Elgin Portland United Church Council
Elgin Days 2025 is July 10th – 13th . EUCs bake table, raffle table, and famous smoked meat sandwiches happen in front of the church, 77 Main St., on the 12th.
Come aboard! The Elgin and Area Heritage Society’s “The Historic Rideau Canel” a pictorial display of all locks in the Rideau Canal System, opens June 28th for a summer run every weekend from 10 am – 3 pm through Aug. 31st at the Red Brick School, 3 Halladay St., Elgin, ON. More information on Facebook, the Elgin and Area Heritage Society, and our website eahs.ca.
Cindy Carbino celebrates a birthday, Friday, July 11th. Happy Birthday, Cindy.
Happy Anniversary to Krista & Todd Gill and Marion & Dave Cooper who celebrate this week.
Congratulations to Carl Leggett, Pat Greenhorn, Maureen Bee, Mark Bee, Cathy Ryan, and Ted Brett who are receiving Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recognition on Tuesday July 15th for EUC volunteering. Thank you for your time and dedication to Elgin United Church.
Excavation for EUCs new septic system is scheduled for July 14th, and installation the days following.
The Young @Heart Breakfast Club will meet next on Thursday the 17th of August at the Junction Restaurant at 9 am. If you would like to join us, and all are welcome, let Clint or Ted know by noon the 16th……….Ted
County Road 44, Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 @ 7:30 p.m., Portland United Church. This is a Fundraiser for the Portland Foodbank. A free-will offering will be received. Refreshments will be served.
Mary’s Merry Minstrels, Saturday, September 27th, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m., Portland United Church. This is a Fundraiser for the Portland Foodbank. A free-will offering will be received. Refreshments will be served.
Eastern Ontario Outaouais Region UCW – 83rd Summer Event July 25, 26, 27, 2025, is being held at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre, Cornwall, Ontario. If you want more information, please see the bulletin board.
Devotional Reflection
July 12, 2025
When I was a child, walking and playing in the neighbourhood, I never had to open a gate or climb over picket fences. No one in my neighbourhood saw the necessity for such a thing. As children, we ran from yard to yard. Parents sat out on their porches chatting with each other while keeping an eye on their children. Life seemed simple and beautiful.
But, should there happen to be a house we were passing by, that did have such a thing, we stayed away from them. We thought they must be evil and would kidnap us. We were frightened. We even crossed the road so as not to be seen by them.
Of course, as I matured, and grew taller (a little bit, eh!), I began to realize that on the other side of those fences, were just ordinary people, who liked extra privacy. Some had beautiful gardens. Some had a swimming pool. Some had young children that were kept safe from wandering away from home.
Their gates and fences were put there for security, for safety, for privacy. They were not necessarily to keep people out. But it might mean that you needed to be invited in.
Over the years, I have thought about gates. We look for gates that are decorative; gates with huge locks. We see gates that are controlled by electronic devices; gates that your phone can control; gates that roll; gates that lift; and gates that go nowhere!
Gates can seem like an obstacle to many. They are not very inviting.
And yet, many people stand in front of a gate and try to enter. They may need a passcode; they may have to contact the owner by phone; there might be a security guard inside a booth who takes their information and passes it along to another person who gives you permission to enter.
What then can it possibly mean when Jesus says: “I AM THE GATE”! Why does He portray Himself that way?
This is my explanation. At one time in life, there was no need for gates. We were welcome to go everywhere, and do anything. EXCEPT – God had only one stipulation. Just one! And then, we decided that we didn’t like that. So, we broke the promises we made. And a divide came between us and God.
Then we had to CHOOSE God over what is wrong. But He did not completely shut us out. He made a way – JESUS! And Jesus was the GATEWAY we needed to have eternal life. As The GATE – He is right there, welcoming us in. But the stipulation is that we believe in Him, that we love Him.
Just as I lived in a time when gates were not needed, the whole world lived that way. The corruption, injustice, hurt, greed, and so much more is why the Gate is there. When you arrive there, when you see it, you will want to enter. It is beautiful on the other side. There is everything you could desire. There is no pain, no death, no tears – Only LOVE.
Have you been searching for this Gate? Have you found it? Keep looking. The view from the other side is magnificent!
You are blessed and loved.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
