Dear First friends,

Welcome to September - a time of new beginnings, possibilities, and opportunities

a time of hopes and concerns

a time to reconnect and make new connections.

When I am wanting to stay narrowed into what's familiar instead of trying to stretch out to newness, I remember the poet, Mary Oliver's words. "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Here's to new beginnings!

Lynne

We are please to welcome the Rev. Fred Monteith as our Supply Minister. His office start date was Tuesday September 6^th. His term with us is for four (4) months with the possibility of an extension.

Please click below to see the full welcome and words of greeting from Fred.

Sunday September 11^th – Rev. Fred Monteith

At 10:30 am – Sermon Theme: “There Will Be Consequences”

Sunday September 18^th – Rev. Fred Monteith

At 10:30 am - Sermon Theme: “No Easy Answers”

To join the service onlineCLICK HERE

Please contact Rev. Fred Monteith, (Office – 519-745-8487 Ext 208, Cell - 519-575-6407. Email:  fwmonteith@gmail.com) or the office (519-745-8487 ext. 201). 

The search committee has been working through the summer and have been making progress.

Some notes from Rick about happenings this fall ... 

It is great to hear from our Former Minister of Worship and Pastoral Care.

Please click on the button below for the full message and more baby pictures

Free Noon Hour Concerts will resume on Tuesday September 20th from 12:15 - 12:45. 

For a schedule of the performances and the performers, and new information about ordering lunch, please click below 

We'll be meeting again on Wednesday, September 21 from 10:00 to 11:00 am. New members welcome. Zoom link will be available on the website. See you then.

September is Kairos Climate Change Month. What is Kairos? Click the button below to find out.

Shirley Irish on behalf of the Justice Team.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer 

Click below for more information!

Many thanks to all our farmers who have faithfully watered our veggie community gardens during the hot, dry summer. New bean and tomato blossoms abound!  

Shirley Irish and Marilyn Gerriets 

We will be hosting Artisans at First at First United again this year on Saturday, October 15^th, 2022 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

This is a market of handcrafted items, no commercially-prepared items. If you wish to have a space to sell your creations, or if you know someone who wishes to have a space, please contact Joan Westcott at handatfirst@gmail.com

United Church Women will be hosting a bake sale table at the Artisan event  in October. When you are busy making jam or pickles this summer, please consider donating a jar or two to our table...

Thank you from UCW Exec!

Please contact Alice Bieman for more info if you feel you would like to be the coordinator or you would like to take a more active role in this worthwhile project of the UCW.

We will meet early in September for planning.

Come One! Come All! To Our Harvest Lunch Next Sunday, September 18 after the Church Service

We are a small group of folks who meet each Tuesday morning (on Zoom) at 9am till about 10am. Our intent is to build trusting and safe relationships.

We have a beautiful new bench just outside our Hilliard Hall entrance. It invites everyone to sit and relax in the shade!

Volunteers from our Out of The Cold Program raised the money to purchase the bench in loving memory of Out of The Cold guests and volunteers. 

We are grateful.

Thank you for your continued support over the summer. It was much appreciated.

Please click below for a financial update.

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. **

The Friday Letter will continue but will not be produced every Friday. It will be produced every two weeks. In the table below are the dates for the Friday Letter. We are also including the dates when we would like to receive articles for these letters.