As we embark on the season of Advent, we extend a warm welcome to you to worship with us. This sacred time offers us an opportunity to come together in reflection, anticipation, and wonder. The Holy Spirit invites us to embrace the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love sent to us through Jesus Christ.
Worship
Events
Outreach
Email to help, or tags available after service November 19, 26, and December 3.
Drop off December 9
12:00pm – 4:00pm
Delivery December 10
Cookies are made to provide a reminder to recipients how much God loves them.
December 5
11:00am
Help prepare and serve hot meals to those in need.
December 12
3:30pm – 6:30pm
Non perishable food donations can be dropped off before the 10:30am, 2:00pm, or 4:00pm services on Christmas Eve.
December 24
Donations can be in the basket in the Narthex
Collecting until December 31
Additional Information
Advent and Christmas Services
December 1 – Advent 1, Hope – 10:30am
December 8 – Advent 2, Peace – 10:30am
December 15 – Advent 3, Joy – 10:30am
December 20 – Longest Night – 7:00pm
December 22 – Advent 4, Love – 10:30am
December 24 – Christmas Service and Pageant – 2:00pm
December 24 – Christmas Service and Pageant – 4:00pm
December 24 – Christmas Candlelight Communion – 9:00pm
December 31 – New Years Eve – 10:30am
Christmas Bazaar
Don’t miss the Christmas Bazaar & Snowflake Café! There will be baked goods, used books, knitted goods, Christmas Décor, women’s boutique, silent auction, independent vendors, and so much MORE!
The Christmas Bazaar will be on Saturday November 9 from 9:00am – 2:00pm.
The Snowflake Café will be open for lunch from 11:00am – 1:00pm during the Christmas Bazaar.
ADVENTure Day
This is a MUST REGISTER event.
When:
Sunday, December 1 – 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Where:
Right here at Westminster!
What:
A special day of fun for our Westminster kids and their families. Come help us kick-off the Season of ADVENT.
Join us for lunch and then stay for the family crafts and activities!
This is a free event, sponsored by your Christian Education Committee.
Please register here by November 22.
UCW Christmas Potluck
Come one, Come All – Women of Westminster United Church
You are invited to the U.C.W. Christmas Potluck Dinner on Monday December 4, 2023 in the Founder’s Room at WUC. Gathering and appetizers at 5:30pm – Dinner at 6:00pm.
Please bring one of your favourite dishes; a main course, a salad, or a dessert to share.
Christmas donations are being gratefully accepted for Westminster’s own food bank, The Pantry – personal care items: sanitary pads, tampons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, shaving items, hair shampoo for adults & children, hair conditioner, body or shower gels, bar soap other than Ivory, body lotion, and deodorant for men & women
Food items that are always in demand: Ritz crackers, instant coffee, strawberry jam, peanut butter, dish washing soap, cooking oil, canned meat, pasta sauce, 1 litre juice cartons and snack cups (pudding cups/fruit cups)
R.S.V.P. by December 3, 2023 – contact Susan or WUC office.
Advent Labyrinth
Date
Time
Body text
Scouts Christmas Drive-Through Parade
Friday, December 6
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Sponsored by the 11th Whitby Scouts In Partnership with Westminster United Church
Come and be part of something special, all in the comfort and warmth of your vehicle.
This is the fourth year that the 11th Whitby Scouts have hosted this evening of light in support of The Pantry, which helps to feed our community and those in need.
This is a drive-thru only, and for safety reasons no one will be permitted to get out of their vehicle.
Food donations will be collected by a member of 11th Whitby Scouts. The 11th Whitby Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers will be creating unique decorated “Floats”. Stop by to say hello and support this wonderful family event and your community.
Lessons & Carols
Sunday December 15
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Body text here
Jesus’ Birthday Party
Date
Time
Join us for a super fun time at “Jesus’s Birthday Party” during J.a.M on December _________________! We’re throwing a festive bash to celebrate Jesus’s birth – think games, activities, and the best part: a yummy birthday cake! It’s not just about the party; we’ll also share lessons on love, kindness, and the true Christmas spirit. Let’s make awesome memories together! Don’t miss out on the joy – see you there!
Christmas Hampers
Important Dates
- Tags Available Online: ongoing – December 3, 2023
- Please contact wucchristmashampers@gmail.com to select tags
- Requests can be made for: Child/Adult Tags, Gender and/or Age
- Tags Available In-Person: November 19, 26 and December 3, 2023:
- Available for selection at/after Sunday Service
- Deadline for Tin Cans to be Returned: November 19, 2023
- Gift Return: December 9
- Drive thru return of gifts purchased to Westminster
- Hamper Delivery/Pick Up: December 10 (time to be confirmed)
It is wonderful to see and feel the Christmas spirit alive and well amidst our community. We hear first hand from hamper recipients the impact of this outreach ministry, gratitude for not only grocery gift cards and gifts, but also community – the care of neighbours supporting one another.
With your overwhelming generosity, last year we supported 83 families, comprised of 316 people, in our community. This included gifts for 177 children and 40 adults living alone. We were overwhelmed with the
generosity of our community of faith, both in selection of tags, financial donations, and donations of toys and time (driving for delivery).
Christmas Hamper Tags are available until December 3! You can also contact wucchristmashampers@gmail.com to request tags virtually.
If you would prefer to make financial donations instead (either online, cheque, e-transfer or through the church office – please mark financial donations for “Outreach”). With increasing cost of groceries, we hope to be able to increase the amount for grocery gift card included in the hampers. If you plan to make a financial donation, please consider making this donation to the Hampers by the first week of December.
There will be lots of opportunity to participate in this ministry! Should you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact wucchristmashampers@gmail.com.
Thank you in advance for your generous support of the Westminster United Church Christmas Hamper Outreach Ministry.
Friendly Visitors Cookies
Our Friendly Visitor team makes cookies each year to bring to shut-ins and those who could use a warm reminder that they are so very loved by God. This year the Friendly Visitors will gather on December 5 at 11:00am to create gift bags of cookies and deliver them in the community.
Interested in helping with this ministry? Contact Paul Kneebone at paul.kneebone@rogers.com.
Durham Outlook for the Needy
Durham Outlook for the Needy serves between 150 to 250 meals per day, approximately 55,000 to 65,000 meals per year. It is Durham Region’s only full-service barrier free soup kitchen. Formerly known as St. Vincent’s Kitchen, it is located off King Street East in Oshawa on Simcoe Street South.
This Christmas Westminster will be volunteering at DOFN on December 12 from 3:30pm – 6:30pm. If you would like to participate this Christmas, please contact Paul Kneebone at paul.kneebone@rogers.com.
★ Interested in being a regular volunteer? Westminster United & Faith United are at DOFN on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 3:30pm – 6:30pm to serve and clean up that day’s 3-course meal. Presently, the team averages 8-10 volunteers from a list of 20 possible names. We would be happy to welcome you to the team as we do require a few more folks to be available, at least some months for our 2nd Tuesday duty shift. Our regular team members can be away on vacation-other obligations. Let Paul know if you can help out with the serving/cleanup for this 3-course meal. You will end up meeting some terrific fellow volunteers and see firsthand the desperate need.
Christmas Eve Food Drive
Non perishable food donations can be dropped off before the 10:30am, 2:00pm, or 4:00pm services on Christmas Eve in support of Westminster’s food bank, The Pantry.
We continue to have 45-55 clients per week which means we’re feeding 120-160. This faith community and the community around us continue to be stewards to those with food insecurity.
Items currently needed:
- Instant and ground coffee
- 1L Juice
- Rice
- Tuna
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Granola bars
- Pudding cups
- Crackers
- Toiletries-shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste
- Paper products-toilet paper, paper towels, tissues
Blessings,
Your Outreach Team
Mittens, Gloves, and Socks
Let’s Help Spread Warmth this Season of Advent!
Westminster’s Outreach Team invites our community of faith to mark this coming season of Advent by helping to provide new hats, new scarves, new mittens or gloves and new socks to friends in our wider community who could use some warmth this winter.
Adults, youth and children can be supported with our help.
Each Sunday of Advent (December 3, 10, 17, 24), donated items can be dropped off in our church’s Narthex (the gathering area before the Sanctuary) by the glass wall. Just look for the bright sign and the big decorated bin!
Donations from our community of faith will be provided to the following community groups for distribution to clients in need:
- Backdoor Mission http://www.backdoormission.ca
- YWCA http://www.ywcadurham.org
- Denise House http://www.thedenisehouse.com
- Durham Outlook For The Needy http://www.durhamoutlook.com
- Gate 3:16 http://www.gate316.org
- Refugee support efforts
Thank you for helping to shine the light of Christ brightly in and for our community this Advent season.
With gratitude and blessings,
Westminster’s Outreach Team