Elgin and Portland Announcements
In our present world of rampant hegemony, may the message of Easter bring you peace, comfort and hope.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sandra Smith and Dave Cooper. May you each enjoy your special day.
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April 3 – Good Friday Joint Service -7:00 pm at Elgin
April 5 – Easter Sunday
An Easter Sunrise Service on the top of Carl Leggett’s drumlin should be on everyone’s bucket list! That said, when rain is forecast such as it is this year, being on the top of that drumlin in the dark and with rain coming down, leaves a little to be desired! As such, Portland UC will host a Joint Elgin-Portland Pastoral Charge ‘Inside’ Sunrise Service at 7:45 a.m.,
followed by a Continental Breakfast.
Portland Easter Service with Communion – 9:15 am
Elgin Easter Service with Communion – 11:00 am
Celebration of life for John Cucheran
We wish to convey to the Cucheran family our condolences on the passing of John, on Friday, March 27th.
The funeral is taking place on Sunday, April 12th at 1:00pm, reception to follow, at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Ave., Vanier ON.
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The Young @ Heart Breakfast Club meets on Thursday the 16th of April at 9 am at the Junction Restaurant.
All are welcome. If you are coming let Clint or Ted know by noon Wednesday, the 15th by whatever means you are comfortable with. See you there………..Ted
Devotional Reflection April 3, 2026
Some people may argue about these things we call miracles.
It is no small miracle when a teenager, driving home from work, on the highway, at night, and feels like something is wrong with her car, does not panic, but starts praying. Not being a mechanic, she continues. Pulling off the highway, she must still travel on some country roads, toward her home. By now, she begins to feel the car tugging to one side. She arrives in her driveway – her Dad, anxiously waiting, looks to see what has happened – the tie rod, falls on to the ground! Her Dad, asks the simple question – ‘Were you praying?’ ‘Of course!’ answers his daughter!
Now I don’t know much about cars either, so when I was told of this miraculous event, I rushed home to talk with Dr. Google AI. Here is the response I got:
“A broken tie rod severs the connection between your steering gear and wheels, causing an immediate loss of steering control, severe wheel misalignment, and usually a sudden collapse of the affected wheel. This critical failure typically makes the car uncontrollable and, if it happens at speed, can cause the front tire to turn sideways, leading to an accident.”
That my friends, leads me to believe, in miracles. And I am sure that many of my readers could tell of a ‘miracle’ event in their lives.
This week has caused me to look afresh at all the miracles surrounding that first Easter. I will share a few with you, adding some Scripture passages as well. Holy Week miracles before the Crucifixion:
- the raising of Lazarus demonstrating Christ’s power over death. John 11:1–44
- the withered fig tree reminding us of the power of faith and prayer. Matthew 21:18–22
- restoring of a severed ear, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:50–51
And while Jesus hung upon the Cross these miraculous events happened: (Matthew 27)
- from noon until 3:00 pm, darkness came upon the land – divine judgment
- at the moment of Christ’s death, the Temple veil tore from top to bottom – humanity now has direct access to God
- a great earthquake in the area – split open the tombs near Jerusalem
And then we have the resurrection of Christ – the ultimate Miracle of the Christian faith. Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–18
- the angel rolling away the stone
- the empty tomb
- after Christ’s resurrection, many of the bodies from the tombs, that had split open, were raised and seen walking in Jerusalem. Matthew 27:51–53
- Jesus appearing to His followers – to Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, to the 11 disciples. Luke 24:31-43
All these miracles, and more can be found in your Scripture. Take the time over this Easter season to be amazed over, and over, and over.
You are blessed, you are loved.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
lizchurch1@hotmail.com