Congregational Email
Nov. 26, 2020
Dear Congregants,
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf,
“and so do all who live to see such times.
But that is not for them to decide.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
J.R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
What do we do with the time that is given to us? We may not like what is given, but how we deal with it will make all the difference. Last week I named a few things that are helping me get through these times and I invited you to send in what you are finding helpful. Here are some of them—and I invite others to send in more for next week.
Cathy M. writes that she calls friends on her cell phone when she walks past their houses. They come to their window or door and they chat from a distance. She also listens to music—especially during this Christmas season.
Andrea F. lists these things that are helping her:
- making connections outside the house – phone, write, whatever
- doing something quantifiable for others – making scarves for various groups looking for winter wear
- remembering (and acting on – that is hard!) that a day off is a good thing.
Bettina and George N. put together 19 jigsaw puzzles to represent COVID 19 and have framed a collage of all the pictures they took of the puzzles. Their next goal is to do all of the walks in the booklet Winnipeg Walks.
I also appreciated Andrea F.’s update in last week’s congregational email on how her broken foot has been healing. If any of you have any updates about significant events in your lives, please send them in. We want to know how each other is faring and the news that we may tell people in person in the narthex.
I urge all congregants to attend a Zoom meeting this coming Monday, Nov. 30, on ways for our congregation to be anti-racist. This is part of our two-year study on becoming an Affirming Ministry. See more info below.
Advent Blessings!
Loraine
Ways to Continue Supporting Westworth
We are having an unprecedent number of leadership spots opening up in the new year and we do need folks to fill them. Please prayerfully consider if you able to take any of these on. Also, we have recently had someone donate shares and have had a request to explain how to do this.
Opportunities!
What part are you called to play in the life of the Westworth congregation? What gifts, skills and time do you have to share? The Westworth Leadership Team has several places for you to share those gifts and skills to support and enrich the life of our congregation. For general information about each position, please see the Westworth Manual http://westworth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Manual-copy-January-2019-Final-version-2.pdf
Please take time to consider if now is the time for you to make a difference and let us know – it is really hard, in this strange time, to know what you might be available for… If you know of someone who might consider a leadership position, please contact Pat Stephenson, Council Chair, (431)374-8383
- Vice-Chair of Council to start after the 2020 Annual General Meeting. This position leads into becoming Chair of Council in 2021. Questions? Please call Pat S., Council Chair, (431)374-8383.
- Secretary for Council to start after the 2020 Annual General Meeting. Questions? Please call Pat S., Council Chair, (431)374-8383 or Barb M., Council Secretary, (204)488-0853.
- Leader/Leaders for the Christian Education Ministry Team. This Team creates faith-building adventures and opportunities for our children and youth and is supported by Maggie Barnett. We would like to fill this position as soon as Questions? Please call Dianne S., (204)771-5860
- Leader/Leaders for the Property Ministry Team. This Team sets priorities for the care and maintenance of the spaces and property where we love to gather and carries out that care with the support of the Office Administrator, maintenance assistance and volunteers. We would like to fill this position as soon as possible. Questions? Please call Eunice P., (204)488-8835
- Leader/Leaders for the Community Care Ministry Team. This Team cares about building and sustaining our relationships within the congregation. They encourage and support us all as we reach out to each other and have some fun along the way. This position starts in 2021. Questions? Please call Jennifer S., (204)489-3365.
Condolences
Our condolences to Eunice & Doug P. on the passing of Eunice’s uncle, Ted.
Sanctuary Decorations
A huge thanks to Petra T. and Chris B.-S. for decorating our sanctuary this year.
Sunday School and C.E News
This week’s Sunday school lesson on A Child called emmanuel has been sent by e-mail, it includes all the age groups from N/K to G5/6, with the activity sheets.
If you need a printed copy of the curriculum, please let me know at churchschool@westworth.ca.
The Sunday school teachers will be on Zoom this Sunday from 10.15am-10.40am to chat with you. Then join Loraine for the online service following Zoom Sunday school.
This week’s bible story read by Julia and The Lord’s Prayer read by Danielle, your Sunday school teachers are on the Westworth Face Book page for you to view, there is also a link in the CE drop down menu on our web site.
Advent is coming! Christian Education Outreach will be delivering special packages to your homes to celebrate Advent with a craft and activity sheets.
There will also be a Xmas designed package for you to join us for Community Connections Zoom Advent Cafe on December 4th at 7pm-8pm.
Drink hot chocolate, eat a festive Rice Krispie square and join in as Julia shows us how to make an Advent bird ornament. All supplies provided by C.E.
If you can’t join us for Zoom Advent Cafe, the craft directions will be available on our website and Face book after Dec 4th.
Listen to ‘Hope is a Star’- a Sunday school favourite on our Westworth Face book page sung by Emily C., and a second version played by instrumentalist Kelsey N.
There is also a poster for Advent unwrapped- a United Church resource website for you to look at!
Special thank you to Dianne S. and Sean B. for all their help with Advent Cafe.
Maggie
Christmas Cheer Board knitting is now due. Please call to arrange drop off of your knitting beforE Dec. 2. New wool will be available after the Dec. 2 drop off.
Westworth: Anti-Racist as part of our Affirming Identity?
The Affirming Committee is offering a follow-up discussion to the Interfaith Responses to Racism series. Please mark your calendars for Monday, November 30 at 7:00pm. This discussion via Zoom is intended for all members of the congregation. Bring your ideas about how to become a more welcoming congregation to all people, including Black people, Indigenous people and people of colour, inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations. If you’ve attended the interfaith sessions, we hope you’ll come and share what you’ve learned. A Zoom link will be sent to everyone who registered for our Interfaith Anti-Racism series. However, if were not able to attend the series, please still consider attending this one evening and let the office know so that we can send you the Zoom link.
From the Community Care Team
What are you favourite Christmas Traditions? We realize that this year many of the activities and events we usually participate in will be modified or even cancelled. But here’s one Westworth tradition that is continuing in a COVID format…“Christmas in a Bag” for our members who receive one-on-one visits during the year. The gift bag will contain shortbread, a tea bag and a copy of Loraine’s Christmas Eve message. Beginning in the second week of December, our visitors will be having phone visits and delivering the shortbread gift in a contactless manner.
Our thanks to Jennifer S. for preparing the bags, our UCW shortbread bakers, and most of all, our dedicated visitors.
Visitors, remember that gift bag pick up is Saturday, December 5 at 47 Ash Street, 9am – noon.
Search is on for new Office Administrator
As some members of the congregation are aware, Heather L. has made the decision to retire at the end of January 2021. Heather has served as Westworth’s Office Administrator for 14 years and we know we are going to miss her. While we will be challenged to appropriately recognize Heather’s contribution amid pandemic restrictions, creative ideas are already being generated. Stay tuned.
The Ministry and Personnel Committee is also starting the work to find a replacement for Heather. Advertising for the position will be going out in the coming weeks. The committee is also aware that recommendations from congregants can often be helpful in finding staff who are well aligned to Westworth’s values. Therefore, we are asking that if any members of the congregation have recommendations of people who might be interested in filling this important role, please reach out to one of the members of the Ministry and Personnel Committee. We will then be able to share the position description and other details about the role with anyone who might be interested.
The current members of the Ministry and Personnel Committee are Paul C., Arlene H., Brett L, and Janice N.
OUTREACH
- West Broadway Community Ministry:
a. Lunches: All guests at West Broadway continue to be served a nourishing lunch Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through the window on Broadway. Your Outreach Team asks that the congregation continue generous support for the lunch program that Westworth will continue to offer on a monthly basis. The cost of each month’s lunch is approximately $250. and so your donation to assist with the lunch program is gratefully received! Cheques may be sent to the Westworth office with the memo line indicating “WBCM lunches”.
b. West Broadway Community Ministry (WBCM) Emergency Pantry: As the building remains closed, weekly donations of food, toiletries and feminine hygiene products cannot be placed in the WB Buckets, please consider making a donation to the purchasing of food and supplies for the pantry. Cheques to Westworth with “WBCM Pantry” on the memo line are gratefully received!
