Thrift Shop

IMG_1119Regular hours of our Thrift Shop  10:00 am to 3:00 pm Wednesday thru Saturday.

The next $2 Bag days will be November 23 and 24.   Then again on December 21 and 22, just in time for Christmas.

Christmas Decorations will soon be gracing our shelves. Drop in to see the excellent variety we are able to offer, due to the generosity of our neighbours in community.

The Thrift Shop will be closing 3:00 pm December 22, 2018 for the Christmas Season; reopening Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 at 10:00 am.

The Thrift Shop thanks you for your generous donation of used goods and your support. There has been some very interesting and quality items come into the Thrift Shop. More and more people are stopping in for a browse.

Volunteers are always welcome to join in our community outreach program. Call the office at 250-836-4390 for information regarding volunteering or donating goods to the shop.

We do not accept mattresses and upholstered furniture unless it has been inspected and approved by Thrift Shop staff. Please be aware that dropping these goods off without prior approval puts added stress on our volunteers and adds a significant portion of our revenue being spent on dumping fees for goods that should have been taken to the landfill. Your help in this matter is appreciated.

Thrift Shop Christmas Hours

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The 2018 Christmas Season is quickly approaching with a few seasonal decorations appearing in the Thrift Shop. After Remembrance Day, the shelves will be filled with wonderful Christmas novelties. Come in to find some amazing treasures; something waiting especially for you.

The Thrift Shop will Close for Christmas at 3:00 PM Saturday, December 22 and will Re-Open at 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

The Church Board along with the Thrift Shop volunteers and staff wish you a Merry Christmas with Best Wishes for a happy healthy New Year.

We look forward to seeing you in 2019. 

Coffee and Cookies Saturday, December 15, 2018

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cookies for you!

Drop by for Cookies and Coffee 11:30 to 1:30 PM at the Thrift Shop on Saturday, Dec 15 th,  2018

An appreciation from Sicamous United Church to all the fabulous Thrift Shop patrons.

Thank you to all who donate, drop by to browse and chat, purchase and /or help in any way.  From 11:30 AM till 1:30 PM, we invite you to have a little coffee break, enjoy a cookie and say “Hello”.

Wishing you a Christmas filled with wonder and a New Year that honours peace – in our hearts and in our world.

Edited

Come to the Fabulous Fashion Show

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Pam and Gwynith from the Resource Centre show great style

Pam and Gwynith from the Resource Centre show great style

Come to the Fabulous Fashion Show at Sicamous United Church – Wednesday, Oct.26th at 7:00 PM

This great show not only features the wonderful fashions that can be found in our Thrift Shop, but your donations of food and cash will go to the local Food Bank.

There will be a short break half way through our program, for some musical entertainment, while our models prepare to show you more treasures.

 Following the show, there will be an opportunity for coffee and refreshments compliments of the congregation, and late-night shopping.  The proceeds from the shopping tonight will go towards paying for the sanctuary roof which had to be replaced this summer. Your support is greatly appreciated and we are confident you will have a wonderful time!

October News at Sicamous United

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DSC_0166Dear members and friends of Sicamous United Church

As the air cools, leaves turn colour and we enter the season of autumn, we have the opportunity to connect as community within the church, the Thrift Shop and beyond.   You are invited to be involved in whatever way is life-giving for you.

The season begins with Grateful – a flash-mob celebration of gratitude through music on Sunday, October 2nd at 10:00 AM at Sicamous United Church. Please bring your music-loving friends, some extra refreshments and let your spirit rejoice!

We are holding a Congregational Conversation after worship on Sunday, October 16th and your input is important and valued. We will bring everyone up to date on the roof project – including all repairs and the replacement of the sanctuary roof. How is the funding going? What still needs to be done, and how will we achieve it?   We will also talk about other plans for the fall, including looking at the sustainability of our ministry over the next few years.

 As well as `Raising the Roof’ with great bakes sales – thank you everyone – we also took orders for Vesey’s Flowers – watch for your orders of spring flower bulbs to arrive soon.

