Friday Message
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What's Coming!
May 26, 2023
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Morar’s Medical Musings
As part of my stewardship as a Christian, I make sacrifices for the common good. Not often big ones, but when given a challenge, I think of my parents during the Second World War and tend to step out of my comfort zone.
For instance, I don’t do well with blood. As a child I fainted when my friends scraped their knees. As a chaplaincy student at the Montreal General, I ended up in the fourth bed when three women described how their IVs had gone wrong. I survived fulfilling the requirement of watching heart surgery, but had difficulty with the harvesting of a vein. I’ve fought the urge to pass out many times as I’ve worked as an on call chaplain for decades.
So it was with some trepidation that I learned, AFTER I was recruited for a study of COVID vaccines, that I was going to take my own blood every twelve weeks for 72 weeks, which so far has been 96 and continues with each additional booster-related sub-study. I never did get used to doing it, and I seem to have the tip of a lancet still in my finger since the most recent one, but I haven’t fainted yet!
As a participant in the University Health Network’s Stop-CoV study, I recently participated in a webinar in which we heard a progress report on this and the other studies carried out across the country.
The participants in the majority of medical studies are often male, under 65 and centred around major hospital centres in large cities. Few seniors are included because they are less likely to want to travel to the city for testing. (E.g. for 7 years I travelled to Princess Margaret monthly for a study to see if a low fat diet reduced the incidence of breast cancer.)
What was unique about this study?
● The majority of those studied were over 70 (2/3rds) vs. 30-50 (1/3rd).
● The majority of participants were women.
● Participants came from all over Ontario, including the north, so indigenous folk were included.
● Because we took our own blood and because by necessity we couldn’t physically go to the hospital every twelve weeks, this was the first study that was done completely remotely and has made a huge difference to the way future studies will be carried out.
What were the results?
● Masks work!
● Vaccines work!
Note how my antibodies went up over the course of 5 vaccines and boosters. This is the same blood test that a lot of anti-vaxxers would trust for diagnosing many other medical issues.
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I was recruited as I registered for my second vaccination. This is the story of my antibody journey. The blue dots represent the others in my age group (called ‘the elderly’ in the study!) The University Health Network Stop-CoV Study.
Because I was vaccinated regularly and had Covid once, my antibodies are at the second highest that they possibly could be. Note: having COVID once does boost your antibodies significantly for at least 3 months. The only way they would be higher is if I had one or more Moderna vaccines. The Moderna vaccine was more effective than Pfizer, which is why the folk in the 30-50 age range had more side effects than the 70+ who were given the Pfizer earlier.
60% of Canadians have had Covid at least once. Only 20% of study participants got COVID. (I got COVID from my husband, which is why, in our house, while 50 years off marriage was ‘gold,’ 51 was ‘forgiveness!’)
The reason? We were all vaccinated, and we were more likely to mask than the general population.
Since 2/3rds of the participants were 70+, many had comorbidities which placed them in the highest risk category. Yet, no one at any age died or was hospitalized.
To summarize:
● Having Covid once, having Moderna at least once, and being vaccinated and boosted gives your body the best chance of not getting Covid and of having minor symptoms if you do get it.
Why is this the theme of my Friday message this week? Because people are still getting COVID; I recently attended the funeral of someone who died from the latest variant.
I feel it is a part of my stewardship as a Christian to make sacrifices in order to contribute to the welfare of the whole community.
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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 May 28:
10:00 a.m.: Online and in-person Worship led by Rev. Mòrar
Thursday June 1:
4:00 p.m.: Chancel Choir Practice
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Upcoming Events & Announcements |
PRIDE/AFFIRMING NEWS🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
As you may know, June is Pride month. This will be our first Pride month since becoming an Affirming congregation and we have a couple of events to share.
PRIDE SERVICE- Our Pride service will take place on Sunday, June 4. You’re invited to dress in Pride colours or rainbows for this special service.
AUTHOR EVENT- Our author’s event will take place on Sat. June 3 from 3-5 pm and will feature Dr. Charles Hayter, who will speak about his book, Cancer Confidential. See the poster on the Affirming board or check out our Facebook page for more information.
TORONTO PRIDE PARADE- The Toronto Pride Parade will take place on Sunday June 25 and we have been invited to walk with other Affirming United Church congregations. It will be an afternoon event and we will be carpooling to local transit in order to make our way downtown. All are welcome to join us and there will be more details on this event in the coming weeks.
