All Saints’
Anglican Church
Submitted by
Claire Alexander

May all the blessings of this beautiful season be yours as we head into Christmas week.

This Sunday (Dec. 20) already marks the final Sunday of Advent. Choose to join early birds at 8 a.m. for Morning Prayer, and stay for a delicious breakfast of French toast, bacon and sausages, where we meet old and new friends from either service.

At 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, where a nursery is available, the choir brings special music. During coffee at noon, enjoy “What’s the true meaning of Christmas?” – a modern play, written by the young people themselves.

Dec. 24, the children will perform a pageant for the Christmas Eve Family Eucharist at 5:30 p.m., retelling the stories told in the Gospels, starting at Matthew chapter 1, verse 18, and in Luke 2. The traditional Christmas Eve Sung Eucharist in candlelight takes place at 10:30 p.m. There will be no service Christmas morning, but we meet at regular times Dec. 27.

The Advent film festival concludes Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. here at All Saints’, with the theme of Joy – when others in King Township join us to watch Millions, which is suitable for the whole family. Welcome to all in the community – enter by the east (office) door, where you may also drop off Food Bank donations.

Thank you for supporting Christmas in King – for specific gifts you have brought in to bless families in need, and for new warm items for the Toronto homeless. We also thank the other churches and businesses in King, for sharing in compassionate outreach. Working together is a blessing, and warms us all.

A concert ticket for Jan. 29, available from The Rose Gallery on Doctors Lane and from Crawford Wells on Keele Street, makes a lovely gift. Enjoy a recital by Alexandra Garrison, mezzosoprano, with organist Quirino Di Giulio. March 5, brings Toronto composer Alexander Rapoport, and March 26, the Elora Festival Singers under conductor Noel Edison. See our Web site.

We welcome the New Year with regular services Jan. 3, at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Both services will be in the Chapel. Perhaps you’d like to drop in to meet us as part of a New Year’s resolution.

All Saints’ Anglican Church (www.allsaintskingcity. com) is at 12935 Keele St. in King City, just south of King Road. At this season, let us know of deep needs, so that Jesus Christ, the Saviour who came at Christmas, and those who walk in his footsteps, may pass on his loving care. Leave a message for Rev. Nicola Skinner at (905) 833-5432 or send an e-mail to allsaintsrev@bellnet.ca

King City United Church Submitted by Eleanor Fry

Thought for the week:

“Dear God. . . I have a problem. It’s me.”

“My dear child: I have a solution. It’s Me”

As Jesus’ birth draws nearer, the third Advent candle of Joy was lit by the Schoenhardt family. Advent is a time for kindness, thinking of others and sharing with others.

Our church was full of families to enjoy our Christmas Pageant presented by our Sunday school. It certainly was exciting to see them act out the story of Jesus’ birth. All the shepherds and kings and angels and Mary and Joseph and their real live baby Jesus, all the amazing props made by the Sunday school, the saxophone, vocal and piano solos, Dorothy’s bell ringers wonderful rendition of Good King Wenceslas was outstanding, as usual. All this was interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols. All this left everyone with a nice warm fuzzy feeling. To top it all off, we all moved into the auditorium to enjoy the potluck lunch. A huge thanks to our Sunday school leaders. They worked very hard to bring this all together. What a wonderful way to spend a nasty weather Sunday morn.

Today (Wednesday) the UCW will gather at the church at 12:30 p.m. to carpool for our Christmas Lunch at China House in Richmond Hill. Choir practice as usual will be Thursday with bells at 6:30 p.m. and vocal at 8.

Pastor Bob’s Bible Challenge 3 will be Friday at 1030 a.m. in the parlour. The reading will be 1 Kings 12- 18. The people he needed for his Christmas Eve skit have been found. Thanks to those who volunteered; a young man, a young woman, their aunt and uncle, and a narrator. Sounds like fun. Put it on your calendar to join us.

Pastor Bob’s reflection for next week will be “What if God drops by for Christmas,” based on Luke 1 39-55.

Wayne Smith would like any old pictures of our church and/or activities you may have in a drawer somewhere — “The Olden Days of KCUC.” Send them to jwsmith@sympatico.ca and he will gladly post them on the Web site.

Sympathy to Betty Beaton on the loss of her aunt. The community has lost an old friend with the passing of Barbara Male after a long illness. She was a very active member of the Seniors Centre and will be missed by her many friends and neighbours. We wish Mary O'Brien a speedy healing of her ankle after a fall on ice. She can just sit up and have everyone wait on her over the Holiday season.

If you know of anyone ill or hospitalized, please contact me. If you need addresses for a card, just call Nancy in our office Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To truly enjoy the blessed spirit of Christmas attend a church of your choice. We would warmly welcome you to our services at 10 a.m. every Sunday, including Sunday school then coffee and conversation in the auditorium

Information for the local papers may be directed to Eleanor Fry at donaldelly@sympatico.ca or
(905) 833-5954.
Remember to laugh every
day - it’s like inner jogging.
St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church
Submitted by
Kathy Patterson

The Third Sunday of Advent was celebrated by the Lighting of the Candle of Joy by Sheila and Zoltan Katona.

Pastor Chris Carter’s sermon was entitled Zechariah Speaks Up! based on the the scripture passage: Luke 1:57- 66. Like Zechariah and his son John, once we acknowledge God’s purpose for our lives, let us with joy prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts this Christmas. Let’s make room for His coming. Sunday school and nursery are provided during our worship service at 10:30 a.m.

This Sunday (Dec. 20) during the worship service, the Choir will be presenting the Christmas Cantata “I Hear the Prophet Callin’,” by Pepper Choplin. A warm welcome is extended to all.

The Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday (Dec.19), meeting at the Sunset Grill on Yonge Street in the Canadian Tire/Sobeys Plaza in Richmond Hill.

Dress Rehearsal for the Cantata is Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

Prayertime is held Sundays at 9 a.m before the worship service - a great way to start the week. All are welcome.

The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is at 7 p.m. This is a lovely service for the entire family. We hope you can come and bring your family and friends.

Please call the church office at (905) 833-2325 or e-mail the Pastor at chris@standrews- kingcity.ca for more information, if you have questions, concerns, prayer requests or praise items or should you require a ride. Our Web address is www.standrews-kingcity.ca