Trinity this week – Christmas

Hello Trinity Friends,

As you gather with friends and family this Christmas, may your hearts and homes be filled with joyful laughter, happy memories and love.  For those of you who are travelling, safe travels!  Please remember to hold those who are alone or hurting in prayer and love.
This Sunday at 10:30 am, we celebrate Fourth Advent.
Christmas Eve Services
Sunday, December 24th  Christmas Eve Family Service, 7pm
Communion, 8:15pm
The All ages Family service begins at 7 pm.  We celebrate the Christmas story with scripture, carols and a whole lot of joyful noise.  A brief Communion service will follow shortly after.  All are welcome to both of these services.  Our nursery is available for your convenience and will be staffed (if needed) on Christmas Eve – children of all ages are more than welcome at both services!
The offices will be closed from Monday December 25th and will re-open on Tuesday January 2nd.  For emergency pastoral care, phones and THIS email will be checked periodically.
Sunday December 31st, 10:30 am – Worship
There are some upcoming events in January.  I have attached a mini newsletter so you can jot them down in your new 2018 calendars.  —> Trinity Winter Events 2018
May the promise of the Christ Child fill your hearts and homes with radical and outrageous love!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Trinity this week – Advent 3, 4 and Christmas Eve

Hello Trinity Friends,

This Sunday join us for a joyful and spirited celebration of the Christmas story!  It starts at 10:30 am with the Sunday School presentation of their Christmas pageant “It’s a Boy!”  Following the morning service, there will be a UCW “free will offering” sponsored lunch so that you can stay and watch the Ringing and Singing in Christmas Concert!  The Concert features the Senior Choir Cantata “I Hear the Prophet Callin’.  Special guest performances by the Joyful Bells and the Junior Choir.  Free admission. The concert begins at 1:30
A reminder to those children who are participating in the Christmas pageant that there will be a dress rehearsal tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 pm in the Sanctuary.  Please bring indoor shoes and leave boots downstairs.
Thank you for giving so generously of your time, talents and donations this year!    This upcoming week we will be delivering over 150 Christmas bags to those youth and adults in need in our community.  Your support of the J.O.Y. Band Concert and the Trinity Arts Canadian Christmas show have realized donations to the Sons of Jacob Synagogue’s Restoration project as well as the Gathering Place soup kitchen.  Your Advent Offerings support Packsac Smiles and Sleeping Children Around the World and your donations to the Hope2Kenya Christmas Tree in the sanctuary helps spread light and hope to children in Kenya.  Thank-you also for your regular donations (on the offering plate, special gifts and par) that allow us to continue to provide worship, community outreach, safe space for counseling and addictions recovery and of course all the regular ongoing events that we love so much.  We are an active and vibrant congregation because of each of you. Thank-you!!!
As we move into the week leading up to Christmas, here are the upcoming special worship services and events to plan for.
Longest Night Candle Lighting Service – Thursday December 21st, 7 pm.
Advent 4 Worship Service – Sunday December 24th, 10:30 am
Christmas Eve Family Service – 7 pm
Christmas Eve Communion – 8:15 pm
The All ages Family service begins at 7 pm.  We celebrate the Christmas story with scripture, carols and a whole lot of joyful noise.  A brief Communion service will follow shortly after.  All are welcome to both of these services.  Our nursery is available for your convenience but will not be staffed on Christmas Eve – children of all ages are more than welcome at both services!
Sunday December 31st, 10:30 am – Worship
Soups On – Soup Tasting Night – Friday January 12th from 5pm – 6:30 pm.$10 Adults, $8 Students (children 6 and under free).  Family of 4 $20.00
**Please consider preparing a soup, bread or cupcakes for the evening – see the sign up sheet in the fellowship hall***
 
Coffee House Talent Night – Friday January 19th.  Sign up your talent in the Fellowship Hall!
Please note that Trinity offices will be closed from Christmas Day until Tuesday January 2nd.  For emergency pastoral care you can send an email to this address as I will be checking this email regularly.
This week as you prepare your hearts and homes for Christmas, take pause and give thanks to all the people who act in courage and love by offering radical and gracious hospitality to those in need this season.  People who donate items or money to an outreach organization, people who volunteer their time to help and those who invite someone for Christmas dinner who would otherwise be alone – your act of love truly is what Christmas is all about!
May the promise of the Christ Child fill your hearts and homes with radical and outrageous love!

As we wrap up this 150th year of Canadiana, Trinity United Church and the Dreamcoat Children’s Choir team up to remember some great Canadian Christmas traditions. Wrap yourself in a patchwork quilt of warm songs and stories sure to get you in the Yuletide spirit!

Treat yourself to an evening of Canadian Christmas spirit at Trinity United Church (Ferguson at McIntyre) on Thursday December the 14th—all to benefit North Bay’s soup kitchen, “The Gathering Place.”

At 6:30pm we gather with a sing-a-long of Christmas favourites, followed by story and music at 7pm. Tickets are $15 for Adults, $10 for students, children under 12 are free. Refreshments will be served.

