The Ministry For Dec 1st:
Worship Leader: Rev Doug Powell assisted by Noah Borin
Accompanist: Noah Borin
Greeters: Karen Minish and Lena Goon
Scripture Reader: Karen Minish
Technician: Kareem Mansour
Activities this week:
Sunday Dec 1st : Following a coffee break, after the service, all are invited to stay and hear Suzanne Swibold speak of her experiences in creating our newest window.
Sunday Dec 1st: 7:00 pm Community Advent service at Banff Park Church. All welcome
Tuesday Dec 3rd: 7:00 pm Study Group. There is still opportunity to be a part of this.
Study group topic:
The Christmas experience. Kyle Idleman examines the Christmas story in detail emphasizing how God chose each individual in the Christmas story for a specific purpose.
News and requests:
Thanks to all who helped furnish the manse for our new residents. We are still in need of beds and kitchen pots and pans in good condition. Please contact the office if you have any of these or know a source.
To note:
The United Church through its relief program is providing funding to the Philippines for disaster relief. If you mark your gifts and your envelope with disaster relief- Philippines, it will be forwarded. If you include your name, the government will match all donations. Thank you for your support.
Gifts to the church:
Often we have to wait until Christmas to open gifts but today on the first Sunday of Advent we get to “open” two very special gifts.
The Grand Piano is a personal gift from Noah Borin. Noah has not only donated the piano but paid all shipping costs to have it moved from Detroit Michigan as well as having it tuned after its arrival. We will be purchasing a cover, wheels and a humidifier. Thank you Noah.
The Stained Glass window is the creation of Suzanne Swibold. She obtained a grant to both learn the art of stained glass, travelled to Halifax to be a part of its creation and watched over its installation. It is a wonderful representation of Nunavet, the only territory or province not represented in the church. We are grateful to Suzanne for her inspiration and creative gift to not just the church but the community.
We need to add our thanks to Rod Sullivan and Brian James for many hours spent in preparation and installation of the window.
Advent Readers needed:
This year we are doing something a little different with the Advent readers. We are working in teams on the theme of Surprise. Each week we will focus on a different person or people who were surprised by God at the first Christmas. The first reading is about Zechariah and Elizabeth. John the Baptist’s parents. You do not have to memorize anything. It might be fun to be in some costume if you are into that. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of the church.
Upcoming events:
Saturday December 14th: @ 6:00pm Church Christmas potluck. All are welcome.
Sunday December 15: Banff Life is sponsoring a community Christmas dinner and needs our help. There will be at least 250 if not 300 people there. They need servers, someone to make cranberries, table centrepieces, dishwashers etc. Please sign up if you can help in any way.
Nov 30th: 7pm @ St. Paul’s Banff Presbyterian Church. Tenore Concert (see the Outlook pg 50). 3 amazing tenors with the Bow Valley Chorus.
Dec 6th: 7:30pm @ Canmore High School. Valley Winds Bands and Choir. $15 & free for kids under 12yrs.
Dec 8th: 2pm @ Rolston Hall Banff Centre. Balley Winds Bands and Choir. $15 & free for kids under 12yrs.
Dec 14th: 2-4pm @ Canmore Legion. A Jazzy Big Band Christmas. Admission: Food Band donation &/or cash.
Dec 14th: 8pm @ Roston Hall Banff Centre. Handel’s Messiah – Bow Valley Chorus. Kids $10 – Adults $25.
Dec 15th: 8pm @ Silvertip Resort Canmore. Handel’s Messiah – Bow Valley Chorus. Kids $10 – Adults $25.