“The Spirit” North Kildonan United Church

September 2016

“What the world, needs now is love, sweet love It's the only thing that there's just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love, No not just for some but for everyone.”

-Burt Bacharach, Hall David 1965

This song of love has been recorded by many artists over the years. On June 15, 2016 this song was recorded by Broadway for Orlando with all proceeds going to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. What has happened to patience and tolerance for each other? We seem to be asking ourselves this question over and over as world events unfold with no easy answers. Love, respect, acceptance– all virtues everyone in the world needs right now! Let us pray for each other, for our world; that we all may be touched with the Holy Spirit helping us to treat each other with dignity and worth. Peace. And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

-Matthew 22:37–39

North Kildonan United Church invites everyone to our worship services, programs and activities

planned for the congregation. Sunday school, youth group, men’s club, United Church Women, Bible

study, choir and many other groups will be starting up. Be sure to check the calendar in this

newsletter and the weekly church news to keep informed.

Many thanks to all those who participated in the summer services while Marc was away on holiday.

The music and messages were well planned and enjoyed by everyone who attended.

There are many activities and special events planned for the upcoming year. One exciting event will

be our Quiz Nite – October 22 at North Kildonan Community Club; a fun social event for everyone.

Tickets are now available. Mark your calendars!

If you would like information about our church activities or pastoral care, you are welcome to

contact our minister Rev. Marc Whitehead or the church admin assistant Barb Wiebe at

204-667-7408.

We are a friendly and welcoming congregation!

The annual plant sale was a wonderful success! With over $9200 in sales (#1sales person – Joan Shaw), profits of over $3700 were realized. Thank you to everyone who supported the sale and are enjoying the beautiful flowers and plants. Sincere thanks to Clayton and Lorraine Gording and their crew for coordinating the sale and distribution of the plants.

Sharon Hamilton in flower land. On May 29th, the Outreach and Mission committee was pleased to present Micaela Crighton speaking about her recent trip to the United Nations in New York City to attend a conference on the Status of Women. Her talk was both interesting and informative providing us with much food for thought on women’s rights to equality and fairness. Thanks Micaela, we really enjoy your presentations. Congratulations to Marc and Mary on their 25th anniversary of ordination into the United Church of Canada. North Kildonan United and Atlantic Garden City joined together to celebrate this occasion with a meaningful worship service and outdoor barbecue lunch. The worship service was filled with wonderful music, humourous stories and lots of participation by the children and youth. We were treated to a delicious barbecue lunch, entertainment and presentations. Our grateful thanks to the planning committee of both congregations and all those who helped to make this celebration so amazing.

President Sheron of UCW presents maple tree Preparing for communion

The “Geritol Grannies” perform an original composition, “The Story of Marc and Mary.” CD to come out shortly.

The children of NKUC and AGCUC enjoying their “learning time”

North Kildonan United and Atlantic Garden City United A joyous friendship!

With Grateful Thanks!

Mary and I would like to thank all of you for making the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of our

ordinations a joyous and memorable affair. We know that it took a whole lot of people a whole lot of time

and effort to pull off such a great event, and while it is always dangerous to single out individuals for

thanks, (because it is almost inevitable that someone will inadvertently be missed) we would like to

acknowledge the following persons and groups from NKUC for their part in making it a day to remember:

Carol Lyons—for her visionary leadership in making a joint celebration possible

The NKUC Worship Committee—for their ongoing support and encouragement

Peter Latimer and Marie Leskovjan for their assistance in planning and coordinating the worship service

Joan Shaw and the members of the North Kildonan United Church Choir for providing music leadership and

direction (and graciously making space for others to share their musical gifts with us)

All those from NKUC who participated in the worship service itself-Helen Mitchell, Frank and Marie

Leskojvan, Sydney and Nicholas Lewicki, Robin Polley, Alex Hillier, Kay Church, Tyler Lesuk, Kris

Richardson, Betty Clark, Peter Latimer, the members of our Sunday School and Youth Group, John and

Judy Rempel, Luke and Kara McMillan, Gay Todd, Barrie McPherson, Ron Hutchinson (and all those

others who stepped in at short notice to do what needed to be done!)

