December Tidelines Cadboro Bay United Church
2016
Inside this Issue
Mark’s Message Stewardship Invitation Kids Konnect Youth Groups Young Adults Konnect Blue Christmas Christmas Eve Services Christmas Day & New Years Day Services You’re In Our Thoughts Program Jesus’ Baby Shower Ladies Christmas Dinner Everyone’s A Local Update Write 4 Rights Donation Envelopes for 2017 Angel Gifts Giving Tuesday Refugee Update Sing Your Joy Concert Arbutus Singers Concert December Movie Night Tibetan Refugee Fundraiser Gifts with Vision “Local” Leftovers Holiday Hours
Important Dates to Remember
Nov 27 - Young Adults Konnect @ 11:30am - Grandmothers Helping Grandmothers Nov 28 - Office Closed Nov 30 - Council Meeting Dec 4 - You’re In Our Thoughts Program - Arbutus Singers Concert @ 2pm - First Fruit Sunday Dec 6 - Ladies Christmas Dinner @ 5:30pm Dec 9 - Write 4 Rights Dec 11 - “Local” Leftovers Sale after worship Dec 18 - Blue Christmas Service @ 7pm Dec 20 - Men’s Book Club Meeting Dec 24 - 4pm Family Nativity Service - 7pm Family Candlelight Service - 10pm Candlelight Communion Service Dec 25 - Service at St. Aidans United Dec 26 - Office Closed Dec 27 - Office Closed Dec 28 - Office Closed Dec 29 - Office Reopens to regular hours Jan 1 - Regular Worship Service @ 10am
Cadboro Bay United Church 2625 Arbutus Rd, Victoria BC V8N 1W4 250-477-2715 office@cadbayuc.org cadbayuc.org FB: cadborobayuc Twitter: @cadbayuc
Advent and Christmas in Holy Tension Advent and Christmas are season that create Holy Tension in all of us in a variety of ways. There are the demands of the consumer culture we live in that bombard us from the moment Halloween ends : Black Friday sales, Christmas music in every story, endless ads and flyers in our mailboxes. There are the many social opportunities and get togethers. There is planning for family, gifts to consider, charities to respond to, school concerts to attend and amid it all we are to be happy and joyful. And indeed at times we are and other times we are overwhelmed or sad. This is the holy tension of this season. There is of course other kinds of holy tension in this season. The first world celebration of the birth of Jesus is very different from the ways the rest of the world celebrates. Our tendency is to “pretty up” the manger and soften the edges of the Christmas story. But the tension of the season is alive and well in the story of Jesus birth. And while they are primarily legends to point to something greater, they contain within them both invitation and warning, hope and promise, danger and opportunity. These are the tensions that we will be exploring throughout the season of Advent. In December we will use the Gospel of Luke as our lens to see the Christmas story in a big picture way. Luke uses Zachariah, Elizabeth, John ( the Baptist ) Mary and Gabriel to tell us something about Jesus. What the story elements do is to lift up the tension of both expectation for what his birth, life and ministry might mean and the challenges it poses to the established order of things. It’s a brilliant creation that invites us in and reminds us of this promise of a new way of seeing and understanding. All of this will be the background to our celebrations this year. I hope that you will make attending some of the special services and events during this season a priority for you and your family as a way of countering some of the societal demands of the season. But most of all, I hope that Advent and Christmas will bring an opportunity for you to focus on what is most important about the season: an opportunity to share time with others and to be truly present. Yet another chance to live into a Companionship of Empowerment. May Christmas be that for us all – great and small.
Stewardship Invitation Every year in December, your Council at CBUC invites you to help us finish of our amazing year of ministry together by helping us to make sure we end the year with a balanced budget. A letter from the council will be available for pick up on the First Sunday of December and we ask each person to please make sure they both pick the letter up and read it. We of course also hope you will respond to the request within and help us celebrate a wonderful year of ministry together. What letters are not picked up will be mailed so we ask you to please make sure you pick yours up next week to save on mailing costs.
Cadboro Bay United Church 2625 Arbutus Rd, Victoria BC V8N 1W4 250-477-2715 office@cadbayuc.org cadbayuc.org FB: cadborobayuc Twitter: @cadbayuc
KIDS KONNECT: has been having fun looking at the Parable of The Wedding Banquet this month. So much fun, that we are planning a party this Sunday during Soup Sunday. The children have been excited to eat together, prepare food and decorations and share in a meal. Come and join us this Sunday! The children will be exploring and creating through the Season of Advent looking at the themes of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. I hope you can join us through this special season
FRIDAY FRIENDS: Grades 4&5 Friday Friends will be gathering on Friday December 16th for an evening of Advent/Christmas fun. Please not the date change for this group! We will meet at the church from 6-8 pm for games, activities and Christmas cookie decorating. Come hungry, bring a friend! Hope to see you there.
Jr. Youth: Friday December 1st and the second youth gathering will be further announced. This will be a joint youth event with the awesome Sr. Youth. This will be some holiday fun. Jes will let you know more details as soon as possible.
Sr. Youth: will gather from 7-9 pm on Sunday December 3rd at the church. We will be helping shape the youth room to its new makeover status. Come in clothes you don't mind getting dirty and be prepared for our awesome evening together. Friends welcome. Snack provided. Our second youth gathering will be further announced when further details are available.
Young Adults: for those aged 18-29ish...have been gathering twice a month after church on Sundays to share a meal with one another. We meet this Sunday November 27th after church. Our next time together will be December 11th after church. We hope you can make it before many of you head away for the Holidays. Jes will send you menu and drink details via email and FB after we gather this week. THANK YOU to the youth and young adults who volunteered their time for helping make "Everyone Is A Local" Fundraising event a success. Ben Green, Emily Green, Josh Green, Hannah Green, JJ Carr-Cannings, Maddy Carr-Cannings, Adri Bell, Rob Hill, Jack DeKock, Graham Landells, Maddy Thonger were BEYOND outstanding in serving, selling, running, washing, drying, pouring, smiling and laughing. Thank you all for your time and energy.
BLUE CHRISTMAS
- A Service of Solace. Sunday December 18TH, 7 PM
Christmas is not a joyful occasion for everyone. There are many reasons why this season can be difficult: loss of a loved one, broken relationships, loss of health, loneliness, painful memories, feeling overwhelmed by the preparations for and busyness of the season, expectations of others, seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The service features gentle readings and reflections, music and candle lighting, giving the opportunity to acknowledge and live into some of these feelings and make room for hope and new life to enter. Through the power of ritual, we will have the chance to grieve and let go, and enter gently into a new place ready to experience Christmas anew. All are welcome to attend and you may wish to invite a friend or neighbour who you think might benefit from this experience. Following the service there will be hot apple cider and Christmas treats and a time for meeting with others and sharing in conversation. This service is a joint offering with St George’s Anglican and hosted by the Pastoral Care Committee.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES As has been our tradition, we will again be offering 3 different Christmas Eve Services to meet the variety of needs of our congregation and community. We invite you to attend one of them as a way of connecting our faith story with your family’s traditions 4pm Family Celebration of the Nativity: This service features an active way of retelling and entering into the Christmas story that will engage children of all ages. Carols and candles help the story touch our hearts and leave you ready to return to your home in time for supper. 7pm Family Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: This service is also geared to families of all configurations and will feature a drama that will help to bring a deeper meaning to the Christmas story. Lots of Carol singing and the lighting of candles whilst singing Silent Night bring a gentleness and magic ending to Christmas Eve 10pm Candlelight Communion Service: A gentle service of reflection with a smooth jazz feel brings Christmas Eve celebrations to an end. Through singing, readings, reflections and the sharing of communion, this service seeks to deepen our understanding of the Christmas story and bring a sense of mystery into being.
Christmas Day & New Years Day Services Christmas Day – Sunday Dec 25th we will be joining St. Aidens United Church for a celebration of the birth of Jesus at St. Aidan’s United (3703 St. Aidans St). New Years Day - Sunday Jan 1st our service will be at the regular time of 10 am. This intergenerational service will combine singing, drama and reflection to ring in the new year in a fun and uplifting way. See you all there.
You’re in our thoughts program Every year the pastoral care committee tracks people who have had losses, are shut in or needing spiritual care from our congregation . Throughout the year, spiritual companions make regular contact with many of our shut in’s who are no longer able to attend worship but who have been attached to our congregation. At Christmas time, we purchase Poinsettias and they are delivered by members of our congregation along with our best wishes for the Christmas Season. This year 46 plants were purchased. These are delivered after the service on Dec 4th with greetings and in some cases with an invitation to our Blue Christmas Service. Thank you to all our Spiritual Companions for their care and companionship.
Jesus Baby Shower:
Jan 1st and 8th
One of the ways we work to make a practical impact for those living on the edges is to support the work of the Young Parent Support Network (YPSN). After Christmas many young parents struggle with making ends meet and these supplemental items go a long way in supporting children and families at risk. YPSN serves young parents between the ages of 13 and 28. Because most live on income assistance, they often don't have enough for necessities because their shelter allowance is low, therefore some of their support money must go to rent. That leaves most families very short of money for food and other essentials. Christmas and the weeks that follow become an added strain. You can help by bringing one of the following items: diapers - sizes 4, 5 and 6 ( little ones stay in the large sizes longer so therefore higher
demand!), pull ups, infant formula , wipes, baby food, infant cereal, toilet paper, feminine hygiene Products Bring these with you to the church anytime AFTER Christmas and place them under the tree. Thank you
Ladies Christmas Dinner
Menu Appetizer Green Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Or Beet Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette on Baby Spinach Entrée Chicken Florentine with Braised Pearl Onions and Small Potato * Dessert Apple Caramel Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce *Gluten Free / Vegetarian option avail
December 6th
Tuesday December 6th will be our annual Ladies Christmas Dinner. Women of all ages are invited to join us for a catered meal followed by a short worship service. Tickets are $20 each and your final day to purchase is Nov 27th after worship. Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner begins at 6:00pm with worship to start at 7:00pm. As we have done in past years there will be a Christmas tree up for you to put donations for Our Place, gloves, mittens and socks are greatly appreciated as well as monetary donations
Everyone’s A Local What a fabulous night we all had together on Nov 19th. You can see from the pictures that folks were having a good time, the food and music was fabulous and our first attempt at an auction went very well. The auction team did an amazing job of pulling together some very unique experiences and items for folks to bid on and that all unfolded very well. At the end of the day we will see about a $6000 in profit and a lot of good energy in our community to bank on. Thank you again to all those involved in the planning, set up, execution and clean up. You were all amazing!
Write 4 Rights - Fri Dec 9th 1:00pm - 4:00pm Come spend an afternoon at CBUC writing for human rights. This event is sponsored by Amnesty International; we will supply information on cases to work on and writing supplies. If you would prefer, bring you laptop. We’ll have refreshments and great company. Invite your friends to join us. If you have any questions please contact Karen at 250-472-1273 or karen.mcivor@gmail.com
Donation Envelopes for 2017 If you used donation envelopes during 2016, you will automatically receive them for 2017. If you are new to our church family and wish to receive envelopes for 2017, please sign the sheet that is on the table in the Narthex. If you use envelopes and wish to switch to PAR (pre-authorized remittance), please see Meghan in the office and she will process this for you. (you need to fill out a par form and leave a void cheque) Donation Envelopes for 2017 will be available for pick up near the end of December. Thank you for your continued support to the life and ministry of Cadboro Bay United. Your contributions make a difference!
Angel Gifts for OUR PLACE Every year we have the opportunity to partner with OUR PLACE and adopt a person living on the street to be their “angel” and provide a gift for Christmas time. Beginning on the first Sunday of Advent (Nov 27th), there will be a tree in the Narthex with cards for you to take which contain information about the person you will be shopping for. Detailed instructions are contained in that card. Make sure that those overseeing the project and sitting at the tree know your name and what the number of the person you selected is so that we can keep a record. You are then encouraged to purchase a gift valued between $40-50 that might include some combination of the following: a coat or sweater, gloves, fast food or coffee shop gift cards, a treat or warm socks. Gift items are to be new and not used please. If you need more help in deciding, give the office a call. We have committed to 60 people this year to match up with congregational members. Gifts are returned to the church no later than Dec 11 with the card you got from the tree attached. Thank you in advance for your support of this venture.
if i but could… If I but could I would reach back into your youth and stop the movement of the brutish hand that hurt and left the scar that lingers in you still. If I but could I’d cover you with shield of steel to keep from you the pain so real or wrap you in a cloak of earthen hues If I but could I’d give you all that you would need. I'd give you happiness and beads and health and joy and love for all your friends and family and I would grant you love of child in arms of other mothers or in yours. If I but only could. But all that I can do I fear is listen to your words of tears with heavy heart and weigh them hard against apologies that never have been spoken or been thought and know that even if they had they could not overcome the bad for sometimes words can never, ever, ever be enough But nonetheless I promise you Mizana Gheezhik (Senator Murray Sinclair, Formerly Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba and recent Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada)
Senator Murray Sinclair's powerful poem reminds us of the challenges we face as we walk the path of reconciliation together. Worried about the impact this history has had on the children and grandchildren of residential school survivors, the Senator often turns to poetry to capture some of this history and the damage that was done to generations of First Nations. The recent untimely deaths of five Saskatchewan girls prompted him to write this poem and reaction to these suicides from multiple levels of government and concerned Canadians from coast to coast has been heartening to see. Each of the girls lived in remote northern communities and ranged in age from 10 to 14. Clearly, we must do more to reach these youth. What can we do to companion those who are still suffering from the impacts of residential schools and cultural genocide? This year, we are asking you to give generously on Giving Tuesday, November 29th, so that we can donate funds to a specific project from the United Church's Gifts with Vision. The Indigenous Youth Empowerment Workshop responds to the intergenerational impacts of the Indian Act and residential schools in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. Last year we were able to raise almost $3000 on Giving Tuesday which went to the refugee sponsorship work that we do.
Can we match that amount or do even better in 2016? Don't forget- if you use PayPal to make your on-line donation, PayPal will give us an additional 1%. Free money! (If you don’t have a PayPal account that’s ok, you can still donate with credit card!) On November 29th, go to our website, click on the Giving Tuesday button and follow the instructions provided. Thanks so much!
