The United Church was represented at a 2011 convocation in Jamaica marking the end of the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence. Over 1,000 people attended the event, where participants committed to nonviolence, peace, and justice. Through gifts to Mission and Service, the United Church participates in ecumenical events as partners in the world.

1. MINUTE FOR MISSON
Marking the end of the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Decade to Overcome
Violence, over 1,000 people attended a convocation in 2011 in Jamaica. Thanks to Mis-
sion and Service, the United Church was there.
Order of Worship for
Glory to God and peace on Earth form a common dream and prayer in Christian liturgy.
“Yet in addition to dreams and declarations of peace,” says the general secretary of the PINE GROVE UNITED
World Council of Churches, “we must do everything in our power to promote justice and
peaceful cooperation among peoples and nations.” CHURCH
Peace builders from around the world travelled to Jamaica to declare peace as a gift and
responsibility. The conference celebrated achievements of the decade and encouraged
individuals and churches to renew their commitment to nonviolence, peace, and justice.
Conference participants were unified in the hope that war should become illegal and We welcome everyone to this time together in worship. We gather in this church in
peace central in all religious traditions. “Our journey must continue,” said the conference the belief that we are all equally God’s guests whether we’ve been here all our lives
moderator. “We shall hold each other accountable. The church is either accepting the call or this is our first time. We welcome everyone in this spirit of Christ as it is our belief
to just peace or it is not the church at all.” that this is how we are to live. Everyone, without exception, belongs equally at
God’s table.
A delegation from The United Church of Canada attended the convocation and shared
stories of peace building in Canada and contributed to the development of the Ecumeni- If you are visiting with us please sign our guest book opposite the usher’s table. If
cal Declaration on Just Peace. you are new with us and wish a follow up contact please fill out a ‘Guest/New
Member Card which can be found with the guest book. As well you may pick up an
Through Mission and Service, we work with others to bring peace to the world. Your gifts orientation package on the table in the entrance. We invite visitors from other
to Mission and Service make it possible for the United Church to churches to pick up one of our Peace Candles to take home with you. An
participate in ecumenical and interfaith events as partners of the
explanation of this symbol accompanies each candle and these can be found on the
church in the world.
usher’s table.
Rev Bob McDowell
Office 357-3423; Cell 470-1155; Home 488-2154 *While we stand for most hymns and at others times in our worship, please feel free
Email: mcdowell@nb.sympatico.ca not to if for any reasons you can not or would rather not. VU stands for Voices
United and MV for More Voices. You are also invited to pick up a Bible version of
your choice at usher’s desk. Should you have any concerns please speak to an usher.
Minister Rev Robert McDowell
Accompanist/ Choir Director Joyce Andrews
VU: Voices United – our hard cover red hymn book
Office Administration Jennifer Chiasson
MV: More Voices – our soft covered hymn book
Oromocto United Church
144 Winnebago
Oromocto
oromoctopinegroveunitedchurch.ca
November 11, 2012
7:00 PM

2. Announcements
SERVICE
Crete/Athens/ Peloponnese Study Leave Trip. I’m leaving on Christmas Day for a 30 day
Welcome and About Today: study leave and recreational trip to Greece. The focus of the trip will be Crete where I
have friends able to show me around. I’m planning to host a day to day blog that will
record the experiences of the trip. If this sounds like something you would follow let me
Hymn to Begin: VU 437, The Day You Gave Us God Is Ended know. Interested?
Postings will include a synopsis of my visit to historical and archeological sites, experi-
ences with Greek Orthodox Island worship and Theology; as I’ll be there for the Ortho-
Lighting the Resurrection Candle: dox Christmas, Jan 6!], recipes, pictures and more.
The plan is as follows. I go first to Chania [pronounced Han-YA], an ancient walled city on
Crete. I’ll stay about a week in a modernized apartment built in a 600 year old Venetian
Leader: God, we come to worship on this evening remembering… manor house that overlooks the harbor. Chania is a cross roads of history as this corner
of Crete was strategic in the Mediterranean. Its history includes the Venetians, Otto-
mans, Turks, British and Germans who each tried to control it to their own empirical
All: remembering our Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us… ends.
