OUR SERVICES
Rev. Kevin Taylor will be leading our service this week.   The service is available via Livestream beginning at 9am Sunday morning and archived for viewing anytime.  As a special treat this Sunday, the second song from the Marshall Chancel Choir will be "Prayer for Emmanuel" from "The Seven Noels" by Pepper Choplin which they will be presenting on December 13th as part of their annual Christmas Cantata.   

Children's Sunday School will happen via ZOOM: 10am for Little Zoomies (ages 4-7) and 10:35am for Big Zoomers (ages 8+). Just text your e-mail and time preference to Heather at 905-978-7610. 

You can also watch our services directly from YouTube.  After entering YouTube, search for our channel, Marshall Memorial United Church and click "Subscribe" once (free of charge) so the site is added to your YouTube for easy retrieval.

UPCOMING CHOIR EVENTS
The Marshall Memorial United Church Chancel Choir will be presenting "The Seven Noels" by Pepper Choplin on Sunday, December 13th at 3pm. The Seven Noels will lead all of us through the Christmas story, using the tune of one of our favourite Carols.

On Christmas Eve the Choir will be presenting 9 Lessons and Carols at 10pm.

Both will be available through Livestream and on YouTube.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

PRINTED NEWSLETTER
Do you know anyone that isn't getting the electronic version of the newsletter and would like to receive a printed monthly newsletter?  Please contact the office at [email protected] to let us know if there is anyone that we should add to our list so that we can stay connected to all of our members!

THANK YOU
During these difficult times, it is sometimes the little things that make a huge difference, even if we don't think they will.  A quick call, note or email can really brighten someone's day.  Recently I received a call in to the office.  As Rev. Kevin had encouraged the congregation to get in touch with others in the community, a congregant got in touch to see how I was doing, it made my day.  Flowers had been shared with a couple of our members at Highgate and they wanted to say a huge thank you , it made their day and made them feel part of our Marshall community even as we worship together, but still apart.

WHITE GIFT SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 29
As we enter Advent, we look forward to presenting our White Gifts that go to support the disadvantaged in our community. Two types of White Gifts are received - gifts of goods and financial gifts. But how are we going to give when we can't be together? Here is our plan:

1.  Gifts of Goods
This year we would appreciate:

*canned goods including meat, vegetables and fruit
*hygiene products for men and women
*new Socks, mitts, underwear for men, women and children
Please, bring the items to the GILBERT STREET PARKING LOT on Nov. 28 or 29. There will be boxes or baskets outside the kitchen door from 9 am till noon, both days, to collect your donations of goods. Thank you so much for your generous support!
 

2.  Financial Gifts

 Even though we are not together, we hope that you will still be generous in remembering others with your White Gift donation. You can donate by:
 
*Cheque mailed to the church with the comment "White Gift"
*E-Transfer from your bank account to [email protected]
*The donate button on our website mmuc.org or directly at Canada Helps. On the fund line scroll down to '5, White Gift Fund's
 
Donations are gathered together and distributed between Wesley Urban Ministries, Living Rock, and Ancaster Community Services. Let's make sure we are able to support them well this year. Please send monetary donations before December 15 to be included in time for Christmas

SUNDAY SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
Greetings from Sunday School!
Normally at this time of year, the children of Marshall Memorial are very busily preparing for their yearly Christmas Bazaar. The bazaar raises money for a foster child from the Philippines, Jenny Mae, who we have been helping to support for many years. The money we raise helps send Jenny Mae to school and supports projects in her community that benefit a much larger group. This year we are sad that we can't hold our bazaar and we don't want to see our support to Jenny Mae end. We are asking for your help. If you are able, we would be very thankful to receive donations to be used entirely for Jenny Mae's support. If you can help with any amount please send your donation by cheque or e-transfer clearly marked Jenny Mae.  Thank you so much for your continuing support of Jenny Mae and our Sunday School initiatives!

