CommUnity News + Advent 1 2020

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CommUnity News
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Click here to join our zoom worship service at 10 AM

or use the Meeting ID: 935 7268 3852
Passcode: unity

or to join by telephone:
+1-587-328-1099
Meeting ID: 935 7268 3852
Passcode: 548159

The meeting opens at 9:45

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
November 29, 2020

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Christ is “advancing” towards us. In the past, God came to us in the life of Jesus. In the present, God comes especially in word and sacrament. In the future, even if there is disaster, God will come to gather us into life. This Sunday we light the first Advent candle, and we begin a year-long reading from the Gospel of Mark.

Prayer of the Day

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

First Reading
Isaiah 64:1-9

This lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered. The visions of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God, spoken of in Isaiah 40–55, have not been realized. Instead, the people experience ruin, conflict, and famine. This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.

1O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence—
2as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
3When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
4From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
5You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
6We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
8Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
9Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
and do not remember iniquity forever.
Now consider, we are all your people.

Gospel Reading
Mark 13:24-37

Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.

[Jesus said:] 24“In those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
25and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Unity Weekly Zoom Events

Mondays
4:30 pm Junior Confirmation
(Grade 5 and below)
5:00 pm Confirmation
(Grade 6 and up)

Tuesdays
7 pm Zoom Book Study
(use the Sunday worship link)

Wednesdays
Coffee Corner 1 - 2 pm
(use the Sunday worship link)

Communion can be picked up this week from the church on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning (or by special arrangement with Pastor Jeff).

It is Gifts From the Heart Season again from Canadian Lutheran World Relief.

You can give online by going to https://clwr.donorshops.com or by giving through your Unity offering with "Gifts from the Heart" marked in the memo.

Tiny Hearts gifts include goats ($35); bees ($5), garden tools ($12), and a water jug ($8), or a whole garden for $75.

This week's

colouring page

and

children's bulletin.

We need bell ringers for the Salvation Army kettle at Northlands Co-Op Saturday, December 19th.
You can sign up here
Please help us help the Salvation Army. If you can do a double shift that would be fabulous. As you are aware our help will help others.

Did you make your own advent wreath for your home this year? (This one is from Pastor Jeff and family).

If so, share your creativity with us and send your photo along to Pastor Jeff.

A note from Pastor Jeff

I had the privilege of again participating in a seminar offered by the Wittenberg Centre of The Lutheran World Federation. Of course, since travel to Wittenberg is not possible, we met online. There were 10 participants in my group, pastors from the United States, Sweden, South Africa, Chile, Mozambique, and Nicaragua. Each one had participated in a previous seminar in Wittenberg. Our two professors who recorded their lectures were the same ones I had met in person last year: Theo Dieter from Germany and Sarah Hinlicky Wilson from Japan.

I was amazed at how quickly we managed to create a little online community in the span of two short weeks. We discussed Martin Luther, the sacraments, and the challenges of our churches during COVID. It was like a seminary refresher course! We also shared more personal experiences: the pastor from Mozambique shared of the violence that is plaguing his country; the pastor from Nicaragua how two hurricanes had hit her country in the span of two weeks.

It would have been great to go back to Wittenberg again but this was a wonderful learning experience nonetheless. You can read an official article about the seminar here.

Upcoming Worship Assistants
If you are unable to make your scheduled day, please exchange with someone else on the list.

We continue to be grateful for your faithful giving!

You can give by joining PAR (your offering is debited automatically on the 20th of each month);

by e-transfer, using the church's email unitymh@yahoo.com
(it's an automatic deposit without a security question)

by mail or by dropping it off at the church
599 - 12 Street NW, T1A 6R3

First Reading Isaiah 64:1-9

Gospel Reading Mark 13:24-37

First Reading
Isaiah 64:1-9

Gospel Reading
Mark 13:24-37