Why work so hard to get more people involved in the Advent And Christmas Eve Worship Services?

As we move into the Advent and Christmas seasons, our congregation would usually start planning a bunch of special things for our services. Choirs would rehearse, a pageant would be prepared, special solos would happen.

And this year, we are on YouTube - but we still want you involved.

The work to have people record videos in their homes and edit everything together is significant, but it is totally worth it! Just like it is worth the work in other years.

The main reason it is worth it is that worship at its best involves and includes many people of God working together. In previous years, our rehearsing would be part of what we offer to God. Getting costumes ready would be part of our worship. Going over readings would be part of our worship. And then when we would actually come together as a community, a few people would lead lead, while everyone worships together.

This year, instead of a people coming together in the building to light candles and hear the story (which is wonderful!), we get to collaborate to make a video that is our worship of God as we celebrate the incarnation.

Whether you appear on screen, where you edit video, whether you gather your household together to light your own candles and listen to the ancient story that shapes our lives, or whether you send a few “peace be with you” messages in the chat, you are worshipping God this season.

No, it’s not the same as in-person. Neither will our YouTube videos “work” for everyone. But for many in our community this year, this is our way of focussing on and celebrating the incarnation, of rejoicing in hope as we remember the birth of our Lord.

Are there more things we will do as God’s people? Of course!

We will join small groups to strengthen each other’s faith. We will do what we can to care for each other, with encouraging emails, phone calls, care packages, etc. We will support Winnipeg Inner City Missions, Kenora Fellowship Centre and Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church. And We will continue to learn on our own and together, whether from prophets, or preachers, or puppets, or pastors!

But most importantly, our worship, our service, and our giving reminds us that as God’s people we together point to the one worthy of worship—The Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Matt Brough
Minister of Word and Sacraments
Prairie Presbyterian Church

Participating in Communion Without a Physical Gathering

On Sundays where we are celebrating communion, all those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour are welcome to participate in your home. In order to participate, make sure you have bread and wine or grape juice readily available for your household. Rev. Matt Brough will be leading you through this time. 

Two things to keep in mind as we celebrate communion.

1. Our Church has an open table. This means that anyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Saviour is welcome to participate. It doesn’t matter whether you belong to a different congregation or denomination, it doesn’t matter how frequently you have come to church. Having a full understanding of communion is also not a pre-requisite. Children are welcome to participate at the discretion and under the supervision of their parents of guardians.

2. The celebration and participation in communion is intended to be done together as a community. Obviously, this is more challenging in a time when we cannot gather together. As much as possible, please try to join the celebration of communion when we are live on YouTube at 10am. We recognize that this is not possible for everyone, and that some will join later by watching the replay. Although not ideal, we see this as similar to the minister visiting someone in their home later in the day or the week to provide communion for someone who was unable to be present in worship.

In 2012, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada approved guidelines for providing communion using technology. Since these provisions are already in place, and as Prairie celebrates communion once a month, we believe it is important for our practice to continue.

We hope that sharing in communion in your home will be meaningful for you.

In-Person Worship Services Cancelled until further notice

In-person worship services and other in-person activities of Prairie Presbyterian Church have been cancelled until further notice because of Covid-19.

We will be live-streaming our services on Sundays at 10am.

Read our latest Email that went out about this, including Lenten Resources, and more details about how we are responding.

Worship and Covid-19

Please read through our latest email concerning our worship service on March 15th, including ways to connect online…

Read the Update

Worship and Community Leader

We are thrilled to announce that Jen Ostash-Gooch has been hired into the new role of Worship and Community Leader and has begun working this week. This is a half-time role and expands her role into new areas of ministry beyond the work with young adults that she was doing for Prairie last year.

As per our process, the Presbytery was consulted on this role and gave their approval on Jan 18. Members of Prairie's personnel committee (Janice Anderson and Amelia Sheocharan) and the minister (Matt Brough), interviewed Jen on Jan 29th, and recommended to session that she be hired. The session passed the motion offering the position at their meeting on Feb 3rd.

This position is part of our new staffing model for 2020 which was presented to the congregation in November 2019.  You can access the document that outlined the model, job descriptions, and process that were sent out - Download it here

Food Ministry Project: In the Kitchen and Around the Table

This ministry outreach is to connect with neighbourhoods and individuals through basic cooking classes. The goals of the project are:

1) To provide a healthy meal, including leftovers to take home, to those who are in need in several constituencies.
2) To provide education on healthy eating on a budget.
3) To facilitate community among participants and create space for mutual support and encouragement.
4) To provide pastoral care through appropriate follow up with participants / to assist the existing staff and volunteers at Winnipeg Inner City Missions with their own pastoral work
5) To create opportunities for faith, spiritual, and gospel conversations around a common table.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” — Matthew 25:35

Our aim is to operate 4 distinct programs:

a) Fort Richmond - connecting with Food Bank and Families living in Manitoba Housing areas.
b) South Winnipeg Community - Connecting with University Students living away from home
c) Partnership with Winnipeg Inner City Missions - Flora House Teen Day Camp
d) Partnership with Winnipeg Inner City Missions - Single Adults

Not only do we want to provide some meals for participants, we hope to provide education about nutrition and food selection and most importantly how to do this on a tight budget. We hope to be able to bring in some expert speakers, giving participants the opportunity to learn more and also spark their creativity or their interest on areas they may want to further explore. We have a desire to use this opportunity to make community connections beyond the participants. We believe there are potential partnerships to form to support what is currently out there and what we feel called to create.

