Minister Rev Robert McDowell

Accompanist/ Choir Director Joyce Andrews

Office Administration Jennifer Chiasson

Oromocto United Church

144 Winnebago

Oromocto

oromoctopinegroveunitedchurch.ca

Marking the end of the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Decade to Overcome

Violence, over 1,000 people attended a convocation in 2011 in Jamaica. Thanks to Mis-

sion and Service, the United Church was there.

Glory to God and peace on Earth form a common dream and prayer in Christian liturgy.

“Yet in addition to dreams and declarations of peace,” says the general secretary of the

World Council of Churches, “we must do everything in our power to promote justice and

peaceful cooperation among peoples and nations.”

Peace builders from around the world travelled to Jamaica to declare peace as a gift and

responsibility. The conference celebrated achievements of the decade and encouraged

individuals and churches to renew their commitment to nonviolence, peace, and justice.

Conference participants were unified in the hope that war should become illegal and

peace central in all religious traditions. “Our journey must continue,” said the conference

moderator. “We shall hold each other accountable. The church is either accepting the call

to just peace or it is not the church at all.”

A delegation from The United Church of Canada attended the convocation and shared

stories of peace building in Canada and contributed to the development of the Ecumeni-

cal Declaration on Just Peace.

Through Mission and Service, we work with others to bring peace to the world. Your gifts

to Mission and Service make it possible for the United Church to

participate in ecumenical and interfaith events as partners of the

church in the world.

MINUTE FOR MISSON

Rev Bob McDowell

Office 357-3423; Cell 470-1155; Home 488-2154

Email: mcdowell@nb.sympatico.ca

N o v e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2

7 : 0 0 P M

We welcome everyone to this time together in worship. We gather in this church in

the belief that we are all equally God’s guests whether we’ve been here all our lives

or this is our first time. We welcome everyone in this spirit of Christ as it is our belief

that this is how we are to live. Everyone, without exception, belongs equally at

God’s table.

If you are visiting with us please sign our guest book opposite the usher’s table. If

you are new with us and wish a follow up contact please fill out a ‘Guest/New

Member Card which can be found with the guest book. As well you may pick up an

orientation package on the table in the entrance. We invite visitors from other

churches to pick up one of our Peace Candles to take home with you. An

explanation of this symbol accompanies each candle and these can be found on the

usher’s table.

*While we stand for most hymns and at others times in our worship, please feel free

not to if for any reasons you can not or would rather not. VU stands for Voices

United and MV for More Voices. You are also invited to pick up a Bible version of

your choice at usher’s desk. Should you have any concerns please speak to an usher.

VU: Voices United – our hard cover red hymn book

MV: More Voices – our soft covered hymn book

O r d e r o f W o r s h i p f o r

P I N E G R O V E U N I T E D

C H U R C H

S E R V I C E

Welcome and About Today:

Hymn to Begin: VU 437, The Day You Gave Us God Is Ended

Lighting the Resurrection Candle:

Leader: God, we come to worship on this evening remembering…

All: remembering our Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us…

Leader: remembering those who laid down their lives for us, in wars that

have plagued this planet…

All: remembering that you have been with us through all our days, good

or bad.

Leader: We come together in this act of worship and Remembrance today

as one who wants to bring peace into our world.

All: In Jesus Christ you hold up before us the power and the spirit of love.

Leader: In this time together move through our memories and be part of

them, bringing into stark realism the lessons that our conflicts hold for us.

All: May our worship bring us closer to that day, when your purpose and

dream of peace, is truly caught up in the life of our world.

Leader: We light our candle and dedicate to our remembrance of all that

we have experienced of war and our hope for peace. Amen

Our Prayer for This Evening

*Our Hymn to Begin: VU 278, In the Quiet Curve of Evening

Lighting Our Candle of Concern

A n n o u n c e m e n t s

Crete/Athens/ Peloponnese Study Leave Trip. I’m leaving on Christmas Day for a 30 day

study leave and recreational trip to Greece. The focus of the trip will be Crete where I

have friends able to show me around. I’m planning to host a day to day blog that will

record the experiences of the trip. If this sounds like something you would follow let me

know. Interested?

