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. marc.cfruc@mymts.net
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82191407687?pwd=TXpuQmI4Z2JLNGVEUnprVVNxL0xoZz09
UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES
January 11th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at CFRUC
A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK—Rev Cameron Trimble
“In The Middle of The Light”
There’s a story I’ve been thinking about this week. A woman lives in an apartment building where the power goes out often. It drops just enough to interrupt dinner, silence the hum of appliances, unsettle sleep. After the first few times, she stops being surprised. She keeps candles in a drawer and matches by the stove.
One night, the power goes out again. She lights a candle and sets it on the windowsill. Across the courtyard, she notices another light appear. Then another. They aren’t coordinated. No one planned this. It’s just neighbors doing what people do when the dark comes and there’s no guarantee it will pass quickly.
No one pretends the outage isn’t real. No one insists the candles are enough to fix it. But the building looks different now—less isolated. Less afraid.
This is where we are.
Christians are deep into the waiting of Advent. The long nights have already tested our patience. The prayers have been said more than once. The ache hasn’t lifted yet.
Jewish communities are not just lighting the first candle of Hanukkah. They are mid-story, adding light night after night, not because the world has grown safer, but because fidelity matters precisely when it hasn’t.
Many spiritual seekers—inside and outside these traditions—find themselves somewhere in between: longing for meaning, not knowing who or how to trust, still choosing to show up.
What unites these moments is not belief, but practice.
Advent, at its core, is not sentimental. It is a discipline of staying awake in a world that numbs itself to survive. It remembers that hope—Immanuel, God with us—is not optimism; it is attention. It is refusing to declare the darkness permanent. It is keeping our eyes peeled for the quiet, often overlooked movements of God.
Hanukkah, at its core, is not about victory. It is about fidelity. The candles are lit not because the world is safe, but because the world is not. Light is added deliberately, one night at a time—not to overwhelm the darkness, but to insist that it does not get the final word.
Neither tradition promises that the waiting will be short. Neither suggests that light is easy to sustain. They meet us here—in the middle.
- In the middle of grief we haven’t metabolized.
- In the middle of violence that keeps repeating itself.
- In the middle of fear that looks for scapegoats.
- In the middle of a world that feels meaner than it should.
And still, candles are lit. Still, people wait on purpose. Still, stories are told that insist the future is not foreclosed.
What matters now is not whether we are hopeful enough. It is whether we are faithful enough to keep practicing. Lighting another candle. Keeping watch another night. Refusing the lie that darkness deserves our silence.
The woman in the apartment never knows when the power will come back. But she knows this: when she lights the candle, she is not alone. When others do the same, the darkness loses its claim to isolation.
That may be the most honest spiritual posture available to us right now—not triumph, not despair, but shared perseverance.
We are not at the beginning. We are not at the end.
We are in the middle of the light.
And that, too, is holy ground.
We are continuing to collect non-perishable food stuffs for our 1JustCity partners.
Help out infants this Christmas! We couldn’t bring gifts to baby Jesus himself, but we can support and care for other babies in our community. Harrow is sponsoring a “diaper drive” throughout the Advent season. After the joint service at Harrow on December 28, our donations will be given to Harvest Manitoba who will distribute them to families in need. Look for the collection box in the Narthex. Given the high cost of diapers, we are also accepting cash donations of any amount, so boxes of diapers can be purchased. Thanks for your support.
Friday Mama Bear Clan Walk – A few of us have experienced walking with the Mama Bear Clan this Fall enjoying the milder weather. As well as the sandwiches that are made on site, we have had extra muffins and cookies to offer. When the word “homemade” is mentioned, eyes light up. Last Friday was chillier and we had many requests for mittens. We don’t have room for a mitten tree, but there will be a turquoise box at the back of the Sanctuary to hold donated mittens or gloves. New, gently used, adult or kid-sized, all are welcome. Thank you!
What else happens weekly?
Our virtual prayer and spirituality group, “Explorations” occurs on Wednesdays by Zoom. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Marc at marc.cfruc@mymts.net or 204-461-1767
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.
Our Faithful Readers Book Discussion Group is open to everyone, and we usually meet the last Wednesday of the month via Zoom, except for the movies and our windup dinner. If you are interested, please contact the office for the Link. Pick up a Bookmark at Harrow for times, etc.
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. 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.
