Weekly Bulletin | Arlington Woods Church

FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 5, 2024

EMERGENCY REQUEST: Friends For Dinner is looking for at least 40 more host families to bless international students with Christmas hospitality. CLICK HERE to find out more information.

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSURE: Please note that the Church Office will be closed at noon on December 24, 2024 and will re-open on January 2, 2025. If you have an urgent request during this time please contact Pastor Cliff or Pastor Lynda.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JOHN DESMARAIS: It is with sadness that we announce the passing of John Desmarais on Tuesday, December 10. A visitation will be held at Tubman Funeral Home (Garden Chapel - 3440 Richmond Rd) on Sunday, December 29 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. The following day, Monday, December 30 a visitation will take place at Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church from 1:00-2:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of life at 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow. Please continue to remember the Desmarais family in prayers during this time.

YEAR END GIVING 2024: Thank you, Arlington Woods Church Family, for your faithful financial support to date. Just a friendly reminder that if you wish to make additional donations before year end, keep these timelines in mind:

1) Online donations may be made at https://arlingtonwoods.ca/donate by December 31, 2024.

2) Place envelopes in the offering boxes, at the back of the church, no later than Sunday, December 29, 2024.

Donations made before year end will be included in your 2024 Charitable Tax receipt. These will be issued early in the new year.

NOTE: The Church Office will be closed at noon on December 24, 2024 and will re-open on January 2, 2025. Please DO NOT leave donations in the church mailbox during this time.

INCLIMATE WEATHER: As we move into the Winter months please note that if the school buses are cancelled the programs at our church will be cancelled for that day. Keep an eye on our social media pages and your e-mail for updates on evening and weekend programming.

If you haven’t liked us on Facebook and Instagram be sure to do so! We have a lot going on in our church family and we’re continually updating these pages with info and images about our church family.

We invite you to join us in-person on Sunday mornings. You can also stream the service via our YouTube channel.

Contact the Church Office at info@arlingtonwoods.ca if you would like to receive our Weekly Email Blast to stay informed on the life of our church.

To donate to Arlington Woods Church, go to https://arlingtonwoods.ca/donate.php.

Are you new? by filling out our online welcome card we are able to connect you to our church community! https://arlingtonwoods.ca/welcome.php.

Watch Kidzone weekly videos at https://arlingtonwoods.ca/kids.php. These include worship, drama and animation for kids of all ages.

Small groups are an important part of our church community life. Click HERE to find a list of our current small groups.

Friday

CATALYST YOUTH - (grades 7 to 12) Please note that CATALYST is now pausing for the Christmas holidays and will resume on Friday, January 10. Visit www.arlingtonwoods.ca/teens for details.

No events scheduled

For Sunday, December 22, 2024:

9:00-9:30 a.m. - WHITE PINE CAFÉ OPEN: Our Café is open before and after services. For details visit https://arlingtonwoods.ca/cafe. Interested in volunteering at or baking for our café? Email cafe@arlingtonwoods.ca.

9:30-9:50 a.m. - PRE-SERVICE PRAYER IN PERSON & ON ZOOM: All are welcome every Sunday morning for pre-service prayer in Prayer Room or by zoom link through email.

9:45 a.m. - PRE-SERVICE WORSHIP: All are welcome to join us in the Sanctuary 15 minutes prior to the service for worship.

10:00 a.m. - ARLINGTON WOODS CHURCH SERVICE - IN-PERSON & ONLINE: Join us at 10:00 a.m. for our Sunday Service!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: JOY! This week we look forward to the final Sunday in Advent which means only a few more sleeps before Christmas, we’ll be looking at the joy emoji! Also if the weather and Air Canada cooperates we may have a visit with our new youth pastor and her family this Sunday (Kelsey-Anne and family) - remember to keep them in your prayers.

The nursery will be staffed and KidZone will be happening.

To watch a live stream of the Sunday service, click here.

Click here to check out our FAQ on in-person services.

KIDZONE JK-6 kids program on Sunday mornings. Click for more information.

If you missed the message from last Sunday, view the service here

WHITE PINE CAFÉ - Please note that the Café will be closed over the Christmas holidays. Our Café will be open on Mondays at 9:00a.m. serving fair trade, organic Equator coffee and teas as well as home made baking! Invite a friend or relax alone. Visit https://arlingtonwoods.ca/cafe. Interested in volunteering at or baking for our café? Email cafe@arlingtonwoods.ca .

PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS (POP) - Please note the POP is currently on pause for the Christmas break and will resume on Monday, January 6. Parents of Preschoolers (POP) is a FREE community drop-in program for parents (or other family members) and their preschoolers held each Monday from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Visit www.arlingtonwoods.ca/pop for details.

6:00 p.m. - CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE Join us on Tuesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. for a service full of music, reflection, and the warm glow of candlelight as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This meaningful service is one that we all look forward to as we honor the hope and joy found in Christmas.

MIDWEEK MATTERS (Grades 1-6) Our new Wednesday evening midweek kids program is taking place from January 8 - February 26. We'll be looking at Bible verses you can take with you everyday to sustain you in your faith. For more info or to register, contact Karlene at karlene@arlingtonwoods.ca.

SMALL GROUPS Small groups are an important part of our church family. Click HERE to find a list of our current small groups.

WHITE PINE CAFÉ - Our Café will be open on Thursdays at 9:30a.m. serving fair trade, organic Equator coffee and teas as well as home made baking! Invite a friend or relax alone. Visit https://arlingtonwoods.ca/cafe. Interested in volunteering at or baking for our café? Email cafe@arlingtonwoods.ca .

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - VIRTUAL PRAYER MEETING ON ZOOM, special focus on Pastors and church leaders. CLICK HERE for the ZOOM link and e-mail emily@arlingtonwoods.ca for the meeting ID and passcode.

CATALYST YOUTH - (grades 7 to 12) Please note that CATALYST is now pausing for the Christmas holidays and will resume on Friday, January 10. Visit www.arlingtonwoods.ca/teens for details.

No events scheduled

For Sunday, December 29, 2024:

9:30-9:50 a.m. - PRE-SERVICE PRAYER IN PERSON & ON ZOOM: All are welcome every Sunday morning for pre-service prayer in Prayer Room or by zoom link through email.

9:45 a.m. - PRE-SERVICE WORSHIP: All are welcome to join us in the Sanctuary 15 minutes prior to the service for worship.

10:00 a.m. - ARLINGTON WOODS CHURCH SERVICE - IN-PERSON & ONLINE: Join us at 10:00 a.m. for our Sunday Service!

LET'S GO: MATTHEW 5: 9-12 This coming Sunday, the last Sunday of 2024, we will finish studying the last three statements of the Jesus-manifesto, the Beatitudes.

The nursery will be staffed and KidZone will be happening.

To watch a live stream of the Sunday service, click here.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JOHN DESMARAIS It is with sadness that we announce the passing of John Desmarais on Tuesday, December 10. A visitation will be held at Tubman Funeral Home (Garden Chapel - 3440 Richmond Rd) on Sunday, December 29 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. The following day, Monday, December 30 a visitation will take place at Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church from 1:00-2:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of life at 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow. Please continue to remember the Desmarais family in prayers during this time.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - VIRTUAL PRAYER MEETING ON ZOOM, special focus on Church and Community needs. CLICK HERE for the ZOOM link and e-mail emily@arlingtonwoods.ca for the meeting ID and passcode.

MIDWEEK MATTERS (Grades 1-6) Our new Wednesday evening midweek kids program is taking place from January 8 - February 26. For more info or to register, contact Karlene at karlene@arlingtonwoods.ca.

SMALL GROUPS Small groups are an important part of our church family. Click HERE to find a list of our current small groups.

WHITE PINE CAFÉ - Please note that the Café will be closed over the Christmas holidays. Our Café will be open on Thursdays at 9:30a.m. serving fair trade, organic Equator coffee and teas as well as home made baking! Invite a friend or relax alone. Visit https://arlingtonwoods.ca/cafe. Interested in volunteering at or baking for our café? Email cafe@arlingtonwoods.ca .

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - VIRTUAL PRAYER MEETING ON ZOOM, special focus on Pastors and church leaders. CLICK HERE for the ZOOM link and e-mail emily@arlingtonwoods.ca for the meeting ID and passcode.

CATALYST YOUTH - (grades 7 to 12) Please note that CATALYST is now pausing for the Christmas holidays and will resume on Friday, January 10. Visit www.arlingtonwoods.ca/teens for details.

No events scheduled

For Sunday, January 5, 2025:

9:30-9:50 a.m. - PRE-SERVICE PRAYER IN PERSON & ON ZOOM: All are welcome every Sunday morning for pre-service prayer in Prayer Room or by zoom link through email.

9:45 a.m. - PRE-SERVICE WORSHIP: All are welcome to join us in the Sanctuary 15 minutes prior to the service for worship.

10:00 a.m. - ARLINGTON WOODS CHURCH SERVICE - IN-PERSON & ONLINE: Join us at 10:00 a.m. for our Sunday Service!

LET'S GO: MATTHEW 5: 13-16 This Sunday we will continue in our study in the book of Matthew, specifically what it means that we are "salt and light".

The nursery will be staffed and KidZone will be happening.

To watch a live stream of the Sunday service, click here.

Becoming a House of Prayer We want to learn what it is to be a House of Prayer and we’d love to build a prayer team. Join Pastor Cliff on January 5 and January 19 right after the service for 25 minutes for two different sessions about what prayer looks like in our church life, what is our definition of prayer, what could a prayer team look like etc. Please RSVP to emily@arlingtonwoods.ca or sign up at the welcome desk.

1. An Invitation From the FMCIC National Prayer Team The FMCIC senses the Lord is stirring up a spirit of prayer in us and we do not want to neglect this gift. So, you are invited to join us for 12-noon to 12:30 pm, Eastern Time, 6-days-a-week (Monday to Saturday), prayer meetings, until the end of January. These prayer meetings are open to anyone who would like to join in prayer for the FMCIC and Canada.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 885 3284 1873
Passcode: 105883

2. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Join us on Tuesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. for a service full of music, reflection, and the warm glow of candlelight as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This meaningful service is one that we all look forward to as we honor the hope and joy found in Christmas.

3. Becoming a House of Prayer We want to learn what it is to be a House of Prayer and we’d love to build a prayer team. Join Pastor Cliff on January 5 and January 19 right after the service for 25 minutes for two different sessions about what prayer looks like in our church life, what is our definition of prayer, what could a prayer team look like etc. Please RSVP to emily@arlingtonwoods.ca or sign up at the welcome desk.

4. Mid-Week Matters (Grades 1-6) Our Wednesday evening midweek kids program will be taking place from January 8 - February 26. We'll be looking at Bible verses you can take with you everyday to sustain you in your faith. For more info or to register, contact Karlene at karlene@arlingtonwoods.ca.

5. Stories of God's Love From Women of Different Nations All women are welcome to join us at the church on Saturday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m. We will be having an International Panel of ladies from our church presenting their experiences of walking out their faith in the context of their native culture. To sign up visit the welcome desk or e-mail womensministry@arlingtonwoods.ca.

6. VBS Volunteer Info Word is getting out about the two VBS camps we are planning for next summer. We'll be meeting after church on Sunday, January 12th for those interested in volunteering. For more info, contact Karlene at karlene@arlingtonwoods.ca.

7. AWYZ Worship Night If you consider yourself to be a young adult join us at the church on thursday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. for an evening of worship, Bible study, food and conversation.

8. Men's Breakfast All men are welcome to join us at the church on Saturday, January 18 at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, lots of coffee, great conversation and Dan Kaiser will be speaking. To sign up visit the welcome desk or e-mail mensministry@arlingtonwoods.ca.

9. Discovery Lunch Are you new-ish to Arlington Woods Church? If so we’d love it if you’d join us for lunch on Sunday, January 26th following the Sunday service. We’ll eat together and talk about our church family and life at Arlington Woods. To sign up visit the welcome desk or e-mail info@arligntonwoods.ca.

10. AWYZ Bowling If you consider yourself to be a young adult join us at Merivale Bowling after Church on January 26th. The cost is $20 and you’ll need to bring your lunch or money to buy food. RSVP to thomas@arlingtonwoods.ca.

