St pauls easter newsletter_march23_rev (2)
2020 Nov Dec Newsletter ss picture (1)
It has been a difficult year for many people. Many of us have been isolated and following Covid 19 Health recommendations to limit exposure to the virus. St. Paul’s returned to worship services in July with social distancing, masks and sanitation procedures in place. The Board of Managers purchased three TV screens to project the Sunday Service details on. This has replaced the weekly bulletins. Rev. Bruce continues to prepare an on line service for those who are uncomfortable with larger gatherings. Heather Pemberton has been updating our webpage on a regular basis so be sure to check out the Calendar of Events and News along with Bruce’s on line services. The link to our webpage is https://presbyterian-winchester.ca/
We want to share with you some events that will be happening at St. Paul’s in late November and December.
Calendar of Events Summary
November 29 St. Andrew Day Theme for Worship at 10 am
1st Sunday of Advent — Hope
December 6 Communion at 10 am
2nd Sunday of Advent – Peace
December 13 Family Sunday at 10 am
3rd Sunday of Advent – Joy
December 20 Worship Service at 10 am
4th Sunday of Advent – Love
December 24 Christmas Eve Service at 7 pm
December 25 Merry Christmas
December 27 Worship Service at 1:30 pm followed by farewell gathering for Rev. Bruce Kemp
January 1 Happy New Year
Retirement Day for Rev. Bruce Kemp “Thank you for all you have done for St. Paul’s worship community”
Bruce’s Christmas Message
Christmas 2020 will be the eighth and last Christmas that I will be with you. I was so looking forward to a joyous celebration with trees, candles, carol singing and being able to shake hands and even embrace one another as we mark again the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. I was looking forward to the Family Christmas Service and watching your children as they listened to and participated in the retelling of the Christmas story. The church is a lot quieter these days without them and they – along with you, the parents – are sorely missed. We are missing others too for this time in life has affected all of us in some way.
And so, we may not be with each other physically this year and more Christmas gatherings will be virtual this year, but it need not stop us from remembering and celebrating the gifts of this coming season. We can still celebrate the love of Christmas; we can still celebrate the hope of Christmas; we can still celebrate the joy of Christmas; and we can still celebrate the peace of Christmas. Let us not forget that the world into which Christ was born was a world where the people lived in a lockdown of sorts as they were a conquered people whose land was occupied by a foreign army. For many in that time, there was no sense of joy, no sense of hope, no sense of love and no sense of peace. Yet that was the time and the place that God chose to come and be born as one of us. That person – that incarnation of God – would bring joy, hope, love, and peace to all who would receive him.
May you not forget that same person is with us still today and that in this time and this place he is still willing and able to bring his joy, his hope, his love and his peace to each of us. Embrace the gifts of God and know that God is with us now and forevermore.
God bless
Rev. Bruce Kemp
Family Service
Join us on Sunday, December 13 for the Family Service. The service will be highlighting the 12 symbols of Christmas and families will be preparing a video to share with the congregation.
Each year we collect items for Naomi Family Resource Centre to share our generosity and blessings we enjoy with others. A table will be set up at the front of the church and you are welcome to drop off items at any time. If you prefer, you can make a donation to Naomi Family Resource Centre. Just indicate on your envelope the amount that is assigned to Naomi House and we will give a cheque along with the donated items. See below for details about what it needed.
Support to the Naomi Family Resource Centre
The Resource Centre is in need of new clothing and household items. The wish list can be viewed at
Some of the items you might want to consider are: toilet paper, new women’s pajamas, personal care items like shampoo, Kleenex, non perishable food items (peanut butter, soup, tea, coffee) gift cards for Foodland, Wal-Mart, Shoppers Drug Store, Rexall, batteries of all sizes, crafts and supplies for children like new books, colouring pencils and crayons, cleaning products like Lysol, dish soap or HE laundry detergent.
Thank you for supporting this cause.
Communion
The sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated on December 6th at 10 am. According to Eastern Ontario Health Unit Guidelines the elements will be individually prepared and put in disposable containers with lids. People can pick up the elements as they enter the sanctuary. The elements will be prepared by one person following the restaurant food requirements.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a special service at St. Paul’s. Many families as part of their Christmas Tradition join us for a service of carols and readings. Plan to join us this year at 7 pm and enjoy a glass of cider before the service.
Farewell to Rev. Bruce Kemp
Rev. Kemp is retiring on January 1st. On his last service date December 27 we have moved our service time to 1:30 pm. Each church in our charge will have time that day to honour Bruce for his dedication and commitment to our congregations. Following worship we will have a gathering in the sanctuary to wish Bruce and Diana all the best on the next stage of their life’s journey. We will serve a light lunch (individually packaged according to the Eastern Ontario Health Unit Guidelines).
We look forward to your participation in this very special occasion.
If you cannot attend but would like to pass on best wishes to Bruce please send your card to St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Box 879 Winchester, ON K0C 2K0 or send an email to Phyllis MacMaster macmaster@persona.ca or text 613-296-5786 with your words and wishes. We will read these as part of the program that day.
It is our hope to have a larger gathering later next year when perhaps the Covid 19 pandemic requirements have eased.
Ladies Aid
Sadly we have had to cancel our Ladies Aid Meetings and most of all our Christmas Potluck and Worship Service. This has been a long standing tradition at St Paul’s to ring in the Christmas Season. We hope to see you in December 2021. Ladies Aid provided a wreathe for the Winchester Remembrance Day Service and has made a donation towards the purchase of the TV’s to project our worship service on each week.
Thank You
A special thank you to everyone who has supported our World Food Day Campaign. A backseat and trunk full of food was delivered to Community Food Share and they expressed their sincere thanks to our church for our generosity and thoughtfulness.
As well, we want to thank everyone who has continued to support St. Paul’s during 2020. Even though we have not seen you we appreciate your prayers, calls, support and donations.
St. Paul’s can now accept e-transfers to treasurer@presbyterian-winchester.ca. We also have a Canada Helps Donate button on our webpage for on line donations.
Interim Moderator
The Presbytery of Seaway Glengarry has appointed Rev. Samer Kandalaft as the Interim Moderator for the Pastoral Charge of Chesterville, Morewood and Winchester. Rev. Kandalaft is Minister at St Paul’s Kemptville and Knox, Mountain
Rev. Kandalaft will be assisting us during the transition from Rev. Kemp to a new Minister. His contact information is
Rev. Samer Kandalaft
samshahr@hotmail.com
613-258-6654
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
319 Prescott Street, Box 797, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Search Committee for a New Minister
The three point charge of Chesterville, Morewood and Winchester has established a Search Committee to start the process of searching for a Minister. Heather Pemberton, Harry Castle and Ken Feeny are representing St. Paul’s on the Committee.
Sunday School
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic Sunday School has been cancelled. For Advent and Christmas we will be posting a weekly activity for our Sunday School families. See last page for the first activity. Parents are invited to check out our webpage at
https://presbyterian-winchester.ca/ under the Sunday School Banner for activities.
Community Garden
Congratulations to Tom Clapp and his team at the Community Garden for receiving a Community Spirit Award from the Province of Ontario and residents of Stormont Dundas and South Glengarry. The Community Garden is a wonderful outreach project for our church and many people benefit from the cooperation, the beauty of the location and the food harvested.
During this Christmas Season may you be blessed with the spirit of the season which is peace, the gladness of the season which is hope and joy, and the heart of the season which is love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Colour Sheet – Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men