Elgin Portland United Church
Bible Discussion Groups
Reason to read the Bible #14: The Bible is truth. John 17:17 “Sanctify them [the church] in the truth; your word is truth.” There are two weekly meetings: Portland UC on Monday at 6:30; and Elgin UC on Tuesday at 10 am. Please join us for info contact Jim at ccjimbarton@gmail.com or 613-328-4089.
The Lyndhurst Turkey Fair celebrates its 30th Anniversary on Saturday September 21st between 10 am and 4:30 pm. They are looking for volunteers for the day of the fair. Call Diane Joliffe at 519-389-7797 if you are interested. The fair lottery funds this year will be going to the Sweet’s Corners Elementary School Playground equipment Fundraiser.
Elgin United Church
Only three more weekends to visit the Elgin and Area Heritage Society’s Clifford Pennock Remastered: A New Lens on South Crosby exhibit at the Red Brick School in Elgin. 126 remastered photos of the some 1,400 images by this early 1900s iconic photographer. You will be amazed at his “before his time” artistry. The exhibit is open 10-3 Saturdays and Sundays through Sept 1st. Also visit the EAHS Website: eahs.ca or our FB Channel: Elgin and Area Heritage Society.
Join your family and friends at the Elgin Heritage Park at 2 pm on Sunday, August 25 as the Elgin and Area Heritage Society presents Music in the Park with the Beverley Trio. Bring a chair, no rain date.
Elgin United Church Council
Portland United Church
The Portland Food Bank proudly presents
“We’re Singing for Their Supper”
An afternoon of wonderful music performed by
various Rideau Lakes and area musicians.
Sunday, September 8, 2 p.m. at Portland United Church
This is a fund-raiser for the Portland Food Bank.
A free-will offering will be received. Receipts for tax purposes will be issued for donations of $20 or more. Refreshments. More details to follow. Norma Cummings
Portland United Church Council
Devotional Reflection
August 17, 2024
Have you ever noticed that when you want to look up a simple issue on the Internet, you are easily led down the rabbit-hole of more information than you need to know, or will remember. It happens all the time.
Try looking up a recipe for instance – scalloped potatoes! Within seconds you are reading about cheesy scalloped potatoes, healthy scalloped potatoes, gluten free scalloped potatoes.
The list goes on – scalloped potatoes that are made with cauliflower, sweet scalloped potatoes, using rice instead of potatoes. Anyway, you get the picture. Nothing is clear-cut.
So today I wanted to make a comparison between two issues. Both are a bit scary; at least for those who are experiencing them. You heard me mention a number of times about the black dots. Well, I’m not going to scar you with more black dots. Oh no! It’s more like brown spots. And I don’t mean freckles! Although they have been referenced as such!
That is – until you start creeping up (or down) the age ladder. AGE SPOTS!
They can start earlier than we might imagine, but certainly, most of us will experience them in our lifetime.
For most, we give little heed to them, even expect them. According to the Internet though we can prevent many of them from happening by protecting ourselves from the sun, by wearing protection and such things as that.
Now I mentioned two scary issues. Take the time to look at those age spots. Go ahead, right now. Stop reading for a moment and take a close look at yourself. And for just a moment, think about these spots. What if you looked at those spots and thought about them in light of your spiritual life.
I’m sure you, as I do, want to live a good, healthy, spiritual life. Doing your best to present yourself before God as a vessel that has been dedicated to service for Him. But somewhere, on the journey, you have stayed too long in situations that have left you scarred, or wrinkled or worn down – those ‘brown spots’ are the marks left behind.
If you look up the Greek word for spot, it would reveal the word blemish, or defect. Interestingly enough, did you know there are references in Scripture that refer to this type of thing as well? I’m sure you’ve heard then before. Both Ephesians 5:27 and again in 2 Peter 3:14 we have words that talk about the church being presented without spot, wrinkle or blemish. 
My dear friends, those spots, or blemishes or wrinkles that we have acquired may be reminders of exactly what we need to remember! There is a reason that God had to send His Son. In our imperfect lives, we could not save ourselves. We could not erase the spots, faults, the blemishes left from sin. Jesus did that for us so that we could stand before a perfect God and rejoice. We are presented without our imperfections, but as pure and holy in the sight of God.
What a mighty God we serve.
You are blessed. You are loved.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