Trinity Christmas Poster letter size 2017

Trinity this week – Second Sunday in Advent

Hello Trinity Friends,

After you dig yourself out of all this snow, please join us for worship on Sunday morning at 10:30 am for the Second Sunday in Advent.  We celebrate White Gift Sunday – bringing in gifts to the Food Shelf, Infant Food Shelf and Christmas Bag Outreach programs.  Your donations will be collected by the Sunday School.  Some ideas for your White Gift are: non-perishable food, infant size diapers, toothpaste, toothbrush, socks, slippers, scarves, playing cards, new puzzles or money to purchase needed items.
Following the service, plan to stay for the JOY Bands Christmas Concert present “Sweet Sounds of Christmas” at Trinity. Carol Sing-A-Long 1:30pm. – Concert 2:00 pm. Free Will offering will support the Synagogue Restoration Fund.
On Monday December 11th, the UCW will meet at Cecil’s.  We will gather at 11:30. All ladies in the congregation are cordially invited to come for lunch, and a program of Christmas stories and poems.  Everyone will be responsible for buying their own meal. Instead of a gift exchange, please bring a donation for the Food Shelf.  Please let Judy know (705- 478 -7781) if you are able to join us.
A Canadian Christmas – Thursday December 14th, 7 pm
As we wrap up this 150th year of Canadiana, Trinity United Church and the Dreamcoat Children’s Choir team up to remember some great Canadian Christmas traditions. Wrap yourself in a patchwork quilt of warm songs and stories sure to get you in the Yuletide spirit!
Treat yourself to an evening of Canadian Christmas spirit at Trinity United Church (Ferguson at McIntyre) on Thursday December the 14th—all to benefit North Bay’s soup kitchen, “The Gathering Place.”
At 6:30pm we gather with a sing-a-long of Christmas favourites, followed by story and music at 7pm. Tickets are $15 for Adults, $10 for students, children under 12 are free. Refreshments will be served.

DATES AT A GLANCE

  • Sunday, December 17th , 10:30 am.  It’s a Boy! – Sunday School Christmas Pageant.
  • Sunday December 17th, 1: 30 pm.  “Ringing and Singing in Christmas”  Trinity’s Senior Choir presents:  “I Hear the Prophet Callin’”, a Christmas cantata, directed by Betty Farris. Special Guests:“The Joyful Bells”, bell choir, directed by Brenda McLay Trinity Junior Choir, directed by Peggy Millar.  Free Admission
  • Thursday, December 21st  – 7pm Our “Longest Night” evening service.
  • Sunday, December 24th 4th Advent– 10:30 am
  • Christmas Eve Family Service, 7 pm followed by an 8:15pm Communion Service.

Trinity this week – Advent One

Hello Trinity Friends,

This Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent.  We celebrate the season with a communion service.  We will also be receiving new members.  Advent bottles will be distributed today.  Throughout the season of Advent, we invite you to consider putting in some money in support of Sleeping Children Around the World and Packsac Smiles.  We are grateful to the generosity of this congregation!
A reminder that this Sunday following the worship service, there is an advent youth bible study.  Finding Bethlehem in the midst of Bedlam.  All youth in grade 7 and up are welcome.
TODAY!  Looking for a reason to go out for lunch or dinner?  Why not go over to Shoeless Joe’s to support Hope2Kenya! From 11 am to closing Shoeless Joe’s will donate 10% of the proceeds to Hope2Kenya.
TONIGHT!  If you like games (board games, strategy games, etc.) come on out to Trinity tonight (and any Friday night) at 6:30 pm.  Enter through the McIntyre street entrance.  All are welcome!  Ring the bell if the door is locked please.
Please note the following important correction
The time for the Choir Cantata has appeared incorrectly in a few places.  The correct time is Sunday December 17th at 1:30 pm!  The poster is up on the bulletin board outside Wanda’s office and will be in next week’s bulletin.  Sorry about any confusion.  Our Sunday worship that day will include the Sunday School Christmas pageant followed by a UCW sponsored lunch.
Next Sunday December 10th is White Gift Sunday.  Items and money will be collected for the Food Shelf programs as well as the Christmas Bag Outreach.  The Sunday school will collect the offerings during church.  Some items to consider:  Non-perishable food items, diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, playing cards, etc.  Cash to buy needed items is also appreciated.  The youth pack over 150 bags for teens and adults in need each year.  Thanks for supporting this outreach project!

The UCW will be gathering for a Christmas lunch at Cecils on Monday December 11th at 11:30 am.  All women are welcome! Everyone is responsible for purchasing their own lunch.  Come on out and enjoy a Christmas program of stories and poems.  RSVP to Judy (call the church for her contact info)
There are many upcoming events and special worship services.  Take a look at our website or like us on facebook to keep up to date.  www.trinitynorthbay.ca
https://www.facebook.com/trinitynorthbay/
Happy December!