Postings will include a synopsis of my visit to historical and archeological sites, experi-

ences with Greek Orthodox Island worship and Theology; as I’ll be there for the Ortho-

dox Christmas, Jan 6!], recipes, pictures and more.

The plan is as follows. I go first to Chania [pronounced Han-YA], an ancient walled city on

Crete. I’ll stay about a week in a modernized apartment built in a 600 year old Venetian

manor house that overlooks the harbor. Chania is a cross roads of history as this corner

of Crete was strategic in the Mediterranean. Its history includes the Venetians, Otto-

mans, Turks, British and Germans who each tried to control it to their own empirical

ends.

Later, I’ll go to Almyrida [pronounced al-mir-EE-da]in the Apokoronas Region of western

Crete overlooking the Cretan Sea, where I’ll experience village life. From there, I plan to

visit Knossos, centre of the Bronze Age Minoan civilization. For many years it was be-

lieved its mysterious demise possibly was caused by the cataclysmic volcanic explosion

of Santorini [circa 1600 BCE] and that appears to have given rise to the myth of Atlantis.

Apparently this has recently been debunked and I’m interested to learn more.

For my last week I’ll go to Athens to experience the wealth of obvious historical and

archeological treasurers preserved in it. One day I plan to dedicate to the tremendous

naval museums there. Another day will be committed to a private tour to Mycenae

[from where the Trojan war was launched] and the fortress of Tiryns [whose walls rival

the pyramids of Egypt and was home of the Hera cult, Hera: wife of Zeus] on the Pelo-

ponnese.

The other goal of this study leave/vacation is to plan my sabbatical which I wish to use to

learn in a more disciplined way both early and classical Greek history and the compli-

cated interwoven Greek mythology.

So again- if this sounds like something you will follow, I’ll commit to producing it. There

may be an exam at the end [haha]. I would welcome the company on this learning ad-

venture! Rev Bob

Handmade for You from Around the World!

Ten Thousand Villages is coming to St. Mark's United Church! Saint John Self Help

Alumni is hosting a sale of beautiful, fairly-traded gifts benefiting artisans from more

than 30 Developing countries. Ten Thousand Villages is a project of Mennonite Central

Committee, the outreach arm of the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in

North America.

The Festival Sale will be held Friday, November 16th, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and

Saturday, November 17th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at St. Mark's United Church, 50

Dexter Dr., (off Manawagonish Road), Saint John. Admission is free.

The gifts you buy at the Ten Thousand Villages Sales will give the blessings of steady

work, fair wages, and a better life for struggling families around the world. For more

information call Michelle Ruigrok at 672-0468. Your purchase makes a difference!

a n n o u n c e m e n t s

Chinese Lantern Memorial Service. A family in our congregation who recently incurred

a tragedy would like to invite others who may wish to acknowledge their own loss and

grief, to join with them in an outdoor memorial service. The central act of this service

would be the release of Chinese Lanterns accompanied by a reading of names and

prayers. The goal is to have this before the weather turns too cold. Should you be inter-

ested please notify Rev Bob.

Please sign up be a Greeter, Usher, Candle lighter or Scripture Reader. Often the greet-

ers and candle lighters are the same person/family but this is not always. If you are new

greeting is great way to get to get to know folks and for folks to get to know you!

Our Fall Bible Study is looking at the Life of Jesus as portrayed in film. We are conclud-

ing the film Jesus Christ Super Star and continuing with such as Jesus of Nazareth, The

King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Life of Brian, Jesus Revealed etc. The

format will involve the use of film but we will not be necessarily watching the whole of

each movie. At times we will consult Biblical references that pertain to the film. As in

previous years each session will be its own unit so missing a week will not leave a par-

ticipant at a loss or unable to participate. We will be purchasing these movies in DVD

form so members will be able to borrow these and view at home. Should you own any

of these and are willing to loan them we will be most grateful. See rev bob for more

details.

Remembrance Day this year falls on Nov 11. Session decided there will not be any

morning worship on this day so all can go to the cenotaph as usual. Session also de-

cided to use this opportunity to have an evening service at Pine Grove at 7pm.

