ISSUE #83 MARCH Produced in Upper Nappan Nova Scotia Contact Jean Smith

Transcription

1 Spread the News ISSUE #83 MARCH 2018 Produced in Upper Nappan Nova Scotia Contact Jean Smith A reminder of two important events happening for United Church Women food All for! 51ST ANNUAL MEETING CHIGNECTO PRESBYTERIAL UNITED CHURCH WOMEN MARCH 24, 2018 AT THE MARITIME CONFERENCE CENTRE, SACKVILLE NB Bridging Changes Maritime Conference UCW Biennial Meeting April 27-29, 2018 at Trinity United Church 90 Spring Street Summerside, PEI Registration Deadline: 23 March 2018 For more information on these events, contact Jean Smith, Secretary, Chignecto Presbyterial cjsmith@eastlink.ca

2 March P2 A LETTER FROM CAMP Hello Ladies, Camp Board members met on March 10th and it was a very interesting and productive meeting. Our camp may be buried in snow right now but behind the scenes getting everything ready for an incredible summer of camping for our children is a very busy board and summer staff. Don't think of our camp buried in snow but think of it in sunshine filled with the sounds of singing His praises and children's laughter as preparations are on going and oh so exciting. Camp Registrations are coming in and the deadline for receiving the $25 Early Bird Discount if paid in full is by May 15th, Check out your Camp Ta-Wa-Si's facebook page, or website for full details, camp dates, weekly guest programs this summer, and mini camps, new for this summer. A reminder also the Counsellor in Training (CIT) volunteer applications are due at the end of March, a short couple of weeks away. Application forms and instructions are located on your camp website. Contact can also be made by sending a message on facebook, website or send an to kourtney.logan@msvu.ca with questions. Ladies, if you know of a young person, friend or grandchild who may be old enough to enjoy this leadership experience, please let them know of this deadline fast approaching. Staffing for the summer is completed and it is going to be an awesome summer at camp. Staff are now writing up a brief note of themselves including their Camp name on Ta-Wa-Si's face book page if anyone is interested in reading any of these check out Photo Album 2018 Ta-Wa-Si staff. The new cooler for the dining hall has been ordered and will be in place ready for use this summer. If your group is looking for a place to financially help camp this summer the cost of this cooler is around $ taxes. Two really big expensive but needed items this summer is this cooler and our new roof on the dinning hall. More news on other things happening with camp is a Plant Nite Fundraiser and I will have more on that and other items next month. See you all at the Annual on the 24th if you have any questions come chat with me. I will have my Camp Tee shirt on. Bye for now, Lois Budd, Your UCW Camp Representative

3 March P3 International Women s Day in Portugal by PAM HARRISON Portugal, Europe Again this year Pam Harrison and friends met in Portugal to enjoy the warm winter weather. Their plan was to climb a mountain path, cross a river bed and explore some castle ruins to celebrate International Women's Day. Unfortunately, due to the results of recent wind and rain storms it was impossible so they settled for a typical Portuguese meal at a wonderful restaurant. (The Algarve has experienced two tornadoes over the last week.) Pam shared the story of Viola Desmond and the new $10.00 Canadian currency as part on the International Women's Day celebration. Due to the four hour time difference all of this was taking place while the new bill was being presented in Halifax. Wanda and Joe Robinson had been in touch with Pam and provided details. These Canadian women said farewell to the old $10.00 bill, tossing them in the air! "Farewell to Sir John A MacDonald and hello Viola Desmond." Desmond's story is one of Canada's Heritage Moments and has been told in several books published over the past few years. Viola Desmond would have celebrated her 103rd birthday on July 6th this year. Did you know she Milestone birthday recognized by Nappan congregation by JEANNETTE MORRIS Nappan / Maccan UCW Pictured right is Bill Drysdale, DLM, as he celebrates his March 1 (1948) milestone birthday with the McCully Pastoral Charge at the Nappan United Church on Sunday, March 4, The photo shows Bill getting ready to blow out the candles on his birthday cake, baked by Carol Shea of Fenwick United church. Happy 70th Birthday, Bill! L-R, Caroline Foster, Pam Harrison from Cumberland County and friends from Ontario celebrate International Women's Day in The Algarve, Portugal. was sitting in her highchair when her home was damaged by the Halifax Explosion? Today all Canadian women should celebrate this event and realize the importance of Desmond's contribution to a better world for all. World peace is not possible as long as racism exists. Several women shared the important stories of their grandmothers and mothers contributions to a world with equality. We also reflected on the fact that all First Nations women in Canada did not have the right to vote until Social justice is the important work that we all must do, working towards world peace.

4 March P4 Last 2018 Soup Festival slated for Palm Sunday by JANICE COLPITTS & DORIS BROWN Salisbury United Church, NB Picture 1 Picture 2 Greeting from Salisbury! March already, we have had two successful soup festivals and have planned the last one for March fellowship on Palm Sunday, so if you are coming this way then, stop in or you will have missed it for this year. Due to inclement weather for Valentine s our service was the following week, with tokens of our appreciation being given to various Church people. Picture 1, shows: Lois Budd, UCW president; Rev. Jennifer Brown, minister; Becky Mawhinney, music director for The Men in Black; Nancy Ross, lay worship leader; Tricia Weatherdon, custodian/secretary; Martha Shaw, choir director; Jarvis Mawhinney, chair of the council and our go-to guy for anything we need at the Church; and Jackye Colpitts, UCW vice. Chocolates were also passed to all the congregation. In Picture 2, the choir is seen in a lively hymn, and they also passed chocolates. We had a sweet congregation that day. World Day of Prayer was held this year at the Baptist Church in Salisbury with all four Churches participating. Very interesting to learn about countries like The Republic of Suriname. With Easter soon here, the Church is planning a Maundy Thursday service at 6:00 with a pot-luck supper. This will be a shared ministry with Trinity United in Riverview, all welcome. Our Good Friday service is at 9:30 AM on the 30th, Easter Sunrise service on April 1 at 6:45 AM with breakfast to follow, then regular Easter service at 9:30 AM. Hope to see everyone at the Presbyterial AGM in Sackville on March 24th. A MESSAGE FROM OUR TREASURER Allocations at $5.00 per member are due anytime and should be paid by June 30, Please note that cheques are payable to "Chignecto Presbyterial U.C.W." and NOT to me personally! Thanks for your cooperation. Ruth Anne Waddy

5 March P5 A reflection: Are you without direction? by BARBARA GROUNDWATER Mountain View United Church, Moncton, NB One day not long ago, as I was waiting for a ride, I looked up and saw a gaggle of Canada geese flying high above. They were not in their usual V-formation and pretty soon I observed them flying back again in the direction from which they had come. Shortly after, they returned overhead, still flying without a leader. They appeared confused as to where they should or wanted to be going. Sometimes we are like those geese, attempting to move forward but forgetting who our leader is, and like the geese, we become confused and ineffective. Lent is a good time to take stock of where we are headed and who our leader is. Are we asking God for guidance at the beginning of each day so that we can live out each day according to his will? Are we looking to God for direction with each new project we undertake? If we don t, we will likely end up like the geese, not knowing exactly where we are going and confused as to how we will get things accomplished. Sometimes we are of the opinion that we know best. We don t need anyone s direction, including God s. Experience has shown me, however, that my days and the projects I undertake go much better when I ask for God s blessing and help. I received the following verse, written by B.J. Hoff, on the front of a card that I received from a friend about seven years ago. I liked it so much that I framed it and put it on my bedside table. It is a good reminder to me to put God first when beginning my day. It goes like this: Secure in the knowledge That God holds our hand, We look to his leading each day. Assured that God works Through all things for our best, We rest, we trust, and obey. Here s to many good days with God as our leader giving us both direction and purpose! The Wisdom of Spiritual Memoir If you moved around a lot, or made a decision to downsize, you likely have a few special things that can t be let go or need to be passed on. I expect these precious things are your containers for spiritual memoir. Perhaps you have a recipe and every time you make it you recall where first you enjoyed it, or associate it with the baker. Perhaps you have a letter or diary in cursive handwriting that is a short story of someone you never met yet their words are give meaning to your life. Perhaps you have a memento from childhood that shines with the energy of memory as you hold it in your hands. Maybe you have a quilt that tells a story. Or maybe there is a story in you about a significant place or happening in your life and the values of a lifetime were shaped in that moment. Have you visited the Spiritual Memoir page on the Prayer Bench? You ll find it at The Spiritual Memoir Project is a partnership between the Prayer Bench and Visions United Church. You ll find audio recordings and short stories of ordinary spiritual memoir. There are more stories to come. Watch for a four week small group study call StoryTellers, where participants share the stories their quilts and diaries, letters and precious possessions and celebrate their spiritual memoir. We will also have a four week worship service series where you get everything you need to lead worship and explore four spiritual memoir themes. The first worship service is free. These resources are available after Easter. Please contact Janice, Host of the Prayer Bench, if you have questions or a story to share on the Spiritual Memoir page! Janice@prayerbench.ca

6 March P6 Maud Lewis colouring book stirs responses Shawnee Kinnear photo UCW Life Membership honour bestowed Lillian Brown of Amherst NS received her UCW Life Membership pin and certificate during the February meeting of her Unit at Trinity-St. Stephen s United Church. She is pictured above, left, being pinned by her Unit Leader Gloria Fraser. In expressing praise of Lillian s continual contribution to the purpose of United Church Women, her unit leader commented that she is always willing to do lunch for funeral receptions and work at other church events. She is our teller when we are on rummage sale co-ordination. She is also one of our telephone convenors. Lillian is a long-time member of UCW. Congratulations, Lillian! CORRECTION In news from Trinity-St. Stephen s United Church printed in February s Issue of Spread the News it was stated that Barbara Ralston, who celebrated her 90th birthday January 23, received her life membership in December 2017; this is an error. Barbara was made a life member in UCW in 1999, in December she took part in a ceremony presenting life membership pins to two of her unit members, Margaret Archibald and Dianne Chitty. The Spread received several responses to Ann Bateman s contribution from Central UCW s meeting program of the Maud Lewis colouring pages in the February issue. Laura Whitmee, president of Central UCW, responded with this E- mail message, including some information on where the colouring books can be purchased It is always interesting what interest an article can generate! I appreciate your forwarding the comments from Pam Harrison and Doris Brown. Last evening, Doris ed me on the article. She had her own story to share on Maud Lewis. She also wanted to know, where I purchased my book and so on. In light of any other interest, I thought I would share my information. I purchased the softcover, Children's Colouring and Activity Book in Saint Andrew's last August. It was in a store that sold just about everything. The name escaped me but I think Whale was in the name. Anyway, it was selling for $6.95 and I thought wouldn't this be fun for my Girlie/ Girl groups and serve tea and other treats! I am always looking for a "fun" thing to do with my lady friends. I also know that not everyone likes to colour! There are 15 different pictures. The info on the book is that it was published by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in This is Volume 2. I did not see a Volume 1 at the store. The ISBN is Title: Maud Lewis Colouring and Activity Book: Volume 2 Doris was all set to head to Chapters this morning to see if the colouring book was there and, or, order for a friend of hers. I have not run across this book anywhere else but I had not gone to Chapters. We also used the Bible Story of Talents and then read the story of Maud Lewis and her life. Laura (Whitmee) Cental United

