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Messenger October 2020
Page 1
The Newsletter of Dunbarton-Fairport United Church
October 2020 We are an Affirming Congregation Issue 9-20
BAZAAR NEWS — “Deck Your Halls” . . .
Due to the massive number of people who normally show up for our “Deck Your Halls” Annual Bazaar and Craft Show and the provincial directive limiting the size of gatherings to ensure social distancing, this year we will be trying something new!
Plans are currently underway to hold an online bazaar, including the Silent Auction.
In lieu of Dunbarton-Fairport’s annual Silent Auction, an online auction will be run from November 1st to November 27th. If you have any items that would receive a bid of at least $20, please consider donating them to this auction. Our auction site is being worked on. You will be able to share this with friends. For this type of auction, you will submit a bid online, not knowing what the other bids are. More information on this will follow at a later date. Text Jane Stone at 905-621-0508 or leave a message (she doesn’t answer unknown numbers) or email her at [email protected] if you have something for the auction. Here are examples of 2 items (at right) that will be featured online.
We are making plans to sell a number of items in other areas:
• Pins and Needles • Christmas crafts • Preserves and Mincemeat • Possibly some meat pies, turkey pots pies and
cabbage rolls • Possibly some pies and tarts
Watch for updates!!!
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2021 CHURCH CALENDARS The UCW are taking orders for the 2021 United Church Calendars. All calendars must be pre-ordered. The cost of a calendar is $6.00. If you would like to order one, please contact Christine Collins by email at [email protected] or phone at 905-839-4690.
Submitted by Christine Collins
ECORC REFLECTIONS . . . By Kimberly Collins
That was certainly a different experience.
The East Central Ontario Regional Council (ECORC) Annual Meeting was to be held in May at Pickering Village United, great I thought, I will not have far to travel and can come home every night, perfect. Then it was changed to September, still at Pickering Village, ok no problem. Then it became online and not in person, now I really didn’t have to travel.
It was not without its glitches as with all meetings, whether in person or online. We were going along great on the Friday morning, made it to the break and the whole call was dropped. Everyone, all 150+, were kicked out. It took a few minutes to get everyone back, but everyone did.
The Friday was mostly introducing some of the things that would be voted on Saturday afternoon and getting to know a little more about who is at the regional office and what they are responsible for.
Saturday morning, we were part of an ongoing discussion that St. Paul’s in Bowmanville had put together called Pathways to Awareness and Understanding…actions towards right relations. We heard from two wonderful speakers, Senator Murray Sinclair, and Author Lee Maracle. Both spoke a little about their personal experiences and what they have seen change or not
change since the Truth and Reconciliation Report was published in 2015 with 94 calls to action. What I learned is that Reconciliation will be different for everyone. For some it is just having a chance to find and connect with family members, and for others it is a very personal thing. Something that Senator Sinclair said was to figure out how much you can chew, bite off that amount, and go. Do not try to do all 94 calls to action; look at them and start in your own small way.
Saturday afternoon, we got down to the business of voting on what we had discussed Friday morning. We looked at the Statement of Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles. We were put into small “breakout” rooms and had a chance to discuss the statement and if we see ourselves reflected in it and would it be something our Community of Faith could see themselves living into. We also looked at and voted on new members coming on to the various Teams and Forums. I had let my name stand for the Affirming Forum; that is a weird thing, to see your name in a document that is being seen and then voted on by people who don’t know you, yet they are entrusting you with this work of the greater church. We also voted on the budget for the coming year with the knowledge that we really don’t know how this year will end and what next year will look like. We finished with a covenanting service for the LLWL’s and everyone joining a Team or Forum, worship and closing thoughts by Rev. Bill Smith.
Overall, it was a good meeting. It was weird not being able to physically be there, but you could still hear the passion in the people’s voices.
RETIRING LLWL
After 15 fun and enjoyable years as a Licensed Lay Worship Leader, Ken Collins has stepped down effective Saturday, September 26, 2020. Over the years, Ken has preached in many churches in Scarboro, Oshawa, and Lakeridge Presbyteries. Ken will still be available for our congregation as an occasional speaker and also for Bible Study when it again becomes possible.
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Serving Christ and the community since 1835
On November 7, 2020, Dunbarton-Fairport United Church will celebrate its 185th anniversary as a Community of Faith, serving Christ, Pickering and beyond. Let’s take a pictorial walk through the years . . .
In 1947, Isabella Thomson, who was baptized at Erskine Church in 1862, speaks with caretaker Frank Mitchell (above)
Installation of the Dunbarton Church cairn at the Erskine Cemetery in 1947.
Youth Band rehearsal
Breaking ground for the new
sanctuary in 1985.
