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UPCOMING MEETINGS, EVENTS & SPECIAL SERVICES

Adult Crossings - @ Fred/Deanna’s March 14 @ 2:00 pm
Sinai Covenant – Exodus 19.1-16; 20.1-17; 24.3-8; Deuteronomy 6.1-9
Adult Crossings - @ Fred/Deanna’s March 21st @ 2:00 pm

Promised Land – Numbers 21.4-9; Deuteronomy 8.1-10; Joshua 6.1-25; 24.1-24

LST Meeting March 23 @ 6:00 PM
Ladies Aid March 24th @ 2:00 PM – Edna Mitton’s
EARTH HOUR - join the world 8:30-9:30 pm March 27, 2010
TURN OUT YOUR LIGHTS, SHUT DOWN the COMPUTER & TV
Adult Crossings - @ Fred/Deanna’s March 28 @ 2:00 pm

Davidic Rule – 2 Samuel 7.4-16; 2 Kings 17; 25; Zechariah 8.3-13

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Our Christian love and Sympathy is extended to Ruth Hyslop and her family at the death of her son, Douglas Hyslop who passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2010 after a long illness.
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Thank You ! Last Sunday’s dessert raised $72.00 for Colin and Luke to attend Youth Forum in May. Thanks to all who cooked, ate and bought !

Lent is a good time to consider your commitment as a Christian. Confirmation, transfer of membership, and the Sacrament of Baptism are available. Are you ready?

Lenten discipline – for your reflection during the week, the
3rd spiritual practice: Risk-Taking Mission and Service
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase
Risk-Taking Mission and Service includes the projects, the efforts, and the work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever be part of the community of faith.churches have after-school programs for at-risk children, some send work teams across the state or across the world, some offer regular ministries to the incarcerated.
Risk-Taking refers to the service we offer that stretches us out of our comfort zone and has us engaging people and offering ourselves to ministries that we would never have done if not for our desire to follow Christ.Risk-taking steps into great uncertainty, a higher possibility of discomfort, resistance, or sacrifice.pushes us beyond the circle of relationships that routinely define our church commitments. It changes the lives of the people who are served as well as the lives of those who serve. (p.83 & 78)
* What outreach ministries at Zion United Church push people out of their comfort zones to make a real difference in the lives of people? * What are the ministries that require hands-on, face-to-face engagement with the needs of people that our members might ordinarily not come to know?
are currently receiving nominations for Elders. There are three openings and the following three persons have been nominated at the Annual Congregational Meeting: Linda Price, Betty Kay, and Karen Mitton. Term is 5 years. The position involves the spiritual life, worship, Christian education and pastoral care of the faith community. Nominations will cease on Sunday, March 22, 2010.

We will vote by ballot on Sunday, March 28, 2010 in a Congregational Meeting following worship called for this single purpose.

Saturday, March 27, 7:30-11:00 a.m.Humphrey Memorial United Church - Pancake Breakfast. The UCW will have a bake table and admission is a free will offering at the door. Everyone welcome! All proceeds for Camp Ta-Wa-Si.

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The Great M&S Tithing Adventure

Abundance, not scarcity, was the theme at Tecumseh United Church, in Windsor, Ontario, in 2008. They examined their own abundance to understand how they could respond to God’s call to make a difference.
One outcome of this was the Great M&S Tithing Adventure. Members wrote down an estimate of their eating-out costs for a year and sealed the paper in an envelope. They kept track each time they ate out, and a year later compared the total to their estimate. Many were surprised at how they had underestimated the money they spent on eating out.
Members of Tecumseh were then invited to give 10 percent of their total eating-out expenses to the Mission and Service Fund. It was noted that for every dollar given, members had spent $10 on food and beverages for themselves.
People became more aware of how fortunate they are. They also learned that a relatively small donation—10 percent of their annual dining-out costs—can make a significant difference in the work of our church.
Those participating raised an extra $4,688.79 for the Mission and Service Fund. Through the Great M&S Tithing Adventure and a variety of other promotions, Tecumseh United increased its M&S giving by over 40 percent in 2008.
Realizing the immense needs our global partners are addressing, we often wonder, “Can I make a difference?” By working together as members of the United Church, we can make a huge difference!
Your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund touch the lives of many in Canada and around the world.

We are a united church! In your prayers of thanksgiving, remember those generous United Church members across the country who believe they can make a difference and are acting on their belief.

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The Power of Powder… it's in the dust. Educate yourself about uranium mining http://www.robynm.com/uranium_in_new_brunswick.html
Signs available, $3.00/each.
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MINUTE FOR MISSION
Slow Down and Be
If youÌre following the World Development and Relief 2010 calendar, this story relates to the theme for Lent Week 3: Live Slower.

Kathleen Stephenson is a United Church overseas personnel working at Coordenadoria Ecumenico de Serviço (CESE) in Brazil. She discovered that sometimes we need to slow down to see where we are being called to serve.
As the ecumenical relations officer at CESE, I have some specific tasks and assignments. I participate in developing communications initiatives for churches and ecumenical institutions. I represent CESE on a local ecumenical council, planning celebrations and activities through the year. We hosted several events during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and developed a workshop on prayer. In the past few months, I have spoken on behalf of CESE to two local churches that work closely with CESE on a range of projects and ecumenical initiatives.
I have responsibilities, yes, but, perhaps as in all our ministries, sometimes I am just presentÛthat is, walking along with folks. My prayers and reflection focus to a great extent on how to just be, as appropriately and well as I possibly can. Meanwhile, I trust, with humility, that God will use me like clay. I am working on what this earthen vessel is intended to hold and pour out!
The work of CESE and of Kathleen is made possible through your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund.

We are a united church! This week, remember Parkdale United and the other congregations of Montreal and Ottawa Conference in your thoughts and prayers. Parkdale is KathleenÌs home church in Ottawa.

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GeT ConNecTed with our church online @
The United Church of Canada http://www.united-church.ca/
Wonder Café http://www.wondercafe.ca/
Maritime Conference http://www.marconf.ca/
Betty-Jean Friedman e-mail: Gr8fulSoul@aol.com

Updated March 14th,2010