Sunday, Feb 28th – 1:30 pm – the congregation of Ocean View United Church will hold their annual congregational meeting downstairs at Ocean View United Church. There will be a potluck meal following the morning worship service and the meeting will begin at 1:30 pm. Those who will be attending the meal are asked to bring along a dish for the meal.
Sunday, Mar. 7th – 1:30 pm - the congregation of McDowell United Church will hold their annual congregational meeting downstairs at McDowell United Church. There will be a potluck meal following the morning worship service and the meeting will begin at 1:30 pm. Those who will be attending the meal are asked to bring along a dish for the meal.
“Stepping Into Spring Ladies Walking Group” will be starting again downstairs at Ocean View United Church in early February. Those interested are to contact Mrs. Isabelle Cole at 598-2943. There will be further details to follow in the Church News regarding the start date etc.
The United Church of Canada announced Thursday January 14th that it is launching an emergency appeal asking its congregations for donations designated for earthquake relief and reconstruction in Haiti. People see a need, and have a desire, to reach out as brothers and sisters in Christ to show compassion to those in dire need.
If anyone from our Pastoral Charge would like to make a donation you may do so through our local Pastoral Charge Outreach Program. A receipt will be issued for donations of ten dollars or more if requested.
You may place your donation in an envelope marked Outreach – Haiti Appeal. We are asking that any donations being made to this appeal be received by January 31st, 2009.
There will be a special drive on Feb. 7th at both Ocean View and McDowell to receive food items for the Pastoral Charge Food Bank. We are running very low at this time.
For information concerning our Food Bank you may contact:
Bonnie Crummey 598-2803 Sophie White 598-2595 Rev. Cole 598-2943.
Please forward items for Church News to Darryl Butt by Thursday of each week.
Successful Merger
at New Hope United
Mergers are seldom easy. In marriage, in business, or in the amalgamation of congregations, there are different styles, traditions, leaders, and visions to consider. When United Church congregations join together, the Mission and Service Fund is there to help. Here’s the story of one such merger.
Vaughan is a fast-growing multi-cultural municipality north of Toronto. It comprises farmland, shopping malls, an amusement park, and many housing developments. There are long-time residents and new ones. The three congregations in the area—Carrville, Teston, and Maple—each had a small, old building and were struggling with declining membership and growing expenses. In February 2006, the three joined to form New Hope United Church.
Location was a difficult choice. Each congregation’s building had been intended as a small, country church, and even with renovations none could meet the current needs. They decided to sell the three properties and look for a new home.
Land and construction were expensive, so the congregation leased space at the Vaughan Mills shopping centre. This provided visibility, flexible meeting space, a great kitchen, and a chance to expand. Historical items from all three congregations were displayed, to tie New Hope to its roots.
Your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund help the folks of New Hope United and other new church developments reach out to their growing neighbourhoods.
We are a united church! This week, remember in your thoughts and prayers new congregations like New Hope United, as well as those struggling
with difficult decisions about closure and amalgamation.
© 2008 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice
