ANNOUNCEMENTS

 Upcoming Worship Services 

December 10th – Advent 2 

December 17th – Advent 3, Children’s Pageant 

December 24th – 10:00am Worship Service 

December 24th – 6:00pm (Family Service) 

December 24th – 8:00pm 

December 24th – 11:00pm (Holy Communion) 

December 31th – no service at Glen Cairn United 

December 31th – Bells Corners United Church 10:00am (will be live streamed, link will be provided) 

Songs for a Winter’s Night – Sunday, December 3rd 7pm 

The GCUC choirs will present Songs for a Winter’s Night. No tickets needed - a free will offering will be gratefully accepted with proceeds to the Kanata Food Cupboard. Any questions, talk to Scott and he will be happy to answer. 

Today is the last day to order some special Gift Cards in order to receive them by Dec 12th! 

Are you looking at your list and can't think of the perfect gift for your family or friends? How about a gift card for their favourite restaurant? What about a gift card so that they can fill up their gas tank? It's that time again, you're busy making cookies and still need to get 'Gifts' off your To-Do list. Here's the solution that also supports the church. You can order Gift Cards, and depending on the retailer, the church receives anywhere from 2% to sometimes 5% of your purchases. 

So please get in touch with Sharron Ladouceur, giftcards@gcuc.ca , and place your order. Orders received by December 2nd, will be available on Dec 12th for distribution. You can pay be etransfer, cheque or cash. Please speak to Sharron, for more information. 

Supporting UCW-Extended 

 Christmas Pudding – Yum Yum! 

Delma Murray is selling Christmas Pudding – packages of 4 slices for $15. Please place your order by calling Delma. The pudding will be ready for your enjoyment in December. Your Taste Buds will love this! 

Faye Adams is pickling beets, $10 a jar. Please place your order by calling Faye and arrange with her for pickup or delivery. 

Exact change or cheques made out to Glen Cairn UCW please. Orders received until November 24th. 

 Christmas Cookie Walk – Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you! The 2023 Version of the 31st Annual Christmas Cookie Walk was very successful due to the many donations of Christmas Cookies, the many volunteer hours of planning, advertising, setting up and taking down of tables, accepting, packaging, and distributing Christmas cookies. Thank you so much to the planning team of Martha, Heather, Susan, and Anne, the order form set-up and appearance on the website by Wayne and Sarah, poster design from Suzanne, our counting money team of Marilyn and Sharron, and the many, many volunteers who helped on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and especially Saturday out in the chilly weather. Thank you to the community for buying cookies. We have raised over $5,000 (and still counting) for our church’s operating fund! 

GCUC a big hit at the Kanata Santa Claus Parade – again! 

Last Saturday, after a three-year hiatus, Santa's Elves Anne McEwen and Emmett Will were thrilled to revive an annual Christmas tradition that they initiated at Anne's suggestion in 2009. On a gorgeous morning, a hard-working team of GCUC elves offered the hundreds of Santa Claus parade watchers free hot drinks and cookies, and, new this year, a chance to win a box of homemade Christmas cookies, courtesy of the Cookie Walk team headed by Martha Townshend Colford. Among the two dozen busy helpers there were cookie baking elves, kitchen elves, elves handing out contest forms, elves serving drinks and cookies, construction and clean-up elves ... so many elves Santa must have felt right at home when he passed by! Emmett and Anne wish to thank everyone who helped to make Saturday’s community outreach a great success, with a special thanks directed southwards to Barbara Taylor for her generous donation towards the purchase of the disposable hot drink cups. The $215 freewill offering that we collected has been donated to the Kanata Food Cupboard. 

Church Council Volunteer Opportunities 

If you would be willing to help with the administration of your church by serving on Church Council, please contact Gregory Howes (council@gcuc.ca) or Rev. Elaine (elaine.beattie@gcuc.ca) to get more information. The following positions are available on the Church Council for next year: 

• • Chair of Membership 

• • Chair of Property Management 

• • Treasurer 

Thank you for your consideration. 

COMMUNITY, COFFEE, AND CHAT – FRIDAYS AT 10.00AM  IN THE LOUNGE  

Join us for Friday morning Community, Coffee and Chat at 10am in the lounge. Sue Swiggum and Noël LaTour are looking forward to welcoming you for fellowship and fun. Should you wish to bring some snacks to share, any leftover will be contributed to our after-Service fellowship time. Please invite friends and family for these get togethers. 

I’ll NOT be Home for Christmas 

Many international students from Algonquin College will not be returning home for Christmas and would welcome not only a dinner but the social interaction with Canadian families. If you are interested, please contact Yuriy Derkach, Chaplain Spiritual Centre, at Algonquin College at derkacy@algonquincollege.com. 

November/December Outreach - Smiles for Seniors 

Glen Cairn United Church will once again be supporting Christmas Smiles for Seniors. 

The Smiles for Seniors program works with seniors residences and communities in the Ottawa area serving all those who are receiving assistance from the City of Ottawa. The City of Ottawa seniors residences also house adults with disabilities, who are included in the program. This year we are happy to continue to support Carleton Lodge. 

Thank you to those who have adopted a senior. ALL SENIORS HAVE NOW BEEN ADOPTED. 

Wrapped and labelled gifts must be dropped off in the Outreach Bin by Sunday December 17th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Holly Egan or Cathy Turner. 

Family Stories to share in the GCUC Newsletter 

The GCUC Christmas/Advent/Winter newsletter will be coming out in the middle of December. Does anyone have a family story to tell in the newsletter? Newsletter family stories are not private things like phone numbers and contact information, just stories about our families that people might find interesting - photos are fine, too! Laura, Keith and David Sherwin have each done one; who's next? Email to keithfa@gmail.com for more information. 

PASTORAL CARE TEAM

Reach out and connect in Christ’s name

 Members of the Pastoral Care Team continue to offer their care and spiritual compassion to those who request them on a confidential basis. We can now have visits within the protocols for COVID 19 and can also connect by phone, email, cards, and through prayers. 

Our contact person for November is Brenda Carr.  

And for December it is Cindy Hannah Or, you can call our confidential number (613-435-4500) and leave a message which will be returned promptly. 

HEALING PATHWAY IN-PERSON SESSIONS 

 Healing Pathway regular schedule is on  Mondays 10 am to 2pm and 7-8 pm. To book an appointment, contact Nancy at healingpathwaygcuc@gmail.com. If these times are not suitable, we are available for other times and locations. Just contact Nancy for other options and to set up a personalized appointment. 

EARTHUB 

Thank you everyone for your amazing support of the Earthub collections in our church. The list of items that can be dropped off are on the bins outside of the parking lot doors as well as on the bulletin board in the hallway. Please note that we ask that the pill bottles be clean and the labels removed of any personal information. Also, we accept pill bottles only and not specimen bottles. We have some great news......we are now accepting milk bags!! Please ensure that the bags are clean and are not torn. You can put them in the bin along with the other items. Thanks again for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Anne McEwen or visit the Earthub Ottawa Chapter Facebook page. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Book Club – Next meeting: Tuesday, December 12th at 7:00pm via Zoom 

December’s meeting will be held on Tuesday the 12th at 7pm via Zoom. This meeting will discuss the book “Learned by Heart” by Emma Donaghue. 

In the new year, the first meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 9th via Zoom and will discuss the book Mornings in Jenin by Susan Albulhawa. This book is very timely as the war rages between Hamas and Isreal. This is a Palestinian story, told as never before, through four generations of a single family. The story will help you have a fresh look at one of the defining political conflicts of our lifetime 

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY 7PM-8PM december 6th

Next Wednesday, December 6th, will be our last Bible Study session until early January 2024. And so, our final session this year will be on Ephesians Chapter 6, which will bring us to the end of this excellent letter. Lots of practical and solid advice for all people, eras and times. If only we would do what we are supposed to do, sigh….. still a wonderful chapter to end this letter. All are welcome so join us by Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 7.00-8.00pm 

Join us on Wednesday evenings , by zoom, from 7.00-8.00 and help us understand these words.  If you email me Kevin McComas  I will send you the zoom link and join in the enjoyment of reading and discussing scripture together. 

THURSDAY DAYTIME BIBLE STUDY 10AM-12PM 

The daytime Bible Study will take place on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. for two hours at the Nadelle residence. Led by Johan van Zyl de Jong, we will be studying Paul. Johan has a vast knowledge of religion which he willingly shares with us. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Johan.   All are welcome! 

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Updated December 2  2023

Southminster United Christmas Fair - Saturday, December 2, 10 am - 1:30 pm. 

Home baking, crafts and more! Online Auction - 9 am, November 27 through to 7 pm, Dec 3. Crafts, collectibles, gift certificates, art and more! See poster in hallway for link. Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Ave 

Just Gifts Christmas Market 

- Online orders November 10-25. Order pick-up and in-person shopping December 2, 10am-1pm. Euconlinemarket.ca 

Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Rd. 

Vendor Extravaganza and Bake Sale - Saturday, December 2nD 9:30am-2:30pm. 

Kanata Legion, 70 Hines Road 

Free admission, 30 local vendors, bring your own bags. Consider bringing a non-perishable food items for he Kanata Food Cupboard. 

Cantiamo Women's Choirs of Ottawa Welcome Yule Concert - Saturday, December 2nd at 7pm. 

Woodroffe United Church, 207 Woodroffe Ave 

Tickets may be purchased at www.cantiamo.ca Please see bulletin board for flyer. 

Christmas Dinner and Dance - Saturday, December 9th. Reception 5pm, dinner 6pm. 

Kanata Legion, 70 Hines Road 

Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Music by singing artist, Ann Miner. $30/person. To avoid disappointment, reserve early by calling 613-831-8319 or email lmlapensee@sympatico.ca before December 2. 

Wrap It Up Holiday Market -Saturday, December 16th 10am - 2pm. 

Bells Corners United Church, 3955 Old Richmond Rd. 

Forty vendors - artisans, crafters, re-sellers and makers plus a silent auction. Contact Wendy Morrell if you are interested in a vendor table 

Journey to Bethlehem - the musical. 

This Christmas, join us in celebrating this unique rendition of the birth of our Saviour. Experience the Nativity story like never before. AFFIRM Films introduces Journey to Bethlehem: The Musical. This isn't just another retelling; it’s a harmonious blend of time-honoured Christmas melodies, modern pop hits, and heartwarming humour. Witness Mary's courage, Joseph's internal struggle of love and duty, and a King's unyielding quest for power, all underpinned by faith. Designed for audiences of all ages, this live-action musical promises to be both a touching and entertaining addition to holiday classics. Opens in theatres November 10th. Check local listings for show times. 

NEWSLETTERS