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Highlands United Church, 3255 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver, BC
V7R 2P1
604-980-6071 [email protected]
www.highlandsunited.org Rev. Will Sparks, Lead Minister
HIGHLIGHTS
December 23, 2018
We have finally come to the last Sunday before Christmas.
All through Advent we have contemplated making room for
God’s blessings to dwell in us: hope, peace, joy. And today,
how might we make room for love- not just the love we feel,
but the love we choose that moves the world.
(and Mortimer Mouse needs love too!)
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Highlands Upcoming Events and Programs
This list does not include rooms booked for outside rentals
(Scouts, AA, Alanon etc).
Highlands Event Calendar can be viewed on our web site at:
www.highlandsunited.org
Sunday, December 23
9:30 am Coffee/Tea in the Welcome Space
10:00 am Sunday Worship Service, Sanctuary
11:15 am Coffee & Hospitality, Welcome Space
11:45 am Re:Sound Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
Monday, December 24—Christmas Eve
4:00 pm Family Christmas Pageant Service, Sanctuary
7:00 pm Choirs and Carols Christmas Service, Sanctuary
10:00 pm An English Christmas Service, Sanctuary
Church Office will be closed December 25th to January 1st.
Office will re-open January 2nd 9:00 am
Sunday, December 30
9:30 am Coffee/Tea in the Welcome Space
10:00 am Sunday Worship Service, Sanctuary
11:15 am Coffee & Hospitality, Welcome Space
11:45 am Re:Sound Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
The next publication of the “Highlights” newsletter will be
January 6, 2019
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Donations to Highlands United Church for 2018
If you would like to make a donation to the church and have
it
included in your 2018 Charitable Donation Tax Receipt,
please
ensure that your donation is received in the Church Office
by
December 31, 2018. Any donations received after December 31,
2018 will be considered a donation for 2019.
For 2018 donations please ensure that your cheque is dated no
later
than December 31, 2018.
If you would like to make a donation via credit card for 2018,
please
contact Carol in the Church Office on Monday, December 24th
before
2pm.
Just a reminder that the Church Office will be closed from
December
25th and will re-open January 2nd, 2019.
Please accept our deepest appreciation and gratitude for
your
continued support of Highlands and our many outreach and
ministry
programs.
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There's still time to give Gifts that Give Twice!
These are gifts that have real value, and keep on giving:
because you
are showing your love or friendship for someone close to you as
well as
giving something to someone who really needs it.
The ideas here benefit the ministry of Highlands’ partners.
Here’s how:
1. Donate to First United Church Community Ministry Society. On
the internet https://firstunited.ca/ or by
cheque, payable to Highlands United Church, marked
First United.
2. 2. Purchase a Multifaith Calendar, “Coming Together:
Exploring New Connections”,
supporting the ministry of the Multifaith Action
Society. Almost all the holidays of almost all the
world's faiths explained! Calendars available at
Highlands Action Table.
3.Choose from “Gifts with
Vision” from the Mission and Service fund of the United Church.
Many partners at home and abroad
can benefit! Booklets at the Action Table; or go to http://
www.giftswithvision.ca/
4. Give Camp Fircom “camperships”
Camp Fircom relies on donations both big and
small to create incredible experiences for
people of all backgrounds and financial means.
“Going to Camp Fircom for Mom & Kids is the
highlight of our year for my daughter and I. We
have been a single parent family since the day
my daughter was born. Being at Camp
Fircom is hands down the best holiday we have ever had
together.” -
Campership Recipient
Your gift will help send a kid to camp, maintain the solar
panels, and
feed the chickens. Anything and everything that Camp Fircom
does
relies on support from people like you.
Visit www.fircom.ca and click DONATE or call 604 662 7756 and
speak
to Margo.
https://firstunited.ca/http://www.giftswithvision.ca/http://www.giftswithvision.ca/http://www.fircom.ca
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Christmas Hamper Ministry Gift giving is such a tangible way of
telling
someone you are thinking of them, and wanting to
show your love for them. These days, it is
becoming more common to support important
causes and good work in the world at Christmas.
As Christmas has drawn closer, Highlands has
been the beneficiary of your thoughts and your
love and we feel it. The Spirit Singers, the Local
Connections Committee and many individuals
have made it possible for Highlands to help
families in need this season.
Thank you everyone. You have made a tangible
difference.
Will Sparks and Lora Gardiner
Collectibles
& Antiques Sale Mark your calendars! May 11, 2019
Antiques and Collectibles Sale!
