Minister’s Schedule May/June

On a “normal” week, Rev. Lori works from home on Monday and in Mount Forest Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday, with days off Friday and Saturday. As there is rarely a “normal” week, feel free to reach out to her as needed.

·        May 2-4: WOW Regional UCC meeting in Port Elgin

·        May 16-26: Remainder of holidays

·        June 29-5^th Sunday, Rev. Lori away

·        July 1 – August 4: Summer Holidays

In case of pastoral care needs, please reach out to the Office or our Pastoral Care Team.

100^th Anniversary Celebration: Our next celebration will be on Sunday, June 22 at Murphy Park (weather permitting). Woodland United has been invited by Mount Forest United to join in an Old Fashioned Sunday School Picnic! Dig deep into your memories and share with the worship team OR our 100^Th Anniversary Team (Susan & Dan MacArthur & Rhoda Seibert) any ideas and activities to help us have a fun day of celebration for all ages.

Holy Humour Sunday: Sunday, June 1

Yes! It’s happening again!

This year, anything you would like to share/or have shared in worship must be run through the worship committee/ Rev. Lori. There will be no open mic. Please submit in person or in writing to the office (united@wightman.ca) or direct to Rev. Lori (mfunitedrev@outlook.com). This helps with creating a service that is fun and faithful! Your input is required!

Minister Visitation:

From Rev. Lori ~ Summer is the time I am often able to do more visiting than during the busy program year. In June & August, I would like to connect with folks… the best way for me to know who might like a pastoral visit is for you to tell me! Please reach out and let me know so that we can set something up this summer! // Do not feel you have to feed me. I like coffee or water, and should not/cannot eat dairy. I’m low maintenance, like a stray cat~ a little drink and shoo me away.//

On the Sunday after Easter, we had the opportunity to talk about pussy willows during our Wonder Time at church. The early spring branches with the fuzzy, catkins were enthralling for the children, and they brought back memories for many adults.

After the worship service, it was interesting to hear where some of the children and their families planned to plant the pussy willows to watch them turn from dry sticks to living branches again. 

It's always been interesting to me that the willow branches, an early sign of spring often chosen by European churches for Palm Sunday rather than palms, can be cut and yet signs of new life. Their kitten soft flowers are ready to grow, but that growth can be stilled or stopped. Sometimes this is the way we live. 

We give the appearance of being fully alive, but we are really just waiting for the conditions to be right or a chance to come along. This can be good, a time of rest or renewal, but it can also be a sign of life on pause, waiting but never growing. This brought me to reflecting on the dry branches in my own life that might look green or lively, but really need to be stuck into a jar of water! The parts of my life where I need to put my feet into the stream of living water and renewal and be refreshed and restarted on my own growing.

When things get busy it's easy for me to slide into the habit of doing, but slack off on the work of coming into being through my relationship of faith with God. And all of us need to spend time on being~ otherwise the blossoms we put out will not produce the life for which we long. Unrooted, we may look well, but we are in death, not the life God made for us.

I am considering the habits I need to return to, or areas in which I need to grow new ones, and I’m looking forward to doing some of that with my down time over the next few months. Where do you need to be watered? Where would you like to grow?

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters" (Psalm 23)

If you are a current subscriber to the Broadview Magazine and wish to renew your subscription, or if you don’t currently subscribe to Broadview and would like to, contact Juliann at the church office by Monday, May 26^th. 

Payment can be dropped off at the church office, or placed on the offering place on Sunday in an envelope marked that it is for your Broadview subscription, or you can e-transfer to united@wightman.ca, be sure to note on your e-transfer that it is for Broadview. The subscription fee for the year is $30.00 includes tax.

If you are a current subscriber and we haven’t heard from you by May 26^th, we assume you do not wish to renew your subscription.

Mount Forest United Church Choir presents Music Variety Night: Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Duets, Ensembles including lots of different musical genres, and of course our Praise Band and Choir!

A freewill offering will be taken to support our ongoing music ministry. 

Image by kira-laktionov

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

To all the women.

Because all women have mothered someone at some point in their life, it’s just what we do.

We care, we nurture, we mother.

For the mothers who are knee deep in family life, this is your day to feel like a queen, please do. It’s entirely deserved and no one needs a day of pampering more. The chores can wait, be rested.

For the mothers who have lost children, this day is another on your ‘harder’ calendar and for that I send you love, you are so very brave.

To the women who no longer have their mother, this day is a heart-breaking reminder of an overwhelming grief. Your mother would want this day to be a time to say her sayings, cook her favourite meal and play her favourite songs. So, please don’t avoid that today. I know it hurts but it will help the heal.

To the women who have not made it into motherhood, who so desperately want to. This day is tough, there is nothing you want more than a 3am wake up and a hand drawn card full of love.

Please take today to acknowledge all the hard work and energy you have put into your endeavours. I see the hole in your heart. I see you and I want you to know you're a warrior of love and you deserve so much joy in life. Please let it in.

To the women who mother another child, you are a glorious example of humanity and love, my heart fills to bursting just to witness the gift you give. Thank you.

To the women who feel they have not had that maternal love they so crave, please forgive. You need your heart whole to make so much love that the future outweighs the past. It starts with you. You deserve it, make it so.

To the women,

ALL the women.

We mother like no other.

Donna Ashworth

image by Jack Swords-unsplash

Did you know you can find the bulletin and announcements on our website along with the church calendar and events? Sign up to receive The Messenger and occasional emails or updates through the website under the Messenger tab. Check it out at www.mountforestunitedchurch.com

To request prayers, visits from the Pastoral Care Team for yourself or someone else, or to inform us of any hospitalizations, illness, or special events, please contact, Betty Seminowicz at 519-923-5416 betvansemi@hotmail.com, or Daphne Rappard at 519-323-2505 or drappard@wightman.ca. All requests are confidential and shared only with the team.