THOUGHTS & PRAYERS - ANNOUNCEMENTS - EVENTS
PRAYERS FOR SUPPORT

We ask that you keep Judy VanDuzer and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she continues her battle with cancer.
Please join us for the Third Sunday of Advent
this Sunday at 10am
Prior to attending, please go through the attached screening. If you or anyone attending with you answers yes to any of the questions, please do not attend.

In order to ensure that you are on the list of attendees, please register before Friday, December 10, 2021 at noon.

YOU MUST REGISTER EACH SUNDAY AND REVIEW THE COVID SCREENING BEFORE ATTENDING
The service will also be broadcast on our YouTube channel,
Hit "subscribe" (free of charge) to easily find us weekly.
The service is archived for viewing anytime.
White Gift
Thank you so much for your generosity in donating your White Gifts of Goods. Deliveries to Wesley, Living Rock and Ancaster Community Services have been made and they so appreciate your kindness. Monetary White Gifts can continue to be sent in until December 15. Thank you all! 
Together we can Walk in God's Way and Serve in God's World. 

 FINANCIAL GIFTS can be placed in special envelopes found on the table as you enter the church and then placed in the offering plate as you leave the sanctuary. However, if you are not able to come to church or you would like a more hands-free method of giving, please consider: 
  • Cheque mailed to the church with the comment “White Gift”
  • Etransfer from your bank account to marshallmemorial@gmail.com with "White Gift" in the message
  • The donate button on our website mmuc.org or directly at Canada Helps. Scroll down on the fund line to #5. White Gift Fund
FROM THE BOARD

At our recent November Board meeting the following decisions were made concerning our upcoming Christmas Eve services.

We are requesting that if you are planning on attending the 7:00 o'clock Family Service or the 10:00 o'clock Lessons and Carols service that you register the names and contact information of all family members and friends who are planning on attending each service. You can register between December 6-17th either by using the buttons below or calling Henrietta.
We are making this request for several reasons. We expect that there will be an increase in the number of people wanting to attend these services and therefore the seating capacity will be capped at 130 people.

After considerable discussion the Board members have decided that we will not be putting a vaccine mandate into effect at this time.
We realize that many people have the technology skills to send proof of their vaccine status via email but not all of our members are able to do this. 
We do not want to ask people who don't have access to a computer to line up in the cold in order for us to verify their vaccine status. This would be very time consuming and labour intensive.
We will still have all of our safety protocols in place on Christmas Eve including using ushers to escort people to their seats. Both services will be livestreamed.
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT
Need something to help you get into the Christmas spirit? Marshall's amazing Choir, under the direction of Music Director, Frank Pierce, will send your spirits soaring with their 2021 Christmas Cantata, "Darkness Into Light, a Christmas Musical Journey".
AV Engineer, Erin Bree Pierce, has taped, filmed, sound-mixed and edited the Choir to produce this on-line extravaganza for our viewing pleasure via Marshall's YouTube channel commencing on Sunday Dec. 12 at 12:00pm. Gather your friends and family with eggnog in hand to watch the concert on your smart TV, computer or IPad and you'll be fa-la-la-ing in no time.  Click on the following link to access the concert or click on the YouTube link at the bottom of the home page on our Marshall website,  mmuc.org.
CHOCOLATE BARK FOR CHRISTMAS
Pick-up dates are Saturday, December 11 from 11 a.m. to noon in the hall kitchen or after church on the 12th.
Thank you for your support of our fundraiser . The money raised will be donated to Ancaster Community Services, Living Rock and Ancaster Community Services to support the folk who are in need in our community! Thank you so much!!
INVITATION TO TAKE PART IN THE CHRISTMAS EVE 7 p.m. SERVICE

It is the season of planning and scheming, creating and working in secret, all in preparation for Christmas. This is an invitation to put those same energies to work in preparing for our Marshall Memorial Christmas Eve 7 p.m. family service.
On Christmas Eve we gather to hear the ancient story of the birth of Jesus. You will remember past Christmas Eve services where there was a pageant with various people, young and old, being the players. This year will be something like that, but far less predictable, for the arrival of each character will have an element of surprise.
This is where you come in: I am looking for individuals or families who would be willing to create, assemble, make or somehow fashion a character for the Christmas Story. It could be made from fabric or wire, paper mâché or ceramics, metal or glass, wood or stones, paint and markers, or any other material that comes to mind. (I expect many will have a combination of materials.) It could be three-dimensional or two-dimensional (such as a drawing or painting). It may be large or it may be small. Contrasting proportions will be one of the visual surprises of the evening.
So here is the plan: If you are interested, email me at keithhagerman@gmail.com by Thursday, December 9, with the subject line “Christmas Eve drama,” telling me that you are interested.
·       I will then put names in a hat, and draw them out to match with all of the needed characters. There will be Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, magi, sheep, camels (and perhaps other animals too). How many characters there are will depend on how many people volunteer.
·       I will let you know by Sunday, December 12, which character you are responsible for, and you will go off to imagine and create. There will be a veil of secrecy surrounding this whole process, with no one knowing who has which character, or how that particular character will look.
·       Then, on Christmas Eve, you will be given a script indicating when you come to the front and place your character around the manger as the story is told. For all of us, there will be an atmosphere of intense anticipation, wondering what will happen next, what characters will emerge, and who will be involved.
So, together, we will create the Christmas story. Get your thinking caps on and prepare to be delighted!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
~Rev. Keith Hagerman
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are seeking members to fill some important positions on the Marshall Board for 2022. If you are interested in being part of our future planning and development, we ask you to prayerfully consider one of the following openings:
Just click on the opening and it will provide you with an outline of what each position does.
For questions or clarification, please contact any member of the Nominations Committee (Charlotte Stewart stewchar01@gmail.com), Leah Abbey (leahabbey@hotmail.com), Kerry Radigan (radigankerry@gmail.com)
PRAYER GROUP
The prayer group will begin meeting via Zoom starting this Tuesday at 1pm. Contact Patty Chesire if you would like to join our group at 905-389-6373 or email at cheshire.patty@gmail.com
REV. HAGERMAN'S CONTACT INFORMATION
You can reach Rev. Keith at 519-504-9880 or by email (keithhagerman@gmail.com). Please call first before coming to the church. 

FROM THE OFFICE
Office hours are Monday - Friday from 9-12.
If you need to contact me please call 905-648-4631 or email me at marshallmemorial@gmail.com