Post from the Minister's Office - December 2025 Advent greetings to you dear friends. Yes, I did write Advent greetings – this coming Sunday we begin the season of Advent, this is the season that helps us count the days to the birth of Christ. One month from today will be Boxing Day and all the joy and chaos of Christmas will be upon us; the gifts will have been unwrapped, the turkey will have been served, the tree will be drooping. But let’s not rush things. Here at Ebenezer, we are marking Advent. This is the season of preparation.
Before I go on, I want to say that at Ebenezer this year it is an Advent of adapting! With our sanctuary closed for repairs we continue to meet in the auditorium. How grateful we are to the flexibility of our Property Committee, our AV Team, our choir and organist, and our custodian who are doing all they can to make the hall an accessible and welcoming worship space. Santa will definitely have them on the ‘Nice’ list this year!
Now on to plans for the season that you will want to know about … This coming Sunday, November 30th, we will light the first candle on our Advent wreath – the candle of Hope. Our service will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It is our delight to welcome the Sunday School as our servers on Sunday. Scripture says, “A little child will lead them” and it will be very special to have the children involved in this significant service. It is also our monthly Share Sunday so you might want to bring an item for the Clarington East Food Bank. Also on this Sunday, November 30th you are encouraged to buy Fundscrip cards if you wish to donate to the Outreach Committee’s initiative to the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation, Holiday of Hope Program. These cards will then be gathered at our worship service on December 7th. We are calling this Sunday “Christmas Care Gift Card Sunday” (It is similar to the formerly named White Gift Sunday). There will be another Fundscrip order available on December 14th for those last-minute Christmas gift cards. On this Sunday evening everyone is invited to an evening of Crafts, Casseroles and Christmas Cheer. We will gather at 4:30, potluck supper at 5:00, followed by craft making for those so inclined, there will also be some board games and time for conversation as Christmas music plays in the background. Our four-week Advent Bible study will meet on Thursday morning at 10:00 beginning this Thursday, November 27th. Please join us for any or all these times of learning and reflection. Our focus will be the names we use for Jesus, based on Isaiah 9:6 … Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We will throw open the church doors on Christmas Eve at 7:00 to welcome you and yours for our service of song and praise to celebrate the birth of Christ. There will be carols and candlelight and the gathering of neighbours and friends. Please share the invitation with neighbours and friends that all are welcome to join us for that service. Advent is a season rich with symbolism and meaning. May yours be blessed with many moments of delight and awareness of the deep sacredness of the birth of the Holy One. Blessings in your Advent walk. See you at church! ~Nancy