St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Thunder Bay, ON
Part of the PCCWeb network of churches
Thanks to all who contributed, shopped and delivered!
Once again, the St. Andrew’s community has displayed great generosity and gathered an abundance of gifts for the women and children of Thunder Bay’s Women’s Shelters, Elizabeth Fry Society, and a family with the Children’s Aid Society. The donations were delivered on December 15, ensuring a happier Christmas for both givers and recipients.
On this, the third Sunday in Advent, we bring non-perishable food items unwrapped or in a white bag or loose wrapping, or cash/cheque donations to place under the Christmas tree in the sanctuary. All food is delivered to the RFDA. Please make cheques payable to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and marked for the RFDA. Your donation will be forwarded to the RFDA and included on your St. Andrew’s tax receipt.
History of White Gift Sunday
White Gift Sunday dates back to 1904 in Ohio. The wife of a Methodist minister and her two daughters came up with the idea of giving gifts wrapped in white paper at Christmas time to people in need.
Gifts are wrapped in white so that they will be anonymous. People who can only give a little will not be embarrassed. There is a Chinese tradition where all the people gave their king a gift wrapped in plain white paper so that every gift would look the same. People gave the king what they were able, and the king welcomed them all.
The White Gift shares in the spirit of Christ and the God of love at Christmas. We give gifts of love to people in need. These gifts are often nonperishable food items that are distributed to people in the community.
White Gift Sunday celebrates the stewardship of God’s love and giving at the time of year when we remember the coming of the King of Kings.
For all youth in grade 5 and up, please join us at Lakeview Presbyterian at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, 2015.
Bob Belanger, our longtime caretaker, Mr. Fixit (or MacGuyver) and friend, is leaving St. Andrew’s after 15 years of dedicated service. We hope you get time to wish him the best. His last day of work here is Monday, November 30.
The Heritage Committee is getting into the Christmas spirit with their new display of seasonal pictures drawn from their store of photos and documents.
Be sure to stop by the new display on the Heritage Wall.
Do you remember these events? Are you in any of the pictures?
The fall concert season is beginning!
The Oras Chamber Choir, accompanied by members of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Erik Reikko, will present the Fauré Requiem at 8:00 pm on Friday, October 30, 2015.
William Byrd–Ave Verum Corpus
Ola Gjeilo (a Norwegian composer)–Second Eve
Einojuhani Rautavaara–Missa a Cappella
(intermission)
Gabriel Fauré–Requiem in D Minor
Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for students.
This concert is the first of three presenting Requiems by Herbert Howells and Maurice Duruflé and works by Francis Poulenc in 2016.
We are very fortunate to hear these pieces performed to such a high standard in this warm, resonant space.
