MINISTER’S MESSAGE
This is an exciting time in the life of Westworth. As you will see below, Council approved a fundraising campaign to support the enhancement of our AV system. Inland Audio Visual is now contracted to install the system over the summer. We are also finalizing a contract with someone to build a media booth in the back SW corner of the sanctuary. In addition, we are in the process of signing the contract with our new Music Director, who will be introduced in next week’s congregational email. Today, we signed a contract with Jani-King to provide cleaning services for the church and are in the process of signing yet another contract with a casual maintenance person. These contracts evidence the dedication of three committees/teams and Council which have all been working hard over the last few months. Council held a special meeting this week to approve all of these initiatives and contracts. I am grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment of such a fine group of volunteers who brought these contracts to fruition, as listed below. Next week we will be thanking the members of the Search Committee for the Music Director.
AV Committee
Chair: Sharon S (Council)
Allan M (Property)
Peter S (Communication & Worship Tech Team)
Dorcas W (Worship)
Julia S (Christian Education)
Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd
Property Team
Leader: Paul C
Allan M
Ray M
Frank W
Bob L
Cam S
Council
Pat S (Chair and liaison with Ad Hoc Committees)
Dianne S (Vice-Chair and liaison with Property and Archives)
Joyce C (Secretary and liaison with Communications, UCW & Regional Reps)
Ron B (Finance)
Brett L (Co-Chair M&P)
Sharon S (Co-Chair M&P)
Bruce T (Liaison with Christian Education, Worship and Outreach)
Keith L (Liaison with Community Care)
With gratitude for our leadership and volunteers who offer themselves as the hands and feet of Christ,
Loraine
FUNDRAISING FOR ENHANCED AV SYSTEM
This past Tuesday, Westworth Council approved a fundraising campaign for the new AV system for our sanctuary. Our goal is to reach $80,000 and we are almost there before we even begin!
$30,000 Prairie to Pine Region matching grant
$30,000 Westworth Fund (approved by Council)
$7,600 Donations to date
If you have appreciated the online worship services, which are now being shown weekly by The Wellington retirement home, and our ability to bring people from across Canada and around the world to participate in funerals, weddings and workshops, please consider supporting this initiative. Without this enhanced system, we will be unable to continue live-streaming once we return to in-person worship.
AFTER-CHURCH ZOOM CAFÉ
We will hold a Zoom Café after the church service. We’ll start at noon for a maximum of 45 minutes. The Zoom link is below. If you can’t connect by computer, you can still call the number below to connect by telephone.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82340300192?pwd=VHZaVWdEQXNUY2s4NVNld3NsL3hpZz09
Meeting ID: 823 4030 0192
Passcode: 709791
Dial 204 272 7920
UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
June 27—July 25
St. Andrew’s River Heights will be joining virtually in these services.
July 18
Healing of body and soul with soloist Christina Thanisch-Smith
July 25
Spiritual power with Rev. Earl Gould and soloist Martin Robson
August 1-Sept 5
Westworth will join St. Andrew’s River Heights in their online services. The September 5 service will be recorded at St. Andrew’s and will be a joint communion service with Loraine and Rita Swan co-officiating.
CHURCH SCHOOL
This week’s Bible story is Teaching and Healing.
Stay connected with children’s weekly bible stories on our Westworth website and Facebook page.
The 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.
The Bible Story is available here: https://www.facebook.com/westworthuc/videos/1423094921395225
Maggie
CONDOLENCES
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gail D, children John, Jimmy and Susie and their families on the passing of Mike Dwho died July 11th.
FROM THE CONGREGANTS
We wanted to share with you some pictures of pure joy! Deckard absolutely loves bubbles, and when we opened up the care package from the Sunday School department he was beside himself with excitement. Thankfully he is too young to experience the disappointment of missed holidays and gatherings, but since it has been hard on us, it is such a blessing to see the extra smiles this gift has brought. Thank you so much, it has been greatly appreciated by Deckard as well as Andrew and myself.
Deb M
Making a Difference at Home …..
JUSTCITY
West Broadway Community Ministry (WBCM) Emergency Pantry: Because of your continuing support for the folks in the West Broadway area who experience daily food insecurity, we transferred $5235.00 to assist in keeping the panty fully stocked. Because the need for emergency food continues, we will continue to accept cheques throughout the summer months to support the Pantry. Cheques can be issued to Westworth with “WBCM Pantry” on the memo line. Thank you!
St. Matthews Maryland Garden Tour is going virtual! This year, the gardens you have a chance to visit are in the Scotia Street area. Check out the link https://www.1justcity.ca/garden-tour for all the information, including a trailer illustrating the beauty of the area.
