Advent is finally here! Join us on the journey as we prepare for the Christ Child’s birth. A huge thanks to those who put up the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary this week. Things are different without being able to gather together in person but we hope you will join us on Zoom (contact the church office for the link).
WORSHIP SERVICES • Advent 1 (Hope) – Sunday November 29 at 10 a.m. • Advent 2 (Peace) – Sunday December 6 – Communion at 10 a.m. • Advent 3 (Joy) – Sunday December 13 – Christmas Pageant at 10 a.m. • Advent 4 (Love) – Sunday December 20 at 10 a.m. • Christmas Eve – Thursday December 24 at 7 p.m. • Christmas Day – Friday December 25 at 10 a.m. • First Sunday after Christmas – Sunday December 27 at 10 a.m. • Epiphany Sunday – Sunday January 3 at 10 a.m. SPECIAL ADVENT PROGRAM • Thursday Advent Hymn Sing Evenings - December 3, 10, 17 at 7 p.m. MORNING ZOOM MEETINGS IN DECEMBER • ALPHA - Tuesday Dec. 1, 8, 15 at 10 a.m. • Hymn Sing - Wednesday Dec. 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 10 a.m. • Note: Thursday and Friday morning Zoom meetings not running during December
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Unfortunately, the Covid-19 virus is still spreading around the world and we have to continue to be very cautious protecting others and ourselves.
This kind of isolation can create high anxiety and often depression. I am with you during this difficult time, and we go through this together. The summer months are behind us and we will spend more time inside in our cozy homes. These months, as your minister, I will provide a variety of programs on Zoom, which will give you a great opportunity to meet and interact with our Calvin family and friends. Please feel free to invite your family members and friends to join us. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, our Zoom meeting will start at 10:00 AM. For those who are working during the day, I will provide an evening Zoom program on Thursdays at 7:00 PM. Our programs will be kept between 50-60 minutes. You can leave our meetings at any time.
If you would like to receive the Zoom link and password or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (cell phone 226-647-4705 / email revfrank@calvinchurch.ca). Please feel free to share this information with your friends and relatives to join us. Let’s share God’s love this way as well in this world. May the Lord help us to grow in faith and care, and to bring others to His immeasurable and unconditional love. I hope you will join us. Blessings, Rev. Frank To the congregation of Calvin Presbyterian Church:
By now, you will have heard the news about the global pandemic COVID-19. The Session of Calvin Presbyterian Church unanimously has made the difficult decision to cancel Sunday services and all of Calvin’s programs until further notice. We are using an abundance of caution and do not want to put anyone at risk. Our hope is that we can resume services by Palm Sunday April 5, but we will have to wait and see. All Calvin events and meetings are cancelled, including: Seniors Sing-a-Long – March 17; Lenten Hymn Sing – March 19 and 26; Calvin Stampers – March 18; Session Meeting – March 18; Family Movie/Pizza Night – March 21; Badminton - Friday nights; Choir Practice - Thursday nights. Michael Turman’s good-bye celebration will be postponed until a later time. Rev. Frank is available to talk with people on his cell phone at (226) 647-4705 and weekly sermons will be posted on our website at www.calvinchurch.ca/service. Rev. Frank is available to visit people on an individual basis – either at your home or in his church office, by appointment. The funeral service for Bill Martin on Saturday March 14 at 2 p.m. is still going ahead as planned. Live streaming will be available on the Henry Walser Funeral Home website. The church office will remain open. Rental groups will be given the option to continue using the building during this time but the kitchen will be closed. A message from the Presbyterian Church in Canada: In response to the recent news about the coronavirus (COVID-19), our prayers to God are for those who are ill with this virus and for those who care for them, especially in countries that have been most affected. We also pray for health and frontline workers as they face their daily tasks. And we remember those communities and businesses that have been affected and any people facing discrimination as a result of the virus. Public Health officials tell us that the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to any virus. General prevention measures include:
We are very sorry that we have had to make this difficult decision. But we did so for your protection. Thank you for your support and understanding. May the Lord continue to protect us and keep us safe. Our hope is that we will be able to worship together again soon. Bonnie Street Rev. Frank Szatmari Clerk of Session Minister ![]()
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Sunday February 16, 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Invite your friends to join us for an hour of singing traditional and contemporary hymns. >> Beginning February 4 at noon, our Encounter group will be screening a series of movies. Bring your lunch! The first film: Risen (2015), “follows the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton), are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem." This will play over two weeks, Feb. 4 and 11.
>> February 18 and 25 film: Luther (2003) "Armed with no more than his faith and quick wit, one man confronts the greatest powers on earth. Martin Luther's (Joseph Fiennes) bold actions foster an era of personal and religious freedoms unprecedented in history. A young law student, Luther abruptly enters a monastery when he believes his life is spared during a violent lightning storm. Luther proves an eager, apt disciple and is selected to travel to Rome on church business. He enters the holy city with the wide-eyed ideals of a young man only to have them shattered." Join us on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. in Calvin Hall for breakfast followed by a discussion regarding the topic of Sexuality in the Church at 9:00 a.m. The panel will consist of: Rev. Daniel Cho, St. Mark’s Toronto and former Moderator of the 2018 General Assembly: Rev. Reuben St. Louis, Nassagaweya Presbyterian Church, Campbellville; and Rev. Linda Ashfield, Knox Waterloo. All three ministers will share their opinions and will respond to questions from the audience or from questions submitted to Rev. Szatmari prior to the meeting. Attendance is optional.
This year’s theme calls us to move from shared prayer to shared action. The international resources for the 2020 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by colleagues in Malta. The theme, “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2), remembers the historic shipwreck of Paul on the island of Malta and calls us to a greater generosity to those in need.
Pulpit Exchange - On Sunday January 19, there is a pulpit exchange among the ministers in the Forest Hill area. We will welcome Rev. Gary Clark from Foresthill United Church for our morning worship service and Rev. Dr. Frank Szatmari will be preaching there. Taizé Service - Sunday January 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Calvin Church. A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons. There is no preaching. The style of prayer practiced at Taizé has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations. The prayers consist of short chants, repeated again and again. The words are sung over many times. Ecumenical Service – Sunday January 26 at 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 49 Blueridge Ave, Kitchener. Join us as we celebrate the birth or our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Christmas Eve - Tuesday December 24 at 7 p.m. Christmas Day - Wednesday December 25 at 10:15 a.m. |