Portland United Church
That was quite the storm last weekend! Hopefully you were not too severely affected and without power for too long. Charlotte Hoy led an electrifying service despite the lack of power.
We offer our sincere sympathy to Vicky Zwiers and her family on the loss of her brother Ron Visser this week. Our prayers are with them.
This Sunday Rev. Shaun Seaman will lead our service. Welcome back Shaun!
On June 1st there will be an Official Board meeting at Portland United Church at 7:00 p.m.
The CEC is organizing a community yard sale and a BBQ by the Volunteer Firefighters scheduled to take place at the Portland Community Hall and Hanna Park on Saturday, June 4th . Proceeds are going to help people in the Ukraine. If you would like to reserve a space or donate to this worthwhile cause, please get in touch with Jan Bonhomme at 613-272-5396.
Also, as part of the celebrations on June 4th in Hanna Park, at 11:00 a.m. there will be a dedication of a plaque mounted on a beautiful stone in memory of Doug Good. Come and join us!
Fellowship after church will be reviewed once again at the June 21st Council meeting.
On Tuesday, June 28th the Portland Pealers will host the Community Luncheon at 12:00 noon. Please come out and support this worthwhile fundraiser for the Community Flex Fund at Country Roads Health Center.
It is with a heavy heart that we let you know that Joan Horsfall’s daughter Wendy Turner lost her valiant fight with cancer on May 25th. Our prayers and our sincere sympathy goes out to Joan and her family.
There are two fund-raising concerts planned for this summer:
- County Road 44 on July 16
- Mary’s Merry Minstrels on August 13
Portland United Church Council
Devotional Thought – May 28, 2022
I feel this week has been a tough week for many people involved in our own lives and also for millions around the world. And I am struggling with any kind of perspective that will send out a message of hope, love and quietness to your life.
In our church service last week, Charlotte Hoy shared with us a message of peace. It could not have come at a more apropos time. As your Pastoral Care Director, I am aware of so many in our own congregation who need our prayers – their lives are in turmoil and their faith is being tested – illness, death, job loss, addictions, separation from family, COVID, just to name a few.
Each week we have Prayers of the People during our worship and in our own devotionals, we spend time before the Lord in petition and praise.
And I began to ponder just what it means to ‘pray without ceasing’! In my reading this week I came across a thought about this. Every moment, of every day, we breathe. We don’t have to think about it. I also read that we have something between 20,000 – 85,000 thoughts a day. And an astounding number, 85% of these thoughts, are negative.
So, then I got to thinking. What if we could change that statistic? What if 85% of my thoughts could be positive, prayers to God. Yet, this cannot happen just because I think it is a great idea. It takes practice. So, then I looked up a verse of Scripture that reads like this: ‘Don’t copy the behaviours and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ – Romans 12:2 NLT
I have a challenge for you – each day when you rise, think on God. Flood your mind with His love, His peace. Allow those anxious thoughts and situations in which you have no control to sit in front of you and the Lord. And before long, I believe you will be praying without ceasing, talking with God, giving your situation over to the Lord and knowing His strength, His love and His peace. Allow this thought to permeate your whole being. Be amazed at the power of God.
Peace and love to each of you,
Liz Church -Pastoral Care Director
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge