JukeBoxHosting – Elgin-Portland Pastoral Charge

eNews 2020-05-23

Psst… Good News! We are excited to share with you that the Elgin-Portland Pastoral Charge virtual worship services will be on Cogeco TV (Smiths Falls, Perth and Brockville) Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. Pass the word and share the Joy! How are we doing? This a question I get asked quite a bit when I am in contact with someone from either church whether by email, text, phone or on the rare occasion in person. The quick answer is thanks to all of you, we are doing reasonably well and holding our own. Donations have come in via the …

The passing of a gentle giant

Dearly Beloved, I write to you with an aching heart that our beloved Doug Bond passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2020. There are no arrangements for a celebration of life at this time, due to COVID-19. However, I urge you to keep the Bond daughters in your prayers, as they bid goodbye to their beloved father, 13 days shy of their mother’s anniversary of death. https://scotlandfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/4213316/Bond-Doug/index.php May Peace abound throughout the Bond family and the entire community… Peace be with you, Rev. Takouhi

eNews 2020-05-17

News from Portland United Church Council: Portland United Church Council has decided to proceed with the desperately needed replacement of the Friendship Hall Roof at this time. To this end quotes from 4 contractors have been solicited and evaluated. Above the Rest Roofing has been awarded the contract and will proceed in early June. Anyone wishing to contribute to this, and other building projects may do so by designating a portion of their donations to the Building Fund. Good News – People Helping People: Dearly Beloved, below is a link to an article and video to inspire and encourage …

eNews – 2020-05-03 – Elgin United Church

Elgin United Church – A Note of Gratitude On behalf of Elgin United Church, as treasurer, I want to express our deepest gratitude to all who have contributed to the Ministry that we are called to do, even with our church building doors closed. All donations either mailed to me, left in my mailbox, asked me to pick up or donated online; just shows that we are all one big family and don’t want to see the work of our Community of Faith, which is the ministry of Jesus be affected by this pandemic. Our expenses may seem reduced with …

eNews 2020-04-26 EARTH DAY CHALLENGE 2020

MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHILE YOU DISTANCE! April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day around the world, and is the ideal day to reflect on these words from the New Creed of the UCC: We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others. As stewards of God’s creation, this is the perfect time to take action to repair this little corner of the earth that we live in by participating in the Rideau Lakes ‘Pitch In’ challenge. This program unites township residents by offering the …

eNews 2020-04-19

Happy and a Blessed Second Sunday after Easter! At this time of COVID-19, we are keeping you in our prayers and hearts and we trust that you are staying home, staying safe and reaching out to those who can help you out. Should you need to reach out to Rev. Takouhi, please do so through: 613-272-8977 or revtakouhi@terrautopia.ca Be well and trust that the Creator is with you. Easter Chocolate GOOD News! On behalf of Elgin United Church, we would like to say “Hats off to Cindy Carbino and her Sales Team”. She ordered 820 Village Treats Easter Eggs before …

2020-04-12 – An Easter Prayer – God Bless the Space Between Us

Holy God, You are Holy Mystery that is Wholly Love. We come to you today as wholly as we are. We join the women of the First Easter Morning and all the saints of the past, the present and the future and seek out your BLESSING – The Blessing that fills in the gaps of the empty spaces. May Your BLESSING become evident to us, Like water for the parched soul. A word of courage for the exhausted mind A salving oil for the cracked heels. Help us, O God, to dance with the winds of change, and may the …

eNews – 2020-04-04 – EPPC Church Closures

As Rideau Lakes Township and the Province of Ontario continues to be in a state of Emergency to curb the spread of COVID-19, and to keep our community safe, we have unfortunately had to make the difficult decision to close both Churches until further notice. This cancellation applies to all church-related meetings and gatherings, i.e. VIBE, council and committee meetings, dinners, etc. As we do our part to Social Distance, we must remember to think of others, give a call to your neighbour or a family member who may be lonely. In closing, remember the hymn from our More Voices …

2020-04-01 – A Word of Courage in Puzzling Times

A Word of Courage in Puzzling Times When I retired three months ago, one of the gifts I received was a jigsaw puzzle. I found myself quite busy, and had never gotten around to opening it, but all of that changed with social isolation and lots of time at home. I delved into it one afternoon, and the half finished puzzle now sits on our kitchen peninsula, where I work on it for awhile every day. (No need to tidy up these days as no surprise visitors will be arriving!) As I scrutinized it the other day, I thought about …