Hello Trinity Friends,

This Sunday we enter into Advent with a special Communion Service at 10:30 am.  Come early to join in a Carol Sing, led by the Trinity Choir.  Plan to come on back for the J.O.Y. Band Christmas Concert: A Yuletide Festival, directed by Betty Farris. This Sunday December 3rd at 1:30 pm.  Includes a carol sing and refreshments.  Free will offering with donations going to North Bay’s Santa Fund and Trinity’s Infant Food Shelf.

Tonight – Families are invited to Messy Church – Christmas style. Families are invited to come out and participate in a variety of fun activities, share a meal and hear an interactive Christmas story.  All families are welcome!  Friday December 1st from 5 – 7 (doors open at 4:30).

There are a number of exciting events and some important announcements to share.  This will be a long email – please read through to the end so you don;t miss anything!

Saturday December 2nd, 10 am to noon: Kids Only Bazaar​ at St. Andrew’s United Church – an opportunity for the kids to do their shopping!

Christmas, A Humbug?! A dramatic reading of Dickens’ Classic “A Christmas Carol” with Celebrity Readers and Near North Voices

Join us at Trinity United Church on Friday December the 8th at 6:30 pm for a sing-a-long of Christmas favourites, followed by the Dickens classic at 7pm and interspersed with exquisite seasonal mood music performed by the Near North Voices under the direction of Dr. Adam Adler. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door or by calling (705)474-3310

In true Dickens fashion, all ticket proceeds go to North Bay’s soup kitchen, “The Gathering Place.” Celebrity readers include: CBC Radio’s Markus Schwabe, Darlene Laferriere, Rod Carley, Doctor Joe Madden, John Powers, Maureen Cassidy, and Reverend Ted Harrison. “God bless us, every one!”  Dickens Event Page

Christmas Bag Outreach

Each year Trinity’s youth group collects items for the Christmas Bag Outreach Project. We provide over 150 Christmas gifts to children, youth and adults in our community! These bags are packed according to the age of the receiver and delivered the week prior to Christmas. We pack bags for teens and adults in transitional housing, treatment centres, the NBRHC Mental Health Unit, Suswin Indigenous Housing, and more.  If you would like to contribute to this outreach program please bring in your donations to Trinity on White Gift Sunday (December 10th) or any Sunday morning prior to then.  A full list of needed items can be found in your bulletin!  Cash and Christmas Bags are also appreciated.

AOTS GIFT CARDS are available to purchase this Sunday.  Gift cards make excellent Christmas gifts!  Gift cards are available for many different things: groceries, gas, restaurants, drugstore, entertainment and more!  You can now pay by etransfer, cash or cheque.  To place an order, speak to Rob Brownlee after church.  Orders are due this Sunday December 3rd. 

DATES FOR YOU CALENDAR!

• Friday December 8th, 7 pm (sing-a-long at 6:30):  Christmas, A Humbug?!  An enchanting presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
• Sunday December 10th, 10:30 am:  Trinity’s Sunday School Present “A Shepherd’s Christmas Story”
• Sunday December 17th, 10:30 am: Trinity’s Choir Cantata: Love​: A Gospel Christmas Celebration​.
• Thursday December 21st, 7 pm:  Longest Night Service.
• Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24th:  10:30 am Advent 4 Communion Service and a 7 pm Christmas Eve Family Service

Hello Trinity Friends,

We hope you will come on down to the Christmas Walk tonight and look for United Church friends outside of Creative Learning.  Join us in singing Christmas Carols, grab an adorable candy cane reindeer and gather with friends from the local United Churches!

Then tomorrow, pop over to Trinity Church to pick out some delicious cookies.  The Cookie Walkdoors open at 9:30 .a.m We have a great variety of Christmas cookies and squares for you to choose from. Come, support Trinity and buy some sweet treats.

This Sunday, we celebrate AOTS Sunday – the AOTS is the United Church Men’s Group, which stands for “As One That Serves”.  The children will continue their Sunday School pageant rehearsal during church.  

Following the worship service, the Rapport Singers will present a beautiful afternoon of music with their concert: “Waiting: Songs of Advent and Celebration” It begins at 1:30 in Trinity’s Sanctuary. 

THE COMPASSIONATE COMMITTEE OF NORTH BAY – What you need to know about helping people who are experiencing homelessness. Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 7 pm. hosted by Trinity United Church. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

THE COMPASSIONATE COMMITTEE OF NORTH BAY – What you need to know about helping people who are experiencing homelessness. Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 7 pm. hosted by Trinity United Church. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

You will find the Advent Newsletter here https://trinitynorthbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/advent-2023-1.pdf Thanks to Ross Brewer for putting this together – and to all those who contributed to it!  There is an abundance of activities and special worship services coming up.  I encourage you to sit down over a cup of tea/coffee, and read it thoroughly!

Here are a few highlights of some upcoming events to put in your calendar.

