The month of September is often as full of new beginnings as the first month of the year. Students and teachers begin a new school year. Sports teams start a new season. Community groups start up new programs after the summer hiatus. In this issue of the Communique, you'll discover that EMUC is into a season of new beginnings as well. EMUC's musical groups, social and study groups, committees programs for children and youth, and community initiatives are all beginning afresh. In Sunday worship we move into a new focus as we celebrate 'Creation Time' in the church year.

In his information piece, Paul Marot, Chair of the Leadership Circle, announces that a new strategic plan for EMUC has been approved by the Leadership Circle. This plan gives the congregation 'new eyes' with which to view the life and work of EMUC. To be sure, there will be new initiatives just as there will be opportunities to renew and refresh some of our beloved traditions and ways of being the church. As committees and groups gather over the fall, they will all have opportunities to discover how they fit into the plan. What new directions might they take? What new insights are offered?

Why not think of September as an opportune time to embrace new beginnings in your life. How might the Spirit of God give you new eyes with which to see your life: your priorities, your work, and your relationships? How might you be renewed through your participation in Christ's work with EMUC and in partnership with others in the wider community? How might EMUC support you as you embark on new beginnings - through prayer and the companionship of others, through worship and study, through opportunities to give and receive? Throughout the next month or so, we'll be singing this refrain in worship. May Christ's promise to make new begin with you today!

Behold, Behold, I make all things new,

beginning with you and starting from today.

Behold, behold, I make all things new,

my promise is true, for I am Christ the way.

(More Voices Hymnbook 115)

Peace, Kathy Toivanen

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On October 5 after the morning worship service, an Advent planning meeting will be held to discuss themes and activities for the Advent and Christmas Season. If you are interested in contributing your ideas and your time and energy in the areas of music, drama, decorations, community involvement/outreach and other seasonal activities, please plan to attend.   Contact Sylvia Arnold.

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October 19th will be another special music service at EMUC with a focus on Music for Change or a Cause. There will be guest musicians and reflections on the music chosen. If you would like to participate by reading a reflection, contact Sylvia Arnold.  Please join us or this uplifting and special service.

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The life and work of EMUC is carried out in circles of involvement. Each of these circles is coordinated by a Focus Circle Leader who is a member of EMUC's governing body, The Leadership Circle. The Focus Circles and their leaders are:

Building and Property - vacant (David Leeder is currently coordinating this work) 

Community Life - Tim Hayes

Member Development and Care - Joanne Hines

Worship and Music - Sylvia Arnold

Children and Youth - Allin Brown

Finance - Marianne McVittie

In June we reported that the review committee intended to engage a consulting engineer to assist in making a decision regarding the much needed replacement of EMUC's Heating, Ventilation, and A/C (HVAC) system. Mann Engineering was hired and recently presented the committee with a comprehensive report with a recommendation for a new system.

As with our past studies, this report confirms that to switch to a natural gas option would require too large a capital investment. The design of our church home does not provide for a boiler room and would require the construction of an exterior building.  This would add additional approvals and costs to the overall project.

Mann has recommended a Multi-Split system using three outside condensing units and 13 indoor units. The system is using heat pump technology but allows for a greater control on the use of electricity. It is estimated that we would see a 50% drop in electricity use. The system incorporates a control system that will allow us to generate only the heating or cooling that we require.

The Leadership Circle has approved this recommendation and has called Congregational Meeting for Sunday September 14, 2014 to approve the necessary funds. As the recommended system incorporates replacement of the existing office HVAC system, which is also old, and an automated control system the price is above the original $150,000 that was approved for the project. Discussions are currently being held to determine the required budget.

This review has extended over two years and has required many hours of work by the committee. I would like to thank Ian Love, John Currie, Lou Santamaria , and Paul Marot for their commitment and perseverance.

Dave Leeder, Vice Chair Leadership Circle

I am pleased to report that two of the capital projects approved by the congregation have been completed.

2. The upgrading of the eaves trough and downspout system has also been completed. The original residential size eaves troughs could not handle the amount of water that flowed off the roof resulting in an overflow that gathered next to the building. New six inch troughs and additional downspouts have been installed that are able to handle the water running off the roof. Thank-you to Larry van Goozen for supervision of this project.

On June 28, 2014 Kathy Toivanen and Lorraine Brignall held a wonderful, scrumptious luncheon for all the women who volunteer at EMUC. There is a little tale behind this luncheon!

At the last auction held during one of the EMUC dinners, Lorraine bid and won a luncheon for eight people prepared by our own gourmet chef and minister, Kathy. The luncheon for eight was never held. Lorraine decided it would be nice to hold the luncheon to thank volunteers in the church and so the luncheon grew from 8 to 12; but don't forget so-and so... to 20; then to 30 and finally over 50 were invited.

The event was a big success! The women met for drinks and conversation followed by a luncheon of mint-pea soup, salmon, macaroni and cheese, and a variety of delicious salads. Dessert was a decadent brownie with raspberries.

THANK YOU from all the women who attended goes to Kathy and Lorraine. The luncheon was enjoyed by all and greatly appreciated!

