In-SPIRE-ation 

Westminster United Church                                       February 15, 2008

 
 
 
Lent & Easter Events
 
Orangeville Lenten Series
(Feb. 6 to Mar. 19)
 
Lenten Study at Westminster
(Feb. 13 to Mar. 19)
 
Mar 16 - (Palm Sunday) 10:30am Communion and special music by the Celebration Choir
 
Mar 21 -  Good Friday Service at 7:30pm  Reflections and readings with soloists: Emma Heimbecker and Sandra Abuja
 
Mar 23 - 8:00am Easter Sunrise Service at Brown Farm  
 
Mar 23 - 10:30am  Easter Cantata "Praise the Lord of Resurrection"
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In our thoughts & prayers
 
Prayer
Alice, mother of Darlene & Steve
Robert, brother of Carolyne
Eileen Rae
Bill Robbins
Nora, mother of Tanya
Ross Conning
 
Those battling addiction
 
Congratulations to Steve & Geraldine on the birth of a baby boy!
 
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays, marriages and new births!
 
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To email a Prayer Request click here:
 
All are welcome to join our Prayer Circle - Thursdays at 9:30 AM
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Friday Night Activities

Every Friday night, from Feb. 1st to Mar. 7th, there will be some fun in the church
 
Supper is served at 6pm
(freewill donations)
Activities start at 6:45pm
 
The activities may include cards, board games, movies, dances, worship... there's something for everyone! 
 
Feb. 15th:
*Drum circle with Matthew Fleming & Lynne Smith
*Snowmen building outside the church
 
 Feb. 22nd:
*Movie: Amazing Grace
*Toboganning on Murray's Mountain
 
If you would like to volunteer or have a question, please see Sue Scottinwood.
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Greetings!  

     The last few weeks have reminded us that Canadian winters still exist, despite global warming. For those who have been unable to join us in worship because of the weather or illness, we have missed you. Last Sunday Martin James helped the children to "pack up" our "Alleluias" in a blue shoebox. No Alleluias until Holy Week! Come to worship and see what happens to the shoebox each week.

     We enjoyed a wonderful evening of music and chocolate Feb. 9th. We would have loved to have seen a few more attendees from our own congregation but those who were there savoured every moment. Proceeds still exceeded our expectations. Thanks everyone.

     I warmly invite people of all ages to come and participate in our Friday evening events. This week includes a drum circle and snowperson building. Wear your snowsuits!!!  (Cards etc. as usual.) Teens will especially love the drumming. Mark Feb. 22 for the full feature movie night in the sanctuary. On the large screen we will see "Amazing Grace", an award winning film and the kids will go tobogganing at Murray's Mountain.
     Lenten Study has begun and membership classes will be underway next week.
     Please note that March 5th Westminster will be leading worship and supplying lunch for the Ministerial Lenten Lunch Series held at Tweedsmuir at 12:00 noon. Last newsletter I encouraged folks to take time to read the Bible each day and/or engage in prayer... how are we doing? 
     I have given you a puzzle, a challenge for this week. Perhaps some of you have seen this before but give it a try. Answers will be given in the next newsletter.

 

God bless your Lenten Journey.

Rev. Sandra
 

Quotes for the week...

 

Psalm 46 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble".

 
"Prayer fastens the soul to God"  Julian of Norwich
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There are 30 book of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them?
This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo, Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fundraising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record! The local paper, the Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless. 
 

(Answers will be revealed in the next e-letter...)

eastercantata
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 MEMBERSHIP CLASSES
Thursdays Feb. 21, Feb. 28 and Mar. 6 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Membership Reception to take place Sunday, March 16th during worship. For those interested in signing up, please contact the church office.
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Westminster United Church in Orangeville, Ontario (one hour north of Toronto) has a rich and significant role in this town of 25,000.  Our large heritage building (capacity 450) is home to a diverse and vital congregation. A new and emerging resolve is developing within this congregation. Having recently completed a visioning process, our congregation is looking forward to implementing the findings and recommendations of the final report. We are looking for an energetic and dedicated individual to lead Westminster into the future. We at Westminster wish to provide an environment where spirituality and Christian tradition can be relevant to families and individuals throughout our community. We wish to provide a setting where individuals and groups have a place to reflect, and have an opportunity to listen to God speaking to us. By working hard and by using innovative ideas and practices, we believe we can begin to bring people back into the church.  By rebuilding a community of faith, we can begin to rebuild a community. Our incumbent's term ends soon and we are seeking a full-time ordained Minister of the Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care. We welcome all applications.  Please contact Janet Jones at janet-jones@sympatico.ca 211-15 Faulkner St., Orangeville, ON L9W 2G4. Please visit our website to examine our J.N.A.C. www.westminsterorangeville.ca.  Application Deadline: March 31st, 2008.
 
