THE SUNDAY NEWS

 

FEBRUARY 10, 2008

 

 

ELORA BETHANY PASTORAL CHARGE

The United Church of Canada

PO Box 737, Elora, ON  N0B 1S0 — 519.846.0122

www.elorabethanyuc.org          elorabethanyuc@bellnet.ca

 

MINISTERS:

All the Congregation

 Ordained Minister:

Greg Smith-Young

Minister for Children and Youth:

Barb Smith-Young

Music Coordinators:

Louise Elder (Elora)

Suzanne Flewelling (Bethany)

 

Office Hours:       Rev. Greg Smith-Young is usually in the office on weekday mornings.

Secretary Judy McMullan is in the office Thursdays & Fridays from 9:30 to 4:00.

 

 

Worship Theme for Lent

 

Prodigal Sons and Bitter Brothers . . .

and the Saviour Who Welcomes Us All

Exploring one of Jesus’ best-loved Stories

 

Jesus was often criticized for spending time with the wrong sort of people. How did he respond to his critics? He told stories, including the one we commonly call “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Stories have a way of getting through the defences we put up. Jesus uses his stories to change us, moving us deeper into the wonders of God. How might Jesus use it to move us?

February 10:   The Prodigal Son

February 17:   The Bitter Brother

February 24:   The Forgiving Father

March 2:   Finding Ourselves in the Story

March 9:   Celebrate with Me

March 16: The Welcoming Saviour (Palm/Passion Sunday)

 

Shamrock Supper The Elora UCW will be cooking up beef stew and baking up the ham for their famous Shamrock Supper to be held Saturday, March 1st (for those who just can’t wait!). The helpers list will be  in the lobby soon. Tickets will be on sale at Little Katy, Ostic Insurance or the church office.

 

Elora’s Annual Congregational Meeting will be 12:30 pm on Sunday, February 24. Final deadline for written reports: today, February 10. Thanks to those who have already submitted their reports.

 

Youth Last weekend 17 youth went on Winter Retreat at Camp Ganadaoweh. It was a great time of fun, sharing, and drawing closer to God. Seven adults came with us, not only sharing the whole weekend with us, but also planning and preparing for this time beforehand. A big thank you to Donna Lehman, Judy McMullan, Celeste Wright, Murray Wright, Marilyn Abraham, Sean Howard, and Phil Irish.

Tonight, we will enjoy Elora’s new video system while watching the movie Princess Bride. This  is a fun movie for the whole family and everyone from our congregations is invited.

 

Meghan McMorris is heading to Dominican Republic on February 22 with Orphanage Outreach. She will be living and working in an orphanage and nearby school. Meghan is collecting high priority items for the orphanage: any type of school supplies, children’s summer clothing & sandals, backpacks, hygiene products (soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc), medication such as children’s Tylenol. If you are able to donate any of these items for Meghan to take to the Orphanage please bring them to (Bethany) church next Sunday or call the McMorris’ at 846-8096. Thank you!

 

Elora Cantata Choir -- Everyone is invited to join our Easter cantata choir which begins rehearsing Feb. 14th from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.  This choir will rehearse every Thursday night until Easter (March 23rd) to prepare the repertoire.  It's just six weeks until Easter and we hope that you will join us for this session of song.  We have rehearsal CDs for you to take home and practice.  We have great fellowship.  We have comfortable chairs and we have a great cantata to learn.  You shouldn't miss this opportunity to join this ministry of music.  Just come out on the Feb. 14th at 7:00 p.m. and join us!

 

The Women’s World Day of Prayer service planning meeting will be Wed Feb 13th at 7 pm at Community of Christ Church at the corner of James St. & Price St., in Elora. Needed are two women to read scripture or participate in other aspects of the service. The service itself will be held Friday at 7pm on March 7th at Community of Christ Church in Elora.

 

Billets for the Hamilton Conference Annual Meeting  The Annual Meeting of Conference will be held in Fergus from Friday May 23, 2008 until Sunday May 25, 2008. Waterloo Presbytery is looking for billets for people traveling more than one hour or 100 km to attend the Conference Annual Meeting. If you are able to help by offering to host a delegate: Please contact: Judith Astley:  jast574@rogers.com  519-884-8082 or John Lougheed : jslougheed@sympatico.ca  519-579-7083.   [or you may contact Judy in the Elora/Bethany church office]

 


Events This Week – February 10 to 17

 

Today:                  12:30 pm        Bethany Annual Congregational meeting

                          after worship        Elora Junior choir rehearsal

                                   7 sharp        Junior and High School Youth family movie night – all welcome!

Monday:                 1:00 pm        Elora Quilters in the Bissell Room

                                  7:00 pm        Song of Faith

Tuesday:                7:30 pm        Elora Council

Wednesday:          8:00 pm        Bethany UCW – roll call: $4 donation to Leprosy Fund

Thursday:              7:00 pm        Elora Cantata choir rehearsal

                                  8:15 pm        Praise Team

Sunday:          after worship        Elora Junior Choir rehearsal

                                               

Coming Up

 

Tuesday, Feb 19               7:30 pm      Bethany Session & Stewards

Thursday, Feb 21             1:30 pm      Elora UCW

Monday, Feb 25                8:00 pm      Friendship Club – note change of day

Sunday, Feb 24              12:30 pm      Elora Annual Congregational Meeting

Saturday, Mar 1                  5-7 pm      Elora UCW’s famous Shamrock Supper

Saturday, Mar 22                                  Fish Fry Supper at Elora

 

In the

Community

St. John’s Anglican Church is sponsoring a dramatic reading of St. Paul’s First Letter to the Christians in Corinth presented by Mark Tiller. This drama will be held Sun Feb 24 at 3 pm at St. John’s church in Elora. Donations will be going to support work among HIV/AIDS survivors world-wide. For more info, call the church office 846-5911.

 

Elora Bethany                                                                                        www.elorabethanyuc.org

The United Church of Canada National Office                                            www.united-church.ca

Hamilton Conference Office                                                                     www.hamconf.org

Waterloo Presbytery                                                                              www.sentex.net/~watpres

Camp Ganadaoweh                                                                                www.ganadaoweh.ca

United Observer Magazine                                                                      www.ucobserver.org

Five Oaks Conference and Education Centre                                            www.fiveoaks.on.ca