Elgin United Church
Joanne McLean celebrates her birthday today, Saturday January 14th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joanne.
Elgin Council
Portland United Church
Joan Horsfall celebrated her birthday on Thursday January 12th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joan.
Connie Cochran celebrates her birthday on Friday January 20th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Connie.
February 18th, 2023, Community Breakfast PUC 8 – 11 am
$12.00 per person
Bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, pancakes, and syrup. Coffee or Tea
—–
We are pleased with the news that Rhonda Elliott and Bill Baxter are recovering. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
—–
Emily French left this week for Mukono, Uganda to study for a semester at Uganda Christian University through the Uganda Studies Program. She will be continuing her current studies in Health Sciences, and will have the opportunity to complete an internship as a part of a Global Health emphasis while she is there. Please keep Emily and the other students participating in this program in your prayers, as they adjust to their new environment for the next four months, and seek ways to grow academically, socially and spiritually.
Will, Pauline and Family
Portland Council
Youth Games Night January 19th 6:30 – 8 p.m.
“Cathy Ryan is available for rides if you are interested in going please call 613-272-20 or cryan@rideau.net”.
Rural Ministry Town Hall Meetings
We are always looking for ways to increase our ministry into the community. The United Church is providing Town Hall Meetings and these are available to all. There is no cost involved, except for investment of time. They are held via ZOOM on the last Monday of each month. There will be energizing discussions of the joys and challenges of Rural Ministry. Current needs and how to meet them will most assuredly be one of the main topics. The dates are as follows:
EDGE’s Rural Ministry Town Halls start in January 2023 and run from 3:30-4:30pm Eastern. Register once to get the Zoom link to attend each of them:
- January 30
- February 27
- March 27
- April 24
- May 29
- June 26
- July 31
- August 28
- September 25
- October 30
- November 27
Rural Ministry Town Halls are free for anyone who would like to attend.
Email edge@united-church.ca for more information.
https://catalog.churchx.ca/product?catalog=EDGE2010
This would be a great time to rediscover your place in the building of God’s Church in your community.
Join us and be amazed.
Lori Houle
EDGE: A Network for Ministry Development / Réseau pour le développement des ministères
The United Church of Canada / L’Église Unie du Canada
Devotional Thought – January 14, 2023
Yahweh Yireh: “The Lord Sees and Provides”
I have to tell you I know very little Hebrew. But, every once in a while, I stumble across words that speak to me. So it was when I read these two words: Yahweh Yireh.
At first, there was just a short meaning, The Lord Provides. And that was adequate for me. Further study gave more insight and the depth of love and gratitude I felt to God began to surge through me. “The Lord Sees and Provides” – Can you feel it? Read it again: The Lord Sees and Provides!
As I write these words, my heart is racing. If only you could feel what I’m feeling! I’m not alone. Not even one step do I have to worry about. There He is, walking beside me, carrying me if necessary, holding on to me. He Sees me. He knows my failings. My innermost being is not hidden from Him. I do not need to be afraid. He Sees.
And He Provides! He has provided! The distance from Christmas to Easter in our calendar is very short. The provision made in the birth of Christ is culminated 33 years later in the greatest sacrifice. And to top it all off, Holy Spirit came to stay with us. Every thing provided, just as God promised.
There is a song I have sung many, many times and the words are powerful. The chorus reads:
Holy Spirit, promised Presence fall on me.
Holy Spirit make me all I long to be.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit.
Give Your Power to me O Holy Spirit.
Blessing and peace to each of you.
Liz Church -Pastoral Care Director
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
2 Peter 1: 3 NLT
By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.