Pastor Philip Writes:

Christmas greetings to all!

May the love, joy, peace and justice that the Christ Child ushers in be yours this season.

The service on December 17 led by our Sunday School and Youth brought the message of joy with their enthusiasm, especially the waving angels. The celebration of the birth continued with a Birthday cake following the service.

There were many accolades for our Sunday School and the youth and their abilities. Thank you to Ann Woolner who not only rehearsed with them but also baked her famous Carrot Cake.

It is unbelievable that. In just a few days, we will be celebrating Christmas and entering another new year, 2024!

The year seems to have gone by in a flash. It leaves behind dark clouds of war, uncertainties - political, economic; uncertainty about the future of the planet; rapidly widening chasm between the have’s and have-not’s with hunger, homelessness, lack of health care being the lived realities of many. But it is into such a world that we welcome the Christ child.

A carol in Malayalam, the language of my roots, comes to mind.

The refrain translates –

There was no space for the Son of God to come to the palace, the king’s palace.

There was no drums and merrymaking there, there were no cymbals and rhythm there.

The one who took the form of a helpless one had no place even in the inn.

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As we reflected over the last few weeks, the coming one is present in the vulnerabilities, pains and fears of the world and not in the smug, safe palaces. That exhorts us to look for Jesus at these places and serve those that are vulnerable, in pain and in fear. Many times our celebrations and traditions are focused only on ourselves, but let us not forget that Christmas is about emptying, emptying oneself like the Son of God did, caring for the other and the needs of others, struggling with others that suffer and are in pain.

 

Our Christmas services will be held on December 24 and 25. Since December 24 is on a Sunday we will not have the morning service but only the Christmas Eve service at 7 pm and the service on December 25 at 10 am. The German language service will be held on December 22 at 7 pm, after a break since Covid.

In Our Prayers

Let us pray for Konrad, Mary Helen (mother of Bob Kelly), Sandra, Julian, George, Betty, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Helen, Gloria, and Don and Jean and their daughter Tai. Let us continue to pray for peace in the world, in Palestine and Israel, Ukraine, Yemen, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and other places.

In Christ,

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Pr. Philip

Music Notes

The choir has been busy preparing some lovely music for Christmas Eve - A traditional English carol, a John Rutter piece and Dan Kantor's "Night of Silence" which leads us directly into the singing of Silent Night

Pauline Finch will enliven our Christmas morning service with some Christmas flute pieces.

The German carol service on Friday evening will feature all the traditional German carols and some seasonal music from a recorder ensemble.

Sarah 🎶🎵

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Reminders​

• The Office is Closed for the week between Christmas and New Year, reopening Jan. 2.

• Committee Reports are due Jan 8 or earlier if possible.

• The deadline for the next edition of the Mount Zion News is January 11, 8 am. or earlier.

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Friday

The German Service of Carols and Readings Returns

The German Service of Carols and Readings returns after a pause during the Covid years. This year, we welcome Pastor Sebastian Meadows-Helmer—December 22, 7:00 pm, followed by a social time.

Please come and invite your German-speaking friends.

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Mitten Tree– Wrap Up  

Thank you to the members of Mount Zion church and the New Dominion Lodge for your wonderful dedication and love to the 2023 Mitten Tree.

This year we delivered 8 bags containing 377 items. All the donated items will be distributed to the KW and Guelph areas and the  Anishnabeg Outreach centres.

Here is the break-down of items collected:

• 12 clothes

• 134 pairs of socks

• 40 hats

• 8 slippers

• 15 hat/mitten sets

• 54 pairs of mittens

• 69 pairs of gloves

• 45 misc. items

Thank you to all who donated to the Mitten Tree.

Joan & Jacquelyn Schweitzer

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Mount Zion Kitchen Meal Containers

The Mount Zion kitchen has served its last meal for 2023. Our chefs and our volunteers can enjoy a well-deserved rest. The Mount Zion kitchen will start up again Thursday, January 11th.  Thank you for your support of this ministry which is helping many.

 

We ask that you return the reusable blue or clear containers and cloth bags that your meals came in. This includes the 1L jars that your soup came in. The blue return box is located just inside the Lourdes St. entrance. You can put all of the items you are returning in that drop box.

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Food Card Ministry

We continue to distribute food cards in the third week of each month, and December is special, with the opportunity to wish our multi-faith recipients a blessed holiday season.   Please continue to remember this part of our ministry with regular contributions as you are able. Mary Thompson

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2023 Donations Tax Information

Donations for 2023 tax purposes must be received in hand by December 31. The office will be open on Sunday, December 31st, until noon for any drop-off contributions.

Members are reminded that there are various methods to make contributions, including EFTs, through your bank to ours; however, please act by December 31.

For more information, please see Five Ways to Donate on our website

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Advent and Christmas Calendar

Dec 22— German Service of Carols and Readings  7:00 pm

Dec 24 –Candle Light Christmas Eve Service 7:00 pm

(there will be no morning service)

Dec. 25—Christmas Service 10 am

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