McClure Newsletter June, 2015

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1 Inside This Issue: Baptisms & Sympathies 2 Refugee Report 2 Visitation Ministry 2 W5 Announcement 3 AED 4 Spring Sales 4 Prayer Tree Group 4 Green Thumb Group 4 McClure Place Happenings Saturday Morning Women s Gathering Amy McClure House Anniversary Celebration Rainbow Village Dance Classes Summer Reading List 7 McClure Book Study 8 Lighthouse Shelter McClure Newsletter June, 2015 Statement of Faith by Ann Weems We believe in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in you and in me. We believe the Holy Spirit has freed us to worship as a community. We believe the Holy Spirit works through balloons and ministers daisies and wiggly children clanging cymbals and silence drama and the unexpected choirs and banners touching and praying spontaneity and planning faith and doubt tears and laughter leading and supporting hugging and kneeling dancing and stillness applauding and giving creativity and plodding words and listening holding and letting go thank you and help me Scripture and alleluias agonizing and celebrating accepting and caring through you and through me through Love. We believe God s Holy Spirit lives in this community of dancing, hand-holding people where lines of age and politics and lifestyles are crossed. We believe in praising God for life. We believe in responding to God s grace and love and justice for all people. We believe in the poetry within each of us. We believe in dreams and visions. We believe in old people running and children leading. We believe in the Kingdom of God within us. We believe in Love. This poem is from the book Reaching for Rainbows, a selection of poetry and creative writing. I offer it to you for reflection over the summer months. As many depart to be with family, at cottages, or on the golf course I invite you to spend time in gratitude for this wonderful community of faith. What is it that you value most about who we are and how we live out our faith? How do we inspire, challenge, support and love one another into being who God calls us to be? Believe in Love. Believe you ARE love, loved and capable of sharing the Kingdom of God wherever you may be. Blessings, Laura Fouhse

2 June 2015 McClure Newsletter Page 2 Baptisms Madeleine Ava Nicole Mireau daughter of David and Cassandra Mireau Please contact the church office if you are interested in having a child baptized. Sincere Sympathies Tim Pelly on the death of his mother Mary Ann Janice Salkeld on the death of her daughter Janelle Alice Maxwell on the death of her aunt Rubie Westvelt June Schnell on the death of her mother Natalie Threlfall on the death of her husband Gerry Don, Leslie, Ian, Simon and Cassandra Schweitzer on the death of their father and grandfather Jack The family of Margaret Waite Michael and Melva Hnidy on the death of Michael s brother Peter Mary Chapman on the death of her husband Bill Harold Chapman on the death of his brother Bill Refugee Report First the good news; we have had accepted an application to sponsor a young Eritrean man. He was persecuted in his country so fled through Sudan and Egypt to Israel. He is threatened with detention in Israel so is at risk. He has a brother in Saskatoon so would be easy to settle. Now for the news that is not as good. The Syrian family of five living in Lebanon that we had had accepted for sponsorship have gone to Germany instead. Canada is often slow in processing the paperwork so this could be part of the problem. With the help of the United Church Refugee Office in Toronto we are trying to get a new family. To try to speed up the process we are trying to get a government selected family. There is certainly a great urgency to help Syrians so we can do nothing but wait and hope for the best. McClure United Church Visitation Ministry Lay members of McClure United Church have kept alive our connection with members of our congregation who can no longer attend worship. Volunteers check in once a month with those who have indicated they would like a visitor. These visits are spiritual life lines for those in care facilities or those confined to their homes. Volunteers also visit McClure members in hospital. The visitation team gets together every other month for check in, support and learning. If you would like to become a visitor or if you know of someone who would benefit from a visit please contact Debra.