Dorothy Franklin and the Hospitality Committee for providing and overseeing food and refreshments

Ron Fortier, the Committee of Stewards, and members of our Youth Group for setting up for the BBQ (and

flipping more than a few burgers)

Heinz Goetz for taking on extra duties associated with an additional 80 or so guests at worship

Clayton Gording and the team directing parking

Cec Anderson for agreeing to emcee the post-service festivities

Shaun McDonald for providing music before worship, and as part of the post-service entertainment

The Geritol Grannies for their unforgettable musical stylings

Kim Lesuk and Robin Polley for organizing the activities for the children during and following the service,

(and all those many others who helped make it a fun-filled experience)

Micaela Crighton and Peggy Latimer for taking photographs

Barb Wiebe for preparing the worship bulletin (and coming back 1 day early from her Wasaga retreat)

Sheron Miller and the UCW for their kind gift of a maple tree

Gay Todd, the Unified Board, and the people of North Kildonan United Church for the gift of flowers and a

weekend get-away

Jackie Thrumble-Reimer for her creation of matching liturgical stoles

The many others who offered their best wishes and expressions of congratulations

All of you for the gift of your attendance last Sunday, and your ongoing enthusiastic support of our ministry

among you

With our heartfelt thanks,

Rev. Marc Whitehead and Rev. Mary Best

Walk a Mile in My Shoes – fundraising walk for West Broadway Community Ministry, Saturday, Oct. 1. Join the NKUC team by contacting Barb at the church office-204-667-7408

-by Peter Latimer (first time member)

Upon joining the NKUC Worship Committee for the first time, I felt quite intimidated, believing that I lacked the requisite skills, such as an in-depth knowledge of each book of The Bible, the ability to come up with a suitable prayer on a moment’s notice and the capability of reciting all the words to each hymn in Voices United. It has come as quite a relief to learn that no one else on the Worship Committee possesses these particular talents (even though most are much further advanced than me in respect to all of these criteria). On the other hand there are equally challenging abilities needed that I in no way expected. I learned that committee members must be very adept at manoeuvring over baptismal fonts and waist-high stacks of chairs to install, without benefit of any tools, screens to cover all the windows in the sanctuary for Good Friday services. We must also be fearless in climbing to the top of a poorly-manufactured step ladder and, without relying on a safety harness, stretching precariously in order to install panels and banners for the Easter worship service. We are also expected to whip up a batch of hot-cross buns in time for the Easter Sunday brunch. Fortunately, Jean Cunningham assumed this responsibility when I asked where I could find the crosses for putting on the buns.

Serving on the Worship Committee has presented itself with some amazing new challenges…not the least of which has been to recruit and train communion servers when I expressed surprise at learning there are words of blessing expected of communion servers when distributing the elements. Who knew? I understand there will be many similar upcoming opportunities, as the Worship Committee will be responsible for planning and (sometimes) leading summer services. Will I need a crash course at Bible College before then? I’ve been told the words to Choral Benediction are not “Watermelon, Watermelon, Watermelon”. Thanks to the good humour and support from all my fellow Committee members, my first few months on Worship Committee have been a fun and rewarding experience. But if you see me madly writing instead of standing during the Offertory, I’m just getting the words down off the screen in case there’s a test upcoming.

Outreach & Mission – Refugee Update

Happy to be in Winnipeg, the Mohammed family is settling into their new home very well. This

family is from Myanmar and was sponsored by Jubilee Mennonite Church with the support of NKUC.

Habibah Umah and Rafiq Mohammed along with their baby Asma Bibi will soon be welcoming another

baby to the family. Jubilee is planning a baby shower and NKUC will be invited.

They have registered their names at Service Canada and obtained social insurance numbers which

are needed for other forms and applications. Both Habibah and Rafiq have attended the entry

program and are looking forward to EAL classes in September. They visit with friends, Skype or

Face Time with family back home and recently enjoyed a Goldeyes baseball game. Rafiq is

volunteering at the MCC Thrift store to practice his English.

NEWS FROM THE PEWS Workshop presentation on housing saw 43 people in Or attendance receiving great information. A presentation

“peeps from the seats” on home care and personal care homes is planned for the

fall. Thanks to the planners of this presentation!

On the Move - Dolores Krueger moved to Devonshire House, Barbara McKay has moved to Amber

Meadows and Janette Thrumble to Vista Park Lodge. Keith Hamilton is now at River East Personal

Care home.

