Friday Message and what's coming.

Friday Message

What's Coming!

February 1, 2019

Season: Epiphany/Ordinary Time

Intercultural Ministries Survey

EMUC members, here is an opportunity for you to have a voice about the future of the United Church! The Steering Committee on Intercultural Ministries is conducting a survey to inform future actions/decisions about our church.

You are eligible to participate if you are a part of a United Church community of faith. The survey is open to everyone in the church, aged 16 and up.

The survey, which will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, is an opportunity for you to describe your experience of church and your suggestions for the future. The results will be used to help develop a strategic plan for how the church can continue to live into its intercultural commitment. Our hope is to receive input from all the diverse voices that make up our church. And be assured that we are committed to seriously reviewing all of the results and taking into account everyone's considered opinions. The survey will be available until February 22, 2019.

Here are the links for the survey:

English link: www.uccsurvey2019.ca

French link: www.eucsondage2019.ca

For more information about the survey, please contact The United Church of Canada's Adele Halliday, Team Leader: Discipleship and Witness, Church in Mission Unit at cim@united-church.ca .

Remembering Greg Phillips

It is not too late to make a donation to Yellow Brick House through EMUC! Please donate by February 3rd. Please use the special envelopes that are available at the church. Cheques should be made out to EMUC and the funds will be deposited into our Memorial Fund. Then one cheque for the total collection plus a list of donors' names (without individual donation amounts) will be sent to Yellow Brick House in memory of Greg.

EMUC will issue income tax receipts to individuals with the donation included in your 2019 statements. Yellow Brick House is a registered charity.

Please contact the EMUC office with any serious pastoral concerns. Rev. Joanne Hedge is covering pastoral care concerns while Kathi is away.

This Week at EMUC

Sunday February 3rd:

10:00 am: Worship and communion led by Rev. Ruth Noble

Scripture: Jeremiah 1: 4-10

Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30

Message: "Can you really go home again?!"

Monday February 4th:

Tuesday February 5th:

Wednesday February 6th:

2:00 pm: Prayer Shawl Ministry - in Narthex

6:45 pm: Prayers and Communion service led by Joanne Hedge

Thursday February 7th:

7:00 pm: Chancel Choir

Friday February 8th:

Next Sunday February 10th: Black History Month Service at 10 am

Kids' Zone program for young children available during worship

Refugee Sponsorship Fundraising Appeal Update

Target: $ 10 000

Total amount raised to date: - $9,250

In order to meet our commitment to support the sponsored refugees for one year following their arrival in Canada, the Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group will require a further $40 000. Erin Mills United Church has set a target of $10 000 for this appeal. We are currently at $9,000. Thank you for your generous support.

What's Coming!

Black History Month Service

EMUC will be holding a special service on Feb. 10th at 10 am celebrating Black History month. Adele Halliday, Team Leader Discipleship and Witness at the national office of the United Church will be speaking. Her responsibilities include Intercultural Ministry and Disabilities Ministries. There will also be special music provided by a guest vocalist, Allan Cobham. After the service stay for conversation and special treats provided by the organizing committee. Plan to be here!

ATTENTION BOOK LOVERS AND AVID READERS!

There are some EMUC members who are interested in forming a third EMUC Book Club. Please sign up on the list at the back of the church or contact either Sandy Hayes (905-820-4437) or Karen Colwell (905-891-1746) , if you would like to join in or learn more about forming a new book club so that we can gauge the interest and numbers.

In recognition of Black History Month, please read The Gospel Truth by Caroline Pignat. Books are available on Sunday and e-books can be signed out from the Mississauga Library. The initial meeting will be Tuesday February 26 ^th (place to be determined), when members will discuss The Gospel Truth, determine a regular day, time and functioning of the book club meetings. A reading list will be discussed.

COMFORT KITS

We will be collecting travel size toiletry items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, lotions, shampoo etc.) for the Open Door for distribution in early March. Please bring your items to the church. There will be a box suitably labelled for drop-off of the items. Thank you.

LOAVES AND DISHES

Tourtieres, turkey pot pies and shepherd's pies are ready for pickup in the EMUC kitchen after the service on Sunday.

An order sheet is on the sign-up bulletin board at the back of the church. Please place your orders there.

' FUNDSCRIP' PROGRAM

FUNDSCRIP is an innovative fundraising program that asks you to purchase gift cards in order to pay for regular items you buy every month. A percentage of the cards purchased through FUNDSCRIP is donated back to our church.

Order forms for gift cards are available the last Sunday of every month. The next order date is this Sunday, February 24th. Speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.