Later, I’ll go to Almyrida [pronounced al-mir-EE-da]in the Apokoronas Region of western
Leader: remembering those who laid down their lives for us, in wars that Crete overlooking the Cretan Sea, where I’ll experience village life. From there, I plan to
visit Knossos, centre of the Bronze Age Minoan civilization. For many years it was be-
have plagued this planet… lieved its mysterious demise possibly was caused by the cataclysmic volcanic explosion
of Santorini [circa 1600 BCE] and that appears to have given rise to the myth of Atlantis.
All: remembering that you have been with us through all our days, good Apparently this has recently been debunked and I’m interested to learn more.
or bad. For my last week I’ll go to Athens to experience the wealth of obvious historical and
archeological treasurers preserved in it. One day I plan to dedicate to the tremendous
Leader: We come together in this act of worship and Remembrance today naval museums there. Another day will be committed to a private tour to Mycenae
[from where the Trojan war was launched] and the fortress of Tiryns [whose walls rival
as one who wants to bring peace into our world.
the pyramids of Egypt and was home of the Hera cult, Hera: wife of Zeus] on the Pelo-
ponnese.
All: In Jesus Christ you hold up before us the power and the spirit of love.
The other goal of this study leave/vacation is to plan my sabbatical which I wish to use to
learn in a more disciplined way both early and classical Greek history and the compli-
Leader: In this time together move through our memories and be part of cated interwoven Greek mythology.
them, bringing into stark realism the lessons that our conflicts hold for us. So again- if this sounds like something you will follow, I’ll commit to producing it. There
may be an exam at the end [haha]. I would welcome the company on this learning ad-
All: May our worship bring us closer to that day, when your purpose and venture! Rev Bob
dream of peace, is truly caught up in the life of our world.
Handmade for You from Around the World!
Leader: We light our candle and dedicate to our remembrance of all that Ten Thousand Villages is coming to St. Mark's United Church! Saint John Self Help
we have experienced of war and our hope for peace. Amen Alumni is hosting a sale of beautiful, fairly-traded gifts benefiting artisans from more
than 30 Developing countries. Ten Thousand Villages is a project of Mennonite Central
Our Prayer for This Evening Committee, the outreach arm of the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in
North America.
The Festival Sale will be held Friday, November 16th, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and
*Our Hymn to Begin: VU 278, In the Quiet Curve of Evening Saturday, November 17th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at St. Mark's United Church, 50
Dexter Dr., (off Manawagonish Road), Saint John. Admission is free.
Lighting Our Candle of Concern The gifts you buy at the Ten Thousand Villages Sales will give the blessings of steady
work, fair wages, and a better life for struggling families around the world. For more
information call Michelle Ruigrok at 672-0468. Your purchase makes a difference!

3. SERVICE
announcements
Chinese Lantern Memorial Service. A family in our congregation who recently incurred Our Invitation to Remembrance
a tragedy would like to invite others who may wish to acknowledge their own loss and
grief, to join with them in an outdoor memorial service. The central act of this service
would be the release of Chinese Lanterns accompanied by a reading of names and Our Act of Remembrance
prayers. The goal is to have this before the weather turns too cold. Should you be inter-
ested please notify Rev Bob.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
Please sign up be a Greeter, Usher, Candle lighter or Scripture Reader. Often the greet- That mark our place; and in the sky
ers and candle lighters are the same person/family but this is not always. If you are new
greeting is great way to get to get to know folks and for folks to get to know you!
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
Our Fall Bible Study is looking at the Life of Jesus as portrayed in film. We are conclud-
ing the film Jesus Christ Super Star and continuing with such as Jesus of Nazareth, The
We are the Dead. Short days ago
King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Life of Brian, Jesus Revealed etc. The We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
format will involve the use of film but we will not be necessarily watching the whole of Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
each movie. At times we will consult Biblical references that pertain to the film. As in In Flanders fields.
previous years each session will be its own unit so missing a week will not leave a par-
ticipant at a loss or unable to participate. We will be purchasing these movies in DVD
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
form so members will be able to borrow these and view at home. Should you own any
of these and are willing to loan them we will be most grateful. See rev bob for more To you from failing hands we throw
details. The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
Remembrance Day this year falls on Nov 11. Session decided there will not be any
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
morning worship on this day so all can go to the cenotaph as usual. Session also de- In Flanders fields.
cided to use this opportunity to have an evening service at Pine Grove at 7pm.
