Faith in Action – March 7, 2024

Book Sale – Our next book sale will be before and after church on March 10 (this Sunday!)  This “free will offering” sale is a “small but mighty” fund-raiser! Don’t forget to bring some cash/spare change when you come to church on Sunday!

After church coffee – Thank you to those who have hosted coffee time after church and also to those who have donated treats and helped out with serving/washing up/putting away chairs, etc!  Please use the sign-up sheet for March Sundays so we can let people know when we will be having coffee.  Also, feel free to bring treats for people to enjoy with their coffee! (no sign-up required!)

Offering counters – Thank you to those who continue to answer this call!  We are currently in need of offering counters for March and April.  There is a sign-up sheet by the office and training is available if you want to give it a try!

Pastoral Care Group – Watch for updates and requests from our newly formed Pastoral Care Group.  If you would like to be involved in this group, please contact the office and we will get you connected!

Little Free Library Guardians – As we move into more windy/wet weather, please keep an eye on our Little Free Library.  There is a latch at the bottom of each door to keep the snow/rain out – if you notice the doors are open, please close them so the books don’t get ruined!

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE – SAVE THE DATE and SPREAD THE WORD! –  In support of the local non-profit organization, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, we will be hosting a “Bed Build”.

On Saturday, May 25^th, WPUC volunteers will gather in the church parking lot to provide the labour and work (assembly-line fashion) under the direction of a core group of volunteers from SIHP. All materials and equipment will be supplied that day. Our goal is to build 20 bed frames during the event. We have been assured that NO (CONSTRUCTION) EXPERIENCE is required to participate so please consider helping as you are able. Family and friends (18 years and older) who are interested in volunteering are also welcome. Registration for the build is limited to 20 volunteers so sign up now at the church! 

In addition to the construction of bed frames, we will be collecting bedding prior to the Bed Build. If you find a great deal on (twin-sized) sheets, comforters/blankets, and pillows OR you would like to make a blanket/quilt/afghan in the coming months, all donations will be gratefully accepted. The bedding donations will be presented to the SIHP team for use when the beds are delivered to children in need.

COOKIE BAKERS for West Broadway Community Ministry Meals – “THANK YOU” for your ongoing support in bringing in cookies for WBCM! The guests who come to the site for an evening meal are especially fond of homemade treats—which they seldom get. If you can bake and donate a few dozen cookies of any kind (at any time that suites your schedule), please label the package “FOR WEST BROADWAY” and bring your donation to the church during office hours or before Sunday worship at the church. Gwen or Sue will gratefully accept your donation and store it in the freezer until the next meal preparation/delivery day. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Soup Lunch – Thank you to Maxine and family/friends for hosting a soup lunch on Feb. 18 after church!  And thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy a meal and support this fund-raiser!

World Day of Prayer – Thank you to everyone who came to, or helped organize and host our World Day of Prayer service and time of fellowship following the service.  It was meaningful to be able to view the service with others this year.

Executive Team – Shout out to the Team of Five who have been working tirelessly to keep everything going during the past year – your work is much appreciated!

West Broadway Meal Preparation Crew – As part of our Outreach to the larger community, food is prepared and delivered to West Broadway on a monthly basis.  Thank you to Gwen and her crew who meet to prepare/deliver the food!

Friendly people – Thank you to everyone who has welcomed people to church on Sunday mornings and who make Windsor Park United Church a great place to be!

“Pitch-in Crew” – The “Pitch-in crew” continues to be active!  From tidying and washing-up, setting up tables, helping with coffee after church, to doing many other things “behind the scenes,” we continue to see lots of signs that “we are the church together!” Thank you! You are the unsung heroes of Windsor Park United Church!

Faith Beyond Our Walls:

From Prairie to Pine:

NEW: Help us spread the word: job postings for camps. Will Rock Lake United Church Camp be able to re-open this year?  Many people are counting on it, but they will need to find a camp coordinator (21 or older) by March 15th in order to make that happen.  Wellman Lake UC Camp will also be looking to find staff.  Please help spread the word to any and all who might be interested!  Camps are an important place for children and youth to grow their faith and their circle of friends surrounded by God’s beautiful creation. Click here for these and other summer job opportunities for young adults and youth.

Action: Major concerns about Canada’s military sales to Israel 
United Church people are asked to keep writing our members of Parliament using this action tool or our own letters, as concern grows that Canada’s military exports to Israel may risk complicity in genocide.

In their December 2023 report, “Fanning the Flames: The grave risk of Canada’s arms exports to Israel,” Project Ploughshares reveals that Canadian corporations, with permits granted by the Canadian government, regularly export military hardware and components to Israel. (Project Ploughshares is the ecumenical peace research body related to the Canadian Council of Churches, of which The United Church of Canada is a member.) In fact, when adjusted for inflation, Canadian sales in 2023 were almost as high as the peak year, 1987. Only by ending its military exports to Israel can Canada meet its domestic and international obligations to eliminate violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, including possible war crimes. Learn more by clicking the link above.