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DECEMBER 4, Sun, 10:30 - 2nd of Advent with Communion 4, Sun, 3pm - Octet Plus Concert 11, Sun, 10:30 - 3rd of Advent White Gift Sunday 11, Sun, 7:30pm - Lakeshore Band Christmas Dessert Concert 17, Sat, 3pm - Christmas Carol Singing 18, Sun, 10:30 - 4th of Advent – Carol Service 18, Sun, 4pm - 'Light in the Shadows' Service 24, Sat, 7pm - Family Christmas Service 24, Sat, 9:30pm - Communion Service JANUARY 01, Sun, 11am - Ecumenical service at St. Columba by the Lake 08, Sun, 10:30 - Sunday Worship 15, Sun, 10:30 - Food Sunday 22, Sun, 10:30 - Sunday Worship 29, Sun, 10:30 - Sunday Worship |
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EDITORS: Jane Cowell Poitras, Susan Hawke & Lynn Closs Merry Christmas from your editorial team and may you enjoy this story as much as we did. The story was told by Mark R. Leonard, a professional Santa Claus and written by his wife, Susan Leonard, a.k.a "Mrs. Claus:" When I recall precious Christmas memories, I think of a very special story, one which represents the magic and glory of the season. This is a true story, as told to me by my husband -- a professional Santa Claus -- of a real Christmas miracle which he experienced. A story that I think will cause YOU to believe ... Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see my Santa at Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap, holding a picture of a little girl. "Who is this?" asked Santa, smiling. "Your friend? Your sister?" "Yes, Santa," he replied. "My sister, Sarah, who is very sick," he said sadly. Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!" the child exclaimed. "She misses you," he added softly. Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy's face, asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted. "What is it?" Santa asked warmly. "Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa, but ...." the old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors. "The girl in the photograph ... my granddaughter ... well, you see ... she has leukemia and isn't expected to make it even through the holidays," she said through tear-filled eyes. "Is there any way, Santa ... any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That's all she's asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa." Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew what he had to do. "What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying," he thought with a sinking heart, "this is the least I can do." When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to Children's Hospital. "Why?" Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face. Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother earlier that day. "C'mon .... I'll take you there," Rick said softly. Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in the hall. Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half- closed door and saw little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met earlier that day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood by the bed, gently pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead. And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with a weary, sad look on her face. They were talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family, and their love and concern for Sarah. Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!" "Santa!" shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IV tubes intact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old -- gazed up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room. As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering "thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes. Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good girl that year. As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels. "Oh, yes, Santa ... I do!" she exclaimed. "Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you," he said. Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly, "Silent Night, Holy Night ... all is calm, all is bright." The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all. When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah's frail, small hands in his own. "Now, Sarah," he said authoritatively, "you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!" He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he had to. He had to give her the greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of HOPE. "Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah's mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa's side to thank him. "My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. "This is the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and hugged him. One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. "Hi, Santa! Remember me?!" "Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a *good* Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the only child in the world at that moment. "You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy -- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before. He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes. That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed -- and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "thank you Lord" Jane Cowell Poitras |
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Greetings to all of you as we enter the Advent
and Christmas seasons of 2011. With these
opening words, I hope you will, in whatever
ways you are able, take seriously the time of
preparation that is the Advent season. Most of
us (and I usually include myself in this as well)
want to hurry things along so that we can get to
the Christmas celebrations as quickly as
possible, and it is often too easy for most of us to
just give Advent a passing nod as we set our
sights on the joy and festivity of Christmas.
