Elgin United Church
We are excited to welcome our own Pat Greenhorn as worship leader this Sunday.
Elgin UC has an upright Yamaha piano in excellent condition available. Must be moved soon. Contact Clinton Halladay, 613-359-5607 or clint.sharon@halladay.ca to give it a home.
Alex Price celebrated a birthday Tuesday June 7th. Happy Birthday Alex.
Mackayla Gordanier celebrates a birthday June 13th. Happy Birthday Mackayla.
Michelle Knapp turns ??? on June 16th. Happy Birthday Michelle.
Elgin United Church Council
Portland United Church
We are looking forward to Pat Greenhorn leading our service this Sunday, June 12.
The CEC yard sale in Portland last Saturday raised $3,500 to assist people in the Ukraine. Well done all!
Some of our area young people are graduating and we want to congratulate them and wish them well on their next adventure.
From Grade 8: Allison Gibson, Reegan Hoogwerf
From Grade 12: Leah Welch Turner, Keira Heagle, Halle Bruton, Nathan Horsfall and David French.
If you know of someone graduating, celebrating a birthday or anniversary, please send a note to Connie Cochran @ portlandparadise55@gmail.com. We’d love to include them.
Happy Birthday to David French who turned 18 on June 10, Michelle Knapp on June 16th, and Bob Leblanc on June 22nd.
For those of you who remember Carl Leggett and Sylvia French’s sister Irene and her husband John Leggett, former summer residents of Portland, we send them Happy Anniversary wishes who celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on June 9.
Don’t forget to order your fruit pies (strawberry/rhubarb, cherry, blueberry and raisin)! Order forms on the bulletin board or call Sheila @ 613-272-3531 or Connie @ 613-220-7914. Same price as last year – $18.00. Frozen and ready-to-bake. We’ll call to arrange a convenient pickup time.
There is a PUC Council meeting on June 21st at 7:00 p.m. Fellowship after church will be reviewed once again at the 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.
Welcome back to the office Annette. Glad your surgery was a success. And we are also glad to hear that Dianne Haskins has come through her emergency surgery and is doing well also.
Annette would like to send her thanks to all those who have sent her get well wishes in the form of prayers, cards, phone calls and visits. They all helped to bring encouragement and blessing.
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 – June 11, 2022
My car is about 11 years old and it has carried me through many trips and brought me much joy as I have used it.
Last year I noticed the paint was peeling off on the back hatch, no rust, just paint peeling. Because it was winter, I ignored it for a while and you know the results. More paint peeling off and a bigger repair job. The repair done, I went on my merry way.
Low and behold, this winter has caused some of the same damage, in a different area. And again, the quarter size spot is now grown. What is a person to do? It is not affecting the running of the car, it is unsightly, mostly to me. But I also know that, if left, rust will begin, and further deterioration will continue. So, as the saying goes, nip it in the bud!!!
Doesn’t this just remind you of our spiritual life? We start with great enthusiasm. There is nothing we wouldn’t do to show how great God is. A few years pass, and that opportunity to share your blessings seems to fade. Your prayer life, is a bit ho-hum and the sparkle and shine begins to wane. You see it happening, or maybe it has sneaked up on you. Regardless, you have to do something! So, what is a person to do? I have done some reading and I would like to give you these thoughts.
- Don’t allow your blessings to be stagnant. Share them with others and you will be blessed. John 7:38 tells us that rivers of living water flow through those who believe.
- Check out your blessings. You receive blessings every day that we sometimes don’t identify. Acknowledge these blessings – from friends, from family, from children, from work colleagues, from a store clerk, from a driver on the road, and add to this list as you begin to focus on these blessings.
- Build each other up. As you share with others, you too are blessed.
- Prayer – When you say you will pray for another person, follow through with this and then take the time to let that person know you have prayed for them. You are blessed and they are blessed and God rejoices.
- Walk in faith – You cannot see the end result but believe that God is guiding you. Whether your day has been discouraging or the greatest day of your life, acknowledge this. Be grateful.
- Radiate God’s love – Allow your Christian witness to shine forth by lifting someone up, lend a helping hand, sharing in the joys of another.
- The choice is yours. Do you want to be grumpy, or happy? Do you want to forgive, or seek revenge? Do you want to grow spiritually, or live in defeat? It’s up to you. Choose wisely.
- Be a blessing to another person. Watch out! This will require you to see those around you and be prepared.
One of the little songs I used to sing and that helped me reads like this:
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing.
Out of my life, may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, Saviour I pray.
Make me a blessing, to someone today.
This is meant to be devotional, not a sermon. I trust that as you examine your life this week you will be blessed and renewed in Spirit. And take to heart those few verses from John 13: 34, 35 – “So, now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Your love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”
At this time, maybe only you can see the paint chips or the rust. My advice, don’t let it go, nip it in the bud and live the vibrant Christian life you are called to.
Peace and love to each of you,
Liz Church -Pastoral Care Director
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
Please share this message with your communities of faith, friends, family and community partners.
We’re back for in person day camp in the Ottawa area!!
Camp Dates and Locations:
Week 1: July 11 – 15, 2022 – Bells Corners UC
Week 2: July 18 – 22, 2022 – Barrhaven UC
Week 3: July 25 – 29, 2022 – Emmanuel UC
Week 4: August 2 – 5, 2022* – Online Camp
Week 5: August 8 – 12, – Rideau Park UC
Registration fee: $150/wk including before and after care (8:30am-4:30pm)!!
To register go to www.camp-awesome.ca
We’re hiring staff too! Check out the website for further information.
If you are interested in learning more about Camp Awesome and possibly hosting one in your community please contact Kristy Drost at campawesomeottawa@gmail.com.
Dana Ducette
(She/Her)
Minister, Youth and Young Adults (YAYA)
Eastern Ontario and Outaouais Regional Council 12 (EOOR )
Mobile: 613-608-8411