Weekly Update - June 25, 2021
Friday June 25, 2021
Dear Summer First Folk:
The church building may be closed but neither we nor our faith is asleep, just because it's summer! (However little naps are absolutely OK, sometimes with a book in hand!) When you read this letter, you'll notice that we're bursting out into our community! Here's a partial list of types of bursts: ball caps, sun hats and socks on the fence, a new community garden that will bring goodness and health, orange ribbons on the fence that call us to grieve, listen and learn and worship services in August with all Waterloo United Churches sharing. That doesn't include all the individual gifts we receive from God each day and share with others in gratitude.
So, here's the summer challenge!
Take a photo or colour or paint or collage a picture of "Where you see God" this summer.
Folks of all ages are welcome to join in and send their pictures to lynneblakedickson@gmail.com. If you want to add a sentence or two to go with it, that's great.
We'll share them in the Friday letters.
I know you will rise to the challenge!!!
Lynne
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Sunday June 27, 2021 - Rev. Harry Disher- "My Little Glass of Wittenberg Beer"
To join the service please CLICK HERE.
Join us for Coffee time and Conversation! CLICK HERE
WEEKLY WORDS FROM THE PART-TIME MINISTER OF WORSHIP AND PASTORAL CARE
Sacred Song-Keeper Kelly Laurila who brought us a song to commemorate the 215 children on Sunday is a teacher of reconciliation and implications for settlers. See her video (Click Here).
June Birthday Celebration ~ Tuesday, June 29 at 7 PM (Click Here) Calling all those born in June, "Come and share one of your birthday stories!" This time is fun and friendly! Have a June birthday, let me know!
Joys & Sorrows ~ Summer Sundays at 9:45 (Click Here) Before worship during July and August , a time has been set aside for us to gather to share joys (events and moments in our lives worth celebrating) and sorrows (our griefs and struggles that need communal comfort). Let's give each other the gift of listening and gently holding one another in prayer.
Wednesdays, July 14 to Sept 1 (11:30 to 12:45) (Click Here) We'll watch a video and discuss how we imagine our church and life will be moving forward. Come to one, come to all. All welcome!
Let's get Together! Starting July 14th, I will be in the office on Tuesdays. Let's make an appointment . . . I would love to meet you in person.
From July 5 to 12, I will be on a continuing education week: For pastoral emergencies contact Rev. Harry Disher (Mobile: 519-860-9198 / Email: revharryd@gmail.com).
All other times, I am just a phone call or email away. (Mobile: 647-763-0101 / Email: rose.ann.vita2@gamil.com)
The Rev. Rose Ann Vita
Have a July Birthday? Please let me know.
BOOK CLUB
Tomorrow, Saturday, June 26, let's get together and discuss "Lamb: The Gospel according to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal". See you at 9:00 am!
To join via Zoom CLICK HERE
Greg Case
UCW SUMMER SALAD SUPPER WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES
Bet your mouth is watering for fresh strawberries!
Tomorrow, Saturday June 26th is the Day!
Meals will be distributed as last time, from Deli Works in the parking area on Spetz St., Kitchener. Click Here for instructions
Please arrive wearing a mask, watch for directions from the traffic manager, stay in your vehicle, identify who you are and the orders you are picking up and open your trunk so the restaurant staff can place those orders safely and directly. You may want to have a container to hold the dinners in place, so they don’t slide.
I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the pick-up instructions from Angus and also guidelines that are available here for everyone’s safety.
If each person coming to pick-up dinners can arrive at their appointed time and bring along a little patience and flexibility the staff from the restaurant will help us get on our way in a timely manner.
Many thanks from UCW for supporting us and our projects,
Enjoy your salad supper!
SMALL GROUPS COMING ALIVE
Gardening
Community Garden
Last week's picture- the beautifully crafted boxes for our raised beds!
This week - Taadaa!!! Giant tomato plants, other veggies, herbs, flowers and seeds sprouting already! WOW!
Many thanks to imagineers, creators, shovelers, planters, weeders and waterers!
Thanks to community folk being interested and a little girl waiting till she can pick a tomato to eat!
Waterers and Weeders needed during the summer! Many hands make light work!
Lynne (in awe)
Let’s Talk About It - Broadview Magazine Discussion Group
We're going to meet on Wednesday, July 21 at 10:00 am to discuss the July/August issue of Broadview. We will not meet in August.
Please join us. Further information is available here on the church website or by contacting Walt at waltbrooker@gmail.com.
Walt
REPORT FROM THE BOARD
At our Church Board meeting on June 8, we discussed what might need to be in place before we make decisions about the governance structure. The Board felt that the underlying needs of the congregation have to be understood. As a result, the Transition Team will review information that has been gathered from various discussions, conversations and reports, highlighting what the congregation has told us. They will be doing some additional work to help better connect the Board values and the values of our congregation.
We approved a job description for an Audio-Visual Co-ordinator as a part-time Staff position (15 hours per week). We agreed to hire Harold Arnett as that staff person. Timing is still being worked out.
We decided that during the summer months, there would be two Friday Letters- one on July 23 and one on August 20. If an important issue comes up that the congregation needs to know about more immediately, Sheena has offered to send out an email to everyone.
We will make a contribution of $215 to the United Church Healing Fund from our Outreach budget to give honour to the 215 children whose bodies were recently found at the residential school in Kamloops. BC.
Harry Disher
HELP WANTED! SUNDAY TECH SUPPORT!!
We are hoping to find some people in our congregation who would be willing to help with Sunday morning worship.
- (Beginner & Intermediate Level) Managing the sound in the Sanctuary: Turning on and off mics during the service, setting the sound levels and catching any sound issues that arise.
- (Beginner & Intermediate Level) Managing the “service flow” that is being presented on a livestream and on the screens in the sanctuary, switching words for hymns and liturgy and changing “slides” that are being presented.
- (Advanced) Streaming and Production
- (Beginner & Intermediate) At home you can set up the slides for each Sunday’s service (you will need a computer)
Training will be provided for all of these roles. The hope is that we develop a roster of people who are able to take scheduled weeks.
If you are interested in learning production skills or curious about how things work and would like to help out, or simply know more, please contact Greg Case at gregjcase@gmail.com
There are also volunteers needed to help update the webpage and various “computer” tasks.
For High School Students this can be used towards your community volunteer hours
Thanks
Greg
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
|
DATE |
SERMON |
|
July 4
|
Rev. Rose Ann Vita - “Hospitality” |
|
July 11
|
Rev. Harry Disher - “Caring for Creation” |
|
July 18
|
Rev. Rose Ann Vita - “Healing” |
|
July 25
|
Rev. Harry Disher - “Discernment” |
|
August 1
|
Rev. Rose Ann Vita - “Household Economics” |
|
August 8
|
Rev. Rose Ann Vita – “Honouring the Body” (All four Waterloo Churches participating) |
|
August 15
|
Rev. Jenn Hind (Emmanuel) |
|
August 22
|
Rev. Joe Gaspar (Parkminster) |
|
August 29
|
Rev. Andrea Allan (Westminster) |
|
September 5 |
Rev. Harry Disher - “Keeping Sabbath” |
You can always view the weekly service by going to the webpage each Sunday morning, or you can see previous live streams at firstunitedchurch.ca/live.
You can also go to our webpage to find the Zoom Link for Coffee Time each Sunday after the church service.
If you would be interested in leading a worship service or in participating in some way please let me know at gregjcase@gmail.com.
For Pastoral Care needs please email the church (office@firstunitedchurch.ca). For our Minister of Pastoral Care call Rose Ann Vita 647-763-0101 (cell) or rose.ann.vita2@gmail.com (email).
Interested in Membership? Or in knowing more about the United Church of Canada? Just contact Rev. Harry Disher (revharryd@gmail.com) or Rev. Rose Ann Vita (rose.ann.vita2@gmail.com). They will be happy to find a time to have a conversation with you.
WAYS TO DONATE TO FIRST UNITED
You can get your offering to the church office in several ways:
- You can use PAR, or
- E transfer to firstunitedchurch@rogers.com, or
- Website donation to www.firstunitedchurch.ca, or
- Send a cheque to First United Church, 16 William St. West, Waterloo ON N2L1J3, or
- Drop a cheque into the mailbox located at the Entrance on William St. side.
**Just a reminder- credit card companies have a fee of around 3-5%. If you wish the church to get the full amount, then please add that % to your contribution.
SUMMER AT FIRST UNITED
I'm Bored! There's Nothing to do!
- Friday Letters- July 23 and August 20
- Community Needs - sun hats, ball caps, socks for all ages
- drop off in container on Lynne's porch - 210 Stanley Dr.. Waterloo
- Joys and Sorrows - 9:45 - meet by Zoom before Sunday worship- supporting one another
- Weeding and watering gardens!!!
- Church services and Coffee Time each Sunday - check schedule in this Fri. Letter
- Summer Blooms - give an extra summer blooms financial gift to First- an extra boost helps!!
- Courageous CHURCH- Wed. July 14 - Sept. 1 (11:30- 12:45) - video and discussion
- imagining as our lives and church move forward
- Take a Picture - Where do you see God? - send it to lynneblakedickson@gmail.com
fun for all ages
and more……
Have a great summer everyone!!!
Lynne
SKYLIGHT FESTIVAL
For a letter from Skylight Click Here.
You may also visit the Skylight Website at http://www.skylightfestival.ca/
Together We Stand, but Apart
