A Cross The Pews December 2011

Save the Date!

A Cross The Pews Knox Waterloo

D o n ’t m i s s a t h i n g!

December 21st 7:30 p.m. Page 13

Come to Bethlehem December 10th 2 p.m.

Page 11

I S S U E 1 2 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

Knox has an official Facebook Page! “Like” us at www.facebook.com/knoxwaterloo

On October 23rd, we were happy to officially welcome the following new members to our church family: Lisa Jackson, Eric Gaudet, Andrew Church, John & Dianne Linnerth, Peter John Nevin, Tom & Sandi McBride, Mike & Jill Clermont (with Mikala & Marc), Nancy Kennedy, Dawn Charlton, Norman Wang, Greg & Christy Sennema (with Noel and Jotham.)

Welcome, New Members!

Sunday Service at 10:00am Radio Broadcast: Sunday 10:00am CKWR FM 98.5 50 Erb Street West, Waterloo, ON N2L 1T1 519 . 886 . 4150 [email protected] knoxwaterloo.ca

The Longest Night Service

Pages 4‐7 Building Update & Knox, 2012 and Beyond

Page 9 Advent At Knox

Page 10 Youth Events

Page 11 Christmas Festivities!

Page 12 White Christmas Gifts

Page 13 The Longest Night Service

Page 15 Oh The Places You’ll Go!

Page 16 Fun & Fitness, and New Staff Members!

A CROSS THE PEWS DECEMBER 2011

I am proud of how we are making the transition to our new home. Everything is different and everything is new. This means that new leaders are stepping forward to lead in new ways. We continue to welcome new worshippers. Each week are several people worshipping at Knox for the first time. I want to salute the courage and bravery of our new worshippers. Attending worship in a modern city is not the easy task it might have been even 25 years ago in 1986.

• Then, there was no Sunday shopping,

• Then 30% of the population attended holy worship at least once a month. • Then it was acceptable to call a decorated tree in December a Christmas

tree. • Then the population of Waterloo was only 67,000 people.

Today in 2011:

• Sunday is beginning to rival Saturday as a shopping day. • Less than 20% of our population attend a worship service in a month. • Calling and evergreen tree a “Christmas “tree will evoke some criticism. • Now the population is 122,000 people (City of Waterloo Web site)

All of this means that we who worship are the minority. People walking the door of a church for the first time are taking a risk to worship God. There are some pretty strange worship environments to be encountered in our world and coming to a new church is taking a risk of faith. We who are comfortable here in our church home are called to reach out in friendship to all new comers. They do not come to visit, they come to worship, just like we all do. Please take a risk and reach out to welcome during this Advent and Christmas Season, who knows? We might be meeting lifelong friend for the first time. The excitement of the first Christmas be with you all. Brooke

The Knox Annual Meeting

This meeting will take place in the church hall Sunday evening at 7 pm on February 18th, 2012. This opportunity to participate in the planning and decision making processes keeps Knox moving forward.

Minister’s Message

Brooke Ashfield


Our thoughts and condolences to Marg Paré on the loss of her mother, as well as to Bruce Dickieson, whose father died recently.

Photo taken by Hannah Carter in the Garden of Gethsemane

Passages

Continued blessings to Mackenzie Taylor Monteiro, infant daughter of Stacey Taylor and Eric Monteiro who was baptised at Knox Church on November 20th.

Deaths:

Hospital visits: If you or a loved one will be in hospital, please let the office know at 519‐886‐4150. Along with your ministers, Knox has people designated as hospital visitors.

Photo taken by Hannah Carter

in the Church of the Holy

Sepulchre

Photo by Hannah Carter


Baptisms:

Marriages: Congratulations to Dawn Charlton and Sue Senior who were married at Knox Church on Saturday, November 26th!


With the completion of the parking lot, our building is looking finished. We can worship, play, meet, work, and share meals together in our beautiful building, but the KRC is still meeting regularly. So what is the committee doing? Well, there are still a number of items left to be done.

If you have been in the Sanctuary on a sunny afternoon, you will notice a blinding glare on some pews of the west side of the room. Window blinds have been designed and ordered for all of the windows in the Sanctuary. These blinds will add a decorative texture to our worship area, reduce some of the echoes experienced by speakers, and when fully deployed, will reduce the sunlight glare on the westerly pews.

We are still waiting for the large wooden door to be installed at the back of the Chancel into the Sacristy (the space behind the wall). Once the door is in place, a sound monitor will be installed on the ceiling to provide proper sound to everyone (ministers and choir) in the Chancel area. The monitor will be fine‐tuned to work with all of the hard surfaces of the Chancel to produce the best sound possible.

A change is planned for the railing on the second floor to make it harder for some of our young members to pull themselves up the partial wall. Further monitoring will be done to ensure the change is effective. Safety for all of our members is important.

Outside, a sidewalk along Dupont Street remains to be completed, a storage shed in the north east corner of the parking lot will be finished, and external trim damaged during the demolition of the old building will be replaced.

Once the Contractor declares that the building is substantially complete (determined by a formula known within the construction industry), Knox will be able to proceed with striking a mortgage.

The KRC also continues to track the various deficiencies within the building.

If you have some questions about what happens next, please talk to anyone on the committee. We are Brooke Ashfield, Lawrie Carter, Tupper Cawsey, Ron Charie, Kari Feldmann (chair), Connie Graham, Paul Ogram, Deb Schlichter, and Ken VanderVleuten. Submitted by Connie Graham on behalf of the Knox Redevelopment Committee (KRC)

Watch Our Building Grow: So What’s Left?


Knox continues on a journey. Our Vision calls us forward. The Vision embraces the past, present and future as we at Knox have walked through the door to a new reality and into our new church home. This new home reaffirms Knox as a church of the future in the core of Waterloo, a home that eliminates the restrictions of our former building. We are a Christian congregation making a statement that God in Jesus Christ is a prominent part of the history, heritage and future of Waterloo’s Uptown city centre. Knox will embrace the wonderful opportunity to proclaim the life‐giving gospel of Jesus Christ in a new age.

• Together we can and will make a difference because “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”.

• We will be an inspiring destination where all people in our congregation and our community can grow in their faith.

• We will welcome our neighbours from all walks of life – students, singles, families and seniors.

• We will build on our already vital programs and create new ministries.

• We will continue on our Knox journey as we listen and follow God’s plan for all of us.

You can feel it, see it, hear it – the excitement at Knox. The new building has enabled that. But what next? The building is the beginning, the vehicle for change, not the end. Where do we go from here? Our inclusive theology and community will attract many new worshippers over the coming months as we seek to meet our vision to grow both numerically and spiritually. Knox Waterloo will continue to build on our outstanding ministry to families, children and youth and we can now advance the ministry of three key demographic groups of people: seniors, students and singles. We will embrace a greater level of hospitality and warmth in welcoming new worshippers as we reap the advantages of our new building as it proudly proclaims Knox’s place in the heart of our city.

Living the Vision The vision is our guide as we move forward. Our actions and priorities show the world how we will fulfill our vision.

Knox Waterloo, 2012 and Beyond

I. Our Vision



2. Our Key Priorities Your Session has chosen, with your guidance, to focus on the following for 2012:

• Excellence in Worship Excellence in worship of God is what we do well. We need to continue a tradition of excellence in preaching, music, and inclusive involvement.

• Focus on Children and Youth We will continue to focus on our programs that minister to children and youth: LOGOS, Upward Sports and Sunday school and others.

• Stewardship and Financial Sustainability 2012 will challenge us financially. With the commencement of the mortgage, our minimum financial needs are approximately $18,000 per week! We will meet this challenge by Fulfilling our pledges from the Sustainable Stewardship Campaign with the help of our Bridge Team; Developing Rental income from the building and the parking lot. A goal of increasing net rental income of our building to $50,000 per year is achievable. Seeking further help. Some, perhaps all, in our congregation may be able to assist Knox further.

• New Programs and Outreach Already, Knox staff and volunteers are running new programs. Look for further initiatives in our key areas

o Students

o Singles

o Seniors

If you have ideas, join in and become part of the process.

• Hospitality We will continue to be intentionally welcoming particularly with newcomers.

• Communication We will improve our communication with existing, new and potential members. Our community must know what is happening at Knox and the state of its affairs.

• Session Leadership Session will continue to provide leadership based on directions from the congregation. Session will become more intentional in using the vision to drive the budget process at Knox and to develop means of measuring progress towards our vision.

The Knox Session as the key decision making body of the congregation will provide leadership over visioning processes. The prayerful, thoughtful and insightful wisdom of the session of Knox Church is needed as we move into the future. Knox Session will need advice, support, and input from the Congregation as we move forward.



3. Our Financial Challenge An Example

Weekly Givings Pyramid

Number gifts Each Week

Weekly Gift

Total Amount Given

5 450 2250 10 300 3000 20 250 5000 20 150 3000 50 50 2500 50 25 1250 100 10 1000

Total Weekly Donations

18000

In 2012, with the commencement of the mortgage, our minimum financial needs are approximately $18,000 per week! Even with the low interest rates, we face mortgage payments of over $30,000 per month. We will meet this challenge by:

• Fulfilling our pledges from the Sustainable Stewardship Campaign with the help of our Bridge Team.

• Developing Rental income from the building and the parking lot while recognizing the conflict between using our wonderful space for our programs versus renting our space to meet financial needs. A goal of increasing net rental income of our building to $50,000 per year is achievable.

• Seeking further help. Some, perhaps all, in our congregation may be able to assist Knox further. We will seek creative ways to encourage new personal sacrifices. Remember sacrificial giving is giving up something of value to gain something of greater value.

During both the Capital Campaign and the Sustainable Stewardship Initiative our guiding principle was equal sacrifice not equal gifts.

What does this principle mean? How does it translate into what each of us should be doing to fulfill our responsibilities to Knox? One way to consider this is to examine a givings pyramid such as the one above. (While there are many ways to meet our weekly goal of $18,000, this is one example.)

In this example, 5 families are able to give $450 each week; 10 families are able to give $300 each week; and so on. Each is giving sacrificially and with equal sacrifice.

Which level should your family be at? Could you move up a level in the pyramid? Remember, this is our challenge. But together with God’s help and giving in faith we can reach our financial goal.

Submitted by Tupper Cawsey on behalf of Knox Session 16 November, 2011


Knox Presbyterian Church, in partnership with The Gallery on the Grand, is delighted to show

80 pieces of art by Robert Myers

These paintings were a gift to Knox Church by Eula Mae Myers with proceeds going to the church.

Opening Sunday, November 27th between 2 and 5 p.m.

You can view the paintings at the gallery throughout the month as well as online.

The gallery is located at 580 Lancaster St. West Kitchener www.galleryonthegrand.com.

A Presbyterian Anagram Presbyterians = Best In Prayers

Submitted by Hannah Carter

What kinds of gifts are on your list this year? How about the gifts of Hope, Joy, Peace, Justice, Sustainability, Security.

There are many organizations who are setup to receive your monetary donations, multiply them and put them to work changing lives around the world. Here are some alternative giving and fair trade gift ideas from the Global Partners Committee:

• Consider a gift to support the many ministries and outreach projects here at Knox. • Gifts of Change is a series of special projects undertaken by the Presbyterian Church in Canada to

change lives in Canada and around the world. View their catalogue online or browse a copy at the Welcome Desk to see the kinds of change your donations can make.

• Wake up them Christmas morning with the aroma of fair trade coffee! Global Partners has fair trade coffee from the Fire Roasted Coffee Company available for sale during coffee hour on most Sundays. Know a chocoholic? Stuff their stocking with some fair trade chocolate and hot chocolate.

• We will be bringing in a variety of chocolate from Camino for sale at our coffee cart during coffee hours in December.


Advent Worship at Knox

LOGOS & ADVENT

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” This is the theme of LOGOS as Advent begins. Worship Skills groups have been preparing to share with the congregation on Sunday mornings. On December 4, some of the Senior High will put on a play entitled “The Shepherds: How It Wasn’t”, and others will participate in the service doing readings and serving communion. The Gr. 4‐5 group (with some help from Gr. 6) will play the tone chimes for us again on December 11.

One of the things I look forward to each year is the annual LOGOS Christmas service. This year it is held on December 8 after supper. The children, adult participants, and family members have the opportunity to sing carols and hear the story of Jesus’ birth. I think the highlight is the end of the service

as the lights go down and we form a circle around the sanctuary, carefully lighting each other’s candles. We sing “Silent Night” in the glow of these candles, sharing in the wonder of God’s love for us. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! May you enjoy time with friends and family during the holidays. Remember that we start back after the Christmas Break on January 12.

If you have any questions about the LOGOS program, feel free to contact me.

Margaret Woods . 2011-2012 LOGOS Director . 519-208-2973 . [email protected]

Advent One – November 27th – Lighting the Candle of Hope Knox’s Jazz Ensemble will play Community Connection Sunday for Church School – The Angel Tree Advent Two – December 4th – Lighting the Candle of Peace Celebration of Holy Communion Knox Choir and Senior High LOGOS play Advent Three – December 11th – Lighting the Candle of Joy Children’s Christmas Pageant LOGOS tone chimes and Dedication of our White Gifts

Advent Four – December 18th – Lighting the Candle of Love Christmas Choir’s Lessons & Carols service Dedication of our Chrismon Tree Sunday December 18th the Knox Choir invites you and your friends to A Service of Lessons and Carols. It will be a wonderful worship service filled with seasonal music provided by the choir, a string ensemble and soloists. During the offering time we will dedicate the Chrismons that Knox families made last year. This would be the perfect service to invite a friend to church.


Questions?

If you have questions about any of the events on this page or the next, get in touch with Laura at the church office at 519‐886‐4150 or by email at [email protected].

Events for youth (and the young at heart!)

Community Connection Sundays

(the last Sunday of each month in Sunday school) are our way of learning about the organizations in our community that are making a difference in the lives of people in need. In October we donated $410.00 plus 14 boxes of canned food to the Food Bank; in November we collected toys for the Salvation Army Angel Tree at Conestoga Mall. Many thanks to our Knox family for your support. There is no Community Connection Sunday in December.

MYA

He Shoots…She Scores!!!

The new season starts Tuesday January 10 and goes until March 6, 2012. Sports are Basketball and Ball Hockey for kids in Grades 1‐6, 6‐8pm each Tuesday. Cost is $50.00 per person (includes t‐shirt, water bottle and basketball for new registrations). Registration brochures are available at the church office. Call to register.

Sr High youth can volunteer at the sorting warehouse in Cambridge, checking through the donated boxes to make sure the contents are appropriate, before they are sealed and sent on skids to the airport for distribution.

There is a signup sheet posted on the Youth Bulletin Board in Rm 205, please sign up by Thursday Dec. 8

Operation Christmas Child

December 14th, 4-6 p.m.

Ball Hockey & Basketball

January Knox Night: Family skate and potluck supper! Watch the bulletin for date and times.


Saturday December 10th, from

1:30-4 p.m. for travellers of all ages. Discover what life was like at the time of Jesus’ birth. Come and experience the stories, the games and trades of Jesus’ time with costumed guides and leaders.

Register to attend by calling the church office or sign up on the bulletin board outside the Lounge.


What happens when one of the three Wise Men has a hockey game before the Christmas play is finished? Join us on Sunday December 11th at 10 a.m. and find out how we plan to solve just that problem by presenting The “Backwards” Christmas Pageant.

Christmas Pageant

Christmas at Knox!

Children’s Christmas Party

Saturday Dec. 3rd, 1:30-4 p.m. for kids in JK‐ Gr.6. No charge but a donation of a toy for the Angel Tree would be appreciated. Your kids will play games, make crafts, share snack, watch a Christmas DVD and enjoy some fellowship. Join Us!

Parents’ Afternoon out!

Come to Bethlehem


The silhouettes of the camels on the front of this month’s newsletter were taken from this photo. Hannah Carter snapped it while in Egypt on New Year’s Day, 2010! The photo’s title is, “Three”.

Fun Fact!

White Gift Sunday Throughout Lent, we are collecting White Gifts for St. Monica’s House. A dedication of the collected gifts will take place on Sunday, December 11. If you would like to donate a gift, please place it in one of the boxes located at the front and side doors of the church. If you have any questions, please ask anyone on the Global Partners Committee. From the St. Monica House Holiday Wish List: “Saint Monica House has an established tradition of celebrating the Holiday Season with the sharing of gifts. This tradition relies on your kindness and generosity since the gifts that you give will be the only gifts that many of our women receive.” The following new items would be greatly appreciated!

Gift Certificates: Gift certificates for stores including drug stores, grocery stores, malls, and baby stores are encouraged, if possible.

Baby Items: Baby toiletries, wipes, washcloths and towels, clothing, sleepers, undershirts, change pads, disposable diapers, and toys

Toiletries and Cosmetics: Shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, new combs and brushes, sanitary napkins, nursing pads, Q‐tips, cotton balls, make‐up, nail products, and body lotions

Clothing For Teens: Socks, hooded and non‐hooded sweaters, hats, mitts, and slippers

Gift Items: Picture frames, photo albums, prepaid phone cards, disposable cameras, personal journals, stuffed animals, scrapbooks, and accessories

Gifts for Independent Living: small appliances, tableware, storage containers, bedding, bathroom accessories, laundry baskets, table lamps, clocks, radios, flashlights, blankets, towels, and batteries.

Financial Donations: A charitable donation receipt will be issued for monetary donations only.

We thank you for your consideration and wish you and yours a Blessed and Joyful Holiday Season!


Each year we are honoured and humbled as we plan this special service for the Longest Night of the year. Our first Service was in

1994 and this has been a long‐standing gift to our community. For many people, Christmas is a difficult time. Some have recently lost a loved one, some are lonely, some have lost a job, some are suffering from illness, or the pain of a broken relationship. Others feel financial stress or the burden of past memories. The Christmas season can make it more difficult to cope. This service is planned for anyone who is finding this Christmas season difficult or sad. This year’s speaker is Myrta Rivera. Myrta is the former executive director of the Kitchener‐Waterloo Multicultural centre and is currently a Spiritual Care Provider at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener. Myrta is a grandmother who has lived with cancer this year and has served the community with compassion and love. Myrta is well known to many of us here at Knox and will share with us her ability to see the light of hope in difficult days. I have the greatest admiration for Myrta and am very honoured to have her as our Longest Night Speaker this year. Myrta had surgery earlier this year to remove a cancerous breast lump, and lymph nodes. She has received chemotherapy and radiation as further treatment. Myrta says: “I am a grandmother of three wonderful kids. I love telling stories. I was born in Puerto Rico, and have lived in Canada for 42 years. I am the mother of two adult children. I speak English, Spanish and some Greek and have managed a social service agency serving immigrants and refugees. Now I work as a chaplain.” We will have some beautiful music for this service. The service is user friendly (many people come who do not usually attend church), and there is no offering. It is offered as a gift to our community. Those who attend are invited to a time of refreshment after worship provided by the Knox Pastoral Care Team. I hope that each one of us will consider inviting a friend or loved one to this special service that has grown to mean so much to so many. Respectfully submitted by Brooke Ashfield.

The Longest Night Service

If you find Christmas difficult, this service is for you.

Wednesday December 21st, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Broadcast live on 98.5 CKWR FM


Christmas is coming!

Plan now to choose which service you will attend on December 24th Christmas Eve. Dec. 24th 5 p.m. – a shorter service for younger children. This is a wonder filled service designed for the participation of young children. Dec. 24th 7 p.m. – Brass and violin led worship for the whole family. The Lacoste family will lead the music for the traditional candle lit Christmas for all. Dec. 24th 9 p.m. – Traditional Family Service featuring the chancel Choir of Knox along with candle lit Christmas for all. (This service is recorded and will be broadcast on the radio at 10 am on Christmas Day) Dec. 24th 11 p.m. – Candle lit communion with quiet music and a contemplative time of Christmas reflection. Christmas Day on Sunday December 25th 10 a.m. – This is an informal welcoming service for all who attend. There is no radio recording today so the service will be more informal than usual. You will enjoy the fellowship of worshipping on Christmas day.

Saturday December 24 "Christmas Eve" 5 p.m.(children's service) 7 p.m. (caroling with brass group) 9 p.m. (Christmas Choir) 11 p.m. (Communion)

Sunday December 25 "Christmas Morning Worship" 10:00 a.m.

$5.00 – Soup, homemade tea biscuits, cheese, tea, coffee, and dessert $3.00 – Soup (a nice addition to your own sandwich!) FREE! – Bring your own lunch

December 7: It’s not Christmas without… (Christmas traditions) with Linda Ashfield. This will be a wonderful way to begin the month and the Christmas Season! If you have special Christmas traditions in your family, bring them with you to share with the group. Linda will talk about the origins and symbolism of the traditions of Christmas throughout the centuries.

December 14: Christmas Luncheon (tickets $10) Catered by Angie’s Kitchen, our lunch will include roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, a hot vegetable, fresh cranberry sauce, dessert, teas and coffee. Lunch will be followed by a musical Christmas celebration with Cheryl Meyer.

Please talk to Agnes Steffy or Linda Ashfield if you have experience with compiling family stories. We’d love to have you share!

Also, if you would like to come to Wednesdays @Knox, but need a ride, please call me, Ellen McIntosh, at 519‐579‐9448, or email [email protected]. We’d love to see you!

Please note: We realized that the 21st is the evening of our Longest Night Service, and as such is a very important event for our congregation. We decided that the luncheon on the 14th would be a lovely way to end 2011 at W@K, and so have cancelled our programme for December 21st. Ellen McIntosh

W@K (Wednesdays at Knox)

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.


I’ve spent the past 2.5 months studying photography at Georgian College in Barrie. It’s a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun. In my classes I’ve learned about the use of lighting, texture, colour etc. and how they add to a photograph. Right now all of our final projects have been assigned so most of my spare time is used taking pictures. College life is fun, and I’ve gotten involved with the varsity badminton team, which I enjoy a lot. With the winter coming it’s starting to get pretty cold in Barrie, but it’s not too bad yet!

-Khoral Hare

It has been an exciting few years for me since I moved from Kitchener‐Waterloo to Toronto for my studies back in 2009. I have had the chance to study radio and television broadcasting at Ryerson University in Toronto. I’m working towards a career in television and since I have moved to Toronto, have had the chance to work on many national television shows on major networks such as CTV, Global and CBC. I’ve recently

just agreed to work on Canada’s Got Talent, which has now started production and will start airing in April 2012 on CityTV. I have always been interested in anything to do with the creative side of the media industry and I am just so grateful for being a part of it at an early stage in my career. With only 1 year and a half to go to complete my degree, I will soon be looking for a more permanent position within the contacts I’ve made since my move to Toronto. I always truly appreciate the support of my community back home, especially from everyone at Knox Waterloo. Although I have been so busy with my life in Toronto, I am really looking forward to the Christmas break and to be back home with my friends and family in Kitchener‐Waterloo. All the best to everyone at Knox Waterloo in this busy and exciting time of the year!

Stéphane Paré

Every month we read all about events around Knox but what about members of Knox who are living out of town? What are they up to?

Oh, the Places You’ll Go is a new section in the Newsletter, where you can read about the adventures of Knox members who aren’t so nearby.

This month we hear from Stéphane Paré & Khoral Hare!

If you have moved away for the time being we would love to hear what you are up to! Send your up‐date to me at [email protected] to be included in an upcoming newsletter.

Hannah Carter


New workers hired to serve at Knox

We are fortunate to have hired Hannah Carter as our part time office assistant. Hannah will work 8‐12 hours a week producing the bulletin and completing other tasks to keep our church running efficiently.

Sunday Attendants: Ellen McIntosh and Graeme Johnstone have been hired to be our Sunday morning attendants. They will open the church and provide assistance on Sunday mornings, which is our busiest time of the week.

Welcome Hannah, Ellen and Graeme!

Daniel Henderson, son of Rev. John and Dorothy Henderson, was named on November 9 as the first alumni of distinction from the culinary program at Conestoga College. John Henderson was minister at Knox in the 80’s and Dorothy was the first Knox Director of Christian Education.

Daniel is now the Executive Chef for Bento Nouveau. He has created a smash hit (various pomegranate sushis) for the holiday season available in Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs, Great Food, Provigo, Longos and their retail stores.

Fun & Fitness (Soon to be Fitness & Fellowship)

We are a group of women who meet in the hall on Thursdays at 10 A.M. Our focus is fitness, fun and fellowship. Dr. Beth Thorsen leads us in a great work out that you can ramp up or tone down depending on what is best for you. It is a bit like having your own small group personal trainer. After our workout, we enjoy a coffee and sit around and chat. What does it cost? A can or two of food for the KW Food Bank will get you in each week. (If you forget, you can join us anyway and make it up.) Every now and then we pool our toonies to buy another bag of fair trade coffee. Our last session before Christmas is December 8th and we start up again in January. In the New Year you will know us as Fitness and Fellowship because that is what we are all about.

Shirley Carter


By Terry English – music director In the October newsletter, I posed the question “Why do we sing when we gather for worship?” Does it really matter to God whether we sing or not? Are there other ways He wants us to praise Him when we gather? Does he even like the sound of our voices? A quick word search on variations of the words ‘sing, song and music’ in scripture reveals that there are over 1000 references to music. Some of them are direct commands to sing to God: “Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praise to our King, sing praises (Ps 47:6). “Come let us sing for joy to the Lord” (Ps. 96:1) “Sing to the Lord a new song, for He had done marvelous things: (Ps 98:1) “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands Worship the Lord with gladness; Come into His presence with singing:” (Ps 100:1) “With gratitude in your hearts, sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God” (Colossians 3:16). The longest book of the Bible is not a book of history, teaching or prophecy, but a book of poems set to music. When Israel was delivered from Egypt, Moses didn’t give an eloquent speech. He sang a song. In fact it is the first worship song recorded in Scripture. In the New Testament, almost all the references have to do with singing. Jesus and the disciples sing after their last Passover meal. Paul and Silas while in prison, sing hymns and pray to God. In my career I can’t count the times that I have heard “I don’t like to sing”. Perhaps that’s you! Maybe you think you have a “loud, squeaky voice” or “a low, rumbly voice” (that’s the one God gave you); Maybe someone told you that you can’t sing and you believed them! None of the above should keep us from singing to God. The bible doesn’t say “Make a joyful noise – only if you have a good voice”. Music and singing are God’s wonderful gift to each of us. We are called to use this gift with gratitude. Our challenge is to use His gift to the best of our ability. Ronald Allen, In the book Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel, writes: “Not all are blessed with a finely tuned ear and a well modulated voice; so the sound may not be superb ‐ it may even be a little out‐of‐tune or off‐key. Remember: worship is a state of the Heart; musical sound is a state of art. Let’s not confuse them.” In respect to participating in worship, we need to ask ourselves not

“Do I have a voice?” but “Do I have a song?”.

Part II


Contribute next month – Due Date December 18th If you have something you would like to include in next month’s newsletter, please submit it to Hannah Carter by Sunday December 18th. Email submissions to [email protected].

What’s your email address? The church office & ministers send emails out to communicate special events and programs. Email the office at [email protected] to be added to the mailing list!

NEW: In an effort to save paper we’d love to email you a copy of A Cross the Pews each month. Not only will the environment thank you but you’ll get to enjoy it in full colour as soon as it is ready!

Chalmers Presbyterian Church Winterbourne Closing Service

December 4th at 7 pm in Chalmers’s Church in Winterbourne there will be a Presbytery Service commemorating the nearly 140 years of witness of the congregation. The congregation has requested the closing service as a result of continuing difficulties in keeping up the church building while having a declining membership of seniors. I have been the Interim Moderator of Chalmers for a decade and have grown to love and care for this congregation. Rev. Mary Whitson has been providing leadership to this congregation for the past three years. Many of our Knox musical groups and members have participated in leading worship to this congregation over the years.

The church building is located on Catherine Street in the centre of Winterbourne.

This service will provide an opportunity to say goodbye as this congregation is dissolved to attend other congregations. Musical leadership for this service will come from our own Knox Combo. You are all invited to attend this last service of a congregation with a proud history.

Submitted by Brooke Ashfield

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS AT KNOX

Sunday November 27 Advent One (Community Connection Sunday ‐ Angel Tree) 10:00 a.m.

Saturday December 3 "Sunday School Christmas Party" (and parents afternoon out) JK to Grade 6 1:30‐4:00 p.m.

Sunday December 4 Advent Two (Communion) 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday December 7 Wed@Knox "It's not Christmas without....Christmas traditions" 11:30‐1:00 (bring your own lunch/or/lunch provided)

Thursday December 8 LOGOS "Oh Come, all ye faithful" LOGOS Christmas Service 6:30‐7:30 p.m. (after dinner)

Saturday December 10 "Come to Bethlehem" Intergenerational Event 1:30‐4:00 p.m.

Sunday December 11 Advent Three "Sunday School Pageant" (Dedication of White Gifts) 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday December 14 Wed@Knox "Turkey Dinner and Caroling" (tickets $10) 11:30‐1:00

Sunday December 18 Advent Four "A Service of Lessons and Carols" Knox Christmas Choir

Wednesday December 21 "Longest Night Service" 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary (live on the radio)


December

2011

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 10:00 Fun & Fitness

10:00 Knox Quilters 4:30 LOGOS THEME: 7:30 CHOIR

1:00 Children’s Christmas Party

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10:00 Worship Communion 5:30 Food For Thought

2:00 Group C Bible Study 7:30 Council

1:30 Group D 6:00 Upward Sports

11:30 W@K ‐ “It’s Not Christmas Without…” with Linda Ashfield 2:00 Group C

10:00 Fun & Fitness 10:00 Knox Quilters 4:30 LOGOS THEME: “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” 7:30 CHOIR

1:30-4:00

Come to Bethlehem

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 10:00 Worship Christmas Pageant

7:30 Session 11:30 W@K ‐ “Turkey Dinner & Caroling” 5:30 Global Partners

10:00 Knox Quilters 7:30 CHOIR

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 10:00 Worship Lessons & Carols

1:30 Book Club 7:30 The Longest Night Service

10:00 Knox Quilters 7:30 CHOIR

Christmas Eve Services at 5:00, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 (all p.m.)

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 10:00 Worship

10:00 Knox Quilters

Sundays: Remember your White Gifts for Mary’s House

3:

Children’s

Christmas

Party!

1:00 p.m.

10:

Come to

Bethlehem!

1:30 p.m.

11:

Christmas

Pageant

10:00 a.m.

18:

Lessons &

Carols

21:

The Longest

Night Service

24:

Christmas Eve

Services

5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

9:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.


Documents

A Cross The Pews December 2011