The Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday (Latin for “Rejoice”), signals a shift in the somber Advent season to joyful anticipation because Christmas and Christ’s arrival are near. It’s a moment to pause penitential practices, symbolized by wearing pink (rose) vestments or lighting a pink candle on the Advent wreath instead of purple, reminding us to find deep, spiritual joy in God’s promised salvation, even amidst hardships.
Key Meanings & Themes:
- Rejoice: The name comes from Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice! The Lord is near,” marking gladness.
- A Break in Penance: It offers a respite from Advent’s usual penitential tone, highlighting hope and approaching fulfillment.
- Nearness of Christ: It emphasizes that Jesus’ coming (Christmas) is drawing close.
- Spiritual Joy: The focus is on a profound joy found in God’s presence, not just worldly happiness, as seen in readings about John the Baptist and the Kingdom of God.
Traditions:
- Candle Color: A pink (or rose) candle on the Advent wreath represents this joy, contrasting with the purple candles.
Worship Calendar
Dec. 14 – Advent 3 – Joy Isaiah 35 &Matthew 11:2-11 Rev. Eric Lee
Dec. 21 – Advent 4 – Love Isaiah 7:10-16 & Matthew 1:18-25 Rev. Eric Lee
Dec. 28 – The Horror Before the Blessing Matthew 2:13-23 Rev. Eric Lee
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Soup by Dave” Luncheon
Outreach wants to thank all those who were able to attend the 4th “Soup by Dave” Luncheon on November 10th. The 40 people in attendance who were brave enough to venture out in the snowy weather were treated to another excellent presentation by Chef Dave and enjoyed a delicious Dutch split pea soup and tasty desserts provided by his daughter, Ashley. After lunch, we were honoured to have Reverend Jan Hieminga talk to us about his family’s trip to Holland for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. He provided us with personal memories of his family’s experiences during the war and gave us other interesting details about the war. It was a very emotional talk and was a wonderful way to prepare for Remembrance Day. Thanks to your generosity and extra funds from our budget we were recently able to send a $1000 donation to Presbyterians Sharing.
Graceview Balanced Budget Matching Gift Campaign
In order to help achieve a balance budget at Graceview this year, one of our members (who wishes to remain anonymous) has generously offered to match any special offerings (not regular weekly offerings) given by other members of the congregation to help balance the budget, up to a maximum of $5,000 in matching donations. In other words, if other members donate $3,000 in special offerings the donor will match that to make a total of $6,000, if other members donate $5,000 the donor will match that to make a total of $10,000, and if other members of the congregation donate more than $5,000 the donor will top that up by an additional $5,000. For example, if other members donate $7,000 that will become a total of $12,000. Please consider making a one-time special donation in order to help balance our 2025 budget and to take advantage of this generous offer.
To make a donation please use the envelope enclosed with the bulletin or one of the additional envelopes at the back of the church on the offering table and put your special offering on the collection plate as usual. Alternatively, you can use an e-transfer in the normal way, just indicate on the transfer that it is pursuant to the Balanced Budget Matching Gift Campaign. You will receive a tax receipt for that special offering, also as usual. Thank you for considering this and thank you to the anonymous donor. If you have any questions please speak to Al Bishop, who is not the matching gift donor but who is organizing this on behalf of the donor.
A Winter Devotional Update (December 2):
A new edition of Our Daily Bread (December/January/February), as well as the current edition of These Days (January/February/March) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional
Box on the front porch.
Advent Readers
Dec. 14 – Al & Lynne
Dec. 21 – Vi & Chris
Christmas Angel Program for Food Basket Families.
The St James Food Basket will not be giving out gift cards this year to members of their client families. The Food Basket will be closed for two weeks at Christmastime so the organizers would like to give these families extra food to help them during the holiday period. They plan is to give them frozen chicken and salmon. Outreach would like to support this initiative through our Christmas Angels program. Remembering the biblical story of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes (Matthew 14:13-21), also known as the Feeding of the 5000, donations from our congregation would help to increase the amount of chicken and salmon that can be distributed to the families. At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet and to feed their families, we can make an important difference in some of their lives.
Please mark your donations (cash, cheque or e-transfer) for the Outreach Account and include your envelope number. We would appreciate receiving your donations by December 14th in order that we can send the funds to the Food Basket in time for their last Wednesday (Dec 17th) distribution of the year. Thank you in advance for your generous support in bringing the joy of Christmas to those in need in our community.
Advent Lunches (Changes to the original plan)
After a very productive Music & Worship meeting last week, it was decided to pare back the number of Advent Lunches that were originally planned. Attendance has traditionally been sparse to these, so it was decided to have one event only. On December 16 at 12:00 PM we will be offering a pizza lunch followed by the viewing of “Christmas with The Chosen – O Holy Night”, which was produced by the same people who have brought us The Chosen series. Please come out and join us for pizza and a movie and maybe some carol singing at the end. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the entryway of the church. We would love to see many of you come out for this event.
