Sunday, December 7th is White Gift Sunday.

This is an opportunity for us to bring personal care items, things for infants, children and youth, including items to help prepare for colder weather to be donated to Rainbow Youth Centre. They will use these items to make Christmas stocking/gift packages for families who attend their Christmas dinner December 18.  Your donation of the following new items is greatly appreciated:

Youth
• Deodorant (male & female)
• Shampoo (500-710 ml)
• Toothpaste (75 ml) & toothbrushes (soft bristle)
• Bars of soap
• Scented Body Spray (male and female)
• Sport socks (white-adult sizes)
• Mitts & Toques (adult size)

Infant
• Toques (infant/toddler)
• Mittens (infant/toddler)
• Socks (infant/toddler)
• Baby Shampoo
• Teething Rings
• Sippy Cups
• Electrical Plus Protectors

Children
• Socks
• Toque
• Mitts
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste (75ml)
• Shampoo (500-710ml)
• Children's Bubble Bath
• Books for reading
• Crayons
• Colouring books
• Building Blocks
• Puzzles (up to 5 years)
• Stuffed Animals (12" or smaller, new)
• Candy (leftover Halloween candy welcome)

Alternate Shopping Option:
Purchase a gift card from Superstore, Wal-Mart, or Target and let Rainbow Elves do the shopping.

Also.......The annual Rainbow Youth Christmas Dinner will be December 18. Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of areas. A large number of volunteers is required for this supper! If you are able to help, please sign up on the sheets for the Rainbow Youth Poster in the church.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25^TH: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

CaraGay Driscoll has offered to launch our Advent reflection evenings with an invitation to explore the spiritual practice of journaling. We will discuss various types of journaling, while focusing on journaling into Advent. The evening will provide a space to reflect, and to write, while in community. It is not about being an expert writer - it is about writing from the heart. Your writing will be your own – it is meant to be a learning experience for your own soul, only sharing with the group those things that feel comfortable to share. I look forward to this opportunity to pause for a while, so that I can enter the Advent season in a more intentional way.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2^ND: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Karen Cartmell introduced me to prayer bracelets a couple of years ago. They are a very simple way of enabling a person to look down at the wrist and remember that no one walks alone.  We invite you to join us to create your own bracelet - or to create a bracelet to give to someone on your Christmas list. We ask that you bring along $5 to offset the cost of the beads. Come and allow your creativity to be unleashed, while in community! I look forward to being absorbed in the activity of threading beads onto elastic (more time consuming than it sounds!!), grounded in prayer and in laughter.  Sign up at the church or call the church office if you are interested in attending....

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9^TH: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Cameron Fraser is one of the ministers at Knox-Metropolitan United Church. He has agreed to come and offer leadership for one of our Advent evenings – he is bringing along his canvas labyrinth, which is about 35 feet in diameter. This is how Cam describes walking the Labyrinth: The Golden Rule of Labyrinth Walking is “There is no wrong way to walk a Labyrinth.” You can set any pace you’d like–you can walk slowly and meditatively, at your usual walking pace…you can even dance or run through the Labyrinth. It’s all up to you. You can enter the Labyrinth with a specific thought in mind to contemplate, you can carry a prayer with you, you can enter in joy, grief, or pain, or you can wander in with no expectations or plans at all. All ways to move within the Labyrinth are correct. So, come – let’s walk together and see where such movement will lead our community!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13^TH : 2 to 4 p.m.

Please join Hilary Wallin and her family, and Kathy, for an afternoon of old-fashioned Christmas fun – cookie decorating, popcorn stringing, ornament crafting, games and snacks and hot drinks. We may even sing a carol or two! The activities are fun for children and adults of all ages – everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you are planning to attend so we have enough supplies. Or if you are interested in helping out during the event please talk to Hilary or Kathy.

Kathy will be away from November 2 until November 9 for continuing education. If you require emergency pastoral care during this time, contact Tricia Gerhard (Whitmore Park United Church) at 306-533-6698

At Sunset, Wesley and Whitmore Park United Churches

Sunset United Church: 306-586-3613

Wesley United Church: 306-586-5220

Whitmore Park United Church: 306-586-3977

For the Month of June:

Sunday Worship Services:

-June 1^st and 8^th: in our own churches at 10:00 a.m.

-June 15^th, 22^nd & 29^th: at Whitmore Park United Church at 10:00 a.m.

