This Week in First Church:

– Sunday, following the service – Choir practice

– Wednesday 1:30 WMS will meet.  Please bring your copy of the Nov./Dec. Glad Tidings.  We’ll be using the Christmas Worship Service.

– Thursday, 1:30 p.m. – Prayer Time

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 9 December – Hanging-of-the-Greens service

– Saturday, 15 December, 7:00 p.m. – Hymn Sing

– Sunday, 16 December – Communion Sunday

– Monday, 17 December, 7:30 p.m. – Service of Remembrance and Hope, at St. Mary’s Anglican Church

– Monday, 24 December, 7:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve service

December 2 is Anniversary Sunday.  2018 marks the following anniversaries:

– the 156th anniversary of the first Presbyterian worship service held in Portage la Prairie (1862)

– the 145th anniversary of the establishing of the original Presbyterian congregation in Portage la Prairie, called Knox Presbyterian Church (1873)

– the 93rd anniversary of the establishing of our current congregation, when the congregation of Knox Church opted to become part of the new United Church of Canada (1925)

– the 91st anniversary of the construction of our current building, which was completed in December of 1927

– the 31st anniversary of the construction of the addition to our building that comprises the south entrance, kitchen, washrooms, and classroom (1987)

The Christian Year – December 2 is the first Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for the festival of Christmas.  Advent is about preparing for God’s coming into the world in Jesus Christ.  We remember how God prepared the people of Israel for Jesus’ first coming through the words of the prophets, and how God revealed to Joseph and Mary that they would serve as Jesus’ earthly parents.  We recall how John the Baptist prepared the people of Israel for Jesus’ ministry by “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.  At the same time, we remember that Jesus will come again at the end of the age, to establish the kingdom of God in the world in all its fullness — an event that we need to look forward to, and prepare ourselves for.

Advent is a time for us to look toward the future with hope and anticipation.  It’s also a time to take stock of ourselves and renew our commitment to God, by identifying and turning away from sinful attitudes and behaviors.

Advent is the first of the six seasons of the Christian Year.  It always has four Sundays.  The symbolic color for Advent is purple, symbolizing preparation and penitence.

This Week in First Church

– Sunday, following the service – Choir practice

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study – at Gwen’s home

– Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast

– Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – Saturday Evening service (sanctuary)

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 9 December – Hanging-of-the-Greens service

– Sunday, 16 December – Communion Sunday

The Christian Year – Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday of the Season after Pentecost, and the final Sunday of the Christian Year.  A new Christian Year begins a week from today, with the First Sunday of Advent.

The book Preaching Through the Christian Year explains the origins of Christ the King Sunday as follows:  The Feast of Christ the King was instituted by [Pope] Pius XI in 1925 to celebrate the kingship of Christ as a way of combatting the destructive forces of this age.  Originally, it was celebrated on the last Sunday of October, and was seen as a prelude to the celebration of All Saints’ Day.  This was fitting symbolism, because the triumphant Christ was seen to have motivated the [noble deeds of the] saints …  The feast is now celebrated, however, on the last Sunday of the [Christian] year as the climax toward which the celebration of the year moves, and toward which individual Christians orient their own lives.

The Common Lectionary readings for today celebrate, in one way or another, the kingship of Jesus, both in the present age, and especially, in the age to come — we celebrate Jesus’ rule in heaven, and look forward to the day when he will assert his power and authority on earth as well.

The symbolic color for this Sunday is white, signifying joy and celebration.

This Week in First Church:

– Sunday – Deadline for submissions for December Newsletter

– Sunday, following the service – Choir practice

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study – at Gwen’s home

– Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. – Meal-in-a-Bowl Supper

– Thursday, 7:00 p.m. – Session meeting

– Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – Hymn Sing (sanctuary)

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 9 December – Hanging-of-the-Greens service

Soup Kitchen Sunday – Sunday is our sixth annual “Soup Kitchen Sunday”.  We welcome the Soup Kitchen volunteers and supporters who have joined us for today’s service, and we thank them for their support and involvement!  There will be a Church School for the children who are present, starting partway through the service, after Theme Time.  Any visiting children are welcome to go downstairs for Church School at that time.

Partners – We extend a big “thank you” to our many partners, who support and/or participate in the ministry of the Soup Kitchen in a great variety of ways.  They are:

Churches:  Grace Lutheran Church, Langruth; Highway Pentecostal Church; Newton Community Fellowship Church; Prairie Community Church; St. Mary’s Anglican Church; McKenzie United Church; Trinity United Church; and First Presbyterian Church

Hutterite Colonies:  Airport Colony, Aspenheim Colony, Baker Colony, Brantwood Colony, Elm River Colony, and Good Hope Colony

Groups:  Shelly Burton and friends, Farmers’ Market, Lions Club, Youth for Christ, McKenzie United Church Women; Debbi Miles / Wally Kimpton and friends, the Moman family, and Portage Plains United Way

Businesses:  BDO Canada LLP; Brite Smile Dental Clinic; Craig Dunn Motor City; Little Caesar’s Pizza; Meseyton Construction, Ltd.; Portage la Prairie Mutual Insurance Co.; Portage MCC Thrift Shop; Portage Vision Services; Providential Property Management, Inc.; Shewfelt’s Plumbing and Heating; Simplot Canada (II), Ltd.; Southport; Spray Foam Insulation Eco Systems, Ltd.; Stride Credit Union; and Westward Ford

Suppliers:  Portage Co-op, Panko’s, Portage Supermarket, Sobey’s, and Ida Wohlmann

Plus many individual donors and volunteers!

Special thanks to the leadership team of Shelly Burton (coordinator) and Henry Riendeau (treasurer)!

Envelope – A special envelope is inserted in today’s bulletin for anyone who would like to make a donation to the Soup Kitchen.  It can be used anytime.  If you’re donating by cheque, please make it payable to “First Presbyterian Soup Kitchen”.  Official receipts will be issued for donations of $10 and over, in the New Year.

Soup Kitchen Volunteers – Everyone who volunteers in the Soup Kitchen is required by the Leading With Care Policy of our national church to fill out a “Teacher/Leader Form” and to read and sign a “Covenant of Care Form” (two sides of a single sheet of paper).  If you haven’t done so already, please do so as soon as possible.  Forms are available from John Zondag.

Newsletter – Today is the deadline for submissions for the December issue of the Newsletter.  Please give or e-mail them to Lisa Sneesby (bsneesby@mymts.net).

‘WOW’ – Thank you so much for all your help with the Fall Supper.

We appreciate your help – be it with donating food, donating cash, donating your time,

for working & cleanup.

It was a HUGE success!!

We served 117 people – had set for 105 people – had enough food for 100 – 110, ran out of turkey & potatoes.  Had to setup table space in Board room – had to turn away 8+ people!

This is the way we like to see things – full to capacity! Overflowing! Running out of food (but only after everyone has been fed)!!  We figure we raised approximately $1500.00.  Way to go!!

Thanks again to all for your help!

Lisa Sneesby & Mardine Garnham

Reminder – There will be no service at our church on November 11.  Instead, we encourage everyone to attend the community Remembrance Day service at Stride Place, at 10:30 a.m., since today is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War.

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study – at Gwen’s home

– Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. – Finance & Maintenance Committee meeting

– Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 18 November – Soup Kitchen Sunday

– Sunday, 18 November – Deadline for submissions for December Newsletter

– Wednesday, 21 November, 5:00 p.m. – Meal-in-a-Bowl Dinner

– Saturday, 24 November, 7:00 p.m. – Hymn Sing (sanctuary)

– Sunday, 9 December – Hanging-of-the-Greens service

Next Sunday (the 18th), will be our annual Soup Kitchen Sunday, on which we celebrate the ministry of the Soup Kitchen, and express our appreciation to all its supporters — volunteers as well as donors.

This Week in First Church:

– Sunday Nov. 4, following the service – Choir practice

– Sunday Nov. 4.  5:00 p.m. – Fall Supper

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study – at Gwen’s home

– Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. – Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) meeting – at the church

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 11 November, 10:30 a.m. – Community Remembrance Day service

– Sunday, 18 November – Soup Kitchen Sunday

– Sunday, 18 November – Deadline for submissions for December Newsletter

Commissioning – In today’s service, we will be commissioning Charlie Clifford, who is joining Terry Rempel as one of our Lay Pastoral Visitors.  Like Terry, Charlie will be doing pastoral visiting in the congregation.  Terry was commissioned to this ministry nearly five years ago — on the 8th of December, 2013.

Remembrance Day – Since next Sunday (the 11th) is Remembrance Day, and since it will be the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War, the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is inviting all churches in town to participate in the community Remembrance Day service, at Stride Place, at 10:30 a.m.  The Session has accepted the invitation, so our own service will be cancelled that day, and everyone is encouraged to attend the community service at Stride Place.

Men’s Breakfast – Due to a scheduling conflict, there will be no Men’s Breakfast this coming Saturday (the 10th); it will be held on the 17th, instead — at 9:00 a.m., in the Church Hall, as usual.

Soup Kitchen Volunteers – Everyone who volunteers in the Soup Kitchen is required by the Leading With Care Policy of our national church to fill out a “Teacher/Leader Form” and to read and sign a “Covenant of Care Form” (two sides of a single sheet of paper).  If you haven’t done so already, please do so as soon as possible.  Forms are available from John Zondag.