About us

Welcome to Riverbend United Church, an Affirming congregation of the United Church of Canada.  No matter what, you are welcome here.  Please feel free to reach out and let us know you’re here. You can subscribe to our weekly emails by clicking here.

December 3, 2021

Our weekly service will be available at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 5th. Join us in person (masked) or click here to view othe live-streamed service on our YouTube channel.

 

Message from Valerie

“Prepare the way of the Lord!”  This traditional call for the second Sunday in Advent might give us pause: How? How do we prepare for the birth of the Christ? We shop for others, we bake (or eat) some cookies, we offer gifts to charities and those in need, and we might put out a decoration or two.

Then what?  We can spend our whole lives “getting ready.”  What does it mean to live it?  To lift the valleys and lower the mountains and pave the way?  I don’t have answers here.  But I know I am changed in the asking.

Poet Jan Richardson says that one little word, “Prepare,” can hollow us out.  Maybe that’s another word for Advent: The Hollowing. What is hollowed can be filled.  What is prepared can receive.  What is coming is already here.

See you Sunday,

Valerie

 

Announcements

Christmas Cookies!
The first of two Turkey Team initiatives occurred on November 28, the first Sunday of Advent, when boxes of cookies were shared with households in the congregation. The second initiative is the distribution of Christmas cookies, mandarin oranges and grocery gift cards to our Brander Gardens neighbours on December 18th. Help us bake or purchase 110 dozen cookies! Contact the office by calling 780.430.7275 or emailing contactus@riverbendunited.org and drop off your cookies on or by Friday December 17th, between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Including the baker’s name and phone number (COVID Protocol) with your package.  More details are available here.  Get some cookies (with love) and give some cookies (with love). Thank you!
The Front Pew – winter edition
The winter edition of The Front Pew is now available.  Click here or pick up a printed copy in the Narthex.
Grocery Gift Cards
Do your Christmas shopping without going to the store!  Gift cards from multiple stores are available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds returning to RUC.  Available stores include:  Superstore/No Frills, Winners, Home Sense, Amazon, Walmart, and many more.  For a listing of retailers and to order gift cards contact Doug Michalko at 587.982.3703.   Order deadline is December 5th with delivery expected by December 16th.

Christmas Outreach

Once again the Outreach Committee at Riverbend United Church is assisting people living in or staying at “Our Place” and “Buffalo Den” with Christmas celebrations.  Because of restrictions associated with the pandemic, the committee will purchase gifts and is looking for your financial contributions, ideally by December 1st.   Please mail or leave a cheque at Church or send an e-transfer with “Outreach Christmas project” in the subject line to contactus@riverbendunited.org.   Donations can also be picked up if necessary.

A second Outreach initiative is the collection of new socks for adults or children, men’s underwear, ladies’ panties and feminine hygiene products. Please put them in the playpen in the Narthex and they will be delivered after Christmas. More detailed information on these Outreach projects can be found here.

Advent & Christmas Eve worship services
  • Christmas Carol Service  Sunday, December 19th at 10:30 a.m.
  • Blue Christmas Service    Sunday, December 19th at 3:00 p.m. Please note this is a quiet service for those seeking hope in a difficult time.
  • On Friday, December 24th, Riverbend United will offer three in-person (masked) worship services at 5:00, 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. in addition to live-streaming.  If you wish to attend in person, please be sure to pre-register here.  Capacity limits will apply due to COVID restrictions.