For a fully illustrated Advent schedule and description click on the link below.
https://online.fliphtml5.com/qduit/erql/
If you are looking for a Sunday service we are offering them online and in-person at 10:30 a.m. Streaming info:
To watch via Twitch
https://twitch.tv/crescentfortrougelive
To watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY_yu6hzsG1yoisFBHvGm5A?view_as=subscriber
To watch on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/cfruc/
We hope to see many of you soon!
What else happens weekly?
• “Explorations” (formerly our Drop In Prayer Group)—continues on Wednesday, September 27. We meet at 10:30 am via Zoom; Contact Marc for the link. • Choir Rehearsal — is every Friday at 10 am. New members are welcome. If you are interested in singing with our choir, even occasionally, and Friday morning rehearsals present a barrier, other arrangements are possible. Contact Michael Cutler at organmike@gmail.com for more information.
Join Reverend Marc Whitehead on these notable dates.
CFRUC Blue Christmas Service
17 Dec. 10:30 a.m. Advent 3. Note: Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater and hear about the birth of John the Baptist!
21 Dec. 6:30 p.m. cfruc@mymts.net featuring soprano Tracy Dahl
CFRUC Christmas Eve
24 Nov. 10:30 a.m. Advent 4 Service
4:00 p.m. Family Service – friendly and interactive with lots of carol singing
8:00 p.m. Joint Service with Westminster United Church – service of lessons and carols by candlelight with Westminster United Church
Christmas Day
No service. Check out musician Michael Cutler and the CFRUC choir all day on social media feeds
New Year’s Eve
31 Dec. 10:30 a.m. service – featuring lots of carol singing and cookies – wear your pajamas!
ADVENT 2023—“HOW DOES A WEARY WORLD REJOICE?”
Advent Begins today. This year, we are asking the question “How Does A Weary World Rejoice?” as we explore what the ancient Christmas story has to offer to our present realities or war, uncertainty, and weariness. How does a “weary” world “rejoice?” Joy is often a companion to many other emotions. We can feel joy in addition to feeling many other things at once: anticipation, anxiety, excitement, disappointment, exhaustion, grief. Perhaps many of us live with the myth that joy is not something we deserve—or that it is wholly out of reach. But our joy is rooted in the truth that we belong to God. Can you tether yourself to that deep truth? You deserve to feel joy—fully. The world needs your joy, even if you are weary. Our joy is better when it is shared. This theme of course alludes to a line in the familiar Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night,” which has an interesting history. The song was originally written by a French poet who was atheist, and the music was supplied by a Jewish composer. The hymn was later translated into English by an American Unitarian minister. In the 1800s, it became popular with Christian abolitionists due to its justice-focused language in verse 3. Like Mary’s song, the hymn reminds us that justice and joy belong together. Sometimes our joy is an act of resistance. And so, this Advent, we will hold space for our weariness and our joy. We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome joy—even and especially if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways to rejoice. A brief daily meditation featuring material from “How Does A Weary World Rejoice?—will be available to view at https://www.facebook.com/cfruc/ beginning on December 3 at 5pm. Subsequent postings will be uploaded by 8pm each day of Advent. Print copies of the devotional will be available at the church, beginning on December 3. If you would like to access the material virtually, please contact Marc Whitehead at marc.cfruc@mymts.net for the link. Advent Calendars for children, youth and adults are also available.
What is Spirituality?
“Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than [one]self, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature.
“Spirituality means knowing that our lives have significance in a context beyond a mundane everyday existence at the level of biological needs that drive selfishness and aggression. It means knowing that we are a significant part of a purposeful unfolding of Life in our universe.
“Spirituality involves exploring certain universal themes – love, compassion, altruism, life after death, wisdom and truth, with the knowledge that some people such as saints or enlightened individuals have achieved and manifested higher levels of development than the ordinary person. Aspiring to manifest the attributes of such inspirational examples often becomes an important part of the journey through life for spiritually inclined people.”
Dr.Maya Spencer
What happens at Sunday morning Worship? Lots!
Sunday morning worship at Crescent Fort Rouge generally follows a predictable pattern of gathering in God’s name; hearing and reflecting on the intersection between the ancient faith story and the story of our own lives and time; responding to what has been heard; and going out with a commission to be actively engaged in the world.
