A warm welcome to everyone to worship this morning: “Whoever you are…Wherever you are on your faith journey… Whatever you want to ask…You are welcome and accepted”

Highlands United Church 3255 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver, BC V7R 2P1

604-980-6071 www.highlandsunited.org

Highlights December 21, 2014

Love is a flame that burns in our heart, Jesus has come and will never depart.

Fourth Sunday of Advent The Sound of Love

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Highlands Upcoming Events and Programs This list does not include rooms booked for outside rentals (Guides, AA, Alanon etc).

Highlands Event Calendar can be viewed on our web site at: www.highlandsunited.org To book a room, contact the church office at: churchoffice@highlandsunited.org

Sunday, December 21 9:30 am Welcome Café in the Foyer 10:00 am Worship Service 11:15 am Coffee & Hospitality, Gym 11:15 am Newcomers Orientation with Colleen, Narthex 11:30 am Eight Deadlies Choir, Choir Room 11:30 am Bells Rehearsal, Room 201 2:30 pm Marcus Mosely Chorale “Shine” Concert, Sanctuary Monday, December 22 4:00 pm Christmas Comfort Service, Sanctuary and Choir Room Tuesday, December 23 1:00 pm Shelter to Home Meeting, Choir Room Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve (Church Office closed at noon) 4:30 pm Christmas Pageant 6:30 pm Family Christmas Service 8:30 pm Christmas Choral Service with Communion 10:30 pm Celtic Christmas Service Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day (Church Office closed) 10:00 am Christmas Day Service, Sanctuary 12:00 noon Edgemont Village Community Christmas Dinner, Gym Friday, December 26 (Church Office Closed) Saturday, December 27 1:00 pm Saturday Lunch—North Shore Neighbourhood House Sunday, December 28 9:30 am Welcome Café in the Foyer 10:00 am Worship Service 11:15 am Coffee & Hospitality, Gym 11:15 am Newcomers Orientation with Colleen, Narthex

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Church Office Closures during the Christmas Break:

Please note that the Church Office will be closed: December 24th afternoon: December 25, 26 and 29, Jan 1 and 2

Re-imbursement Cheques

If you have incurred some expenses in 2013, for any of the programs or ministries of Highlands United Church and would like a re-imbursement cheque, please have your receipts and completed cheque requisition into the church office by January 5th.

2014 Donations for Tax Receipts

If you wish to make any additional donations to Highlands for the 2014 calendar year, please drop by the office with you donation by January 5th. Any questions regarding donations or tax receipts, please call Carol in the Church Office.

Numbered Donation Envelopes

If you normally give your donations in a numbered envelope, your 2015 numbered envelopes are available for pick-up in the Chapel/Coat Room this Sunday. Questions regarding envelope giving, Pre-Authorized donations or other giving options—please speak to Jon Carrodus or Carol Smith.

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Saturday Lunch Hampers

This week, members of the Saturday Lunch "bunch" filled Christmas bags for their clients with gifts of food, toiletries and clothing generously donated by the Highlands congregation.

Saturday lunch has been going for almost six years, and at Christmas, the crew have been able to give these gift bags to people who otherwise may receive nothing at Christmas, and

often do not even have enough food to make it to the end of the month. It is staggering to feel this generosity, and to quote

Cheryl Black when she came for a look, "this is abundance." Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all who donate their time or sharing to this ministry, and to those who may be thinking about

it!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

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Those who would like to help with meal prep, set-up, baking, clean up etc—please speak to Carol Smith or see the sign-up sheet at

the Action Table. Help is needed on Christmas Eve only. HELP! Also need Christmas Angels to cook turkeys and deliver

them to the church on Christmas Eve! Turkeys can be picked up from the Small Kitchen on Sunday. Instructions on the counter in

foil baking pans. Questions? Speak to Carol on Sunday

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HIGHLANDS CHURCH LIBRARY Advent and Christmas recommended books:

Treasury of Celebrations: Create Celebrations That Reflect Your Values and Don’t Cost the Earth 394POG Carolyn Pogue, ed.

Treasury of Celebrations has a unique alternative approach to planning any celebration and includes anecdotes of real celebrations, practical planning ideas and activities.

The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Birth by M. Borg and J.D. Crossan 232.92BOR

Basing their interpretations on the two Nativity narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Borg and Crossan give readers a fresh, deep understanding of the Nativity story, enabling us to better appreciate the powerful message of the gospels.

The Christmas Journey by Donna Vaniere 813VAN

The eighty-mile journey of a common carpenter and a simple peasant girl is one of the most powerful stories in history. As books go out of print and stories fade from memory, the journey of Joseph and Mary and her delivery inside a common barn continues to bless and inspire hope in people around the world.

The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth 823.9FOR

Written in 1975 as a Christmas present for his wife, this suspenseful ghost story tells of a RAF pilot flying home from Germany on Christmas Eve. Start a family read-aloud tradition with this exciting novella.

Tracks in the Straw: tales spun from the manger by Ted Loder 813LOD

In a memorable Christmas book full of surprises and wonder, Loder offers 15 nativity stories and fables that bring forth an amazing set of characters, animals, and unexpected visitors who witness, in one way or another, the life-changing mystery of the nativity.

Kneeling in Bethlehem by Ann Weems 811WEE

“Each year the Child is born again. Each year some new heart finally hears finally sees finally knows love. And in heaven there is great rejoicing!...

Available in both book and DVD format.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson FICROB

The Herdmans, terrors of the town, take over the annual Christmas Pageant with surprising results, for both the town and the Herdmans.

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