Friday Message and what's coming

Friday Message

What's Coming!

January 23, 2026

Mòrar’s Musings:

Curating a Vision for Erin Mills

January 23, 2026

Thank you for your warm welcome! It has truly felt like coming home as we move into these months of preparing for new ministry leadership.

When I was here two years ago, my attention was immediately drawn to the efficient and committed way that leadership happened here. As I arrived early on Sundays, for instance, from the flowers outside the door to every detail that makes worship here and online so special, Sylvia Arnold’s influence was obvious. I came to call her our Worship Curator. Someone challenged that, saying “curator” was a museum word, and we weren’t a museum. But the curator I know, Kathleen Lochnan, was the Art Gallery of Ontario's Senior Curator of International Exhibitions who curated Mystical Landscapes.

She did what no one else had done: Katherine brought a spiritual lens to a new understanding of the art of the Impressionists, and those who followed. She dug into the hidden lives of artists whose faith, whose spiritual motivations have been ignored by curators in the past, and deftly handled many colleagues who were opposed to any hint of spirituality. To do that she gathered theologians to advise her in the choice of paintings and the study of the spiritual messages in the art.

Here my husband, as part of her team, is speaking at the closing of the exhibit, which had the third largest attendance in AGO history. And yes, that is Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

The tremendous reception of the exhibit indicates just how important the spiritual journey has been and continues to be in the hearts of many. The exhibit went from here to the Musée d’Orsay, where it caused a huge controversy in secular Paris.

Immediately following the closing of the exhibit, Kathleen retired as a curator and became a student at the Toronto School of Theology, where she is now on the faculty at Regis College (TST), teaching Art and Theology courses.

The EMUC journey during this time is one of curating. EMUC has a unique vision and that vision needs protecting, advocating for, and ensuring that the next person to be your spiritual leader will be someone who values this vision of yours and is willing and able to continue the curating that the Rev. Kathi and all the leaders here have been engaging in.

All of you can become ‘curators’ too. How you worship, who you welcome, how individuals move into activities and leadership, how we function as church on a daily basis, to what we give our energy and why, how we practise hospitality to one another and to our neighbours, and how and for whom we pray.

I recognize that this is a fragile time, as we miss the Rev. Kathi’s gifts and presence. It will be in the crucible of sorting and selecting, practising and refining, in small group conversation, tempered by love and prayer, not individuals’ wants, that will bring us to the best version of church that we can be. I look forward to walking with you.

Upcoming Week

Sunday, January 25

10:00 a.m. - Online ONLY Worship led by Rev. Mòrar Murray-Hayes

(See important note below)

Monday, January 26

Tuesday, January 27

Wednesday, January 28

1:00 - Games afternoon

Thursday, January 29

4:00 p.m. - Chancel Choir Practice

Friday, January 30

Upcoming Events & Announcements

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Sunday, January 25: Service by Zoom only

One of the compressors in our HVAC system needs to be replaced and the part is on order. Our system is having to work very hard, and the sanctuary temperature is between 16-18 degrees.

Given the anticipated cold weekend temperatures, the forecasted snowstorm, and the HVAC issues, a decision has been made to cancel “in person” worship and to move our service to online only.

You can visit our website www.emuc.ca and click on Join Zoom Meeting

or use the Zoom link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/792083172

Meeting ID: 792 083 172 Passcode: 000042

Securing the Sanctuary

The doors into the sanctuary were recently outfitted with a code and key lock system. We want to secure our sanctuary, protect our staff, and control who has access. In the next few weeks this system will go live, and once it does, you will not have access to the sanctuary without a Fob or a code. This system will be in place Mondays through Fridays, and we are exploring how to minimize the impact during Sunday service.

Details will be forthcoming in a future announcement; so no worries. Change can be good!

Submitted by Tina Driscoll

January Fundscrip- Due Today!

Our important fundraising program continues in 2026! There will be a gift card order placed today, Sunday, January 25, so please have all orders emailed to Joanne Hines by Friday, January 23 or after church today.

If you need an order form or information about the program, please contact Joanne Hines at twokids@rogers.com. Orders may be paid by e-transfer at donations@emuc.ca. Please indicate Fundscrip order in the message. Or cheques need to be made out to Erin Mills United Church and they can be taken 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 Mary Anna 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.

Deacon's Cupboard Donation Suggestions

Thank you for the tremendous response to our request for food items. Your support has helped us stock our shelves each week. In January, we are asking EMUC to donate cereal. Of course, we will also accept other food items. Your support enables us to share God’s Bounty.

Submitted by the EMUC Deacon's Cupboard Team

Communiqué

The next issue of Communiqué will be published on Sunday, Feb. 1. If you have any items regarding recent (e.g. Advent and Christmas) events that you would like to be considered for inclusion, please send them to cathy.scattergood@sympatico.ca by January 25. As well, if you have any "Thank you's", please send them along. It has been a busy few months here at EMUC, so including items will depend on space and the decision of the editors.

Countering Hate in Our Community

On Tuesday evening, Jan 27 at 7:30pm. Eden United Church's Affirming Team and Eden Mission and Outreach Hub (EMOH) are jointly hosting an important and informative presentation: "Countering Hate in Our Community", which will be presented by members of Safe City Mississauga and Peel Regional Police.

More timely and relevant than ever, this presentation will help us recognize the differences between hate crimes, hate speech, and hate incidents, how and when to report them, the impact on our community, and what we can do collectively and individually to counter hate. We invite you to join us for this Mississauga community presentation. Please also help spread the word to your congregations and local communities. This will be an excellent opportunity to come together as faith communities to counter hate.

There will be a Q&A session following the presentation, with refreshments served.

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you there.

Spring Market Place!

I'm excited to invite you to be part of a planning team for this year's Spring Market! We're looking for enthusiastic helpers to organize the event by sending out vendor invitations, managing logistics, communications, advertising, and making sure everything runs smoothly on event day.

Thanks to the hard work from past years, much of the planning is already in place. If you're interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly or call the office—I'd love to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Cathy Kiteley

ckiteley@aol.com 905 828-0862

Michael Blair – Biographical Information

Rev. Michael Blair serves the General Council of The United Church of Canada as the General Secretary, a role he began in November, 2020. He is the first person of African descent to serve in this role in the United Church.

In his time at the General Council Office, he has served in a number of capacities including as Executive Minister for Ethnic Ministry; and Executive Minister, Church in Mission. Before joining the General Council staff, Michael served as the Executive Director of the Toronto Christian Resource Center (CRC – 40 Oaks) in Regent Park, Toronto.

Michael previously served as a congregational minister of a number of Baptist churches in Toronto and St. Catharines, Ontario; a staff member with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Toronto, and as a community chaplain with the Ontario Multifaith Council’s Reintegration Program.

Michael serves as the Moderator of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches. In 2021, Michael delivered the Gandier Lecture at Emmanuel College, on the theme of Becoming the Beloved Community. He also recently contributed the Afterword to For the Sake of the Common Good, a collection of essays in honour of Lois Wilson, one of his mentors. In 2023, he was granted a Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) from the Vancouver School of Theology.

Born in Jamaica, Michael is a graduate of Ontario Bible College (Tyndale), University of Waterloo and Wycliffe College, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. He is the father of two adult sons.

Michael enjoys photography in his spare time.

Submitted by Karen Colwell

A great date for Valentine's Day!

Our choir members can attest to the quality of Christina and Sunju!

We are excited to announce that St. Stephen's On-the-Hill's "Amour - through the years" Concert will be presented on Valentine's Day - Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. - featuring choir member CHRISTINA YUN (soprano) and music director SUNJU KOH (piano), along with CHANJOO AHN (piano).

CONCERT TICKETS are available at the door, as well as any business day leading up to the event by contacting our church office OR after church on Sundays. Seats are first come - first seated. If you have attended any of Christina's concerts in the past, you will know there is a full house every time.

There are special door prizes and refreshments will be served.

PLEASE SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Thank you!

St. Stephen's On-the-Hill

Save the Date! Mark Your Calendar!

Sun., Feb. 8 - Guest Speaker Rev. Michael Blair (General Secretary of the UCC). Communion service. Click here for more information.
Tues., Feb. 17 - Pancake Supper. Gather at 5:30 p.m. for dinner at 6:00 p.m. Details to follow.
Sun., March 1 - Annual Congregational Meeting

Community Events

Tues., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. - Eden United Church, "Countering Hate in Our Community". Click here to view poster.
Sat., Feb. 14, 2:00 p.m. - St. Stephen's On-the-Hill, "Amour Through the Years" vocal and piano performances. Click here for ticket information.

Tina's Office Hours are as follows:

Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tina will be working from home on Mondays (all day). She takes a half hour lunch break sometime between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

Rev. Mòrar plans to be in the office on Tuesdays with exceptions as needed. Please arrange in advance to meet with her by emailing morarmur@gmail.com.

For guaranteed access to the church, call or email, to arrange a time in advance. Email (office@emuc.ca) or call (905-820-9466 x23).

For Pastoral Care Emergencies call 905-820-9466 x23 or email pastoralcare@emuc.ca

Erin Mills United Church | 905-820-9466 | emuc.ca