Friday Message and what's coming.

Friday Message

What's Coming!

March 29, 2019

Season: Lent

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Rev. Kathi's Message

I have been procrastinating. I feel like it is one of my most annoying flaws. When I don’t have a clear vision of how to move forward, I won’t - or can’t - take a step in that direction. It was an issue when I was a young student and when I went back to school as an adult. I still do it, especially if I need to write something. Janet and Barb, our Friday Message and Communique editors have been very patient with me.

One of the interesting titles on my bookshelves is We Make the Road by Walking, a wonderful book by Brian D. McLaren. I understand that phrase to mean that we should have the confidence and the faith to act on things, to start journeys, to create without having the whole plan or roadmap complete. It has been said that the opposite of faith is not disbelief but fear, and I know enough to admit that my procrastinating is based in fear (well, at least low-level anxiety): of not being perfect, of disappointing, maybe even of completing the task and then not knowing what comes next. It isn’t paralyzing but it is not productive and it is annoying.

Sometimes I can be pragmatic and analyze my reasons for putting something off and that is enough to break the writer’s block or kick start a project. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason that I can name.

What have I been putting off? Writing my thank you notes. I have been overwhelmed with all the loving ways people have reached out to our family over the past weeks. I have said “thanks” so many times, I am afraid that the word is losing its meaning. And I am a little worried that once the thank you cards have all been sent, some other part of my life will end too.

It is high time I started, though, and I am going to start with all of you:

Thank you, my faith family, for all of your love and care and thoughtfulness.

For all your calls and cards and messages, thank you.

For the beautiful flowers sent to the service and to my office, thank you.

For the time I needed, thank you.

For everyone who stepped in and stepped up while I was away, thank you.

For the hugs and shared tears, thank you.

For the meals prepared and delivered, thank you.

For the exceeding generous donations made in Greg’s memory, thank you.

Thank you for your hearts that have carried mine so tenderly.

I will always be grateful.

Love, Kathi

This Week at EMUC

Sunday March 31th:

10:00 am: Lent 4 - Worship led by Rev. Kathi

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21

Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32

Message: "The Day God Ran"

7:00 pm: Jazz Vespers - featuring Christina Melanie, Music Director at Applewood UC and Len Feldman, EMUC’s Music Director

Monday April 1st:

Tuesday April 2nd:

6:30 pm: Lent Film Study - "The Way" followed by dinner

Wednesday April 3rd:

2:00 pm: Prayer Shawl Ministry

6:45 pm: Prayers and Communion service

7:30 pm: Asset Mapping by Leadership Circle and Trustees

Thursday April 4th:

7:00 pm: Chancel Choir

Friday April 5th:

6:00 pm: Women for Women Dinner and Presentation

Saturday April 6th:

Next Sunday April 7th: Lent 5 - Worship Service at 10 am,

Kids' Zone for young children available during worship.

JAZZ Vespers at 7 pm.

What's Coming!

LENT FILM STUDY – DINNER AND A MOVIE!

We will be watching and discussing the 2010 film The Way, starring Martin Sheen and written and directed by his son, Emilio Estevez. This is a powerful and inspirational story about a father who travels to France after his son has an accident while walking the Camino de Santiago. He decides to finish the pilgrimage in his son’s place and his experience has a profound impact on him.

When: March 26th, April 2nd, April 9th at 6:30pm

Where: Erin Mills United Sanctuary

What to bring: some food to share, plate and cutlery (we will have access to the kitchen on the lower level to warm some food after 6pm)

JAZZ VESPERS

On March 31 ^st at 7:00 pm Jazz Vespers will be held at EMUC featuring the music of the great jazz keyboardists. Christina Melanie, Music Director at Applewood UC and Len Feldman, EMUC’s Music Director will be playing music by Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Ray Charles, and others. Plan to attend! All are welcome!

WOMEN FOR WOMEN

Women for Women will meet on Friday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. at EMUC. Dinner at 6:30 followed by our guest speaker, Mary Lynn Peters from Trillium Health Partners speaking on Healthy Aging. Cost is $10. Dinner is salad & subs (veg. & gluten-free options). Dessert donations welcome. Bring your own plate/cup/cutlery. Sign up on the bulletin board or email [email protected] .

EMUC STRIDERS - SPRING HIKE - APRIL 7, 2019

Meadowvale Conservation Area - exploring more of the Credit River watershed with a 2.5 km walk along this stretch of the David Culham Trail. Bring a bagged lunch to eat in the Narthex; car pooling will be available to leave the EMUC parking lot at 12:10. Return by 3:00.

Listen to podcast:

http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/wp-Content/uploads/2015/11/MeadowvaleCA1.mp3

Note: if the link doesn't work for you, try copying it and pasting it into your browser.

EASTER VIGIL

The Easter Vigil is a longstanding tradition at Erin Mills United and begins Thursday, April 18 ^th at 9:00 pm and continues to Saturday, April 20 ^th at 3:00 pm. The Vigil schedule will be posted on the bulletin board at the back of the church on Sunday, March 17 ^th . Please sign up for one or more ‘one hour’ periods to spend time praying, reflecting, reading, meditating or just being quiet in God’s presence. You are also invited to sign up for an “overnight” vigil for either the Thursday or Friday night (starting at 11:00 pm to 7:00 am). This was a very positive experience in the past. Bring your sleeping bag and pillow for comfort. Any questions can be directed to Sylvia Arnold.

EASTER FLOWERS

The Worship Committee is taking orders for Easter flowers from Sunday, March 17 ^th to Palm Sunday, April 14 ^th . Prices for the flowers are indicated on the order envelopes located on the back table outside the conference room. The flowers will be used to decorate the church for Easter Sunday and anyone who wishes can take their flowers home after the service. Please note that we do not purchase lilies out of consideration for those who have scent allergies.

EMUC-CLEANERS

As you may know our cleaning contractor broke her wrist early in the year. For the past three months, a group of dedicated volunteers has cleaned the church. At this point we are not sure how long this emergency situation will last, but we expect to need volunteers for the next 2 or 3 weeks. If you are able to assist, please speak to Sue Ogilvie or Sylvia Arnold. The more people we have involved, the less onerous the task .

GIFTS OF VISION - A GIVING CATALOGUE FROM MISSION AND SERVICE.

Are you looking for an Easter gift giving idea? Have a look at the catalogue from our own Mission and Service. There are 21 Canadian, Indigenous Canadian and 9 World idea, large and small. Plus four back pages of past very popular ones. They cover many areas of need which could help change someone's life for the better.

Ruth Noble preached at EMUC recently. She is part of the M&S arm of the church who produce this catalogue annually. The United Church and their partners continue to work hard to sustain one of our core mandates - hope and healing for others. If you wish visit www.giftswithvision.ca to donate on line . There are many needs in this world. Your donation will make a difference.

'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 this Sunday, March 31st. Speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.