Harry Oussoren
I am really happy to share the news that our friend, Harry Oussoren, is this year’s winner of the prestigious Emmanuel College Distinguished Alumni/ae Award. The award is presented by the Emmanuel College Alumni/ae Association, “to honour and bring attention to graduates of the College whose vision and leadership have distinguished them through extraordinary and exemplary ministry to the church, academy or society at large.”
For over 50 years, Harry has served as an influential and impactful leader, mentor and teacher in the United Church of Canada. For 12 years he was in team ministry with Kathy Toivanen as the Crossroads Church gave rise to Erin Mills United, and they shepherded our congregation through the building and the building up of our beautiful church.
In addition to his nurturing and encouraging work as a pastoral minister, Harry has also served the wider church at the General Council level, and at Victoria University and Emmanuel College.
Harry has been and continues to be an influential writer. With his wife, Glenys Huws, he co-wrote the 1984 United Church report that first recommended the eligibility of gay and lesbian members for the order of ministry. A pivotal report that placed the United Church in the forefront of equality for what we now the 2SLGBTQI community.
I know that many of you have wonderful memories of Harry and Glenys from their time with EMUC, and that you will want to join me in congratulating him on this latest achievement!
Guest Speaker
We are excited to let you know that on Sunday, May 29 we will have a special guest speaking at our worship service. Sara Hildebrand will be joining us to share her story of how she was inspired to begin Millennium Kids, a social justice and advocacy initiative that encourages children and youth to focus their passionate justice efforts on inspiring their government to keep its poverty reduction promises, and Love My Neighbour, the global vaccine justice project that we partnered with for the Vax to the Max campaign we supported last fall.
Blessings, Kathi
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From the Chair of the Leadership Circle
April has been a teasing month. There were promises of spring dashed by snow. Pandemic restrictions were lifted, greeted by a 6th wave. But now as we enter May, there is hope. Leaves are beginning to blossom, and the pandemic is flattening. Our church has successfully reopened for services and is beginning to open for other activities. Our Easter services looked nearly normal with our Good Friday bake sale and Sunday Easter dance. Thanks to everyone for helping us to raise more than our budget from Easter and the bake sale.
Spring has inspired a host of new projects to reach outwards to the community and to benefit the congregation. With your financial help we are looking to have a beautiful memorial garden by the front sign of the church as part of celebrating being 30 years in our building on our property. Mary Anna Williams is heading this project. The Inspire team is supporting this initiative as well as the “Little Book House” which Karen Colwell is working on, and Mike Ogilvie will monitor when it’s up and running. There is also going to be a cookie sale in a joint initiative with EMYC. Continuing the Vax to the Max project, there will be a guest speaker at the church to share in detail the wonderful work being done to help get vaccines to low-income countries. The Inspire team will also be reaching out to see if there is interest in helping to lead a project of providing practical supplies for at risk youth, in collaboration with Peel Youth Village.
We have received a government grant to install security cameras at the front of the building. Planning is underway for a June church picnic.
We have much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.
Kathy Andres
Chair, Leadership Circle
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Thanks to:
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Cathy Kiteley and Tina Driscoll for drafting the Safety Plan for EMUC
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Marianne McVittie for completing the EMUC Charitable Return Form for submission to the government
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Karen Colwell for the lovely pictures in the newly painted washroom on the main floor
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All those involved in painting and renovating the upper floor washroom
- All those who participated in the Holy Humour service
- All the readers and participants in the Lent and Easter services
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Worship Committee for decorating and preparing the space for reopening the church
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Nancy Blackport for leading the Easter Dance
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Cindy Young for doing double duty preparing the PowerPoint slides for Holy week
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Celebrating 30 Years in our Church Home - The Memorial Garden
EMUC has different meanings and memories for each one of us. It is a place to grow in faith, establish friendships, raise our children and grandchildren and celebrate important milestones over the years. Whether your history at EMUC dates back thirty years plus, or less, think about those special moments in time and how they have personally enriched your life and added meaning to your life story. As we celebrate 30 years in our building, the idea of creating a beautiful garden situated predominantly under our electronic sign for you and the community to experience is a lovely way to memorialize and remember your special moment(s). The term memorial is defined broadly as something to remind people of a person or event. You can choose to remember a person or event that is significant to you from a birth, graduation, joining the church, marriage/union, special birthday, or death or celebration of life, these are just a few ideas to consider.
The garden will not only honour the memories from the last 30 years, but will also create an inviting space to all who pass by; those perhaps looking for a new church home or space to hold a special function in their own families. Thus, it also looks toward the future and the next 30 years! EMUC adapted greening our building very early on and this initiative continues to show our care for the environment and land.
