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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.
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Welcome to EMUC's weekly message along with information about oingoing events in the life of the congregation. On Sunday, we enter Holy Week and mark the events that unfold as Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Many special worship services at EMUC, will be celebrated throughout Holy week. You are invited to attend and keep vigil with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, during his betrayal, arrest and trial, and at the time of his crucifixion, waiting in the silence of Holy Saturday until Easter's dawn.
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Listening for the Voice of Love
On Sunday, Christians enter Holy Week with palm branches waving and shouts of hosanna. We remember the crowd who welcomed Jesus at the gates of the city of Jerusalem. What a sight it must have been - palm branches and cloaks strewn on the stone-slabbed road leading up to the temple mount. People singing and shouting their praises - 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!' (Luke 19: 38)
What a street party it must have been! But not all were celebrating. Some of the religious leaders ordered Jesus to silence the jubilant crowd. Perhaps they were worried that the crowd would draw unwelcome attention from the Roman authorities. Perhaps they felt that the crowd would change from a jubilant crowd into a rioting crowd. Perhaps they just felt that these people needed to be controlled, silenced and kept in their place.
The world over, we continue observe the desire of those with power and authority to silence those who might disrupt the status quo. Sometimes this happens in a brutal way through imprisonment or even death. Other times, the silencing is more subtle. It's hard to speak up when all your energy is spent simply trying to survive - when you spend your day walking miles and miles to a water source so that you can cook and clean for your family; when you work from early morning until late in the evening in backbreaking conditions to support your household; when you are constantly on the move, trying to find shelter and safety. And it's hard to speak up when you are demeaned because of your race or gender or religion. It's hard to speak up when your ideas or suggestions are met with 'We tried that and it didn't work. Besides, this is the way we do things here.' It's hard to speak up when all around you, the cultural norms and customs of a community seem to deny your very existence. It's hard to speak up when the rules are designed to limit conversation and consultation.
I'm sure most of us have had the experience of being silenced and resonate with the feelings of frustration, helplessness and powerlessness that go with it. What we might find more difficult to acknowledge is the experience we've had of silencing others - perhaps deliberately or inadvertently. We know the sound barriers we often throw up when voices challenge our particular viewpoint or call into question our assumptions about the way things are or should be.
Over the past four weeks, a group of 16 people have gathered at EMUC to reflect and learn about what it means to be 'a beloved' community; a community where in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. we recognize that 'we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.' As we started to uncover the ways that as diverse peoples we might create and sustain an intercultural beloved community, we discovered how important and yet how challenging it can be to listen to the diversity of voices. We pondered the ways that God's Spirit might be speaking to us and how we might attune our ears to hear that voice more acutely. Although the study group has come to an end, there is a desire among many in the group to continue to explore ways of deepening and expanding our understanding and practice of living in beloved community. Look for future announcements for ways you can be part of this.
Throughout the events that unfold in Holy Week, many voices speak up - voices of betrayal and denial, voices that cry 'crucify', and voices of accusation. In words and actions, Jesus uses his voice to speak for God's love and God's justice, and even when his voice is silenced on the cross, we wait with hope for Easter's dawn, trusting that even death will not silence God's word of love among us and in the world.
You are invited to attend the special Holy Week events at EMUC beginning this Sunday at 10 am. Amid all the sounds and in the silence, may we listen closely for the voice of God to remind us of who we are and who we are called to be as part of Christ's beloved community.
There will be no Friday message next week because it is Good Friday. In anticipation of Easter Sunday, I offer this special recording of Handel's 'Halleluiah Chorus'. It is sung by the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir with the addition of singers from around the world who are included through YouTube videos. Go to this link and scroll down to the video recording.
May you have a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Peace, Kathy Toivanen.
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This Week at EMUC
The March/Easter edition of the
C
ommunique Newsletter is now available on the website
Sunday at 10 am:
Palm Sunday worship with palm branches, reflective readings and music for the parade into Jerusalem:
Wednesday at 6:45 Worship with prayers and communion
Thursday at 7 pm: Maundy Thursday worship with communion and dramatic readings as we remember the events of the Last Supper
Thursday at 9 pm: The prayer vigil begins. You are invited to come to EMUC and pray for one hour during the vigil. Vigil concludes on Saturday at 5 pm.
Friday at 9 am: Good Friday worship with readings, reflections and symbols along with special music. Breakfast follows for everyone. Easter baking will also be available for sale.
Saturday at 10 pm: First Easter Fire worship with communion. An ancient dramatic worship service to celebrate the resurrection.
Sunday March 27th at 10 am: Easter Sunday Worship with the Easter Dance and special festive music.
Monday March 28th - the church office is closed for Easter Monday.
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Congregational Meeting on April 3rd
There will be an Erin Mills United Church congregational meeting following the 10 am worship service on Sunday, April 3, 2016. Items on the agenda will include the presentation and approval of the Joint Needs Assessment report and the election of the Joint Search Committee. All are welcome to attend and take part as this important report is presented; however only members of EMUC are permitted to vote on these matters.
A copy of the JNAC report will be on the EMUC website soon.
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Upcoming Events
Refugee Sponsorship News - Important Update!
The North West Constituent Group of EMUC, Erindate and Streetsville United has submitted to the United Church of Canada (UCC) the application to sponsor a family of 7 Syrian refugees. The UCC has now forwarded the application to the Canadian government for processing. According to our UCC refugee advisor, we could receive our family
as early as the end of February
!! This is exciting news; but it now means that much work must be done quickly to get ready to receive this family. Currently, the priority is to find accommodation for the family.
In order to help furnish their accommodation, the following process has been created:
- An e-mail account has been set up refugeefurnituredrive@gmail.com
- Anyone wishing to donate furniture, small appliances or electronics, please send a picture of your donation to the above e-mail address. Please send a brief description and dimensions if possible. In particular, we are looking for 2 sets of bunk beds. Because there is no place to store furniture in advance, donors are asked to hold on to items until a time when we can physically accept the goods.
- Charitable donation receipts will not be available for used furniture, appliances, electronics.
- The volunteers from our constituent group will do their best to match the donations with the needs of the incoming family.
- If you have any questions, please specify them in the e-mail or contact Lorraine Brignall.
Other members of EMUC's Refugee Sponsorship Task group are:
Hermine Bingham, Muriel Hamdani, Debby Sturgeon, Dianne Hope, Catharine Watts
Refugee Sponsorship Camp Out
EMUC is hosting a fundraiser/awareness raising event on April 1st. Participants will camp out overnight in the church parking lot. or indoors in the church if they choose. This event is a fundraiser for the refugee sponsorship which EMUC is in the process of undertaking. The evening will also be an awareness raising event with an information session of our prospective refugee family we will sponsor followed by a discussion on Syrian culture. To inquire about participating or to learn more about the agenda for the evening, contact the church office.
The Deacon's Cupboard
In the month of March, you are invited to bring evaporated milk or boxed milk, original, organic, almond soy or rice..
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.
Easter Flowers
The Worship Committee is taking orders for Easter Flowers up to Palm Sunday March 29th. You may purchase flowers to decorate the worship space for Easter by completing the designated envelopes available at EMUC. Flowers may be donated in memory of a loved one and taken home after Easter Sunday. Contributions of $10 toward larger arrangements of hydrangeas and pansies are welcome. Tulips or daffodils at $10/each. Because of allergies, there will be no lily sales.
Easter Envelopes
Envelopes are available at EMUC throughout Holy Week and Easter. You are invited to make a special Easter thank offering toward the ongoing work of EMUC in Christ's ministry.
Bunch for Lunch
Following the congregational meeting on April 3rd, join EMUC folk and their friends for lunch at Symposium restaurant (on Dundas St. west of Winston Churchill in the Starsky's plaza). Arrangements have been made for individual billing. Please sign up on the sheet at the back of the church so that the restaurant can be advised as to the number of diners.
Becoming a Member of EMUC
For those who wish to become a member of EMUC by transfer from another congregation or by reaffirming their faith, there will be preparations sessions in April. Please contact Kathy Toivanen in person or by email at kathy@emuc.ca Dates and times will be negotiated based on the availability of those interested.
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Contact Us:
Peter Kiteley, Office Administrator
office@emuc.ca
Erin Mills United Church |
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