On Wednesday, Oct 26th 7:00 PM we hold our fabulous Thrift Shop Fashion Show. This is a great opportunity to bring the community out to enjoy the show and some refreshments, entertainment, late-night shopping, and support the wider community (likely the Food-bank with donations of produce or $)

We have more momentum for the Blanket Exercise – I met with Val Edgel, Principal of Eagle River secondary, and Molly – the All Nations worker, and they are keen to work with us on this Kairos resource – an interactive way of learning the history most Canadians are never taught.   As a church nationally and locally, we continue to seek ways to be in right-relationship with our indigenous and non-indigenous neighbours.   The Blanket Exercise, which looks at the laws and history that shaped Canada’s relationship with First Nations people, helps us to understand what brought us to this point, and how we can move forward with justice and healing. We are looking at Thursday, November 17 or 24th for this event. More details will be forthcoming when the high school makes some contacts.

On September 20th, I had the honour of being part of a national United Church webinar to talk about the Advent Peace Box, and how we used in our congregation. If you would like to watch the webinar you can go to:

https://www.united-in-learning.com/index.php/advent-peace-box

The Peace Box contains Zatoun fair-trade Palestinian olive oil, herbs and soap. Money from the sale of these goods supports Palestinian farmers, purchases olive tree saplings to replace trees destroyed by the Israeli military, and supports Project Hope, an education and art therapy program for youth in Palestine.

I am happy to order another box for the Advent season, but in the mean time I do have the products for sale at the church. Just ask. The prices are as follows: 750 ml Olive Oil $20, Za’atar herb mix $5, Olive Oil soap $5.

May this season be a time of giving thanks for the harvest of food and friends, may the trees teach how to let go and look deep within – where we will find the spark of holy light glowing and growing. With it may we be a blessing in the world. Thanks be to God.

Rev. Juanita Austin

 

Impromptu Pageant for Christmas Eve

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Hello evDSC_0093_1eryone, here we are into the last week before Christmas!

Whether you are one of those rare souls who is actually ready, or like me, trying not to freak out but stay calm… a few reminders in this week to come.
This Saturday Dec. 19th  we are offering tea, coffee and cookies to the Thrift Shop patrons and volunteers from 10 AM to 1PM.  Please come and enjoy some great deals at our $2.00 bag sale, and enjoy fresh cookies and coffee – a gift from the congregation of Sicamous United Church.
Also at 4:00 PM, Dec 19th is our Blue Christmas service for folks who find this a difficult season due to a recent loss or painful memoires.  If you know of anyone who would benefit from this service, please offer to accompany them.  The service will be about  a 1/2 hour long.  Refreshments will be served afterward.
On Sunday, Dec 20th at 10:00 AM – enjoy great music with the Black & Bluez band. 
 
On Christmas Eve – I have a plan!  We are having an `Impromptu pageant.’  I have a dozen `halos’ made, a purple sheep, a shepherd-like bathrobe and 3 pairs of wings.  I’ll find more treasures and we’ll see how the Spirit moves us.  Of course, just sitting back, singing along with the carols and watching it unfold is also an option.  We’ll end the evening in candle-light and song.  Merry Christmas everyone! 

Advent & Christmas Events

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Dear DSC_0042-001members and friends of Sicamous United Church 

As we enter into the Advent and Christmas season, in a world torn by violenceand so many seeking safety, let us remember that our faith is centered on a child born under military occupation, who had to flee his homeland with his parents shortly after his birth.  The Christ child was no stranger to conflict, to poverty, to world in deep need of compassion.  It was his life’s work to bring that compassion to a hurting world.  In our small but powerful way, it is what we strive to do through our ministry at Sicamous United Church.

Our ongoing work at the Thrift Shop gives us opportunity every week to practice compassion in the way we interact with our customers and work with each other as staff and volunteers.  Last week, a young woman that I’ve had some wonderful and tender conversations with, said:  “You seem to show up, just when I need you.”  I know it doesn’t always work that way, but when it does – I’m so grateful to be working here, listening, hugging, praying and laughing with people.

Our worship during this season is also rooted in compassion and justice.

The Advent Candles: This year our Advent Candle liturgy will be based on United Church of Canada resources seeking a just peace for Palestine and Israel.  Each week, a symbol from the Advent Peace box will be offered, along with a story that comes from the Holy Land illustrating hope, peace, joy and love.

