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Rev. Kathi's Message:
I wanted to write something upbeat and uplifting this week - a little less serious.
After all we have just had a great Pancake Dinner (a big thanks to all who made it happen!) and Valentine's Day - a day we set aside to celebrate love in the world. The Olympics are for me another "feel-good" celebration. From the opening ceremony to the men's hockey medal game, I really enjoy the feeling of the international community coming together in peace to achieve athletic excellence. Yes, there will always be some controversy and bad behaviour, but for the most part these 10 days are a joy for me.
Then the news came in late on Wednesday afternoon of another deadly school shooting and all the joy and energy went out of me like a balloon deflating.
According to an article in Huffington Post on Thursday, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida is the
18th school shooting
of this year in the United States, just 45 days into the year.
That's an average of one school shooting every 60 hours this far in 2018, more than double the number of school shootings recorded in any of the previous three years in that same period.
As of this writing 17 people have been killed and many more are injured. God have mercy. I know that gun control is a hot-button topic - no matter on which side of the border we live - but I hope you will join me in praying for a change. The lives of the innocents are just so much more important.
Karen Colwell sent me the following. The words are apparently from a homily that Pope Francis gave:
Do You Want to Fast This Lent?
- Fast from hurting words and use kind words.
- Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
- Fast from anger and be filled with patience
- Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
- Fast from worries and have trust in God.
- Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
- Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
- Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
- Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
- Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Rev Kathi
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This Week at EMUC
Sunday at 10:00 am:
Black History Month service
Scripture
: Isaiah 40:21, 27-31
Gospel: Ephesians 3:14-21
Sermon: Celebration of Black History
After the service: Loaves and Dishes will be selling Turkey Pies,
Shepherd's Pies and Tourtieres.
Striders visit the ROM
Tuesday at noon: Worship Committee
Thursday at 1:30 pm: Comfort Kit Assembly
7:00 pm:
Chancel Choir practice
Friday at 8:00 pm: Community service at Solel Synagogue
Copy deadline for the next newsletter
Saturday 10:00 am- 3:00 pm: Long-term Planning Session at Christ
Church
Next Sunday: Feb. 25th Black History Month service
led by Rev. Kathi and guest soloist, Rufus John; service followed by the Annual Meeting.
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Upcoming Events:
NEW EMU CLUB / FAMILY ZONE AREA
Some of you may have noticed the changes happening to the back pew area of our sanctuary. On Sunday (Jan. 28) we launched a new, more inclusive program for the children and families in our congregation. Children and families are invited to come and explore our new space, enjoy some quiet activities and experiment with some new storytelling technology. Please come visit and find out more about this exciting new model for children's programming.
EMUC Striders and Black History Month
The Royal Ontario Museum is showing an exhibit called "Here We Are Here: Black Canadian Contemporary Art" EMUC Striders will take to the ROM for Black History Month, February 18, 2018. A Sign up sheet is in the Narthex, for those that can attend and offer to car pool from EMUC at 12 noon.
Museum is open until 5:30 if some want to stay later.
ROM will deduct 20% from admission fee if you present your PrestoCard (or GO ticket) at the door. Since we are planning to make the trip on the subway from the Kipling station be sure to use the PrestoCard.
Single Admissions (order online or at door. No group rates)
ROM Member FREE
Adult $20
Senior $17
Child $14
Youth $15.50
EMUC ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
On Sunday,
February 25th following the 10 am worship service, plan to attend the annual meeting of the congregation to receive the annual report, to approve the financial statements for 2017 and a budget for 2018 and to elect new church officers. Everyone is encouraged to attend this important meeting.
It's time to start bringing in all those travel-sized hygiene products, tissues, pens/pencils/small notepads, socks, etc. for our annual Comfort Kits campaign. As well, we are asking for small, generic (non-holiday) gift bags to fill with the items. We will be making the Comfort Kits on
Thursday, February 22. If you have any questions please see Cathy Scattergood.
Lenten Film Study - Dinner and a Movie
Come and join us over 3 Tuesday evenings as we watch a film together and share discussion over a meal.
We will gather in the sanctuary at
6pm on Feb 27, March 6 and March 13
to watch part of a film (yet to be decided) and then share dinner.
Susan Ogilvie has very kindly offered to prepare the meal at a cost of $7 per person.
Please let Rev Kathi know if you are planning to join us - kathi@emuc.ca
Women for Women
The next gathering of Women for Women is March 2nd. We will gather at 7:00 pm in the Narthex for coffee and dessert. The cost for the evening is a $5.00 donation. All women and men of EMUC as well as friends and family are welcome.
Join us for a special presentation on Walking the Camino de Santiago by Gary Hines.
The Camino de Santiago...
known in English as The Way of Saint James among other names, is a network of pilgrims' ways serving pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth [Wikipedia].
Sign up on the bulletin board or contact Cathy Scattergood to register.
Garage Sale Coordinator for 2018: The Garage Sale which occurs the first Saturday in May is an important fundraiser. One or two people are required to oversee this fundraising event. Many people help and know what is required of them. The role involves overseeing the event, ensuring all areas are covered, advertising etc. If you are interested in doing this or sharing the job with someone else, speak with anyone on the Nominating Committee or David Leeder, FCL Finance. If coordinators are not found, this important event will not happen.
RENTAL SUPERVISOR - VOLUNTEER
EMUC is seeking 3 - 4 individuals to assist Peter Kiteley in providing occasional rental supervision of the church building. This occurs periodically on weekends or evenings mostly in May, June and December. It requires one person, 2 - 3 hours of time per event, when convenient for the volunteer. Event instructions will be provided by Peter beforehand. To volunteer or obtain more information, please contact Peter in the office.
'FUNDSCRIP' PROGRAM
We are continuing with FUNDSCRIP, an innovative fundraising program that asks you to purchase gift cards in order to pay for regular items you buy every month. A percentage of the cards we purchase through FUNDSCRIP is donated back to our church. Order forms for gift cards will be available the last Sunday of every month. The next order date is Sunday, February 25, 2018. Please see the display board at the back of the church or speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.
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