Service Time: 10:00 A.M.
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/
If you would like to join our pre-service Zoom conversation at 10:00 am go to link below. Contact Marc for a passcode please. [email protected]
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82191407687?pwd=TXpuQmI4Z2JLNGVEUnprVVNxL0xoZz09
“THE FIRST CHRISTMAS” A Three Session Exploration of What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’ Birth, based on the book of the same name by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. For more information or to register, contact Marc at [email protected]. Sessions will be held via zoom beginning at 7 pm on Thursday, November 21, December 5, and December 12.
“100 Project” – 1925 – 2025 – Celebrating the Centennial of the United Church of Canada. December project – collecting gifts for women at United Church Halfway Homes and board games, cards, dice and coloring books for Indigenous Housing & Cultural Hub.
A Word about Advent / Christmas 2024
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year rushes in. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving—and yet, we feel the weight of many things coming to an end.
The world as we know it spins madly on. What are the reminders we will need in order to move faithfully through this time of change? This year’s Advent series is filled with blessings, with the words we need to hear again and again as we
begin a new season. As we move through new personal and political chapters, may these words for the beginning renew us and remind us of the ways we are called to live out our faith. No matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, let love be your beginning.
Sunday, December 22. 2024 HOPE IS WORTH THE RISK! Advent 4—Dec. 22. 2024. Matthew 1:18-25 | Luke 1:46-55 • 10 am at Crescent Fort Rouge, 525 Wardlaw Ave.; 11 am at Harrow United Church, 855 Mulvey Tuesday,
December 24. 2024 LOVE KNOWS YOUR NAME Christmas Eve—Dec. 24 Luke 2:1-20 | Isaiah 9:6 • A Family Christmas Eve–4 pm at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, 525 Wardlaw Avenue; Interactive, family friendly Christmas Eve service featuring familiar Christmas carols and a re-telling of the Christmas story;
• The Stories and Songs of Christmas—7pm at Harrow United Church, 855 Mulvey Avenue. An all ages service of lessons and carols, ending with a candle-lighting ritual.
• A Festival of Lessons and Carols—8pm at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church. A traditional service of lessons and carols featuring the CFRUC choir, ending with a candle lighting ritual.
Sunday, December 29, 2024 DON’T FORGET TO LAUGH 1st After Christmas. Dec. 29. 2024. • Cookies and Carols—11 am at Harrow United Church, 855 Mulvey Ave. An informal gathering around tables in the upper hall where we sing carols, eat cookies, and join in activities suitable for people of all ages. • (please note: there will be no service at Crescent Fort Rouge)
Sunday, January 5, 2025 THE ROAD ISN’T STRAIGHT Epiphany Sunday—Jan. 5, 2025. Matthew 2:1-12 | Isaiah 43:16-21 • Epiphany Sunday—10 am at Crescent Fort Rouge, 525 Wardlaw Ave.; 11 am at Harrow United Church, 855 Mulvey
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK— Choosing Love in Impossible Choices (Rev. Cameron Trimble)
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Two friends were caught in a storm while hiking in the mountains. They came upon a fork in the trail as the wind howled and snow began to fall. One path led up the mountain, but it was exposed to the storm’s full force. The other path led down to a valley, where an icy river had flooded the trail. Neither choice was safe. They stood there, cold and scared, debating which way to go.
Finally, one friend said, “Let’s choose the path where we’ll stay together. No matter what happens, we won’t leave each other behind.” They chose the valley path, braving the icy river. They worked together, carefully crossing, encouraging one another, and finally reaching safety. The decision wasn’t without risk, but it was made in love—choosing connection and care over fear or isolation.
Life often places us at forks in the road where no option feels perfect. These moments of impossible choices test us. We weigh risks and outcomes, knowing that neither path will be easy. It’s tempting to get stuck in indecision, paralyzed by
the fear of getting it wrong. But Scripture reminds us that love is the foundation of our decisions. “The greatest of these is love,” Paul writes, because love gives us the courage to move forward, trusting that God’s presence will sustain us.
Love doesn’t mean we will always make the “right” choice in human terms. It means we choose with intention, guided by compassion, care, and connection. It means we prioritize what will bring healing and wholeness, even if the path is difficult. As the hikers chose to stay together, love calls us to prioritize relationships, to act for the good of others, and to trust that even imperfect decisions can be redeemed by grace.
If you’re facing an impossible choice, remember that Love doesn’t ask for perfection—Love asks for faithfulness. When you let love guide you, you are already on holy ground. Take heart, knowing that love, even in uncertainty, leads us closer to the Sacred and to one another.
Reflection Questions
· Have you ever faced an impossible choice? How did you make your decision?
· How might asking, “What would love have me do?” shift the way you approach difficult decisions?
· What practices can help you stay grounded in love when life feels overwhelming?
God of Infinite Wisdom,
You know the weight of the choices we carry.
In moments of uncertainty, help us to pause and seek Your guidance.
Teach us to choose love, even when the path is unclear.
Give us the courage to act with integrity, The wisdom to trust in Your presence,
And the grace to offer ourselves and others compassion.
May our decisions reflect Your love and bring healing to the world.
Amen.
What else happens weekly?
Our virtual prayer and spirituality group, “Explorations” occurs on Wednesdays by Zoom. Contact Marc for the link. [email protected].
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 [email protected] for more information.
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.”
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. [email protected]
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. [email protected]
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