While shepherds were watching their flocks at night the extraordinary came—the glory of the Lord shone around them. 

Join us Sunday morning for our 10:30 worship service where we will continue in our advent journey as seekers of the extraordinary gifts of God.

Following our morning worship service, we will join together for a time of fellowship at our Christmas Potluck. Please bring a salad to share. If you are able, please bring your own dishes and cutlery.

Next Sunday, December 22,  we will celebrate our fourth Sunday of advent through scripture, song and story. Our youth and children will participate in the service. We’ll celebrate the gift of life through a baby dedication. Together we will celebrate the Glory of the story of Emmanuel.

We will not be joining together for a Christmas Eve service as the City is closing all Community Centres at noon on December 24^th. 

We look forward to sharing a festive Christmas dinner with our Chandler Mowat neighbours on December 14^th.  We hope that you will join in serving and enjoying the celebration of Emmanuel together.

All are invited to join in this time of spreading the Light and Hope of Emmanuel. 

Tuesday is our last Snack Attack until the new year. Thank you to the many who have been present in and with the community this season!

We have had a wonderful time growing relationships, celebrating accomplishments, carrying one another’s burdens and seeing God’s love given and received. Two weeks ago, a youth hurried to the snack table to share of his accomplishment of 100% on his math test.  Joy was shared!  Two grade 7 friends welcomed some support as they were in the middle of a disagreement. We were able to help them find a way back to Peace. Four youth came to The Space to help do some “Spring Cleaning” and work towards completing their high school volunteer hours.  Moms have been visiting during Snack Attack, celebrating the gift of growing and supportive relationships. Love grows. The littlest ones offer hugs, sharing about losing a tooth, a high or a low from their school day and all about what they are learning. Some high school students told us that Tuesday is their favourite day….for us too!  Hope is present.

One grade 5 student told us that his mom asks him to save his Snack Attack pack for his lunch the next day, and he does, while his friends dig into their snacks.  For some, the snack is their first food of the day. For others, it is the regular Tuesday check-ins that feed their souls.

Please continue to pray for the children, youth and families in the Chandler Mowat community. 

As we approach year-end, we are sharing the year-to-date numbers to November 30, 2024. But first, we offer a very joyful thank you for your continued generosity and all the ways you support The Gathering Church!

If you are planning on donating before the end of the year, it is easiest to donate via e-transfer to donations@gatheringchurch.ca or you can contact Meredith if you’d like to arrange an alternate way of giving.

Reminder:  If you have any outstanding church expenses for this year, please make sure they are submitted to the church office or to Meredith Bigham ASAP.  Thank you.

Thank you once again for your faithful giving this year!

Craig Nafziger and Meredith Bigham
Treasurer and Finance & Accounting Liaison 

Following our worship service on December 22^nd, we will enjoy Christmas baked goods and hot cider. You are invited to share some Christmas baking if you are able.

This past week, four youth from the community, joined Catherine in cleaning out some “corners” at The Space. We are grateful for their help and for being able to support them in their Community Service hours. 

There are several boxes and some folding chairs that need to be delivered to an MCC Thrift Store. If you are able to help with this, please let Catherine know. It would be one trip for a pick-up truck and two or three trips for a trunk of a car.

On January 26^th, we will join together to celebrate God’s faithfulness to The Gathering.  Twenty years ago, The Gathering held its first worship service with the hopes of being a place of worship, spiritual growth and relationships. The founding team prayed that The Gathering would be a light in the community. We are thankful for the many ways that God has provided, led and been present with us.

We’ll celebrate together on January 26^th at our worship service and at a lunch following the service.

More details to follow.  We hope you will save the date.

• E-transfer to donations@gatheringchurch.ca.
• Cheque or cash in the white donation box at CMCC.
• Online through the donation button on our church website. (Part of your donation will cover processing and admin fees.)
• Please contact Meredith Bigham if you would like to arrange an alternate way of giving (click here).

With thanksgiving, we introduce our newly formed Vision and Care Team. This team will support Catherine in providing care, prayer and attention to the vision of The Gathering Church.  Over the next several weeks, members of the Vision and Care team will be present following our worship service to offer prayer and care. 

The team members are: Alisha, Clare, Doris, Frank, Gloria and Marlene. 

The Leadership Board brings prayerful leadership to our faith community, meeting monthly to ensure we fulfill our mission and vision and faithfully oversee the many areas of ministry of The Gathering.  The members of the Board are:  Wazir Ally, Andrew Jantzi, Rocco Maiolo, Debbie Wagler and Craig Nafziger.

Click  here for the regular MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Newsletter.

Please submit any bulletin announcements for next week to Ruth at office@gatheringchurch.ca by Thursday at noon.