Faith in Action – September 18, 2024

Current Needs:

Taking Care of Each Other – It’s that time of year again!  In lieu of up-to-date guidance from public health and in order to keep each other safe, we ask that you do not come to the church if you are feeling under the weather. All of our worhip services can be viewed under the Worship tab above, or by visiting our YouTube channel! 

Singers Needed for the Worship Choir – The Worship Choir has started practicing and welcomes you to join them!  Practices are on Thursdays from 7:45-9:15 p.m.  If you enjoy the music in worship and like to sing, please consider adding your voice to our choir!

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!  Each Sunday we livestream the service, which is then posted on our YouTube channel. This is an important outreach of our church as the service recording usually has 40+ weekly views (our service from last week has had over 60 views so far!). 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.

Food Cupboard – Thank you to everyone who donated food during September!  We are still in need of the following items:  pasta, sauces, canned meat and fish, and peanut butter.  Please leave your donations in the upstairs kitchen. The items in our food cupboard are shared with people in our neighbourhood as needed.

Support for West Broadway Community Ministry
– Cookies – “THANK YOU” for your ongoing support in bringing in cookies for WBCM!  If you are donating cookies, please label the package “FOR WEST BROADWAY” and bring your donation to the church during office hours.  Cookies for our September visit to West Broadway are needed by September 23.  Homemade cookies are always a hit and any help you can provide is greatly appreciated!
– October Food Collection – In support of World Food Day, on October 6, 13 and 20 we will be collecting food items to share with West Broadway.  Items most needed are canned meat/fish, peanut butter, and cheez whiz, but other non-perishables will also be accepted.
– Volunteers needed – West Broadway Community Ministry staff are experiencing a time of great need in the community and have a request. They are in dire need of volunteers in many capacities. Their program serves dinner from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday to Thursday and they offer other drop-in programs during the week. If we could help them out in any way it would be greatly appreciated. If you can help, please contact Tara Zajac at (204) 774-3957 or email wbsitelead@1justcity.ca. Tara is the site manager and would welcome any help that you can provide.
– Toiletries needed – The WBCM Drop-in is also very low on hygiene products given out in the community—body wash, shampoo, toilet paper, sanitary items.  If you have items to donate, please leave them in the box just inside the church doors and we will deliver them to West Broadway.

Book Sale – On September 8, book sale raised $108.95!!  Our next book sale will be on Sunday, October 20, before and after worship.  Payment is by donation, so bring your spare change and come early to browse!

Food Handlers – We are looking for approximately 4 people to take the food handling course so that we have a good number of people who are current in their certification.  More information can be found at:  MB Food Safety Course  If you are interested in taking the course, please let the office or Margot Baldwin know.

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 smile is the first thing people see as they come in the door and your welcome makes a big difference to new-comers, returning folk and regular members!

Offering Counters – As we move through the fall season, we are 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.  All training is provided. Offering counters work in pairs and sign up for the weeks that are convenient for their schedules.  Add your name to the sign-up sheet or 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!

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.

Fall Bar-b-q Lunch – Don’t forget to buy your tickets to support our Fall Bar-b-q lunch on Sunday, September 29!
Tickets are available to purchase on Sunday, September 22 and Sunday, September 29, but tickets are limited so get yours soon!

U.C.W Groups – U.C.W. stands for United Church Women and we currently have 2 groups which meet monthly.  These groups discuss current topics of interest to members and the larger church and support each other and the ministry of Windsor Park United.  If you would like to join on of these groups, please call the church office.

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.  Sort through some of your old photos and share your story (please note that the photo does not have to be a “wartime” photo)!  If you find a photo/artifact 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…

Ovens –  After many years of service, our ovens had become temperamental and in need of replacing. We are grateful for the new ovens which have recently been installed in the downstairs kitchen!

Beyond Our Walls…

Celebration of Life Service for Rev. Dr. Robert Galston – There will be a celebration of life service for Rev. Bob Galston at Charleswood United Church on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.
The service will also be livestreamed by going to Charleswood United’s YouTube channel and clicking on the Live tab: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKme5ppIl_Yqg94Pk3AmSA

Passing of former moderator Lois Wilson – With great sadness, The United Church of Canada announces the death of The Very Rev., The Honourable Dr. Lois M. Wilson, the denomination’s 28^th Moderator, and the first woman to fill the role.  She faithfully served as Moderator from 1980 to 1982. Rev. Wilson died in hospital in Fredericton, NB, on September 13, 2024. She was 97 years old. Learn more at: https://united-church.ca/news/trailblazer-lois-wilson-dies-age-97

Watch a video of Lois speaking about climate change (posted 2014):

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day – Honouring Orange Shirt Day/ National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Sunday, September 29, you are invited to wear an orange shirt to worship. “When you wear an orange shirt it’s like a little bit of justice for us Survivors in our lifetime and recognition of a system we can never allow again.” -Phyllis Webstad

On Monday, September 30, 2024 there will be events at many venues throughout the city.  Orange Shirt Day/ the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an important public space for truth-telling and for commitments to challenging ongoing colonization.  The main public event starts with a Pipe Ceremony at The Forks at 10 a.m. followed by a walk at 11 a.m. to the Convention Centre. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

See the Moderator’s Orange Shirt Day message below:

Seniors 4 Climate Action –  On Tuesday, October 1, there will be an event at The Forks. The Prairie to Pine Executive has endorsed this event at the request of Seniors 4 Climate Action, and also recommends that the members of the Region look at their site. “We are seniors deeply alarmed by the climate crisis. Our goal is to build a cross Canada community of seniors to create a liveable future. We need faster and better climate action. The Expo will be an opportunity to meet and have discussions with Winnipeg seniors and to browse 30 exhibits providing all kinds of solutions to help us all move forward. Our event is one of 60 planned across the country by Seniors for Climate.” Please watch for those events. Additional information is available in this great short video promoting the events and seniors’ participation in the movement; and at Seniors 4 Climate and Consider Climate Manitoba.