Brian Bleasdale (Co-Chair) 938-9388
Joyce Winegar (Co-Chair) 941-4206
Janet Jones (Secretary) 940-3286
Bob Borden
Grant Bryan
Patricia Estrada
Rev. Shelly Roberts - Presbytery Representative
Rev. Terry Thom - Presbytery Representative
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UPCOMING EVENTS
 

UNITED CHURCH MEN - February Dinner Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Church Auditorium.The speaker for this meeting will be Bill Monaghan, speaking on the topic "Young Drivers System of Education". All men are welcome. Just say YES to the phoning committee or phone the church office at (519) 941-0381 to reserve your $10.00 dinner meal. We hope you will join us for fine fellowship, fine food and to hear the speaker tell us all about young driver education.

 
 

LENTEN STUDY WITH REV. SANDRA (4 SESSIONS)

Book "Prayer" by Joyce Rupp  $12.00

 

Morning Group:

Feb 13 from 10:30-11:45am

Feb 20 from 10:30-11:45am

Feb 27 from 10:30-11:45am

Mar 19 from 10:30-11:45am

 

Evening Group:

Feb 13 from7:30-8:45pm

Feb 27 from7:30-8:45pm

Mar 05 from 7:30-8:45pm

Mar 19 from7:30-8:45pm
 
WESTMINSTER'S SECOND ANNUAL TALENT AUCTION
What's your talent? What are your gifts? Here's your chance to auction yourself off to benefit Westminster! When? March 30th following worship during our 5th Sunday Potluck. Forms available at the back of the Sanctuary and in the office.

JEWELLERY SALE
This April 12th, we are holding a Jewellery Sale! This is your chance to dig through your old "bling" and get rid of all that stuff you don't wear anymore! Items can be dropped off at the church attention: Ways and Means. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Kate Robbeson, Tina Torrie or Tanya Ellacott.
 
ORANGEVILLE & DISTRICT MINISTERIAL ASSN. LENTEN SERVICES
Wednesday Lenten Services and Luncheon for 2008
Theme: "Listen to Lent"
Service: 12 Noon to 12:30 p.m.
Luncheon: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.
February 20 - Orangeville Baptist Church
February 27 - Saint Mark's Anglican Church
March 5 - Westminster United Church
March 12 - Christian Reformed Church
March 19 - Youth For Christ and Hospital Pastoral Care Team
 
LOOKING AHEAD...
Feb. 15 - 6:00pm Friday Night Activities
Feb. 18 - 7:00pm Board Meeting
Feb. 19 - 8:30am Tai Chi
Feb. 19 - 6:30pm United Church Men dinner meeting
Feb. 20 - 12:00pm O'ville Lenten Series at Orangeville Baptist
Feb. 20 - 1:00pm United Church Women meeting
Feb. 20 - 10:30am Morning Lent Study (#2)
Feb. 21 - 9:30am Prayer Circle
Feb. 21 - 12:15pm Fitness Nooner
Feb. 21 - 6:00pm Membership Class
Feb. 22 - 6:00pm Friday Night Activities
Feb. 23 - 9-12 Clothing Depot
Feb. 24 - 12:15pm Westminster's Book Club Discussion
Feb. 26 - 8:30am Tai Chi
Feb. 27 - 10:30am Morning Lent Study (#3)
Feb. 27 - 12:00pm O'ville Lenten Series at St. Mark's Anglican
Feb. 27 - 7:30pm Evening Lent Study (#2)
Feb. 28 - 9:30am Prayer Circle
Feb. 28 - 12:15pm Fitness Nooner
Feb. 28 - 6:00pm Membership Class
Feb. 29 - 6:00pm Friday Night Activities
 

John 12:36b-37

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.

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 Contact Info

 Telephone: (519) 941-0381      Fax: (519) 941-0385

Website: http://www.westminsterorangeville.ca     Email: westminster@westminsterorangeville.ca

We worship Sundays at 10:30 AM

 

Donations to Westminster United Church accepted online at CanadaHelps.org or