FIRST CHURCH BENEFITS FROM ISABEL S LEGACY

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1 NEWSLETTER OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDMONTON FOUNDED IN 1881 First with the News March 2018 Volume 49, Issue 2 - firstpresbyterian.ca PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE SPRING GALA Saturday April 21 at the U of A Faculty Club Dinner & entertainment to benefit the church school and our church youth Gracia keeps her palm fronds ready for another march as her mom, Emerance Mukeny, also stays ready for action. FIRST CHURCH BENEFITS FROM ISABEL S LEGACY Ask someone if they want to leave a legacy after they're gone from this earth and most will answer yes. Do you know the simple solution for that is your life insurance policy? Isabel McRae knew that. She was just a school teacher, but she provided a legacy for her church that will far outlast her time on Earth. This photo, of Isabel, in her hundreds, shows her sharing her cake at church a few years before her last 108 th birthday. Isabel s legacy/insurance policy gave First Presbyterian Church more than $25,000 and it specified amounts for the Memorial Endowment Fund, the Women s Missionary Society (Western), youth ministry, and the choir fund. She gave in other ways too, such as a collection of Hummel figurines that went to the Ladies Aid and through her will. You might check Ken Munro s history of First Church for other such legacies (pp 506-8) such as those from Olive Moore, a public health nurse, Janet Wells, who worked in Edmonton Public School system, as well as legacies from Margaret Brine and T.G. Cook. If this resonates with you, perhaps a legacy is something to think about. Grace Bjalek turns to watch the Sunday School marchers who ve gone by as others approach marching to the hymns Hosanna in the Highest and Filled with Excitement, which exactly matches their mood.

2 Read, or listen to Rev. Harry s sermons on our church website Go to SoundCloud.com / FPCedmonton Stewardship Stewardship did not start with Moses when he sent out a letter to the families of Israel asking them for money. Nor did it start when Moses sent the elders around to collect for the building of the tabernacle. No, Stewardship started when God said: Let us make human beings in our own image and let them be in charge over the earth, and over the fish, the birds and the animals. And while Stewardship in the church has often been used to say We need money, so cough it up Stewardship is a lot bigger than that. Stewardship is the fact, that God, from the very beginning, from the day we were created, had a job for us. It was to look after and manage the earth on God s behalf. Everything belongs to God and we are looking after it. And when God created this world he said: It is good. God made this world for us to enjoy. God made this world so it would provide for us food and clothing and shelter and all the resources we need to have good, healthy, safe and enjoyable lives. Stewardship is to have a job and to enjoy it. It is about using and managing the resources of this earth. Let s face it. We haven t done the best job in looking after the earth. David Suzuki has been warning us. When it comes to the environment (he says) it is like we are on a train heading over a cliff and although there are people shouting warnings, we are continuing to have a good time while disaster is coming ever closer. And the Bible warns us too. Isaiah presents a vision of a world where the earth dries up and decays and the skies decay as well. That s what can happen if we do not live up to our obligation to look after the environment. We need to repent of our actions. In other words, we need to turn around and go a new direction when it comes to the environment. Stewardship is about not abusing or wasting this earth. The image Jesus used, referring to looking after this world, was an image from the culture of his day: The Steward. The Steward was the manager of the household. He saw that the food was cooked and the house was cleaned. He looked after the finances of the household and was in charge of all the servants. A Steward is a type of servant. The steward s goal is to help or serve someone. We are trustees, managers, servants, or stewards for God. Stewardship is to follow the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. At least 12 years of my ministry have been in a rural setting. I have had lots of farm families in my congregations. Certainly some of my very fond memories have to do with visits to farms. And when the children were younger, I would frequently take them on the visits with me. As I reflect on that farm experience and of people whose very lives revolved around the earth, the animals, and providing food for you and me...i am struck by the degree of care they had for the land and the animals. Farming is not just about taking from the earth and using the animals. Farming is about a way of life that is connected to the land and to the animals; they really care about the land and the animals. Stewardship is about caring. Caring for the earth. Caring for the animals. (cont d on page 3) First with the News March 2018 Page 2 of 6

3 Stewardship (cont d from page 2) One winter's night in 1935 Fiorello LaGuardia, the feisty mayor of New York, showed up at night court in the city's poorest district. He took over from the judge for the evening. That night, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. Her defense was simple: "My daughter's husband has deserted her, she's sick and her children are starving." The shopkeeper said, "It's a bad neighbourhood your honour, and she's got to be punished to teach people a lesson." LaGuardia turned to the old woman. "I have to punish you", he said, "the law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail." Remember, this story comes from the height of the depression. Having said that, LaGuardia reached into his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. "Here is the fine, paid in full, which I now remit. Furthermore, I am fining every person in this courtroom $1.00 for living in a city where a grandmother has to steal food to keep her grandchildren from starving. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines." The New York newspaper of the next day reported that over $50 dollars was given to the bewildered grandmother. Making forced donations were the red-faced shopkeeper, numerous petty criminals, and several New York police officers. Stewardship is to recognize we are all part of one family. We cannot say "it's not my problem" - for that's not true. And if we are Christians, with any sense of ever encountering God, we dare not say it; for Stewardship is about sharing... sharing all the resources with one another. Did you ever think about old Noah s job of getting the animals into the boat? Rounding up Tigers. Trying to get the mules to move. How did he ever manage to get the skunks? Or the rhinos? Or the hippopotami or the King Cobras? It is beyond me. But remember this: God loves the whole world. All the animals and all the plants and all the people. Paul writes in Romans: For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth. Yet there is the hope that creation itself will one day be set free from its slavery to decay and will share the glorious freedom of the children of God. Stewardship is the realization that God loves every person and every living thing. We are partners with God in the work of salvation, the salvation of all of creation. That is why we give. We give because it is our job. We give because we are servants of God, the world and others. We give because we care. We give because we are all one family. We give because God loves every person and every living thing. We give because God gave us life, and love, and each other, and the plants and the animals, and the world. May God Bless Rev. Harry Currie revharry@telus.net First with the News March 2018 Page 3 of 6

4 First Presbyterian Church Edmonton gratefully acknowledges the Quigley Family Fund The Quigley Family Fund advised First Church a few months ago that it had chosen to support First Presbyterian Church, Edmonton with a charitable grant in the amount of $20,000. The Quigley Family Fund is managed by Qube Charitable Foundation. As you enter the building at First Church you may notice the shiny floors. Please feel free to make use of the provided blue disposable booties to minimize the effects of dirt and debris tracking in from the outside. BOOK SALE - April 8 Our Ladies Aid will hold a gently used book sale in the Wallace Room (downstairs) after the church service on April 8. COFFEE & TEA WILL BE DOWNSTAIRS Spring Gala The 3rd Annual Spring Gala of First Presbyterian Church will be held on Saturday, April 21, at the University of Alberta Faculty Club. The reception will occur from 5:30 pm until 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner with dress "business smart." Members of the Choir of First Presbyterian Church will provide delightful entertainment. Tickets are $80 per person with a tax receipt of $30 per ticket. Money raised at this event will be dedicated to the congregation's Church school and youth programs. Wednesday Night Bible Study Continues We are delving into the final chapters of the old testament Book of Micah. Have you visited the NEXT to NEW SHOP at First Church? Wanted: Flower donations Celebrate a special occasion or honour a loved one donate flowers for a Sunday Service. Contact Dorothy Stoutjesdyk at least one week before the date to make the arrangements by at dscott@shaw.ca or by phone at Did You Change Your , Address, Or Phone Number? Tell Jean Warrack of any change! Jean maintains a congregational list of those interested in having this newsletter by , as well as a list of those who wish to stay in contact in other ways. her at: jeanwarrack@gmail.com. First with the News March 2018 Page 4 of 6

5 Duo Majoya storms NYC Our Music Directors, wearing one of their hats, performed as Duo Majoya. They performed organ music at St. Paul s Chapel, Trinity Wall Street, New York City on Feb. 23. The concert was live streamed at The Ladies Aid hosted a Strawberry Tea on Feb.11 in the Newcombe Room to thank the congregation for supporting their events. Many thanks to those that joined us that day and for the congregation's support throughout the year. Be Mine Dinner: A fundraising dinner was held on Feb. 17 to support the youth members who will travel to Canada Youth 2018 (July 2-7) at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. First with the News March 2018 Page 5 of 6

6 Spaces to Rent The church is very photogenic for a wedding and photographers find unique spaces for bridal photos (many examples are found online). Volunteer for Sunday Hospitality -- Sign up in the Newcombe Room or leave a message on the church phone ( ). Caterers find the kitchen beside the lower hall works well (heavy items can go on the lift ). Halls are transformed by decorators in this photo guest tables and chairs are draped in wine cloth. Volunteer for the Community Dinners -- FPC hosts a community dinner on the fourth Saturday of the month (in most months). This free dinner is open to who would like to come. We need volunteers to prepare, cook, serve, host and clean up. To volunteer see Ross Lepard or him at rlepard@telus.net (Elizabeth Nowak, decorator) Church office is staffed 10 AM 2 PM Monday thru Friday A doorbell and intercom are located at the southeast entrance. Anyone requiring an accessible entrance is asked to phone ahead for assistance. Messages may be left by at fpc@telus.net or by phone at Donations are invited For information on donating or to contributing to window restoration, please contact First Presbyterian Church Edmonton at Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1C8 fpc@telus.net Phone: Web: firstpresbyterian.ca PayPal is available on the church website. To donate by cheque to the Window Restoration project make the cheque payable to First Presbyterian Church Edmonton and in the memo line write window restoration. SUBSCRIBE to THE NEW Presbyterian Connection and have it sent to your mailbox or read it online at Presbyterian Connection links Presbyterians across the country by sharing their news and stories. First with the News is a publication of First Presbyterian Church Edmonton. The editor is Doris Milke. To contact her write the church office or dmilke@live.ca. First with the News March 2018 Page 6 of 6