New Year’s Prayer Hour – January 1 at 1pm
We invite you to a gentle and reflective New Year’s Prayer Hour on New Year’s Day at 1pm. This will be a peaceful time with hymns, projected images, and quiet space for personal prayer.
This new initiative was suggested by our organist Glen De Line, who will help co-lead the hour.
Come start the year in calm, hope, and God’s presence.
Coffee Sign-Up
It is that time of year again when we are looking for volunteers to serve coffee and tea after worship. The sign up sheet is on the bulletin board in the Adamson Lounge.
Dec. 14 – Harry & Pat
Dec. 21 – Glen & Greg
Dec. 28 – Iris & Maureen
Jan. 4 – Mission Team
Jan. 11 – Mission Team
Jan. 18 – Glen & Greg
Jan. 25 – Mission Team
Thank you to all of you who have given so willingly of your time and efforts. We appreciate you!!
UPCOMING EVENTS
* Tuesdays @ 11:00 AM – Walking Group – All are welcome
* Thursdays @ 2:00 PM – Worship service at Centennial Park Place
* Sundays after church- until Christmas – Bell Ringers rehearsal
* Thursday, Dec. 4 @ 9:30 – Sing! Etobicoke @ NPCC (Advent and More)
* Tuesday, Dec. 16 @ 12:00 PM – Advent Luncheon and Movie.
* Tuesday, Dec. 16 @7:00 PM – Christmas Concert fundraiser for Out of the Cold at Our Lady of
Sorrows Parish
* Wednesday, Dec. 24 @ 7:00 PM – Christmas Eve Service
* Thursday, Jan. 1 @1:00 PM – New Year’s Day Prayer Hour
* Monday, Jan 26 @ 6:30 PM – Mission Team meeting (Zoom)
* Sunday, Mar. 8 @ 11:30 AM – Annual General Meeting
Prayer/Reader/Announcements for 2026
As you can see below, our roster of readers for 2025 is coming to an end. Bob T. will be working on the 2026 roster towards the end of December. If you would like to be added to or removed from our list of readers, please contact Bob as soon as possible.
Prayer Roster Lay Readers Welcome and Announcements
Dec. 14 Rachael Chen Bob Twynam Susan Chopp
Dec. 21 Eric Lee Nancy Green Nancy McPherson
Dec. 28 Nancy Green Anna Cherniak Kathy Twynam
Sing! Etobicoke
To register, please visit: https://www.neilsonparkcreativecentre.com/event/sing-etobicoke/
For information, please email: alex@neilsonparkcreativecentre.com or call 416-622-5294.
Sing! Etobicoke, Encore, 2025 Fall Schedule
2025-12-11 9:30 AM NPCC Holiday Songs F25ASE9
2025-12-18 9:30 AM GV Holiday Songs (With men Aloud) F25ASE10
Sing! Etobicoke, Encore, 2026 Winter Schedule
2026-01-08 9:30 AM NPCC Aspenglow, Songs of Winter W26ASE1
2026-01-15 9:30 AM NPCC Songs of the North W26ASE2
2026-01-22 9:30 AM GV A Day in the Life W26ASE3
2026-01-29 9:30 AM GV Be My Light W26ASE4
2026-02-05 9:30 AM NPCC Guest Day (with Men Aloud) W26ASE5
2026-02-12 9:30 AM GV Love Me Tender W26ASE6
2026-02-19 9:30 AM GV Singin’ in the Rain W26ASE7
2026-02-26 9:30 AM GV Catch a Falling Star W26ASE8
2026-03-05 9:30 AM NPCC Do I ever Cross Your Mind? W26ASE9
2026-03-12 9:30 AM NPCC Here Comes the Sun (Songs of Spring) W26ASE10
WEEKLY GIGGLE
A Miracle?
Father O’Malley was driving down to Boston on Christmas Eve when got stopped for speeding in Medford.
The highway patrol officer smelled alcohol on the priest’s breath and then saw an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car at the church outreach event.
He said, ‘Father, have you been drinking?”
Only water’, replied Father O’Malley.
The policeman asked, ‘Then how come I can smell wine?’
The priest looked at the bottle and said, ‘Good Lord! He’s done it again.’
Where to Find Us
Contact Person Email Address Phone Number Role/Note
Susan Chopp choppertini@hotmail.com 419-953-7582 Weekly News
Pastor Eric pastor@graceview.ca 416-621-0888 (press #1) Church related issues
Church Office office@graceview.ca Church Secretary
(Halyna)
Dr. Glen DeLine delineglen@gmail.com 905-849-0388 Music Director
Graceview Website https://graceview.ca/calendar-events
Facebook Page Graceview Presbyterian Church
Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/graceview.presbyterian?igsh=MnlpeXE5YTYyN2ly