WORSHIP SERVICES
ARE HELD SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 9 – The 2nd Sunday of Advent & White Gift Sunday
with Rev. G. David King, Intentional Interim Minister
WE INVITE AND WILL WELCOME YOU!
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The following information is from our bulletin announcements, December 2.
Click here for a calendar of activities
THIS WEEK @ BSUC
| Date | Event | Time | Location |
| Tues., Dec. 4 | Personnel Ministry Team | 1:30 p.m. | Parlour |
| Facility use – Quinte Deaf | 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Chapel | |
| Drumantics Drum Circle | 6 – 7 p.m. | Chapel | |
| Wed., Dec. 5 | Bible Study | 8 a.m. | Parlour |
| Thurs., Dec. 6 | Music Ministry Team | 10 a.m. | Parlour |
| Hospitality Team | 2 p.m. | Parlour | |
| Bell Choir Practice | 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. | Bell Room (use Bridge St. entrance) | |
| Vocal Choir Practice | 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Fri., Dec. 7 | Stuff ‘n Chatter Bulletin Collation | 9:30 a.m. | Auditorium |
| TGIF Frozen Meal Distribution | 2 – 4 p.m. | Bridge St. foyer | |
| Sat., Dec. 8 | Help Portrait | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Bottom floor |
| Facility Use – Quinte Symphony & Belleville Choral Society Rehearsal | Noon – 5 p.m. | Sanctuary & Chapel | |
| Sun. Dec. 9 | Advent 2 Worship & White Gift Sunday | 10:30 a.m. | |
| QSO & BCS Concert – Handel’s Messiah | 2 p.m. | Sanctuary |
NEXT WEEK …
| Date | Event | Time | Location |
| Tues., Dec. 11 | Transition Team | 1:30 p.m. | Parlour |
| Facility use – Quinte Deaf | 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Chapel | |
| Wed., Dec. 12 | Bible Study | 8 a.m. | Parlour |
| UCW Christmas Meeting | 1:30 p.m. | Auditorium | |
| Knitters United | 3 – 5 p.m. | Parlour | |
| Property Team | 4 p.m. | Library | |
| Facility Use – HARS | 6:30 p.m. | Parlour | |
| Thurs., Dec. 13 | Staff Meeting | 9:30 a.m. | Church Office |
| Bell Choir Practice | 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. | Bell Room (use Bridge St. entrance) | |
| Vocal Choir Practice | 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Fri., Dec. 14 | Stuff ‘n Chatter | 9:30 a.m. | Auditorium |
| TGIF Frozen Meal Dist. | 2 – 4 p.m. | Bridge St. foyer | |
| Sat., Dec. 15 | Facility Use – Quinte Deaf | All day | Bottom floor |
| Sun., Dec. 16 | Advent 3 Worship Service | 10:30 a.m. |
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ITEMS of NOTE:
Mark Your Calendars –
- UCW Christmas Meeting – Wed., Dec. 12, 1:30 p.m., Sills Auditorium – Please join us as we celebrate the Christmas season. Guest speakers: Elizabeth Churcher and George Thompson. Topic: Nature in the Garden. All women of the church are welcome. Come and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship. Husbands and friends welcome.
- Staff Christmas Gathering – Church staff will gather off-site in celebration of Christmas on the afternoon of Thursday, December 13th. The office and building proper will close at noon. Music practice will occur as per usual.
- Advent 3 Worship Service – Sunday, December 16, 10:30 a.m.
- Poinsettia Deliveries to our “Special Friends” – Volunteer Drivers Needed – Wed., Dec. 19, morning. At Christmas and Easter, we deliver best wishes to those from our congregation who are ill or unable to attend worship services. Please contact Susan at 613-962-4765, or @ j.pine@sympatico.ca if you can help deliver flowers on this date on behalf of the congregation. Past drivers are also asked to contact Susan to confirm their participation.
- Christmas Concert & Sing-Along – Sun., Dec. 23, 3 p.m. – Entrance by freewill offering. Featured Performers: David Schewchuck (violin), Elizabeth McDonald (soprano), Robert Greene (tenor), Ben Perrier (trombone), Murray Baer (organ), Julian Nelson (recorder), BSUC Handbell Choir, BSUC, Vocalese and Pentecostals of Quinte Church Choirs, Quinte Living Centre Concert Band. A wonderful and affordable daytime concert for the entire family.
- Christmas Eve Service @ 4 p.m. One multi-generational service for all ages.
- Greeters Needed for our Christmas Eve service – 6 volunteers needed to welcome those who will attend this service, and to take up the offering. If you’re able to help, please contact Carol in the church office, 613-962-9178 or info@bridgestchurch.com
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TRANSITION TEAM NEWS:
TO KEEP YOU INFORMED – NEWS FROM YOUR TRANSITION TEAM
We met on the afternoon of November 27th. Our agenda saw us discuss the first half of Peter Steinke’s book “How Your Church Family Works – Understanding Congregations As Emotional Systems”. We also considered the November 21st Question and Answer session we hosted for the congregation and made particular note of the inquiries attendees had. These, and our own understandings, assisted us in compiling a generalized list of potential goals for the Interim Ministry period. We will further refine these and then share them with you in the early New Year. Our next meeting is scheduled to occur on afternoon of the December 11th; we’ll report to you on our further accomplishments following.
Sincerely,
Karen Cullen, Rosella Donaldson, Rev. Rick Hamilton, Frank Hiebert,Carolyn Ketcheson, Rev. David King
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GOVERNANCE BOARD NEWS
The congregation elects the Governance Board to function as its governing body (and selects a Lead Minister to act as its spiritual, programmatic and administrative leader).
- Governance Board Minutes are posted on the bulletin board located directly across from the kitchen door.
- Click here to read our congregation’s named mission, values and vision statements.
- Click here to learn about the governing structure of Bridge St. United Church.
Click here for our governance webpage.
MINISTRY TEAM NEWS
Ministry Teams manage the daily practical work of the congregation.
Community Connections
The Community Connections Ministry Team lives out Christ’s mission in response to the world.
HOMELESS ENUMERATION OF HASTINGS COUNTY:
- Homeless Enumeration in Hastings County Report Update – Report was received by Hastings County Council on Thurs., Nov. 29 and is now publicly available. Please contact me at foodmin@bridgestchurch.com if you would like a copy of the Report, have any questions or require further information.
Steve van de Hoef, Food Min. Program Manager.
HELP PORTRAIT:
- For a 5th year, BSUC is partnering with “Help-Portrait” – Sat., Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – A free portrait session by professional photographers for those with limited resources. Use Bridge St. entrance. For more information about Help-Portrait visit www.help-portrait.com.
FOOD MINISTRY:
BRIDGE STREET UNITED CHURCH (BSUC) HAS HAD AN ACTIVE MEAL MINISTRY SERVING THE BELLEVILLE COMMUNITY SINCE 1997. THE MISSION OF THE BSUC FOOD MINISTRY PROGRAMS ALIGNS CLOSELY WITH THE STATED VALUES AND MISSION OF BSUC. FOOD MINISTRY OFFERS THREE DIFFERENT MEAL PROGRAMS: INN FROM THE COLD (IFTC), THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY (TGIF), AND END-OF-THE-MONTH MEALS (EOTM), EACH OF WHICH IS DIRECTED TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.
- We are currently recruiting volunteers for the Bridge Street Church meal program – Inn from the Cold.
- Every night, from January 18 through February 28, Bridge Street Church will prepare and serve a nutritious, hot meal to anyone in need.
- For more details, click here.
Total number of meals served/distributed in 2017 through the three BSUC food ministry programs = 14,436.
For the 11 months of 2018 to the end of November, 13,622 meals have been served …
During the six weeks of the 2018 when our “Inn from the Cold” program was held, 7,070 meals were served or distributed.
4,359 meals have been distributed through our weekly “TGIF” frozen meal distribution program.
2,193 meals have been served or distributed through our twice-monthly, “End-of-the-Month” meal program.
- TGIF – “Thank God It’s Friday” frozen meal distribution continues every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at our 60 Bridge St. East entrance. There is no cost for these meals, and no pre-ordering is required. Simply register on your first visit by showing ID for each meal you wish to pick up.
- End-of-the Month Meals – Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Meal served from 5 – 6:30 p.m. End of the Month meals started in 2016 to meet the observed increase in demand for meals near the end of each month. End of the Month meals runs the same as Inn from the Cold in that a hot meal is served, which includes salad, main course, and dessert. December’s EOTM dates are … Tues., Dec, 17 & Thurs., Dec. 20.
KNITTERS UNITED:
Do join us, as we create mittens and hats for the community and beyond. We are always looking for more yarn and are ready and willing to receive your and your friends’ surplus stashes of yarn. Our immediate commitment is to Keep Kids Warm (formerly Adopt-Child), which will be collecting our finished products this week. Then, The Learning Foundation and the church’s meal programs will be our recipients. For further info, please contact Elizabeth Ewashkiw: eewashkiw@sympatico.ca or 613-968-9382.
UNITED SYRIAN FAMILY SUPPORT (USFS) BELLEVILLE SPONSORSHIP GROUP:
THE UNITED SYRIAN FAMILY SUPPORT (BELLEVILLE) TEAM IS COMPRISED OF APPROXIMATELY 100 INDIVIDUALS; MEMBERS FROM THE BELLEVILLE AREA, INCLUDING BRIDGE STREET, ST. MATTHEW’S AND EASTMINSTER UNITED CHURCHES, ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND MEMBERS OF THE BAHA’I AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES; WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO SUPPORT FIVE SYRIAN FAMILIES.
Click here to connect to the United Syrian Family Support (Belleville) website.
Faith Formation
The Faith Formation Ministry Team enables spiritual nurturing of children and adults.
BIBLE STUDY:
Every Wednesday morning at 8 a.m., enjoy a cup of coffee while reading and discussing the scripture on which the next Sunday’s worship service will be based. Everyone is welcome. Use Bridge St. entrance. COORDINATOR: AUDREY. CONTACT: acowan6@cogeco.ca or 613-968-5432.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN:
On Sunday mornings, the Faith Formation Ministry Team invites your children to attend …
- Infant/Toddler Room – ages newborn to 48 months
- Children’s Centre – ages 4 to 13
Each group is facilitated and supervised by two adults.
Many thanks to all who will be volunteering their time to support Christian Education.
Click here for our Children’s Centre web page.
Finance
- Thank you for your Anniversary Offerings which currently total $2,813; just a little shy of our budgeted target of $3,000.
- Now is a perfect time to sign up for, or increase, “PAR” offerings for 2019. PAR = Pre-Authorized Monthly Remittances. Contact the church office to join the 69 contributors who financially support this church’s ministry through PAR. Please contact Carol by phone @ 613-962-9178 or e-mail @ info@bridgestchurch.com.
- 2019 Offering Envelopes will be available for pick up beginning next Sunday, December 16. If you have not had envelopes in the past, but would like a set, please contact Carol in the church office, 613-962-9178, ext. 0.
Hospitality & Fellowship
The Hospitality & Fellowship Team endeavours to model the practice of “Radical Hospitality” with greeters, to warmly welcome friends and strangers alike each Sunday, and at special events planned throughout the year.
BOOK CLUB – Held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m.
- Book Club Gathering – Thurs., Dec. 13 @ 9:30 a.m. – “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles will be presented by Marialice. All are welcome to attend.
COFFEE TIME – Sunday mornings following worship.
Music
The goal of the Music Ministry Team is to support the Music Director by planning, supporting and implementing relevant activities to be creative, courageous and joyful in praise, and for education and outreach into the community.
Choir practices are held on Thursdays.
Bell Ringers’ practice 5:30 – 6:45 p.m – Ring the buzzer at Bridge St. entrance.
Vocal Choir practice – 7 – 8:30 p.m. – Knock on the Sanctuary “ramp” door.
- Christmas Concert & Sing-Along – Sunday, Dec. 23, 3 p.m. – Entrance by freewill offering. Featured Performers: David Schewchuck (violin), Elizabeth McDonald (soprano), Robert Greene (tenor), Ben Perrier (trombone), Murray Baer (organ), Julian Nelson (recorder), BSUC Handbell Choir, BSUC, Vocalese and Pentecostals of Quinte Church Choirs, Quinte Living Centre Concert Band. A wonderful and affordable daytime concert for the entire family! Click here for Christmas Concert Poster
Click here for our choir webpage.
Pastoral Care
Members of the Pastoral Care Ministry Team offer a compassionate, empathetic and Spirit-filled presence to those of our church family who find themselves unable to participate more fully in the life and work of BSUC.
PRAYER CIRCLE:
- Prayer Box – We invite you to submit your prayer requests to be included with the daily prayers of our dedicated team of pray-ers. Please slip your prayers into the special Prayer Box, located on the table at the back of the Auditorium. Prayer requests are dedicated each Sunday along with the morning offering.
Personnel
The Personnel Ministry Team meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. to provide a regular opportunity for the Church staff and members of the congregation to meet with the team to discuss any issues related to personnel matters within the church.
Property
The Property Ministry Team manages the upkeep of the physical Bridge St. Church building.
Stewardship
- Are you looking for meaningful gifts to give this Christmas? The brand new United Church of Canada “Gifts with Vision” catalogue is a great way to make a difference and show someone that you care. This year’s catalogue is filled with gifts that don’t need wrapping or tags – just your love. A few catalogues are available on the table at the back of the Sanctuary, or visit www.giftswithvision.ca. To make a gift by phone, call 1-844-715-7969.
Worship
The Worship Ministry Team plans services for the liturgical year and oversees related policy. They also manage the Memorial Fund.
- We are now in the season of Advent, the first season of the Christian church year leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays. It is observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world and is followed by Christmas Season; Christmas Day followed by 12 days of celebration of Christ’s birth leading to Epiphany; the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Three Wise Men). The Advent banner hanging in the Sanctuary is blue, the colour for Advent. The four trumpets represent the prophecies foretelling the birth of a Saviour. The Star of Bethlehem leading to the birthplace of Christ has rays spreading out, portraying the spread of Christianity across the whole world, with the crown symbolizing Jesus, the King of Kings, at the centre.
UCW –
The purpose of the United Church Women is “to unite all women of the congregation for the total mission of the church and provide a medium through which they may express their loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, service, and fellowship.” (excerpt from UCW Guidelines).
- UCW Christmas Meeting – Wednesday, Dec. 12, 1:30 p.m., Sills Auditorium – Please join us as we celebrate the Christmas season. Guest speakers: Elizabeth Churcher and George Thompson. Topic: Nature in the Garden. All women of the church are welcome. Come and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship. Husbands and friends welcome.
- Thank you to our UCW for their recent donations to support the church:
- $8,000 to the General Fund
- $437.50 to our Food Ministry program, which represents 50% of Bazaar admission fees.
Click here for the UCW webpage.
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COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES:
The Council of Trustees performs the duties of managing the “lands, premises, and Real Property and Personal Property acquired for the use of the Bridge Street Church Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada” as specified by the Model Trust Deed.
BRIDGE ST. UNITED CHURCH FOUNDATION:
The Bridge Street United Church Foundation, incorporated in 1973 as a charitable organization, administers on behalf of the Bridge Street United Church congregation, funds from the estate of the late Charlotte E. Sills, and other funds that are received from time to time. The Foundation is composed of all members of the Bridge Street United Church congregation and is administered by a Board of Directors, which the members of the Foundation elect. Click here for the BSUC Foundation webpage.
QUINTE LIVING CENTRE:
- Located at 370 Front Street, Belleville, this 112-unit seniors’ apartment building was built in 1982 as an outreach project of BSUC and operates as a registered, non-profit, charitable corporation. The Board of Directors consists primarily of members of Bridge Street Church and members from the community-at-large.
Click here to connect to the Quinte Living Centre website.
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Area Church and Community Activities:
- For International Human Rights Day, join Amnesty International’s Write for Rights, the world’s largest human rights event, by writing on behalf of prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders. Monday, December 10 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Bridge Street United Church, 60 Bridge St. E., Belleville. It makes a difference. For more information, call Jan at (613) 968-9659 or Connie at (613) 962-7416.
- “Handel’s Messiah” performed by Quinte Symphony and Belleville Choral Society in the Bridge St. United Church Sanctuary – Sunday, Dec. 9 @ 2 p.m. Tickets available @ thequintesymphony.com and at the door. Adult $25, Senior $20, Youth $10, under 12 free.
- Carols by Candlelight, a Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church – Sun., Dec. 16, 4:30 p.m. The service will be presented in the traditional style of King’s College, Cambridge. The congregation is also invited to join in singing some all-time favourites. Admission by donation.
- Command Performance Choir – An Evening of Yuletide Carols & Anthems – Fri., Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Picton. Tickets $20 at www.commandperformancechoir.com. For more info. call 613-476-4148.
Information about these and other church & community activities are posted on the Bridge St. foyer bulletin board.