Weekly Newsletter from Rev. Mary: June 8, 2023

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Hello AUC,

I hope everyone is having a good week. I have definitely been saying prayers of gratitude for the firefighters this week. So thankful for those who are willing to march into danger to keep our communities safe. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Anniversary Sunday


1. This Sunday is the Sunday School Celebration. The children and youth and their teachers have lots of fun things planned for the service called "Dandelion Daze" It is going to be an exciting morning. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the Social Hall. 


2. Anniversary Sunday- On Sunday, June 18th we will be celebrating our anniversary. We will be welcoming Rev. Dr. Peter Bartlett as our guest preacher. Following the service there will be cake and soup! And yes in that order. We know that it's Father's Day and folks may need to hurry off to lunch with family so we're going to cut the cake and then eat soup! Plan to join us for this exciting morning.


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a good week and managing to stay cool in all this hot, hot weather. June is always such an exciting month at the church. There's a lot happening! 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Children's Service 
3. Anniversary Service 


1. This Sunday is Pride Sunday. It will be a chance to celebrate love and how our message of welcome means that we welcome all people as they are and in the beautiful diversity that God created them. Our Scripture passage will be 1 John 4: 7-21 God is love. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the Social Hall. 


2. Children's Sunday- Join us Sunday, June 11th for the Children's Service. We're going to get interactive and the grown ups will finally get to enjoy a taste of what the Sunday School kids get to do every week. If you know any young people this would be a great Sunday to invite them to join us! 


3. Anniversary Service- Our Anniversary service will be Sunday, June 4th. We will be welcoming the Rev. Dr. Peter Bartlett as our guest preacher. Peter works for our Regional Office in a role supporting congregations. It's going to be an exciting day of celebration. Following the service there will be cake and a soup lunch. 


Thanks for reading, see you Sunday,
Mary 

Hello all,

I hope everyone is having a great week. What a wonderful time we had at the Plant Sale. It was both a great fundraiser and a fun-raiser. It was so great to see church folks working together to get everything up and running and then to welcome folks from the community who were coming and going from the building with plants and snacks. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Save the date- Children's Service 
3. Save the date- Anniversary Service 


1. This Sunday is Pentecost, our celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. We will hear from Acts 2:1-21 and we will celebrate communion together. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the social hall. 


2. Save the date- Children's Service- Our Sunday School and Youth Group will be leading the service on Sunday, June 11th. They have some fun and innovative things that they are working on. 


3. Save the date-Anniversary Service. This year our Anniversary Service will be on Sunday June 18th. We will be welcoming the Rev. Dr. Peter Bartlett as our guest preacher. And a time of fellowship will follow the service. 


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. I had a wonderful time this week at my conference in "Minneapolis" (I wasn't there in person, I was in my home office, joining via Zoom.) I got to hear so many different preachers and it was really interesting. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. The Plant Sale 
3. The Food Bank


1. This Sunday the service will be led by Joanne Tanner. She will be coming to AUC for the first time. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the church hall. 


2. The Plant Sale- We're having a plant sale tomorrow!!! It's finally here. If you still have items to drop off for the sale you can do that this afternoon, there will be folks around to take your special things! The sale starts at 8:00 and is going to be lots of fun. 

This was a great success !!

3. The Food Bank- Please bring your food/financial donations for the food bank to the church by Sunday for our Spring food drive for the food bank. 


Thanks for reading, See you at the plant sale! 
Mary 

Good morning,

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  Keep reading to learn more about:
  1. What's happening this Sunday?
  2. Discussion Group 
  3. Plant Sale 
  4. Food Bank 
  
  
  1. This Sunday We will hear more of Jesus' farewell discourse from John. We'll hear John 14: 15-21. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the Social Hall. 
  
  
  2. Discussion Group- We're starting up a discussion group this Thursday at 7:00 in the Parlour. Our topic is the book of Acts. We're going to read chapters 1-4 and discuss them. No experience necessary! Let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to come. 
  
  
  3. Plant Sale- It is definitely that time of year where people are thinking about plants! Our Plant Sale is going to be on Saturday May 20th. We would love to have you come shop for plants! Or be part of the team of helpers putting the sale on. There are sign up sheets on the wall by the office. 
  
  
  4. Food Bank Drive- Our Food Bank drive is continuing until May 21st. Demand on the Food Bank is up, with the rising cost of food. Please consider making a donation of food or a financial donation to this important resource in our community. (Make sure that your financial donation notes that it is for the Food Bank) 
  
  
  Thanks for reading, Enjoy your week! 
  Mary 

Hello,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. Does anyone out there love rain? I always enjoy a bit of rain but gee this is a lot! 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Community Event - What Now Lanark County 
3. Plant Sale 
4. Food Bank Drive 


1. This Sunday we will be hearing from John 14: 1-14, Jesus is talking to the disciples about his upcoming death. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the social hall. 


2. Community Event- What Now Lanark Country is having an event called the "Imagine Conference"  this Saturday, May 6th from 8:30 to 5:00 at the Civitan Hall. Issues of intimate partner violence, women's health, violence against women, and human trafficing are some of the issues that will be discussed. Tickets for the day are $40 and more information can be found on their website. http://whatnowlc.ca


3. Plant Sale- We're still looking for plants and helpers for the Plant Sale, which is happening on Saturday, May 20th. Sign up sheets are on the wall by the office. 


4. Food Bank Drive- We are collecting food and money for the Lanark County Foodbank until May 21st. Please bring your donations on Sunday over the next few weeks. 


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary 

Hello,

I hope everyone is having a good week. It's a beautiful afternoon out there right now. The daffodils beside the Social Hall are looking wonderful. 

Keep reading to learn more about:

1. What's Happening This Sunday?

2. The Plant Sale 

3. Likulezi Update 

1. This Sunday is Camping Sunday. We will be celebrating the tradition of United Church Camping. I am happy to stay that I went to a United Church camp growing up and I know many of you did too. We will be taking a special offering for Camp Lau-ren. There will be special envelopes for this purpose on Sunday. If you are not going to be here on Sunday but would still like to donate you sure can, just make sure to note on your donation that it is for Camp Lau-ren. Our scripture passage will be John 21: 1-19, Jesus on the Beach. 

2. The Plant Sale- The Plant Sale is taking place in the church parking lot on Saturday, May 20th. Please let us know if you have any plants you would like to donate or if you can help on the day of. There are sign up sheets on the wall by the church office. 

3. Likelezi Update-  As many of you know AUC partners with a community organization in Malawi, Africa called Likelezi. Please find attached their Annual Report  for the year in review of 2022. However, 2023 is already off to a devastating start. In March of this year Mallawi was hit with Cyclone Freddy, one of the most devastating cyclones of all time. The building and the library made it through the storm. However all the crops were destroyed and the storm exacerbated the cholera outbreak in the area. Donations can be made through the church office at any time, (just please note that is it for Likelezi) or on their website site http://www.africaaware.net/

Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,

Mary 

Hello,

I hope everyone is having a good week. We had a great time on Sunday following the service thanking all of those who have served on church Council and Committees. If you are thinking that you might like to get involved on a church committee but not sure what would be a good fit I'd love to chat with you. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. The Plant Sale 
3. Spring Food Drive


1. This Sunday we will be hearing a resurrection story from Luke 24: 13-35, the story of The Road to Emmaus. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the Social Hall. 
2. The Plant Sale- We are having a plant sale on Saturday May 20th in the church parking lot. We are looking for donations of plants to sell and for folks to help on the day of the sale. If you would like to help there are sign up sheets in the hallway by the church office. 
3. Spring Food Drive- We are having a Food Drive for the Lanark County Food Bank. The Food Bank itself is in Carleton PLace but it serves a wide area including Almonte. We have heard from Food Bank staff that with the rising food prices demand for their services is increasing. You can bring food donations to the church until Sunday May 21st. We will also be collecting financial donations to support their work. Please make your donation to Almonte United Church and then note on it that it is for the Food Bank. 


