AUC Weekly Newsletter from Rev. Heather for March 5, 2026

Good Cloudy Morning to All:

Isn’t Mother Nature wonderful as we watch those feathery snowbanks crystallize and shrink before our very eyes? And also that that some sugar makers have boiled sap already! Yum! Yum!

Mega congratulations to our wonderful Youth Group on their Walk in Carleton Place last Saturday night; with congregational help, over $1500. was raised for youth homelessness. 🤙🤙

This Sunday, March 8th at 10:30 am: A brief worship service in the sanctuary followed by the Annual Congregational Meeting in the Dining Hall where refreshments will be served; this will be followed by a very interesting presentation on “Looking Forward to ‘35.” Please plan for a very special and educational Sunday.

The Annual Report is posted on the AUC website; please copy, read, and bring to the Annual Meeting.

The Proposed Budget for 2026 can be found in the Annual Report section of this webpage.. Again please print it and bring to the congregational meeting. And many thanks to Bob Lesser and Bob Watson for all of their financial expertise!

AND Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night🕖🕖🕖

Bountiful Blessings to All,

Rev. Heather 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

AUC Weekly Newsletter from Rev. Heather for February 19, 2026

Good Sunny Day to All:

First a brief report on the great pancake luncheon last Sunday at AUC. It was a superb success with a fantastic group of all ages: preparing pancakes, sausages, etc., setting and decorating tables, sharing the delicious meal….and, of course, the final cleanup. Many, many thanks to ALL who made it such a fun and delicious event😍

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday so we are now in the somber season of Lent.
This Sunday our Scripture lesson is the story of Jesus’ temptations in the desert from Matthew 4:1-11.

Next week on Saturday, February 28th, our Youth Group and friends will be walking in Carleton Place for an event called ‘The Coldest Night of the Year’ to raise money for youth homelessness in Lanark County. If you are interested in supporting our team in any way, please call the church office.

Also please mark March 8th on your calendar for our Annual Congregational meeting immediately after worship followed by a special presentation about future church endeavours.

And finally, it’s great news that the cast on my right arm was removed on Tuesday! Many thanks to ALL who assisted me over these past several weeks; I really appreciate all of your generosity and kindness. And as a symbol of their love and caring, this bouquet of flowers was made for me by our AUC Sunday School children. What an awesome gift of joy!

Let us continue to hold those who are sick, grieving or hurting in any way in our thoughts and prayers.
Blessings to all from Rev. Heather. 🙏😍

AUC Weekly Newsletter from Rev. Heather

for February 12, 2026

Hello Dear Friends:

Happy Family Day weekend to all: I hope everyone has a great fun day in the snow or whatever you choose to do. ☃️☃️ This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Epiphany season; the Scripture lesson is Matthew 17:1-9, the Transformation of Jesus on the mountaintop. Also this Sunday, we will be celebrating the beginning of Lent with a Pancake Luncheon immediately after worship. Bring your appetite for all the goodies including pancakes, maple syrup, sausages, fruit and beverages. Please mark on your calendar that on Sunday, March 8th, we will be holding the Congregational Annual Meeting followed by a special event: “Looking Into the Future of the Church.” And the broken elbow? I see the surgeon next Tuesday; it’s still in a cast. I expect it will get a fleeting glance and advised to carry on! Take good care. Mega Blessings from Rev. Heather 🙏

AUC Weekly Newsletter from Rev. Heather for January 22, 2026

Hello All:
A lot of wonderful events have happened at the Almonte United Church since our last message:
—-an most inspiring candlelight service on Christmas Eve with all the pews filled;
—-an informal service in the hall with lots of music and goodies on December 30th;
—-Communion and prayers for the New Year on January 4th;
—-Celebration of Epiphany (the visit of the wise men) on January 11th and the Baptism of Jesus on January 18th, with
the return of our wonderful organist, choir, SS children, leaders and youth for these services.

This Sunday, January 25th: our own Rev. John Peters will be leading worship. The Gospel lesson is the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-12. This is Birthday Cake Sunday celebrating our January birthdays so please plan to join in the celebrations at coffee time in the upper hall.

And finally, many of you know that on Saturday, January 10th, I fell and broke my elbow while carrying a box of small vases. Ask the witnesses! It was quite a dramatic scene: the helpless minister lying at the bottom of the stairs among many shards of broken glass! Many, many thanks to the helpers who rescued me!
My day surgery is this Thursday, Jan 22nd at the Montfort Hospital. Many, many thanks to ALL who have supported me in so very many ways; everything is very much appreciated.
Rev. John Peters has kindly offered to do pastoral care during my absence; please don’t hesitate to call him in case of emergency at 613-601-2148 or Virginia at the Church Office at 613-256-1355. I will be keeping Virginia updated on my progress!
That’s all for now! I hope you are able to know God’s healing, hope and peace in the midst of this cold, snowy January.
Blessings to all, Rev. Heather 🙏❤️☃️

PS: Two amaryllis bulbs brightening this gray day.