Join us at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave.

Charlottetown, PE Sunday mornings 10:00 am - 12:00 PM

December

2013

My Four Worst Secrets That I Bet Are Yours Too

By Anne Lamott
1. I Have Terrible Cellulite, Possibly the Worst In History I am going to leave all my money to UC Med, so they can build a wing (in my dimply name) to handle advanced cases such as mine. Ive had it my whole life, even when Ive been at my thinnest and most fit, which was (sob) 20 pounds ago.Yet I swim in public all summer, in front of anyone who happens to be around. Maybe this does not sound that heroic to you, and granted, George Clooney does not come over to swim very often. But I appear in a swimsuit, without a skirt, whenever I have the chance to be in warm water. I do this as a radical act, because none of us knows how long we will live; and on my last day, I want to have gone for a swim. (For the record, I also want to have had dessert.) I would not go swimming with a man on my first date, or my second. But I would on my third. I am not my cellulite. At 59, I finally love my strong, jiggly thighs. They just happen to be a part of the package, which is so gorgeous and juicy that a swimsuit can scarcely contain it. 2. I Have Terrible ThoughtsPeople Would Recoil If They Could Hear Them Thank God my mind is not hooked up to a public-address systemeven the people in my family would run screaming for their cute, little lives. But guess what? This is everybodys truth, or almost everyones. MaybeLillian Gordy Carterdid not think such vile, judgmental, self-righteous thoughts as I; but otherwise, thats about it. Trust me. So I think about revenge. At weddings, I imagine kicking over the cake. I could dance as joyfully as Zorba when certain show-offy writers get bad reviews, or ignored (even better). I imagine terrible things happening to pit bulls, faithless husbands and sometimes, to dear people who are so fantastic on every level that it just makes me sick. Heres the thing I wish someone had told me when I as young: Everyone thinks bad thoughts. Everyone, even the most seemingly well-balanced, serene, loveliest people sometimes have icky, repulsive thoughts. To continued on page 2.

Serving this Sunday

WORSHIP TEAM Carl SPEAKER Tom Zawacki CHILDRENS & TODDLER MINISTRY Age 4 through Gr. 1 Chantale & helper Grades 2-6 Laurie MacPhee Toddlers Teressa & Rebecca CLEAN UP TEAM B Steve & Deb Price, Ferne MacEwen, Lisa Taylor, Tom Banks, Patsy Doiron, Justin Perry, Donna Wigmore

Charlottetown Community Church

Part of the Vineyard Network in Canada P.O. Box 1081 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7M4 Pastor Tom Zawacki (902) 892-5001 communitychurch@pei.aibn.com www.charlottetowncommunitychurch.com

This is the week we share communion!

My Four Worst Secrets That I Bet Are Yours Too

continued. me, this is excellent news. It means that we are all in the same boat, mostly loving and helpful and creative, but every so often? Not so much. This does not mean you are not okay. To the contrary, this means you are real, and deeply human, which is who we were born to 3. I Think My Dogs Are the Two People to Whom I Am Closest Thats not entirely true: I know they are. They make it possible for me to bear life. (I believe I first experienced anxiety and dismay an hour or so after implantation.) People have really, really hurt my feelings, betrayed me or died. One ex-boyfriend wrote a novel about what it had been like to be in bed with me. This was exhilarating. Three close friends have told me that they dont love my nonfiction. But dogs? Dogs are the closest we come to knowing the divine love of God on this side of eternity. They love me all the time, no matter what. And they love my nonfiction. Dont get me wrong. I adore my friends and my two brothers. Their love, companionship and loyalty are why I have such deep faith in God. They are Gods love in cute, chubby bodies. But dogs are like oxygen masks on airplanes. Dogs are umbilical. Dogs are first responders. Dogs never betray you or hurt your feelings, like certain people I could mention if I werent so polite. Okay, maybe Ill just mention one. 4. Ive Been Quite Mad at My Dad Lately, Who Was the Person Closest to Me in My Life, and Who Has Been Dead for 34 Years He was handsome as a Kennedy, brilliant, funny. He adored me. I was his ideal daughter. I got perfect grades for him. I rubbed his feet, and read way beyond my years, like a cross between a geisha, and Hannah Arendt. I overlooked his character defects, and the destruction he wrought on our family, like so many fathers in the 1960s did. I became who I ama writer, storyteller, great conversationalist and listener and black-belt co-dependent, to please him. When he got sick with brain cancer, at 54, when I was 23, I devoted my life to his care. I hung out with him every daytook him to chemo and radiation, bookstores, beaches, bakeriesbecause his girlfriend had a job, and my younger brother was in high school. I missed him beyond words. However, a few years ago I came upon journals he kept the last two years of his life. He wrote about how unpleasant it was that I was sometimes so emotional. Along those lines he wrote, Annie came to the hospital, full of the usual false good cheer and bad jokes. It stung me to my core. You would think I could cut him some slack, because a) he had brain cancer, and b) it was 30 years ago. Nah. Anger and grief are the way home to ourselves. So I stopped speaking to him. Recently, after many prayers and long conversations with friends, I have felt the first stirrings of forgiveness. Im glad. And Im sorry it took so long. But my work has been to become friends with my own heart, and he hurt that heart. I like starting to miss him again. It is both painful and lovely. I mean, he was my dad. Anne Lamott is the author ofStitches,Help,Thanks,Wow:The Three Essential Prayers,Bird By Birdand 12 other books.

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Church Groups
There is lots going on, be free, go where the life is, family first. THE SHACK BOOK CLUB - Wednesday 7:00 PM Will be held at Tom & Nadine Zawackis home. Will be discussing Chapters 13 & 14 on December 4. SMALL GROUP - QUESTIONS Thursday 7:00 P.M. Held at Megan Cunninghams home. For info, please ask Megan or Lisa Taylor. WOMENS GROUP Monday 7:00 P.M. At Linda MacFarlanes house starting Dec. 2.

Upcoming Changes
PRAYER LIST
The prayer list will be refreshed as of next week at the start of each month. All existing requests will be removed. If you would like your request returned to the list or new requests added, please indicate on the Facebook page, or contact Tom Zawacki.

COMMUNION

We are making a change in how we do communion. We will be changing it from weekly to monthly; first Sunday of the month beginning with November. We are looking for volunteers to offer a meditation and lead us through that part of the service. Please see Tom if interested to be added to a schedule.

Church News
Church website is now updated with all activities. If you would like to get something in the newsletter (prayer request, announcement, etc.), please email it to communitychurch@pei.aibn.com by Wednesday of each week.

OFFERING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHURCH FINANCES Four Week Average: $1,516.20 Four Week Average Needed: $2,000.00 Lets keep praying for God to supply all we need!

We are looking for people willing to take up the offering and make weekly announcements. Please contact Tom if interested to be added to a schedule.

Prayer Requests
Baby Miles A speedy heart transplant, healing and support for him and his family.

Get Involved!
OUR ELDERS TEAM The elders are: Wayne & Natalie Simmons, Errol & Shelagh Campbell, Greg & Debbie MacKinnon, Garfield & Brenda MacDonald and Tom & Nadine Zawacki.
Please feel free to contact us anytime with your thoughts, questions or ideas.

There is hope for the future because God has a sense of humor and we are funny to God. -Bill Cosby

OFFERING COLLECTION, WORSHIP TEAMS, CLEAN-UP TEAMS, CHILDRENS MINISTRY

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Positions we are often looking to have help with are: MEDIA,

FACEBOOK Joining the Charlottetown Community Church Facebook group is the fastest way to get up to the minute news, prayer requests and get in on discussions. Check it out today! LOVE GOD, LOVE EACH OTHER and at the end of the day YOU WILL BE HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY.
Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty.