November 30, 2023

Theme: Advent - Waiting in Hope
“Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”
Psalm 25:5

Gathering Music-Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel-15th C Plainsong Yenny Lee
Welcome
Hymn #110 Come, thou long expected Jesus
Announcements
Call to worship: Lighting of the Advent and Christ Candle
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Children’s Time
Hymn #119 Hope is a star (Flute Peggy Yu)
Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-5a; Mark 13:32-37: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 
Sermon “Waiting through it all”
Choir Anthem – Waiting  J. Althouse
Holy Communion
Hymn #529 O Holy Father, God most dear
Blessing and Benediction
Sung Response #812 Glory to God
Sending music - Down from his glory-E. di Capus

Mark your calendars and please join us to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas!
We can use your help. Every person counts and it's always a lot of fun! This year we are inviting people from VTPC and Tenth West Side to join us. 
I'll be there with donuts and hot chocolate!

Richard

Welcome to our Good News Edition 

Good News #1

For people wondering about the Refugee Committee chocolate order, you can sleep easy. I know this sounds like the tracking reports about Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve but it is for real.  UPS tracking information, as of Monday night, showed that our chocolates are in Richmond!  That means the chocolates will be available on Sunday, Dec 3.. YIPEE! 

We can then begin the taste testing, after all, we must re-assure ourselves of the high quality of these products! Oh yes, and we can also begin our stocking stuffing. The early arrival of the shipment will benefit anyone who miscalculated their chocolate requirements or somehow “misplaced” a bar or two, (or three). You will be able to buy replacements and additional chocolates on Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. Chocolates will also be available at the KPC Christmas Concert on Friday, Dec. 15.  Thank you for supporting this very tasty project. 

Good News #2

Tamim and Elaha received an early Christmas gift in the form of two tickets to the VanDusen Gardens FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS. They plan to take lots of photos in anticipation of possibly creating a new series of winter themed cards. Elaha is fully involved in her English lessons, doing both in-person and online studies. She mentioned that she is the only Afghan in the class which has forced her to connect with others and make new friends. Tamim is also busy with his English course but his is entirely on-line since he is also working at his dry walling job. 

Good News #3

We have just learned that the planned redevelopment of Tamim and Elaha’s apartment complex has been postponed until at least the end of 2025 and possibly later. This means they can stay in their apartment at their current rent which brings some extra stability into their lives as they continue to adjust to living in Vancouver.  “Someone” is watching over our newcomers and the work of the KPC/VTPC Refugee Committee.

Magee Music Society is inviting our Seniors Community to a delightful Afternoon Tea setting in our atrium, which is also wheelchair accessible, with performances by our talented music groups which include the Magee Chamber Choir, Strings Ensemble and Jazz Band! This event will take place on Thursday, December 7^th at 1:30pm.

We will have seats for up to 200 guests so please invite your friends and family members too! We will require an RSVP by November 30^th! Please call 604 713 8200 or email us at mageemusicsociety@gmail.com.

The 2023 General Assembly adopted a Confession regarding the ways in which The Presbyterian Church in Canada has silenced, mistreated and slandered the “ethnic contingent” of the church. Following the Assembly’s direction, on Sunday December 3, 2023, at 3:00 pm (et) a Service of Repentance, Healing and Hope will be held at St. Timothy Presbyterian Church, located at 106 Ravenscrest Dr., Etobicoke, Ontario. This service will also be livestreamed so that Presbyterians across the country may be able to participate.

As the church begins a new year with the First Sunday of Advent, we pray that this service of repentance will lead to a renewed journey of healing and hope within all parts of our church.

The service will feature leadership from the diversity of our denomination, including The Rev. In Kee Kim of St. Timothy Presbyterian Church, who will preach the sermon and The Rev. Drs. Heather Vais and John Vissers.

The service will be live-streamed and recorded for those who cannot attend in person. The link is https://timothypc.com/repentance/ or visit the congregation’s website, http://timothypc.com/. A reception will follow the worship service.

The United Voices Choir is excited to announce their Sing-Along Messiah which will take place on Saturday, December 09, 2 pm, at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church. Under the direction of Dr. Greg Caisley and supported by orchestra and soloists, we will, all together, welcome the beginning of the holiday season by singing this magnificent, timeless, musical, masterpiece. No experience is necessary and music scores will be provided.

Tickets @$25 are available via www.voiceschoir.ca  or at the door.

For your information, we are also presenting two formal Messiah concerts also with orchestra and soloists:

Saturday Dec. 02, 2pm at Pacific Spirit United Church

Sunday Dec. 03, 7pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church

 For further information, contact info@voiceschoir.ca

For many people, attending a Messiah concert is the hallmark of the Christmas season. We have missed singing this wonderful music and we suspect that you have too.  Please join us!