Friday Message and what's coming.

Friday Message

What's Coming!

April 5, 2019

Season: Lent

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Rev. Kathi's Message

Last November, a group of ladies responded to my invitation to start a new ministry at EMUC. We gathered around the table near the front doors and with yarn, needles and hooks started making shawls to share with members of the congregation - and the wider community – who might be in need of prayer, comfort and solace.

Prayer Shawl ministry is a powerful healing movement that began with two women in the US who had just completed a program in women’s spirituality and were wondering how to put into practice the newly deepened sense of God that they had experienced in their program. They wanted to bring the nurturing, comforting and creatively caring aspects of God’s love out to the world and found a way to do that through their mutual love of knitting. In the 20 years since, their idea has spread around the world and Prayer Shawls are created and shared by thousands of churches.

Our group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 2pm. It is a casual gathering, anyone (yes, men too!) may join in to knit, crochet or just to chat. Some are working on shawls, some have started other projects to donate, some bring whatever they are currently making for themselves. One of our group is weaving her shawls at home. Some of us are re-learning or even learning to knit and crochet. Our experienced crafters are happy to teach beginners. We have had donations of yarn and needles to share. So far, we have already collected more than 30 shawls and sent 4 or 5 out to carry prayer to someone - each one is unique, each one is beautiful.

If you are interested in joining us, come out to our next gathering on May 1 at 2pm. We’d love to see you. If you know of someone who needs to be wrapped in prayer, please let us know and we will see that a shawl is sent.

This Sunday we will be taking time in the service to dedicate and bless our first prayer shawls before they go out to share God’s love and ours.

Love, Kathi

This Week at EMUC

Sunday April 7th:

10:00 am: Lent 5 - Worship led by Rev. Kathi

Scripture: Isaiah 43: 16-21

Gospel: John 12: 1-8

Message: "The Prophet Mary"

After service: Hiking with the Striders

Monday April 8th:

Tuesday April 9th:

6:30 pm: Lent Film Study - "The Way" followed by dinner

Wednesday April 10th:

10:00 am: Daytime Men's Group

2:00 pm: Circle of Friends

6:45 pm: Prayers and Communion service

Thursday April 11th:

7:00 pm: Chancel Choir

Friday April 12th:

Saturday April 13th:

Next Sunday April 14th: Palm Sunday - Worship Service at 10 am.

What's Coming!

WOMEN FOR WOMEN

Women for Women will meet on Friday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. at EMUC. Dinner at 6:30 followed by our guest speaker, Mary Lynn Peters from Trillium Health Partners speaking on Healthy Aging. Cost is $10. Dinner is salad & subs (veg. & gluten-free options). Dessert donations welcome. Bring your own plate/cup/cutlery.

EMUC STRIDERS - SPRING HIKE - APRIL 7, 2019

Meadowvale Conservation Area - exploring more of the Credit River watershed with a 2.5 km walk along this stretch of the David Culham Trail. Bring a bagged lunch to eat in the Narthex; car pooling will be available to leave the EMUC parking lot at 12:10. Return by 3:00.

Listen to podcast:

http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/wp-Content/uploads/2015/11/MeadowvaleCA1.mp3

Note: if the link doesn't work for you, try copying it and pasting it into your browser.

EASTER VIGIL

The Easter Vigil is a longstanding tradition at Erin Mills United and begins Thursday, April 18 ^th at 9:00 pm and continues to Saturday, April 20 ^th at 3:00 pm. The Vigil schedule will be posted on the bulletin board at the back of the church on Sunday, March 17 ^th . Please sign up for one or more ‘one hour’ periods to spend time praying, reflecting, reading, meditating or just being quiet in God’s presence. You are also invited to sign up for an “overnight” vigil for either the Thursday or Friday night (starting at 11:00 pm to 7:00 am). This was a very positive experience in the past. Bring your sleeping bag and pillow for comfort. Any questions can be directed to Sylvia Arnold.

GOOD FRIDAY READERS

For those who like to read in worship, there are opportunities to share your skills on Good Friday. Please speak to Rev Kathi if would like a speaking part. kathi@emuc.ca or (905)820-9466

EASTER FLOWERS

The Worship Committee is taking orders for Easter flowers from Sunday, March 17 ^th to Palm Sunday, April 14 ^th . Prices for the flowers are indicated on the order envelopes located on the back table outside the conference room. The flowers will be used to decorate the church for Easter Sunday and anyone who wishes can take their flowers home after the service. Please note that we do not purchase lilies out of consideration for those who have scent allergies.

HAVE YOU NOTICED?

That you have not been receiving special mailings from EMUC. In the past we mailed letters to the congregation at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, bringing greetings for the season and requesting a special donation. The postal disruption last year forced us to communicate these messages using the Friday Message and Communique. We did not see any decrease in donations and we saved on postage costs. As a result for this Easter we are using the same approach.

Your financial contributions are vital to sustaining our community and we are grateful for these. You are invited to prayerfully consider making a special donation during this Easter season. Special envelopes are available at the church. If you are unable to join us during this season, donations can be made through our website or by mail.

CYCLONE IDAI swept through Southern Africa in March 2019, leaving terrible disaster in its wake. Hundreds of thousands of people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi are in immediate need of food, water, and shelter. At least 830 people have been reported killed by the storm, and a cholera epidemic is feared. With more than 120,000 people displaced, Idai is one of the worst weather-related crises to ever affect the African continent.

The Canadian government is matching donations for Cyclone Idai emergency relief (up to a maximum of $2 million) made to the United Church Mission and Service Fund. Your gifts made to the Cyclone Idai Appeal between March 15 and April 15, 2019 can be doubled.

United Church Mission & Service partner ACT Alliance, together with local partners, are working on the ground to provide immediate assistance, minimize loss of life, and ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are met.

NEW MEMBERS

We will be celebrating new members at a service later this spring. If you have been attending worship and would like to become a full member or if you have any questions about becoming a member please speak with Rev Kathi or Sandy Hayes.

EMUC-CLEANERS

As you may know our cleaning contractor broke her wrist early in the year. For the past three months, a group of dedicated volunteers has cleaned the church. At this point we are not sure how long this emergency situation will last, but we expect to need volunteers for the next 2 or 3 weeks. If you are able to assist, please speak to Sue Ogilvie or Sylvia Arnold. The more people we have involved, the less onerous the task .

GIFTS OF VISION - A GIVING CATALOGUE FROM MISSION AND SERVICE.

Are you looking for an Easter gift giving idea? Have a look at the catalogue from our own Mission and Service. There are 21 Canadian, Indigenous Canadian and 9 World idea, large and small. Plus four back pages of past very popular ones. They cover many areas of need which could help change someone's life for the better.

Ruth Noble preached at EMUC recently. She is part of the M&S arm of the church who produce this catalogue annually. The United Church and their partners continue to work hard to sustain one of our core mandates - hope and healing for others. If you wish visit www.giftswithvision.ca to donate on line . There are many needs in this world. Your donation will make a difference.

EMUC GARAGE SALE - Our major fundraiser!

Mark your calendars for Saturday May 4, 2019, 8:00 am to noon! If you are cleaning closets etc. consider donating items in good condition to the sale. Remember to take home a box to bring in your gently used treasures for our sale. If you have not done so, please sign up to help set up, sort and/or sell. Thank you from your garage sale team (G.S.T. - Sylvia Arnold, Cathy Kiteley, Patti King, Cindy Young)

'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 Sunday, April 28th. Speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.