Friday Message and what's coming.

Friday Message

What's Coming!

November 2, 2018

Season: Ordinary Time

Rev. Kathi's Message

Some thoughts in the wake of another mass shooting:

It seems like every time there is a trauma or tragedy, our public leaders are quick to offer "thoughts and prayers." I admit that I have said the same thing many times when my heart ached, but I just couldn’t find other words. Prayer, we keep using that word and I do not think it means what we think it means. Every time I see this phrase in my Facebook feed or hear it uttered by a politician on the news, I wonder what we all think we’re praying for. Are we offering to make some generic noise in the direction of God’s ear and then move on? Or do we have something specific in mind that we expect God to come down and take care of. Perhaps a miracle that restores the lives lost or some divine assurance something this horrific will never happen again — or at least not happen to us.

What are we praying for? C. S. Lewis, the creator of Narnia, once said, " I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless…It doesn't change God — it changes me.” Are we willing to pray fiercely, even desperately, to be changed?

Are we willing to think that we can change — that we could imagine ways to reduce if not eliminate the carnage? Or should we be praying for forgiveness from the families of the classroom’s worth of children who will be shot to death in the next week because we don’t dare to dream that change is possible.

Can we pray for the vision to see how guns change us? To grasp that we might secretly relish holding the power of life and death in our hands, to consider we sometimes buy guns because they make us feel a little like gods ourselves, or if not gods, at least like a superhero. Or a patriot.

Some say now is not the time, in the wake of a tragedy, to think about the solutions, that we should focus on thoughts and prayers for the dead, the dying and those who loved them. But what are the prayers for, if not to change things, including ourselves? We must go beyond issuing vague petitions in the wake of a tragedy, and instead offer ongoing, concrete prayers for our own change of heart and for the hard, realistic thinking and respectful dialogue it will take to change.

Perhaps the next time our leaders are offering their thoughts and prayers in the wake of a mass shooting, they might take the lead and say what those prayers and thoughts are. That would be a miracle worth praying for.

Peace,

Rev. Kathi

This Week at EMUC

Saturday November 3rd

DST ends; clocks fall back 1 hour.

Sunday November 4th: All Saints Sunday

10:00 am: Worship, Communion and EMU Club

Hebrew Scripture: Ruth 1: 1-18

Gospel: Mark 12: 28-34

Message: 'Now I Lay Me Down'

After the service: Bunch for Lunch at Symposium Cafe

Tuesday November 6th

Water service to the church will be shut off most of the day.

Wednesday November 7th

2:00-4:00 pm: Knitting Group - Open Session

4:30 pm: Membership & Pastoral Care

6:45 pm: Prayers and Communion

Thursday November 8th

4:00 pm: Nominating committee

7:00 pm: Chancel Choir

Next Sunday November 11th: Remembrance Sunday

Worship and EMU Club

Refugee Sponsorship Fundraising Appeal

Target: $ 10 000

Total amount raised to date: - $4,190

In the fall of 2015, Erin Mills United, Erindale United, and Streetsville United churches formed the Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group to become refugee sponsors with the United Church of Canada as our Sponsorship Agreement holder. At that time, we accepted the responsibility of fully supporting the sponsored refugee(s) for one year following their arrival in Canada. In order to meet that commitment, a fundraising appeal was launched in early 2016. The Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group, with support from Eden United Church raised $63,078.82. E.M.U.C’s contribution was $17, 842.81. The original budget and fundraising target was based on 2015 prices, which have increased in the intervening time. Since the arrival of Tarek and the Nadaff family, we have had expenditures of $35,115.02.

In order to meet our commitment, 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. Thank you for your generous support.

What's Coming!

BOOKWORMS WANTED!

There has been interest expressed in creating a third book club at EMUC. Five or so people, to a maximum of ten, are required to get this started. The present book clubs would be happy to share information about their structure when new members meet to discuss and design their own. Sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board in the narthex, or call Sandy Hayes at 905-820-4437. The new club could meet during the day or evening depending on the availability of the members, so please state your preference.

CALLING ALL KNITTERS AND KNITTER WANNABES!

A Prayer Shawl ministry will be held in the church narthex the first Wednesday of every month, commencing WEDNESDAY, November 7, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m . The shawls will be given to EMUC members (and beyond) who are unable to attend due to being shut in, or ill, or who just need to feel wrapped in prayer from our church. All knitters, learners, or those who just want to chat are welcome. The Fall is the perfect time to get back to knitting, so dust off those needles, gather your extra yarn and plan to drop by. Questions: Sandy Hayes @ 905 820 4437.

BUNCH FOR LUNCH

The next Bunch for Lunch is scheduled for November 4th, 2018 after the service at 11:45 am . We will meet at the Symposium Restaurant,

3055 Dundas St W, Mississauga (north side of Dundas just west of Winston Churchill; plaza with Mandarin). Separate bills. All are welcome.

STEWARDSHIP 2018 - WIDEN THE CIRCLE

Please return your stewardship commitment form by placing it in the box in the church foyer, leaving it in the church office or mailing it using the self- addressed envelope enclosed with your package. Our Envelope Secretary, Mike Ogilvie, will deal with your estimate in confidence.

' 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, November 25, 2018. Speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.

Get an early start on Christmas shopping. If anyone is thinking of ordering Fundscrip cards for donating to the Christmas Hamper program, now is the last time to do so!