Council News: Click here to read the summary of the November 30, 2023 meeting.
ChurchPost: Click here to read the November issue of ChurchPost.
The poinsettias at the front of the sanctuary are donated in loving memory of Harry and Mary Mossman.
Advent Happening will take place on Sunday, December 3 as we mark the beginning of the Christmas season. After the worship service, we will be making gingerbread houses followed by a potluck lunch. Surnames A-H please bring desserts and surnames I-Z please bring sandwiches or cheese and crackers. An offering of $12 to cover the costs of the houses, icing and candy will gladly be accepted at the door but Interac e-transfers are preferred!! Send payment to accounting@rideaupark.ca with a note that it is for Advent Happening. Volunteers to make icing on Saturday, December 2, 1-3pm would be greatly appreciated. Please email Meg Steele at lolabooey@hotmail.com to reserve your gingerbread house or to volunteer to make icing.
Rideau Park is holding Ringing and Singing in Christmas on Sunday, December 3 at 7pm, featuring Rideau Park’s Chancel Choir, Touch of Brass, La Bell Ensemble and Ringing Praise Handbell Choirs and Youth Bells, accompanied by Andrew Ager. There will also be opportunities to sing along with your favourite Christmas carols. A freewill offering will be accepted and proceeds from the concert will be shared between our Christmas Cheer program and the Heron Emergency Food Centre.
Last call for Christmas shoeboxes! If you picked up a shoebox in support of Rideau Park’s Christmas Shoebox Program, please return your wrapped and filled box to the church on Sunday, December 3. For those who would still like to pick up a box, there is still time! We still have 20 boxes left to fill, particularly for boys aged 3 to 5 and boys aged 9 to 15. Boxes and information sheets will be available in Beecroft Hall after the service on December 3. If you cannot fill a box yourself but would still like to participate, monetary donations are incredibly helpful and allow us to fill the remaining boxes on your behalf. Please email Laura Presley (pattiel@rogers.com) for more information.
Rideau Park holds a Christmas afternoon of singing and treats at Clementine Tower, a seniors apartment building near our church. A tree has been donated but we need decorations for it. If you will be in church Sunday morning Dec. 3, or attending our Christmas concert, please see if you have any Christmas decorations you no longer use: for the tree, or a garland or other decorations that could be put up in their lounge. Please drop off the items in Georgina’s office. Thank you!
The UCW is holding their Candlelight Christmas Service on Monday, December 4 at 1:30pm in the sanctuary. All ladies are welcome to attend. The service will be followed by a time of conversation and refreshment in the Parlour. For those interested, a short finance meeting will be held at one end of the Parlour immediately after the service. Attendance is optional. We look forward to seeing you there.
Wednesday Evening Advent Series:
* Encarna worship installation will be held on December 6, 7-8:30pm. Our annual Advent experience of prayer, reflection and sacred space is in the Parlour.
* Advent Labyrinth Walk will be available on December 13 starting at 7pm in Beecroft Hall. Come join us as we explore Advent themes of journeying to hope.
* A Service of the Longest Night will take place on December 20 at 7pm on Zoom. A contemplative service that will honour the Christmas story through scripture, music, prayer and silence. Please contact one of the ministers for the Zoom link.
The books in the walkway are on sale for $1 each. There’s a wide variety and new ones are added weekly. We’ve also added some puzzles and games. Good entertainment for a cold winter’s night! Please put your money in the box.
New Opera Lyra is putting on Scrooge’s Christmas by Andrew Ager on Saturday, December 9 at 7pm at Rideau Park. Tickets are available from newoperalyra.eventbrite.com.
As she prepares for her retirement, we will recognize Georgina’s contribution to life at Rideau Park on Sunday, December 10. We will thank her during the service, with cake and conversation at coffee hour afterwards. Then, in the new year, we will plan a congregational soup lunch in her honour and there will be opportunities to contribute towards two of her favourite causes in lieu of a gift to Georgina herself.
Our Annual Christmas Pageant is happening on Sunday, December 17 at 10am. Helpers are still needed for rehearsals, managing costumes, helping groups of younger participants, etc. For information about the pageant, email rpucpageant2023@gmail.com.
The Christmas Cheer committee anticipates the need for support at Christmas will be great again this year. The decision was made to support 175 families, requiring an estimated budget of $15,000. We will be providing grocery gift cards again this year. The Rideau Park congregation and community have been tremendously generous in its support of this initiative, and we hope this year will be no different. Donations can be made by e-transfer to accounting@rideaupark.ca; by credit card through CanadaHelps.org; or by cheque payable to “Rideau Park United Church”. Please indicate that the donation is for Christmas Cheer. If you have any questions, please email Gretchen Conrad at glgilconrad@gmail.com.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Please join us for Coffee and Conversation in Beecroft Hall after the Sunday service.
Sunday School: While service is being held, children are welcome to attend Sunday school. We have staffed childcare and our junior class in the downstairs kindergarten room. Our intermediate class is in the Beecroft Hall balcony. Our youth class meets in the Parlour. Children do not need to be registered to attend.
Meditation Group Online meets Thursdays at 10am on Zoom for 20 minutes of quiet, peace and mindfulness. Group meditation is a deepening experience. Steve Clifton leads the group – contact him at sclifton@rideaupark.ca for an invitation.
Cherub Choir gathers on Thursday evenings at 6pm in Room B12.
Healing Pathway: Christian-centred, energy-based healing sessions are offered Thursdays, by appointment, between 12:30 and 2:30 pm. To book an appointment, please email healingpathway@rideaupark.ca, or speak to Sharon Sanderson or Brian Neal. Shorter sessions (2-3 minutes) are also offered in the Chapel immediately following the worship service most Sundays.
Handbell Choirs: Adults practice Monday/Tuesday evenings and play at the church and in the community. Bell choirs for children have also resumed. For more information, contact: gordon@dewis.ca.
Drums Alive is not meeting in December. For more information, contact Iain at choirdirector@rideaupark.ca or 613-733-3156 ext. 301.
Euchre Club meets every Thursday from 1-3pm in the Parlour. Join us for a few hours of cards, fellowship, refreshments and fun; no expertise required! Contact Rod Hagglund at 613-866-9791 or rhagglund@rogers.com for more information.
RPUC has Knitting and Quilting Groups: Knitting on Mondays from 1-3:30pm and Quilting on Thursdays from 9:30am-12pm in the Parlour. For more information on both groups, please contact Doreen Hamilton at prayerchain@rideaupark.ca. There are a variety of flannelette baby quilts for sale. The quilts can be viewed and purchased on Thursday mornings from 9:30am-12pm or by calling the church office to set up another time. Cost is $45 each.
Patrick Burns Armstrong is now teaching piano lessons here at Rideau Park on Tuesday evenings. Students of all ages and skill levels are welcome! For more information, please send an email to patrickburnsarmstrongmusic@gmail.com for a free trial lesson.
Alcoholics Anonymous:
Oasis meets in person on Mondays from 8-9pm in Brackenridge Hall.
12 Steps to Serenity meets on Thursdays at 7:30pm in Beecroft Hall.