Peacefully at his residence on Wednesday September 9, 2026. Bernie Kelly of Portland, in his 90th year.
Beloved husband of Joan (Hutchison) Kelly.
Loving father of Guy (Kendra) Kelly of Elgin. Predeceased by his first wife Donna and son, Kip Kelly.
Dear step-father of Steve (Darlene) Hutchison of Athens, Jeff (Aileen) Hutchison of Toronto and Sue (Andy) Daye of Portland.
Cherished grandpa of Jesse (Sara) Kelly and Brooke Kelly (Cory Lavery) and step-grandfather of Colton, Cierra, Michael, Justine, Ellie, Colin and great-grandfather of Juniper, Caleb, Harper and Sonny. Predeceased by sister; Bebe Kelly.
A Private Family Service will be held at a later date.
As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations made to The Shriner’s Hospital for Children would be appreciated.
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Weekly Announcements
The UCW will be making apple pies on September 24th.
If you would like to help out we’d love to have you. Let Connie know at 613-220-7914.
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Elgin United Church Council is called to meet September 15th at 7 pm at Elgin United Church.
The Young@Heart Breakfast Club meets next on Thursday the 24th of September at 9 am at the Junction Restaurant.
All are welcome and if you are coming let Clint or Ted know by noon Wednesday the 23rd.
Hope to see you there……….Ted
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Please keep Brenda Smith’s daughter Lori and their family in your prayers for her success and recovery from chemo treatments she is taking.
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Don’t forget to mark your events on our calendar by the sink in the Friendship Room(PUC) so we all know when the church is booked!
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Lap Quilts. We meet 2nd Wednesday of each month from Sept. to June from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Pillowcases. We meet 3rd Wednesday of each month from Sept. to June from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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Bible Discussion Groups
After a Summer hiatus, meetings resume the week of Sept 14th to explore the book of Revelation. Everyone is welcome. For info contact Jim Barton 613-328-4089.
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Devotional Reflection September 11/26
Whether we like it or not, time is moving on. School has restarted, the noisy beaches are quieting down and life is resuming normalcy (whatever that means!)
Let’s be real about all this. Every year, starting around May, we here in Canada look forward to pushing the pause button. All the summertime fantasies come alive. The air is filled with anticipated fun, freedom and flexibility. Work schedules are adjusted, vacation plans are in full motion and all is well with our reality.
And then, September hits. And we have to release the ‘pause’ button! Vacations are behind us and we recall memories of the summer. The burnout of tight schedules starts to creep in again. And getting back on track is like running through a pit of molasses; slowly progressing through the mire of a scheduled life.
To be absolutely honest, stepping back into the swing of things takes a huge burst of energy. You must focus on finding your groove again.
What exactly does that mean? For the new kindergarten student, he may feel like he is off to ‘college’ like his older brother or uncle. The excitement cannot be contained. His brain is anxiously discovering a whole new world outside of the safety of his home, his family, his daycare.
For the adolescent, she may be facing a new group of friends that will begin to shape her study habits, her daily make-up routine and just how much time she will focus on sports, school work and boyfriends.
For the trades/college/university students, the possibilities are endless as they choose studies, that will lead to paths of future nurses, doctors, engineers, mechanics, electricians, economists and every other profession this world needs – the bright future.
For the next several months, all will be engrossed in the process of education until May comes around again.
The pressure of Day One, the striving for control and perfection, can cause our rhythms to be out of whack. The expectations are high. Schedules may not be exactly right. Our summertime habits need time to adjust to the new reality around us. We may have moments of being tired, energy zapped, and even feeling lost in a whirlwind of activity.
I am reminded of a book I read years ago. It is titled “Between Walden and the Whirlwind’. It was given to me by friend 
who saw my chaotic life and wanted to make sure I was spiritually doing well.
The premise of the book examines the tension between busy schedules and a quiet spiritual life.
That word ‘Walden’ has come to metaphorically mean escaping the noise, crowds, and even society. You look for real meaning and what truly matters.
In the spiritual sense, we all need this place, this “Walden”, this sanctuary – a place to reconnect with ourselves, with nature, and most importantly, with God.
We oftentimes are caught in the Whirlwind – daily demands, responsibilities, all crowding out our personal ‘alone’ time with God.
Just as students must adjust back into a daily routine, we too must make that same effort.
In the book of Isaiah we find it told to us in very poetic fashion – “Streams in the Desert”.
God Himself is the master of fresh starts – He is not expecting instant perfection but wants us to move into a rhythm of giving time to your spiritual life. Find joy in talking with Him. Move one step at a time and He will be right there, clearing the path to your ‘Walden’. Enjoy the journey.
You are loved. You are blessed.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
Walden Pond, located in Concord, Massachusetts, is a 61-acre kettle hole lake formed by retreating glaciers over 10,000 years ago. It is world-renowned as the setting for Transcendentalist author Henry David Thoreau’s classic 1854 book, Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Today, the pond and its surrounding 2,680 acres of forest are preserved as a National Historic Landmark within the Walden Pond State Reservation.