Minister’s Message
Westworth is continuing our Easter messages this week, as many of them were missed last week due to the incoming storm necessitating building closure and the need to quickly send out the email two days early. Our apologies. But it’s not a bad thing to continue Easter messages. In fact, the season of Easter continues until Pentecost on June 5. We need all of the resurrected hope we can get—and give—these days!
One message that I missed was my own—I will be on holiday this week in Victoria, back next Sunday night. In case of emergency pastoral care from April 18-24, please contact Rev. Heather Robbins at (204
Let us continue to commit ourselves to prayer for peace in Ukraine—and in other war-torn countries including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Ethiopia. I include a prayer we offered during the Easter Sunday service:
The Burden of War: A Prayer
by David Sparks
Loving God,
The burden of war is a heavy burden to carry;
we pray for those weighed down by warfare.
We pray for those caught up in the turmoil,
in the fear, in the danger, and in the stress.
We pray for parents and children sheltering.
We pray for people in the heat of combat.
We pray for the vulnerable and marginalized.
We pray for those without the medication essential to their health
and for those denied food.
We pray for all who, exposed to the horrors of war, suffer in mind and body.
The burden of war is a heavy burden to carry.
We pray for those weighed down by warfare;
we pray for those who must leave home and family
to escape the conflict.
We pray for those who travel to family or friends abroad.
We pray for those who find a welcoming place to stay for a while.
We pray for refugees, for those who will never be able to return to their home,
in all the loss, in all the pain, in all the heartache.
We pray for those separated from their loved ones, and for those
who do not know where their loved ones are.
The burden of war is a heavy burden to carry;
we pray for those weighed down by warfare.
We pray for those who search for peace.
We pray for national leaders in whose hands are life and death,
that the loss suffered by so many may be
measured against any powerful gains.
We pray for the peacemakers as they struggle to get parties
to the conflict to listen to one another and to talk to each other.
We acknowledge that by contacting power persons,
by demonstrating, and by prayer, we may hasten the way of peace.
The burden of war is a heavy burden to carry.
Loving God,
In your strength we face the reality of war with courage,
with your patience we help the war-torn compassionately,
through your peace we witness old conflicts ended
and new beginnings bud and bloom,
through your peace we envision an end to all wars. Amen
Continued Easter Blessings,
Loraine
Upcoming Worship Services
April 24: Focus on the Environment with Rev. Peter Denton (in-person & live-streamed)
May 1: Communion & Easter love
May 8: Mother’s Day & Christian Family Sunday; 1st anniversary of becoming Affirming; with Rev. Earl Gould
May 15: Worship with the music of the Beatles
May 22: Spring & Spirit
May 29: Loving Partnership
June 5: Pentecost Sunday
June 12: Trinity Sunday with Revs. Mac Watts & Earl Gould
June 19: Folk Festival Sunday
June 26: Pre-summer celebration
Summer and Fall Worship Services
July services will be at St. Andrew’s
Aug 7: at Westworth with Rev. Ray Cuthbert and St. Andrew’s
Aug 14: at Westworth with Rev. Ray Cuthbert and St. Andrew’s
Aug 21: at Westworth with Rev. Heather Robbins and St. Andrew’s
Aug 28: at Westworth with Rev. Marilyn Anderson Corkum and St. Andrew’s
Sept 4: at Westworth with Loraine and St. Andrew’s
Sept. 11: outdoor service at Assiniboine Park
NB: Council has approved Loraine’s request to work 11/12ths this year (one month without pay) so that she can have July and August off to visit family on both coasts and canoe.
Ukrainian Easter Egg Gift
Sister Carmela L from the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate Ukrainian Orthodox Convent, was “so profoundly grateful and inspired by the letter we sent to them and to other Ukrainian churches” that she has gifted us with an intricately decorated egg, which we unveiled during the service on Easter Sunday.
Sunday School Online
We are together again in our building, and we hope you will be able to join us for Church School at 10:45 a.m. There is NO pre-registration required. Children will gather in the lower-level classroom with Cheryl, Danielle and Julia for the full hour as part of a multi-age group.
There are no snacks shared at this time. Everyone is welcome to bring their own water with them. Masks must be worn if you are 5 and older.
New registration forms are being handed out and physical copies will be available in the lower-level classroom Sunday mornings, or feel free to e-mail for a PDF version!
The Zoom and in-person Sunday school lesson for this week is: The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20
Our talk together will be “All disciples can teach like Jesus.”
Danielle will be presenting the Sunday School lesson via Zoom at 10:15 a.m.
Dance for All (Children-Seniors)
Saturday, May 14th (6:00-10:30PM)
Line dancing and old time dancing lessons will be offered prior to the dance.
More info here: https://prairietopinerc.ca/event/good-old-fashioned-dance/
Rock Lake United Church Camp
Camp opportunities for ages 4-15 as well as leadership/volunteer work and summer jobs are offered.
More info here: https://www.rocklake.com/about/be-a-camper/
We hope to see you soon! Please call if you have any questions.
Katie A
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82309898208?pwd=RHZwYXVqMHlXUU55SG1WQXE4VUN2QT09
Meeting ID: 823 0989 8208
Passcode: 669839
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Everyone of all ages are invited to join Julia on Facebook or through the link in the congregational email for this week’s Bible Story: The Great Commission
Bible Story is Available Here:
https://www.facebook.com/westworthuc/videos
Curriculum is Available Here:
http://westworth.ca/category/online-sunday-school/
Condolences
Our prayers are with Cheryl M D and family as they grieve the passing of Gerald D on April 20.
Finance Committee Update
The “Close the Gap” campaign has received 33 individual donations totaling $15,430. Thanks to all who have donated or increased their PAR to assist in covering the Westworth budget shortfall. Further donations are welcome and appreciated. Please visit www.westworth.ca or call the office at 204-489-6974 to change your PAR.
Temporary Change to Office Hours:
Office hours for the next couple of weeks will be:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Tammy’s schedule)
Wednesday (currently closed, please leave voice mails/emails)
Updates to the hours will be posted each week in our congregational email.
Outreach News
Actions to prevent climate change
Climate change has already begun to impact our planet in more ways than we realize. Temperatures continue to rise throughout the planet and we are experiencing changes in precipitation patterns as we have never seen before. The main cause of these catastrophic effects on our planet is pollution.
Saving the environment starts with us and it is our responsibility to act against these changes in order to preserve the planet for future generations. Fortunately, there are always things that we can do in the fight against global warming.
Here are ten helpful suggestions for you to consider:
https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change
Rossbrook House: The Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the hiring ofPatricia Mas the incoming Executive Director of both Rossbrook House and the Rossbrook House Foundation.
Pat begins her tenure as Executive Director on September 6, 2022, alongside outgoing Executive Director Phil Chiappetta, who will officially retire at the end of September.
Pat is Anishinaabe, and a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She has a long history with Rossbrook House – a former participant, a junior staff member, a graduate of Rising Sun School, and later a Board member. She has also been giving back over many years as a dance and cultural advisor for the annual Rossbrook House Pow Wow. Recently retired from a 20-year career as a teacher and principal in the Winnipeg School Division, Pat is also a Board member of the Winnipeg Foundation, serving as past-chair of their Reconciliation Grants Committee and chair of their Grants Committee.
