Capilano United Church

Christmas Worship Services

Two Sevices on Christmas Eve, December 24:

4:00PM - Instant Pageant

A special time designed for young children and all their friends and family.

Come as you are and a play a part in the telling of the story of first Christmas.

7:00PM - Traditional Lessons, Carols and Candles

Special music, familiar carols, and the warm glow of candles.

Note: Sunday, December 28, we will worship with Saint David's United, 10:00AM.

Pet Blessing

Sunday, October 5, 10:30AM
Capilano United Church

In honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of animals, our Sunday morning worship, October 5th, will be transformed into a special service to celebrate and bless the pets who add so much to our lives.

All pets - and their family and friends are invited: cats, dogs, birds, gerbils, ... all are welcome.

For the safety and comfort of everyone, we ask that pets be on a short leash or in a cage.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Money CAN Buy You Happiness

Once again science is proving what the church has been teaching all along.

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

In this case, scientists have found that giving money away increases happiness.

UBC researcher Elizabeth Dunn and colleagues from the Harvard Business School reported findings from 3 studies. (Click here to open an Adobe PDF version of the study media release from UBC.)

In a survey of 630 Americans, they found that those who spent more on others reported greater happiness. Having more money did not make you happier; but giving money away did.

Once again science is proving what the church has been teaching all along.

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

In this case, scientists have found that giving money away increases happiness.

UBC researcher Elizabeth Dunn and colleagues from the Harvard Business School reported findings from 3 studies. (Click here to open an Adobe PDF version of the study media release from UBC.)

In a survey of 630 Americans, they found that those who spent more on others reported greater happiness. Having more money did not make you happier; but giving money away did.

Rich Soil for Our Souls to Flourish

S.O.S. - Soil for Our Souls

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

It was you who formed my inward parts;
   I praise you,
      for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
                                                   Psalm 139

And yet it is also true ...

      I realize I don't have what it takes to do what is right.
      I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good,
      but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but
      then I do it anyway. My "decisions" don't result in actions.
      Romans 7 (from "The Message")

Jesus used many soil and seed images to describe how, in spite of our inability to be perfect, we might nonetheless practice ways of living so that our God-given souls might flourish in health, wisdom and fruitfulness.

The Long Emergency

Note: The following is based on a sermon given February 24, 2008, at Capilano United Church, North Vancouver, BC; the day of the congregation's Annual Meeting.

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this post.

Every year for the past 40 years, the United Church of Canada has reported membership declines of 1 or 2% per year. Taken one year at a time, a change of 1 or 2% is not a crisis. But 40 years of year after year declines become a long emergency. (See Footnote 1.)

75% of Members Leave Last Year! (Just Imagine)

Imagine what we would be talking about today at our meeting if - instead of reporting a loss by death of two faithful members this past year, bringing our total membership to 60 - we were reporting 40 years of change in a single year - a decline from 245 in 1965 to the present 60! That would be an immediate emergency.

Welcome to Epiphany

While the rest of the world has packed away the Christmas lights and carols, we are continuing to seek the light of Christ in our lives and singing songs about Jesus, hope, love, peace and joy.

The name for this time of year is "Epiphany." An epiphany is an "Aha!" experience when you are struck by a blinding flash of the obvious. "Now I get it!"

During the next few weeks we will be reading and reflecting on how folks in Jesus' own time - who didn't know him from a hole in the ground - came to see something special in him. What was it they were looking for? What did they see in Jesus? What are we looking for? Where - or in who, or in what - might we find it?

We are open on Sundays at 10:30 for worship and children and youth Sunday School.

Christmas Is Coming

Christmas Day is near, and we have prepared some special worship for the community.

Sunday, Dec 2 - Hope

   

Sunday, Dec 9 - Peace

   

Sunday, Dec 16 - Joy - Instant Pageant Family Service

   

Sunday, Dec 23 - Love

   

Monday, Dec 24 - Christmas Eve
                          4:00 - Instant Pageant Family Service
                          7:00 - Traditional Carols and Readings

Homecoming Sunday, September 9, 10:30am

Sunday, September 9 will welcome everyone back from summer activities and start the new year of Sunday School in the newly refreshed Sunday School room.

We are looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces as we begin another year of learning, growing, and maturing in our faith together.

Ambleside Beach Worship, September 2, 10:00am

Mark your calendars and join Capilano, Lynn Valley and St. David's United for the

10th Annual Ambleside Beach Worship
Sunday, September 2, 10:00am

Worship in God's first - and still most amazing - cathedral: nature,
with earth, sky and water and human built structures as our background.

Note:   Due to the weather, the service will be held at St. David's United. corner of Taylor Way and the Upper Levels Highway. See you there!

August Worship at Capilano, 10:30am

Welcome back to our regular worship place and time. Starting Sunday, August 5, 10:30am.

For pastoral emergencies please contact Elinor or one of the Board members. They will connect you with a minister while David is away on vacation and study leave.