Wesley-Knox Bulletin

The United Church of Canada E-ssentials

Minister's Musings

This week, the Reaching Out committee reminds us of the gifts of creation, most especially the gift of water. It's water that nurtures us for the first 9 months of our existence! Most of our bodies are made of water. Our faith is born in the waters of Baptism. Water can be refreshing and life-giving, yet just a little water in the wrong place and we drown. Water can be gentle enough to soothe or powerful enough to carve mountains into river valleys. Yet we take this resource for granted, don’t we? We forget how precious it is when it's so readily available. Perhaps we would be more mindful if we lived in an area where water was not so plentiful.  

I remember being in Nepal for my sabbatical, and I struggled to remember NOT to drink the water. We even brushed our teeth with bottled water and were instructed NOT to open our mouths in the shower. The water would likely give us “Delhi belly”, which would restrict us to close toilet proximity for a good 2 days! I followed that advice very carefully throughout the sabbatical!



This week, let's be mindful of the gift of our natural resources and remember those, even here in Canada, who do not have access to basic necessities like clean water. Together, we can commit to better stewardship of the earth’s resources and the gifts it gives us. 

Have a great week!

Rev Rob +

Our Sunday service this week (Environment Sunday) has been organized by Reaching Out and features

Tom Cull as our guest speaker.

Tom Cull was born and raised in Huron County in Treaty 29 territory and now resides in London, Ontario near the banks of Deshkan Ziibi/Thames River. He works at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, teaches nature writing at Western, and was London’s Poet Laureate from 2016-2018. Tom is the author of two poetry collections: Bad Animals, (Insomniac Press, 2018) and Kill Your Starlings (Gaspereau Press, 2023). From 2012-2025 Tom was the director of Antler River Rally, a grass roots environmental group he co-founded with his partner Miriam Love. Antler River Rally organizes monthly cleanups of local waterways and advocates for ecological justice and education. Tom is the recipient of University of Western Green Award, Nature London’s Enviro-Hero award, and in 2023 was named to the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour list for outstanding contributions to the environment.

We hope you’re able to attend, either in person or online, to hear Tom’s message for us.

Reaching Out 

A Stewardship Thought

A good Steward of our Earth 



... Picks up a piece of litter 

... Shuts off a light in an empty room 

... Runs a tap no longer than necessary 

... Composts leftover scraps 

... Rescues a fallen creature 

These are all things each of us can do and more.

" We are all in some measure responsible for the face of the world". Kenzaburo Oe.

stewardship@wesleyknox.com

Golf Fun Day

Hickory Ridge Golf and Country Club - May 24

It came down to a tie! The idea of an 18 hole playoff wasn't popular, so the tie was broken using the "regression method" (look that one up!). The result was that John, Marilynne and Ross were the winners with a score of 74 (69 after 17 holes). The Riverside threesome (Paul, Peter and Ron) plus Mike B were tied after 18 holes.

We had two contests. The first was "closest to the line" on the 1st hole. A line was painted down the fairway and the golfer whose ball landed closest to the line was the winner. Marilynne and David had the most accurate tee shots. The second contest was for the "longest putt sunk" on the 18th hole. Sheila D was the winner (and she didn't even play the 18th hole - Mike W can explain how that happened!).

The winners each received a gift certificate for Karpos Mediterranean Style Dried Nuts & Fruits in Wortley Village.  

All golfers received a prize donated by Heather and Richard Greenfield.

Highlights of the day included:

The weather - cool, but bright and great for golf

The heron - seen (by Lorraine, Lynda L, Mike W and Sheila D) swallowing a fish whole

The Riverside golfers - we were happy to have 3 Riverside members joining us this year

The 19 golfers sharing a fun afternoon of golf

Thanks to Curtis at Hickory Ridge for his support in working out the details of this golf event!

Gilholm Stoneworks will be doing some restoration work on the masonry buttresses on Teresa Street and in the parking lot. 

Work in the parking lot will start about June 5 or 8 and there will be scaffolding and a construction area setup

about where the bicycle rack is currently. 

There will be sufficient space to access the parking lot and no parking spaces will be affected (except for bicycles). 

The work is expected to take about two weeks.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The “Pet Effect”: Animal companions and mental health

Canadians love animals. In 2024, a majority of homes in Canada had a pet, including 8.9 million cats, 8.3 million dogs, 2.5 million birds, 8.6 million fish, 1.2 million small mammals, and even a couple of hundred thousand reptiles. Many of us cherish our animals as members of the family and the bonds we share with them may be as important as our human relationships. 

Our animal friends may play different roles in our lives. They may be “companion animals,” providing everyday emotional support, or “emotional support animals,” playing a specific role in supporting a person’s mental health. Whether you see your animal as a friend, family member, or someone to lean on for emotional support, you might find your furry, feathered or scaly companion brings you joy, comfort and help you cope with stress.  

Dogs that have a particularly calm temperament are sometimes trained to be “therapy dogs.” Their “handler” (their owner) will take them to public settings, like hospitals, schools, long-term care homes, and community programs where they offer comfort and emotional support. 

Animals may also be specially trained as “service animals.” These animals, most often dogs, assist people with disabilities, including physical, sensory, and mental health conditions, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  

In addition to the animals that live with us, there are also animals that work in therapeutic settings. Dogs and horses, in particular, are used in some treatment programs (known as animal-assisted interventions) for people with mental illnesses, autism, dementia or reduced mobility. In this kind of therapy, the animal is not only a comforting presence; it is part of the therapeutic process. 

Regardless of the role they play, having an animal companion in your life can have many health benefits including: 

• Lower fear and anxiety 
• Lower blood pressure and cardiovascular risk 
• Reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD 
• More physical activity, social interaction and community engagement (e.g. through dog-walking and dog-friendly public spaces) 
• Improved social functioning 
• Reduced loneliness 



Bonding with an animal can also reduce cortisol, one of our body’s stress hormones, and increase oxytocin and dopamine levels, which promote social bonding and positive emotions.  

Having an animal companion in your life does not guarantee that your mental health will improve. Other factors are at play, including the quality of your relationships with your animals, your physical and mental health and how connected and satisfied you feel in your relationships with other people.  

It’s also important to keep in mind that our relationships with companion animals aren’t always a walk in the park. A survey from the U.S. found that caring for an animal can add stresses to our lives. People with pets most commonly reported concerns about their pet aging and passing away (71%), their animal’s health problems (66%), related veterinary expenses (58%) and arranging for care while travelling (56%). 

Whether they have fur, feathers, or scales, and whatever role they play, animals often bring connection, joy and support into the lives of their humans. And in homes across Canada, the bonds run deep.

https://cmha.ca/news/the-pet-effect-animal-companions-and-mental-health/

London's Climate Action Newsletter

“Someone needs to explain to me why wanting clean drinking water makes you an activist, and why proposing to destroy water with chemical warfare doesn’t make a corporation a terrorist.” - Winnona LaDuke was a leader at the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests that sought to protect water access and sacred Indigenous lands in North Dakota. Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm is her latest endeavor; its mission is to create an Indigenous women-led economy based on local food, energy, and fiber, that is kind to the Earth

When it rains, it pours! So catch some of that water with a rainbarrel. Order today and pick up on Friday June 12, 3 pm-6 pm or have it delivered. Hosted by the London Central Lions Club. Pictured are repurposed food grade plastic rain barrels that come with downspout diverter, spigot/tap and overflow adaptor. (I have two - they are great!)

Summer Seminar series on biodiversity knowledge and strengthening your tree ID skills!

Hosted by ReForest London. Available for $15 each or $30 for all three sessions.