A fundraising campaign, the Memorial Garden fund, launched last week. Since the creation of this garden involves some heavy work, it requires landscaping services rather than trying to do the work ourselves. Mary Anna Williams has researched numerous area landscapers and presented the draft plans and quotations to the Leadership Circle (LC). The LC has chosen Jacob’s Gardenscape, who has been recommended by a number of our congregants.
Below is the initial drawing of the Memorial Garden. This is only a draft and can be easily modified if necessary. It includes some large decorative stones to carry over the theme from the existing Spirit Garden.
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We are currently waiting for more fully developed plans; however, this drawing gives you an idea of what is being considered. Based on the above, the quotation for materials, labour, and including taxes is as follows:
- $1195.00 Plant material; i.e., shrubs, bushes and perennial plants.
- $500.00 Triple mix, mulch & fabric.
- $650.00 Sod
- $1200.00 Armourstones (Decorative kind)
- $2675.00 labour and delivery
- $808.00 taxes
- Total $7,028.00
There is some flexibility e.g., to decrease the size of the garden or to simplify the contents which would change the price. We are setting the fund-raising goal at $7,000.
Let’s all come together to celebrate EMUC! Please support this project by generously donating to the Memorial Garden fund. What are your cherished memories or family events at EMUC? Your special memories or persons remembered though a donation will be acknowledged in the memorial book kept at the back of the church.
Donations may be made in person using special envelopes available at the church, by mail, by e-transfer to emucdonation@outlook.com or through Canada Helps by going to our website www.emuc.ca . Please clearly identify that your donation is for the Memorial Garden with the name of the person or event being honoured. Donations are tax deductible. Please don’t delay! This project will not move forward without the support of the congregation.
Please Donate Today!
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Lent and Easter at EMUC - Re-opening of our Building
EMUC re-opened for in-person services on April 3rd. Attendence grows slowly each week. There were 22, 24, 29, and 37 at the services on April 3, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, respectively. Below are pictures of services and activities.
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An Inspire Update on Vax to the Max!/Love My Neighbour/UNICEF
First, a huge thank you to all of Erin Mills United Church for your support of the Vax to the Max!/Love My Neighbour/UNICEF campaign for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Inspire recently received an update from Teri Worthington Coombs at UNICEF Canada on the status of vaccination distribution and delivery. We found the following article by Coombs most informative. It explained and clarified the complex and challenging factors that influence vaccine distribution. We hope you enjoy reading about how your generosity is making a difference.
“Each country has a unique context. We must listen to countries to fully understand their needs and offer tailored support to help countries implement pandemic response strategies and achieve national vaccination targets, without risking a negative impact on other health services.” Source: “One year on: COVAX gains momentum to drive vaccine equity”
Due to supply constraints, in late 2021, COVAX became increasingly reliant on donated doses. Such doses, while incredibly important, have been more challenging to plan for, receive and allocate as they became available irregularly, in small tranches and with short shelf-lives.
UNICEF and partners delivered more than 300 million doses to more than 70 countries in December on behalf of COVAX. In the process of allocating doses for delivery, some countries declined to receive the doses allocated to them, primarily because of short vaccine shelf-life and limited capacity on the ground. When an offer for doses is rejected by one country, it is generally offered to another country until a willing recipient is identified. Rejection is a standard part of the process as countries determine when, how and what doses they receive in accordance with their national immunization strategies. In December 2021, 80 million doses had to be offered to several countries, with about 77 million doses ultimately placed. Unfortunately, about 3 million doses expired, were never shipped and will have to be destroyed by the manufacturer in their country of origin.
From the Inspire Committee
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News from the Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group
Late in 2021 we received a request from the Kitchener-Waterloo Outreach Group (KWOG) to assist them in co-sponsoring two young Syrian women and their four children who are currently living in Jordan. We met with KWOG in December via Zoom and agreed that the Northwest Mississauga Constituent Group would support this co-sponsorship. The sisters and their children will reside with family members in Mississauga who have raised the funds needed to cover their settlement costs and to support them for their first year in Canada. A detailed memorandum of understanding was drawn up and the applications were completed and submitted to the United Church of Canada in early April. Once their applications have been approved they will be forwarded to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. At this time there is a backlog of applications, so we have no idea how long this process will take.
We are also supporting Nadeem and Tarek in the co-sponsorship of Nadeem’s cousin, his wife, and their two children. Their application has been approved and was forwarded to the IRCC office in Abu Dhabi last August. The family is still waiting for a formal interview.
We will keep you posted as these applications move through the system.
Submitted by Debby Sturgeon
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Times Sure Have Changed.
When I arrived in the Toronto area some 45 years ago I remember an afternoon walking in my sister’s neighbourhood, downtown Toronto. Some of her neighbours had planted vegetables in their very small front yards. I thought it was enterprising. However, I was told the owners were elderly immigrants from “The Old Country” so they grew vegetables in any area where there was enough sun. I found it offensive; i.e., class distinction between the elderly immigrant owners and the recent residents, students and professionals that were new arrivals to the neighbourhood.
Today, growing vegetables in a front yard instead of grass has been rebranded to “Foodscaping”. New word suggests a new idea. Not really. But perhaps it means it is more acceptable to grow vegetables in your front yard instead of grass, weeds, or garbage cans. In my sister’s neighbourhood, it is now the students who are planting vegetables in the front yards. The pictures of downtown Toronto yards in the March 5/22 Toronto Star article on Foodscaping were so inviting.
At Canada Blooms a few years back they too had exhibits of growing in small spaces. The demonstrations were provided by a Toronto Food Bank trying to encourage locally grown foods. Anyone short of space was encouraged to try a vertical frame. The demonstration had a variety of vegetables with herbs on the topmost box. They also had plants in old blue boxes that could sit on your deck or entrance and be moved around following the sun if necessary. The boxes were high enough to discourage rabbits. For me chicken wire around my vegetable garden did an excellent job of discouraging rabbits, raccoons and squirrels.
So, ask yourself “why grass”? A lawn requires 1 or 2 inches of water per week or running your sprinkler 60 -90 minutes using clean valuable drinking water. Why not use some water to grow yourself healthy fresh vegetables, even if it is a small patch. Think about fresh tomatoes in August or September from four tiny plants you lovingly planted in late May, knowing the tomatoes will be so tasty compared to the grocery store ones.
Next Communiqué there will be a companion piece. Meanwhile, think about the money you spend on your grass, reseeding, maybe fresh earth, water, fertilizer and weed spray vs. easy to grow tasty vegetables.
Submitted by Mary Anna Williams
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Broadview Subscription Order
Many of our congregation already enjoy this wonderful magazine and monthly online chats with some of its authors.
If you wish to renew or become a new subscriber, please contact the office by May 11th.
Subscriptions are $25 and cheques should be payable to EMUC.
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DROP-OFF INFORMATION for donations to the Book/Plant Sale
Hope your calendars are marked for Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to come out and support the Book and Plant Sale at the church. Bring your friends; bring your neighbours; bring EVERYONE! Donations of plants and books in good/great condition will be greatly appreciated.
Plant drop-off: Please label each pot with name of the plant and the colour of its flower, and drop off at church on Friday, May 13 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Planters and outdoor pots also welcome.
Book drop-off: Because of limited manpower and no dumpster rental this year, the book team is striving to display only those types of books that have traditionally sold well at our previous sales. Please kindly allow yourself extra time when you deliver your donations to the church, as the books will be sorted at that time. We may not be able to accept some of them. We will take adult fiction, biographies, and newer nonfiction books that are self-help, how to, cook books, religion, sports, hobbies and humour. Please, no magazines, Readers' Digest, National Geographic, reference, textbooks, business, marketing, sales, science or politics. We are also accepting children's and teen books in good repair. Please feel free to call Sandy Hayes if you have questions: (905) 820-4437.
Book drop-off times:
Wednesday, May 11, 8 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, May 12, 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Friday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Ian MacRae Memorial Bursary
Applications are now being accepted for the Ian MacRae Memorial Bursary. This bursary was established in 2000 in memory of Ian MacRae, a member of Erin Mills United Church and active fund-raiser for the congregation’s youth ministry. It is awarded annually based on demonstrated need, academic achievement, potential and proven merit, to assist a student with their first year of post-secondary studies. Preference will be given to candidates living in the Erin Mills catchment area. The application deadline is May 31, 2022. For further information and the application form please contact the church office
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YOU'RE INVITED TO A PICNIC!
Yay! The LC has approved the return of our Annual Picnic! The Membership and Pastoral Care committee is excited to invite you to mark your calendars for Sunday, June 12 after the worship service and dust off your lawn chairs! The picnic will take place on the grounds of the church, rain or shine. Watch for details in the Friday Messages. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Hayes at (905) 820-4437.
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Office Hours:
Tina’s office hours are Mondays to Fridays 9:30am - 4pm. She is in the office on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and other times as needed. Please contact the office for an appointment (even on posted office days).
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ABOUT ERIN MILLS UNITED CHURCH
EMUC's Vision is to be a thriving Spirit-filled congregation;
diverse, inclusive, and engaged with the community
and creation.
The Mission of EMUC is to offer opportunities for all persons
to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ.
Newsletter Editor: Janet Morrison Layout: Barbara Jennings
Proof-reader: Cindy Young
3010 The Collegeway
Mississauga, L5L4X9
905-820-9466
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