Perhaps this year I am more in tune with the
Advent season as a time of preparation. I find
myself thinking about a particular image that can
be found in hymn #380 in Voices United. The
hymn "She Comes Sailing on the Wind (She
Flies On)" speaks of the coming of God's Spirit
into the world and into our lives which are "like
an empty cradle waiting to be filled". Advent
reminds us of the many "voids" we can
experience in our lives; places that can seem
barren and lifeless until the presence of God
comes not only to fill the void, but to transform
the barren places into life renewed and joy
rekindled. Perhaps I am seeing Advent in this way this year because of my own particular experience. Most of you know that my mother passed away on November 1st following a long illness, and the past month since that time has brought me through the whole range of emotions that accompany such an event. At times I find a sense of comfort in knowing that her final wish has come to fruition: that her suffering would be over and she would be re-united with my father who went before her in 1983. At other times, the vacant spot that she has left here becomes the focus of my feelings. This was especially true when I and several of my family members went to her house last Saturday to begin the job of cleaning out over fifty years of accumulated "stuff". To be in her house without her there just seemed to exaggerate the sense of the void that that represents for me, knowing that she will never again be present in that house where she raised seven children, and that contains the final remnants of our life together as a family. Perhaps this is especially true at this time of year. In the past, this is when we would begin to get the family home ready for Christmas. This is when we would prepare to once again share together in all of our wonderful family traditions. But the house seems especially empty right now, and as I said, it seems especially hard to take at this time of year. But the longer we live, the more we come to realize that this is the stuff of life in this world. So many situations in our lives are like empty cradles waiting to be filled. In so many ways, we long for the presence of God to come into our midst and transform us and our lives; to surprise us with joy in the midst of sorrow, and the inviting glow of light coming to transform our darkness. Advent is an opportunity to really spend some time, not only preparing ourselves – our hearts, our lives, and our world – for the rebirth of the Christ-child in our midst, but also coming to terms with what it means that the God of unfathomable love has chosen to be here with us; a God who understands our joys and sorrows, our fears, our hopes, our pain, our longing. Our hearts are the places within us where we hold this longing, where the pain of grief and loss are felt, where joy wells up within us, where we dare to put our hope in the God who will lead us always into life renewed and abundant. On our best days, we can become the presence of God in this world for others, as we actively participate in the answering of our own prayers that God's kingdom might come here on earth. On other days, we may find that we are nothing more than that empty cradle waiting to be filled, as we watch and wait for the hope and promise of all that the coming of Christmas means. Rev. Scott |
| Remember to give generously when volunteers coming ringing your doorbell on Sunday, December 4th, collecting non-perishable items for the Food Bank. |
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Wednesday, December 14th at 7:30pm Summerlea and the Serendipity Group take delight in welcoming the community to a joyful evening of carols, scriptures, meditation and candlelight to help put the glow of Christmas deep in everyone's heart. Our guest speaker will be Rolanda Taylor, our field placement student from the United Theological College. Please come and bring your friends and neighbours for a beautiful time of friendship and refreshments. The free-will offering will be given to the Benevolent Fund and l'Oeuvre de La Soupe which provides help for needy families in Lachine. |
| "Light in the Shadows" is a quiet, informal worship service for those who find the Christmas Season particularly difficult. This is an opportunity for us to acknowledge the shadows in our life, and to give thanks for the light and hope of the Christmas Story. We will gather in the Sanctuary at 4:00 pm on December 18. The service will be followed by some refreshments and conversation. |
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Thanks to you who purchased
Claxton and Grant cakes. The funds go towards
handicapped groups on the West Island. Terry Jones, Lakeshore Civitan Club |
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Outreach has just made its 52nd loan to Kiva on
behalf of Summerlea. Through KIVA we have made
loans totalling $2025 to the world's working poor.
Loans are now being repaid by entrepreneurs who
are working to better their lives in Mozambique,
Paraguay, Kenya, Viet Nam, Guatemala, United
States, Peru, Nicaragua, Ukraine, El Salvador,
Uganda and Senegal. |
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The Gift Tree has arrived! Please choose a gift tag
and purchase a gift suitable for the age and gender of
the child on the gift tag attached to your decoration.
The wrapped gifts will be collected at the White Gift
Service on Sunday, December 11th during
10:30am service Please remember to clearly mark
what the gift is, and the age and gender for whom it is
intended, ie: Lego, boy, 8 yrs old or jewellery kit,
girl, 10 yrs old. Your generous gifts will accompany
Christmas Food baskets for families in the
community.
Please note that this year the decorations are origami peace cranes and were prepared by Janet Smart. |
| An Ecumenical Service will take place at St. Columba by the Lake, 11 Rodney, Pointe Claire, on Sunday, January 1st at 11am. There will be no service at Summerlea United. This is an opportunity to give those people who want to attend church on January 1st, a place to worship which will be lively and have a lot more people with whom to sing and pray. Join us. |
| Look for Carolyn Osborne who will be selling Living Gifts each Sunday after service until Christmas. A $30 donation will purchase 6 Christmas dinner meals for low income families during the Christmas season. A $45 donation will purchase an outing for children in the Alternate School which offers children a head start and promotes parental involvement. A $60 donation will purchase five hours of one-on-one tutoring for children struggling with reading and mathematics. A $100 donation will purchase the participation for one month of an intellectually challenged adult in the Hand-in-Hand day programme which promotes autonomy and skills acquisition through stimulating recreational and educational activities. |
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A word from your Stewardship Chairperson. Envelopes will soon be available for those who requested offering envelopes on their stewardship form for the 2012 givings. If you've not yet requested envelopes and would like some, please call John Coffin (514-634-1116) and he will supply you with a number and a box of envelopes. A gentle reminder to please fill in and return your stewardship commitment forms in order for the church to prepare its budget for 2012. Many thanks to those who have already done so. |
| You are reminded that all contributions to Summerlea United must be received by December 31st, for 2011 income tax receipt purposes. |
| Ladies, as we are approaching the close of another year we would like to remind you that time is running out to get your donations in for Green Envelopes. Thank you. |
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Every year Summerlea's Bazaar evolves a little. This
year we were happy to welcome some new faces and
willing hands who really made a big difference! Of
course we also missed a few old friends. Some stalls
were relocated, some contracted a little, while others
expanded, but all in all it was once again a great
success. $16,500 or so, and still counting! We have received many appreciative comments both from within and outside the church. We have also received some constructive suggestions that we will collate for future discussion. What a wonderful day of fun, laughter, community building, team spirit and fellowship. It is such a privilege to be part of this congregation. Thank you all! Kate, Nancy and Sinclair |
| THANK YOU to everyone, especially the "Mumbo Jumbos", who worked tirelessly to make 1,604 small meat pies, 618 large meat pies and 210 apple pies....The price remains the same as last year ($8 mini pies), $7 large meat pies, and $6 for apple, although the price of the meat went up a bit this year (30 cents a pound). If you would like to purchase some, come quick, as we don't have many left. |
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Sunday, December 11th at
7:30 pm in Acadia Hall. The Lakeshore Concert Band will present its Annual Dessert Concert at Summerlea again this year. Enjoy home-made desserts and an evening of musical entertainment. Tickets are $15 ($12 students and seniors) at the door, and $12 ($10) if bought in advance. See Leslie or Keith for more information. The Lakeshore Concert Band will present its Annual Children's Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 17th at 2:00 pm at Valois United Church, 70 Belmont Avenue, Pointe Claire. Refreshments for the children, and a special guest too! Admission is free, but donations to the Gazette Christmas Fund will be appreciated. "Les éléments de la saison": Concerto Della Donna, under the direction of Iwan Edwards, will be giving three performances of its annual Christmas Concert this year: Wednesday, December 7 at 8 p.m. at Christchurch Cathedral (corner of St. Catherine and University), downtown Montréal. Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m. at Wyman Memorial United Church, 513 Main Street, Hudson. Sunday, December 11 at 8 p.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, 99 Mount Pleasant, Pointe Claire. Tickets at $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and students may be purchased at the door. However, Undeg Edwards will have tickets for the Pointe Claire Concert available or Sunday mornings. |
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The bazaar is over and Christmas is rapidly
approaching! The Senior choir is preparing for the
Candlelight Service on the 14th of December. We are
augmented again this year by Bob Kanemy, Dik
Harris, and Andreas Vitols. My thanks to all the
participants in the musical programme for their hard
work and dedication. I know we will all enjoy
ourselves on this special day. This year, there will be a Carol Service on Dec. 18th at the 10:30am service. The choir will be singing two anthems, and the rest of the singing will be done by you, the congregation, in the form of carols, interspersed with readings in the style of nine lessons and carols. I hope you enjoy it. On that same day, there will again be a service of Light in the Shadows for folks who find the Christmas season very stressful and often sad. It will be held in the afternoon at 4:00pm. Please mention it to anyone you know from the local community that you think might need this reflective service. It is always very nice. Don't forget on December 11th @ 7:30pm, The Lakeshore Concert Band will be performing their annual Christmas Dessert Concert. This is a lot of fun and not to be missed! See the announcement elsewhere in this newsletter. Merry Christmas to everyone and Health and Happiness in the New Year! Connie Osborne, music director |
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by Jane Cowell Poitras Market Chronicles - Stories and Recipes from Montreal's Marché Jean-Talon, by Susan Semenek While we do not usually review cookbooks in this column, this book is much more than just recipes - it lovingly tells the tales of the vendors and farmers who have kiosks at Montreal's famed Jean-Talon Market. Interspersed with glorious colour photographs and outstanding recipes, this book is a foodie's dream. While there are some importers chronicled in the book, most of the stories are about local food producers and for those of us who attempt to eat locally-sourced products for environmental reasons or who want to know exactly where our food is coming from, this is a real plus. Available in English or French versions, this book would make a terrific present for the food-lovers on your Christmas list - or for friends who have moved away from Montreal. Both versions are available at the bookstore at the Jean-Talon Market. Last, but not least, there is a Lachine connection to this book. The author, Gazette writer Susan Semenek, is a resident of 54th Avenue. Mamalita - An Adoption Memoir by Jessica O'Dwyer Before reading this book, I was interested by the subject of international adoptions, but I was amazed at how compelling this book was and how hard it was to put down. One reviewer, herself an adoptee and an adoptive mother, described the book as "reading like a thriller" - I cannot help but agree. Without giving away all the details, the book describes the bureaucratic nightmare involving an American couple adopting in Guatemala about 10 years ago. (In the meantime, the American government has closed the door to adoptions from Guatemala.) While the inner workings of the two governments involved make a fascinating read, it was the love this mother felt for her child from the get-go that touched me the most. Fortunately, most of us don't have to fight with civil servants for the right to foster and adopt children, like Jessica O'Dwyer had to do - we just give birth to our babies and take them home. This woman's capacity for love and her perseverance was something to behold. Her openness to the Guatemalan way of life and her thankfulness to her child's biological mother, has meant that her daughter has grown up surrounded by love and involved in her indigenous culture. |
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After opening stockings and gifts Christmas morning,
we serve this French-Canadian favourite spread on
toast or bagels for breakfast...Recipe can be easily
doubled. CRÉTONS 1 pound lean ground pork 2 small or 1 large onion finely diced 1 cup dried plain bread crumbs 1 1/2 cups 35% cream Ground cloves to taste Salt and pepper to taste Mix ingredients and place in a covered double boiler over high heat, stirring occasionally. You may need to occasionally add water to the bottom of the double boiler so it does not boil dry. Cook for a couple of hours until pork is well-cooked and liquid fat is readily visible. Spoon off as much fat as you can and pack into large ramekins and refrigerate. Can be kept for up to 3 days. DATE PINWHEELS Chewy, rich in flavor and attractive on a plate of Christmas cookies Cookie Dough: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour ¼ tsp soda ½ tsp salt, scant ¼ cup brown sugar, packed ½ cup butter or margarine ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1/2 tsp vanilla Date Filling: ½ lb whole fresh dates or 8 oz package pitted dates 1/3 cup of water ¼ cup of sugar ½ cups cup fine-cut nuts cup 2 tsp lemon juice ½ tsp grated lemon rind Filling: Pit whole dates~ and cut either kind small, dropping into a 1-qt saucepan. Add water and sugar, place over moderate heat and cook and stir to a medium-thick paste, from 3 to 4 min. Remove from heat; cool to lukewarm, then stir in nuts, lemon juice and rind. Lightly flour a pastry cloth and roll cookie dough into a 10 x I4-inch rectangle. Now spread Date Filling carefully over dough in a uniformly thick layer. Begin at narrow end, roll up like jelly roll, using cloth to facilitate rolling. Now wrap roll in waxed paper, then in thin cardboard and fasten with rubber bands and chill in refrigerator until very firm. Remove to cutting board, remove paper, and with a sharp knife, cut into slices about ¼ -inch thick. Place about I-inch apart on prepared sheets. Bake about 7 min or until a golden brown-do not over bake. Remove to cake rack to cool on baking sheets about a minute, then remove to rack. Makes 3 dozen. |
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Jane Poitras is honorary vice president of the Old
Brewery Mission Christmas Drive. Once again she
has asked us to contribute items for the Christmas
Party at the Old Brewery Mission on December 15th.
They are asking for socks and GLOVES. There is a
box at the back of the church. You are asked please
to place your contributions in this box no later than
Sunday December 11th. Thank you. Outreach Committee |
| We'll gather at Summerlea at 3pm and from there spread out to share the songs of the season to residents of the Bayview, Les Floralies and the Belvedere. Folks of all ages are welcome! After carolling, Linda & Roy Rodd are kindly opening up their home for a Potluck Dinner at around 6:30pm. Look for the sign-up sheet after Sunday service. |
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Thanks to all our generous supporters of the William
Hunter Memorial Fund which honours the memory of
William Hunter, a former member of Summerlea
who died suddenly in his first years as a United
Church Minister. We receive loose offerings from
the early service on Christmas Eve and the special
envelopes you will find at the back of the church or
with this newsletter. These offerings are our only
source of funds for the support of our sponsored
children. All donations are tax deductible. We currently sponsor three children overseas at a cost of $456.00 per child per year, an annual cost of $1,368. The children are Tahiru, a 14 year old boy from Ghana, Noami, a 9 year old girl from Ghana and a 7 year old girl, Angelica from Paraguay. We had a fourth child, Suman Jana, who has just graduated from his program with skills to enable him to help in further developing his village. In the coming year we will consider sponsorship of another child. Your donations will allow us to continue with our ongoing development work and provide families with nutritious food, clean water and health care. Together we are making a big difference to children and their families in the developing world. Thank you again for your continued support. Dale Romagosa |
| Another $158 of coins to go towards completing our 22nd mile to benefit Saint Columba House. Please keep those coins coming in! Remember, every coin makes a difference. Many thanks to Barbara Davidson who continues to roll the pennies. |
| 2012 United Church Calendars are available at the church office for $5.50. To reserve one, please call Susan at 514-634-2651. |
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Rhodes Oulton recently shared with the office that he and
Mary are both looking forward to Mary's coming home
after 8 weeks of hospitalization and convalescence. After a hospital stay, Lewis Guynan is now convalescing at the Julius Richardson Rehabilitation Hospital and making progress. Our thoughts and prayers are with these dear Summerleaites and their spouses. Our sympathy is extended to Betty Smith and her family upon the sudden death of her daughter, Jane Couture, on October 7th; to our minister, Scott Patton and his family upon the death of his mother on November 1st in Lennoxville; and to John and Valerie Coffin and their family upon the death of their brother-in-law, Greg Gavin, on November 5th. Our sincere condolences to John, Lynn, Ryan & Delaney Closs upon the death of John's sister, Anne, on November 27th. Please keep these families as well as our shut-ins, those in hospital or recuperating at home in your thoughts and in your prayers during this Advent season. Wishing you peace, joy, and good health for the New Year. Until the next time, Susan |