3 June 2015 McClure Newsletter Page 3 WHO? McClure United Church Congregation. WHAT? A W5 Announcement A notice has been posted on youtube from our United church Moderator asking congregations across Canada to ring the church bells. No church bells?...no problem. any bells, gongs, drums or cymbals you might have to bring will suffice! WHERE? In the parking lot of McClure followed by coffee in the multi-purpose room WHY? To celebrate the 90 th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada WHEN? Wednesday June 10 at 10:30 am This is precisely the date of the first inaugural service held June 10 at 10:30am in 1925! You will want to be on time so come a bit early. * Congregations will ring their bells across Canada in whatever time zone they belong ensuring a joyful noise country wide. * Please join fellow McClurites as we make our joyful noise (90 times) June 10

4 June 2015 McClure Newsletter Page 4 Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Information Presentations before Worship Services For all who are interested, the Property Committee will present a short information video related to the operation and care of the Church s new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) unit for cardiac emergencies. Sunday, June 21st 9:30am Sunday, August 30th 9:30am The AED information DVD is also available to be borrowed from the Church office. Once again, thank you to all the people who helped in any way with our Spring Sales. It takes a lot of organizing and we have a pretty incredible bunch of people who do this year after year. We also have a lot of pretty great people who donate items for these sales, who come out and support them, and who volunteer throughout the day. When the dust cleared, we raised approximately $6500. For the first time, we had a clothing sale. It was a success in two ways: we sold a fair number of things which contributed to the overall financial total and we donated the remainder of the clothes to The Food Bank Clothing Depot and to RUH. Both of these places appreciated the donations which go to help segments of our population that don t have the resources most of us do. Prayer Tree Group Prayer is a gift we can share with our church family at any time and from any location. Please keep your church family in your prayers over the summer. Now that we have come to the end of our three year prayer cycle the worship committee is thinking about how we might deepen this ministry. Watch for new information about this ministry in the Fall. If you have suggestions please contact Debra at debra.b@shaw.ca and she will pass your thoughts on. A Green Thumb Small Group June 12 at 1:30 in the Craft Room A group for those who love to garden will meet June 12. No need to worry about the size of your garden a large plot of land or a pot on the balcony is all you need to qualify to enjoy the company of others who love to grow things. At the first gathering we talked about the best time and day to meet and what we might like to do as a group. You are still welcome to join the fun. Please contact Debra in the office or debra.b@shaw.ca if you have questions.

5 June 2015 McClure Newsletter What s Happening at McClure Place Page 5 McClure Place is never dull and boring. At any given moment all week long, we are offered a variety of activities that allow us to make choices, or are offered opportunities to roll up our sleeves and help. garden boxes. Our pigeonaires are busy installing netting on the balconies to discourage the pigeons from nesting on our doorsteps. We are appreciating the fresh coats of paint and renovations on the main floor that are giving a face-lift. When we look at the calendar, we have enjoyed many interesting events. Since last report, we have watched the movie, The Imitation Game which was about the Enigma, attended the AGM of McClure Place Association Inc., were entertained by the children of Wildwood School with their Spring Musical, and completed our Globe Walk share of 8855 miles towards the 283,630 miles to the moon! On May 5 our McClure Place residents celebrated the 26 Anniversary of McClure Place by enjoying a dessert buffet prepared by our kitchen staff. This was followed by our own residents featured in our Amateur Hour entertainment. On May 21, we celebrated the newcomers of one year and less to McClure Place at the Newcomers Tea. What a treat to have china cups and saucers and silver tea service! We have an amazing group of of new residents in our midst. A fascinating demonstration of Dog Agility happened in the auditorium on May 26. The diversity of opportunities here is amazing. Most especially I am touched by the thoughtful caring acts of our residents for each other, be it sharing in grief, giving physical support to someone in need or just being a friend. It is what makes McClure Place so special. Other great happenings are the work of our volunteer gardeners, and our summer gardening staff who have been working to beautify the flower beds and gardens. A special thanks go to Mary and Keith Davidson for painting Alice and John Hanlin Saturday Morning Women s Gathering Come enjoy a light breakfast and great conversation. This informal time together includes visiting over food (brought by one or two of the participants - we take turns) and then Debra brings a topic for conversation. In the past we have had approximately fabulous women attend. Please bring a toonie or two for the collection bowl to help cover the cost of the breakfast. We will take a break for the summer and resume in September. For more information contact Debra at debra.b@shaw.ca

6 June 2015 McClure Newsletter Page 6 Come celebrate the 10 th ANNIVERSARY of AMY McCLURE HOUSE with the Residents and Families of Amy McClure House, the Residents of McClure Place, the Congregation of McClure United Church and Staff and Friends at a WORSHIP SERVICE on SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 at 10a.m. followed by an OPEN HOUSE at AMY McCLURE HOUSE Outdoor activities weather permitting include a GOURMET HOT DOG LUNCH FAVOURITE MUSIC Bring a lawn chair EVERYONE WELCOME Sponsored by THE BOARD of McCLURE PLACE ASSOCIATION INC. THE BOARD of McCLURE PLACE FOUNDATION

7 June 2015 McClure Newsletter Page 7 Summer Reading List 2015 MYSTERY/CRIME/ACTION Twelve Drummers Drumming The First Rule of Ten The Beautiful Mystery How the Light Gets In The 9th Girl Hushabye The Cuckoos Calling The Gauguin Connection Flying Time The Yellow Eyes of the Crocodile He's Gone The Black House Critical Mass ON THE LIGHT SIDE Perfect Is Overrated One Plus One Where'd You Go, Bernadette GENERAL FICTION Best Kept Secret Be Careful What You Wish For Mightier Than the Sword Longbourn The Husband's Secret The Dinner What the Dead Know Landline The Submission The Long Way Home Night Music Reunion The Silent Wife The Snow Walker Brother and Sister Plainsong The Darkest Hour Calling Me Home YOUNG ADULT Hate List Speak C. C. Benison Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay Louise Penny Louise Penny Tami Hoag Celina Grace Robert Galbraith (J K Rowling) Estelle Ryan Suzanne North Katherine Pancol Deb Caletti Peter May Sara Paretsky Karen Bergreen JoJo Moyes Maria Semple Jeffrey Archer (#3 of Clifton Chronicles) Jeffrey Archer (# 4 of Clifton Chronicles) Jeffrey Archer (# 5 of Clifton Chronicles) Jo Baker Liane Moriarty Herman Koch Laura Lippman Rainbow Rowell Amy Waldman Louise Penny JoJo Moyes Hannah Pittard A S A Harrison Farley Mowat Joanna Trollope Kent Haruf Barbara Erskine Julie Kibler Jennifer Brown Laurie Halse Anderson NON-FICTION The Reading Promise Alice Ozma An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination Elizabeth McCracken The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid Bill Bryson

8 June 2015 McClure Newsletter Page 8 McClure Book Study Group The Study Group will again meet this fall at the church on Monday evenings (7 to 8:30PM). The name of the book selected for about ten Mondays commencing on September 14/15 is Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most (2014), by Marcus Borg. The Book is a Manifesto for Progressive Christians. Borg encourages today s followers of Jesus to become more rooted to the deep convictions that can actually lead us to transformation and renewal, both for ourselves and for our world. This is a timely book for the Book Study Group since it was 10 years ago that the group first started meeting and at that time, our first study book was Borg s book Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. If you are interested to hear more about the group or wish to be part of the study please contact Karl Lenz ( ) or Bill Brumwell ( ). On Monday, April 13 and Friday, May 1 volunteers from McClure United Church helped at the Lighthouse shelter in downtown Saskatoon. From 5:00-7:00 pm on both evenings, these people helped set up, serve the meal, visit with the clientele and clean up afterwards. It was a great experience and is something we hope to continue in September again, perhaps once/month. The volunteers attending the April 13 session were Rob and Sheila Lavender, Joyce and Karl Lenz, Heather Muirhead and Neil Pechey. On May 1, our volunteers included Holly Knuttila, Beth Johnson, Ken and Glenda Anderson, as well as Neil Pechey. Our thanks go out to these people. We hope to see continued interest in this project come September. Your Outreach Committee will keep you informed of further dates. McClure United Church 4025 Taylor Street, East, Saskatoon, SK S7H 5N7 Phone (306) Fax: (306) Ministry Personnel: Rev. Ron McConnell ronmcconnell@shaw.ca Rev. Laura Fouhse laurafouhse@shaw.ca Rev. Debra Berg debra.b@shaw.ca Office Administrator: Darren Schwartz mcclureunitedchurch@shaw.ca Music Coordinator: Shirley Blackburn Accountant Tracy Williams-Duerr tracywd@mccluresktn.ca This newsletter is published monthly by McClure United Church Editor: Brenda Zuk Phone: brendazuk@sasktel.net Letters, articles and comments are most welcome Next Deadline: August 23 For submissions: Please send them as attached Word files if possible. This reduces the amount of re-typing. Thank you

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