EMUC   
  Friday Message & 
                Upcoming Events
 July  29, 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
  About EMUC

Vision:
EMUC is a thriving Spirit-filled congregation: Diverse, inclusive,and engaged with the community and creation

Mission:
The mission of Erin Mills United Church is to offer opportunities for all persons to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ.


QUICK LINKS


Welcome to EMUC's weekly message.  Kathy Toivanen is on vacation so there is no message from the minister.  However,  this is an opportunity to pass along information about upcoming planned events to celebrate Kathy's career prior to her retirement at the end of September.

We are now in the season of the church year called 'Ordinary Time' or 'The Season After Pentecost'.  Green is the colour for the season. 

Kathy's message will restart August 12th
  
 
Peace, Kathy Toivanen
 
Update from the Joint Search Committee

Several people has been asking about the status of the Joint Search Committee, (JSC) and so here is a brief update. The JSC has received about a dozen applications from people seeking to be our new minister.  These applications were reviewed and reduced to a smaller list of candidates which the JSC interviewed.  Some of these candidates have been chosen for the second phase and the JSC will be visiting the churches of these candidates to hear them give a service.  The position is still open for new applications.


Kathy Toivanen's Retirement Celebrations

Sunday September 18th at 10 am: Celebration Worship Service with EMUC families (current and past), family, colleagues and friends.

Friday September 23rd at 6 pm: Retirement Dinner Party with EMUC families and special guests. The dinner party costs $50 per guest, payable by cash or by cheque to EMUC (mark your cheque with 'Retirement Dinner').  Tickets are available each Sunday after service from Laura Macro or Barbara Jennings or in the office during the week.   Please purchase tickets by August 15th. Space is limited so please make your payment as soon as possible. If you are in need of   bursary support to attend this event, please speak to Barbara.

Gift Donations:   A number of gifts for Kathy from the congregation have been commissioned.  Gifts will be presented to her at the Celebration Worship Service in September.  If you wish to donate to these gifts, there is a gift donation box at the back of the church in which you may place your cash or cheque.   Make cheques payable to EMUC and indicate it as 'gift donation'.  
Alternatively you may give your donation to Laura Macro or Barbara Jennings. 
This Week at EMUC

The June edition of the   C ommunique along with other archived editions are available on the website  www.emuc.ca.   Paper copies are available at the church.

Sunday July 31 at  10 am:    Barb Finlay ( former member of EMUC , now member at First UC in Port Credit and Joanne Hedge's sister) leads worship.
  
Come in casual comfortable attire during the summer Sundays. 

Wednesday at 6:45 pm:  Worship with prayers and communion  
*Please note that Wednesday communion will resume again on August 10th at 6:45 pm

Sunday August 7  at 10 am:  Deb Siertsema, a member of our congregation, will lead worship.

Effective July 4 - September 2, the office hours are as follows
Monday: 1 pm - 4:30 pm. 
Tuesday: Thursday 9 am - 4:30 pm. 
Friday: 9 am - 1 pm. 

Kathy Toivanen will be away on vacation from July 4 - August 8.  For urgent pastoral care concerns during Kathy's vacation, please contact the church office. Ministers from neighbouring congregations will be 'on call' during the summer.

Upcoming Events

AED At EMUC. 
AEDs (automated external defibrillators) are recommended by the Canadian Red Cross.  In the case of a sudden cardiac arrest, the general survival rate is 7%.  The Heart and Stroke Foundation states AED use within the first three minutes increases survival rates by up to 75%.  The Membership and Pastoral Care Committee along with the Health and Safety Committee have an AED installed at EMUC.  It is on the wall in the main foyer between the office and the centre front doors.  All EMUC folk and users of the church building are asked to become acquainted with the instructions for using the AED.  Please go to this link and watch the short video. Watching the video will increase your comfort level using the equipment and may help you to save someone's life.  

Skylight Festival: July 29-31, Paris ON.
Plan to attend this ecumenical Christian festival to enjoy music and speakers, art and activities all on the Paris Fairgrounds. Supported by the United Church of Canada, this is the second year this event is being offered.  To register and to learn more about the speakers and events go to www.skylightfestival.ca

 
Refugee Sponsorship: Important Update June 24th 
The Shalhawy family was interviewed at the Canadian embassy in Khartoum, Sudan on July 20; an important step in the process to bring them to Canada. The North West Constituent Group has been working with Sven Spengemann's office (MP for Mississauga-Erindale) to expedite the application process for this family. 

Life is very difficult for them as they wait in Sudan. Severe financial difficulties as well as racial discrimination are making everyday life a challenge for them. Through free-will donations which are not part of the funds raised by the Constituent Group, we have managed to send $500 to this family each month to help them. We will continue to do this until they arrive in Canada. 

At this point, over $62,000 has been raised by the constituent congregations of Streetsville, Erin Mills and Erindale United along with support from Eden United; more than enough to meet the financial sponsorship requirements. When their arrival date is determined, we will be asking for donations of clothing and furnishings. We wish to thank all of you who have come forward with offers of furnishings and we wish to thank you for holding on to these furnishings for so long. We realize that some people have needed to let their furnishings go as the time lapse was too long. 

For more information, please contact any member of our Refugee Sponsorship Task Group: Dianne Hope, Hermine Bingham, Muriel Hamdani, Catharine Watts, Debby Sturgeon and Lorraine Brignall.
 
The Deacon's Cupboard
Volunteer drivers are required to help with the transportation of food from the Mississauga Food Bank to the cupboard.  
Involvement would normally be once every 4/5 weeks.   If interested, or to obtain more information, contact Mike Ogilvie 905-820-2387 or oglivia@sympatico.ca
  The cupboard is also looking for a doctor or nurse to help out at as a back- up when a nurse isn't able to be present on their designated week.  Contact Belinda Morrow at 905-828-2095.

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Contact Us:

Peter Kiteley, Office Administrator
office@emuc.ca
Erin Mills United Church