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Christ Church, Advent 2012
Coming in History, Mystery and Majesty


In a particular place at a time when the world both watched for it and was unprepared for it, God broke into our world in History, Mystery and Majesty. As we walk through Advent, a time of waiting and anticipation, we see this most clearly.
A baby is born. For the most part this is a lovely but hardly surprising event. Even a baby being born to a peasant teenager in an obscure village in a country ravaged by war and strife is hardly front page news. It has happened since the beginning of human history and it happens many times each day even now.
But this baby ? this little scrap of humanity was not just human but God. This baby was the God of all the Universe, our Creator and Sustainer. This baby was that God breaking into the world of human history. This baby was the embodiment of a love so great and profound that we struggle to find words to express the mystery of it all. This baby will come again, not as a helpless child, but in majesty and glory. And before Him, every knee shall bow.
Advent is our time of waiting, and in the waiting we both remember and anticipate.

We remember that the first coming was not God?s first interaction with the Creation crafted eons before, but rather the culmination of a plan that had been set before the world began. We listen to the story of God?s working with his frail and broken people ? a story of renewing and reshaping and redemption. We hear the prophecies and see the pattern of God?s fingerprints on every aspect of history. And we read the predictions yet to be fulfilled and in them and in the record of God?s dealing with our world, we find hope.


Advent is our time of waiting and in the waiting we both remember and anticipate.

We remember how God has sustained and challenged and led our church family to the place where we now recognize God?s work among us in a new way. We remember the challenges faced in faith and God?s faithfulness to us. We listen to the stories of those whose history we now share. Some of those stories, like our present stories, are tales of difficulties and even brokenness but above all they are wonderful stories of God working with us, renewing, reshaping and redeeming lives for God?s glory. They are stories of God providing for God?s people who seek to do God?s work. They are stories of God?s love lived out in human lives that touch and treasure each other. And in these stories we find hope for a future marked by the fulfillment of the purpose God is working to His glory at Christ Church. God has been in our history. With great joy, we anticipate. We are confident that God is working God?s own plan as we walk into a future that seems still somewhat of a mystery.
Advent is our time of waiting and in the waiting we both remember and anticipate.

We sit quietly in the waiting, in the midst of the busyness and noise, and allow our minds to review our individual histories. We see the pattern of God?s fingerprints everywhere. We see God?s gifts of love and care. We see God?s purposes worked out in what seemed disasters. We see dashed dreams that have been replaced somehow by infinitely better realities. We see the abundance, the amazing generosity, of God?s gifts and blessings. We see God persistently and loving crafting our past and that gives us great hope. And as we look at the past, our confusion and even fear are quieted by a mysterious confidence that God is working in our present and will continue to do so in our futures. In this, we find peace

Advent is our time of waiting and in the waiting we both remember and anticipate.

As Christ?s Body, here and now, in a particular place and time we celebrate God?s gift of including us in His plan, and we live in joyful expectation. We pray that the Babe of Bethlehem will be born anew in us. We pray that we will enter into the mystery of this unimaginable love and that as that Christ-love is born again in us, here and now, the world will see not us, but Him, in all the majesty and glory that is due Him.
Maranatha ? Come O Come Emmanuel!


Rev. Marie, Advent 2012
P.S. Once again, Rob and I thank God for the amazing gift of serving God among you and with you. And we pray God?s great blessings for each of you in this new year!

It is the week before Advent and the Celebrations begin!

Today we had a wonderful Christmas Tea - Fran and crew - you outdid yourselves!!!

Tomorrow (Sunday) is the Celebration of Christ the King and we remember who we serve and whose we are!

Sunday, we will have two services, 8:30 and 10:00 followed by Brunch after the 10 o'clock service.
About 12:30 we will gather in the parking loot and caravan out to Craig and Elaine's lovely property on Hwy 63 for a Walk in the Woods. While we are there we will gather fresh greens, and have a time of WARM gathering ( Elaine makes great hot chocolate!) and then return to the church to Make Advent Wreaths. This is a great Christ Church tradition and everyone is welcome - if you can't make it to the whole day, come as you can.

On Wednesday is our Prayer Pal Reveal Dinner. If you have been praying for a child this year, or if you have a child who has been part of the program then don't miss this important dinner ( parents can have a "date night" and other caregivers can have a night off - drop the kids off and enjoy some free time). The Prayer Pals bring something for a shared supper and both adults and children bring a small ornament to exchange as a gift to remember this past year. For more info, contact Elsie Black or Ellen Vaughan or call the Church Office.

On Saturday you can start the Advent season with a Quiet Day, beginning at 9:30 and finishing at 3:00. Our theme will be Living Between the Steps - Living with Uncertainty. What is a Quiet Day? It is a chance to begin the season with some time for learning, reflection and silent prayer. Rev. Marie will give three short meditations. Each meditation will be followed by a private time of quiet. Some folks walk outside, others pray privately, journal or draw or listen to music or read. After each private time, we gather together and talk a little casually before the next meditation. The day ends with a short service of prayer. In between times, there will be coffee and tea available, and a simple lunch of bread and soup. There is no cost except free will donations. Folks have found this a very meaningful way to begin their Advent Season. You are perfectly free to just come at the last minute - or to come for part of the day if you can't make the whole day, but if you know that you will be there, it is helpful if you can call the Church office and let us know ( we want to be sure there will be enough soup!)

Make sure you give yourself the gift of meaningful time and fellowship in the midst of this busy season!

Messy Church is for the young and young at heart.

Children bring an adult along with them, and adults are welcome to come ?solo.?

Messy Church offers an opportunity for families to explore their faith, come together in a lively worship unlike anything you may think church is like, to meet new people and to share a meal. Messy Church is family
time for playing a game, doing a craft, exploring faith and enjoying a good meal (no one has to cook on Messy Church night).

This new ministry provides community families with an opportunity to connect with others, have fun, food and worship together while learning Bible basics.

Doors open at 4:45, finish at 6:45 (includes supper) but Messy Church starts whenever you get there.

Looking forward to seeing you.

A new Archbishop of Canterbury has been appointed. ?You can learn more about him at www.anglican.ca ( and learn lots more there as well - it is a great site!).

New Archbishop of Canterbury

Let us keep him in our prayers as he moves into this challenging position.

 

We have a wonderful challenge to deal with at Christ Church. Our facility is often feeling just a little tight for space - and sometimes more than a little!

In addition, we think there are a number of ways that it can be made to function more efficiently and pleasantly, and of course, as with any older building there are upgrades that need to be made.

Your Advisory Board have been looking at the situation for some months and now are ready to begin discussions in the wider congregation.

All those who consider Christ Church their home are invited to join us on Tuesday, October 30 at 7 pm to discuss these issues. The goal of the meeting is to share information and to choose a small group who will look at various possibilities handling these challenges. Hopefully they will be able to make recommendations to us at our annual Vestry Meeting on January 27, 2013

Please plan to attend - and in the meantime please PRAY!

Messy Church at Christ Church
Thursday, October 25

WHERE: Christ Church Anglican, 890 Vimy St., North Bay

TIME: 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. (includes supper)
but Messy Church starts whenever you get there.
WHO: Messy Church is for the young and young at heart.
Children bring an adult along with them, and adults are welcome to come ?solo.?

WHAT: Messy Church offers an opportunity for families to explore their faith, come together in a lively worship unlike anything you may think church is like, to meet new people and to share a meal. Messy Church is family time for playing a game, doing a craft, exploring faith and enjoying a good meal (no one has to cook on Messy Church night).

Our Messy Church theme this month is: ?Who is God??

Credit: Wordle from?http://biblicallyliterate.wordpress.com/

Quiet Day - "Living Between the Footsteps - Living in Times of Uncertainty"

Prepare for your Advent observance by spending a day in quietness. The day will begin with coffee and then a short meditation, followed by a time of private quiet reflection. This pattern will be repeated twice more with a lunch break worked in (homemade soup, bread and a simple dessert available). The day will end with a short time of worship. Wear casual clothes, and if you wish, you might like to bring a notebook and Bible.

The meditations will center on the theme of living in times of uncertainty as viewed through the eyes of those involved in the story of Christmas.

Plan to be with us! If you are able to come for only part of the day, you are welcome to "drop in" as you can. If possible, please let Rev. Marie know you will be coming so she can make her pot of Mennonite Bean Soup big enough! But if you find yourself free at the last minute, just come along - there is always room for one more at Christ Church!

God has given ME a Spiritual Gift??

Actually, he has probably given you several! Spend a little time discovering what those gifts might be, and how they fit into the overall Body of Christ. This will allow you to focus your efforts, say a confident "yes" to some opportunities and a guilt free "no" to others!

This two part seminar will help you understand a Biblical view of Spiritual Gifts and discover yours. The first session, on Tuesday morning, will examine the relationship between gifts, fruits and manifestations of the Spirit and the second session, on Thursday, will offer each participant a chance to get a feel for what spiritual gifts God has given them for use in His Kingdom with a discussion following. You are free to come to either or both of the sessions, but you'll get the most benefit if you come to both.

Rev. Marie will be teaching both seminars.

Wow! Our first "Messy Church" time was just wonderful, with almost 60 people having a great time painting pumpkins into globes, making pipe cleaner insects, fingerpainting a mural and trying various challenges.

Then we had a 6 foot diameter globe to play with outside and young kids and folks wishing they were kids too had a "ball" in the fall sunshine.

The worship time featured a marvellous reading of the Creation story. Tammy had the children - and their adults - engaged and excited as they learned about how God created our world.

We finished off with some singing, a grace and a great meal.

All in all, we think that it was a wonderful time of worship, fun and community building. Thanks to all who made it happen - and even more to the Spirit who was so evidently there!

You'll want to bring your young friends along and join us on October 25!

Christ Church is hosting its first Messy Church on Thursday, September 27.

WHERE:? Christ Church Anglican, 890 Vimy St., North Bay

TIME:? 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. (includes supper)

but Messy Church starts whenever you get there.

WHO:? Messy Church is for the young and young at heart.

Children bring an adult along with them, and adults are welcome to come ?solo.?

?

WHAT:? Messy Church offers an opportunity for families to explore their faith, come together in a lively worship unlike anything you may think church is like, to meet new people and to share a meal. Messy Church is family time for playing a game, doing a craft, exploring faith and enjoying a good meal (no one has to cook on Messy Church night).

 

Our Messy Church theme this month is:? ?Giving Thanks for God?s Creation?