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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. We are now in the season of Lent. Lent is a time to look inward and to reflect on our readiness to follow Jesus in his journey towards Jerusalem and the cross. The forty days of Lent correspond to the forty-day temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and the forty-year journey of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt to a new community in the 'Promised Land'. Lent is symbolized by the color Purple; a colour that reflects the season's sombre mood of self-examination and personal simplicity.
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In his book, The Passionate Jesus, Peter Wallace includes a story told by Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Yolanda. When she was little, Martin Luther King had a 'play ritual' with her. He'd lift her up on top of the fridge and then move back and open his arms and say, 'Jump, Yokie, jump!' But on top of the tall appliance, Yolanda would ask him to take her down because she was afraid and it was too high. Each time King lifted her up on the fridge, the response was the same and each time King would lift his daughter down.
Then one day after a difficult couple of weeks away, having survived an assassination attempt, King returned home looking exhausted. He said nothing to anyone, but simply looked at Yolanda, took her by the hand into the kitchen and lifted her on top of the fridge. Then with his voice breaking, he said to her, 'Jump, Yokie, jump.' Yolanda explained that she didn't know if it was because her father looked so tired, or because he had been gone so long, or because she had grown up a little, but for the first time she jumped off the top of the fridge and landed safely in her father's arms. King held her tight, and with tears brimming in his eyes, he said, 'Yokie, you've learned something very important tonight. You've learned what it means to trust someone other than yourself. You've learned what it means to jump.' (excerpt from pages 86,87 in The Passionate Jesus, by Peter Wallace 2013)
No matter what age we are, taking that leap of faith to trust in another person can be a difficult challenge. We risk being let down, betrayed, or hurt. And in a diverse community, with the barriers of culture or race, religion or tradition between us, it may sometimes feel like leaping off a cliff as we reach out across our differences to begin building relationships of trust.
What if we fall on our faces by saying or doing the wrong thing? What if we are misunderstood or rejected in our attempts to forge new connections?
This week, at EMUC, Dianne Hope and I will lead the first of four sessions of a Lenten small group entitled, 'Engaging Difference - Seeing Christ in One Another'. Last year, Dianne participated in an exciting week-long course called 'Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry' (DUIM). Offered by the Canadian Churches' Forum for Global Ministries (of which the United Church of Canada is a member), the course was designed to better equip the church to respond to the cultural diversity in faith communities, local communities and in international relationships.
The vision statement of Erin Mills United proclaims that 'EMUC is a thriving spirit-filled congregation: diverse, inclusive and engaged with the community and creation.' And the mission of EMUC 'is to offer opportunities for all persons to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ.'
As our Mississauga community continues to grow in its cultural diversity preparing ourselves to welcome newcomers from different cultural backgrounds is certainly a wise endeavour. And with the insights and wisdom that Dianne experienced through the DUIM course, we have a wonderful opportunity to discover helpful ways to to live into our vision and mission; as we seek to honour the diversity in our midst, to be inclusive and to offer opportunities for all to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ.
Over the past few weeks as Dianne and I have planned for these sessions, we've been working to create an environment where we can 'learn to jump' and trust one another as we take a closer look at our assumptions and perspectives, our ways of doing things and the values or traditions that we often take for granted. We've had some amazing conversations; conversations that have been both challenging and at the same time very liberating. We extend to you, the invitation to join us for this Lenten small group and to participate in these challenging and liberating conversations as we learn to trust one another and learn to jump!
Sessions are offered on Wednesdays (February 24, March 2, 9, 16) from 7:30 - 9:30 pm or Fridays (February 26, March 4,11, 18) from 10 am to noon. A registration of $10 covers materials.
Peace, Kathy Toivanen
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This Week at EMUC
The February/Lenten edition of the
C
ommunique Newsletter is available on the website
Sunday at 10 am: Worship for the second Sunday of Lent with programs for children.
Following worship:
Black History Month Worship Planning
Refugee Sponsorship Gathering
Meeting of the JNAC.
Wednesday at 2 pm: Circle of Friends Women's Group
Wednesday at 6:45 pm: Communion and Prayers Worship Service
Wednesday at 7:30 pm: Lenten Group "Engaging Difference - Seeing Christ in One Another"
Thursday at 7 pm: Assembling Comfort Kits of personal care items
Friday at 10 am: Lenten Group "Engaging Difference - Seeing Christ in One Another"
Friday at 6:30 pm: Women for Women Dinner and Program
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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
Calling All Euchre Players
Save Saturday March 5 for an evening of progressive euchre and yummy desserts. Arrival time is 6:30. Games start 7 p.m. sharp. Cost $10.00 To reserve a seat and number attending contact maryanna.williams10@gmail.com
Pair and single players welcomed.
Comfort Kits
Please bring in your personal care items by this Sunday Feb. 21. This effort supports the outreach ministry of the Open Door at Square One.
Women for Women and Friends
EMUC women and their friends are invited to a dinner meeting on Friday February 26th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Following dinner ($10/person) there will be a presentation on 'birding'. Equipment demonstratins, birding checklists, and a series of Ontario 'hotspots' for viewing birds will be made available. Please register in advance by contacting Laura at lmacro@rogers.com or Cindy at cynthia.young@rogers.com
The Deacon's Cupboard
With the recent spike in the cost of groceries, please remember to be generous in your contributions to the cupboard. In February, you are invited to donate canned fruit (preferably fruit in its own juice)
Planning for Kathy Toivanen's Retirement.
A meeting to plan for events to celebrate Kathy Toivanen's retirement and bid her farewell will be held on Wednesday February 24th at 4 pm. If you are interested in helping to take part in the planning and organizing of these farewell events or would like more information on how you can help out, please speak to Joanne Hines, Laura Macro or Barb Jennings.
Community Worship Service at Solel Synagogue
EMUC is invited to attend the Sabbath worship service at Solel Synagogue on Friday March 4th at 8 pm followed by refreshments. This is always an inspiring event, and offers us the opportunity to meet newly appointed, Rabbi Audrey Pollack. Please sign up to indicate your attendance.
EMUC Annual Congregational Meeting
On Sunday March 6th 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 2015 and a budget for 2016 and to elect new church officers.
Unique Lenten Worship Experience
On Sunday March 6th from 7-9 pm, EMUC is hosting a special Lenten worship experience. Any time during the course of the evening, you are invited to participate in this worship experience. The sanctuary will be 'transformed' into a variety of interactive and meditative worship experiences. Much like a visit to an art gallery or a museum, you are invited to move through the various worship experiences at your own pace (much the same way you might look at exhibits in a gallery or museum). Free will offerings will be gratefully received.
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Contact Us:
Peter Kiteley, Office Administrator
office@emuc.ca
Erin Mills United Church |
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