Elgin Portland United Church Council
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. Reminder: PUC is air-conditioned. And as an added “BONUS”, you can visit our craft table and purchase any of the following: Canadian-themed luggage tags, a colourful variety of handbags, eyeglass folders, various-sized food-sage baggies, zippered pouches, gift bags, and more. All proceeds go to the outreach programs of PUC. Air-conditioned building.
Happy Birthday Marg Ross. May your special day be even more special than you could imagine. Blessings.
Happy Anniversary Cindy and Greg Carbino.. Sending you congratulations, best wishes, and blessings for many more.
Enjoy classical music by the Beverley Trio, presented by the Elgin & Area Heritage Society, at Heritage Park, 3 Halladay St, Elgin, from 2-4 Sunday, August 24th. Bring a chair and water bottle, filling station on site. No rain date.
August 30th & 31st are the last days to visit the Historical Rideau Canal display hosted by the Elgin & Area Heritage Society at the Red Brick School, 3 Halladay St., Elgin. Visit 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
Mary’s Merry Minstrels, Saturday, September 27th, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m., PU. This is a Fundraiser for the Portland Foodbank. A free-will offering will be received. Refreshments will be served. Air-conditioned building.
Woman @ Heart
All are Welcome!
Location: Portland United Church, Highway 15 Portland Ont.
Date: Tuesday September 2nd 2025
Time: 1:00-3:00p.m Women@Heart Program Ambassador,
Presenter Marion Martell, Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute. What everyone needs to know about women and heart disease.
Heart disease is under-studied, under-diagnosed, and under-treated in women. It is the number one killer of women over 35 worldwide, accounting for more deaths every year than all cancers combined. Better understand how to prevent women’s heart disease and ways to develop a heart-healthy lifestyle. We Welcome Men and Women of all ages and All Cultures.
Mary’s Merry Minstrels, Saturday, September 27th, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m., PU. This is a Fundraiser for the Portland Foodbank. A free-will offering will be received. Refreshments will be served. Air-conditioned building.
Devotional Reflection
August 23, 2025
“If you are hanging on by a thread..” – what needs to happen to correct the situation!
I am still at my daughter’s place, and there have been moments during the week when the above statement just may have applied to my life!
But today is not one of them.
As I looked around the house deciding where to start my cleaning ( she gets home on Saturday), my attention immediately went to all the plants that I have failed to water. For the next hour I climbed a stool, watered, climbed down, moved the stool, climbed up, watered more plants, repeat, repeat, repeat. I have not counted how many plants she has, but it is a lot, at least 20 in the kitchen alone! And still, I continue, without too much worry.
I said the first statement did not apply to me – I cannot say the same for those poor, neglected plants. “If you are hanging on by a thread… but as I continued on throughout the hour, I will admit that I believe most of them will survive!
Barely keeping up; surviving; trying my best; if only; working at it; slippery slope; uncertain of the path to follow; unhealthy choices; problematic preferences; rocky road; stubborn will.
Hanging on by a thread – everyday we may feel like this is where we are. Confusion in our choices, unwilling hearts, stubbornness – just to name a few of the variety of difficulties we face.
Let me finish the statement I started with: “If you are hanging on by a thread, just make sure it is the hem of His garment.” I love that image. You may remember the story from St. Mark’s gospel, chapter 5. Jesus knew immediately that someone, with a need, had touched Him. In the midst of throngs of people, He felt the need of that woman.
I believe today, in the midst of your situations, whatever they are, you need only reach out. God knows already. Call on Him and believe.
Don’t let the thread break, or get caught up in other snags. Reach out, grasp it and the Lord will hear your prayer. And when you are ready to move forward, let go and God will be right there, walking with you!
You are blessed and loved.
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge
