Advent Peace

This Sunday, we light the second candle in our Advent wreath: the candle of peace.  We also celebrate White Gift Sunday.  Gifts of non-perishable food items or other items that may bring comfort to those in needs are wrapped in white and gathered by the Sunday School children during the service.  Donations will be received to Trinity’s Food Shelf and Christmas Outreach Programs.  A list of needed items can be found in the Sunday School Room.

This Sunday our Advent bible study continues, led by Shalome MacNeill Cooper.  If you missed last week’s study you are still welcome to join us this or any Sunday in Advent from 1 – 2:30 pm.  You are welcome to bring a lunch and join us in the Sunday School Hall after church. 

Next Sunday December 15th is our Christmas Pageant Service.  Join us at 10:30 am.

Trinity’s Sunday School, under the direction of Darlene Laferriere and Brenda McLay, will perform “The Best Story: an imperfect Christmas pageant” during the morning worship service.  A cold potluck lunch will follow.  Please bring your cold potluck items in before the service

 

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From Seasons of the Spirit Congregational Resource, the reading for December 8 is from Isaiah 11:1–10

The prophet shares a vision of harmony and understanding – and presents an unlikely subject for leading us toward this vision – “a little child.” Even more unlikely, Isaiah explains that animals who are enemies will lie down together. They will reconcile and be adversaries no more. These verses seem unbelievable, but longing for their fulfillment is the stuff of hope. Isaiah’s vision pushes us to re-think the way we understand power dynamics today and show us that no matter what, peace inside ourselves and in the world is possible.  

As we mourn the loss of Nelson Mandela we remember the courage of those who struggled to put an end to apartheid.  In Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he suggests that “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” 

As we light the Advent candle of peace this week, take a moment to think about peacemakers in our world, hold them in prayer and consider ways that we can sow love in our community.