THE PROVINCE OF MANITOBA INVITES YOU TO SHARE FEEDBACK ON HOUSING:
The province is launching a new online survey to gather feedback from Manitobans on housing needs, priorities and solutions. Minister Squires says, “Affordable housing is a cornerstone of sustainable, inclusive communities, and our government understands that ensuring access to it requires collaboration between all levels of government, communities, non-profit organizations and the private sector. The feedback received through this survey will help us develop solutions to address housing issues in our province and we look forward to hearing from Manitobans.”
The National Housing Strategy (NHS) bilateral agreement was signed by the governments of Canada and Manitoba in 2019 to ensure families, Indigenous communities and vulnerable Canadians can count on long-term funding for community housing in Manitoba. The 10-year agreement will provide almost $450.8 million in joint funding from both governments to protect, renew and expand social and community housing, and will support Manitoba’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and affordability.
Under the bilateral agreement, Manitoba is required to submit a publicly available action plan every three years, describing how NHS funding will contribute to access to affordable housing. Manitoba Housing’s first three-year action plan for 2019-20 to 2021-22 prioritizes vulnerable populations and women and children fleeing domestic violence, supports home ownership and housing affordability, and invests in improvements to existing social and affordable housing including housing for urban Indigenous Peoples. The action plan is available on Manitoba Housing’s website at https://www.manitoba.ca/housing/three-yr-plan-2020.html.
Manitoba Housing is now embarking on consultations with the public and stakeholders to inform the second three-year action plan for 2022-23 to 2024-25. The priorities identified will build on those identified in the first action plan and help direct funding. Since 2016, the Manitoba government has supported the creation of 743 new and affordable housing rental units. During this period, the province has also supported home ownership for more than 220 households through partnerships with municipalities, non-profit organizations and other agencies.
To provide feedback on housing needs, priorities and solutions, visit https://engagemb.ca/mb-housing
Making a Difference in the Community …..
United Church Covid-19 Global Response
Our call to love our neighbours and leave no one behind has become more challenging in the face of the pandemic. While COVID immunization campaigns roll out in Canada and elsewhere, a humanitarian catastrophe is building where variants of the disease have taken hold. Swift action is needed for access to vaccines for everyone around the globe. As COVID-19 cases rise and health systems face enormous pressure, local and national economies strain under the burden. There are three things you can do:
- Make a gift today through Mission & Service to support communities gripped by the pandemic in the Global South and East. Working with Mission & Service partners, together we are contributing food and relief items to those in need, enabling the distribution of PPE, and supporting programs to prevent and control the spread of the disease. Together we can make a difference.
- You can also pay it forward by directly giving the gift of a two-shot dose of vaccine in a country still struggling through the worst of the pandemic and supporting the worldwide effort to protect people from COVID-19, one vaccine at a time. The Government of Canada will now match your gift dollar for dollar until September 6.
- And please write your MP and the Prime Minister. COVID-19 threatens every aspect of people’s lives—amplifying inequalities, destabilizing communities, and reversing progress made on the sustainable development goals in the past decade. Act now for global vaccine access.
The pandemic is not over until it is over for everyone.
https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/covid-19-global-response
THANKYOU FROM WESTBROADWAY COMMUNITY MINISTRY
Westworth received a thank you card from the care team at West Broadway Community Ministry thanking congregational members generosity in providing lunches for over 160 hungry people per month. These lunches included meatball subs, fruit and cookies. Especially noted was the June BBQ that was absolutely gourmet, over the top and hugely successful with over 170 participants.
Thank you, Westworth! You are making a difference!
CUBAN EMERGENCY RELIEF APPEAL
Cuba is in crisis. Their hospitals do not have basic medical supplies and they are overwhelmed with COVID cases. The United Church of Canada is receiving donations to send funds and supplies to our partners in Cuba. Most recently, they sent funds in July to the Cuban Centre for Reflection and Dialogue, located at the seminary in Matanzas. The Centre has become a vaccination centre and a field hospital for children and their families. If you would like send donations, every penny will be used for emergency appeals. Administrations costs do not come from these donations.
You may donate online at https://united-church.ca/donate select “in celebration” and ’emergency response-Cuba’ in text field, call 1-800-268-3781 or send a cheque to The United Church of Canada 3250 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4 – make sure to notate CUBA on the donation.
If you would like to sign a petition asking the Canadian government to call on the United States to end their embargo of Cuba, please click on this link: (petition link here) ,