Dates in July have been tentatively booked for the Flora House and Single Adults groups. Both groups will be held at WICM and will also have a celebration at the end of their classes.

The location and dates for the University Students and the Families are to be determined. We want a neutral space for people to feel comfortable walking into, as well as taking the opportunity to build other community connections.

Discerning Community in Transcona / East Kildonan

This will be a gathering of individuals in the Transcona / East Kildonan area: for worship, Bible Study, discipleship, and conversations around what a new expression of Church might look like for them and for their neighbours. Jen Ostash-Gooch (Prairie’s Young Adults Pastor) along with her husband, Matthew Gooch, has begun conversations with a handful of people who live in the area, and who are not currently connected with Prairie. Together they will have discussions about what vibrant faith looks like in families as the majority of the initial group have children under the age of 4.

While initial gatherings will take place in a home with a shared meal, the hope is to eventually use a non-church space that is neutral for people who may have baggage about “churches” or for those who have never been to a church before and have some preconceived notions about what “going to church” means. The vision and mission is to facilitate a safe space where people can come from all walks of life to encounter Jesus, explore faith, explore what it means to be in community, and engaged missionally in the world.

As well as doing the work of discernment with this small group, Jen and Matthew will also make special effort to become familiar around the community. Attending the Market Garden (farmer’s market) on a regular basis, finding ways to volunteer, and frequenting locally run coffee shops or restaurants will be the main way to achieve this familiarity. It will also help the group discover what God is already doing in the community and guide the discernment process.

Prayer Ministry for the Whole Church

Prairie has had a prayer group for a number of years, but we are now starting a new prayer ministry that anyone can participate in, from anywhere, at any time. The prayer group won’t be meeting anymore, but this ministry allows the whole congregation to be the prayer group! In addition to your regular prayers, we will provide a focus prayer for the season, and a few prayer items.

Prayer for the Season

Please pray the Prayer for the Season daily if possible. We are also asking that every group in the church pray the Prayer of the Season at some point during their gathering or meeting. Whether it is a board or committee meeting, or a Bible study, we wish to work to unity in prayer.  The Prayer for the Season can be a great way to open a meeting or gathering. (see below for the Prayer for the Season of Lent)

Praying the Psalms

For centuries the core practice of Christian spirituality was the daily reading and praying of the 150 Psalms every month. You are encouraged to incorporated daily praying of the Psalms (just 5 Psalms per day) into your own time with God.

Community Prayers

Each season we will provide a few items that we can all be praying about that impact the life of the Church. These may be things that relate to the congregation or to the wider church. (see below for this season's community prayers)

Your Own Prayers

The Prayer for the Season, Praying the Psalms, and Community Prayers are meant to provide a prayer focus for our congregation and for you in your own walk with God. Of course, you will have your own prayers as well. Remember that as you pray the prayers of the Church, that God always hears your personal prayers as well. 

---

PRAYER FOR EASTERTIDE

O God, the Fountain of Life, 
who raised Your Holy One from the dead and exalted him to the right hand of Your majesty; 

Cause Your face to shine upon us, and allow us to freely rejoice in His victory with glorious and unspeakable joy. As we remember the empty tomb and the resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, unite our hearts by faith in Him over whom death has no more dominion. 

May the risen Christ be with us today; fill us, O God, with the divine energy of Christ’s life, working in us according to the power by which He rose from the dead. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(this prayer is adapted from a Prayer of Invocation for Easter, Book of Common Order, Presbyterian Church in Canada 1964, pg. 276)

COMMUNITY PRAYERS DURING EASTERTIDE

During this season, please pray for:

• Our congregational discernment around our overall ministry plans, the partnership with Lighthouse, our staff/leadership model, and our financial and facility needs for our future.
• The Music and Play Program, especially for Joanne Diplock (instructor), the volunteers, and the children and families who are participating.
• Rev. Matt Brough during his time of study leave (beginning April 18)

Note: Eastertide is the 50 day season from Easter Sunday to the Day of Pentecost. This year Pentecost is on May 15

---

Prayer for the Season of Lent

Merciful God,
You created us from the dust of the earth, and breathed your Holy Spirit into us. You recreate us in Christ through the waters of Baptism, that we might share as a people in your fullness of life.
While in these forty days, may our fasting strengthen us to seek your justice, may our prayer lead us to become makers of peace, and may our sharing exalt and magnify your reign.
Be present in all human hearts, as we await with joyful anticipation, the mystery and resurrection of Jesus your Son. In who’s name we pray. Amen.

