Friday Message

What's Coming!

April 10, 2020

Good Friday

Rev. Kathi's Message

It is Good Friday and I know that I should be in church. Instead, I will watch a dear friend as she broadcasts from her back deck. But it won’t be the same.

Good Friday is for me the most beautiful, emotional and dark service of the church year. I love the special music, drama, stark setting, and even the dimming of the Christ light to start the Easter Vigil. It is very different from our usual worship.

This day is a necessary time in Holy Week to enter into shadow in order to be prepared for the brilliant light of Easter morning.

I cannot remember when I last missed attending the Good Friday service and it is leaving me feeling uncertain and disoriented. It helps to remind myself that the disciples didn’t know how to do it that first time either. They sat down to a meal that was changed in ways they didn’t understand. They watched a friend die, and their hearts were broken. They hid in their homes. They wondered what all this could mean. They were afraid for themselves and their loved ones.

And on the third day, the tomb was empty.

That will still be true this year. So, let the experience wash over you, too. Let the fullness of Christ’s passion be for you. These are hard and holy days. They are different than we imagined they would be. We are not the first to find our expectations for this week shattered....but the tomb was empty, anyway.

So sit down to a meal, and taste and see that God is good.

Extinguish the candles, and immerse yourself in the darkness. Wait and pray.

And early in the morning, on the first day of the week.....the sun will rise, and the tomb will already be empty. Even for you, even for us, even for this world we no longer understand. Love always wins.

In love, Kathi

Easter Letter

Re: Celebrating Easter

Dear Friends and Members of EMUC:

This Easter Letter finds us all facing unknown and difficult times. However, let us celebrate what we do have, that which we know roots us in our faith – Easter time and our church community.

This is difficult to do during the COVID-19 virus pandemic when our church building is closed and we are all called, as Canadians, to stay at home. However, let’s use this challenge as an opportunity to find new ways to celebrate our church life. The EMUC staff have been doing just that: they have embraced a popular video conferencing platform and have tested conducting a service this past Sunday. We are happy to report it was a success. Well done everyone, and thanks particularly to the volunteers who gave of their time and skills to help with this. We will use what we’ve learned to celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter services. Instructions will be sent in separate email messages. We may not be able to gather in our beautiful sanctuary, but church is so much more. It is the people and the message, and we will celebrate together this Sunday. The closing of our worship space also prevents us from having our Easter vigil. However, there is nothing to stop us doing it in a virtual church space – individually at our homes.

The above two challenges will not be the only ones we face, but EMUC is a strong congregation. I am confident that we can celebrate and in the spirit of Easter we will find new ways, new spirituality and will continue to shine in the light Christ.

In the past, Easter has been a season when many individuals have made special donations to our church. This generosity is even more important now as we will have lost revenues this year due to cancellations of many rentals and events; not to mention church service collections that will be lost because of this closure. Thank you to those who have already recognized this and inquired about making special contributions. Now is your opportunity. You can donate by PAR, by mail or by going to our website www.emuc.ca and using the secure link at “Donate to our Mission.”

We wish for each and every one of you to experience the joys and blessings of new life through the love of God and the gift of Jesus Christ in this Holy Season of Easter.

Peace be with you.

Paul Marot, Chair of the Leadership Circle & Kathi Phillips, Minister

This Week at EMUC

As directed by Federal and Provincial health authorities with regard to COVID-19, EMUC is completely closed until further notice.

An alternate form of Sunday worship online is available for the next few weeks. The link to the UCC Moderator’s online service is here: https://www.united-church.ca/community-faith/being-community/worship-online-during-covid-19

Communication is very important at this time. Check on your family, friends and neighbours by phone, text or email. Keep in touch with the church by reading the Friday Message or checking the website. You will be updated as things change.

Update from Finance Committee

How quickly the world has changed! At our congregational meeting on March 1, we gave a rather optimistic picture of our church finances. Today we are facing a different view both in terms of our own personal and EMUC’s financial situations.

With the closure of all places of worship there is an immediate impact on our revenue with the loss of rental and fundraising revenues. These lines constitute 25% of our budget. We will continue to monitor our cash flow and if necessary use operating reserves to cover ongoing expenditures.

Some of you have asked how you can make special donations to operations, mission and service and the benevolent fund. You can donate through Canada Helps by going to www.emuc.ca or by mailing a cheque to EMUC at 3010 The Collegeway, Mississauga, ON.,L5L4X9.Please mark the envelope-Attention Envelope Secretary. If you had planned to make a special Easter offering this year and are still able, it can be handled in the same way. The other approach is simply to set it aside and bring it when the church reopens. In all cases clearly indicate the intent of your donation.

The most important thing at this point is that we do every thing to stay healthy and to provide needed help to our EMUC family, friends and neighbours.

Together we will get through this crisis. Stay safe.

EMUC Finance Committee.

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