Dear Congregants,
We have now entered the season of Lent—or did we ever leave it from last year? Diana Butler Bass writes that this has been the longest Lent ever—it began last year and hasn’t ended! But this Lent we will be doing something different. Instead of giving up something for Lent, we will be gathering in all that gives us hope. Our theme for Lent 2021 is “Because There Is Hope Here,” the name of our Safe Reopening document. Our Lenten challenge for this year is to focus on hope—search for signs, welcome the ever-faithful glimmers of spring and celebrate the good news. As we listen to congregants reflecting on hope during our Lenten services, let’s be inspired to tell others where we find hope. Passing on hope can become our Lenten mission.
Hope shines as the solitary star.
Faith is the inner light.
You and I together mirror the Light of Lights,
And illumine the pathway home.
(Catherine Faith MacLean, words from MV 220)
May you be blessed with hope in the most unexpected ways,
Loraine
CONDOLENCES & FUNERAL
We offer our prayers for Mary F. and family on the sudden passing of her sister.
The funeral for Anita S. will be on Saturday, Feb 27 at 2:00 pm at Chapel Lawn. In honour of Anita’s love of hand bells, Morna-June will be playing hand bells with Dorcas accompanying. There is room for 3 people from the congregation to attend, along with five from the family. As well, the service will be live-streamed on Zoom. If anyone would like to attend in person or online through Zoom, please let Tammy know in our office and she will put you in touch with Bary F., Anita’s nephew.
BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE HERE: LENT 2021
This year’s Lenten services will feature congregational reflections on hope.
Feb 21: First Sunday of Lent: In honour of Black History month, this service will include African American spirituals and gospel music, led by Jayme G., Jonathan A., and Dorcas W.
Feb. 28: Online service begins earlier 10:30-11:00 am, followed by the AGM on Zoom at 11:15 am.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report is now available online on our Westworth United Church homepage. You can access it via this link:
http://westworth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2020-Annual-Report.pdf
Or, navigate to Westworth United Homepage and:
Click on Home Tab
Click on Documents
Click on Reports
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting will take place on February 28th. This year, it will take place as a zoom meeting in which you can participate via your home computer or your cell phone.
If you would like to participate, can you respond to office@westworth.ca with the email address or phone number that you will be using to join the zoom meeting? I need your email addresses or phone numbers to send out the zoom link that you will be using to access the meeting.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Hope this e-mail finds you all, and I will continue to send the Sunday school lesson by e-mail until we can meet in person again.
This is the First Sunday in Lent- our service theme will be HOPE
This week’s Sunday school lesson on ‘Jesus Blesses the Children’ 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. Our theme this week will be ‘Children’. Then join the online service with Loraine following Zoom Sunday school.
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.
Zoom Sunday School Information
Zoom Meeting ID 743 937 1522
Pass Code 042976
Maggie
DAILY LENTEN CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
Rev. Barb Jardine has put together a Lenten series that introduces us to the practice of contemplative prayer. Her introduction, along with her daily 10 min. YouTube videos are designed for beginners who have never tried this form of prayer. These can be found in the link below and on our website home page in the What’s New section. Barb has produced these for her congregation, but she is willing for Westworth to have access to them as a thank you for the inspiration she received from Thriving Churches.
Take Ten Day 1
http://westworth.ca/2021/02/take-ten-day-1-by-bev-jardine-daily-lenten-contemplative-prayer/
Take Ten Day 2
Take Ten Day 3
http://westworth.ca/2021/02/take-ten-day-3-by-bev-jardine-contemplative-prayer/
WEST BROADWAY COMMUNITY MINISTRY
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. We are now supplying ham, cheese, rye bread, fruit and cookies so that staff at West Broadway can make sandwiches and fill lunch bags for our guests.
The cost of each month’s lunch is approximately $350. 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”.
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!
URGENT REQUEST!