Community Prayers during Lent

Please pray for:

• the planning and preparation for the new Music and Play Program.
• the annual congregational meeting on March 6th and the upcoming budget year.
• Holy Week (Palm Sunday to Easter) and new people who find their way into Church at this time of year.

Extended Study Leave for Rev. Matthew Brough in Spring/Summer of 2016

In 2012, Rev. Matthew Brough discussed with the session the possibility of an extended study leave at some point in the future. When Rev. Brough’s call was approved by the Presbytery of Winnipeg, it allowed for the following provision.

“To give two weeks study leave annually, plus one further week to be banked toward a sabbatical, and to provide $1,200 per year for the pursuance of study leave, and that these benefits shall be cumulated up to five years.”

In 2013, the session planned for this extended study leave (sabbatical) to happen sometime in 2015. These plans were put on hold through the amalgamation conversations that led to the formation of Prairie Presbyterian Church.

In the spring of 2015, the session of Prairie again discussed the extended study leave plans. Specifics were put in place last fall, and approved by the Presbytery of Winnipeg at their meeting on January 16th, 2016.

Matt’s study leave will be for eleven weeks - this includes all accumulated amounts plus the full three weeks allocated for 2016. He will likely need to use all accumulate study leave money as well.

Keep in mind that as per the terms of the call (and standard for all clergy in the PCC), Matt receives 5 weeks of holidays annually as well. Matt is taking one week of vacation in February, and will likely use some of his vacation time immediately after the study leave. The exact timing of this is still to be worked out.

Throughout the time when Matt is away, arrangements will be made for guest preachers and worship leadership from within and outside the congregation. Arrangements will also be made for ministers to be on call for pastoral emergencies. The session, board, other committees and teams, will of course, continue to operate as usual.

Below is the proposal for study leave that was submitted by Rev. Matthew Brough and approved by the Presbytery.

Purpose: Sabbath and an exploration of preaching and writing.

1) One of the main purposes of an extended study leave is to have an extended break from ministry. I have been serving in ministry for 12 years now and the longest break has been five weeks. I will likely use some of my holiday time to have a longer than 11 week break and to have some needed rest.
2) Both preaching and writing are gifts that I wish to further develop and things that I love doing. Because one of the main purposes is rest, I hope to advance these gifts not through intensive study, but through reading, reflection, and some conferences.

Structure
I intend to structure my study leave in the following way:
3 weeks
April 18 to May 7 - Reading, preparation, prayer. This time would be used for reading primarily for the C.S. Lewis program.
3 weeks
May 8 to 13 - The Life and Works of C.S. Lewis: Inspiration, Belief and The Power of Language. Held at Montreat Conference Center, near Asheville, South Carolina.
May 16 to 20 - Festival of Homiletics in Atlanta.
May 22 to 26 - Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held at at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, North Carolina
5 weeks
May 27 to July 3 - Reflection, writing, planning.
I plan to use this time to reflect on the conferences attended and to write both fiction and non-fiction. Particular attention will be paid during this time as well to planning how the gifts of writing and preaching might be used in a more fulsome way in the life of the congregation. 

The total time for study leave will be from April 18 to July 3

Advent and Christmas 2015

Christmas Eve Services - Dec 24th

Two Candlelight Services Celebrating the birth of Jesus

5:30pm and 7:30pm

590 University Cres. Winnipeg

---

Wednesday Nights in Advent - 7:00pm

Nov 25 - The Advent Candles
This night we will explore the symbolism and significance of the Advent Candle and discuss how we can focus this sometimes hectic season around the themes of hope, peace, joy, love, and ultimately Christ.

Dec 2 - A Night of Worship with the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church
Rev. Karen Horst, moderator of the PCC, will be preaching on “Sustaining our Faith” at this special worship service. Some of the young adults from Prairie are providing leadership for the service.

Dec 9 - The Real Meaning of Christmas
“Jesus is the reason for the season” - It’s true, but does this tell us the real meaning of Christmas? We will look at the Christmas story as told in Scripture and discuss why the incarnation is so important.

Dec 16 - Decorating and re-Gift Exchange Party
A fun evening of games and decorating the Church for Christmas. Bring a wrapped gift to exchange as well - but there’s a twist. Don’t buy anything. Find something you already have, wrap it up and re-gift it. It can be something funny, quirky or meaningful.

Sunday Mornings in Advent

Nov 29 - A Branch Will Spring Up - Hope
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David.  Jeremiah 33:14-15a

Dec 6 - Prepare the Way - Peace
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.   Luke 3:4b-6

Dec 13 - Ready for the Awaited One - Joy
John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Luke 3:16

Dec 20 - Children’s Presentation - Love
The Children of the Church will be presenting something special for the congregation this day.