Hello Trinity Friends,

Please join us this Sunday for worship at 10:30 am.  This is a busy Sunday! The children will begin their Sunday School pageant rehearsal during church. Following worship, plan to stay for a hotdog lunch sponsored by Trinity Families and then head outside our Ferguson entrance to watch the Santa Claus Parade (with a delicious cup of hot chocolate).  We would welcome cookies or squares for the hotdog lunch – please bring them to the kitchen before 10:30 on Sunday if you are bringing anything in. 

Next Sunday November 26th is AOTS Sunday.

Covenanting Service at St. Andrew’s United Church

You are invited to attend a Covenanting Service for Caitlin Smithers on Sunday, November 19th at 6:00 pm, at which time we will celebrate the beginning of her new journey with the congregation of St. Andrew’s United Church, North Bay.  All are welcome!

There are a number of events coming up and a few announcements to share.  Please read on!  

Newsletter Deadline

Items for the Advent/Christmas Newsletter are due this Sunday November 19th to Ross Brewer. 

Christmas Bag Outreach

Each year, with the support of the Trinity Congregation, Trinity youth pack approximately 150 Christmas bags for those in our community who may not otherwise experience the joy of receiving a gift.  We pack bags for teens and adults in transitional housing, treatment centres, the NBRHC Mental Health Unit, unsheltered individuals and more.  If you would like to contribute to this outreach program please bring in your donations to Trinity on White Gift Sunday (December 10th) or any day up to then.  A full list of needed items will be posted in your Advent newsletter and in the Fellowship Hall.  Cash to purchase items and Christmas Bags are very much appreciated! Contact Lisa at blais.trinity@gmail.com for more information

Downtown Christmas Walk. Friday November 24th 6 – 9 pm: Come downtown and enjoy an old fashioned Christmas event downtown North Bay. United Church friends will have a spot outside Creative Learning where we will sing songs and hand out Reindeer Candy Canes. We would love to see a good turnout of our United Church friends join us. Marcel MacDonald and Rick Banting will lead us in singing carols.  Please feel free to bring bells, shakers, drums, etc.  All welcome!

Cookie Walk – Saturday November 25th 9:30 – 11:30: Come pick up some Christmas cookies to share or keep for yourself 

Rapport Concert “Waiting” Sunday November 26th: 1:30 pm.  Come on out and enjoy a beautiful evening of music.  Joined by the Joyful Bells, the Rapport Singers will set the tone for the season of Advent!  $20 Adults, $15 Students (under 12 free).

THE COMPASSIONATE COMMITTEE OF NORTH BAY – UPCOMING  Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 7 pm. – Information Session about how to help people who are experiencing homelessness,  hosted by Trinity United Church. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Messy Church – Trinity Style: We Wish You a Messy Christmas: This is a fun family friendly evening where you can hear a Christmas story, enjoy a meal together and participate in a variety of fun self guided activities. This is a free family event. Friday December 1st:  5 pm – 7 pm (Doors open at 4:30)

Kids Only Bazaar​ at St. Andrew’s United Church –  ​Saturday December 2nd, 10 am to noon:- an opportunity for the kids to do their shopping!  All items are $2.  Your children will not want to miss this opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping.  

Coffee and refreshments available for parents and caregivers while they await their shoppers!

JOY Band Christmas Concert: A Yuletide Festival. Sunday December 3rd, 1:30 pm.  Includes a Carol sing-a-long.  Admission by donation – all proceeds to the North Bay Santa Fund and Trinity’s Infant Food Shelf.

Christmas, A Humbug?! An enchanting presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”—interspersed with heartfelt music performed by the Near North Voices choir. In true Dickens fashion, all ticket proceeds go to North Bay’s soup kitchen, “The Gathering Place.” ​Friday December 8th, 7 pm (sing-a-long at 6:30): $20 (children under 12 are free).  Celebrity readers include:Rod Carley, Darlene Laferriere, Maureen Cassidy, Joe Madden, John Powers and host of CBC’s Morning North, Marcus Schwabe. 

​See you Sunday!

Hello Trinity Friends,

We will be honouring Remembrance Day in our service this Sunday at 10:30 am. Rob Sanders will be our Piper and Marcel MacDonald, our Trumpeter. In Sunday School the children will continue their rotation on Peace.

A reminder that tomorrow is the UCW Christmas Tea and Bazaar.  Saturday November 11th from 1 pm to 3 pm.  Come enjoy some tea, sandwiches and treats in the tea room and browse the bake and craft tables!  Click here for more information. UCW TeaPlease note: entrance is through the Ferguson doors.

A reminder that next Sunday November 19th, the children will begin rehearsals for the Sunday School Pageant.  All children are welcome to participate.  We will rehearse each Sunday during Sunday School.  Following the worship service, many of us will gather outside the Ferguson entrance to watch the Santa Claus Parade.  Trinity Families will host a hotdog lunch and provide Hot Chocolate to keep us warm while watching the parade. 

There are many more upcoming events and announcements in your bulletin.  A brief snapshot of dates for your calendar is below.  See you Sunday!

