Minister's Message

Welcome to our church's website. We have seen a lot of technological changes in the past few years and this site is intended to provide the friends and members of the Centennial-Japanese United Church community a chance to obtain information and keep up-to-date on church activities.

I hope that this website will help our congregation and friends to become closer to God and to Jesus Christ.

Christmas 2008

Dear Friends of Centennial-Japanese United Church
                                   
I hope you all have a joyous, meaningful and fun filled Christmas season. The Christmas season has a habit of sneaking up on us and Advent is here before we know it. Retailers, on the other hand are always prepared for the season though, for as soon as Halloween is over they know they must get their Christmas merchandise ready for the rush of customers. For most Christians, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, to give gifts, remember those less fortunate than us and possibly for some, a time of reflection.

As I was born just after the great depression, I can remember when Christmas was a very simple celebration with very little in the way of gifts. Maybe that is why I tend to dislike the over-commercialization of Christmas today. However, I am also a strong believer in a free market economy so it is hard for me to be too critical. In any case I hope you were able to read the booklet “Whose Birthday is it, Anyway?” which outlines some ways to celebrate a simpler, more meaningful Christmas.

A few years ago I discovered the website for Alternatives for Simple Living, a non-profit organization, which was formed in 1973 as a protest against the commercialization of Christmas. Their tagline is “Living Simply So Others May Simply Live”. The mandate of the organization now is: equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly. I think we can all benefit from thinking seriously about the choices we make on how we choose to celebrate the Christmas season.

Please plan to attend the following services that will help us celebrate the true reason for the season:
Sun. Dec. 21st – 11:45 a.m. – Advent IV and White Gift Sunday.  Our White Gift Project is once again the Gifts That Matter from CHF, the Canadian Hunger Foundation.  Your donations will help people in need around the world to get a better life.
Sun. Dec. 21st - SHARING TABLE.....Merry Christmas everyone!!!   Please share an UNWRAPPED  gift for someone. It will be more FUN when everyone participates.
Wed. Dec. 24th – 5:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.  Come join in celebrating Jesus’ birth through carols, scriptures, prayers and drama!

Kaz Shikaze, Stewardship Ministry Team Leader