West Broadway is in urgent need of toques, mitts, gloves, scarves, hand warmers and long underwear for our guests during this cold snap. (No socks are needed at this time). Your Outreach Team is collecting your donation! If you have clean, gently used articles or are able to purchase new articles, your donation can be dropped off at the home of Jan McIlroy – 436 Lindsay Street on Saturday February 19 or Sunday February 20. There will be a box at the front door in which to place your donation. For further information, please connect with Jan by calling 204-229-7037. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
BOOK LAUNCH –THRIVING CHURCHES
We are excited to invite you to the book launch of United Church Publishing House: Thriving Churches: Urban and Rural Successes by Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd
New title from the United Church Publishing House: Thriving Churches: Urban and Rural Successes by Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd
Join the digital celebration Tuesday February 23, 7:30 p.m. EST. Sign up today to secure your spot!
Proceeds from the sale of Thriving Churches: Urban and Rural Successes go to the Mission & Service at The United Church of Canada.
A special offer on the book will be announced during the event.
- ON THE BOOK: Thriving Churches identifies characteristics shared by successful churches and common spiritual attributes that connect to the early churches, as described in scripture. Filled with concrete examples from congregations of various sizes, this book will inspire other churches. Also included is an eight-page study guide on spiritual attributes of thriving churches.
SAFE REOPENING COMMITTEE UPDATES
We are all following the recent changes to the government orders and restrictions in response to the COVID crisis. We all yearn to meet family and friends, gather to talk and share in a meal together, hug and shake hands, and share in-person worship. The latest announcements have provided a glimmer of hope, but it is so important to remain vigilant at this time. Our committee wishes to share the following information with the congregation.
Although the government has loosened some restrictions the province is still in Code Red, and contact with others outside immediate households is strongly ill-advised. For these reasons, and for the health and safety of our staff and congregation, we will continue to offer virtual worship services only. In compliance with the government orders, we are not able to have small group meetings at this time, and staff will continue to limit their interactions and follow all safety protocols. Funerals and weddings can be offered following the government’s orders. Please call Loraine for more information. These plans will remain in place until the province returns to Code Orange at which time our committee will re-evaluate the situation and our guidelines.
As always, we are thankful for the time, commitment and talent of those involved in the creation of our virtual services; for the committees and ministry teams that continue to meet virtually and carry out the work of the church; for our staff that have found new and innovative ways to work together; and for our congregation who continues to support the church in so many ways.
We are all looking forward to the time when restrictions will be reduced, but for now, limiting the spread of the virus, keeping each other healthy and safe, and continuing our work as the hands and feet of Christ are the priorities.
WIDER COMMUNITY EVENTS
FREE ONLINE – MUSIC APPRECIATION – BEETHOVEN
Hello, Friend of Winnipeg Conservatory of Music,
Wonderful news! WCM is pleased to offer FREE to EVERYONE, with the assistance of Safe At Home Manitoba a fun, online course: Music Appreciation – Beethoven.
This online class begins March 1 and is held Monday and Wednesday afternoons with Friday evening concerts. To register please contact WCM to have your name added to the list. The school will provide you with the online info you will need to enjoy this great opportunity! Please see the attached poster for more information about the class.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Davada Burr Spencer
Events & Promotions
Winnipeg Conservatory of Music
1476 Portage Ave Wpg MB R3G 0W3
204 505-9012
wcm.promo.events@gmail.com
www.wcmus.com
SINGING FOR OUR LIVES
Come sing with us!! Join the Manitou Intentional Learning Community on Friday, February 19th via Zoom where we will be “Singing for our Lives.” We are excited to invite you to this engaging and reflective affirmation of welcome, justice and hope. Presented by Wendy and Andrew Donaldson, church musicians with vast Canadian and international experience, this event is a mix of music and spoken word featuring on-line performance, video and audience participation and drawing on multi-faith and multi-cultural wit and wisdom.
Watch, listen and sing along as through words and music, we explore themes of truth, reconciliation, stewardship of the land, turning stranger into “neighbour”, and ways in which our hopes are threatened by power, the lure of profit, lies, and fear.
Friday, February 19th, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Click “register” to sign up for the event.
Register – Singing for Our Lives
For further information, please contact manitouintentionallearning@gmail.com
