Trinity this week – Advent Hope – December 1, 2024

Hello Trinity Friends,

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent.  We will welcome new members, share Communion and light our first candle in our Advent wreath. In Sunday School the children will continue rehearsing for their upcoming Christmas pageant. 

Tomorrow – Saturday November 30th is the Cookie Walk!  Come early for the best selection!  9:30 – 11:30 am. Cash only!

Trinity is hosting the Barrel Boys “Carols from the Barrel” concert on Wednesday December 4th at 7:30 pm.  They are a fantastic bluegrass and roots music band with amazing harmonies that will have you tapping your toes!  Tickets are available from the church office or at the door.  Tickets are $25 ($20 for students, artists and under-employed).  You will not want to miss this!

St. Andrew’s United Church KIDS ONLY BAZAAR Saturday Dec. 7, 2024   10 am till noon  All Children welcome (use McIntyre St. Entrance) Time for the children to do their Christmas shopping! All items under $2.  Make them a list of who to shop for. There will be helpers available if they need them. Coffee and tea will be available for the parents while their kids are shopping. 

Next Sunday is White Gift Sunday.  You are invited to bring gifts for our Food Shelf programs or the Youth led, Christmas Gift Bag Outreach Program.  Please consider placing them unwrapped in Christmas gift bags (we need a lot of them for the Christmas Gift bag outreach).  You will find more about the Christmas Gift Bag Program below. Thank you for your donations!

Following the worship service next week, plan to stay for JOY Band Christmas Concert – A Most Wonderful Christmas – directed by our own Minister of Music, Betty Farris. The Carol sing-a-long starts at 1:30 with the concert starting at 2.  Admission is by free will offering with net proceeds going to support the North Bay Santa Fund and Trinity’s Food Shelf. Refreshments will be served following the concert. 

Last week, we launched a new group – Faith on Fridays, where we gathered together in a cafe-like setting to reflect on hope. As we light the candle of Hope this week, we’d like to invite you to reflect on hope: where are you finding hope in unexpected ways or ways that would surprise you?  What restores your hope?

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit..” Romans 15:13

TRINITY’S CHRISTMAS GIFT 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 8th) or any Sunday morning prior to then. (place them in the box in the Fellowship Hall).

Suggested Items

·       Cash to purchase items for the Christmas Bags

·       Christmas Bags to pack the gifts in (no wrapping paper please)

·       word search or crossword books

·       Socks or slippers (we do not need hats or mitts)

·       Chocolate or candy (regular and diabetic)

·       playing cards or games

·       magazines, comics, current novels

·       toiletries – especially for men (such as hand sanitizer, chapstick, deodorant, soap, hand cream, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes – no hotel soaps please).

·       Other items: Simple craft projects, adult colouring books, calendars

Thank you for supporting this Christmas Outreach program.