Sunday November 19th

    – Pageant Rehearsal begins and Santa Claus Parade and Hotdog lunch
Friday November 24th

–  Youth Group Cookie Challenge (note change in time: 11 to 3)

–  Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas Walk – join United Church friends in front of Creative Learning for music and fun
Saturday November 25th

  – Cookie Walk, 9:30 – 11:30 am  Click here for poster Cookie Walk

Sunday November 26th

 – Rapport Concert “Waiting”, 1:30 pm Click here for poster 

Wednesday November 29

– The Compassionate Committee of North Bay hosts an information session on helping those who are experiencing homelessness.  7 pm Click here for poster 

Friday December 1st

 – Messy Church: We wish you a Messy Christmas: 5 – 7:30 

​Friday December 8th 

– “Christmas, A Humbug?!” A reading of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” read by special celebrity readers and accompanied by enchanting music by Near North Voices.  All ticket proceeds to the Gathering Place.  7 pm (sing-a-long at 6:30)  

Hello Trinity Friends,

Please join us for worship this Sunday at 10:30 am. A reminder that Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend.  Be sure to set your clock back an hour before going to bed on Saturday!   In Sunday School the children will be starting a Sunday School lesson on peace.  After worship, we hope you will come back for a special JOY Band concert:  Musical Memories of the War Years.  A sing-along will start at 1:40 and the concert will begin at 2.  Click here for more information. JOY Band Concert

At a special lunch on October 22nd, we celebrated the community and outreach of our Trinity Church family, and members received their  Stewardship Package. We were encouraged to consider our intentions around giving and volunteering with a special “Response Card.” Some members have already mailed their Response Cards in to the church office. We’re welcoming folks to bring their response card to church ​THIS Sunday November 5th when we will collect and bless our generous intentions for 2024!

There are a number of important announcements below.  Please keep reading!
AOTS Gift Card orders are due this Sunday. Please get them to Rob Brownlee after church.  AOTS Gift cards make great gifts and are super useful when purchasing groceries, gas, home and garden supplies and so much more.  If you don’t already order them please consider it!  This AOTS ongoing fundraiser helps support Youth programs and other church outreach programs.  
The UCW Tea and Bazaar takes place next Saturday November 11th from 1 – 3 pm.  Please note that the entrance will be through the Ferguson street entrance.  Tea, coffee, fancy sandwiches and special treats will be served in the tea room $8 per person.  A craft table and bake table will be set up as well.  Click here for more information UCW Tea

Sign up sheets for those willing to make sandwiches or squares/cookies is in the Fellowship Hall.  

The 4 Trinity Team is looking for bakers to bake for the annual Cookie Walk which will be held on Saturday November 25th, 9:30 to 11:30  Bakers are needed.  Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall if you are willing!  More information can be found here Cookie Walk
We Wish You a Messy Christmas! Messy Church – Coming this December
Trinity is hosting a very special session of Messy Church on Friday December 1st from 4:30 – 7:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity United Church. We’ll explore and reflect on the messiness of the first Christmas through games, crafts and story – AND enjoy a meal together. This is a free family event.  To RSVP or for more information please contact Lisa at blais.trinity@gmail.com

“Christmas, A Humbug?!” A reading of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” An enchanting evening presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”—including a reading of Dickens’ own text shared by gifted local thespians, interspersed with heartfelt music performed by the Near North Voices choir (nearnorthvoices.com) under the direction of Dr. Adam Adler.!  Friday December the 8th, 7 pm.  (come for the 6:30 carol sing)  $20. Available at the Trinity Office, or at the Door. Proceeds to “The Gathering Place” (North Bay’s soup kitchen). Christmas, a Humbug?​

Trinity’s Food Bank is in need of winter clothing.  All sizes/genders.  Please bring in clean, gently used clothing – socks, gloves, boots and coats are appreciated and very much needed.  A basket to collect donations of food or clothing can be found in the narthex.  Or you can drop it off in the Food Shelf area anytime.  Thank-you!

Humanitarian Crisis in the Middle EastMission and Service partners are currently responding to those who are impacted by the conflict in West Bank and East Jerusalem. Partners are prepared to expand their activity into Gaza when a humanitarian corridor is opened, allowing for safe access to provide relief. Currently, there is an urgent need for food, as well as non-food items such as medicines, psychosocial support, and shelter. We are working with Mission and Service partners ACT Alliance and Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR). 

The Canadian government is matching donations for up to a maximum of $10 million made to members of the Humanitarian Coalition. Your gifts made to this appeal between October 7th and November 12, 2023 can be doubled.

Take Action
Pray for peace with justice for the people of Palestine and Israel. As people of faith, we bring the grief, compassion and concerns of a hurting world to God. Additional prayers can be found here and at Canadian Council of Churches(opens in a new tab).

Donate

Online via our secure donation page.

Send a cheque or money order to:

The United Church of Canada
Philanthropy Unit – Emergency Response
3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4Please be sure to note “Emergency Response—Middle East” on the face of your cheque.