2026-02-21 Weekly E-News


Announcements

Due to technical support (or lack of) on weekends, you will now be receiving your e-news on Fridays.

The 2025 Annual Congregational Meetings are scheduled for March 1st. after the service for each congregation. The EPPC

Official Board will meet following the Elgin Annual Congregational meeting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mary Carbino, may your special day be truly awesome.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Georgina and James Campbell, wishing you happiness together today and always.

Saturday February 21st at 1:30pm. – Local historian, Sue Warren, shares the life of her grandfather, Herm Warren, a native of the Rideau Lakes Area, WWI veteran, Rideau Canal man, lockmaster, fishing guide and much more.  Hosted by the Elgin and Area Heritage Society at the Elgin Community Room Free admission, light refreshments.

Time travel back to the good old days with C.A. and Sonny. This popular folk duo’s performance style includes, “…witty banter peppered with tales of yesteryear and good old folk music and their own original tunes…”.  Hosted by Tipped Tunes at Elgin United, February 28th.  Doors open at 7:00pm, showtime 7:30pm.

Tickets are $25 available at www.thetippedship.ca, in-person at the Tipped Ship, 3 Main St., Elgin, or at the door, Elgin United Church, 77 Main St., Elgin, Ontario. Light refreshments available by free-will donation at intermission.

            You can preview them at www.caandsonny.ca or find their videos on YouTube.

UCW meeting Tuesday Feb 24 at 1:30 to plan for the turkey dinner please.

 

Summer time is just around the corner, and that means summer fun for kids!  Christian summer camps are one way for kids to be kids during the summer as they immerse themselves in an atmosphere of adventure and the teachings of Jesus. That said, going to summer camp brings about large costs for families. For example, one week at a local camp is approximately $850. People able to donate money towards sending kids to camp are invited to make a donation marked “Summer Camp” anytime in the coming weeks – either online or with Sunday offerings. All donations will go directly to families to help offset costs and are fully tax deductible. Last year, with the generous support of numerous donors and the generosity of the UCW, we supported 6 area children attending Camp IAWAH. 

Please reach out to Pauline French (613-331-6876) with any questions.

Draft Agenda:

8:30am             Zoom opens for gathering

8:45am             Gathering music

9am                    Opening words from the President, Land Acknowledgement

9:10am             Opening worship

9:30am             EOORC Accountability Report from the Regional Executive Minister

9:40am             Shaping Ministry Leadership Models: Collaborative/Cooperative Ministry Panel – Genesis Cooperative, Kelley Molloy,                              Elizabeth Cunningham

10:15am          Small Group Discussion

10:45am          Break

11am                 Creative Worship Moment

11:10am          Shaping Worship into the future: How do we engage different people differently? – Brian Cornelius

11:30am          Small Group Discussion

11:50am          Creative Worship Moment

12:00                 Shaping Simplified Governance: How do we make sure we are not burning needed energy on unnecessary things – Victoria                              Andrews

12:20pm          Wrap-up and Closing Prayer

12:30pm          Adjournment​

This will be a chance to gather online and learn together. For further information and registration please go on the UCC website:

https://eoorc.ca/event/winter-educational-event/

Devotional Reflection February 21, 2026

 

Have you ever considered how long it takes us to learn a lesson. And that even after we have learned, we need a reminder thrown in every once in a while.

I enjoy cooking, yet, I can be a bit impatient. And occasionally I have to learn a lesson once again. This week was just that.

Making a large pot of soup, I usually cook the meat first and then add the vegetables to it. As the soup cooked, I realized that I might need more meat and decided to cook it in a separate pot. No problem. But my impatience proved to be my folly. I turned the heat on high with plans to turn it down. I was distracted. You can imagine the rest. The meat cooked fine. But the pot boiled over, made a mess of all the burners on the stove and juices from the overflowing pot managed to get into the catchment tray under the burners. What a mess! Time consuming, to say the least.

At first, I thought it was only a little water boiling over. But as I started the cleanup, I realized just what a mess it was. It took far more time, more elbow grease, more cleaners, and a whole lot of singing to get through this.

As I continued the clean-up, my mind began to consider how this has turned into a valuable spiritual lesson for me.

So often, I know exactly what needs to be done. I’m absolutely positive the Lord is directing me. And I feel great about the direction I’m headed.

Then, a little extra is thrown into the mix. Another task needs my attention, another little distraction comes to me, and off I go – the original task abandoned.

It doesn’t take long to realize that trying to accomplish more than I needed to, can lead to a struggle. And that it will take more serious moments with the Lord in order to get my life back on track.

It so often happens that the smallest of discipline can be forgotten. Just like knowing I needed to wait and pay attention to the second pot of meat cooking. That discipline of patience was forgotten in the rush.

It happens in our spiritual lives as well. We are busy. Our day starts in chaos sometimes. And before long, that overflowing pot of ‘soup’ gets away from us. In the overflowing needs of life, we often lose our foothold. Our grip slides and we find ourselves struggling. The cleanup in our lives takes more time than it needed to. We feel like all hope is shattered.

Believe me when I say that is not true! Just when you need it, at the very moment when you are feeling frustrated, or that you can’t go on, you can!

For us, spiritually, those moments of despair can be handled – the only true ‘CLEANSER’ is there. Only Christ can do the job. It is He who will help you. You might feel that the mess is more than you are capable to fix. You do not do it on your own. It is Christ who walks with you.

So, the next time you are cleaning your ‘stove’ from the pot that boiled over remember – you are that stove, that life, and the CLEANSER is Jesus. He will wash away the grime of failure, the impurities that threaten to overwhelm you, the insecurities you feel, and make you new again! Ready to be used for His work that He has called you to do!

You are blessed. You are loved.

Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care

Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge