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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 ongoing events in the life of the congregation. We are currently in the Easter Season, which is called 'The Great Fifty Days'. The liturgical colour for this season is the celebratory gold or white as we continue to rejoice in all the signs of resurrection life in the world around us.
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For a number of years I've been listening to Krista Tippett who is the host of the American Public Radio program 'On Being'. In 2014, Tippett received the National Humanities Medal at the White House for 'thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.'
When I heard that Tippett's most recent book, Becoming Wise was released this week I quickly snatched up the only copy available at a nearby bookstore. I've only had a chance to read the first chapter and already I've highlighted many sentences and paragraphs.
In my reading, I was particularly struck by Tippett's description of hope. Here's what she has to say:
'I love the deep savvy about hope that religion tends...Hope has nothing to do with wishing. It references reality at every turn and reveres truth. It lives open eyed and wholeheartedly with the darkness that is woven ineluctably into the light of life and sometimes seems to overcome it. Hope, like every virtue, is a choice that becomes a habit that becomes spiritual muscle memory. It's a renewable resource for moving through life as it is, not as we wish it to be.'
This past week, I had a couple of occasions to consider the nature of hope. I've been in the midst of conversations where we wondered about what hope there is for the church in the future. As many of you know there are big changes looming ahead in the United Church of Canada - changes related to our structure and how we will fund it and changes that will affect the training and vocational focus of ministry personnel. Add to that the dramatic shifts in culture that have led to a gradual decline in attendance in mainline Christian denominations and you have conditions that can easily breed worry, despair and fear in local congregations and the denomination as a whole.
I'm also aware of the challenges that many are facing - loss of health, loss of employment, concerns about loved ones young and old. How do we as congregations and as individuals 'tend hope'? How do we choose hope? How do we make hope a habit that becomes a spiritual muscle memory? While I don't have any definitive answers, I offer a few suggestions below.
In the midst of the noisy rhetoric that is often going on at 'centre stage' take time to listen to the voices and to notice the actions that are happening in the wings and at the margins. Hope often springs up in cracks and crannies; and we need to be keen observers of life to notice it. It is often in places away from the limelight and among those who have lived through significant hardship where we experience and learn about hope that persists even in difficult times.
Make hope a spiritual muscle memory by engaging in a regular spiritual practice; not just on your own, but also with others. Give of yourself. Join a group that is working to bring healing and health, joy and justice to others - perhaps through a refugee sponsorship group or a local foodbank initiative or through the gift providing music or dance, mentoring or coaching, yoga or the arts.
Take time to be outdoors and connect with creation. God's creation is wonderfully resilient in the face of adversity and we can discover much about hope in creation - walking, biking, running, swimming, boating, gardening, sitting.
Pray, reflect and meditate - alone and with others. One of the ways I develop my spiritual muscle memory of hope is through the Wednesday midweek prayer and communion service at EMUC. There's nothing extraordinary about this simple and unadorned worship service. Each week a small group gathers to read a Psalm and a scripture text. We pray for situations and peoples in the world and in our own community and we pray for ourselves. We share the peace of Christ and commune with Christ through the sharing of bread and cup. Week in and week out, as we participate in this half-hour of worship, we are reminded that 'we are not alone; we live in God's world'. And that gives us enough hope to sustain us through the week.
Learn to live with mystery and 'the unknowing'. We live in a universe that is made up of 95 percent dark matter and dark energy, about which we know virtually nothing! And yet into this mysterious universe, hope springs up, opening doors and breaking through barriers time and time again. In this Easter Season, we celebrate the hope that emerges from the tomb and rises up out of death and despair to bring forth life anew. It is indeed one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith that no logic or mathematical equation or technology can explain. So, rather than looking upon the unknowns and mysteries of life as threats, why not regard them as seedbeds for hope to grow!
On Sunday morning as we worship at EMUC, we will dance the Easter Dance one last time this season. It is a dance of hope; a dance that declares that God's power for life prevails in us and in this world. Come and join the dance; come and be part of a community of faith that is rooted and sustained in hope through God's unfailing love, today, tomorrow and into the future.
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JNAC Report Update
On Sunday, April 3rd, the Joint Needs Assessment Report was approved by the congregation and a Joint Search Committee was elected. On Tuesday April 5th, Halton Presbytery Executive declared a vacancy at Erin Mills United for one fulltime ordered minister effective October 1, 2016. The Joint Search committee can now begin its work of advertizing and interviewing for this position. Information and updates on the process will be communicated through upcoming newsletters and announcements.
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This Week at EMUC
The March/Easter edition of the
C
ommunique Newsletter is now available on the website
www.emuc.ca. The deadline for copy for the May issue is due next Friday, April 15.
Sunday at 10 am: Worship for the Third Sunday of Easter. We continue to dance the Easter Dance. Programs for children
Wednesday at 2 pm: Circle of Friends women's group
Wednesday at 6:45 Worship with prayers and communion
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Upcoming Events
Sunday Hike
Join EMUC folk and their friends for a hike on Sunday April 17th. Gather at EMUC for a bag lunch after worship and carpool at 12:15
heading to Toronto to explore the area near High Park, west of Grenadier Pond. The return is planned for 3 pm. Bring a refillable water bottle, sun screen and a hat. Contact Tim Hayes scoutertim@hotmail.com
Jazz Vespers
Plan to attend an evening of jazz music along with readings and reflections on Sunday April 17th at 7 pm. Refreshments follow the vesper service with an opportunity to meet the musicians. There is no charge for the evening; however freewill offerings are gratefully received.
Earth Day Sunday
Come to worship on April 24th at 10 am and learn about what it means to be a 'Blue Dot' city. On March 30th, Mississauga City Council approved the resolution to be a 'Blue Dot' city. This is good news for creating healthier communities to live in. What does this mean for you? How can you participate? Ann Bone, EMUC's representative on Greening Sacred Spaces will be in conversation with Kathy on Sunday to answer some of these questions.
EMUC's Annual Garage Sale, May 7th
This is one of EMUC's most important fundraisers. You can help make this event a success by signing up to help prior to, during and after the sale. The event will be held from 8 am to noon on May 7
th
with the drop off of donations beginning at 9 am on Thursday May 5
th
. Please start saving your 'treasures' for this annual fundraising event including: Household Items, Books, Games, Toys, Artwork, Linens, Small Furniture, Sports Equipment, Costume Jewelry, Bake Table and lots of more.
Becoming a Member of Erin Mills United
For those who would like to explore what it means to be a member of Erin Mills United, two preparation sessions are planned - Thursday May 5 and 12 from 7 to 9 pm. Please register by calling the church office or by contacting Kathy Toivanen kathy@emuc.ca
Refugee Sponsorship News - Important Update!
Erin Mills United has more than achieved its goal of $15,000 for refugee sponsorship with a new total of $17,237.61. The fundraising appeal concluded on April 1st with an evening with guest speaker, Nidal Kalash followed by a wonderful camp-out. This concludes EMUC's "formal" financial appeal for refugee sponsorship although funds will still be gratefully accepted. Thank you who donated their time, funds, encouragement and prayers. It is you who have made this possible!!
Our sponsorship application is still in the hands of the government and we have not received any word from them since the application was first received on February 17th. However, we are still proceeding with plans to locate and rent a three bedroom apartment, acquire furnishings and prepare ourselves for the family's arrival. The constituent group is attending meetings and writing letters to the government to ask them to honour their original promises regarding private refugee sponsorship. We hope to follow through with a visit to our MP inquiring as to the status of our application. There are many frustrated constituent groups like ourselves and we are working together.
Our goal is to provide EMUC with regular updates. Please look for these updates in the Friday message.
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 email or contact Lorraine Brignall.
Other members of EMUC's Refugee Sponsorship Task group are:
Hermine Bingham, Muriel Hamdani, Debby Sturgeon, Dianne Hope, Catharine Watts
The Deacon's Cupboard
In the month of April, 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.
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Contact Us:
Peter Kiteley, Office Administrator
office@emuc.ca
Erin Mills United Church |
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