Faith in Action – November 22, 2023

The next month or so is going to be a busy one at WPUC!
Please think about where you can share your gifts!

JOIN THE WORSHIP CHOIR FOR ADVENT – Advent is a special time of year, and we’d love to share the music of season with more voices in the worship choir!  Practices for the 3 Sundays of Advent start on Thursday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m.

CRAFT SALE – Windsor Park United Church’s Craft Sale is Saturday, November 25, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come out and support our local crafters and get your Christmas shopping done!

DRESSING THE SANCTUARY – As we head into Advent it is time to decorate the church sanctuary!  Things to be done include:  setting up and decorating the tree, changing the table and lectern dressings, setting up the Advent wreath and candles, and hanging banners.  Join us on Wednesday, November 29 at noon!  

FIRE UP YOUR OVENS – The Annual Cookie Walk is Saturday, December 2, 2023 from

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the office has already had calls from the community looking for cookies!  This is a big fund-raiser for the church and we need donations of 6 to 10 dozen cookies per person of your favourite Christmas cookie/cookies to help make this event a success! Please bring them in Friday, December 1, 2023 between 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please no items that need refrigeration and label your containers if you want them returned!

THINKING OF YOU BASKETS – While many people look forward to Christmas, others find this time of year very challenging. They may be dealing with the loss of a loved one, coping with illness, or facing other life changing circumstances. In an effort to reach out in support  to these friends and neighbours, we are planning to prepare and deliver Thinking of You baskets again this year.

If you are interested in this project, you can help by donating small items to be included in the baskets (such as candy, single serving portions of hot chocolate or soup mix, individually packaged tea bags, nut free home baking, mandarin oranges, etc.). Items can be dropped off at the office during regular hours.

Another way to help is to donate some of your time to pack and/or deliver the baskets. Packing will be done after the church service on Sunday, December 10^th in the North Room downstairs. Deliveries to recipients will be made later that afternoon or during the following week at a time convenient to both the recipient and the delivery person. Please contact Carol Belsham if you are willing and able to participate in this project.

CHRISTMAS HAMPER SEASON – Our Outreach Council is planning to prepare and deliver  Christmas Hampers for 10 families/individuals this year.  If you are interested in supporting this project, you can help by doing any of the following:

• wrap gifts and/or pack hampers at WPUC on Monday, December 11th.
• enlist the aid of a trusty sidekick to help you deliver a hamper during the week of Dec. 11-16th at a time that suits your schedule
• make a donation to offset the cost of the project.  Place your donation in an envelope along with a note indicating the # of your offering envelope and the amount you are donating.  Please label the envelope “CHRISTMAS HAMPERS” and place it in the offering plate or drop it off in the office during the week.

Thank you in advance for helping us share our gifts with others far and near.  It is a time-honoured tradition at WPUC and a fitting way to share the spirit of the season with our neighbours!

MITTEN TREE – watch for the Annual Mitten Tree to be set up soon in the church entrance!  We invite you to consider donating new or gently-used winter accessories for children and teens.  Needed items include:  mittens, gloves, scarves, neck-warmers, socks, tuques and ear muffs.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Are you able to do small repairs, and general

maintenance? Our property committee could use a hand!  We would love to develop a list of people who can help out with odd jobs or have specialized skills like electrical or wood-working.  Call the office if you can help!

FOOD CUPBOARD – Our food cupboard is in need of restocking. Items appreciated are peanut butter, soup, juice boxes, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned ham, pasta, pasta sauces, coffee, canned beans, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, granola bars, etc.

KITCHEN CLEANERS – We would like to have a list of volunteers that would be willing to come and help clean the two kitchens when needed.  Please contact Alana or the church office if you can help!

Ongoing needs…

Livestream – We are still looking for 2 or 3 more people to learn how to livestream – all training supplied and we won’t leave you on your own until you feel ready!  Your commitment would be one Sunday per month.  This ministry brings our Sunday morning service to those who cannot attend in person and, as we enter the winter viral season, will continue to be an important ministry in our building. (If you know a young person looking for volunteer hours, please let them know about this opportunity!) Call the church office at 204-256-8792 for more information.

COOKIE BAKERS for West Broadway Community Ministry Meals – A big “THANK YOU” to those who have been bringing in cookies for WBCM! There is an ongoing need for cookies for meals that we will be preparing and delivering to the West Broadway soup kitchen in the coming months. The guests who come to the site for an evening meal are especially fond of homemade treats—which they seldom get. If you can bake and donate a few dozen cookies of any kind (at any time that suites your schedule), please label the package “FOR WEST BROADWAY” and bring your donation to the church during office hours or before Sunday worship at the church. Gwen or Sue will gratefully accept your donation and store it in the freezer until the next meal preparation/delivery day. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Telephone/Visiting buddies – Pastoral care is a vital role in the life and work of the church.  We could use a few more people to help in this area.  If you would like to be a part of the group calling or visiting others in the congregation, please let the office know.  We would love to have people who can check in on those who have had surgery or are feeling under the weather!  We also have an older church member who is unable to attend church but would enjoy photos and “thinking of you” cards and notes.  If you would like to drop off a card, please contact the office for more information!

After church coffee – Thank you to those who have hosted coffee time after church and also to those who have donated treats and helped out with serving!  Also, a big thank you to everyone who helped with clean-up last Sunday by putting away a chair or table.  Special thanks to Flo for the timely reminder that if we sit in a chair we can also put it away! Many hands make light work!

Offering counters – Thank you to those who continue to answer this call!  Reminder to sign-up for the weeks you would like to count.  Sign-up sheets are by the office.

Greeters  & Liturgists – Thank you to everyone who has welcomed people to church on Sunday mornings in the role of greeter and to those who are on our list of liturgists to help lead worship on Sunday morning!

“Pitch-in Crew” – The “Pitch-in crew” continues to be active!  From tidying and washing-up to clearing snow of the steps and walkway, we have noticed lots of “little things” being done around the church.  Thank you! You are the unsung heroes of Windsor Park United Church!

WELCOME!  Our call for help with some of the administration work of the church was answered by Catherine Smallwood and we welcome her to the team!

Faith Beyond Our Walls:

From the United Church of Canada:  To learn more about what you can do regarding the Humanitarian Crisis in the Middle East, please visit:

https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/humanitarian-crisis-middle-east