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The theme for Advent proposed by the Liturgy Team for this year is

From Darkness to Light,

and this is of course, the whole premise of the Season of Advent.

This is also the reason the Faith Enrichment Team thought that it might be a good idea to have our December session in the evening,

when we can actually all be in the darkness of our own time zones and homes, and break through it when we light our candles, sing our songs, pray our prayers, and share with each other.

We are proposing a theme from Joyce Rupp’s book

“Dear Heart Come Home”,

where she speaks of leaving behind the old maps

that don’t serve us anymore to take up a new one,

even when we are not sure where it may lead.

Have we ever kept old life maps that are no longer useful to us,

just because … they are familiar, they have helped in the past,

or just maybe because they are a kind of comforting in a way?

Maybe this Advent we can reflect on how we need to proceed

in our faith,

in our communities,

in our world

with trust that the darkness will never extinguish the Light.

Meister Eckhart speaks of the “Scintilla Animae”,

the “Spark of the Soul”..

maybe this is where our new paths will begin.

Program Aid for The Old and The New Maps

(Participants will light 2nd Advent candle, and bring paper and pen for meditation.)

LICCF presents RUTH in 5 sessions Sundays 6:30-8:00 MST Starts Jan 7, 2024

Bring along: a translation of the book of Ruth from the Hebrew scriptures;

a notebook for your responses

 

THE STUDY

The character Ruth is known widely for her spoken line to her mother-in-law Naomi, “Wherever you will go, I will go,” but what is the rest of the story about these biblical widows? How is this narrative in four chapters a teacher and a light for us in today’s world of border-crossers, the often-heard sentiment that “things should stay the way they’ve always been,” and women’s role in society, in the Church? Join us (LICCF) for 5 Monday evenings to pray with, reflect on, and discuss the book of Ruth with audio commentary by Pádraig Ó Tuama, theologian, and written excerpts from Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg’s chapter on Ruth in her book The Murmuring Deep: Reflections on the Biblical Unconscious.

            REGISTER

One week or so prior to each zoom gathering, Teresa will send out her study questions and the commentary to prepare for the gathering. Please register at LICCF.ca at the “Bible Study” tab to get on the email list for materials. We’ll use a “circle” format in breakout rooms.

CIRCLES on Zoom, an exercise in listening.

Establish an order of participant names for each round. Always allow for a “pass” and “return” to the participant if desired. Someone reads the question for that round. Each person responds in order without interruption or cross talk. After sharing on the question, a final round offers people a chance to mention something that touched them, that they wonder about, are grateful for or that they noticed (not a discussion per se).

ZOOM LINK Repeating for 5 Sunday nights https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83332781787

STARTS January 7 and runs weekly until February 4 6:30 – 8:00 MST; 7:30- 9:00 CST; 8:30-10 PM ET; 5:30-7:00 PT

Jan 7               Introduction: Lectio divina, Pádraig Ó Tuama audio commentary, sharing.

Jan 14             Session 1 Ruth Chapter 1 with lectio divina, short audio and sharing.

Jan 21             Session 2 Ruth Chapter 2 with lectio divina, short audio and sharing.

Jan 28             Session 3 Ruth Chapter 3 with lectio divina, short audio and sharing.

Feb 4               Session 4 Ruth Chapter 4 with lectio divina, short audio and sharing.

Ecumenical statement on the escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel

---

En Français

KAIROS Canada and its member churches and agencies, condemn the current violence, against Israeli and Palestinian civilians, in Israel, Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and call on Canada to do everything in its power to support an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.  

In response to the spiraling violence, they have issued an ecumenical statement, A Cry to End the Violence and to uphold the rights of all civilians to life and freedom from violence and discrimination. 

Read full statement here.

Transcript of Sermon:

Christ in the Rubble
A Liturgy of Lament
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church Bethlehem
Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 

We are angry… 

We are broken… 

This should have been a time of joy; instead, we are mourning. We are fearful. 

20,000 killed. Thousands under the rubble still. Close to 9,000 children killed in the most brutal ways. Day after day after day. 1.9 million displaced! Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed. Gaza as we know it no longer exists. This is an annihilation. A genocide. 

Read More

(Ministry Team leaders are asked to reserve dates for meetings after checking here and above to see whether the dates conflict with dates already chosen by other Teams or dates of Community events.  Please send notice of dates by using the comments form below.)

• Prayers for the people of the war-torn parts of the world.
• For a safe and happy holiday trip.
• For all who are discerning changes in their lives, for guidance
• People of Gaza and Israel
• For my nephew and all who struggle with addition
• For Andrew's struggle caring for his parents, and Jennifer's struggle dealing with care for hers.
• For the most vulnerable being housed outdoors during the winter for safety adn resources
• Prayers for ill family members.
• A friend Anita has two types of stage 4 cancer. Please pray for a miracle!
• Elizabeth Fleiger, Deceased Associate SCIC, Saint John, New Brunswick. Funeral on Tuesday, 12th.
• For the Filipin family arriving in Beaueejour Manitoba this week -- that they will be welcomed warmly and soon feel this is a good "home."
• For people to celebrate Christmas with the environment in mind (from wrapping to meals, etc.)
• For Margaret Anderson battling cancer;  for all those who are sick, lonely, feeling isolated and are struggling during the holiday season; prayers for our older brothers and sisters in the faith as they celebrate the festival of lights (I can't spell Hannauka - LOL:) Blessings to you all:)
• My aunt and cousin who ere killed in a car accident in ‘68 Dec 21st
• My first Advent time without my mom, I'm finding this very hard going. Thanks for your prayers.
• For people to experience the love and joy
• For all in service of others
• For Louise and Andy who lost their son saving his aunt and cousins from drowning.
• For voices of Indigenous peoples to be heard
• Thank you so much, what a beautiful service :)
• Thank you for the wonderful liturgy,  Have a blessed Christmas!

Kathy C. our MMICC KAIROS liaison recommends the following prayer:

Prayers of the People at the Eucharist for the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time -- Solemnity of the Cosmic Christ

P: With hearts filled with gratitude to God for the blessing of our lives we pray…

All: In your boundless love, hear our prayer.

For those among us who are poor and in need of food, clothing and shelter, for those who are lonely and isolated, for those who are in prison, those who are persecuted for speaking truth, for those seeking asylum from war and terror, for those tempted to despair; we pray. R.

That our hearts be broken open to see the Christ in those in need and that we respond generously with the love of Christ within us embracing our sisters and brothers as we would Jesus; we pray. R.

For all those who work for peace in these times of war and conflict, that they receive the support they need and are blessed by our prayers; we pray. R.

For all those things we hold deep in our hearts…(pause); we pray…R.

P: With grateful hearts we lift our prayers to you, God of overflowing goodness. You know our needs even before we ask. In your love and mercy hear our prayers and answer them in the name of Jesus our brother.

All: Amen.

• Pat F. is celebrating a birthday on December 15th
• Lionel F., grandson of Pat F. was born in November 2023
  
• Cathi C. is celebrating a birthday on December 21st
  
• +Jane is celebrating a birthday on December 26th

• +Jane and Felix are celebrating a 49th marriage anniversary on December 29th

Donations to F.R.O.G. (Forever Rely On God) are used for minimal operating expenses.  Most of your gifts are passed through to organizations that serve those in need.  Suggestions for where to make donations are welcome.  For information on making donations click here.  Sorry, MMICC is not able to give charitable donation receipts for income tax purposes. 


2023 Donations from MMICC to Charities
     
Development & Peace                                                    200   
Regina Food Bank                                                          100   
KAIROS                                                                        100   
Indigenous Christian Fellowship                                    100   
Sophia House - 2nd Stage Women's Shelter                    105   
LuLu's Lodge -Housing support 2SLGBTQ+                100   
Carmichael Outreach - support for homeless                  100   
Canadian Cancer Society - memorial donation                  50   
RCWP Canada                                                                 250   
Angry Tias & Abuelas - migrant & refugee assistance      233.84
Warm Welcome (proceeds from AdventVoice concert)    160
   
Total                                                                               1498.84



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