Click below if you would like to download the bulletin and the hymn sheet for this Sunday’s service, the 2nd of Advent. We will be live at church at 10AM, and the video will be posted on our website and Facebook by Sunday evening.
A "Drive-by" Candlelight
*****THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS*****
Sunday December 13
Fasten your seatbelts, because the annual Candlelight Service is travelling to uncharted territory!
We absolutely must have our annual candles & music fix, so this is what is going to happen:
It will all be outside starting at 4pm
Lights in the tree
Outdoor fire (contained and safe)
Lanterns with candles
Piano keyboard set up just inside at the top of the stairs
Microphone and speaker system inside or out (depending)
Drive by for 5 minutes or 15!
Soak in the ambiance, listen to our favourite soloists!
Choir elves will be there to help
We’ll block off parking in front of the church, and we’ll be sending out invitations to our closest neighbors to drop by on foot.
My weather forecast says there will be light snow and not too cold… Perfect!
Any questions? Give us a call, and stay tuned for even more details next week.
Need a safe lift? We have the drivers.
Are you excited? We are!!
Season’s Greetings from
SouthWest Music
Children's Church
If you have young kids at home, you might want to check out Children's Church at Home, hosted from Sherbrooke by Shanna Bernier and her two charming children. Shanna is Program Support Minister for Youth and Young Adults for the Nakonha:ka Regional Council of the United Church of Canada. Children's Church is live every Sunday at 9AM and the links stay up on Facebook. Click here to see the one from last Sunday, Advent 1.
Beryl's Blog: An Advent Prayer
From: Cloth For the Cradle -The Iona Community
An Advent Prayer
Among the poor,
Among the proud
Among the persecuted
Among the privileged
Christ is Coming
In the private house
In the market place
In the wedding feast
In the judgement hall
Christ is Coming
With a gentle touch
With an angry word
With a clear conscience
With burning love
Christ is Coming
That the kingdom might come
That the world might believe
That the powerful might stumble
That the humble might be raised
Christ is coming
With us
Without us
Among us
Before us
In this place
In every place
For this time
For all time
Christ is Coming
He is coming to make all things new.
A Prayer to Action
Pastor Beryl included the following prayer in last Sunday’s service, adapted from the wisdom of Rabbi Jack Reimer. We thought it bore repeating. In the service, it led directly into our prayers for people in our community and in our hearts, and then into the Lord’s Prayer.
Awesome Creator
We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end war
For we know that you have made the world in such a way
That we must find our own path to peace
Within ourselves and with our neighbours
We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end hunger
For you have already given us the resources
With which to feed the entire world
If we would only use them wisely and unselfishly
We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end prejudice
For you have already given us eyes
With which to see all people
If we would only open them widely
We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end despair
For you have already given us the power
To clear away inadequate housing and rebuild with hope
If we would only use our power justly
We cannot merely pray to you each Sunday to end disease
For you have already given us great minds
With which to search for cures and healing
If we would only use them constructively
So, today, on this first Sunday in Advent
We pray to you instead for strength, determination and will power
To do instead of just pray
To become instead of merely wish
And, in so doing, we put forth, with conviction,
The names of those who need hope, peace, adequate daily food,
Acceptance, shelter and healing.
Manna Food Drive
During the four weeks of Advent, we will be collecting non-perishable foods to donate to Manna Verdun. A collection box will be set up in the church entranceway. They will accept all non-perishables, but no clothing. We are only “officially” accepting donations on Sunday mornings, but if you would like to drop things off during the week, give the office a call to make an appointment. Leave your number if you get voicemail. Thanks!
Order of service Nov. 29: 1st of Advent
Below please find: the bulletin for this Sunday’s service, words to the hymns, and an order of communion. If you are watching at home, remember to have a piece of bread or cracker and something to drink on hand.
Advent Message/ Message de l'Avent
The season of Advent is upon us. As we journey to the stable yet again, we at SouthWest United send you the warmest of greetings!
May this Christmas season bring you the hope of new beginnings, the peace of Mary, looking at her new born child, the joy of Joseph, seeing God's word come true and the love as shown in the child which would change the world.
Merry Christmas
Pastor Beryl
La saison de l'Avent est à nos portes. Alors que nous voyageons à nouveau vers l'écurie, chez SouthWest United, nous vous adressons les plus chaleureuses salutations!
Que cette période de Noël vous apporte l'espoir d'un nouveau départ, la paix de Marie, en regardant son enfant nouveau-né, la joie de Joseph, en voyant la parole de Dieu se réaliser et l'amour manifesté dans l'enfant qui changerait le monde.
Joyeux Noël
Pasteure Beryl
Order of service: November 22, 2020
Click below to download this week’s bulletin and the words of the hymns for Sunday’s service.
Reserve Now for Christmas Eve
UPDATE: THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE AND THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO CHANGE THE TIME FROM 7:30 TO 4P.M. ON THE 24TH.
IT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED.
It is our intention to hold our traditional Christmas Eve service at 7:30PM on December 24th. However, this year of Covid-19, we are restricted to 25 people in the sanctuary, so we have decided that we will be requiring reservations for this service. You may contact the office by phone or e-mail between now and December 17th to reserve your place(s).
Traditionally, Christmas Eve has been one of SouthWest’s best attended services. Therefore, if there is a need, we will offer a second, earlier service at 5PM on the same day. We will only take reservations for the 5PM service once the 7:30 service is full.
If you call the office and get voicemail, please leave a message telling us how many are in your party and leaving your phone number. Your reservation is not confirmed until you hear back from us. The number to call is 514 768-6231.
If you are able to reserve using e-mail please use this option. Again, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a reply from us. Our address is: southwestunited@gmail.com
Pastor Beryl and the Worship team are ready and eager to make this as joyous a celebration as possible under the circumstances. For those who do not feel comfortable attending in person, we also plan to record the service and share it to YouTube on Christmas Day.
Covid Rules:
- Everyone must use hand sanitizer on arrival.
- Sign the register for contact tracing
- Face coverings are required, even when seated in pews.
- Members of the same household may sit together; otherwise we maintain a distance of 6 feet from others.
- No socializing before or after the service, inside or outside the church.
Remember, these restrictions are in place because we care for each other.