  

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http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction/140829 

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Churchill Meadows

Creating Community through Interfaith Collaboration

This summer 19 youth of diverse faith and cultural backgrounds gathered for a week long program. They participated in a Community Garden Exposure Program in Churchill Meadows and heard stories of heroism and courage from Jewish, Islamic and Roman Catholic traditions. Youth participated in a "talk-show style panel presentation" where representatives from the Hindu, Sikh and Islamic faith shared their faith perspectives on Greening the Earth and the spirituality of gardening. With the support of Ecosourcethe group visited a teaching garden, explored garden designs, and on our last day walked a labyrinth celebrating our shared journey and commitment going forward.

This Halton Presbytery-funded project happened in collaboration with Greening Sacred Spaces Halton-Peel Chapter and five diverse faith groups in Peel.  Just over two years ago Halton Presbytery engaged me, Roni Beharry, to determine a strategic focus for the United Church of Canada in this densely populated suburban neighbourhood of Churchill Meadows soon to be 75000, about the size of Sarnia. City of Mississauga city planners, did not allot space for places of worship when developing zoning requirements for Churchill Meadows, with the exception of the Roman Catholic Church.

In determining a strategic focus I listened to and had conversations with city staff, parents, educators, faith leaders, local business owners and service areas and youth. I learned there were no accessible places for youth to gather and a particular need for a life-skills program that helped youth to develop a capacity for engaging diversity. Newcomer Canadian youth, from diverse heritages and religions were trying to figure out how to get along and their behaviour was not always constructive.

A vision is emerging of future citizens who are able to engage religious diversity for the purpose of civic engagement. Faith groups could collaborate on common good issues, create awareness of diversity among youth, and provide opportunities for young people to test passions and civically engage their local community, while earning community service hours.

The strategy is the creation of events or exposures that provide opportunities for deepening interfaith and intercultural understanding through interfaith collaboration.

Deesha Bhalla a Churchill Meadow's youth commented, "The program offers a completely new experience with the interfaith community for teens to deepen mutual understanding among nations, cultures and ethics. The program brings together high school students from the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel District School Board, in unprecedented ways as they participate in leadership programs together. Typically we are not allowed to be in each other's buildings or participate in joint programs, this past winter both schools, with support from their respective school boards, collaborated on a joint youth retreat."

We are already realizing outcomes. Youth are involved in program design. Grade twelve students actively promoted the program this spring in the local Roman Catholic high school and middle schools as part of their Grade 12 Leadership Course requirements. Youth are reporting new knowledge about religious diversity. At our Winter Green rule retreat, youth stated "I had never heard of a religion called Zoroastrianism", "I did not know about ablution rituals in Islam".

Christina Read of Greening Sacred Spaces Halton-Peel Chapter (our community partner) remarked on outcomes: "the young participants engage in interfaith dialogue, enabling a mutual respect, understanding, and the ability to work together on common good issues. We were blessed with a remarkable group of young people dedicated to creating a better community. They assisted in a community garden, reflected on their own faith and beliefs individually, learned about eco-spirituality in a multi-faith context, and journeyed together spiritually. Their love, passion, acceptance, and spirits were truly inspiring."

The challenging question we face is "what about the establishment of a church?" Tom Moy, urban planning consultant and member of Halton Presbytery's Strategic Mission Development Committee, recommended in his study, "the establishment of a church plant is not feasible as land is inaccessible; however, the opportunity likely exists for some form of outreach ".

Marlene Cuthbert from EMUC reports, "Spin-off from Churchill Meadows is transforming the sponsoringcongregation, EMUC.   We have developed a very warm relationship with Masumeen Islamic Centre and are actively deepening connections with Sikh and Hindu faith communities. We are creating awareness of interfaith justice concerns such as Israel-Palestine and Canadian child soldier, Omar Khadr. The congregation has since established an Interfaith, Justice and Peace-building group that can potentially continue the youth interfaith engagement strategy in Churchill Meadows."

It is hoped that an Advisory Team with representation from the Churchill Meadows Community, the Peel Interfaith Community and Erin Mills United Church will continue to explore future collaboration in Churchill Meadows.  I believe that the Spirit of God is at work in all of this.

Gratitude for their volunteer and planning support extends to:

Churchill Meadows Community folk: Deesha Bhalla Meadows, NamalZehra, Deepika Bhalla, Christina Read (Greening Sacred Spaces Halton -Peel Chapter), and EMUC folk: Enid Cassanova, Marlene Cuthbert, Tim Hayes, Dianne Hope, David Kaur, Thomas Seymour, Debby Sturgeon, Maryanna Williams, Joanne Wood ( EMUC and Councillor Sue McFadden's Office)

Guest facilitators representing five faith groups in Peel also contributed to our program: ArlieneBotnick (Solel Synagogue), PanveetBraich (EcoSikh) , Candace Harvey (Halton Presbytery), SabihaJaffer (Masumeen Islamic Centre), Pandit Krishna (The Hindu Heritage Centre), Jackie Saturno (Solel Congregation), Bonnie Scott (Ecosource) and Tanzeela T. (Religious Diversity Young Adult Leader, University of Toronto).

A special thank you extends to an anonymous donor from the Steering Team whose generosity enabled many to participate.

I thank EMUC for being a rock of support.

In Christ, Roni Beharry

Outgoing Outreach Ministry Staff 

Churchill Meadows, Halton Presbytery

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