Latest News
Below you will find some of the latest news from Prairie Presbyterian Church. The most up to date news is always sent out in our email updates. To sign up click here.
Join this celebration as we wave Palm branches and sing Hosanna. This begins our Holy Week focus, “Journey to the Cross”
At this candlelight communion service, we remember the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples, and reflect on the journey ahead that Christ took.
We meditate on the cross once again as we focus on the last words of Christ.
This day we celebrate the bewildering joy of resurrection. With renewed hope, we share communion again as a celebration of new life.
This year, during Lent, we will be intentionally focussing on the cross.
This is not the easiest path, yet the cross of Jesus is literally the crux of our faith. Everything hinges on it. We must contemplate its meaning and there is an over-abundance of meaning there.
But the cross can also appear totally void of meaning. In its original context it was an instrument of torture, terror, oppression, and death. This location of apparent senseless violence is hardly something we want to gaze at for too long.
Indeed, in our reading for the first Sunday of Lent, when Jesus spoke of his impending death, his chief disciple, Peter, would have none of it, rejecting that something like that could ever happen.
We can relate to Peter. We don’t want to think about the cross too much. It is too terrible, and yet it is front and centre in our sanctuaries and ought never be pushed off-centre from the life of following Jesus.
And so, during Lent, we will follow the following themes as we commit to contemplating the cross…
Do those Christmas hymns hold a special place in your heart? Perhaps they bring up fond memories, or maybe it just doesn't feel like the Christmas season without them. Lucky for you, Prairie Church has hymns focused on the Christmas theme sprinkled throughout this Advent season. However, we are hosting a special "All Request" service on Sunday morning, December 24 where we will pick from YOUR favourite hymns and play them during a special Christmas Eve morning service at 10:00AM.
Folks can send in their hymn requests by emailing Ashley, Prairie Church Music Director or use this handy form. We can't wait to hear about your selections and why they're so meaningful to you!
Last year, Prairie Church recorded a series of short (under 10 minute) videos for Advent that focussed on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. If you missed them, or want to review them, you can watch one each week of the season, including one for Christmas.
There are so many resources to help you mark the season of Advent. Here are a few that we recommend:
Sing a New Song - the PCC Weekly Advent Devotional - Download the PDF to use individually, with your family, or in a group
Presbyterians Read Advent Book Study - Reflections at Advent on Bonhoeffer’s Meditations
This 5-week study, has accompanying videos and can be done individually or with a group. The study is meant to accompany the reading of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book of Advent meditations, God is in the Manger. Find out more, here.
Bless the Advent We Actually Have - Kate Bowler’s excellent Advent devotional. This is free on her website for individual use and Ashley B will be leading her small group through 3 discussions on Zoom based on this resource. Email Rev. Matt Brough if you want to join these discussions.
Candle Lighting Liturgies - We will be using the Presbyterian World Service & Development Advent Candle Liturgies in our Advent services on Sunday morning, but there is more to this resource than simply the readings. Download them for yourselves at this webpage to read about the work of PWS&D and connect to your Advent practice, or consider using the liturgies in your own candle lighting at home.
An Advent Small Group will meet online to discuss the Advent Devotional by Kate Bowler, "Bless the Advent We Actually Have". All are welcome. You can get the devotional for free at her website.
Sunday December 3, 10, & 17 at 7:30PM for 40-minutes on Zoom.
Led by Ashley B - To join reach out to Rev. Matt at matt@prairiechurch.ca
All are welcome to this free event and time to set aside the stress and busy time this holiday season can bring. We have some fabulous musical talent lined up to celebrate this year’s theme: LOVE. Come one, come all! Please RSVP by clicking here.
We are excited to provide a special experience for the families of Place of Hope during the Christmas season. Over the coming weeks, our church is collecting donations and items to support this ministry. This year, each family will receive a turkey or ham and each individual of the household will receive a “Santa bag”.
We try to pack in evenly anything that will fit in an 11x14 cloth bag. This year we have 47 children 17 and under (26 girls & 21 boys) and 55 adults (34 females & 21 males) who regularly attend. We also do a few generic bags in case there are visitors so everyone gets something.
While our church is collecting dish towels and dish cloths to go into the bags, you can also look at the following list for other items that are needed. (click to read more)
Our congregation is located in Winnipeg, which is on Treaty One Land, first entrusted by Creator God to the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Nehethowuk nations, the homeland of the Red River Métis.
