Congregational Email
Jan. 15, 2021
Dear Congregants,
With thanks to the gracious offer of Rev. Earl Gould to voluntarily lead last Sunday’s worship and be on call for emergency pastoral care, Nancy & I were able to have a 4-day retreat reading and hiking in Manitoba’s snow-covered forests—forest-bathing, as they call it in Japan! Our society is beginning to learn that as we walk through forests, we breathe in phytoncides—aerosals emitted by evergreen trees which strengthen our immune system and reduce our blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones. Of course, there is also the psychological balm offered by snow-sparkle wilderness immersion. Thanks be to the Creator for such natural sources of healing!
During this retreat, I read the novel The Book Thief, about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany and adopted by a family which also hid a young Jewish man. The poetic writing was exquisite and the story sobering. It helps me put into perspective what we are being asked to give up in these COVID-19 days. It also gives me an injection of will to carry on for the long haul, as we all wait for an injection of a hope-blessed vaccine.
Now that I am more refreshed, my challenge is to stay on top of the news without succumbing to it, to accept whatever restrictions keep coming our way without internal protest, and to give thanks for all that we do have. God blesses us with gifts of nature and human connection that will bring us through.
Blessings of healing and hope,
Loraine
Estate Planning Workshops
A series of 3 workshops on Estate Planning will be held on Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 pm January 27th, February 3rd and February 10th.
The workshops will be held on Zoom and include informative presentations as well as question and answer sessions. Presenters include retired lawyer Eleanor W., Philanthropic Consultant and Retired United Church Minister Norm V. and Rev. Loraine McKenzie Shepherd.
Topics to be covered include Legal Aspects of Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives, Organizing for Death, Charitable Giving as part of Estate Planning and the role of the Church in planning funerals; what the Church can do and what Funeral homes must do. Full details are on the Westworth Website, www.westworth.ca
To register please send an email with “Estate Planning” in the subject line to office@westworth.ca . Please include your name and phone number. You will be sent a Zoom link closer to the workshops.
Spam Emails Someone presenting church staff is sending out spam emails again so please check email addresses of suspicious emails before replying.
Sunday School News
This week’s Sunday school lesson on The Disciples 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 the online service with Loraine following Zoom Sunday school who will be having an Optical Illusion theme for Time with the Children
This week’s bible story is read by Julia, and The Lord’s Prayer is 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.
There is also a video of visual only instructions on how to make an ORIGAMI dove
Zoom Sunday school Information:
Zoom Meeting is 743 937 1522
Pass code 042976
Maggie
Workshop to Renew Energy and Strengthen Immune System
Need an energy tune-up? In these stressful times, it takes more energy to do even the most basic of tasks. Nancy P. will be teaching some simple exercises for balancing your body’s energies so that they can function optimally and help to strengthen your immune system. The workshop will be through Zoom on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 10:00-11:00 am. To register, please email Nancy at nancy.m.pinnell@gmail.com
OUTREACH
The Outreach Team expresses profound gratitude for the support so many of you have given to initiatives since the pandemic began in in March.
In December, seventeen turkeys, cut and sliced along with gravy were delivered to Rossbrook House, and dozens upon dozens of home baked cookies were delivered to West Broadway to help them celebrate the “12 Days of Christmas”. The Pantry at WB received your gift of close to $3000.00! Your commitment to others in our community and beyond is truly inspiring.
- West Broadway Community Ministry:
Lunches and Pantry: Thank you to all of you who have given so generously to the Lunch and the Pantry programs at WBCM. Please remember that donations continue to be needed – particularly to the Pantry. Please make your cheque payable to Westworth United Church with WB Lunch or WB Pantry in the memo line.
- 1JustCity “Just a Warm Sleep” 2020: This winter, with your help, Just a Warm Sleep will be a haven for those in need. The need is perhaps the greatest our city has ever faced.
We’ve expanded our hours as so many of our guests have even fewer options to stay warm. We’ll now offer 12 hours of safety and warmth overnight (instead of 10), open from 8pm to 8am. We’ll also offer a meal at intake thanks to our partnerships with TransCanada Brewery and Fionn’s MacCools.
You’ve heard us say that the numbers of women have drastically increased, so this year we’re adding a second security guard from our partner Bear Paw Security, so we’ll always have a female and male guard to care for all our guests’ needs.
The space will get a COVID-19 deep clean three times a day.
Quick Facts:
For 30 people to be safe and warm this winter, STARTING EARLY on December 24th, we need you to make a donation of:
$150 to cover everything we don’t have funding for: smiling team members, PPE, TP, rent.
$300 to cover dinner, so everyone gets to go to bed full of nutritious food.
$450 to cover it all
