Words for the Beginning:
Advent Reminders for New Seasons
Central United Church
www.centralunitedmoncton.com
Advent and Christmas
November 28th, 2024
Greetings,
Advent and Christmas are seasons of new beginnings and endings. As the calendar year ends, a new church year begins. As we move through Advent to Christmas, the birth of Jesus ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. The four weeks leading up to Christmas, indeed, even the Christmas story itself, is one of endings and new beginnings – pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings – large and small, personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God, in Love that was and is making all things new.
It is our hope that this Advent and Christmas, as we explore the theme, Words for the Beginning: Advent Reminders for New Seasons, that individually, and collectively, we might be experience that same hope in community, as we open ourselves to the stories and are reminded of Love that is born among us and within us. It is this Love, experienced in community, that creates a path for us to find a way, even as we step forward into the unknown.
2024 has been a year of full of endings and new beginnings! We bid farewell to Audrey, Julia and Lloyd now share in ministry with us, and we have entered a Collaborative Pilot Project with Sackville and Visions United Churches!
You are invited to join in community, in-person or on-line, or via Zoom, as each Sunday morning at 10:30AM, we listen for and live out, Words for the Beginning: Advent Reminders for New Seasons. On December 15th and 24th, Central United will join Visions United at 140 Joyce Ave. Each Sunday, in community, we will wrap ourselves, as with a familiar and much-loved quilt, with stories of hope, peace, joy and love and arrive together on Christmas Eve, once again awed by the power of Love – born among us in the most unlikely of places. Follow this link for a complete list of events, and this link for resources for use at home (Advent2024 is the password).
The congregation continues to need your financial support. While donations have been consistent, we have continued with repairs and updates to the facility, including significant improvements to our computer and AV equipment. Our involvement in the Collaborative Ministry Pilot Project is showing some cost savings but we are still projecting a deficit for 2024. Any additional support you can provide as we approach the end of the year would be most welcome.
Ministers, Julia Ye and Lloyd Bruce
Treasurer, Dianna Doucet
ADVENT, CHRISTMAS, and EPIPHANY EVENTS
AT CENTRAL UNITED AND BEYOND
Advent I
December 1st @ 10:30AM
Julia Preaching at Central
Advent II
December 8th @ 10:30AM
Lloyd leading Liturgy at Central
Advent III
December 15th @ 10:30AM
Central will gathering at Visions United
Advent IV
December 22nd @ 10:30AM
Julia leading Liturgy @ Central
Christmas Eve
Central & Visions @ 6:00PM
140 Joyce Ave., Moncton NB
Sackville @ 7:00PM
110 Main St., Sackville, NB
December 25th & 29th
No Gathering
Enjoy Time with Family & Friends
Christmas I
January 5th @ 10:30AM
Julia Preaching @ Central
Epiphany
January 12th @ 10:30AM
Lloyd leading Liturgy @ Central
December 1 @ 6:30PM
St. Paul’s United, Riverview
United Christmas Celebration
A gathering of Choirs from various United Church congregations sharing Advent and Christmas carols and songs.
December 2, 9, 16 & 23 @ 12:00PM
Central United and via Zoom
Lunch in the Advent Light
An opportunity to gather with others in the light of the Advent Candle of Hope and talk about the text and reflection from Sunday just past.
December 5 @ 6:30PM
190 Carson Drive, Moncton
Collaborative Seasonal Grounding Gathering
Members of the Governing Bodies, Commission and Ministry Team will gather for an in-person Seasonal Ground Gathering and Social Event!
December 8 @ 11:30AM
(Central and Visions)
Carolling at Local Senior Facilities
Following the conclusion of the Sunday Gathering, those taking part will make their way to the various Senior Facilities to sing Christmas Carols to the residents!
December 11 @ 6:30PM
Sackville United Church, Sackville
Holigay Potluck Christmas Dinner
A Christmas Potluck Dinner with Mocktails and Christmas Carols hosted by QS4A (Queer Space for Adults).