Refugee update As you may know ( or may not) , the CBUC refugee coordinating is working on 3 possible partnerships and sponsorship arrangements. Each has its own challenges and refugee sponsorship has ground to a halt in Canada after the push at the beginning of the year as the quotas of the Canadian Government have not been increased. Many groups across Canada are ready and able to take families but there are none available as the quota for 2016 has been filled. Here's where we are at with each of the 3 groups. . Tibetan refugee joint sponsorship: This family of 3 was to have arrived at the end of August. Each month things have been delayed for clearance\bureaucratic reasons. Currently the date is now likely to be January 21stin 2017 . There is excitement and anticipation building in the hopes that this will indeed be a confirmed date. Accommodation is ready to go and we are providing a mentor for the young adult child who is around 18. We are hosting a fundraiser on January 21st and more detail are in this newsletter under a separate title. Rainbow refugee partnership to bring a young gay man from Iraq is proceeding. Final paperwork was finally able to be completed and has gone now to Winnipeg. It takes about 6 - 9 weeks there and then about 8 month minimum of waiting time for a possible date for his transfer from Turkey Refugee camp. We are in weekly contact with him and arrangements are proceeding but we have to "wait" until we have permission to bring him here which we are hoping will happen in 2017 but we can notbe certain of the dates. He has had his UNHC number and clearance for some time but still we have to wait. Salmon Family reunification: - The Daughter of the last family we sponsored is in a refugee camp with her family in Singapore. We have been working with the family long distance as they live in Edmonton now to try and get the paper work done for this .. We have had many challenges and issues with translations, language, understanding of the forms, delays, looking for local assistance who can be there in person in Edmonton to help the family, several trips by our committee members to Edmonton, etc. After a long struggle, the good news is that we now have the paperwork in good condition that has been sent off to the UCC refugee desk that can then submit to the Government for approval. We have had to be very careful because if there are any errors, the application is rejected and they go to the bottom of the pile. Once the paper work has been approved in Canada ... ( 3 months ) and since they have their UNHC number and clearance, it will take between 9 months and 2 years before they actually board a plane to come here. So, that’s where things are at. We are so grateful to the work and support of both the committee and members of CBUC for your prayers, financial dollars and help in making this ministry possible.
A Sunday Afternoon With The Arbutus Singers December 4th @ 2pm Cadboro Bay United Church Refreshments to follow
Concert proceeds to children at risk In Uganda through the Jolly Nyeko Foundation Canada Admission by Donation Donations of $10 or more are tax-deductible
December Movie Night There will be no movie night in December but this will resume in January. Watch the Tidelines for details of the January offering. The OUR PLACE movie nights will continue as scheduled however.
Tibetan Refugee Fundraising Event Good news! The Tibetan Family (father, mother and young adult daughter) we are helping to settle here in Victoria will be arriving on January 12, 2017. We're working with the local Tibetan community on this refugee project and as a way for our two communities to get to know each other better, we're planning on co-hosting a special Tibetan New Year celebration in our church hall on January 21st. Save the date and we'll let you know more details after Christmas. If you wish to be involved as a volunteer for this fundraising event, please let the office know.
Gifts with Vision Many of us have reached an age where we have more stuff than we want or need anymore. In fact, some of us are working hard to downsize and get rid of things and we know we are impossible to buy for at Christmas time. Why not make it easier for your friends and family by giving them ideas from the Gifts with Vision catalogue? These are items they can purchased in your name, on your behalf that will benefit others around the world who could use the support and companionship. Things like a well, or an empowerment workshop for Indigenous youth or a family support pack for a refugee family in a camp in Jordon. It’s a faithful way to give and receive this Christmas. Catalogues are available in the Narthex or online at www.giftswithvision.ca That way you can email the link to those who want to know “what do you want for Christmas?” .
LOCAL Leftovers for sale!! As our year together come to a close we have a few “left overs” from events that we would like to offer to the church community during the Christmas season. On Sunday, Dec 11th, following the service, we will have left over bottles of Red and White wine from the vineyard on Salt Spring Island. Bottles are $20 each. Also we have art cards left from the All Being Confluence exhibit in April and they will be available in sets of 4 for $5. If you want to purchase at times other than the Sunday morning, please call the office to make arrangements. The Church office will be closed Dec 24 – Dec 28, then open Dec 29 and 30th and then closed from the 31st of December and open again on Jan 3rd. Offerings dated on or before December 31st can be dropped off in the mail box or to the office directly during those dates and they will be credited to you 2016 gifts and appear on your income tax receipts.
Cadboro Bay United Church 2625 Arbutus Rd, Victoria BC V8N 1W4 250-477-2715 office@cadbayuc.org cadbayuc.org FB: cadborobayuc Twitter: @cadbayuc