December 15, 2024

Welcome to First! We’re glad you are here!

 

Rev. Hoeun Lee will be in the office Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Phone: 519-745-8487 (ext. 208)

Cell: 519-722-5990

Email: rev.hoeun.firstunited@gmail.com

 

 



For Sunday, December 22,  2024 – Advent 4

 

Lectionary Readings:

Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1: 47-55 (VU pp. 898-899); Psalm 80: 1-7    (VU p. 794 Part One) Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-45 (46-55)

 

Regional Council Prayer Cycle

Brucefield Community



 

 

Deadline for submission to the weekly updates is Tuesday by 4:00 p.m.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS:  

To get your offering to the office you can use PAR, e transfer to firstunitedchurch@rogers.com, website donation www.firstunitedchurch.ca or send a cheque. Cheques can be dropped off at the church mailbox which is located at the Entrance on the William Street side of the building.

Also, you may send your cheque to 

First United Church

16 William St. West

Waterloo ON

N2L 1J3

Reminder, credit card companies have a fee of around 3-5%.  If you wish First to get the full amount, then please add that percentage to your contribution.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS ENVELOPES FOR 2025

Please contact the office at 519-745-8487 Ext 201 or email at office@firstunitedchurch.ca if you would like pre-printed contribution envelopes for 2025.

 

DONATIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN 2024 TAX RECEIPT

Donations to First United that are to be included in your 2024 tax receipt must be received in the office or placed on the offering plate in Sunday worship on/or before December 30th. 





STEWARDSHIP APPEAL 2025

A reminder to return your response card by Sunday, December 15th. the Resiliency Fund line on the response card for 2025 is to help recover Hydro costs.



THANK YOU, KATHLEEN!

On behalf of the Board and the congregation a huge thank you to Kathleen (Mrs. Martin) for the lovely Christmas program on Sunday December 8th.  It was a wonderful concert and enjoyed by everyone.  Also, a big thank you to all of the choirs and choral students for sharing their musical talents with us.

 

THANK YOU FROM UCW

On the behalf of the UCW I would, to give a sincere thank you to all who helped and participated in our Christmas Party!   It was a Merry Christmas evening of food, fun and fellowship.

JOIN US FOR THE LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE

On Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary, we invite you to a special joint Longest Night Service. This reflective gathering is a space for those carrying feelings of loss, grief, or heaviness during the holiday season. Through quiet contemplation and prayer, we will seek comfort, hope, and renewal together.

All are warmly welcome. 

SUNDAY SERVICE DECEMBER 29TH JOINT SERVICE

The Sunday Service on December 29th will be a joint service at Westminster at 10:30 am

ARTISANS AT FIRST 2024

THANK YOU to the 30+ volunteers who gave their time and efforts to the success of this year’s Artisans at First.  The vendors left in high spirits, even though the last hour or so was slow.  Those who visited the bake table left with some wonderful goodies.  The lunchroom was requested to open early for coffee, then everyone was ready for lunch.  First’s craft table was loaded with unique handmade items.

Special thanks to the Coordinators: Alice and Rod Bieman for their superb organization of the bake sale, Cathie Stewart Savage for overseeing the lunchroom by coordinating all of the volunteers preparing, serving and cleaning up from lunch and Lynne Blake-Dickson and Muriel Omand-Naylor for looking after the needs of the vendors with coffee, muffins, a break and good conversation.   

All aspects of the event surpassed last year’s proceeds with the Bake Sale bringing in net proceeds of $1543.00, First’s Craft Table $405.00, the Lunchroom $628.50 and the Vendors’ Space rental $1650.00 making a total of $4226.50 towards First’s operating expenses.

Thanks to all who shopped at the vendors’ tables too!

 Joan Westcott

HOLIDAY MEAL
First United’s Holiday Meal will be served on Boxing Day, Thurs. Dec. 26th . St. John’s Kitchen will be closed that day to allow the people who regularly serve there a well-deserved day off. We help out this one day a year so that no one has to go hungry over the holiday season. It has become a great tradition for many of us at First
to take part in this joy filled service to the community.


We welcome your help to provide dessert or juice, to prep food ahead of the event or to help during the event. Financial donations are also welcome. If you would like to help, stop by the table set-up
in Hilliard Hall Dec. 1 st or 8th . You can also text or call Kristin Snell at 519-594-2169 or email her at kdeesnell@gmail.com.

Thank you to all of you who take time in this busy season to help serve our neighbors and friends each year.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT FIRST

FROM DECEMBER 20 TO DECEMBER 31

EVENT

DATE

TIME

Friday at First Christmas Dinner

December 20 (Fri)

6:00 pm

Longest Night Joint Service

December 21 (Sat)

7:00 pm

4th Advent Sunday Service (Love)

December 22 (Sun)

10:30 am

Christmas Eve Service (Pageant)

December 24 (Tue)

7:00 pm

Intercultural Christmas Potluck Dinner

December 25 (Wed)

5:00 pm

Holiday Meal (Lunch)

December 26 (Thur)

11:30 am

Joint Service at Westminister 

December 29 (Sun)

10:30 am













COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

YOUTH FORUM 2025

Youth Forum is an opportunity for young people to participate in the education, decision-making, and community of General Council 45 of The United Church of Canada. Its aim is to ensure that young people have a voice in the denomination-shaping issues and decisions for the next three years in the life of the church. Youth Forum is open to young people, ages 15 to 25, selected by regional councils. 

There will be three online sessions for the General Council: April 27, June 22 and June 28. 

Youth Forum gathers in person August 5-7 in Calgary. There will be two age groups, 15-17 years and 18-25 years. General Council will meet August 7-11 at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre. Youth Forum will close August 12 by noon. Registration for Youth Forum at GC45 is free and travel arrangements are made by the General Council.

Contact Kathy Douglas, Faith Formation Minister with any questions at KDouglas@united-church.ca

 

CONRAD GREBEL EVENTS:

 

BONHOEFFER:  CELL 92 – JANUARY 10 AND 11, 7:00 PM

A Cinematic Theatre Production created by Jerry Holsopple and Justin Poole.  This thought-provoking single actor play focuses on the final period of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life, a German pastor and theologian involved in the Protestant resistance to Hitler and National Socialism.  Two nights only, at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo.  To get tickets:  www.uwaterloo.ca/grebel/events/Bonhoeffer-cell-92

 

LOOKING FOR MORE PURPOSES IN YOUR LIFE?

Whether you are interested in exploring vocations of ministry and service, deepening your understanding of Christianity and the church, or seeking personal enrichment, the Master of Theological Studies program at Conrad Grebel University College could be a great fit for you.  Apply by February 1st.  Full tuition scholarships available for full-time Canadian students.   www.uwaterloo.ca/theological-studies

 

MASTER OF PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (IMPACS) PROGRAM

Create meaningful impact with the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (IMPACS) program at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo.  Combine interdisciplinary scholarship and experiential learning with a focus on nonviolent peacebuilding and community-led change.  Apply by February 1.  Discover more at www.uwaterloo.ca/impacs or register for an upcoming information session.








 

Sunday, Dec 15

  

10:30 am

Worship – Advent 3

Sanctuary

2:00 pm

Concert (Maria Wu)

Sanctuary

 

4:00 pm
MTSpace (Cinema Club Project)

Sanctuary

4:00 pm
MTSpace (Ukranian Dance)

Labyrinth Room
 
Monday, Dec 16
  

9:00 am
Baileys Foods

Hilliard Hall/Kitchen

10:00 am
MTSpace (BID)

Chapel

7:00 pm
Scouts

Hilliard Hall
 
Tuesday, Dec 17
  

10:00 am

MTSpace (BID)

Chapel

7:00 pm

Worship

Parlour
 
Wednesday, Dec 18
  

10:00 am

MTSpace (BID)

Chapel

6:30 pm

Embers/Sparks

Hilliard Hall/Chapel

7:00 pm
SHOW Board Mtg.

Parlour
 
Thursday, Dec 19
  

10:00 am
Bell Choir

Sanctuary

1:00 pm
Sr. Sing-a-Long

Chapel

4:00 pm
Family Choir

Chapel

5:00 pm
Soccer Shots

Hilliard Hall

6:00 pm
MTSpace(Maria Project)

Labyrinth Room

7:00 pm
Gallery Choir

Chapel
 

Friday, Dec 20

  

10:00 am
MTSpace (BID)
Chapel

1:00 pm
Fridays at First
Hilliard Hall/Kitchen
 
Saturday, Dec 21
  

9:00 am
Knitting Group
Parlour

10:00 am
MTSpace
Chapel

1:00 pm
Dudgeon & Dragons
Labyrinth Room

7:00 pm
Longest Night Joint Service
Sanctuary
 
Sunday, Dec 22
  

10:30 am
Worship – Advent 4

Sanctuary

12:00 pm
MTSpace (Homecoming)

Chapel

4:00 pm
MTSpace (Ukranian Dance)

Labyrinth Room



WEEKLY UPDATE

of happenings, events and concerns of our

First United Church Family



 

 

      Minister                                             Rev. Hoeun Lee      

Music Director                           Kathleen King Martin

  Church Administrator                      Sheena Curwood

AV Technician                                       Harold Arnett                                       

Custodian                                                Jay Brooker

Assistant Custodian                              Craig Lennox

 

16 William Street West

Waterloo, Ontario N2L 1J3

Office: 519-745-8487 x201 

Office Hours: Mon-Thu 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

  

email: office@firstunitedchurch.ca

website: firstunitedchurch.ca

 

Chair of the Board

email:  firstunitedboardchair@gmail.com

 

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