Year End Appeal 2021

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

For over 60 years, the members of Windsor Park United Church have felt God’s call to minister and work within the community of southeast Winnipeg.  Our church has provided value to the area – not only as a place to join others on their faith journey, but also as a place of building community.

But…what if Windsor Park United Church was not here anymore?  

Over the past two years, we all learned that we can’t do faith alone. When the church doors closed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, many of us felt lost and isolated. Over the past 21 months, however, the church has been an anchor for many, grounding us in a sea of change.

So…how has God been working through our church this year?

During the first nine months of the year, WPUC continued to provide online services to those in our church community.  We recorded our services for posting on our website and YouTube channels. Our worship team grew to include, first, the Praise Team and then, the Harmony Singers – a combination of the worship team and the Praise Singers.  We also decided to keep in touch by doing weekly services during the summer to stay connected with the congregation.

The Re-opening Committee continued to discuss Provincial Health recommendations and monitor a possible timeline for opening.  The safety and well-being of the congregation continues to be our highest priority. Protocols were established and safety products purchased so that people could work in the building safely.  A decision was made to open the church to in-person worship on Sunday, October 17, with limited capacity.  From October to December 19, we were able to provide onsite worship to approximately 28 people per week.  We have heard from many people about how much they have appreciated the opportunity to be back to worship in the building.  A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible each week!  A decision was made to keep our online services going as well for those who were not able to attend in person with an average viewership of about 70 per week.  Again, we have heard from people who are unable to attend in person about how much staying connected to the church has helped them during the isolation of the pandemic. 

Our on-line presence has allowed people to maintain a link to the church. Services can be watched at your convenience and shared with others. Our Longest Night/Blue Christmas service was viewed over 60 times, bringing comfort to those feeling the stress of the season. Our Christmas Eve service has been viewed 100 times.  Our virtual community has expanded to include people from all over Canada and the world.

Mid-week devotions from Patrick, as well as the occasional funny story or picture, via congregational emails, have kept people up-to-date and connected to the church.  Sue has kept people informed with weekly updates from the office.  Patrick has also been exploring the world of podcasting under the title of “The Pop-culture (and more) Pastor.”  These podcasts are another way to reach out to the community and hear a friendly voice discussing issues relating to our faith journey!  In the spring, our Community Hub had opportunities for church and community members to access online programming and also hosted an outdoor caroling in Advent.

Because some in the congregation do not have the use of technology, a team of volunteers check-in periodically with folks at home by phone, while others make sure that the Southwinds, full of congregational news and views, is sent out. 

Our little free library has continued to be a blessing to the community. Many people from the church and wider community regularly visit. The butterfly garden was tended by volunteers and brought joy to the neighbourhood with its beautiful flowers.

With our basement completed and protocols in place, some of our community rentals have resumed. Outside groups have been very appreciative of the work done to keep their groups safe while in our building.

Our Outreach Council was again able to share hampers this year. Fifteen hampers were delivered before Christmas. There was also an abundance of donations for the mitten tree, as people have honed their skills during their time at home.  Donations will go to Rossbrook House in Winnipeg and communities in northern Manitoba. As permitted, knitted and crocheted blankets have also been shared with people in the community. Our first Cookie Drive-thru was a success – selling out in under an hour and a half!

Throughout the year, we continued to provide regular support to West Broadway Community Ministry by providing monthly lunches, made by a dedicated team of volunteers. 

As health orders allowed, we have continued to provide support through marriage, baptism, and funeral services to our members and the community. The Memorial Garden continues to offer a beautiful and affordable final resting place for congregation members and their loved ones. We have also been able to post memorial services on our Youtube channel for those who were unable to attend. 

Now, as we near the end of 2021, we need your support more than ever.  Each year, we face the unsettling worry about being unable to cover our yearly expenses.  We are asking you to consider contributing a “year-end gift” to the General Fund of Windsor Park United Church to help cover our deficit for 2021 and give us a strong financial start to 2022.   It’s something we need our entire church community’s help with. 

Even if you can’t make a large gift, know that every little bit helps.  It’s about coming together as a community united in the belief that Windsor Park United Church makes a difference in the lives of those it touches as well as the greater world.  We hope that you’ll consider making a donation to help us continue to move forward with our ministry.

To make a year-end gift:

All donations dated on or before December 31, 2021 will be given a 2021 tax receipt.

Blessings as we move forward into the new year together.

Categories: Councils, General News, Sunday Bulletin and Announcements