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. Apparently it's summer today! I hope you are able to find a moment to enjoy the sunshine. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Appreciation for those ending terms on Council and Committees 
3. Ushers needed 
4. A New Community Meal 


1. This Sunday we will be hearing a resurrection story from the Gospel of John. We'll hear John 20: 19-31, Jesus appears to the disciples. Following the service you are invited to stay for a time of coffee and fellowship. 
2. Appreciation for those ending terms on Council and Committees: Following the service on Sunday, during Coffee Time we will be having a small moment of appreciation for those folks who have completed terms on Council and/or Committees. (Many of these folks had their terms extended significantly by the pandemic) This is one small way for us to offer them our thanks and gratitude for all their hard work. 
3. Ushers Needed- We're looking for a few more people to join the Usher Schedule. It's an easy yet important job. Duties including greeting folks at the door as they arrive and then passing the offering plate. Please let me know if this is something you can help with once a month. 
4. A New Community Meal- I just attended a meeting this morning about an exciting new Community Meal that is going to be starting up in May. "A Meal for All" is a completely grass roots group of volunteers who are worried about rising food prices and want to do something about it. It is going to be a free breakfast served on Thursday mornings. It is going to be held in the basement of The Community Presbyterian Church. They are looking for folks to join a volunteer team which would help cook, serve and clean up one Thursday a month. If this sounds like something you would like to help with or would like for information about please let me know. 
Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary.

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. What a storm yesterday! I know some folks are without power and have some trees down. Here at the church we have branches down on a small tree and there was some water in the basement. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. Good Friday Service
2. Walk of the Cross
3. Easter Sunrise Service 
4. Easter Communion Service 


1. Good Friday Service- Join us tomorrow at 10:30 for our Good Friday Service. It will be a time of listening to the story of Jesus' death and reflecting on what it means. 


2.Walk of the Cross- The emmucenical Walk of the Cross starts at 12:00 noon outside Almonte Baptist Church on Reserve St. The group then makes our way around town stopping for readings and then ending up at Community Presbyterian on Church St. for a brief indoor service and light refreshments. 


3. Easter Sunrise Service- We are planning to meet in the parking lot of the Town Office on Perth St. at 7:00 on Sunday morning. We will have a brief outdoor service. Everyone is welcome. This is always a fun (and sometimes chilly) service. 


4. Easter Communion Service-  At 10:30 will be celebrate Easter with a Communion service. Our scripture will be Matthew 28: 1-10. Join us following the service for a time of coffee and fellowship. 


Thanks for reading, See you tomorrow,
Mary

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a good week. Our Annual Meeting is happening this Sunday immediately following our Palm Sunday service. We hope as many people as possible can have a conversation about the joys and struggles of our church as we approve a deficit budget for 2023. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Annual Meeting 
3. Easter Services 


1. This Sunday is Palm Sunday. We will celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We will hear from Matthew 21: 1-17 and wave cedar branches. Following the service will be our Annual Meeting. 


2. Annual Meeting- This Sunday at about 11:15 (the service will be a bit shorter than normal) will be our Annual Meeting. Please try to make yourself available for this meeting as it is an important time to discuss the life of the church. The church council and finance team have been working very hard behind the scenes for the past three years as we made our way through the pandemic, however this information is not supposed to be behind the scenes!!! It is the task of the whole congregation to approve the budget for 2023 together. We want everyone to be aware of our current finances and financial trends and to hear about the joys and struggles of AUC in the present moment. Everyone is welcome at this meeting, long time folks and brand new folks are all welcome to this important meeting.


3. Easter Services- 
Good Friday we will gather for our service at 10:30 and then the eccumenical Walk of the Cross takes place at 12:00 and begins outside Almonte Baptist Church on Reserve St. (I am looking for someone who would be willing to do a reading as part of this service, please let me know ASAP if you can help!)
Easter Sunrise Service- We will have an outdoor service on Easter Sunday, April 9th at 7:00. This will (probably) take place by the Town Office on Perth St. (if the snow is gone) 
Easter Communion- At 10:30 we will have our Easter Service with the celebration of Communion. 