We wish these folks well in their new surroundings.

- to Janice Glatz in Concordia Hospital. to all our shut-ins. Keep

- Evelyn Milne – home from hospital. well and know you are all in our

- Kay Church – home from hospital. thoughts and prayers. - Nancy Klippenstein – in hospital from a fall

Sympathy and prayers to Barb Welton on the loss of her brother-in-law Bob Brigham.

Congratulations...

-to Rick Reimer who received the Driver Excellence Award from The Manitoba Trucking Association for 2015 and is on his way to achieving this award for 2016. - Karen Kearney who retired in March – Enjoy!

-to Nicholas Domish who received the River East First Year Certificate of Excellence from River East Collegiate. Nicholas is the son of Bob and Sandra Domish. - to Shirley Davie who became a Great Gramma to Cole William. - to Quinn Cook & Tiffany Jameson on their upcoming marriage. Quinn is the son of Jerry and Brenda Cook.

-to Klaas & Lorraine Polet on their 50th wedding anniversary, Sept 10th. They have decided to renew their marriage vows on August 20. God’s blessing to you both!

.

Our sympathies are extended to Lois, Ellen and Rob and their families as they mourn the death of their mother and grandmother, Margaret Punton. Margaret died peacefully on Monday, June 13. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families. We were saddened to hear of the passing of Betty Ambrose. Betty was a charter member of this congregation and faithfully attended the worship service at Kildonan Personal Care Home. She will be missed.

Micaela Crighton saying,

good luck to Shaun McDonald

who is moving to England

to study mathematics at

Cambridge University.

Shaun was recognized at a

worship service for his

dedication and commitment

to the Youth group and

judging by the wonderful

words and tears he will be

missed.

Welcome Back to Sunday school, Junior Youth and Youth Group.

September 11 is the first day of Sunday school classes and youth groups and is also the day

of registration. Curriculum for the upcoming year is entitled “Feasting on the Word.” All

children and youth are invited to participate. The Christian Education department is

looking forward to an interesting and inspiring year. We are pleased to welcome new and

returning teachers and in particular Jesse Santin who has agreed to co-lead the Youth

Group with Micaela Crighton.

Welcome back lunch – Sunday, September 11 at

North Kildonan United Church – following the worship service.

Everyone Welcome!

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

BIBLE BOOT CAMP 2.0 For many of us, the Bible is the most important book that we’ve never read! It’s not that we haven’t tried—we have—many times—but despite our best attempts to read and understand the Bible, we can end up feeling frustrated, confused, (and yes) sometimes just plain bored. We’re not sure if the problem is with us, or with the book, but we know we’d like it to be different. If you’d like it to be different, then maybe Bible Boot Camp 2.0 is for you. A follow-up to the Bible Boot Camp which we offered in the spring, Bible Boot Camp 2.0 is a stand-alone five session series that will provide an overview of the Christian New Testament from Matthew to Revelation, provide hints about how to read and interpret a biblical text, and provide a foundation for further reading. WHEN: Five Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. beginning October 5. Sign-up sheet in the narthex.

WEDNESDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP Meetings of our long-standing discussion, study, and fellowship group returns on Wednesday, October 5. Meeting weekly from 9:45-11:30 a.m. from the first week of October to the first week of May (with a December hiatus) our Wednesday Morning Fellowship group is open to anyone who would like the opportunity to explore topics of mutual interest in a welcoming and non-threatening environment with good friends and good food. Past studies have included movies, novels, TV shows, prayer, spirituality, the Bible, and many more. Possible topics this year include “Last Things” by Marcus Borg, and “Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life: 7 Gateways to Spiritual Growth.” See our weekly church news for more information. WHEN: 9:45-11:30 a.m. beginning Wednesday, October 5.

CREATION TIME The six weeks beginning on Sunday, September 4 and ending with Thanksgiving Sunday, October 9, are set apart as “Creation Time”—a time to remember God as Creator, and to think about our own relationship with and responsibility to Creation. This year we will be exploring themes of Ocean, Plants and Animals, Storm, the Cosmos, Abundance, and Gratitude as we celebrate our coming together again after the summer. We will collect non-perishable food stuffs for the West Broadway Community Ministry and Winnipeg Harvest. Please see our website for more information. WHEN: Worship services beginning September 4 to Thanksgiving Sunday.

Blessing of the Backpacks is Back!

After the relatively carefree days of summer, fall brings with it a return to our usual activities and occupations. Picnic baskets and coolers are replaced by backpacks and brief cases. On Sunday, September 18th we would like to bless those symbols of our busy lives in church, so if you have a backpack, athletic bag, attaché case, purse or merse bring it along and receive a blessing - and a card to remind you that God is with you wherever you are, and whatever you are doing.

Pet Blessing Our annual pet blessing service will be held rain or shine on Saturday, September 24 at 11:00 a.m. This year, in addition to asking for a blessing for our pets, we will also be acknowledging the lives of pets that have passed on. All pets are welcome but if you don’t want to bring Fido or Fluffy along, feel free to bring a photo.

The last twelve months have been a very busy time for the MCP Task Group. While much of our time has been spent on a very successful fund raising campaign, reaching and exceeding our initial objectives, the focus now is on the technical aspects of the project. A considerable amount of time and effort has been spent in the architectural and engineering side, combined with conversations with the City of Winnipeg as to building codes which have seen changes over the last year and a half. We think we are very close to solving the building code challenges, which will allow us to file for the building permit shortly. Our desired start date for actual construction has now been pushed back by at least two months, which will cause some cost over runs and logistical issues around day to day activities in the church throughout the fall and early winter. However, the project is still very much in a “move forward” mode and we are very confident of a successful completion. We wish to thank everyone for their continuing support and understanding as we move forward. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” -Romans 8:28

As of August 28th we have received from the congregation a total of $137,198. We can also report that as of August 28th, we have received $154,781 from grants, foundations, corporations, and friends from outside the congregation for a total of $291,979. Completion of the project is estimated to cost approximately $384,000 so we are well on our way. Our thanks to the Community Incentive Grant Program (City of Winnipeg), Community Places (Provincial Government), United Church of Canada (Winnipeg Presbytery), as well as the Winnipeg Foundation, Pollard, Reimer, Cropo and Buller to name a few. We have also been blessed to receive donations from many businesses and memorial donations to honor members of the congregation. To the congregation, here’s where you can help. Continue to contribute as your situation allows and refer to our committee any names of foundations, businesses or friends outside the church that may be able to offer their support. Committee members are: Clayton Gording, Ron Fortier, Ron Hutchinson, Scotty McLaren, Peggy Latimer, Barrie McPherson and chair, Marvelle McPherson (204-663-6744). We feel truly blessed to be working with a wonderful and supportive congregation. Our heartfelt THANKS for your continued interest, contributions and assistance in working toward completion of this project.

NEWS FROM THE UNIFIED BOARD

The members of the unified board hope that everyone is having a great summer. It seems like yesterday that we had Celebration Sunday and the celebration of Marc and Mary’s 25th anniversary of ordination. We are now looking forward to upcoming programs and events at our church. The Board is excited to be involved in the accessibility project and are looking forward to the Stewardship campaign. One item that the Board has been studying is the United Church of Canada remits. A remit is a vote by presbyteries and pastoral charges to make changes to the Basis of Union. The Basis of Union is the document by which the United Church of Canada was founded in 1925 and can only be changed with the approval of an absolute majority.

Five remits were approved at the 42nd General Council for congregations and their boards to review. The board is the body allowed to vote but it is important that congregations be informed of these remits as they involve a restructuring of governance of the United Church. The board is planning on introducing one remit per

month and perhaps, at a later date, a workshop

discussing all the remits. Our first brief summary

presentation will be Remit #2 Transfer and Settlement

on Sept. 18. Each remit will be voted on from February

17, 2017 to February 28, 2018. Printed copies of the

remits will be available or visit www.gc42.ca/remits for

more information.

