HARROWSMITH-VERONA PASTORAL CHARGE

UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

Worship Time:  10 am at Trinity, Verona

Office Phone: 613-372-2525 or 613-374-2777

Voluntary Assistant Minister:  Rev. Dr. Peter Bartlett

Retired Voluntary Minister: The Rev’d. Ian MacKay

Office Administrator: Rebecca Peters

Director of Music:  Stan Stinchcombe

Website:  www.h-vpastoralcharge.org

e-mail:  office@h-vpastoralcharge.org

 

Dec 17

 

Trinity United Church acknowledges the traditional territory upon which we gather. For thousands of years, the First Peoples sought to walk gently on this land. They offered assistance to the first European travelers and shared their knowledge for survival. We seek a new relationship with the First Peoples of this land, one based in honour and deep respect.

 

 

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Worship Leader:  Rev Dr Peter Bartlett

Lay Reader: Bea Moffitt

 

WE GATHER

 

ORGAN PRELUDE 

GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

HYMN:  “Make a Joyful Noise (Psalm 100)”   (VU #820)

Make a joyful noise all the earth!  Worship your God with gladness.  Make a joyful noise all the earth.  Come to this place with a song!

 

1.  Know that your God has made you.  Know it’s to God we belong.  And come to this place with joyfulness and praise.  Worship your God with a song.  Make a joyful noise all the earth!  Worship your God with gladness.  Make a joyful noise all the earth.  Come to this place with a song!

 

2.  Enter these gates, thanks giving.  Enter these courts with praise.  Sing thanks to your God and bless the holy Name.  Worship your God with a song!  Make a joyful noise all the earth!  Worship your God with gladness.  Make a joyful noise all the earth.  Come to this place with a song!

 

3.  Ages through endless ages, seasons of endless years, the love of our Maker ever shall endure.  Worship your God with a song!  Make a joyful noise all the earth!  Worship your God with gladness.  Make a joyful noise all the earth.  Come to this place with a song!

 

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES

 

CHORAL INTROIT:  “To a Maid Whose Name was Mary”   (VU #14)

 

ADVENT LITANY

One:  Once more we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

All:  We watch, wait and listen for God’s Word, to find hope, peace, joy and love in the words that we hear, and in the words, we speak.

 

ADVENT PRAYER (Unison)

God of the unexpected and undreamt, instill joy in our hearts as we hear the song of the angels and see the beckoning star once more. Amen

 

ANTHEM:  “She Walked in the Summer”   (VU #12)

 

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF JOY (THE GAUDETE CANDLE)

On Advent 1 and 2 we lit the first and second Candles in our Advent Wreath, the candles of Hope and Peace. We relight them today.  Historically, the Season of Advent emphasized penitence, but on the third Sunday, called Gaudete, which is Latin for “rejoice,” the usual worship disciplines ease and the candle colour changes to rose, for the Joy candle, which we also light today.

One: As we light the candle of joy today.

All: We make space for the grace of joy.

One: Resisting shame and stigma,

All: We rejoice in all God’s Creation. Let us share the good news with everyone.

 

HYMN:  “A Candle is Burning”  vs 3 (Sung Seated)   (VU #6)

A candle is burning, a candle of joy,

A candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy.

Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow

As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.

 

FOR ALL AGES

 

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

 

HYMN:  “Hope is a Star”  vs 1-3   (VU #7)

1.  Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.  When God is a child there’s joy in our song.  The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

 

2.  Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth.  When God is a child there’s joy in our song.  The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

 

3.  Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born.  When God is a child there’s joy in our song.  The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

 

(Children and teachers may leave for church school classes.)

 

WE GIVE BACK

 

OUR OFFERINGS (Offering plates are available at the back of the church.)

 

DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING

“In the Bleak Midwinter”  vs 4  (Standing)   (VU #55)

4.  What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him – give my heart.

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER  (Unison)

Through these gifts O, God, may all heed the voice of justice, hear the call to compassion, embrace the way of sharing, and know solidarity with the living and loving Christ. Amen

 

WE LISTEN

 

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 1:46b-55 (Pg. 888)

 

HYMN:  “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”   (VU #8)

1.  Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung, of Jesse’s lineage coming, as seers of old have sung.  It came a blossom bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.

 

2.  Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the rose I have in mind, with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.  To show God’s love aright she bore for us a Saviour when half spent was the night.

 

SERMON:  “Holy Mary, Mother of God”

 

PREPARATION FOR PRAYER 

“Spirit of the Living God”  vs 1 (Seated)   (VU #376)

1.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. 

 

PASTORAL PRAYER

 

WE GO FORTH

 

HYMN:  “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”   (VU #232)

1.  Joyful, joyful we adore you, God of glory, life and love; hearts unfold like flowers before you, opening to the sun above.  Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

 

2.  All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays, stars and angels sing around you, centre of unbroken praise.  Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, changing bird and flowing fountain, sound their praise eternally.

 

3.  You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, wellspring of the joy of living, ocean dept of happy rest!  Source of grace and fount of blessing, let your light upon us shine; teach us how to love each others, lift us to the joy divine.

 

4.  Mortals join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began; God’s own love is reigning o’er us, joining people hand in hand.  Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife; joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.

 

BENEDICTION

 

SENDING FORTH:  “Go Make a Difference”   (MV #209)

 

ORGAN POSTLUDE

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & MEETINGS

Worship Leader for Sunday December 21st:

Rev. Catherine Oxenford-Grant

Lay Reader for Sunday December 21st:

Diane Revill

Greeter for Sunday December 21st:

Bea Moffitt

 

 

FESTIVE CHRISTMAS FELLOWSHIP:  Rachel and Rebecca have been busy little elves planning this festive Christmas fellowship, which will take place next Sunday December 21st following the church service.  They have something very special planned for you all -  we are going to have a very traditional festive Christmas fellowship.  Rachel and Rebecca will be providing turkey, dressing, buns, punch and cranberries.  They are asking the congregation to bring your favourite holiday side dish, or festive dessert to share with everyone (and remember.....Rev. Peter LOVES pie....).   And perhaps a few more surprises will be presented for you all as well.  You won’t want to miss this fellowship. 

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER:  It’s that time of year again when the weather may not cooperate for us to attend our weekly church services on Sunday mornings.  If you have not updated your contact information with Rebecca, please do so.  This will allow a member from Session to contact you should we need to cancel a service due to the weather.  Thank you.

 

CHRISTMAS FOOD HAMPERS:  Set up will take place this Wednesday December 17th, and packing and delivery on Thursday December 18th.  If you have any questions, please speak to Gayle at 613-329-8896.

 

COMMUNITY WINTER BREAKFASTS:  On January 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st, Trinity will once again be hosting our annual community breakfasts.  We hope to have our teams fully organized before Christmas.  If you can help on some or all weeks with set-up, serving, cooking and cleanup please sign the sheet at the back of the church and we will contact you.  If you have any questions, please direct them to this year’s coordinators Diane and Alan Revill and Ann and John McDougall.

 

FOR SALE:  By accident, we installed the wrong tap in the church kitchen.  We now have a tap for sale.  It is a Moen “CRETE” model bathroom rap.  If you are interested, the tap is on the kitchen counter.  See John McDougall for the purchase.

 

CHRISTMAS ADVENT SCHEDULE:

December 21st  Advent IV  (Rev. Catherine Oxenford-Grant)

December 24th  Christmas Eve  5:30 pm  (Rev. Dr. Peter Bartlett)