We delight in welcoming you to this service of worship for the Third Sunday of Advent. A rich and varied season, Advent is a time to prepare not only to welcome the Christ Child to Bethlehem, but to wait and watch for his return at the end of time: when God will be “all in all”. This morning, for a second consecutive week, John the Baptist will be at the heart of our ruminations. We are delighted, this morning, to be joined by a special guest preacher. Phyllis Thompson lives in Nanaimo, having retired here after twenty-five years teaching at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Phyllis is a lay Benedictine, with experience giving retreats and workshops and publishing on Benedictine spirituality and Benedict’s Rule. She has facilitated Quiet Days at Trinity United and other churches on this Island and Salt Spring. She and Foster have coordinated the Lenten Film Series the last four years. Knox United and St. Edmund’s Anglican, both in Parksville, and St. Mark’s Anglican in Qualicum Beach occasionally have invited her to preach. Phyllis is a member of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Nanoose Bay. We rejoice in her presence with us this morning. On this third Sunday of Advent, we delight in welcoming you to Trinity United Church.