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Ontario Male Chorus
Sunday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Erin Mills United Church – Please join us for an evening of music, followed by light refreshments. Freewill offering. This chorus practices at Erin Mills United Church throughout the year and have had concerts here in the past years. You won’t want to miss them!
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Help me raise funds to build Canada’s largest Hospital right here in Mississauga!
On June 4, 2023 I’m walking in The Hazel McCallion Walk for Health to support Trillium Health Partners. The walk celebrates health care workers in our community and money raised will go toward building Canada's largest hospital - the future home of The Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital.
I've signed up for the 2 km walk but FULL DISCLOSURE – I might not complete the full course but I will do my best.
I’m hoping you can help me reach my fundraising goal, donating only takes a few minutes, qualifies for a tax receipt and makes a huge difference.
Thank you so much for your support!
Jack
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
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Help Needed
EMUC needs one or two people to Zoom into the Horseshoe Falls Regional Council annual meeting, take a few notes and share these with the Leadership Circle by sending them to Kathy Andres. The online portion of the meeting is on Thursday, June 8 and Saturday, June 10. Several people will divide the task into smaller pieces. Many hands make light work! Please contact Rev. Mòrar or Sandy Hayes if you can help. THANK YOU!
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Circle of Friends on Zoom
Circle of Friends has met twice on Zoom. The groups were small but the women are eager to keep connected with one another.
Our last meeting before summer is on Wednesday June 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. Noreen Singh has suggested a friendly phone call reminder so that we can have a bigger gathering. We will attempt to phone as many people as we can. We will be discussing upcoming meetings for the fall and other interesting topics that you may want to explore.
Looking forward to seeing many friendly faces on June 14.
Patti King
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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 June 15, 2023. For further information please contact : Debby Sturgeon ( sturgs4@rogers.com) or the church office ( office@emuc.ca) |
Movie Nights
A Movie Nights is planned for June. Come and enjoy some good family time.
There will be no set ticket price. Freewill Donations will be gratefully accepted.
Friday, June 16 – A Wrinkle in Time
Doors open at 7 p.m.; movie starts at 7:30 p.m.
Share this information with family and friends!
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News Release: Mark your calendar for the
“BBB” Sale
Boot-Book-Bake Sale on June 24, 8 a.m.-12 noon
If you’re British, you will know what a “Boot Sale” is. It is a sale of goods from the boot of your car (British for trunk). They generally take place in a field or parking lot. At EMUC, we’ve had a long history of holding garage sales. This year we are having a Boot/Trunk sale in the church parking lot and it is sure to be a fun time for one and all.
As with garage sales, we invite you to start putting aside gently used items. If you would like to sell your bric-a-brac, please email Mike Ogilvie at donations@emuc.ca or call the office at 905-820-9466 ext. 23. We ask sellers to arrive at EMUC church parking between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. with your trunk overflowing. It’s that simple. At 8:00 a.m., the sale starts. There is $20 rental fee, and any donations to the church from your sales will receive a charitable tax receipt.
Alongside the boot sale, we will be holding our annual book and bake sale.
Mark your calendar and be sure to spread the word to your neighbours, friends, and community. Tell them they can also reserve a spot to sell their stuff, or they can show up on June 24 to shop ‘till they drop. Flyers are available in the narthex of the church.
Let’s plan to have a great day with laughter, fun, music and most of all, a community spirit.
Submitted by the 2023 BBB team.
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May Fundscrip due this week!!
Our important fundraising program continues. There will be a gift card order placed this Sunday, May 28, so please have all orders emailed to Joanne Hines or delivered to Tina today. If you would like to hand in your order on Sunday after church, please give both the order and the payment to Mike Ogilvie.
If you need an order form or information about the program, please contact Joanne Hines at twokids@rogers.com. Orders may be paid by etransfer at emucdonation@outlook.com. Please indicate Fundscrip order in the message. Or cheques need to be made out to Erin Mills United Church and they can be given to Mike Ogilvie directly. Thank you for your support of this program.
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**
The Erin Mills Town Centre Mall is still accepting used gift cards for recycling. There is also a box at the church that Maryanna Williams has been able to check. Please consider recycling your used Fundscrip cards by placing them in the box or taking them to the customer service desk at the Erin Mills Town Centre.
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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.
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Erin Mills United Church | 905-820-9466 | emuc.ca |
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