MINISTER’S MESSAGE
Rev. Steve Gillam
Merry (almost) Christmas! This weekend we move into the final preparations for this sacred season. I hope part of your preparations will include joining us on Sunday as we share the special story and welcome light and love into our world.
You probably have lots of other traditions that make this Christmastime special for you and your family. Singing carols, making gingerbread houses, drinking cocoa and eggnog, or finding a fruitcake in your pantry and trying to remember who gave it to you last Christmas. One of my favourite things to do is watch Christmas movies. From childhood favourites like Frosty and Charlie Brown, to the fun-filled ones like Home Alone, or feel-good flicks like Three Wise Men and a Baby, to the classics: A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. I was thinking this week about the recurring theme in almost all of these movies… whether they deal directly with Christmas, or just happen to be set during the holiday season.
Most of these movies address our need for transformation. Whether it’s Scrooge changing from stealing everyone’s happiness to being a man who keeps Christmas well all year round, or the Grinch discovering that stealing the Who’s gifts and decorations won’t stop them from welcoming Christmas with singing, we delight in watching their transformation. How about young Kevin changing his perception of his old neighbour, or Clark’s miserly boss having a change of heart, or George Bailey rediscovering lost hope. Their transformation gives us hope. If they can do it, then so can we.
Even the rom-coms address the power of transformation as characters change after misunderstandings, or alter their perceptions of others, allow hope back into their lives, or heal from old grudges. There is something, even in the secular celebrations of this holy season, that let us know that light, love, healing, and possibility are gifts available to all of us. Something that let’s us know that transformation is possible. We might not be full-on curmudgeons like Scrooge or the Grinch, but we may be in need of a bit of Christmas change.
Every once in a while we hear the sentiment “why can’t it be Christmas all year?” That doesn’t refer to the presents and food and decorations, but to our deepest desire to live love and kindness and hope every day. It is the prayer that goodness and caring could be our way of life all year long.
This Christmas I pray for that gift for each one of us. The gift of transformation that frees us to live everything that is important to us in this holiday season. To live each day mindful of the needs of those around us, free from past regrets, open to possibilities for love and peace. To embrace the knowledge of Emmanuel.
“Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!” (Romans 15:13 MSG)
As we come to the end of this year, thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. Thank you for all you do here at LTUC, and all you do through LTUC out in our communities. May God bless you and yours with the joy and peace of Christmas.
With love,
Rev. Steve
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24:
11:00 A.M.
ADVENT IV
Advent Wreath and Candle Lighting: Love
Candle Lighting Song: VU#6 “A Candle is Burning” Verse 4
Hymn: VU#64 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Reading: John 1:1-9
Offering and Sung Dedication: MV#55 “In the Bleak Midwinter” Verse 4
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Consecration and The Lord’s Prayer. (sung 959)
Sharing of the Bread and The Cup
Hymn: VU#68 ”All Poor Ones and Humble”
7:00 P.M.
CHRISTMAS EVE
A service of readings and Carols on this Holy Night.
Both services will be livestreamed via Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
Meeting ID: 719 779 7321, Passcode: 442730
Or by phone at: 438-809-7799
You may view the service from December 17th at: https://youtu.be/FCteKY6ewuc
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THE MITTEN TREE
Thanks to all who covered our mitten tree in warm winter knits. And thanks to Rod and Lyne Troy for delivering them to Saint Columba House. Lyne says:
“Rod and I were so thrilled to see ALL the donations on and around the ‘Mitten Tree’. We are headed to Saint Columba House to deliver this wonderful load. So many hand knit items; there have been busy hands out there. So grateful for the efforts and the support and how proud we should all be!”
COMING UP
December 31, 2023 10:30 a.m. at Roxboro United (116 Rue Cartier, Roxboro, QC H8Y 1G8). We worship together with the West Island Cluster. There will be no service that day at Lakeshore Trinity.
Wednesday Morning Zoom Coffee will be back online on Wednesday, January 3rd at 10:00 a.m. To join in: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
The church office will be closed after Friday, December 22, until Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024.
The Balcony Boutique is taking a break over the holidays. It will be back on Saturday, January 13, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO OUR STAFF
To our faithful and dedicated staff at Lakeshore Trinity:
Rev. Steve Gillam
Lisa O’Brien
George Provias
Dr. Gohar Manvelyan
We thank you for all you do, and we wish you all a blessed Christmas.
WE GIVE THANKS
Offerings for 2023 should be submitted by December 31st. The church office will be closed for the week after Christmas, but cheques may still be dropped in the mail slot. Our Treasurer, Janet Hood-Morier, will collect them on the afternoon of December 31st.
The email address for e-transfer is: ltuc98givings@gmail.com. Please include your envelope number and indicate how you wish to have your offering divided. If not indicated, it will be designated as local offering.
Cheques should be made payable to Lakeshore Trinity United Church. They may be dropped in the mail slot at the church or sent by regular mail if you are not attending church in person.
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Rev. Steve Gillam can be reached by phone or text at 514-235-9383 or by email at macduffsdad@hotmail.com.
Lakeshore Trinity United Church
98 Aurora Ave. Pointe-Claire, QC, H9R 3G7
514-697-6459
The church office is open Tuesday to Friday mornings from 9 AM to noon.
email: lakeshoretrinityunited@gmail.com
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeshore-Trinity-United-Church-101331995747334