CHOCOLATE BARK
Outreach is once again selling chocolate bark for the Christmas season. There will be three choices for your eating and giving pleasure:

1) dark chocolate with almonds
2) milk chocolate with almonds
3) mixed chocolate with a variety of almond pieces,  peppermint pieces, toffee pieces --a variety that will surprise and delight

Each bag will cost $6.50 . Orders will be accepted until December 6th.
Call Linda at 905 648 1671 or text me at 905 929 0378 or email me at [email protected] 

Pick up your orders from the GILBERT STREET parking lot, HALL KITCHEN DOOR  on Friday, December 11th from 4 pm till 5:00 pm or On Saturday,  December 12th from 10:30 am till 12 noon.   (Delivery in the afternoon of Sat. Dec. 12 for those unable to get to the church)

Payment is with a cheque made out to Marshall Memorial United Church or with exact change. THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!

PRAYER GROUP
New Day:  Join us for Prayer Group Tuesday afternoons at 1pm in the Gathering Place or via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89755673961.  New Members are welcome!  Please contact Patty Cheshire ([email protected]) if you would like to join them or have a prayer request.

PHOTO DIRECTORY
Thank you to all those who participated in the photo-directory! We will be in the process of getting the book together now and hope to have it available for distribution in early 2021.

For those who would still like to be a part of the directory but didn't sit for a picture,  please email me a photo with your name, email and/or phone # as well as your mailing address to [email protected].  There is a charge of $15. Please drop off or mail a cheque made out to IPC Canada  to the church with Photodirectory listed on the bottom. 

We will be selling advertising for the Photo-directory starting at $150 for a business card size spot, $300 for a quarter page, $600 for a half page and $1200 for a full page ad.  If you are interested or know someone who might be interested in this advertising opportunity, please email Kerry at [email protected]. The ad will last a minimum of 3 years.

Thank you!
Your Planning and Communications Committee

CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT
Advent Bible Study
Join Judy VanDuzer on Zoom at 1 pm on Wednesdays for our Advent study, Christ in the Carols. Each week we will be looking at a different Advent or Christmas song, learning about its history, scriptural references and theology. Here is the link to the meeting:


If you are unable to attend the group, here is the material for you to follow along with at home.
  
Bible Study with Rev. Kevin - Join Rev. Kevin on Zoom each Wednesday evening at 7 pm to reflect together on the Lectionary readings for the week. Here is the link to the meeting:


Daily Read and Reflect:  Included with this newsletter is a calendar of daily Scripture readings for the month of December. These are the readings that Rev. Kevin will be using in worship each Sunday. We have scheduled them so that we are reading ahead of the Sunday service, so you will have some time to read and reflect on the passages before worship each week.

Spiritual Practice for December: Advent Candles:  Also included with this newsletter are prayers to accompany the lighting of your Advent Candles at home, if this is a spiritual practice that you participate in. If you do not light special candles, you can still use the Advent prayers as part of your regular devotional times.

Journey to Bethlehem:  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we will not be hosting our popular live event for families this year. However, we have sent out some activities for families that have attended in the past so that they can focus each week on a different part of the Christmas story. This includes instructions for making their own set of Nativity characters, Bible readings, and questions to start family discussion. If you know of a family that you think might be interested in participating in these Advent and Epiphany activities, please provide us with their contact information (phone number and email address if possible), and we will provide them with the materials.
 
We've attached the three pdf documents needed for this virtual Journey to Bethlehem:  Waiting and Wondering, Stand up Nativity Characters and Journey to Bethlehem Nativity. Please feel free to forward them to anyone you think may be interested.
  

REV. TAYLOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION
You can reach Rev. Kevin at 905-979-1751 or by email.  Please call first before coming to the church. 

FROM THE OFFICE
The church office is open Monday-Friday 9-noon.  Send me, Henrietta, an email or call (905.648.4631).  
You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the Marshall Memorial United Church Newsletter. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!

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