November 2026

Greetings Ebenezer – It’s November!

Recently I had dinner at the Mandarin restaurant. As always, at the end of the meal we were presented with a fortune cookie. My fortune read, “You’ll accomplish more if you start now.”  That is a helpful observation and no more so than as we begin a new month. There is a lot going on at Ebenezer in November and getting an early start on everything seems like sage advice!

This coming Sunday, November 1st, is All Saints Day on the Christian calendar and at Ebenezer it is also Thank Offering Sunday. You are invited to make an extra donation in the Thank Offering envelope or through e-transfer to give us the needed financial boost to finish the year in the black! In recognition of the importance of celebrating Thank Offering I have asked two people to speak about, “What Ebenezer Means to Me”.  You will want to be here for that. Also, do remember that this is the Sunday we turn our clocks back!

Of course, a highlight at this time of year is our Winter Marketplace. On Saturday, November 7th the church will be buzzing with shoppers and vendors and all the volunteers that will make everyone feel welcome. You can pick up some delicious baking in the Church Kitchen and then get a jump on your Christmas shopping by checking out the UCW treats and treasures. Follow that by chatting with the vendors as you make your purchases in the hall before stopping to pick up some books and puzzles to pass the time in the winter ahead! (If you are able to provide some baking or donate some books or puzzles, we will be most grateful). This is always a wonderful day of community spirit both within our Ebenezer Community and reaching out into our Courtice community as we welcome shoppers and visitors. We are purposely having our Marketplace on the same day as Faith United Church has their bazaar so that people can go from church to church.

Sunday, Nov. 8th is the day we hold a time of Remembrance in our service.

The Affirm Team will be hosting an evening on Tuesday, November 10th. Starting at 6:30pm we will be watching the movie 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture, a 2022 movie that explores the impact of the introduction of the word homosexual into the Biblical translation. The showing of the movie will be followed with discussion.

November 15th is a Lunch and Learn with Senator Rob Black. Plan to stay after church when the Honourable Rob Black, Canadian Senator, will be speaking to us about the interplay of faith and politics. Rob has been a member of the Senate since 2018 his passion is agriculture, rural community development and leadership development and he works tirelessly for Canadians. An active member of his faith community Rob will share with us what it means to be a Christian in the political sphere and what his work as a Senator means to him. 

I will be away on study leave from November 16 to 23. On Sunday, November 22 we will welcome Jon Arnold as the worship leader. It is always great to have Jon providing leadership at Ebenezer.

Our four week Advent Study will begin on Tuesday November 24th at 10:30. Using the scripture reading for the upcoming Sunday we will consider the messages of hope that come to us in this season of preparation. 

On Sunday, November 29th we begin the season of Advent. That morning in church we will be celebrating Communion as we begin the countdown to Christmas Eve and the birth of Jesus. That evening, please join us in the church hall, starting for supper and a movie. The 1983 movie A Christmas Story has become a classic. As a family celebrates Christmas lots of humour ensues! It will be a fun night for all ages.

November is going to be a great month – there is lots to accomplish – we better start now!

See you at church!  ~Nancy