay even when we are not gathering on Sunday. Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar.
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website: www.spiritwest.org
Facebook: Spirit West United Church and Friends of Spirit West Outreach
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
YouTube: Spirt West United Church, Edmonton
CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
Office hours
- Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday
- Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday
Thank you,
Norma Balcombe
Office Administrator
Spirit West United Church
7003 - 199st.NW Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8
phone: (780) 481-1406
email: spiritw@telus.net
website: www.spiritwest.org
Advent Prayers for Use at Home
This is designed for home use as a pattern for grace before a meal during the Seasons of Advent and Christmas. You may choose to take turns reading.
ADVENT WREATH
Prepare a wreath with 5 candles, lighting one more each Sunday, with the fifth in the centre for Christmas Eve or Day.
• For the Four Sundays of Advent
May this flame of [hope/peace/joy/love] warm our hearts, and guide our living.
May the light of [hope/peace/joy/love] shine as we prepare to welcome Jesus.
• for Christmas Eve or Day
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:3-5)
CANDLE LIGHTING
[Light the candle(s), and invite others to respond.]
One: Jesus is the light of the world!
All: Shine in our hearts!
[You could sing a Christmas Carol at this time.]
Family Communion
We gather around tables to share food, stories, and love. As we hear the stories of Advent and Christmas, we remember God’s great gift to us: Jesus.
One: We remember!
All: We thank you, God.
We remember the Last Supper, when Jesus and his friends gathered around a table in an upper room. Jesus took bread and cup, the simplest of foods. He blessed them, and shared them with ordinary people like us.
One: We remember!
All: We thank you, God.
As we share in this meal, we give thanks for God’s love.
[Hold bread] Bread for our hunger. We remember!
All: We thank you, God.
[Everyone eats a piece of bread]
[Hold cup] Drink for our thirst. We remember!
All: We thank you, God.
[Everyone takes a drink.]
For the gifts of bread and drink, we thank you, God. For your Advent gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, we thank you, God. Bless us, and all your people. Amen.
(Share the rest of the meal together.)
Additional Prayers
God of many blessings, as we gather around this table, may we feel the strength of your love for us. Fill our hearts with delight, and our moments with wonder, as we celebrate your blessings. Amen.
BLESSING OF THE BREAD
Jesus taught us that bread was meant to be shared, and that all are welcome at God’s table. Jesus asked us to remember him in the breaking and sharing of bread.
Let’s pray. In this sharing, in this welcoming, in this remembering, we celebrate God’s gift of life. Amen.
BLESSING OF THE CUP
Jesus taught us that all of life is woven together, and that we are here to share God’s love. Jesus asked us to remember him in the sharing of the cup.
Let’s pray. In this weaving together, in this loving, in this remembering, we celebrate God’s gift of life. Amen.
BLESSING OF THE GATHERING
May there be bread for the journey. May there be friends along the way. May we dare to dream and laugh and love. May we seek justice and peace every day.
May God’s presence give us wisdom. May God’s love grant us peace. May God’s hand give us strength. May we share this food in thankfulness. Amen.
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