Friday Message and what's coming.

Friday Message

What's Coming!

May 3, 2019

Season: Easter

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Rev. Kathi's Message

At a special international conference, a fter days of passionate debate, deliberation, and prayer—and years of tension—the United Methodist Church voted earlier this year to maintain its traditional stance against same-sex marriage and non-celibate gay clergy. It has been a very divisive decision, driven mostly by a growing conservative contingent from Africa.

Last month, in response, an entire confirmation class at First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska announced to their congregation that they have decided not to become members due to the church’s stance on LGBTQ issues.

The teenaged would-be members read an open letter in front of the congregation to explain why they couldn’t support discrimination despite the church’s recent controversial decision to crackdown on LGBTQ clergy and marriage equality .

“We have spent the year learning about our faith and clarifying our beliefs. Most of us started the confirmation year assuming that we would join the church at the end, but with the action of the general conference in February, we are disappointed about the direction the United Methodist denomination is heading,” they wrote.

“We are concerned that if we join at this time, we will be sending a message that we approve of this decision.”

“We want to be clear that, while we love our congregation, we believe that the United Methodist policies on LGBTQ+ clergy and same sex marriage are immoral,” they continued. “Depending on how this church responds to the general conference action, we will decide at a later time whether or not to become officially confirmed. But until then, we will continue to stand up against the unjust actions that the denomination is taking.”

“We are not standing just for ourselves; we are standing for every single member of the LGBTQ+ community who is hurting right now. Because we were raised in this church, we believe that if we all stand together as a whole, we can make a difference.”

Churches around the nation protested the anti-LGBTQ stance after the General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to reaffirm their teaching that homosexuality is “incompatible” with Christianity and to punish individual churches that perform marriages for same-sex couples and allow LGBT clergy.

The eight teenagers received a standing ovation from the congregation for their decision to stand up for Christian values in the face of systemic discrimination.

Scripture says, “and a child will lead them…” I find incredible hope in the faith, courage and commitment of these young people and in the leadership they model for the church – not the church of the future, but the church today.

In peace, Kathi

Asset Mapping Exercise

Led by Congregational Growth Committee Members

Your Input is Needed!

The Congregational Growth Committee has developed a plan to discern how we attract new people to be part of our EMUC community of faith. One of the first steps is to determine the gifts we have to offer the neighbouring community, to identify our values and then develop a ’brand’ for EMUC.

An ‘Asset Mapping’ activity has been developed for our congregation. This activity is based on the premise that working with gifts and strengths as opposed to deficits and needs, is a more powerful way to discern actions we can take to strengthen and grow our congregation. The exercise has been done three times with the sub-group who developed it, the Congregational Growth Committee and the Leadership Circle and Trustees. We now need input from the whole church, i.e., the congregation.

This is your invitation to join in a session of asset mapping. It takes about 90 minutes to complete. No preparation is required and it is fun. Please join us after coffee and conversation this Sunday, May 5 ^th in the lower hall to participate. It is engaging, interactive and uplifting.

The facilitators for this session will be Cathy Kiteley, Patti King and Barb Jennings. Come join us! If this date is not convenient for you, another session is being planned for a Wednesday evening in May. Be sure you are part of this important work of defining who we are as a church!

This Week at EMUC

Sunday May 5th:

10:00 am: Worship and Baptism led by Rev. Kathi

Scripture: Acts 9:1-6

Gospel: John 21:1-19

Message: " Two Things We Need "

After Service: Asset Mapping Session – Lower Hall

Monday May 6th:

Tuesday May 7th:

Wednesday May 8th:

2:00 pm: Circle of Friends

6:45 pm: Prayers and Communion service

Thursday May 9th:

7:00 pm: Chancel Choir

Friday May 10th:

11:00 am: Celebration of Life - David Lee

Saturday May 11th:

Next Sunday May 12th: Service at 10 am. Mother's Day

What's Coming!

EMUC GARAGE SALE - Our major fundraiser!

Mark your calendars for Saturday May 4, 2019, 8:00 am to noon! Items may be dropped off at the church until 8 pm on Friday. There will also be a bake table. Donations of baking are appreciated and may be dropped off on Friday. Thank you from your garage sale team (G.S.T. - Sylvia Arnold, Cathy Kiteley, Patti King, Cindy Young)

ONTARIO MALE CHORUS AND 'BOYS IN B' CONCERT

EMUC will be hosting the Ontario Male Chorus concert on Sunday, May 26th at 7:30 pm. "Boys in B" (Cawthra Park Secondary School) will also be performing. Tickets are available from Sue Ogilvie: $20 for adults and $10 for children/students.

NEW MEMBERS

We will be celebrating new members at a service later this spring. If you have been attending worship and would like to become a full member or if you have any questions about becoming a member please speak with Rev Kathi or Sandy Hayes.

WOMEN FOR WOMEN RETREAT

Registration for the Women for Women Retreat is now open! The retreat takes place on Saturday, May 25 at EMUC from 9:00 to 4:00. Join us for a continental breakfast followed by activities designed to get you active (hopefully outside) & have fun.

After a delicious lunch, we have a guest artist to lead us in a painting workshop for the afternoon. Come dressed for the weather & painting. Cost is $40 (bursary support is available). Payment by cash, cheque or (new) e-transfer is due no later than Friday, May 17 to Debby Sturgeon. Please sign up on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board & fill in an information sheet or respond to the email invitation.

SPRING DINNER

On May 31st there will be a Spring Dinner celebrating Peter Kiteley's contributions to EMUC as Office Administrator as he launches into retirement. Tickets are available from Sandy Hayes for $30.

STRIDERS

The next hike is scheduled for Sunday June 2nd . This will be a joint hike with the Mindful Steps of Applewood United, the EMUC Striders and friends.

EMUC will gather in the Narthex for a light lunch brought from home. At 12:15 our car pooling will set off for the trailhead at Hewick Meadows (by 12:30 to meet our fellow hikers) to explore another section of the David Culham trail. Expect to be out in the Credit Valley paths for up to 1 1/2 hours. All will be back to their home Churches by 2:30 pm.

Take note, the entrance to the parking lot can only be reached by driving eastbound over the bridge on Eglinton Av. (from Mississauga Rd.)

Contact Tim at [email protected] for additional information.

'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, May 26th. Speak to Joanne Hines if you have any questions about the program.