Elgin Portland United Church
Dear Lord, we continue to lift up to you all those who are ill, on their journey to recovery, are troubled or in despair. Hold them close we pray and comfort them with your grace.
An Easter prayer:
Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!!! The Lord is Risen indeed! Hallelujah!!!
Is Hallelujah your real and honest answer? … Or do you say it just because the book said to? … Is your real answer: Who cares? …. What difference does it make in my life? … No big deal.
You may be expecting me to refute that statement … the truth is, for many people, Easter makes little or no difference in their lives and that is very sad.
Few of us remember those Sundays that come the week after Easter. By then the finery is packed away in our closets. The lunch is not as great. The anticipation for worship together has dropped down from the high we felt just a week before. There is most certainly less excitement.
It’s easy to forget that the Easter morning of A.D. 33 didn’t come with big hats, bowties and bountiful feasts. The disciples huddled together in fear, not faith. They tended their wounds, not displayed their finery. And then —only then — they worshiped Jesus.
They worshiped Jesus not because of what they had to offer, but because he offered hope in their worlds. He was the undeniable fact that the grave had not won, that death had been defeated, that the guilt and power of sin had been slain. Jesus stepped into their space in the same way he steps into ours by his Spirit.
He came/comes as the one whose glory is not contrived by our praise, but whose glory compels our praise — even today, even on these “normal” Sundays.
Or, perhaps, he compels our praise especially on the normal Sundays because we’re reminded that worship is not about us bringing our best, but about finding Him as better. We come to Him who first came to us. And we come not to give, but to receive. We come as those who need to hear His voice, feel His nearness, know His love.
Amen.
March 31st – Easter Sunday Rev. Nancy Clarke PUC: 9:15 a.m. and EUC 11 a.m.
SUNRISE SERVICE
Easter Sunday Morning, March 31st. The service will commence at 6:30 a.m.. It will be held at the top of the hill at Carl Leggett’s farm. Carl is providing a wagon ride up the hill and David and Rhonda Eliott will be there taking care of the fire. Following the service, we will return to Portland United Church where a Continental Breakfast is provided. Resurrection Morning – HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Young at Heart Breakfast Club.
The YAHBC next meeting will be Thursday the 18th of April at the usual time and place. More information coming closer to the date.
The folks that come enjoy themselves. If you haven’t come yet come and join us. Ted
Bible Discussion Groups
Readings for this week are Luke 18-24. All are welcome to join a Bible discussion group and bring along ANY questions you may have. Two meetings weekly at Portland UC (Monday evenings at 6:30) and the Elgin meeting will be at the Elgin UC (Tuesday morning at 10am). Whether you follow this week’s readings or not; whether you’ve ever read the Bible or not; this is the place to learn how to read and understand the word of God. For info contact Jim at ccjimbarton@gmail.com or 613-328-4089.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Elgin United Church
We keep all who are ill, troubled or in despair in our prayers that God continues to offer comfort and peace through His grace.
Happy Birthday to Dylan Carbino, April 1st, and Madeline Halladay, April 5th. May each of your special days be more than you could ever imagine. Blessings.
Elgin United Church Council
Portland United Church
As always, you are invited to drop in weekly on Thursdays to Chit Chat, downstairs between 10:30 and 12:00 noon.
Please keep the Seward family and close friends in our prayers.
Cheryl Stoddard is now residing at Hilltop Manor in Merrickville. Please remember Cliff and Cheryl in your prayers.
Thursday, April 11th is the UCW AGM in Carleton Place at Zion United Church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Rodney (former minister at Elgin/Portland United) is the guest speaker. If you would like to join us at this meeting, please contact Connie Cochran at 613-220-7914 to participate in a carpool. Cost is $20.00 for lunch and snacks. A donation to the Food Bank would be appreciated.
Several religious books and children videos’ have been donated to the Portland United Church library. Please check them out and borrow them as you wish.
Looking for a pleasant activity for a Sunday afternoon? The Bells of St. Paul’s, and guests Don McLean, Brad Mills, and High Octane are pleased to invite you to Perth on Sunday, April 21st for this lovely afternoon filled with wonderful music. This community bell choir welcomes ringers from the wider community, including Jane Pickard and Jan Haskin of Portland. We do hope you will join us!
An advance planning event:
This is a notice of the second annual ecumenical worship service and potluck event held at Bethel United Church. Last year, we had a lovely time with about 45 people with 7 different churches represented. The sentiment “we should do this more often” was heard many times.
So, we are!
Bethel United Church would like to invite you to be part of this on July 7 beginning at 4:30 PM. We will have an informal worship service, that I hope all of you can participate in, and it will be followed by a ‘true’ potluck supper. Last year the tables were groaning with food!!! I’m considering using Matthew 18:30 “Where 2 or 3 are gathered….” and that we can specifically address rural and small church issues.
Portland United Church Council
Devotional Reflection
March 30, 2024
Have you ever noticed that things are not always as they seem. This morning, I took the above picture, looking out the kitchen window at my daughter’s house. Before me, there were a pair of cardinals. I was able to capture a picture as you see it above.
Do you notice anything about it? As I examined it, I wondered what was wrong with the cardinal. Why were his tail feathers so long?
And then, on closer examination I realized that on the tree in front of him were a few dead autumn leaves, lingering on the branches of the tree and some new sap running down the bark on the tree. My camera lens had fooled me into thinking those leaves and sap were an extension of Mr. Cardinal’s tail.
Have you ever fallen to prey to what you thought was a perfect job opportunity, one with all the benefits. Your interview goes well and the promises given you, brought a sense of excitement. You take the job. A few months in to it you begin to realize the flaws, broken promises, dishonesty. And you are crushed to the core – so much potential but it was false.
Or maybe you walked into what appeared to be the perfect house; move in ready, so to speak. On the surface, everything is amazing. You purchase it and moving day goes smoothly. And then a rainstorm hits. The basement begins to fill with water, the windows make whistling noises as the wind whips around outside. The next day you discover the reasons for the water overflow. The city is called and the sewer needs to be dredged, a tree root has tangled itself into the pipes. Hidden to the inexperienced eye, the ‘buyer beware’ sign did not flash in bright Neon colours. There was nothing in the description that prepared you for these flaws. A new paint job covered many imperfections! Your expectations of honesty left you feeling deflated and somewhat annoyed.
I got to thinking. How many times I have experienced a similar event in my spiritual life. I see a perfect path; I begin the journey; and then realize I’ve been lured into something of a trap. Perhaps it is my own waywardness, my own emotions, my self-willfulness. It could be so many things. An easier way is very alluring; attraction to bigger and better!
This is definitely the season when I think most of the cost of discipleship, the necessity to re-evaluate my spiritual life.
When Christ came into Jerusalem on that Passion Sunday, He was totally aware of His surroundings. The crowds that gathered appeared to be all for Him. Many that day were lulled into complacency as they spread their cloaks for Him and waved palm branches, hailing the Messiah.
But all too soon, the truth would be revealed. As Jesus and His followers sat to partake in the Last Supper together, even then all seemed to be going smoothly, until that moment when the Lord spoke of one who would betray Him.
And of course, there is the Garden scene. The disciples came to be with Jesus. They were anxious to spend time with Him. Yet, they fell asleep.
Many who were involved that first Easter Holy Week, could not see clearly all the events that would take place. Without faltering, they sang Hosanna and hailed their King – until they didn’t. The truth of what lay before them became a scary reality. To them, the promise of a Messiah was falling apart.
But in a few short days, they would better understand. It could not be mistaken for anything else. Jesus, proclaimed through the ages, really did come; their promised Messiah was among them; the picture before them no longer flawed: “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our sin; surely, He bore our sorrow; and by His stripes we are healed.”
There is no mistaking an empty tomb!
HE IS ALIVE! HE IS RISEN!
Know that you are loved.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge