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Friday Message
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What's Coming!
November 28, 2025
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Friday Message
November 28, 2025
Rabbi Harold Kushner gained widespread recognition for his many popular books that simplify complex theological ideas for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers. He is probably best known for his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. In another of his books, he addressed a question: can we be good without God? Here’s an old story from classic Jewish tradition that offers an answer:
A Master was teaching his students that God created everything in the world to be appreciated, since everything is here to teach us a lesson.
One clever student asked, “What lesson can we learn from atheists? Why did God create them?"
The Master responded, “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all - the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, they are not doing so because of some religious teaching. They do not believe that God commanded them to perform this act. In fact, they do not believe in God at all, so their acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness they can bestow on others simply because they feel it to be right."
“This means,” the Master continued, “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say, 'I pray that God will help you.' Instead, for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no God who can help, and say, ‘I will help you.’”
Isn’t it wonderful to think that there are lessons to be learned from the examples of people from all faith traditions and also from those who don’t believe. Just because someone believes differently than we do, does not make their beliefs invalid.
Blessings, Kathi
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Upcoming Week
Sunday, November 30 - Advent 1 (Hope)
10:00 a.m. - Online and in-person Worship led by Rev. Kathi
Monday, December 1
7:00 p.m.: Bible Study via Zoom
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89754231192
Meeting ID: 897 5423 1192
Tuesday, December 2
Wednesday, December 3
10:00 a.m.: Bible Study via Zoom
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82143779768
Meeting ID: 821 4377 9768
6:45 p.m.: Prayer service via Zoom
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83419092573
Meeting ID: 834 1909 2573
Passcode: 291907
Thursday, December 4
4:00 p.m. - Chancel Choir Practice
Friday, December 5
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Drop off for Nativity Display
Saturday, December 6
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Drop off for Nativity Display
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Nativity Display & Tea Room
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Upcoming Events & Announcements | | |
Loaves and Dishes
There will be soups for sale at $8 / package (4 C):
Beef Barley
Mulligatawny
Carrot Ginger
Lentil Vegetable
Chicken Rice
Turkey pot pies are sold out.
See Barb Jennings.
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Advent Season at EMUC
Advent is a busy and beautiful time at EMUC. It starts on Sunday, Nov. 30 with the service of Hope. There are many special services and events happening during this season. Please click here for further information about all of the upcoming events.
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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 December, we are asking EMUC to donate canned meat. 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
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Stewardship Program for 2026 - Update
As of Sunday November 23, 2025, we have received 13 responses requesting changes to local givings for 2026, resulting in a decrease of $315 in intended givings to local for 2026.This decrease is mainly due to members who have left our area.
It has been offset by 11 increases. In regard to M&S givings, we have received 8 increases amounting to a total increase of $1,908.
This is a better picture than last week but additional increases in local donations would be greatly appreciated and will help to pay for rising expenses facing our church next year.
Please contact our Donation Secretary, Mike Ogilvie, at donations@emuc.ca if you wish to change your donation amount or to start a regular PAR donation. If we do not hear from you ,we will assume that your givings will stay the same for 2026.
Thank-you for your support.
Finance Committee
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Annual Nativity Display
Advent season is just around the corner and so is our annual Nativity display and tea room; a special event to welcome Advent.
Please invite your neighbours, family and friends.
Date: December 6, 2025 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
To those wishing to display your Nativity scene, drop off is on Friday, December 5, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. or on Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. If this is the first year displaying your Nativity scene, please provide a paragraph about the history of your Nativity scene (where it came from, anything special about it) and send to Theresa by December 4 at teachertheresa@hotmail.com. We would also appreciate some sweets for our tea room.
Submitted by the Advent Nativity Display Planning Team
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December Fundscrip
LAST ORDER OF THE YEAR! This is your opportunity to order for folks on your Christmas list! Gift cards are always popular! There will be a gift card order placed on Sunday, December 7, so please have all orders emailed to Joanne Hines by Friday, December 5 or after church on Sunday, December 7.
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 can be made out to Erin Mills United Church and 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.
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EMUC Christmas Tea
FALALALALA! The Annual EMUC Christmas Tea will be held following worship on Sunday, December 7. There will be fun and games, hot mulled apple cider and Christmas carols led by the dynamic duo of Joanne Hines and Theresa Morrison on their ukuleles with Len on the keyboard.
OF COURSE a tea must have yummy goodies, so Membership and Pastoral Care is kindly asking for donations of sweet and savory seasonal treats. No sign-up is required. If you have any questions about what to bring (or anything else) please contact Sandy Hayes (905 820 4437). Mark your calendars now and plan to attend. Come one, come ALL!
Submitted by Sandy Hayes
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Celebrating Kathi's Retirement
As you are probably aware, Kathi Phillips, our minister, is retiring at the end of this year. Her last Sunday with us is December 28. We are planning a retirement celebration lunch after worship that day.
To help us plan, please add your name to the sign-up sheet which will be available beginning this Sunday.
The planning committee for this day includes Cathy Scattergood, Deb Sturgeon, Trish Campbell and Nancy Blackport. If you would like to contribute to a gift for Kathi or make any other contributions to the day, please speak to any of the committee members or email ministrypersonnel@emuc.ca.
Further details to follow!
Submitted by Nancy Blackport
| | Save the Date! Mark Your Calendar! | |
- Sat., Dec. 6, 1:00 p.m. - Annual Nativity Display and Tea Room. Click here for information.
- Sun., Dec. 7 - EMUC Annual Christmas Tea following the 10 a.m. worship.
- Sun., Dec. 14, 7:00 p.m. - Candlelight Carol Service.
- Wed., Dec. 17, 7:00 p.m. - Longest Night: a quiet & reflective service
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Sun., Feb. 8, 2026 (note change of date) - Guest Speaker Rev. Michael Blair (General Secretary of the UCC). Communion service.
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A Gentle Reminder
Please submit your articles, posters, events, etc. to cathy.scattergood@sympatico.ca by Wednesday noon of each week. This allows time to edit and format the Friday Message as well as giving Tina time to print a complete copy for those folks who get a hard copy of our Friday Message. Thank you.
Submitted by Cathy Scattergood
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PLEASE NOTE: Tina will be on vacation, November 29-December 4th. Office coverage is by Sylvia Arnold.
For guaranteed access to the church, call or email, and arrange a time in advance. Email (office@emuc.ca) or call (905-820-9466 x23).
PLEASE NOTE: Rev. Kathi is off starting Nov. 7
For Pastoral Care Emergencies call 905-820-9466 x22 or email pastoralcare@emuc.ca
| | | | Erin Mills United Church | 905-820-9466 | emuc.ca | | | | |