 Office Hours:

-Sunset: Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 Available for pastoral care:

-Kathy Platt: 306-536-3613 (work); 306-529-4009 (cell)

 For the Month of July

Sunday Worship Services:

-July 6^th: at Whitmore Park United Church at 10:00 a.m.

-July 13^th, 20^th, 27^th: at Wesley United Church at 10:00 a.m.

 Office Hours:

-Sunset Office closed for month of July

 Available for pastoral care:

-Kathy will be away on holidays from July 2 to July 29.

For pastoral care during this time, contact:

July 2 – 14: Tricia Gerhard at 306-533-6698 (cell)

July 14 – 28: Cindy Bourgeois at 306-501-9432 (cell)

For the Month of August:

Sunday Worship Services:

-August 3^rd: at Wesley United Church at 10:00 a.m.

-August 10^th, 17^th, 24^th and 31^st: at Sunset United Church at 10:00 a.m.

 Office Hours:

-Sunset: Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

 Available for Pastoral Care:

-Kathy Platt: 306-586-3613 (work); 306-529-4009 (cell)

(All congregations will be back to regular schedule and location for services on Sunday, September 7, 2014)

-Saturday, April 26th, will be our next "K-cups and Kids" evening - 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  This is a casual evening where adults can chat, kids can play, and community is built!  Please drop in and spend awhile getting to know each other and our vibrant and spirit-filled pre-schoolers!  Bring along a snack to share if you so desire.

Check out the following map on the website listed below and see where we are at on our walk to Jerusalem!  The link is http://bit.1y/1it6QqD.

The Spring Clothing Sale is tomorrow!! – Saturday, March 29 (1:00 to 3:00 p.m.)! Come and find all the bargains on new and gently used clothing and toys!!

Just a quick reminder, our Special Appeals campaign continues until April 13^th.  Please consider making a donation to one of our three worthwhile organizations.  Special Appeals forms and envelopes were sent out with the latest Script.  If you did not receive the Special Appeals information, please contact the office at 306-586-3613 or feel free to pick up a copy at the office during regular office hours or before or after church.

Palm Sunday – April 13, 2014

Our hope is that we will have walked enough steps as a congregation that we will actually have arrived in Jerusalem by this Sunday! Michelle and Kathy, with the involvement of the youth and Sunday School, will both show (with props and video clips) & tell the whole of the Easter Story. Even though this is a story that is very familiar to most of us, our hope is to bring it to life in a new way using some video clips to connect it ever more closely with our reality here in the City of Regina.

Maundy Thursday – April 17, 2014: 6 – 8 p.m.

The scripture tells us that on the night before he was crucified, Jesus gathered with his friends and disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. We are truly hoping that this is not our Last Supper together! However, I believe that the Last Supper was very much about gaining strength from the gathered community by sharing in a meal that nourished both body and soul. We invite you to join us for a pot-luck supper (organized by Wendy Wushke and Peg Atymichuk) at 6:00. As we share in a meal together, our expectation is that we will get to know the others at our table a little better because there will be more time for conversation than we normally have on a Sunday morning. Following the meal, we will have communion as a way to close off our evening.

Good Friday Service – 10:30 a.m.

A service including music with our choir and readings for reflection, followed by Hot Cross Buns and coffee.

Sunday, April 20^th: Easter Morning Sunrise service: 5:30 AM!

Michelle McConkey is very excited that we do a Sunrise Service here at Sunset United! She is going to join the team of Vikki May and Lana Orban (which likely means the Orban family!). We will meet here at the church around a fire bowl, we will sing, and we will discover ways to greet the new day in style! And then we will come into the church for breakfast together. I have heard a rumor of cinnamon buns appearing…if you have something that you would like to bring for this potluck breakfast, that would be great!

Sunday, April 20^th: Easter Morning Service – 10:30 a.m.

Come and celebrate with us – we made it through the deep freeze of January through March and the sun is getting stronger every day. Out of death, God brings new life! We are a people where Hope springs eternal – so come - let’s let the Hallelujah’s ring out!! Michelle will have a creative activity for any children who are here for this service.

-Kathy will be away from March 24 until April 10 (returning on April 11) for continuing education.  If you require pastoral care during this time, contact Tricia Gerhard (Whitmore Park United Church) at 306-533-6698 (from March 24-April 1) and Cindy Bourgeois (Wesley United Church) at 306-586-5220 (from April 2-April 10).