Parking: We are pleased to have the new parking spaces built in front of the church and The Wreath Placed* [silence]
thank the stewards for this work. During the week these are intended for use by anyone The Act of Remembrance: They shall not grow old as we who are left shall
coming to the church. However, on Sundays and special events such as suppers, con-
certs etc, we would like these spaces used by those who may have difficulty getting into
grow old. Age shall not worry them, nor the years condemn. At the going
the church from the across street parking. down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.
Casseroles Ministry:[??] The Session is considering an outreach idea for our church
Minute of Silence
involving the distribution of casseroles to families in the community where some crisis
has occurred. This may be a parent going into the hospital or another form of crisis
where such an outreach may be welcome. The way this would work is that we would
maintain a supply of frozen meals in our freezer. When a name comes to the church Our Hymn: VU 436, Abide With Me
someone would deliver a couple of meals to the family as a gift of concern from us. This
is a meaningful way to be present to the lives of our neighbours as well as a means to
create awareness of our presence in Burton/Oromocto. If you feel this is program you Reading from Christian Scriptures: Mark 13:1-8
could support please let Rev Bob, Barb Court, Joanne Bell or Shirley Dubois know.
Christmas is Coming quickly, an annual experience that seems to rush upon us. Please A Message for Today
note the Christmas Dates and mark them in your calendars. The Hanging of the Greens,
the Lintuhtine Cantata, Pageant Sunday are events you’ll not want to miss.
Anthem:

4. SERVICE Dates to note
Choir practice: Wed 7pm
Duffie Unit Singing: Third Wednesday of each month, 2:30 pm
*Our Words of Faith, page 918 VU [standing] Nov 11: Remembrance NO MORNING WORSHIP. Evening Service at Pine
Grove, 7pm
Nov 12: Bible Study, 7-8:30 pm
*Our Offering Collected & Our Offering Presented: Offering: VU 603 vs 1
Nov 12: Monday, Bible Study 7-8:30 pm
In loving partnership we come Nov 15: Session, 7pm
Seeking O God, your will to do. Nov 20: OPH Spiritual/Religious Care Com, 12:00
Our prayers and actions now receive, Nov 25: End of Year B, Communion
We freely offer them to you. Nov 25, Church Council, following worship
Nov 26; Monday, Bible Study 7-8:30 pm
Nov 30, Friday, Hanging of the Greens, 5:30 pm, Service 6:30
Our Prayers of Thanks and Concern and Our Lord’s Prayer, Dec 1: Lintuhtine Choirs Christmas Concert
Dec 2, Advent 1, Lectionary Year C begins- the year of Luke’s Gospel
Dec 9: Lintuhtine Choirs Christmas Concert
Our Hymn to Leave With: VU 426, Saviour, Again Dec 10: Monday, Last fall Bible Study 7-8:30 pm
Dec 16: Christmas Pageant Sunday and sweets after worship
Dec 24: 6:30 Christmas Eve Family Service, Oromocto
*Our Benediction
9:00 Christmas Eve Communion, Pine Grove
Dec 25: no service Christmas Day, Merry Christmas!
* Our Choral Benediction VU 423, God Be With You Dec 30: Carol Service led by Worship Team
Jan 6, 13, 20, Rev Lisa Greenwood guest worship leader
HANGING OF THE GREENS
We hope you will join us Friday, November 30 for our annual family event to begin
the season of advent.
We will begin at 5:30 PM with pizza & make-your own sundaes.
This will be followed by crafts & cookie decorating for the kids & decorating the
sanctuary by those wishing to do that.
The event will close with a short worship service & carol singing in the sanctuary.
We will be finished by 7:00 pm.
To assist in planning this event, please indicate your intention to attend on the sign-
up sheet in the narthex.
Also indicate the sundae topping you can bring.
We will have a donation box to help offset the cost of the pizza.
If you are willing to assist with a kids craft please contact Shirley Dubois(357-6587).
We`re looking forward to seeing you then.