- West Broadway and impact of COVID – 19 Restrictions on the community: Please refer to the CBC story by clicking the link:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/west-broadway-community-ministry-covid-19-1.5813237
- Turkeys for Rossbrook House: Wow! Thank you thank you to all of you who will be cooking a turkey and making gravy for Rossbrook House! We have reached capacity and are so grateful for your generosity. You will receive a call in December to confirm pick-up. Questions? Please connect with Allan M. at 204-269-5292 or e-mail at admckay@shaw.ca
- Place mat Fund-Raiser for 1JustCity: The Trinity Sew and Sew Quilters are selling beautiful placemats on – line via the Trinity United Church website from November 7, to November 28. All proceeds of this sale will go to 1Just City. All place mats have been photographed and numbered and the pictures are on the Trinity United Church web site.
- Go to Trinity United Church website https://trinityunitedwinnipeg.com/
- Under the “Adult Activities” tab, scroll down to “Quilting Group”
3.View the wonderful array of place mats that have been made this year, and make your choices.
- Phone (204) 269-0631and either:
- a) talk to the person answering to give your nameand phone number, and the numbers of your selections; or
- b) leave the information in a clearmessage on the machine—remember to speak clearly and slowly when you leave your message (your name, phone number and the numbers of your selections).
- Come to the church (933 Summerside Ave, Winnipeg) on Tuesday November 10, 17, 24, December 1, or Thursday November 12, 19, 26 from 10:00 am to noon. (If you need alternate arrangements for delivery, please phone the church.)
6.Pay for your selections — by cheque payable to Trinity Sew and Sews, and collect the place mats.
7.Enjoy your place mats, or wrap them up as a gift for someone your care about so they can enjoy them and think of you each time they use them!
Thank you for supporting our Christmas fund-raiser!
- New Gifts with Vision Catalogue Has Launched! Have you ordered you gifts yet? A new year of giving through Gifts with Vision has begun! There are lots of great new gifts for our partners in Canada and across the world, along with some of your favourite projects from previous catalogues. The world has changed so much since this time last year, and some of the new gifts reflect that, showing how our partners are responding to the pandemic. Your gifts bring help to those who need it most. Shop the Gifts with Vision catalogue and help save and transform lives!
Apology for Past Adoption Practices
The Executive of the General Council of The United Church of Canada issued an apology last week for its role in separating mothers and their babies in maternity homes it operated from the end of World War II to 1980. “Women told us that they felt pressured, coerced, or forced to give up their babies, and the church recognizes it participated in the culture of shame that surrounded unmarried mothers at that time,” says the Rev. Daniel Hayward, chairperson of the church’s Theology and Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee that recommended the apology. Read the full news piece.
Emergency Response Fund
Please make a donation today to the United Church’s Emergency Response Fund to support our Mission & Service partners’ critical and lifesaving work. Your gifts will support partner response to the 2020-2021 hurricane and typhoon season as they provide food, safe drinking water, and shelter and help restore livelihoods for the thousands of people effected by Hurricane Iota in Central America, and Typhoon Goni in the Philippines.
2020 Advent Devotion A group of United Church ministers from the south end of Winnipeg are collaborating to offer a series of reflections, “enceinte: united church advent devotions during a pandemic”. Enceinte (/änˈsant/) is an ancient word with two meanings: pregnant, and a protected enclosure. As we journey toward the birth of Jesus during these covid times, the devotions offer a fold in your day to reflect and restore.
The daily devotions from Monday to Friday are an opportunity to stop for a few minutes in your day and share in the reflection offered by the leader. Saturday the devotions are longer and meditative in tone and will conclude with communion. The devotions begin November 30 and continue to December 24. Videos can be accessed via the Youtube channel at: https://bit.ly/3pHJ56i Subscribe to the channel for notifications when a new video is posted.
Contributors
Noelle B., Spirit Path United Church
Elizabeth B., Trinity United Church
Caryn D., United Church in Meadowood
Min-Goo K., Fort Garry United Church
Phil R., St Mary’s Road United Church
Dawn R., Churchill Park United Church
