Bulletin NoticesDecember 24th, 2018

4:00 p.m.______________________________________________________________

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We want to offer you a very warm welcome to St. Paul’s on-the-Hill. We are delighted that you are able to join us for our Christmas celebrations. If you live in the area, we hope that you will make St. Paul’s your church home.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Many people have been working behind the scenes to make it possible for us to offer such a variety of Christmas services. We want to thank them all including: Joanne Karram and the Choir, the worship groups The Body of Christ and the Youth Band, the ushers, servers, lay readers, and the ladies of the Altar Guild who have done such a lovely job decorating the church and setting up for all the extra services.

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS

Our thanks to everyone who contributed a Christmas Hamper for families in need. They were distributed from the church on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 18th. Approximately 170 local families will have a hearty Christmas dinner thanks to your generosity. Special thanks to Elaine Phipps and Caroline Honsberger and their team of “elves, who volunteered their time and muscles and helped out behind the scenes.

Sunday December 30th

First Sunday after Christmas7:45 a.m. BCP Eucharist with hymns10 a.m. Choral Eucharist with hymns

Monday December 31st New Year’s Eve Worship

7 p.m. Eucharist with silent prayer and reflection

Sunday January 6th, 2019 - Epiphany New Year’s Service of Family Blessing

7:45 a.m. BCP Eucharist with hymns & blessing

9 a.m.- Family Blessing Service11 a.m. – Family Blessing Service

PLEASE JOIN US!St. Paul’s Donation Envelopes for 2019…

…are now available for pick up in the church lobby. If you no longer want regular envelopes, or if you wish to request them, please contact our Envelope Secretary, Cassie Williams at cassiew@sympatico.ca or 905-666-2261. Tax receipts will be issued for contributions over $20 per year, even if you don’t have envelopes, as long as you contribute a few times per year. If you contribute on a more regular basis and you are not on PAR (Pre-authorized remittance), please use donation envelopes to make the job easier.There will not be any envelopes for you if you are on PAR unless you have requested them. Any contributions not made on a regular numbered envelope MUST HAVE your full name and address so that you can get proper credit.If you are interested in learning about our pre-authorized system or making changes to your existing PAR, or you have any questions, please contact Cassie Williams.

Church Calendars

Anglican Church calendars for 2018 are now available from Pat Bennett (905-837-1082) or mrsb18237@rogers.com. These are special calendars which mark all the saints’ days and special holy days and church colours. Get yours today for only $7.00.

Mission to India

Canon Kim is organizing a team to work with the Missionaries of Charity doing volunteer work in Calcutta, India. The trip will include visits to historical sites in India. An optional extension to Bhutan and Nepal is also possible. If you would like to know more, speak with Canon Kim. The prospective dates for the mission are July 15th to July 29th, 2019.

Please save your stamps

The Leprosy Mission in Markham accepts used stamps as part of their fundraising.  Dealers buy these stamps.  This Christmas please save stamps that you receive and drop them off in the box located in the narthex cupboard.  This is a very worthwhile project;  the mission's goal is a world without leprosy.  There are still many people suffering from this disease as in Jesus' day.Thanks for your help.  See Barbara Beard if you have any questions.  905 837 5396

The Altar flowers are given to the glory of God in memory of loved ones by Joyce Gillanders; and by the Barton, Betts, and Gilmore families, in loving memory of Carl Treco, our devoted father, grand-father, and great-grandfather, who filled our lives with much love. We miss you.

If you would like to put flowers on the Altar, please phone Janice Roberts at 905-839-9212 with the details. The cost is $40.

Please note that cheques for payment of Altar flowers should be made payable to St. Paul’s on-the-Hill, and placed on the collection plate the first Sunday of the month. Please make note on the cheque that the payment is for Altar Flowers.

DIOCESE OF TORONTO& WORLD CYCLE OF PRAYER 2017

Please pray for: St. Martin’s, Courtice The Church & people of Kuching, South

East Asia & The Rt. Rev. Danald Jute, Assistant Bishop of Kuching & The Rt Rev. Solomon Cheong Sung Voon

MAKE FRIENDSBE WITH PEOPLE WHO CARE

EXPERIENCE MORE OF GOD’S LOVEFIND RENEWED LIFE

JOIN A SMALL GROUPPick up a new brochure at the displays at the

Tower or Main entrances.We will help you find the right group for you

COMING THIS WINTERWATCH FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A NEW GROUP

DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR SOUTH ASIANS BEGINNING SOON

RENEW YOUR PRAYER LIFEWATCH FOR A SMALL GROUP SERIES LIVING THE

LORD’S PRAYER THIS LENT Contact Canon Phil - 647-990-3360 (Text only

please) Email: philbrist@gmail.com

Find out why Small Groups are... Life at the of the Church

W

WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH GODIn The Word

In Healing PrayerIn Holy Communion

10:00 – 11:30 A.M. in the churchBible Study followed by Prayer for Healing and

Holy Communion

The style is informal and grounded in the authority of scripture. Together we are learning to trust God,

walk in the Spirit, and care for each other. We expect to see God at work in our midst.

COME ONCECOME REGULARLY

ALL ARE WELCOME ANYTIME

THE FIRST MEETING OF 2019 WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Women @ St. Paul’s

Sat. Jan. 19, 2019, 9:00 a.m.Ladies Breakfast - “Eat Healthy in 2019”

Guest dietician Lisa Ireland. Please purchase a ticket if you plan to attend for $5.00 from Cassie Williams.

DAY APART: “Flying Free…pursuing deeper freedom in Christ”

Saturday, February 2, 20198:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Grace Presbyterian Church447 Port Union Rd., West Hill

This is a wonderful day for women of all ages…a day for you! Keynote speaker: Anne Fleetwood.There will be music, worship, workshops, breakfast and lunch provided…all for only $40 if you register before January 23rd ($45 after that). Registration forms are available in St. Paul’s lobby or register online at www.gracewesthill.ca/dayapart/

St. Paul’s on-the-Hill is now accepting donations online through PayPal. Donations can be made at the following link: http://stpaulsonthehill.com/donations/

We have all heard the Christmas story in Luke where the angels come to Mary to tell her she is going to have a son. Not just any son, but THE Son of God. If you remember, Mary questions the angels on how this could happen, since she’s a virgin; and the angels basically tell her, Don’t worry about it. The Holy Spirit will take care of it. With God, nothing is impossible.Mary’s response to this outrageous, unbelievable, outlandish news is, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) Wow, what faith!Mary chooses, just like that, to believe and accept God’s plan for her life, as impossible as it seems.To complicate matters, Mary is engaged to Joseph, and she is faced with the daunting task of telling her fiancée that she’s pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Yeah, right!Think about this for a minute, here is this young girl, probably only 12 or 13 years old, who is facing grave consequences with her bold yes. Those consequences include being disowned by her family, being dropped and deserted by her fiancée, and deemed an outcast in society. Yet this young girl has the courage and the faith to SIMPLY SAY YES.Mary chose faith and obedience. She chose to accept God’s destiny for her life. It makes me wonder, would I be able to say yes to God so easily?And think about all Mary would have to endure because of this yes. She would watch her son be rejected by the religious leaders. She would stand on the sidelines, weeping, as he was beaten and crucified. She would watch him, with her own heart breaking, as he took his final breath in utter agony.

But, and this is a big but, she also saw firsthand the amazing, glorious news of His resurrection. The gift of salvation and all that his life truly meant came to life before her very eyes. What incredible joy, awe and wonder she must have felt at that moment. Can you imagine?But that night all those years ago when the story began, that night when the angels came, she had no idea how the story would end. She had no idea if she would be accepted or rejected by her family and her community. She had no idea if anyone in the world would believe her improbable story about her immaculate conception. She had no idea what it would truly mean to be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Yet she still said yes.As you rush through the craziness of this season, I invite you to sit a minute and ponder that yes. Let the gravity of that yes sink deep into your soul as you ask yourself some hard questions:How many times have I said no to God because I wanted to know how the journey would end before I would take that first step?How would I answer God right here and right now if He called me to do something greater than I thought humanly possible?What parts of my story do I need to surrender to God’s plan as Mary did?How can I say yes to God today?I pray your heart and soul are enlightened as you take a minute to ponder and celebrate the fact that Mary said yes!

Jill Miller for Women of Faith