7 March P7 Trinity-St. Stephen s UCW host St. Patrick s Day dinner by JEAN SMITH Trinity-St. Stephen s United Church The special St. Patrick s Day supper, prepared and served by the United Church Women at Trinity-St. Stephen s in Amherst this past Saturday evening, was a sold-out event. The evening went well with UCW members offering where they were needed and a little extra help coming from the Men s Group at the Church The Goodtimers who served up tea and coffee and helped with the cleaning up and putting away after the event. The menu was not the typical corned beef and cabbage boiled dinner served on St. Patrick s Day. UCW switched it up a bit offering scalloped potatoes, carrots, coleslaw and ham and apple crisp for dessert. Added in for a bit of fun, was a silent auction, which also provided competition bidding fun, fellowship as well as raising funds. Last year, the UCW hosted no major fund-raising dinner event, leaving the annual turkey dinner off the schedule of work. They were noticing that serving the 500 plus dinners event was getting to be more than what could be easily handled. They opted instead to let the four units come up with ideas to raise money to cover the usual budgeted items. The units did this by Souper Sunday luncheons, an on-line auction, a turkey-salad take-out, and extra monetary donations. This year it was decided that maybe a larger dinner event might be a lot to look after, it would be possible to stage a couple of smaller events during the year. So, the first UCW St. Patrick s Day dinner was hatched, and now a past and successful fund-raiser. The next UCWserved dinner at the church will be early in November, and will be a turkey dinner. Get your tickets early, when they come on sale, as seating will be for only 150. It is disappointing to have to turn away would-be diners at the door, looking for tickets sold-out. Souper Sundays are continuing during the early spring months, with the next planned for Palm Sunday following the service. Special Holy Week services at Trinity-St. Stephen s include Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 p.m. March 29, and Easter Sunday at 10:30 AM with a visiting music group. Rev. John Perkin will be returning as our service speaker during the Easter weeks. Blessed Holy Week to all Chignecto UC folk. Stephen, the mascot donkey at Trinity-St. Stephen s was costumed to greet diners and add a bit of fun for the St. Patrick s Day visitors. Our Condolences United Church Women of Chignecto Presbyterial offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of... M. EILEEN BROWN, of Amherst, NS and formerly of Athol, whose death occurred Friday, March 2, She was a member of the former Athol United Church where she was very involved with the UCW. JEAN SMITH, of Truro, NS, a former member of the Lorneville UCW and choir. Her memorial service was held Feb. 24 in Amherst, with Mrs. K. Ruth Gamble, DLM, officiating. Her beautiful smile, lovely and pleasant personality will be missed by all who knew her and loved her. Knitting Christmas socks for the grandchildren was very important to her. PHYLLIS GEORGIE MACMILLAN, of Moncton, NB, who passed away on March 4, Phyllis was a UCW member at Central United, where she served on the Congregational Care Committee. She was an educator and a photographer. MILDRED SHIRLEY MOSS, of Amherst NS, formerly of Springhill, who passed away on February 18, She was a member of St. Andrew s-wesley United Church, the UCW, and a Cub leader.

8 March P8 Serving those from all walks of life by SHERI GOULD St. John s United Church Serving those from all walks of life St. John s UCW in Moncton welcomed Lisa Ryan, Executive Director of YMCA ReConnect, to give a talk at their February Pot Luck Dinner Meeting. ReConnect is one of the agencies that the St. John s UCW supports and it provides outreach to youth, adults and seniors who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Their facility offers short-term and long-term support to individuals wanting help accessing resources such as food, clothing, shelter, education, employment and counseling. ReConnect helps by advocating on a client's behalf, emergency food, gym and shower passes provided by the YMCA of Greater Moncton, hygiene products, winter clothing, blankets, hats and mitts, Codiac Transit Bus tickets (for confirmed employment or medical appointments), an Employment Centre (phone, computer, fax, photocopying), housing search and financial requests for things such as damage deposits, birth certificates etc. Lisa passionately spoke about how Moncton is lacking affordable housing and told us heartwrenching stories about how her clients are not having their basic human needs meet. She talked about how they serve people from all walks of life from the homeless, to single parents and the working poor. She told us that the numbers of those in need are skyrocketing and reminded us that there is a desperate need to do what we can to help those who are struggling in our society. She asked that we keep ReConnect and those they serve in our prayers. Photos: Taken at St. John s UCW s February Potluck Dinner Meeting