December 2024

Dear Friends in Christ,

The mail is at a standstill, inflation is up, the numbers in need in our community are steadily rising, and many are anxious about the transition of leadership next year in the US.

Where can one look for Christmas cheer with all the anxiety in the air? In the Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent (Luke 21:25-36), we get both the affirmation that anxious times are a reality of life, and an answer on how to rise above them. Jesus instructed his first disciples, and continues to instruct us today, to, “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

I am always drawn to Mary, Mother of God, who was asked to carry the Messiah in her womb, and to bear his life in her body. She also lived in an anxious time, and living out her ‘yes’ was neither simple nor easy. But her faith gave her the courage to lift up her head, and boldly sing out her praises to God of the hope that was alive within her, and that had the power to change the world. We hear this in the glorious hymn known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Mary still had to pay taxes, she still had to endure life’s uncertainties, and she still was at the mercy of worldly powers, but none of these outweighed the gift of life for the world that she carried.

As Mary carried Jesus, we too carry Jesus – not just in our hearts, but also in our very bodies – as we know that he gave his body for us, and so in our bodies we carry his body. It is he who gives us strength, who encourages, and who is the source of the virtues we celebrate at Advent – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. These are virtues that we need in our world today.

So let us then, this Christmas time remember and celebrate the embodiment of God in our world and in our lives. Like Mary, even in the face of uncertainty, let us stand tall, lift up our heads and sing “My Soul doth Magnify the Lord”. By our song and example, may we share with the world the true meaning of Christmas.

Blessings to you all this Advent,
the Rev. Jennifer Schick

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Advent & Christmas at All Saints, 2024

Sunday December 15th @ 4pm – Christmas Concert and Sing Along
Lift your voices and sing Christmas songs both secular and sacred and listen to our choir sing songs of the season

Wednesday December 18th@ 7pm (Zoom & In-person) – Longest Night Service
A meditative service when Christmas has a touch of sadness.

Sunday December 22nd – Advent 3
8:00am BCP Holy Eucharist
9:30am Contemporary Service with Eucharist
11:00am Advent Lessons and Carols (Zoom & In-person)

Christmas Eve Services
4:00pm All Age Service with pageant Eucharist (In-person only)
7:00pm Choral Service with Eucharist (Zoom & In-person))
10:00pm Candlelight Choral Service with Eucharist (Zoom & In-person)

Christmas Day @ 10:00am
A  single combined service for all to celebrate Christ’s birth. (In-person only)

Sunday December 29th – First Sunday after Christmas
8:00am BCP Holy Eucharist
10:00am Lay Lead Morning Prayer (Zoom & In-person)

Sunday, January 5, 2024 – Epiphany
8:00am Holy Eucharist (In-person)
9:30am Contemporary Service with Eucharist (In-person)
11:00am Choral Eucharist (Zoom & In-person)

 

Office Hours and Donation Deadline:
Please note that the office will be closed on Dec. 23nd to Dec. 26th & Dec. 30th to Jan. 2nd. All donations requiring a receipt for 2024 must be received by no later than 11:00 am on Dec. 29th. Any donations received after that date, by hand or by mail, will be credited towards 2025 donations.  Online donations will be accepted up to December 31st.

CHRISTMAS HAMPER 2024

Thank You to everyone who supported and donated towards this year’s Christmas Hampers.  We were able to distribute gift envelopes to 119 children, 45 youths and 304 adults through your generosity.  The complementary Christmas marketplace was also a warm and welcoming event for these clients and they were extremely grateful.

Please continue to donate so we can successfully fund this initiative.

The foodbank is open Tuesdays and Fridays, 10am-1pm

Drop off food bank donations on
Saturday, December 21, 1-3pm
in the parking lot north of the church on Centre St.
(Please note Centre Street is one-way southbound.)

All Saints’ Deacon’s Cupboard ministry is a source of food for members of our community.  It is our way of being church and showing the love of God to our neighbours so that everyone can have their daily bread and know of the provision of the Lord.

Food can be dropped off at the church parking lot between 1- 3 PM on the third Saturday of every month. We will have volunteers unloading your car and taking the food supplies into the Deacon’s Cupboard space at the church.

Donations of the following items are in demand:

canned pasta, canned soups, cereal, Saltine crackers, cookies, canned tuna fish, canned sardines, canned tomatoes, instant coffee, canned kidney beans, Kraft Dinner, peanut butter and personal hygiene products for men and women (e.g., soap, shampoo, razors, deodorant and, toilet paper)

All Saints’ is a member of Feed the Need in Durham (FTND). Weekly orders from FTND help sustain and further develop our food supply for those who come in increasing numbers to the Deacon’s Cupboard each week.

To learn more about the Deacons’ Cupboard (food bank), please contact office@nullallsaintswhitby.org or priest@nullallsaintswhitby.org

Thursday In-Person with the Bible – Thursdays, 10-1AM or 1-2PM
A choice of two mid-day Bible Study discussion groups. Drop in to a meeting in the boardroom. Led by Deacon Joanne

Word on Wednesday Gospel Study – Wednesdays, 7:30PM by Zoom
The Wednesday group meets online at 7:30 PM via Zoom for prayer and an informal discussion on the gospel reading. To register or for more information, please contact Jacky Bramma.