Donations will be gratefully accepted in the new year,
and by appointment until that time.
Please contact Susan Hughes for further information.
[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
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Community Event
Message from Highlands Shelter to Home Team
Thank you Thanks to everyone who spread the message that we
were
running low at the Shelter to Home storage room. Thanks
to all our donors. We've received five times the bedding
and household goods that we normally receive, including 3
Christmas
trees. One donor bought some furniture in an on-line auction,
then
donated and delivered a table, chairs and a living room table.
Another
Highlands donor donated a new microwave, yet another
contributed
$100 which allowed us to buy excellent pots at the Sally Ann,
and sets
of kitchen tools at the Dollar Store. The Donor phone line
hasn't
stopped ringing. The teams that assess, transport and sort
donations
have been working over-time. We still need beds, but we have
enough
in all the other furniture departments. So except for beds, we
can't
accept any other furniture until the New Year. We are grateful
for your
support.
Blessings for a wonderful Christmas,
Ruth Kershaw
To donated items to the Shelter to Home Program please
call 778-331-8465
Jazz Vespers – Sunday, December 30 at 4 pm
St. Andrew’s United Church, 1044 St. George’s Avenue @ 10th
Street
in North Vancouver
Join Steve Maddock and Friends, as they play an engaging mix of
jazz
standards: hard-driving swing, smooth Latin jazz, beautiful
ballads, plus
an original composition or two. Joining Steve is legendary
guitarist
Oliver Gannon who has been decorated with some of the industry's
top
prizes, including a Juno Award and a National Jazz Award.
Gannon
was recently awarded The Order of Canada for his contributions
to the
arts. His fluid, swinging style reminiscent of Wes Montgomery
and
Barney Kessel is rooted in 50s and 60s bop. This promises to be
a
joyous and uplifting musical experience for listeners of any age
or
musical taste.
Info: 604-985-0408 / [email protected] /
www.st-andrews-
united.ca
mailto:[email protected]://www.st-andrews-united.cahttp://www.st-andrews-united.ca
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The North Shore Tai Chi Spirit & Chinese Health Qigong group
that is
headquartered out of Highlands United Church had their
annual
"Friendship Party" on Saturday, December 8th, 2018. The party
was a
huge success with close to 170 attending. Everyone participated
in
easy-to-follow Qigong exercises and then were treated to some
student
Tai Chi demonstrations.
After all the fun everyone enjoyed coffee, tea and a huge
banquet of
great food. Most important is that the group raised close to
$1700 in
money and food donations for the Saturday Lunch Program.
Everyone
shared in helping others with this celebration of mind, body and
spirit.
SPECIAL FOR HIGHLANDS MEMBERS:
If any Highlands church members wish to join up for the first
time in
January, now is your chance. For the Jan to Mar session any
Highlands Church member can join a Newbies/Beginners class for
15%
off.
Highlands Newbies can learn the basics on:
Saturday Tai Chi at 11:30pm-12:15pm, starting January 5th
Wednesday Tai Chi at 4:15pm, starting January 9th
Saturday Calming and Relaxing Qigong from 10:45am-11:30am
Tai Chi and Chinese Health Qigong is called "Meditation in
Motion" as
well as "Medication in Motion" for those struggling with health
and
wellness issues. It works!
Email [email protected] if you are interested.
mailto:[email protected]
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Prayers for Christmas Eve (exerpts) by Dr. Susan M. (Elli)
Elliott
Fragile God, born in the night –
We listen in the clarity of the cold night air.
We hear the hoofs clopping in the dust,
a man's soft voice reassuring a tired woman. We hear his voice
inquiring,
"Is there room?"
"Is there room for us?"
Fragile God, born in the night –
We know the story.
We know that you are coming.
"Is there room?"
"Is there room for you?"
Fragile God, born in the night –
We see the shadowy figures finding the stable.
"There is no room."
We see the man preparing a place in the hay.
He makes room.
We see the woman moving heavily,
The hours of labor, the sweat, the tears, the cries, the
moans,
the crushing grip of the hands.
We hear the insistent cry of the child wail out, born at
last!
"Make room!"
"Make room for me!"
Fragile God, born in the night –
You come as a tiny light in a vast darkness
yet that fragile and flickering light
changes the darkness completely.
Fragile God, meet us here –
in the lighting of our small lights,
that we may know your awesome power making room among us a
is the light that shines in the darkness,
the fragile light that the darkness cannot overpower.
Fragile God, there is room in our inn.
Be born in our night. Amen.
