Orchard Valley United Church

Please note that Spirit Yoga is cancelled for Monday, Nov 30. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Christian Development will have Advent kits ready for anyone who would like one to help celebrate Advent with children and younger youth at home. Kits will be available for pick up from the church office (call to arrange a time: 902-681-0366 ext 1). Delivery and an electronic version will also be available. Please contact Andy Pitter if you would like one of these kits (andriel_p@yahoo.ca; 902-542-1545).

During the season of Advent, we’re used to seeing our Giving Tree being raised and gradually changing its colour from red to white. However, due to our current COVID circumstances, that won’t be happening this year. But since it’s important we keep things as “normal” as possible, we’d like to keep the Christmas dedications without actually raising the Tree. Therefore, if you’d like to make a Christmas dedication in celebration of life, love, community, family & friends, please feel free to contact the office by phone or email. We will acknowledge all dedications starting November 29 (the first Sunday of Advent) by listing them weekly in our Announcements. Donations in support of dedications will be gratefully accepted.

Fundscrip cards make excellent gifts and are a very convenient and easy way to shop for Christmas. The last date to order gift cards for Christmas delivery is December 6. Orders will resume January 3, 2021. Following are upcoming FundScrip order and delivery dates:

Order Dates         Delivery Dates
November 22        November 29
December 6           December 13
January 3                January 10

To place an order, please contact Ian Godfrey, Cecil White or Bruce Smith for an order form. Thank you for your continued support.

Congratulations Orchard Valley. Our annual Christmas Hamper program is progressing very well. As of November 16, you have donated close to $3000 of our $4000 goal. These funds are being raised toward our commitment to supply 40 families with Christmas food hamper assistance plus donating $500 to Wolfville and Area Council of Churches as well as $500 to Canning Inter Church Council. If you would like to contribute, donations can be made to Orchard Valley United Church with a notation for the Christmas Hamper program. With thanks for your generous support. If you have questions, see Helen Seymour or Sheila Fisher

The Affirming Committee will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, December 1 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. Rev. Don will provide the link to attend prior to the meeting.

The Affirming Committee would like to remind the members of our church family that we have been adding information to our Resource Page on the church website. The most recent addition is the Affirm United’s use of language regarding sexual orientation and gender identity (i.e. definitions of LBGTQS+ and others). We invite you to check out our resource page if you have any questions.

Offering envelopes for 2021 have been prepared. Please contact the office to arrange a date/time for pick-up – call 902-681-0366, ext 1, or send an email to adminOVU@bellaliant.com.

United Church Calendars are available, through the OV-UCW, at the church office. The cost is $10 per calendar, inc. tax. To purchase a calendar, please contact the OVUC office, 902-681-0366, ext 1, or adminOVU@bellaliant.com.

One of our members, Kelly Messom, is selling Epicure products again this Christmas. She is donating half her commissions to the Christmas Hamper program. You may order anytime using a credit card through http://kellymessomross.epicure.com or contact her for e-transfer information.

Region 15 asked congregations to observe Children’s Sunday (November 15) by highlighting the need to protect the human rights of Palestinian children. Rev. Don mentioned this in his last sermon. One way we can help is to write letters to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and our MPs.

You can download a sample letter by clicking one of the links below.

Sample letter Palestinian Children – Word version
Sample letter Palestinian Children – PDF version

For those in the congregation who would like to continue supporting the church financially while we are experiencing our temporary closure, we have several ways you can donate:

• Mail your post-dated cheque(s) to the office (OVUC, 130 Cornwallis Ave, New Minas, NS B4N 3M7);
• Drop your offerings into our mail slot. It’s located on the outside of the OVUC building, on the left corner. This is a secure, internal mailbox;
• Click the DONATE button on our website;
• Transfer funds to us via bank e-transfer. Please contact the office for details; or
• Sign-up for PAR. Please contact the office for details.

Regardless of the method you choose, you will receive a tax receipt in 2021 for your donation(s). For more information or assistance, please contact the office (902-681-0366, ext 1, or AdminOVU@bellaliant.com).

Rev Don has prepared video recordings of our worship services, to be shared with our church family.

Please view our video recorded services by hovering over Worship Services on the ribbon above and then clicking on Video Recorded Messages OR by clicking on the following link:  Video Recorded Messages.

The men of OVUC will hold their next monthly gathering at the Irving Big Stop on Sunday, December 6, at 7:45 am for Men’s Breakfast. Come early to get the early bird special. All men of the congregation are welcome.