• Myco Mania – Fungi as Fertilizer and Fortification on June 13, 2-3pm
• Insufferable Invasives – Invasive Tree ID and Impacts on Us on June 20, 10-11am
• Tree ID for Newbies – Identify trees of London on June 27^th from 10-11am

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Cleaning out the garden shed? ReForest London is seeking used garden tools and equipment, including:

• 1 and 2 Gallon Pots
• All sorts of gardening equipment

Petition hosted by Nature Canada: show your support to further protect the Seal River Watershed located in northern Manitoba. 4 Indigenous Nations are leading the vision to create a new “Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area”. This initiative is supported by Nature Canada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. The Province of Manitoba is mandated to seek feedback from all Canadians due to the scope of the project. Anyone in Canada is urged to share their feedback by June 2. Nature Canada provides links to the full proposal and ideas for responses after you register.

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Sat June 6, 10am Let the Sunshine In, a presentation on installing rooftop solar panels by Bluewater Energy. Hosted by Rotary Club of London, First-St. Andrew’s United Church, 350 Queens Ave.

Sat June 6, Forest City Slow Roll, a bike ride through the city, safe for the whole family. Registration required. Arrive at 1pm for activities, Ride starts at 3pm. hosted by London Cycle Link as a kickoff to bike month

Sat June 13 Butterfly Festival, 17 Meadowlily Rd S. Learn to catch and release butterflies. Hosted by TTLT. Drop-in anytime from 11am-2pm. Note: see event link for apparel recommendations

Pastoral Care



Prayers for our church families enduring grief, loss, or loneliness.

If you or a loved one is dealing with a difficult time, such as illness,hospitalization, loneliness, or any of life’s challenges, our Pastoral Care team is available for support.

Please call the Church office and you will be contacted

by a member of our team: Rev Dr. Rob, Margo Bettger-Hahn, Linda Olson, Sandra Fox, Helen Humphreys, Liz Dunlop, and Paul Stewart

On evenings and weekends, you may reach us through Facebook Messenger (you do not need a Facebook account to message.)

You are not alone!

May 31st - June 13th, 2026



Wesley-Knox Upcoming Events



May 30 - Logic Games and Lasagna Social Hall 5:30 pm

May 31 - Environmental Sunday Service- Guest speaker Tom Cull

Jun 02 - U.C.W Shared Ministry Potluck Picnic Riverside

Jun 06 - Gathering on the Green: Wesley-Knox will have a table

Jun 07 - Coffee & Cake celebration for Rev. Tom hosted by Reaching Out Committee

Jun 16 - Shout Sister Final Concert

Jun 28 - Coffee Hour - UCW Strawberries and Ice Cream



The Valleyview Male Chorus

The Valleyview Male Chorus is presenting a varied program of classical, sacred, Canadiana, spirituals, popular and gospel music sung by male voices.

Jeff Brown is our guest accompanist.

Concert is at Oakridge Presbyterian Church, 970 Oxford Street West in London on Saturday June 6, 2026. Starting at 7:00 p. m. Admission $20. Students $15.

Venue is air conditioned and there is lots of free parking.

Resources:



We are part of the United Church of Canada

Our Region falls within the

Antler-River Watershed, Region #7

Link located at the bottom of this email

Access daily devotionals here, provided by “The Upper Room”

https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals

Liturgical Calendar Resources

for worship planning:

Link located at the bottom of this email

Handbooks and Guidelines for Staff, Council, Committees, and Volunteers:

https://united-church.ca/handbooks-and-guidelines

Anyone wishing to place flowers in the sanctuary

for a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, is encouraged to do so.

It brightens our worship, and, by adding a message in the bulletin,

it connects us as a congregation.

If you wish to place flowers, please call or email Liz Dunlop.

She will give you the information you need and confirm the date, and make sure the office has the information for the bulletin. Thank you!

Liz Dunlop, Sanctuary Flower Coordinator

(519) 668-2507

E-mail:

ldunlop@rogers.com