Our worship respects the rich heritage and traditions of the Christian faith, while holding up a progressive and contemporary theology. Our worship is designed to actively engage all of the senses, and welcome the participation of all. We come together around the Lord’s Table through the sacrament of communion six or seven times a year.
Music is an integral part of our worship life, and we offer music in a wide range of styles and genres. Worship allows us to enact through ritual, story-telling, music and prayer our core belief in a God of peace, justice, compassion, healing and hope who invites us to practice the same things.
Why Worship? Worship reminds us of who we are and whose we are. Worship helps reinforce a rhythm for our lives. Worship offers a chance to connect with others and to feel that connection and engagement. Friendships are formed!
Occasional Services
In addition to regular Sunday morning worship, we also offer worship experiences at other times to mark special days or occasions. These include such things as Pet Blessings, Blue Christmas services, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Services for Life Transitions
CFRUC provides opportunities to recognize significant life passages with ritual and celebration such as Baptism, Confirmation, Weddings and Funerals.
Services to Recognize Other Life Transitions
We also work with individuals to create meaningful rituals to mark significant life passages such as moving to a new home, divorce, miscarriage, adopting a child, or seeking healing after trauma or violence.
Please contact our minister if you would like to explore some of the possibilities. cfruc@mymts.net
Daily Prayer Resources
In many faith traditions, it is customary to pray at specific times of day. The discipline of morning prayer allows one to start a day grounded in God, and the intention to be mindful of God’s presence in all that unfolds.
Prayer of Examen
The prayer of examen, is a traditional form of “end of day prayer” which invites reflection on the day that is past, an expression of gratitude for what has been experienced, and an opportunity to explore in greater depth God’s presence in our lives. Our friends at The Work of The People https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/ have created a contemporary expression of this ancient form of prayer. For a version of the Examen, please click here.
Frederick Buechner
www.frederickbuechner.com
The Center for Contemplation and Action
cac.org
Sacredise
Sacredise.com
One time tested way of nurturing the spirit is to maintain the disciple of keeping a journal. During this time of self-isolation we invite you to join others in a 28 day journaling challenge. Click here for a list of daily prompts. Self-Isolation Challenge
Looking for more intentional study?
A variety of online programs and webinars are available through:
The Abbey of the Arts
https://abbeyofthearts.com/
The United Church of Canada
https://www.united-church.ca/
We encourage you to contact Crescent Fort Rouge and receive our weekly newsletter which offers many opportunities. cfruc@mymts.net
Looking for an experience on Sunday for children (ages 3 to 12)?
Children are encouraged to begin their Sunday morning church experience with the gathered community in worship. This time with adults includes a theme conversation with one of the ministers and introduces children to the concept of worship.
Following this time, the children participate in age appropriate activities designed to introduce them to faithful living. We make use of a variety of teaching activities: drama, music, cooking, art, science, games and more. Parents and guardians of very young children are welcome to attend this program with their young ones until the children feel comfortable enough to attend the class on their own.
Looking for a few resources for children?
25 Easy Sunday School Crafts
https://www.signupgenius.com/church/sunday-school-crafts.cfm
49 Outstanding Christian Craft Ideas for Kids
https://wehavekids.com/education/all-christian-crafts
BUBBLES
The Bubble Who Would Not Pop by Shelly Roark
A while ago, at Messy Church, we read a book “The Bubble Who Would Not Pop” by Shelly Roark. In the story a little girl sends her prayer up to God in a bubble. After we read the story, we had fun making bubbles out in our Churchyard. We used hoops of wire, pipe cleaners, water bottles with the bottoms cut out and lots of other things that the grownups hadn’t even thought of, trying to make the biggest, strongest bubbles that we could.
Super Duper Giant Bubble recipe
- 6 cups of water
- ½ cup Blue Dawn dish soap
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon glycerine
Stir it gently with a whisk and keep the whisk handy because you’ll need to stir it again as the cornstarch settles.
Can you make a square bubble? Take a picture of you sending a prayer to God in a bubble and post it on FaceBook.
