Elgin Portland United Church Council
Happy Birthday to Ron Pyne and Lauren Halladay. May their special day be extra enjoyable.
Although it should be every day, make a special effort to celebrate Earth Day, April 22nd.
Ted Brett celebrated his birthday this week at the monthly breakfast. His day was made special by the staff at the Junction brought out his breakfast with a candle.
The Bible Discussion Groups meet on Monday at 6:30 pm at Portland UC & Tuesday at 10:00 am in Elgin at the Guthrie House. All are welcome. Info: ccjimbarton@gmail.com or 613-328-4089/
April 20 – Easter Sunday
- Sunrise Service at Carl Leggett’s Farm – 6:30 am
- Continental Breakfast at Portland following Sunrise Service
- Portland Easter Service with Communion – 9:15 am
- Elgin Easter Service with Communion – 11:00 am
April 27 is the second Sunday of Easter. It is also Camping Sunday and Holy Humour Sunday; therefore, it would be a good Sunday to wear your casual—camping, fishing, relaxed—clothes to church. Thanks, Norma Wrightly, LLWL.
Devotional Reflection
April 19, 2025
Today’s devotional comes from the heart of my son. He is forever fixing things. Since moving to this area, his personal belongings have been a bit scattered.
As an electrician, most of the tools he uses are fairly expensive. And he has been able over the years to accumulate a number of duplicate tools. For this reason, when he grabs one of his tools, he does not necessarily use the same one each time.
In recent months, his apartment was broken into. Many of his tools went missing. It would seem the thief liked most of his best tools.
With this loss, you might expect that would deter my son from doing electrical work. Not so! The picture I include this week is proof of this.
Left with the rustiest pliers I have seen, he worked away. And finished the job.
There is more than one lesson in this illustration. How many times in our lives have we thought we cannot accomplish the task we have because we have less than the best of tools. Or we become discouraged that a task is more difficult. We may even think it senseless to try.
Of course, there is the contrasting side of this. You may have the best of all equipment, but you still fail to complete the task. Or perhaps that one item you need appears to be lost. We are masters at excuses. Yet, I believe there are indeed times when we feel less equipped to tackle the task we have been given.
You will not be surprised that I must talk about the mandate we all have as Christian disciples. We have been given the best tools. We have a Risen Saviour. His life’s work is at our fingertips. But we ignore it. We struggle needlessly.
Determination is tough. It takes hard work to accomplish even the smallest task if we are not prepared, if we haven’t read the instructions.
Eastertime for me is like having a second chance. It’s like taking the rustiest of tools (myself), and realizing that I am still wanted, still needed.
The disciples wrestled with this. Their Best Equipment had gone. They felt like they had been robbed. Then Jesus came and reminded them of the future hope. They now had to remember what they had been taught. It would take time. Their discouragement didn’t just vanish. But along the way, they began to realize they had the Best within them. Christ had made them a promise. They would not be left on their own.
And the thief I mentioned earlier? He still lurks in the shadows waiting for the time to pounce, and break into our very lives.
Scripture says, put on the full armour of God. I have to tell you – this is not easy. It takes effort. You may be a bit rusty, maybe even desire to forget the task.
My son tells me clearly – “Even this rusty person can make a difference. I will not give up. I will keep trying. And one day I will feel that what the Lord has called me to do, I will do!”
You are blessed and loved.
Liz Church,
Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge