TSA Trumpet - December 2017

TSA Trumpet With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98, v6

Mission and Service Message Will you go to church at Christmas Greetings from our Church Administrator

December 2017

December 2017

TSA Trumpet Contents 4 ....

From the Pulpit

5 ....

Point of View

6 ....

Thank you for the Send Off

6 ....

Christmas Hampers

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Warm Welcome

7 .... Mission and Service Message 8 .... Will You Go to Church at Christmas 9 .... Thanks Be to Cheeses 10 .. Rev. Fred Edmondson (Obituary) 11 ... Greeting from Our Church Administrator

Cover Photo courtesy of Osman Rana Unsplash.com TSA Trumpet - December 2017

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FROM THE PULPIT On Thursday December 24th 1981 I conducted my first Christmas Eve Worship Service. It was in St. Luke’s United Church Donkin, Cape Breton. I was both excited and nervous. The people of the pastoral charge would be seeing and hearing me for the first time as I began a six month placement with them. Perhaps even more nerve racking was the fact that my future mother-in-law was there as well. I really did want to impress.

The congregation was great. They were so welcoming, kind and encouraging. I felt great. It was like I was walking on air. I have been conducting Christmas Eve Services ever since.

This year will mark the last time I lead a congregation in worship on December 24th as a full-time ordained minister. I have been blessed with wonderful pastoral charges over the years and look forward to being at Trinity-St. Andrew’s for this year’s service. I really don’t know where the time went.

Merry Christmas everyone! May this year’s celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ be everything you wish it to be.

Shalom,

Rev. Ken

Welcome to Trinity-St. Andrew's United Church in Brighton, Ontario. Our active congregation offers meaningful worship with a varied music program, Sunday School, opportunities for faith exploration and discussion, as well as fellowship, more traditional Bible study and educational opportunities for all ages, in a liberal Christian context. With the excellent leadership of Rev. Ken Lewis we are very blessed.

Our mission includes elder care, such as friendly visiting, and outreach activities like Friends of Migrant Workers and the Clothing Depot. Come join us in our bright, centrally located and historic space.

Trinity-St. Andrew's is an Affirming Congregation and has a policy of full accessibility for those with disabilities.

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TSA Trumpet - December 2017

TSA Trumpet

POINT-OF-VIEW

December 2017 TSA Trumpet is the newsletter of Trinity-St Andrew's United Church.

Our goal is to inform members and adherents of the activities and upcoming events in our fatih community MANAGING EDITOR Brian Ostrander COPY EDITOR Tammy Ostrander PUBLISHER TSA Public Relations & Publicity Committee Trinity-St Andrew's United Church 58 Prince Edward Street Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 613-475-1311 www.trinitystandrews.ca ADVERTISING Internal advertising for TSA functions is free of charge

Our big celebrations, in the Christian faith, are surrounded by much anticipation and waiting. As we enter the Advent Season we begin the month long wait for the Prince of Peace to come. The Great Redeemer King.. born in a barn because his step-Dad didn't have the foresight to call ahead for a room (one can imagine how that conversation went).

And for the children and grand-children of our congregation, the much anticipated visit from Santa Claus. How exciting to know that another year will come and go with another visit to deliver gifts, if you are good (and how many of our parents and teachers kept us in good form with that!).

There is a lot of room in our church, in our homes and in our hearts for both. For the Wonderful Counsellor and for Father Christmas. Both miraculous and magical in their own ways.

So no matter how sceptical I may be, on all sorts of issues, from time-to-time, as we get closer to the 25th, I set that aside and choose to Believe!

Brian Ostrander

External advertising inquire tsatrumpet@gmail.com Advertising in this newsletter does not constitute endorsement by Trinity-St Andrew's United Church, nor guarantee quality, value or effectiveness of any products, services or methods advertised.

TSA Trumpet - December 2017

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thank you for the send off To: Trinity-St. Andrew’s Congregation Thank you everyone for the wonderful “send off” on November 19th. It has been a privilege and honour working at TSAUC and I really enjoyed my time here.

What will stand out in my mind is how friendly and welcoming you are, and how dedicated you are to this church. I already miss seeing you at the office and keeping up with the congregational news.

Special thanks to Rev. Ken who tutored me in the ways of the UCC. I will miss our many interesting (and long) conversations.

Thank you for the lovely silver necklace - one of a kind! I will think of you when I wear it.

I am looking forward to this next chapter of my life – complete freedom to do whatever takes my fancy on a day-to-day basis.

Thank you again for your support and well wishes. I wish you all good health and happiness in the future.

God bless Lynda Douglas

warm welcome

by Wendy Zinck The Hospitality Committee extends a warm welcome to Beth and Barry Street who have joined our team. We are truly blessed to have such a fun group working well together.

White Gift Sunday is on December 17th and there will be a lunch after the service. Would the south side please bring cookies/squares, the north side - sandwiches, the choir cheese/veggies and the Hospitality committee pickles/fruit.

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TSA Trumpet - December 2017

want to make a real difference in the lives of people this christmas?

by Harma Badgley & Ken Laird Don't bother watching your favourite "reality show" but step into your own community's reality.

Some 132 families received much needed (and much appreciated) Christmas hampers last year and we would love to see the programme continue being successful. Gifts of hats, mitts and scarves (many from the TSA mitten tree) food, toys, personal hygiene products have to be sorted, packed and organized for delivery or pickup. We are looking for your donation of time, effort, good cheer and patient cooperation to get the job done. From our experience, not only do you give freely fo some time, but you will experience the joy of giving and the community spirit which is so evident in this activity. And what can be more satisfying during this "Season of Giving" than really giving of yourself?

We look forward to seeing you, and hope that you have a peaceful and restful Christmas.

Where? Evangel Church on Butler Street (Brighotn) When? December 18th, 19th and 20th Please contact us by calling 613-392-5276

mission and service message

by Elizabeth Scriven On Nov 26th the outreach committee was privileged to have Catherine Christie participate in our worship service. Catherine, ordained in 1988, was settled in the prairies and served in rural churches until 2010 when accepted as overseas personnel and went to Korea.

Catherine served for 7 years as overseas personnel with Korean partners the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea and Korean National Council of Churches.

Catherine shared with us information about her work in Korea. Her clerical and English skills were used to get information out to the rest of the world. She helped host church visitors to Korea, and worked with Koreas who were planning on going to school in English, assisting them with their language skills. She gave information on the current situation between North Korea and the United States, and told us of the campaign for a peace treaty between North Korea and the U.S. and South Korea The Mission and Service mandate has changed over the years so that it is no longer one of converting people to Christianity but to work with existing Christian as well as other religions to promote peace and justice.

We thank Catherine for the information and insights that she was able to share with us and wish her the best in her retirement.

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Will you go to church at Christmas?

Submitted by Gord Caswey As we enter the Christmas season and the celebration of: 'The Word Made Flesh', perhaps we should take some time to consider the birth story and how it might apply to Trinity Saint Andrew's. The Word has always been there, and then God entered our lives in human form.

Angels were sent to herald the news, a star shone brightly in the sky, wise men came to bring gifts. Over two thousand years later we still celebrate, we gather with friends and family, we exchange gifts, we decorate our homes.

And some of us go to Church.

But for many the religious and spiritual aspect of the Christmas season has become a childhood memory. We all have friends, neighbours and colleagues who, while they might have grown up within a faith community, attendance at a church is something that has been pushed aside. As Christians it is during this time of the year, when days become short and nights become long, we gather to celebrate God's presence in our lives, manifested by the birth of our Lord and Saviour.

But as we all know, for many Sunday has become just a another day, and Christmas is just another holiday.

Over the coming weeks we'll be talking to many of those friends, neighbours and colleagues for whom attending a Christmas service has become a childhood memory. We'll ask if the gift shopping is done, if the tree is up and the house decorated. We'll inquire about whether people will be travelling or hosting others who will travel to visit them.

What a great opportunity to perhaps re-introduce someone to the religious and spiritual part of the season, to start a conversation.

I'm not suggesting standing on a street corner or knocking on doors.

Jesus came to the world in the humblest way, born in a stable, his cradle a manger. The Word was made flesh and Jesus spoke to us and He still speaks to us. And we can speak to our neighbours, to our friends.

"Is all the Christmas shopping done"?

"Are you staying in town over the holidays"?

"Will you be attending a church service"?

That last question might start a conversation, a dialogue could ensue, someone might share a story. And maybe we can invite someone to join in our celebration of God entering the world. And who knows?

Maybe someone will attend and find something that's been missing in their lives and decide to keep coming back.

thanks be to cheeses Submitted by Barry Ott A Huge Thank-You to those people that purchased cheese for the December order as you helped raise $171.80 for the month for Trinity St.Andrews Church. KUDO's to you all.

On the Sunday the 17th. of December The Fundraising Committee will have a "Tom Rosebush FAMOUS Christmas Cake sell off "in the main hall after church service.

We're not planning on doing another cheese order until January so the Fundraising Committee would like to Thank you all for a Fantastic 2017 year as we raised $1122.51 in Cheese orders . Saying that we Wish you All a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God Bless you all and watch over you and your Families and Friends.

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Rev. Fred Edmondson Some members of the church family will be saddened to learn of the recent death of Fred Edmondson, a former minister at Brighton Trinity-St. Andrew’s U.C. Fred will be fondly remembered by many in the community since he led this congregation for a span of 17 years during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Please see Fred’s obituary, below.

Edmondson, Rev. Frederick Roy – Peacefully at Quinte Healthcare – Belleville General Hospital on Thursday, November 23rd, 2017, in his 93rd year. Son of the late Reginald and Elizabeth Edmondson. Beloved husband of Dorothy Edmondson (nee Ray). Dear father of Marie (Fred) Northey of Thomasburg, Shirley (Lennard) Donker of Belleville, John (Cindy) Edmondson of Peterborough. Predeceased by Margaret Brown and her late husband Robert.

Lovingly remembered by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at College Hill United Church, (16 North Park Street, Belleville) on Monday, November 27th at 1:00 p.m., with visitation from 11:00 a.m. until service time. If desired, memorial donations to the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada would be appreciated. Cremation arrangements entrusted to STEELE FUNERAL HOME , Moira Street Chapel, (613-968-2273) Belleville.

Expressions of sympathy and encouragement can be mailed to Fred’s wife, Dorothy, at the following address: Dorothy Edmondson, Unit #52, 175 North Front St., Belleville, ON K8P 4Y8 10

TSA Trumpet - December 2017

greetings from our church administrator Greetings to Trinity-St. Andrew’s Church!

I thought I would say hello and introduce myself as your new Office Administrator.

First off, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Lynda Douglas for her help with the transition into the office. I appreciate the extra time that she graciously offered of herself to ensure that I wasn’t totally lost. That being said, the office was so expertly organized that it has not been difficult at all. Thank you Lynda! Also, thank you to the M&P Committee, especially Lori Cooper and Rev. Ken Lewis, who have made me feel very welcome.

I come to you from Oakville Ontario, but I was born in Belleville and raised in Trenton. I moved from Trenton, to the Toronto area soon after graduating high school…the big city was calling!

I raised my family in Oakville and last year my husband and I decided we had had enough of the ‘big city’, and decided to move back to the area. My parents live in Brighton, so it was an obvious choice. I have a number of years experience in church administration with the Anglican Church as well as the United Church.

Thank you to all those who have introduced yourself already. I look forward to meeting you all. If you are passing by, please stop in to the office and say hello.

Blessings, Pamela Maloney TSA Trumpet - December 2017

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church Calendar

courier wanted If you are interested in helping with deliveries, please contact TSAtrumpet@gmail.com OR the church office 613-475-1311

next issue Next Trumpet, January 14th, 2018 Deadline for submissions: January 5th Church pick-up will be Sunday January 14th Articles may be submitted to the church office or via via e-mail to: TSAtrumpet@gmail.com