The Advent Peace Box: For over 10 years, Canadians working for a just peace in Israel and Palestine have been purchasing and distributing Zatoun olive oil and other products as a means of advocating for economic justice for Palestinians.  Last year I purchased a box and had 5 bottles of olive oil for sale.  This year I doubled my order of oil, plus an herb mix and olive oil soap.  I’ve completely sold out!  Thank you to those who supported this ministry, and my apologies to those who missed out.  Nutters Health Foods in Centanoka Mall in Salmon Arm also has fair-trade Palestinian olive oil for approx. $20.00 per 750 ml bottle.

Saturday, Dec 19th 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Complimentary Coffee & Cookies day: During the hectic and final $2.00 per bag sale before the Thrift Shop closes for the holidays, the congregation will be offering coffee, tea and cookies to our volunteers, staff and customers.

At 4:00 PM that same day, I will be offering a Blue Christmas service in the sanctuary for anyone who needs to acknowledge that this can be a difficult time of year if you are grieving a loss or significant change in your life. Come – light a candle, and be held in God’s love.

Sunday Dec 20th 10:00 AM:  The seven piece Black & Bluez band will again be our musical worship guests – blessing us with some familiar carols to sing along with, and some beautiful new melodies.  This is a great service for those who are a little church-shy, but love great music.

Thursday, Dec. 24th 7:00 PM:  All ages Christmas Eve service.  Come and hear afresh in word, symbol and song, the Christmas story.  We will end the service with candle-light.

Sunday, Dec 27th 10:00 AM: We will worship together and bless each other into the New Year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the congregation for blessing me with a modified sabbatical for three months starting in January.  I will be here most Sundays to lead worship, but will be working from home during the week to do some writing and compiling for a book of my songs, prayers and short stories.

In the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, sings a blessing to his newborn child.  I have adapted the blessing and offer it to you during this holy season:

You, children of God, are the messengers of the Holy One. 

Go into the world touching the lives of the broken-hearted,

so that the healing love of Divine Mystery may enter th
ere. 

Teach and live forgiveness, so that Divine Light may enter

the dark realm of misery, pain, addiction, and loneliness. 

May Love and Light guide you on the path of peace. 

 

Many blessings for a happy and holy Christmas

Rev. Juanita Austin     Sicamous United Church

Ethical Wills Workshop this Friday at the Church

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Yes, the Ethical Wills Worshop is stll happening at 10:00 AM this Friday, October 9th, but it will now be held DSC_1390at Sicamous United Church as the Seniors Centre is being used for advanced voting.  Think about someone that you admired or loved, who has passed on.  What would you have liked to know about them?  Do you know what was their greatest joy?  Greatest sense of acheivement?  Favourite song – and why?

An Ethical Will gives a chance to share some of these precious values and memories with those we love and those who love us.  Come and begin the journey of sharing treasures of the heart.   Call 250-832-6385 for more information.

 

Free hotdogs with your $2.00 per bag sale

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If you haven’t seen the posters yet, here’s a heads up – there will be free BBQ hotdogs with your $2.00 per bag sale on Saturday, September 26th from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  It’s our congregations way of saying thank you for supporting our Thfit Shop ministry and being a part of our community.  There will be cookies and juice as well.  It’s on us!  See you there.

22 bags on $2.00 per bag sale

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DSC_1328It was the last hour of $2.00 per bag day last month when a mother and daughter came in to find some treasures.  You’d think it was Christmas day.   They had a blast.  They found the perfect clothes for each other and for themselves, and for another friend who had come in with them.  They squealed with delight, laughed with joy and their love for each other was palpable.  One had been ill, one had to leave a relationship quickly, along with most of her belongings, and this amazing generous $2.00 deal was just what was needed.  It was a privilege to be with them.

They shopped, and shopped and shopped.  With each new discovery, there was a fresh expression of delight, and I told them I wanted to hire them to just be present in the store with their infectious enthusiasm.  As the clock struck closing time, they made their way to the cash register.  They lined up their bags.  Twenty two bags in all!  Amazing!  Linda helped them load their treasures onto trolleys and wheeled them out to the car.  As she returned, closing the locking the door behind her, the last I heard from the parking lot was a marvelous “WOOHOO!” as the happy customers drove away.

That’s why I love working here.  How fortunate I am that part of my ministry is `a ministry of presence’ – just being there to listen, to help if possible, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to grieve with those who are grieving.  I am proud of this little congregation and the wonderful dedicated group of volunteers who come from many different parts of the community to offer their time and talent at the Thrift Shop.  A big “WOOHOO” to all of you!

Abundant blessings, Rev. Juanita