Friday Message and what's coming

Friday Message

What's Coming!

March 31, 2023

Lent

Throughout scripture, the prophets, then Jesus, then his followers shared with us a vision of faithful living that includes care, compassion, and justice for those on the margins: the orphan, widow, and foreigner. Always. The Spirit of God does not waver on that. In this 21^st Century, I think we could add “all of creation” to that list, because the earth and her gifts make our physical life possible.

This is a vision deeply rooted in mercy, forgiveness, compassion, justice, and grace. It is not a vision of scarcity but of abundance. It is an abundance that comes from trusting in the ru’ah – the Spirit of God - to give new imagination to our ways of living.

The Hebrew word ru’ah is used to suggest newness and creation. The Spirit of God is always about doing a new thing with the imagination and the hope of the people. It is working together in community and cultivating the ability to hold different views which are life-giving.

We may not get it right every time, but we have seen throughout the scriptures that the Spirit was able to soften the hearts of the people, hear their cries for help, extend forgiveness, mercy, and compassion, and never give up on them. So we have hope that the Spirit can work in our time and in our world as well.

It is possible – not easy – but possible.

A blessing for this weekend:

May you be filled with gratitude.

May you feel safe and protected.

May you have courage.

May you see beauty each day.

My your heart remain open.

May you continue to look beyond the obvious,

always knowing that you are rooted and grounded

in the Mystery who calls you beloved.

Blessings Kathi

Upcoming Week

To reduce the spread of all respiratory viruses including COVID-19 and the flu, if you experience any new symptom(s) of any respiratory virus please stay home. Refer to Public Health Ontario for detailed guidance by clicking on https://www.publichealthontario.ca/

Sunday April 2: Palm Sunday

10:00 a.m.: Online and in-person Worship led by Rev. Kathi

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Monday April 3:

7:00 p.m.: Bible Study via Zoom

Wednesday April 5:

10:00 a.m.: Bible Study via Zoom

6:45 p.m.: Prayer Service via Zoom

Thursday April 6:

4:00 p.m.: Chancel Choir practice

6:00 p.m.: Maundy Thursday in-person self-reflective service with

communion

8:00 p.m.: Vigil begins

Friday April 7:

9:00 a.m.: Good Friday online and in-person Service led by Rev. Kathi

Hot Cross Bun Breakfast and Bake Sale follow the service

5:00 p.m.: Vigil ends

Upcoming Events & Announcements

Easter Bread and Bake Sale - Calling all bakers!

Once again Loaves and Dishes is organizing the Easter Bread and Bake Sale to be held April 7 after the Good Friday service. Easter baking from the congregation is always welcomed. Anyone planning to make bread, please contact Sue Ogilvie (905-820-2387) or Barb Jennings (905-607-1626) with an estimate of the number of loaves you may bake. Baking may be dropped off at the church on April 6 during the day or evening.

Flowers to decorate the Sanctuary for Easter

In the past we have decorated the sanctuary for Easter with flowers based on a specific donation towards a pot of tulips or daffodils, etc. To keep it simpler, this year, if you would like to contribute with a general donation towards the purchase of flowers, then you may do so by placing your donation in one of the dedicated envelopes located on the back communion table. You may put it in the offering basket, or give it to Tina in the office or to me (Sylvia Arnold) after church.

We will purchase flowers with whatever we receive ( e.g. larger plants such as hydrangeas and some smaller groupings of tulips, daffodils etc). If you wish to donate in memory of a loved one, then please indicate this on the envelope and the memorials will be listed in the bulletin on Easter Sunday. This donation will be added to your general givings.

A sincere thank you for helping to beautify our sanctuary for Easter morning.

The Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil has long been a tradition at Erin Mills United. The vigil is where you can sign up for an hour and be in the sanctuary to pray, read, reflect or simply “be”. Prior to COVID, we had trouble filling all the time slots. Last year we had to cancel all the vigil except for Maundy Thursday evening. This year we didn’t want to cancel it outright without seeing if there is still interest.

Therefore a modified schedule runs from Maundy Thursday at 8 pm through to Good Friday at 5pm. The schedule is posted on the bulletin boards beside the office. …So we will see what happens and “go with the flow”. If you have any questions, please see Sylvia Arnold or call Tina in the church office (905) 820-9466.

Circle of Friends

Save the date of Wednesday, April 12 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Circle of Friends will be meeting once again, on Zoom this time. More details to follow.

EMUC Striders Outing

The Striders will be exploring the Waterfront of Downtown Oakville April 16, 2023. Consider joining them for a relaxing walk on a Sunday afternoon.

After Sunday Service, the group sits and eats their bag lunches in the Narthex. At 11:30 AM Carpooling is arranged, and they’ll be ready to set off for the destination. In Oakville, street parking will be used around Robinson St and Allan St close to the start of the trail for Dingle Park. At 12:15 PM the hike will start on the route shown on a map (to be provided.)

At least four parks will be visited including Dingle, Lakefront, Tannery, Water Works and Burnet before returning through the main drag. If time permits, a stop for coffee might be possible when approaching the point where the cars were left. Expect return to the Church parking lot by 2:30 PM.

Earth Day Event

Membership and Pastoral Care invites you to participate in an indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) event to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. Gather upstairs at 6:30 to watch a Disneynature film called Earth, narrated by David Attenborough (rated G). Shortly after 8 p.m. we will head outside for star-gazing with a telescope or two, along with a mini-lesson on basic astronomy.

This is a free event. Mark your calendars and invite your friends and neighbours to join us on Saturday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Coming to Women for Women in April

Women and Heart Disease: What You Need to Know

Join us as Pam Pogue, former Nurse Practitioner in cardiac health leads us in a conversation about heart disease in women. Are you curious about what makes women’s heart disease different than men, unique symptoms, risk factors, and how to reduce your risk of developing heart disease? All of these questions will be covered by Pam in an informal and interactive way.

Mark your calendar and join us at the church on Friday April 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. for an evening of friendship and learning.

Bunch for Lunch

Sunday, April 30, you are invited to join in a time of fellowship following service.

We will meet at 11:45 a.m. at the Symposium restaurant (3055 Dundas St. W., on the north side of Dundas just west of Winston Churchill Blvd.) Separate cheques.

Please let us know you are coming so we can advise the restaurant of numbers.

You can sign up on the signup sheet posted on the bulletin board at the back of the church. Alternatively, let Tina in the office know, so she can add you to the list.

Larry van Goozen

Lgoozen@gmail.com

Office hours:

Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Tina works from home on Mondays.)

Tina takes a ½ hour lunch break sometime between 12:30-1:30 p.m.