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary 

Hello,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. What a wonderful time as signs of Spring are popping up all over. This is one of my favorite times of the year. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening this Sunday?
2. Annual Congregational Meeting 
3. Easter Services 


1. This Sunday we will be hearing from Ezekiel 37:1-14, the valley of the dry bones. Following the service everyone is invited to join for a time of coffee and fellowship in the Social Hall. 


2. Annual Congregational Meeting- Our Annual meeting is going to be immediately following the service on Sunday, April 2nd. This is an opportunity to approve the budget for 2023 and to have important conversation about the life of the church. Everyone is encouraged to attend. There is no need to be a long time member or a recent participant. We would love to see as many people as possible at the meeting. 


3. Easter Services- 
Palm Sunday is Sunday, April 2nd. 
Good Friday we will gather for our service at 10:30 and then the eccumenical Walk of the Cross takes place at 12:00 and begins outside Almonte Baptist Church on Reserve St. (I am looking for someone who would be willing to do a reading as part of this service, please let me know ASAP if you can help! Thanks!!) 
Easter Sunrise Service- We will have an outdoor service on Easter Sunday, April 9th at 7:00. This will (probably) take place by the Town Office on Perth St. (if the snow is gone) 
Easter Communion- At 10:30 we will have our Easter Service with the celebration of Communion. 


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary 

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. We're having fun with the Lenten Challenge, which is to attend worship for the Season of Lent, aiming for participation not perfection. Not to worry if you can't make it, but if you can we would love to see you!
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday? 
2. Annual Meeting - April 2nd 


1. This Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent. Our Scripture Reading will be 1 Samuel 16: 1-13 the story of Samuel anointing David. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship. 
2. Annual Congregational Meeting- Our Annual Meeting is going to be on Sunday, April 2nd following the Sunday morning service. This is a important meeting, as we have not gathered in person for a full meeting for several years. It is an opportunity to be together for conversation and questions about the current status of the church. We will approve the budget for 2023 and appoint some new people to the Church Council. This meeting is for everyone connected to AUC in any way, there is no requirement to be a member or an active participant. Please let me know if you will be attending. 


Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,
Mary  

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a good week. We had such a great time last Friday at the World Day of Prayer. It was great to be able to open the church up to the community for an eccumencial event. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. Save the Date - Spring Plant Sale 
3. Lenten Challenge. This Sunday- Is the third Sunday in Lent. Our scripture passage is John 4: 5-42 Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship. 

2.Save the Date for the Spring Plant Sale- We will be having a Plant Sale on Saturday May 20th. We will be looking for donations of plants to sell as well as some volunteers to help with the sale. 

3. Lenten Challenge- Our challange for Lent this year is to (as far as possible) join in worship on Sunday mornings for Lent and then Good Friday and Easter morning. Thank you to everyone who is joining in the challenge! The idea is to aim for participation not perfection. It's been wonderful to see some familiar faces in the pews and to have that noisy buzz before the service begins when everyone is gathering together. 

Thanks for reading, See you Sunday,

Mary 

Good morning,

I hope everyone is having a nice week. Adam, Maria and I had a wonderful time on our family vacation to Mexico. Maria spent the whole week swimming, which is her favorite thing to do. 
Keep reading to learn more about:
1. What's Happening This Sunday?
2. World Day of Prayer 


1. This Sunday we will be celebrating Communion together. Our Scripture Passage will be John 3: 1-17 the story of Jesus and Nicdemous. Following the service there will be a time of coffee and fellowship in the social hall. 


2. World Day of Prayer- The Almonte World Day of Prayer service is happening here at Almonte United Church tomorrow at 1:00. This is an international eccumenical event open to everyone and hosted each year by a different local church. There will be light refreshments following the service. Eleanor Rintoul and I are organizing the service and we need a few helpers to pass out bulletins as folks arrive. If you can help, just let me know. 


Thanks for reading, See you soon,
Mary