THE SUNDAY NEWS

 

FEBRUARY 17, 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)

 

The Bethany Board will meet on Tuesday, February 19 at 7:30, hosted by Georgina Cowbrough (#6125 8th Line East)

 

The Centre Wellington Ministerial is sponsoring weekly Lent Worship and Soup Lunch, Wednesdays from 12-1, at St. James’ Anglican Church in Fergus (beside the old outdoor pool). This can be a great part of your preparations for Holy Week and Easter.

 

Elora’s Annual Congregational Meeting will be next Sunday, February 24. We would like to start with F a pot-luck lunch. Pick up your annual reports today then bring a little something to share next week and stay after worship to participate in the life of your church. Child care will be available.

These are vacancies we hope to fill at Elora’s Annual Meeting:

– 2 Presbytery representatives

– 1 Member-at-large of Council

– 1 Property representative and 1 Outreach representative on Council

Interested? Want to suggest someone? Please speak with Curt Hammond or Greg.

 

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 from 5-7 pm. The helpers list is in the lobby. Tickets are on sale at Little Katy, Ostic Insurance or the church office. Adults $10; children (12 & under) $3

 

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]

 

Elora’s annual Fish Fry dinner will be held on March 22, Holy Saturday, rather than Good Friday, this year. It will be at the church, once again. Tickets will be on sale starting March 1st.

 


Events This Week – February 17 to 24

 

Today:            after worship        Elora Junior Choir rehearsal

                                 7: 00 pm        High School Youth: preparing skit for worship next week

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

                                  7:00 pm        Song of Faith

Tuesday:                7:30 pm        Bethany Board at the home of Georgina Cowbrough

Thursday:              1:30 pm        Elora UCW

                                  6:30 pm        Junior Choir rehearsal

                                  7:00 pm        Elora Cantata choir rehearsal

Sunday:                  8:45 am        High School Youth meet at Bethany

                          after worship        Elora potluck lunch and Annual Meeting

                                  7:00 pm        Junior Youth – regular meeting  

 

Coming Up

 

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

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

Good Friday, Mar 21                            Youth Eventz in Hamilton

Holy 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 their church office 846-5911.

 

Boni Pueri Czech Boys Choir’ – one of  Europe’s most outstanding choirs – in concert.   Tuesday, February 26th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Aloysius Church, 11 Traynor Avenue in Kitchener (behind Fairview Park Mall).  Tickets are available through the office at Knox Presbyterian Church,  Waterloo, St. Aloysius Church, Kitchener,  and Music Plus, Kitchener.  Adults: $15.  Students: $10. and Children (under 14) $5.   Please come out and enjoy a wonderful concert –these boys will steal your heartProceeds will support Boni Pueri and the Waterloo Region High School Choral Festival.

 

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