It is celebrated during the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve. The season resounds with the cries of the ancient prophets and John the Baptist’s proclamations that the Lord is near.

The Advent Season marks the beginning of the church year.

And so we pray…

O holy God, open unto us light for our darkness, courage for our fear, hope for our despair.

O God of peace, open to us peace for our turmoil, joy for our sorrow, strength for our weakness.

O generous God, open our hearts to receive the gift of your presence.

Amen.

Have you seen the staff using their phones at work?

Don’t worry… they are working!

Menno Place has been moving away from paper and toward electronic work tasks, care tasks and recording of information. This means that many of the care staff, laundry team, maintenance workers and others carry a phone with them that tells them their tasks for the day.

This has resulted in an increased level of efficiency and quality of work. The care staff will be using new software with phones to easily access resident’s care needs and provide the care they need with accuracy, ease and clarity.

If you see someone using their phone at work, be assured, they are probably working!

If you have any questions or concerns, please ask a nurse or receptionist. They will be able to answer your questions or guide you to the person who can!

All of the birdseed birdfeeders on the campus are being removed in an effort to reduce the attraction of the bird feed to various rodents, including rats.

Birdfeeders are being stored at the back of the Hospital chapel for your retrieval – close to the Shipping and Delivery entrance. This area can be accessed through the parking lot located between Primrose Gardens and Menno Home on Brundige Avenue.

If you live in the Apartments, your birdfeeder will be returned to you directly.

Birdfeeders have been a challenge over the years at Menno Place as they may attract rats and rodents, especially in the cooler winter months.

A team will be set up to explore the options for next year and a wild bird expert will be consulted. We hope that we can find a solution to this problem that will allow our residents to enjoy the pleasure of bird watching once again.

Hummingbird feeders will not be removed.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact:

Sharon Simpson
Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
604.859.7631 x.249

“Oooooh, I wish I could see their smiles when they open up this present!”

The women were busy organizing all the items that would be placed in the shoeboxes. This year, residents raised over $600 to provide gifts for children in Haiti, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Chile, Uruguay, Ukraine, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea!

Operation Christmas Child provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on project of Samaritan’s Purse.

Each shoebox is filled with hygiene items, school supplies, and toys, and is given to children based on their age and gender. The women were excited to add items to the boxes!

This is a special way to express practical love and hope from across the world and across generations!

Merry Christmas!