MCP Fundraising Update

Major Capital Projects

“Faithfully Following Jesus” – Stewardship at North Kildonan United

While we may regret our summer months passing so quickly, there is so much about the coming fall that we can look forward to with eager anticipation. Fall colours, a bountiful harvest of crops and vegetables, a Thanksgiving feast…and not least of all the NKUC Annual Stewardship Campaign. As in other years the Stewardship Campaign is a time to reflect on the ways in which our generous gifts of money and of service provide us with opportunities to celebrate all we have accomplished as a congregation over the past year and to remind us of the importance of our contributions as we endeavour to live out God’s message in our lives. To illustrate this year’s theme, Faithfully Following Jesus, our campaign will focus on one of the targets taken from the Bullseye series each week. More details follow this article. So what can you expect when you attend worship services during the six weeks of this year’s campaign? In addition to award-winning skits and candid shots of NKUC folks “in action” in our weekly photo-collages, Olympic calibre archers, reminiscent of William Tell, may be seen honing in

on the week’s target. (Please note that no innocent apples will be harmed during any of the campaign activities). The campaign will “kick off” on October 16 with a Stone Soup luncheon, hosted by the Youth Group, Junior Youth Group and Stewardship Committee to thank the congregation for its remarkable generosity over the past year and being such a special Christian community. Thanks to your gifts and efforts, the financial goals for beginning our accessibility project have been met and exceeded…while still enabling us to maintain all our existing activities and programs. Information packages and pledge forms will be distributed beginning on Sunday, October 9. Please take the time to read through the information and consider continuing to support NKUC with your gifts of money and time as generously in 2017 as you have this past year.

And until the campaign begins, keep your bowstrings taut and your quivers ready for all the excitement to come.

-Peggy Latimer, Stewardship Campaign 2017 Chair.

Bullseye!

In the years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, those who kept the story of the Master’s life and teachings alive referred to themselves as “Followers of the Way.” They tried to live their lives as Jesus had lived his life, and to practice what he taught. Two thousand years on, those of us who are part of the Christian community still aim to live our lives by following the way of Jesus. We don’t always succeed. In their book “Bullseye” United Church ministers Jamie Holton and Debbie Johnson of North Bramalea United have tried to change that by identifying six things--the use of spiritual practices, the habit of weekly worship, the cultivation of generosity, the practice of hospitality, the offering of service to the wider community, and the willingness to share our faith-- that they believe are key to helping us meet our goal of being faithful followers. They believe that the most important thing congregations can do is to support people in their quest to be faithful followers, and if we consider the things that characterize our life and ministry at North Kildonan United Church it would seem that we agree. Beginning on Sunday, October 16, and for the next five weeks, we will begin to explore each of these markers in worship. We’ll talk about why they are important, and identify some of the ways in which this congregation helps us to come closer to the mark. Those who want to continue the conversation, and try some concrete exercises to help move even closer to the goal of faithfully following Jesus are invited to bring a bag lunch and join in a discussion (and exercises!) with others immediately following worship. See the weekly church news bulletin for more information!

Please watch your church bulletins for details

September 4 “Ocean Sunday”; Communion; Toonie Sunday September 11 Sunday School Registration and regular classes Open House Luncheon following the worship service September 11-25 Peace Days – a festival of peace and compassion In Winnipeg; www.peacedays.ca September 18 “Storm Sunday”; Blessing of the Backpacks

September 19 UCW Meeting – 7:30 p.m. All ladies welcome. September 24 (Saturday) Pet Blessing – 11 a.m. September 25 “Cosmos Sunday”; Spiritual Gifts October 2 “Living Love Sunday”; World Wide Communion; Toonie

Sunday October 9 “Reoriented toward Gratitude”; Thanksgiving Sunday October 16 Stewardship Campaign Kick-off; Stone Soup Lunch

October 22 (Saturday) Quiz Nite – social event for NKUC and friends

October 23 Peace Sabbath

October 30 Church anniversary; All Saints Observed; Halloween November 6 Remembrance Sabbath November 12 (pending) Annual Christmas Bazaar – sponsored by the UCW November 13 Children’s Sabbath; Ecumenical Community Prayer

Service – 7 p.m. (pending) November 20 The Reign of Christ; Communion November 27 First Sunday of Advent

Editor’s Note: We are looking for articles or pictures about our church or church family. Please share your stories or events in the newsletter. Contact Sheron at miller01@mymts.net or call the church office at 204-667-7408. Deadline for next newsletter: November 2 , 2016. Thank you to the following for their contributions: Marc Whitehead Betty Clark Sheron Miller Clayton Gording Nancy Cosway Peggy Latimer Peter Latimer Grant McMillan Gay Todd Marvelle McPherson

Dates to Remember