Elgin Portland United Church
Advance notice JAN 25, 2025 our Canadian Women in Song troupe plays the Joshua Bates Centre, Athens. Get your tickets early. joshuabatescentre.com
Bible Discussion Groups
Reason to read the Bible #16: The Bible reveals the futility of our worldly pursuits, compared to pursuing Spiritual matters. Ecclesiastes 1:14 “Behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.” Two meetings each week: Portland UC on Monday at 6:30; Elgin Community Room, Tuesday 10am. 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.
Y@HBC…… The Young at Heart Breakfast Club will meet again on Thursday the 19th of September at 9 am at the Junction restaurant. Complete information the week before. All are welcome……….Ted
Elgin United Church
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Takouhi and Gary Petro, Sept 3rd. Best wishes and blessings.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marion Steacy, Sept 5th. May you enjoy a wonderful day.
Elgin United Church Council
Portland United Church
UCW Meeting September 10th at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
THE PORTLAND UNITED CHURCH FAMILY IN 2025
Let’s hear from every PUC family as we look towards celebrating the 100th anniversary of UCC.
Why did you decide to call PUC ‘home’? When did you 1st come to PUC? How long has it been your church -does the connection go back a generation or more in your family? Were you baptized, confirmed or married at PUC? If not, where, when, how did you begin your affiliation with UCC in other areas of the country?
Please take a few moments to write your personal and/or your family’s story in order for us to include it in a book and hear it one day in church. By signing the sheet on the bulletin board, we will know how often to schedule each family’s story over the coming months. If you are close to or know of a family that in recent past is no longer with us, please feel free to share their story also.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Details/questions – contact Jane
jpick@kingston.net
Portland United Church Council
Devotional Reflection
August 31, 2024
I am not sure where to begin today, except to say life is full of ups and downs, joy and profound sadness. By way of explanation, I will use 3 experiences .
I had my 2nd successful cataract surgery this week. And the doctor’s speech of last week did not change – ‘Don’t do any heavy lifting, or jarring exercises, no unnecessary bending over.’ Of course, me being me, that advice only lasted an hour. I tripped over a curb, falling face forward on to a sidewalk, miraculously, missing my face – joy at a successful surgery, sadness that I may have damaged it.
2nd experience – What a great summer this has been for me! Having my grandchildren with me for 7 weeks was amazing. This week I had to say good-bye and they left for their home in Nova Scotia – joy for a wonderful summer, sadness at their leaving me.
This 3rd experience is about an elderly friend who lives in my apartment building. She too had spent a lovely summer with her family. She and her youngest son had spent many days together. David had come to visit from Mexico. He had enjoyed spending the summer with his mother. He had come and moved furniture around, made other changes in the apartment for his mother, making her place so cozy and charming. The weeks flew by and David returned to his home in Mexico. And then a phone call came – David had passed away – a massive heart attack.
As I reflect on these experiences, I remember the sermon from last week – how do you maintain joy in the midst of sorrow?
Is there any sadness more intense than a parent losing a child? In my capacity as a friend, I am able to sit and listen.
As a person who offers pastoral care, I hear the utter shock, I see the shattering truth slowly sinking in, I empathize with her as she sits in disbelief. For the moment, there is little more I offer. Words are never adequate. In the near future I pray for opportunities to support and comfort her.
My dear friends, there have been moments for you, I am sure, when the sadness in life has engulfed you. I pray that during those times you too have found your Anchor in life.
I will take this moment and say to each of you – never walk alone through those times. When you are ready, reach out – there is another who will walk with you – Jesus Himself!
And you can be assured that I too am privileged to be called to walk with you.
You are loved.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge