Elgin Portland United Church Council
Sunday, May 11th, is Mother’s Day.
Let us stand in unity and celebrate the steadfast compassion and strength of these amazing women.
Elgin United Church congregation is called to meet immediately after worship, Sunday, May 11th, to approve moving forward with the replacement of the church septic system and to receive the resignation of one of our trustees. Your attendance is appreciated. This is the second notice. Clinton Halladay, Chairperson, EUCC.
Join a cluster of our local churches at the Delta Fair Hall on Sunday, June 1st, in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada. Worship is at 10:30, followed by lunch and musical entertainment. A combined choir of some 45 voices will lead the worship music.
The Young @ Heart breakfast club will meet this month on Thursday, the 15th of May at 9 am at the Junction Restaurant.
If you want to come, and all are welcome, let Clint or Ted know by noon the 14th of May so we can reserve spots for us……….Ted
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.
Hoogenboom HUGE Family Yard Sale. Victoria Day Weekend – May 16th -19th. Over 25 tables. All proceeds to Local Charities. 7 Cachet Drive. Rain or Shine.
The Chit Chat will be moved to the Portland Hall on Tuesday, May 20th at 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Please note the Chit Chat will be on Tuesday unless further notice.
Plans are underway for Elgin United Church to host the livestreaming of the E.O.O.R.C. 100th Anniversary Service on June 15th. Further details will follow.
June 1, 2025 – 10: 30 am
This area of the Region will be celebrating
the 100th Anniversary with a United Service,
being held at the Delta Fair Grounds (inside).
Plans are well under way.
The Choir met this week and there were 45 in attendance for this.
Bonus: – Meal is being provided through the generosity of the 8 individual churches who are participating in this celebration.
Bonus, bonus: Musical Entertainment following the service is being provided by Wright & Lowe.
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June 15, 2025 – 11:00 am
The whole of our Region is invited to attend the mass celebration at the EY Centre on Ottawa. Please plan to attend this event with more than 1,500 fellow believers planning to be there.
You can participate in various ways such as joining the choir, ushering, first aid responders.
Further information can be found on the EOORC Website eoorc.anniversaryinformation@gmail.com
See you there!
Devotional Reflection
May 10, 2025
New opportunities come our way often. Perhaps every day. Sometimes we see them as that, opportunities. Other times, we classify them as disruptions – bothersome, and downright annoying.
This week I am starting one of those opportunities. I have asked to do some prep work for the restaurant. Now, it sounds glamorous – at least so far! I’ve only done one shift!
Here’s the scoop. I was given a list of tasks to perform. They were written down with very specific instructions. I took my time getting all the spices ready, picking out the utensils I would need, and discovering where the food is kept that I would prepare.
It is fairly early in the morning but I’m wide awake. In fact, here is a picture for you: Lady Liz, adorned with apron, hair pulled back in a hair net – as many bobby pins as I could find. A beautiful sight to behold!
All is going well. Then I realize, I have cut far too many white onions. First mistake. Not disastrous. Another prep cook needs them.
The can opener I have is a bit wonky. Or maybe, it is me. Chef comes and helps me out. Everything back on schedule.
The day progresses and I finally get into a groove. I continue without mishap. My shift is over and I still have all my fingers. Great first day!
Coming home I begin to realize opportunities that were in front of me that I missed. So focused on me, I didn’t get everyone’s name; I didn’t offer to help anyone; I didn’t even stop for coffee!
So focused that I missed an opportunity to tell the manager what a great job she was doing. So focused that I had no clue what anyone else was responsible for.
Things will have to change – you see, the restaurant is not yet open. So, there were no customers, no one calling out orders, no one running out of tomatoes, or cucumbers, or salad, or…
Tomorrow will be another day. Earlier start than today. The chef and his helpers are ready. The Wait staff are ready. The manager is ready. Liz is ready!
This opportunity will be what I make it. I’m ready to hit it out of the park!
I am reminded of how many opportunities I may have missed as I walk my spiritual path. Was there someone calling out, but I was focused on running in my own direction. Did all the plans I worked on need such attention to detail. Maybe, I could have taken one hour from my day and cheered another person, or tried to walk in their shoes for a day. Perhaps when my granddaughter called, I could have listened more intently.
Did I really need a trip into town, when I could have assisted a neighbour in their garden. All this is to say – never be so busy that you miss out.
God continues to hover over us; always willing to direct, lead, speak. There are times when the din of life is oppressive and we need it to stop. There are times when life is glorious and we desire those days to last forever. I believe, it is only in the midst of living that we see the true worth of life.
My attitudes for the way I process information can be attributed to my mother. She was indeed amazing. And I thanked her many times. But mostly, I thank God. He gave me her. He knew me and what I needed. I needed my mother, my family, my friends, my Lord, to be the person I am. And I will always give thanks for that – missed opportunities or a blessed nuisance – open my heart, open my eyes, open my ears, that I may be a receptacle of blessing to others.
You are blessed and loved.
Liz Church,
Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
