Elgin Portland United Church
Our prayer list is still growing. Please keep the Pastoral Care Director, Liz Church, or Clint Halladay updated. We keep all who are experiencing trauma, loss, illness, melancholy, or other misfortune, and all caregivers, in our prayers.
Monday Evening Bible Study Group-6:30 Portland UC
This week’s discussions will be based on the daily Bible readings covering the Gospel of Mark chapters 9-16. In case you find evening meetings inconvenient, we are pleased to announce that we are opening a second weekly Bible discussion group in Elgin beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 27th at 10 am in the community room behind the library. All interested people are welcome to join the conversation and fellowship.
John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Council ACM’s and Official Board AGM.
Sunday, February 18th is the date for all 3 meetings.
Portland will have their meeting right after their service. Coffee time will be held downstairs followed immediately by the ACM.
Elgin will have their meeting right after their service. A short break to pick up a sandwich, dessert, and beverage then the OB ACM.
That leaves the Official Board. Elgin figures no more than 30 minutes for their meeting. The only business at that meeting will be approving the reports and the budget which is in the reports.
Ted A/Chair Official Board.
Elgin United Church
Broadview Magazine – Elgin United Church
This is the month for EUC members to renew their Broadview subscriptions. To offset rising costs and lower operating grants, the annual group subscription rate is being raised, for the first time in seven years, to $30. I believe that’s still a great price for a year of Broadview reading!
Current EUC subscribers, please see Mark Bee to pay your subscription fee. You can also e-transfer the $30 to mark.bee@rideau.net if you prefer.
If you’re not a subscriber, we’d be pleased to add you to the list! Broadview is a magazine for people of faith and conscience, focused on national and international issues of spirituality, justice and ethical living as well as United Church of Canada news and perspectives. Formerly the United Church Observer, the magazine was rebranded as Broadview in April 2019. Having had various names in its history, the magazine is now in its 194th year. It was awarded the 2022 Best Interest Magazine from the National Magazine Awards and has been frequently awarded First Place for General Excellence from the Canadian Church Press.
Mark Bee
Happy Birthday Morgan Wright. May you have an awesome day.
Prayer List:
Barb Rowat is progressing positively and is getting around well with a walker. She expects to be discharged in the near future, and some modifications are being made at home to accommodate her.
Joanne McLean came home Wednesday afternoon, a nice Valentine’s Day gift! She is getting around carefully and happy to be home.
June Smith is settling in and enjoying the social interaction at Van Horne Manor in Smiths Falls.
Bradley Edwards – Please keep Bradley and his family in your prayers.
Elgin United Church Council
Portland United Church
Prayer List:
Sheila Campbell, Kay Seward, and Bradley Edwards is still in the hospital.
Kathleen Seward has some serious health issues she is dealing with and sure needs our prayers.
Kathleen wants to thank everyone that came out to see her and celebrate her 90th birthday on February 3rd. Special thanks to Sandra Chant for organizing the event.
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As always, you are invited to drop in weekly to Chit Chat, downstairs between 10:30 and 12:00 noon.
Farmers Breakfast will be held on February 17th from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Portland United Church. Adults are $12.00 per plate and Children under 12 are $5.00 per plate.
March 12th UCW Meeting at 1:30 p.m.
Several religious books have been donated to the Portland United Church library. Please check them out and borrow as you wish.
Portland United Church Council
Devotional Reflection
February 17, 2024
Traditions – this season is filled with them. On Tuesday the first one began. Did you all eat pancakes for supper? Were they homemade, or from a box. Did you add special ingredients like chocolate chips or blueberries? Maple syrup versus corn syrup? Or like our family – warm butter and brown sugar topping. And, for most ‘Capers’, the molasses carton is placed on the table. What a wonderful moment! All the sweetness you could possibly have at one meal.
There are even some strange traditions to be found in these pancakes. Did you know pancakes predict your future? You might find a nail in one, meaning you will become a carpenter. Or a tiny pencil, which broadens your potential to become and artist or an architect. Perhaps a loonie or toonie, predicting wealth.
Who wouldn’t want to hope for a feast and a fortune after your confession of sins? That is really what Shrove Tuesday was all about – the confession and pardoning of your sin. And then to use all the rich ingredients in your house before the start of Lent.
My mind begins to shape a plan for a community to focus on the greatest event in history. Imagine this: It is the Tuesday before Lent. The community awakes to the sound of the church bell. All people are summoned to come. The church is set up with places to pray. Old and young come in, pray, confess their sin and seek forgiveness.
Each hour the church bell tolls, people continue to arrive, stay for prayer and then continue on with their day.
As evening comes, the church hall is packed with those who want to celebrate and remember the Easter Season. In the sharing of a meal together – pancakes galore!
This dream I have for all people, to live together in harmony, is achievable. We have the answer in our hands. Close your eyes, picture the above scenario. And you will have a glimpse of Heaven.
My hymn for this Easter season is ‘To Dream the POSSIBLE DREAM!’ As you walk through your neighbourhood, begin to shape this vision. Pray for each neighbour as you pass their house. Ask God to show you ways to share His message of love and peace.
As you pass your church, imagine the bells ringing to invite all to come and worship, a gathering place, a friendship place, a place of love and caring.
As we enter this Easter Season let us remember the gift of Life we have been given – free to us but purchased at great cost!
Be blessed and refreshed this day.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