11. Men's Retreat Save the dates: February 7th - 9th! All men are welcome to join us at camp IAWAH for a weekend retreat focusing on "The True Measure of Greatness" based on Romans 15:1-5. Our special speaker will be Rev. Jervis Djokoto - Senior Director of Church Health for the FMCIC. Register here for the retreat.

12. Midlife Battle Cry There’s a new small group starting January 16th at 7:30 p.m. Are you entering the best years yet? How can your faith guide you through these changes? Join us for a 5 week book study of “Midlife Battle Cry” by Dawn Barton. Contact Sherry Wright or the church office for more details.

13. Family Finder The NEW AWC Family Finder is ready! If you’re interested in receiving the link to access the directory please e-mail emily@arlingtonwoods.ca.

14. Pay It Forward Our debt retirement campaign kicked off on October 28, 2023. Click HERE for more information about it as well as upcoming campaign events.

1. AWC Men's Ministry - If you would like to be added to the Men's Ministry email list, please email mensministry@arlingtonwoods.ca.

2. Arlington Woods Church Board Have you got a question for the church's board or want more information? You can e-mail the board at AWCBoard@arlingtonwoods.ca

3. Arlington Woods Bread Basket We want to let you know about a new and exciting opportunity, we have accepted a partnership with Lionhearts Food Rescue and Redistribution organization. Arlington Woods Church, will look after picking up, packaging and redistributing the unsold baking from the Cob’s at Bells corners 1 day a week, that being Saturday evenings.

Does this sound interesting for you to be a part of?

Does this type of volunteering excite you?

And/or Do you or your neighbour have need?

If you are interested in volunteering and finding out more about this new ministry please email breadbasket@arlingtonwoods.ca.

4. Small Groups are an important part of our church community life. Click HERE to find a list of our current small groups.

5. Membership Membership is an important part in the life of our church family. If you’re interested in finding out more information or signing up, talk to one of the Pastoral Staff members.

6. Tithes and Offerings Visit the church website https://arlingtonwoods.ca/donate for Online, Credit Card or Pre-Authorized Auto Debit options or visit the Welcome Centre in person for a Pre-Authorized Auto Debit brochure and form. Thank you for your continued financial support. If you have any questions, please contact the Head Teller at giving@arlingtonwoods.ca.

7. Daily Bread Devotional Guides Copies of the Daily Bread devotional guides for December - January - February are available at the Welcome Desk. If you can't be at church in person but would like a copy of Daily Bread, please email info@arlingtonwoods.ca with your mailing address.

1. Ghanaian Methodist Church Christmas Choir Concert You’re invited to join with the Ghanaian Methodist Church at Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church on Saturday, December 21 at 4:00 p.m. in the Creekside room.

2. Redeemer Christian High School - Redeemer Christian High School is accepting applications for a half-time (20 hours per week) Facilities Manager starting immediately. If you are committed to Christ, interested in working with a Christian organization, organized, and have some facilities or trades experience, please visit rchs.on.ca for more information, and to apply.

Redeemer Christian High School, in Ottawa, is also seeking a new Principal/COO to start in the 20025/26 school year. The ideal candidate will be someone with integrity and dedication, who has a strong background in education, and is a creative visionary, capable of leading from a Christ-centered worldview. For more information and to apply, please visit: www.rchs.on.ca/principal-search.

3. TACA Winter Carnival - Saturday, January 18 from 12 to 3PM. Be sure to mark your calendars for this year's winter carnival! TACA is excited to announce that they will be offering FREE horse-drawn sleigh rides (from the Red Gate Arena Farm) again this year. Other cool activities will include; hockey games and skills competitions, skating, marshmallow roasting, a frozen gem hunt, and more!

4. Respond Ottawa - Many local agencies (foodbanks, community houses, inner-city missions) are running low on essential items and the number of requests has grown significantly. Click HERE for a list of food banks in the Ottawa area to contact.

5. FAMSAC Donations - Please bring your food bank donations to the FAMSAC bin in our church lobby. Regular donations are vital to their sustainability.

Most needed items: sugar (2 kg bag), flour (2.5 kg bag), cooking oil, granola bars, fruit cups, oatmeal, egg cartons for 12 eggs, can fish, can vegetables, can fruit, kraft dinner.

Back To Top