OUR VALUES A Sense of Community ~ Affirming ~ Caring ~ Growing Spiritually ~ Meaningful Worship ~ Reaching Out

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1 The Staff of Port Nelson United Church Port Nelson Notebook April 22, 2018 Michael Brooks, Minister Martha Reynolds, Supply Minister of Pastoral Care Candy Harvey, Voluntary Associate Minister Stillman Matheson, Director of Music Sharon Holmes, Developer of Children s Ministry Jay Poitras, Developer of Youth Ministry Rebecca Murphy, Church Administrator Rick Tucker, Church Custodian Tina Depko & Riley Denver, Communications Sue Reed, Bookkeeper David Hebb, Security Lock-up OUR MISSION To reach out to one another and our world as we grow spiritually in a caring, inclusive, Christian community enriched by meaningful worship OUR VALUES A Sense of Community ~ Affirming ~ Caring ~ Growing Spiritually ~ Meaningful Worship ~ Reaching Out Port Nelson is an Affirming Ministry of The United Church of Canada DURING TODAY S SERVICE LARGE PRINT bulletins and music books, and assistive hearing devices for improved sound are available. A STAFFED NURSERY for infants and toddlers is available with a pager system; speak to an usher for assistance. A TEMPORARY LIBRARY is set up at the back of the sanctuary with top books available during renovations. OFFERING ENVELOPES are available in the seats; if you would like your own set of envelopes, or if you would like to begin pre-authorized remittance (PAR), contact the church office. HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELCOME! Please record your name in the Guest Book so that we may welcome you this coming week. We invite you to stay after worship for coffee, tea, juice, cookies and conversation. CHILDREN AND YOUTH ADVENTURE CREW is for children SK to Grade 5 to explore Christianity through stories, music, crafts and games. Sundays at 10.30am Contact: Sharon Holmes sharonholmes@portnelsonunitedchurch.com PINNACLE YOUNG LEADERS is for youth in grades 6 to 12 to build leadership skills and explore current issues from a faith perspective. Sundays at 10.30am Contact: Jay Poitras jaypoitras@portnelsonunitedchurch.com TODAY Ushers Greeters Coffee Sound System Flowers Joan Milne; Zilla Myers Bobbie Mulveney; Nancy McKenzie Jack Heeney; Alyson Wall; Darby Wilkes Ben Baseggio; Kirsten Wilkes Ann Heeney; Aiden Glenn; Julie Wall Julie Glenn; Kirsten Wilkes Ross Hicks Diana & Mat Ardron BIRTHDAYS IN APRIL: 3 Zoe Glenn 14 Scott Farrell 3 Claire Whiskin 15 Tammy White (50 th ) 4 Megan Tripp 19 Alice Liddle 7 Brian Snell 20 Eliza Kurth 10 Kerry McCarten 21 Mark Rust 10 Jay Poitras 22 Beth Kuiper 11 Joan Thomblison 22 Andrea Whiskin 13 Amanda Tripp 28 John Zinkie Would you like your birthday recognized in the weekly Notebook? Simply fill out one of the birthday slips at the entrances and place it in the offering plates. NEW MEMBERS Have you been around Port Nelson for a while now and feeling comfortable enough to belong "officially?" We plan to receive new members on Sunday, May 13. Please let us know by contacting Michael Brooks: ext. 123 michaelbrooks@portnelsonunitedchurch.com HANDBELLS Coming soon to Port Nelson: HANDBELLS! Over the next few weeks you will be hearing more about an exciting new music program! People of all ages and musical abilities can be involved! Next week we will have a sign-up sheet available for an information Session on Sunday, May 6 at 12.10pm. And on Sunday, April 29 during our service you will hear Bellissima, a small group of handbell ringers from the London area. Stay tuned for more! 3132 South Drive, Burlington, ON L7N 1H7 Phone: Website: Wifi Guest Internet: Password: Guest1234

2 UPCOMING EVENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE Port Nelson s Friday Family Fun Night Presents The Movie The Lorax Friday, April 27 th, 6-8:30pm Room 5 RSVP Sharon Holmes by April 26 th sharonholmes@portnelsonunitedchurch.com Seniors Luncheon Wednesday, May 2 Please join us for lunch on Wednesday, May 2, at 12:00 noon. The menu will consist of Marsala chicken, salad and dessert. The cost is $15.00 per person. Following lunch, Butch Rogers will talk on Being a Senior and Loving It. Please sign up using the sheet on the bulletin board at the entry to the sanctuary. Money for the lunch will be collected today and next Sunday, April 29. Hope you can join us! Contacts: Donna Duncombe Anne Smith Save the Dates Upcoming Events Sunday, April 29 at 12noon Blanket Exercise led by Pinnacle Youth and Affirm Sunday, April 29 at 7.30pm Taizé Prayer Service Saturday, May 12 at 5:30pm Caribbean Dinner Event Sunday, May 27 at 7:30pm Choir Spring Concert Celebration of Healey Willan Saturday, June 2 at 10am Seeds of Life Farm Visit at Alberton Saturday, June 9 at 6:30pm A Night at the Races Mohawk Raceway A brochure is available this morning outlining the various Reaching Out Ministries of the church. A brochure is available this morning outlining the various Caring Ministries of the church. Gift Card Program Purchase shopping cards for restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and even big box stores. See the table in the Upper Gathering Place each purchase helps our food voucher program and those in need. NEW! Tim Horton s Cards now available! Youth Service Trip Q & A session April 23 Jay Poitras, Michael Brooks and Cathy & John Greven are hosting an information night and Q & A for any youth and their families interested in the possible service trip to Guatemala next March 11-15, 2019 in Room 6. Monday, April 23 at 7.30pm. All high school and post-secondary youth and families welcome! PORT NELSON YOUTH AWARD This $1,000 award is available to a graduating high school student who has contributed to a more inclusive school/community, particularly pertaining to LGBTQ issues. Application forms are available this morning or on the church website. Deadline for applications is May 1 st. SUMMER JOB OPENING The Ministry and Personnel Committee (M&P), in conjunction with the Property Management Ministry (PMM), is searching for an Assistant Custodian for July and August (full-time). Please see our website: portnelsonunitedchurch.com or the bulletin boards for details. ADULT SMALL GROUPS A brochure is available this morning outlining the various Adult Small Groups of the church. This week, the following groups are meeting: Prayer Group Thursday at 9:30am Bridge Luncheon Thursday at 12pm Choir Thursday at 7:30pm GLEE CAMP UPDATE The 2018 GLEE Camps are filling up! Visit the church website if you still wish to register your child(ren) for one of the weeks of day camp. We look forward once again to welcoming 250 children to the GLEE program this summer. The mission of GLEE is to provide an affordable, quality summer day camp experience in a Christian setting. COMMUNICATIONS Port Nelson Social Media A little birdie tells us that Port Nelson United is now on Twitter. Follow us for news and stories from our church. Don t forget to check out our Facebook page and PortNelsonUnitedChurch.com to keep up with everything happening at Port Nelson. Counsellor Positions Open! Applications are now being received for Counsellor and Junior Counsellor positions. These will be of interest to high school and university youth. Visit the bulletin board today, or visit the church website: Applicatio n deadline is Monday, April 30 at 5pm for all positions.

3 Belief and Action: Journeying with our New Creed This year, we celebrate the 50 th anniversary of A New Creed the United Church s most well-known and well-loved statement of faith. We say the words We are not alone, we live in God s world every time we celebrate baptism and confirmation. Yet, in 2018, we may ask, What does it mean to say we believe? Marcus Borg suggests that one definition of the word Creed (from the Latin credo) is I give my heart to. This highlights the importance of relationship. Throughout the Sundays in Easter this year, we will look at each line of A New Creed our New Creed. To what do we give our hearts in our time and place? April 22 Easter 4 We are called to be the Church: to live with respect in Creation Earth Day service Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr Ambury Stuart Minister and Climate Change Scientist Ambury is a recently retired United Church minister who holds a doctorate in atmospheric physics. He is a respected climate change scientist and frequently speaks about the convergence of faith and science. April 29 Easter 5 We are called to be the Church: to seek justice and resist evil Blanket Exercise following the service April 29 at 7.30pm Easter Prayer with the Songs of Taize May 6 Ascension Sunday Guest preacher: Rev. Dr Alan McPherson May 13 Confirmation, Christian Family Day In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

4 DRAW Tickets $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00 Draw Date: 8:30pm May 12th at our fundraising dinner PRIZE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: 2 Tickets to Come From Away The Musical Saturday, May 26, 2018 Overnight Accommodation The Hyatt Regency, King St. Toronto The Keg Steakhouse $100 Gift Card Tickets on sale after worship or in the church office Also directly from Rod & Nancy McGrath See our website - portnelsonunitedchurch.com Prize Value: $675 No cash value. Prize must be accepted as awarded Number of Tickets 675 Lottery License #M802727

5 Island Dreams Resort Fundraising Dinner Saturday, May 12 th 5:30pm-10:30pm Dinner and Dancing (Live 4 piece Island music band) At the Polish Hall Fairview St. Burlington Ticket Sales Deadline April 30 Tickets $95, Table of 8 $665 & donate per person, a $25 Bottle of Wine or Gift Card Donated dinner tickets have been placed in white envelopes on our bulletin boards and are free for your use. An evening in support of our Port Nelson Ministry Your attendance is important to make this successful!

6 You are Invited! Plan to join the PINNACLE Youth Group & Port Nelson s Affirm Group on Sunday, April 29 th from 12:00-1:30 pm in an interactive workshop called, The Blanket Exercise, to explore the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Canada. As a participant of this workshop, you will take on the roles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Walk through 500 years of history you likely were not taught in school: pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. A light lunch will be served. Please RSVP to Rebecca in the Church Office by Friday, April 27 th to reserve your spot in this event.

7 SEEDS OF LIFE 2018 A World Without Hunger This is the goal of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Last Year, the Foodgrains Bank helped 1.1 million people in 39 countries. How? Through the work of 15 member churches who have people on the ground where the need is great, we provide assistance. The United Church of Canada is one of the 15 member churches of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, along with Presbyterians, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Mennonites, Nazarenes, Baptists and others. Administration costs are extremely low. In fact, almost 90 % of donated funds go directly to food assistance, nutrition and sustainable agricultural programs. The Canadian government feels that the Foodgrains Bank does such a good job that, in most cases, contributions are matched 4 to 1. Last year the Canadian government provided $26 million in matching funds. We here at Port Nelson have a chance to help with a local growing project for the Foodgrains Bank. Seeds of Life is a 72 acre farm at Alberton, Ontario (just west of Ancaster) owned by the Brooks family. For $400, you can sponsor all input costs for an acre of winter wheat in When harvested, the proceeds should be about $500 to $600 depending on weather and market prices. With matching funds from the Canadian government your donation could turn into as much as $2500 for world food assistance. That is a pretty good return! Any contribution - large or small will help with this year s crop. Question? Contact Scott Brooks: sbrook327@bell.net You can also visit seeds-of-life.ca or foodgrainsbank.ca Want to donate? Visit the Seeds of Life website to donate online, or, send cheques payable to: Seeds of Life And... mark Saturday, June 2 at 10am in your calendar for the annual farm visit. Scott Brooks 327 Cavendish Drive, Ancaster ON L9G 3Z1

8 Climate Change as a Matter of Faith and Justice Climate change is a tremendous challenge for the global community, perhaps the critical issue of our time. As people of faith, it is an issue that reaches the core of who we are and how we are to live in God s world. How should Christians respond? As Christians, we are called to respect the dignity of every human being as image-bearers of God. We know that God gifts every person with both rights and responsibilities. We all have a rightful claim to live in dignity, be respected by others and have access to resources needed to live out God s calling. And we also have a duty to act justly, care for creation and work for peaceful and just relations within society. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16 This must inform the way we live, work, and play. Future generations have a right to the goods of creation; we cannot over-consume and deny our children s children a healthy and secure life. We must seek to live into God s call to love and care for all the Earth; to respond to the human and ecological devastation of climate change with love and justice. Since economy, ecology and society are all intertwined; we need to take a holistic approach that considers the health of the economy, the well-being of plants and animals, as well as sustainable livelihoods, lifestyles and health of individuals, families, communities and future generations. We must consider how we consume, waste and navigate our landscape at each of these levels. It is imperative that we acknowledge that the scale of the climate crisis requires more than individual action. It is a Christian imperative that we citizens advocate on behalf of creation. Creation advocacy (protecting what God loves) is where God s Spirit calls the church to protect creation and participate in the healing of all creation. For more information please see the Affirm page on the Port Nelson website. Excerpted from materials from cpj.ca/for-the-earth

9 A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!! CONVERT LOBLAW ERROR TO FOOD BANK/FOOD VOUCHER WIN! As you may have heard, Loblaw discovered that Canadians were overcharged for the cost of some packaged bread products in their stores and other grocery stores across Canada. In response, they are offering eligible customers a $25 Loblaw Card, which can be used to purchase items sold in their grocery stores across Canada. Anyone over the age of 18 in Ontario who purchased any of 12 common bread brands at any of the Loblaw family of stores between Jan 1, 2002 and March 1, 2015 is eligible. The specific brands, stores and terms are detailed here: Those eligible may apply for a card before May 8, 2018 and, we have confirmed with Loblaw that, once received and activated, the cards can be donated to the Burlington Food Bank or to our Food Voucher program directly. The cards take 6-12 weeks to arrive. It should be noted that you WILL NOT receive a tax receipt for the donation of a card. Elaine s Vision small group at Port Nelson has already embraced this opportunity and our cards are arriving. In order to encourage participation in this initiative, there will be someone with a laptop computer at coffee hour following church for the next four weeks who can assist interested members in applying for these cards. If you would like to apply for one of the cards from the privacy of your home you can do so at the link below. Look for the red here under How Do I Obtain A Card. Any questions? Contact Jill Jukes at or jill.jukes@yahoo.com