Welcome to St. Andrew’s on Sunday. We are thankful that you Worship Service Sunday, December 20, 2015 – 10:00 a.m. have decided to worship here today, and we hope this worship will satisfy

your spiritual hunger and help you to celebrate the true joy of Christ-

mas. God is with all of humankind, God cares for us all, God’s will for all We Approach God’s Love people is wholeness, healing and restoration. We pray that your whole Christmas Season will be a time of feeling God’s presence with you and Prelude knowing that God will never abandon you. Please join us for coffee and Entry of the Written Word fellowship in Iona Hall after the worship celebration today. Hymn 122 (vs.1,2,7) Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel Call to Worship The Sacrament of Baptism. This morning we celebrate the mercy of Prayers of Adoration, Confession and Lord’s Prayer (#831) God as we administer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism to Reese Helen Jean Welcome Lootsma, daughter of Arend Loutsma & Kate Wills, granddaughter to Bob & Connie Wills. We pray God’s every blessing on this child and her family.

We Receive God’s Love We welcome Nadia Vorobieva to the organ console today. She is a piano student of concert pianist Olena Klyucharova and has already passed the Responsive Reading Psalm 34: 1-8 (refrain 1) RCM grade 8 exams. For the past year Nadia has been an organ student of Michael Blair Douglas Haas, and though only 12 years old, she is already performing Hymn 147 Angels we have heard on high difficult works of Bach. We hope to hear more from Nadia in the new year.

Scripture Micah 5:2-5 The Red on the Communion Table this morning is placed in lov- Luke 2:1-7 ing memory of Dr. Clifford & Angela Wilson and Russell & Beatrice Stu- Scripture Reader– Carol Alguire art. Choir The White on the flower stands are placed by Mary Jean & Trevor Boyes in loving memory of their parents Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Clifton J. Sermon “How The Presbyterians Stole Christmas” Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lewis MacKay and Mr. & Mrs. Claude Boyes and good friends and faithful St. Andrew’s members Jack & Marg Eaton.

We Respond to God’s Love Please pray for the family of Frank Plust who passed away on Monday, December 14. The Funeral was held at Henry Walser's Funeral Home on Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Michael Blair Saturday, December 19.

Hymn 153 Thank you to our Greeters this morning; Ian & Dawna McGee, Lynda Offertory Berg, Tom Frederick, Bryan Roth & Jackie Arlein- Roth. Offertory Hymn – Praise God (#830) Offertory Prayer Thank you to Kathy MacDonald, May Yan, Bette Smith and Linda Becker for hosting coffee this morning. Opportunities for Ministry Lighting of the Candle Murray Hamalainen Thank you to our Ushers this morning; David Neeb, Mike Cassidy, Victor The Sacrament of Baptism Morton, Karen Chisholm, James Poser, Margaret Watts, Kathy Enstone, Hymn 139 Hark the herald angels sing Carol Alguire, John Cammarata, Fred Creed, Linda Creed and Peter Benediction Kalbfleisch.

Departure of the Word Thank you to our Beadle this morning; Brent Lappage. Postlude The Promise of Peace: At 4:00 p.m. this afternoon there will be a public taping of “The Promise of Peace” this service will be aired on Christmas Day. Camp K is looking for a new treasurer. If you have experience in account- Presbyterians Ban Christmas! ing Camp K needs you! If you can help this committee and their important mission please contact the office at 519-578-4430 or contact Jackee Arlein In 1644 the General Assembly of the Church of banned all celebra- -Roth at [email protected]. tion of Christmas in Scotland. It was deemed to be a satanic ritual, and any-

Save the date! Camp K’s chili lunch is fast approaching. Mark your calen- one caught in contravention of the Christmas ban was punished severely. dars for Sunday, January 17, 2016. The Act of Parliament created by the General Assembly’s ruling read:

The Thrift Shop will be closed Thursday, December 24. It will re-open on The kirk within this kingdom is now purged of all superstitious observation of Tuesday, January 5. days. Therefore the said estates have discharged and simply discharge the Last Call for homemade pickles made for our Bazaar. We still have a few foresaid vacation and all observation thereof in time coming, and re- jars of chili sauce, salsa, St. Andrew’s famous cucumber relish, dill pickles scind and annul all acts, statutes and warrants and ordinances whatsoever and zucchini relish. These make yummy stocking stuffers. See Karen today granted at any time heretofore for keeping of the said Yule vacation, with all at the Gas & Grocery card table. custom of observation thereof, and find and declare the same to be extinct,

Thursday December 24 – void and of no force nor effect in time coming." 4:00 p.m. – December 24 – “A Very Lego Christmas” A brief, forty mi- The puritanical ban on Christmas has its roots prior to 1644. In 1583 Philip nute, worship for jumpy kids, families and people of all ages, retelling the Stubbes wrote: Christmas story with Lego! If you want to worship on Christmas Eve, but At Christmas time more mischief is committed than in all the year besides? have other family events in the evening, this is the service for you. What masking and mumming? Whereby robberies, whoredom, murder, and 7:00 p.m. – December 24 – The Magic of Christmas An opportunity to what not, is committed? What dicing and carding, what banqueting and sing out your favorite Christmas carols, hear the Sanctuary Choir and listen feasting, is then used more than in all the year besides!" to beautiful Christmas readings by Larry McIntyre. This event will be en- joyable for all ages. A pre-service recital will begin at 6:30 p.m. In 1638 William Prynne wrote: Christmas Day TV Services The celebrations were derived from the Saturnalia and the Bacchanalia. The Promise of Peace 11:00 a.m. on CTV and at 5:00 p.m. on Radio Christmas, as it was kept, could be more truly termed Devil's mass or CKWR Saturn's mass. The Church Office and building will be closed December 24 at noon, Christmas Day and on Monday, December 28. Sunday Smile: Pageant Problem: The nursery were putting on the nativi- ty play and the doll used at rehearsal could not be found so a substitute was used. The play was going well until the little girl playing Mary noticed the change and shouted: " STOP !!, this is the wrong baby!"

All are welcome to a Christmas Day service at Calvin Presbyterian Church (248 Westmount Rd. E., Kitchener) on Friday, December 25 at 10:15 a.m. Come celebrate the birth of our Lord, Christ.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 54 Queen St. N. Kitchener, Ontario N2H 2H2 519-578-4430 www.standrews.kwcom/ [email protected] The Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lewis– Lead Minister Office # 519-578-4430 ext 221/Cell # 519-635-4362 [email protected]