Parking: We are pleased to have the new parking spaces built in front of the church and

thank the stewards for this work. During the week these are intended for use by anyone

coming to the church. However, on Sundays and special events such as suppers, con-

certs etc, we would like these spaces used by those who may have difficulty getting into

the church from the across street parking.

Casseroles Ministry:[??] The Session is considering an outreach idea for our church

involving the distribution of casseroles to families in the community where some crisis

has occurred. This may be a parent going into the hospital or another form of crisis

where such an outreach may be welcome. The way this would work is that we would

maintain a supply of frozen meals in our freezer. When a name comes to the church

someone would deliver a couple of meals to the family as a gift of concern from us. This

is a meaningful way to be present to the lives of our neighbours as well as a means to

create awareness of our presence in Burton/Oromocto. If you feel this is program you

could support please let Rev Bob, Barb Court, Joanne Bell or Shirley Dubois know.

Christmas is Coming quickly, an annual experience that seems to rush upon us. Please

note the Christmas Dates and mark them in your calendars. The Hanging of the Greens,

the Lintuhtine Cantata, Pageant Sunday are events you’ll not want to miss.

S E R V I C E

Our Invitation to Remembrance

Our Act of Remembrance

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

The Wreath Placed* [silence]

The Act of Remembrance: They shall not grow old as we who are left shall

grow old. Age shall not worry them, nor the years condemn. At the going

down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.

Minute of Silence

Our Hymn: VU 436, Abide With Me

Reading from Christian Scriptures: Mark 13:1-8

A Message for Today

Anthem:

S E R V I C E

*Our Words of Faith, page 918 VU [standing]

*Our Offering Collected & Our Offering Presented: Offering: VU 603 vs 1

In loving partnership we come

Seeking O God, your will to do.

Our prayers and actions now receive,

We freely offer them to you.

Our Prayers of Thanks and Concern and Our Lord’s Prayer,

Our Hymn to Leave With: VU 426, Saviour, Again

*Our Benediction

* Our Choral Benediction VU 423, God Be With You

D a t e s t o n o t e

Choir practice: Wed 7pm

Duffie Unit Singing: Third Wednesday of each month, 2:30 pm

Nov 11: Remembrance NO MORNING WORSHIP. Evening Service at Pine

Grove, 7pm

Nov 12: Bible Study, 7-8:30 pm

Nov 12: Monday, Bible Study 7-8:30 pm

Nov 15: Session, 7pm

Nov 20: OPH Spiritual/Religious Care Com, 12:00

Nov 25: End of Year B, Communion

Nov 25, Church Council, following worship

Nov 26; Monday, Bible Study 7-8:30 pm

Nov 30, Friday, Hanging of the Greens, 5:30 pm, Service 6:30

Dec 1: Lintuhtine Choirs Christmas Concert

Dec 2, Advent 1, Lectionary Year C begins- the year of Luke’s Gospel

Dec 9: Lintuhtine Choirs Christmas Concert

Dec 10: Monday, Last fall Bible Study 7-8:30 pm

Dec 16: Christmas Pageant Sunday and sweets after worship

Dec 24: 6:30 Christmas Eve Family Service, Oromocto

9:00 Christmas Eve Communion, Pine Grove

Dec 25: no service Christmas Day, Merry Christmas!

Dec 30: Carol Service led by Worship Team

Jan 6, 13, 20, Rev Lisa Greenwood guest worship leader

HANGING OF THE GREENS

We hope you will join us Friday, November 30 for our annual family event to begin

the season of advent.

We will begin at 5:30 PM with pizza & make-your own sundaes.

This will be followed by crafts & cookie decorating for the kids & decorating the

sanctuary by those wishing to do that.

The event will close with a short worship service & carol singing in the sanctuary.

We will be finished by 7:00 pm.

To assist in planning this event, please indicate your intention to attend on the sign-

up sheet in the narthex.

Also indicate the sundae topping you can bring.

We will have a donation box to help offset the cost of the pizza.

If you are willing to assist with a kids craft please contact Shirley Dubois(357-6587).

We`re looking forward to seeing you then.