Faith in Action – August 2024

Current Needs:

Livestream Team – We are looking for another 2-3 people to add to our livestream team.  Interested people will learn how to use the technology to stream the worship service on Sunday mornings.  It is fairly straight-forward and all training/support will be provided!  This is an important outreach of our church as the service recording usually has 40+ weekly views. Please contact the church office or Doug Waldron if you are interested in helping bring our service to those who can’t attend in person on Sunday mornings.

COOKIE BAKERS for West Broadway Community Ministry Meals – “THANK YOU” for your ongoing support in bringing in cookies for WBCM!  If you can bake and donate cookies, please label the package “FOR WEST BROADWAY” and bring your donation to the church during office hours starting August 19.  Preparations for the next visit to West Broadway will be August 25/26.  Homemade cookies are always a hit and any help you can provide is greatly appreciated!

School Supplies  – During the month of August, we will be again be collecting school supplies for schools in need.  School supplies can be dropped off at the church on Sunday mornings, Wednesday afternoons during the Holy Grounds Café, or during office hours, starting August 19.  Supplies will be shared with Frontenac and Archwood Schools in September!

The most useful items are:

–  Pencil cases
– Re-usable lunch bags
–  Duotangs – 3 prong
– Packages of looseleaf
– Pencils
– Student scissors
– Crayola crayons
– Crayola markers – thick and thin
– Crayola pencil crayons
– Hilroy scribblers
– Glue sticks
– New back packs
–  Boxes of Kleenex
–  New binders
– New children’s running shoes

**New items only please!

Greeters – If you would like to be one of our friendly greeters on Sunday mornings, please speak to Alana Davis or call the church office.  Your friendly welcome makes a big difference to new-comers, returning folk and regular members!

Liturgists – While we are between ministers, the role of liturgist is more important than ever! The liturgists are the people who lead the worship service (welcome, announcements, Call to Worship, Prayer of Approach and Scripture readings), arrive early to support the pulpit supply people and help keep things running smoothly each week!  We currently have many of our fall slots filled, but please contact the church office if you would like to be added to our list of liturgists!

Offering Counters – As we move into the fall season, we are again in need of a healthy complement of offering counters. This work involves staying after church on Sunday to tally the givings from the offering plates.  Offering counters work in pairs and sign up for the weeks that are convenient for their schedules. All training is provided.  Leave a message at the church office if you are interested in helping out!

Coffee makers and clean-up crews – Sign up sheets for after-church coffee are up near the office.  Please sign up at least a week in advance.  Even if you aren’t officially “on coffee,” you are welcome to bring goodies to share, or help with the clean up!

Singers Needed this week!  – On Sunday, August 18 and Sunday, August 25, we will be having a “Pop-Up Choir” leading the congregational singing in worship.  If you are curious about the view from front and like to sing, come at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday to run through the hymns for this week!

Worship Choir – The Worship Choir will begin practicing again on Thursday, September 5 from 7:30-9 p.m.  If you enjoy the music in worship, please consider adding your voice to our choir – we need your voice to keep this vital part of our worship viable!

Pastoral Care Group – If you are aware of anyone from our church community who might benefit from Pastoral Care support, you can speak with Sue Turley  (office@windsorparkunitedchurch.com or 204-256-8792) to share discreetly.  If you have some time in your schedule to connect with a shut-in or hospitalized individual from our church community by phone or in person, please reach out to Pat Lumsden (lumsdenpa@mymts.net or 204- 254-6301) for more information.

Funeral Reception Committee – This group serves a reception lunch as needed after Funeral and Memorial Services and is highly valued by families who want to hold their service at the church.  The group sets out and serves the lunch and prepares tea, coffee, etc.  There are also people who come in for clean-up.  This opportunity is open to both men and women as we are sometimes required to move tables/chairs.  Please call the church office or speak to Margot Baldwin if interested.

Remembrance Day service

– This year, as part of our Remembrance Day service, we will be having a slide show of people who served during the wars who are connected to the people of Windsor Park United Church.  Take the summer to sort through some of your old photos and share your story!  If you find a photo to include in the slide show, please send it to laura.wpuc@gmail.com with a description of the person, their role, how they are related to you and anything else you’d like to share with us!

Thank You…

5th Annual WPUC Virtual Garden Tour –
Thank you to everyone who share their photos as part of our 5th Annual Virtual Garden Tour!
This annual event feeds our souls by keeping us connected to the Creation and each other during the summer as we enjoy everyone’s photos! Over 350 people have looked at our Garden Tour this year! If you missed it, go to: WPUC 2024 Garden Tour

MALs – Thank you to the Members at Large and friends who unpacked and set up all of our new chairs in the sanctuary! Join us on a Sunday morning and try them out!

Church and Memorial Gardens– Thank you to everyone who has been taking care of the church gardens over the summer!  The gardens look beautiful!

Beyond Our Walls:

We Hold in Prayer:

The people of Gaza (https://united-church.ca/prayers/prayer-ceasefire)
The 35 million refugees worldwide (https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-refugees
All those affected by forest fires and climate change, including the community of Bunibonibee Cree Nation/Oxford House who are currently under a full evacuation order (https://united-church.ca/prayers/prayer-response-western-wildfires)

News from the United Church of Canada!

Visit the Historic Timeline of the United Church of Canada at: https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/history-united-church-canada/historical-timeline

The home page for all things UCC anniversary is at:  https://united-church.ca/100years

The most recent Centennial Newsletter is: A Celebration of Creativity: Art, Music, and Architecture.  If you would like to receive Centennial Newsletter emails from the United Church of Canada, you can sign up at: https://united-church.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ff2087d5fde243a770ed893a8&id=016a20449c