Vacation Bible School Three loved ladies Old Sanctuary at Christmas
Curling bonspiels Senior Choir at the Erskine Memorial Service, 1950
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Celebrating our 150th Anniversary
Guiders and Scouters celebrating Religion in
Life (above and below)
Closing the “old Sanctuary”
Strawberry Tea at the Martyn home
to celebrate our 150th Anniversary
Adult Social Group - Pig Roast
Tuesday gym nights of volleyball
and basketball
Midweek Groups
Work parties hosted by Building
Management (above and below)
More 150th Anniversary celebrations
in period costume (above and below) UCW luncheons
“Deck Your Halls” Bazaar and Craft Show
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REPORT ON THE FALL EAST CENTRAL ONTARIO
REGIONAL COUNCIL (ECORC) GATHERING
Region 11 (formerly Bay of Quinte Conference)
September 25, 26, 2002
This is the third time that the regional council as a whole has gathered since the inaugural meeting, May 31-June 2, 2019. The pandemic prevented the original plans for both the Spring and the September gathering, but resulted in a technological first – a ZOOM meeting with over 150 participating online and some by phone. Attending on behalf of our congregation were your elected representatives, Andrew Vanwyk, Kimberly Collins and myself, Jan Hannon.
The Regional Council meets twice-yearly to “gather as a worshipping community for study, community building and to discern the call of God to the church and such gatherings be physical gatherings and web-based”. Reports and proposals are received and considered, an operational budget and forecast is received, special speakers bring new knowledge, and mission strategies are visions are voted upon. For me, the highlight has always been the ‘Celebration of Ministry’ including ordination, and commissioning that may occur.
This year, because of the limits on sizes of gatherings imposed because of CoVID-19, a separate Celebration of Ministry was held on September 19th
and livestreamed to the Region. It was a blessing to watch two of former Lakeridge candidates be Ordained (finally!)
So, what did we accomplish over our two days? A LOT!
We covenanted with new Staff, acknowledged retired personnel and the memorials for those who passed; recognized the newly Ordained candidates; heard reports from General Council and the Affirm Forum; voted upon a Remit from General Council 43 in which the will of the church through Regional Councils was sought in amending the Basis of Union so that The Order of Ministry shall be open to persons of all gender identities. This was carried by approximately 85-90 of voting members.
We learned from the Affirm Forum that since ECORC was granted “interim” Affirming status, the work to be granted full status continues. Three things are required by Affirm United for this to happen:
1. Receive and Vote upon a Vision and Mission Statement that commits to full inclusion, much as we did within our own Congregation. (That vote took place Saturday and was CARRIED)
2. Carry out an “Interim Action Plan” to engage Council teams and Forums in education.
3. Prepare a “Continuing Action Plan to identify ongoing Affirming actions that Council will be committed to undertake AFTER the vote, if Affirming status is carried.
We heard about the regional Budget forecast and were reminded that “OUR BUDGET IS OUR MISSION”. A profound sentiment to remember when we are setting our own
congregational budget. And we closed Friday’s session with a meaningful theological reflection by our former Executive Secretary of Conference, the Rev. Dr. Bill Smith. He spoke of what does it mean to be “the Church” in a hurting world; equity, affirming, inclusivity, racial justice, care for creation, reconciliation are more than just words. They are our mission; our Priorities. Thus, ended the first day!
Day Two began with an opportunity to take part in a presentation, sponsored by St. Paul’s United Circle of Indigenous Friends and Advocates in Bowmanville “Awareness & Understanding…actions toward right relations”. Two hundred & twenty-seven (227!) people Zoom-watched the keynote speakers, Senator Murray Sinclair and Order of Canada author Lee Maracle, on the topic of “Where we are in Canada 5 years after the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s release of the 92 Calls to Action Report”. It was humbling, difficult to hear on many levels, but there was hope. Senator Sinclair’s answer to those who say you can’t live in the past are the words of an elder “You can’t walk into the future looking backwards”, but said the truth about the past must be acknowledged by establishing a national memory. That kind of mutual respect will take generations.
Author Lee Maracle brought a side to the discussion we don’t often hear; a more militant stance. She said Canada (Kanata) was a “colonial project” … she wants change. Sovereignty…two equal nations. She spoke of reconciliation being a cultural part of her nation, the Sto:lo nation in BC. That it’s not something you do once and forget about; it’s an on-going day by day process. She spoke
Continued on next page
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KEEPING IN TOUCH,
ELECTRONICALLY
If you have access to the internet, use email and would like to be kept informed electronically of events at Dunbarton-Fairport, consider subscribing to our weekly “News to the Pews” and the electronic-version of our monthly newsletter, “The Messenger”.
To receive your electronic copy, either contact the church office at 905-839-7271, email [email protected] or go to the Dunbarton-Fairport website at https://www.dunbartonfairport.on.ca/ and complete the online contact information to subscribe to our e-distribution.
Continued from previous page of the genocidal crime of removing children to indoctrinate them in a way of life – the European way of life. Stripping away their language, their customs, their history, and leaving the generations to follow with internalized racism. Her father spoke the words, with “seething rage”, I COULD NOT FORGET, when asked how he remembered so much.
Senator Sinclair used an analogy that involved a take-over of Canada by a foreign country (led by a certain man in a red hat) in which children were forcibly removed and indoctrinated into the way of the conquering country’s ideology, differing cultural mores, etc. Then after generations had passed, they finally sent all the children home and said “Okay, you can now make your way. You’ve got some land to live on and we’ll give you money. It doesn’t matter that you have no idea how your grandparents lived.”
Senator Sinclair observed that “liberal-minded people are sometimes as much a problem as people trying to maintain the system, because you feel you have to put your hand on the tiller to guide us”. He challenged us to read the TRC report, the whole report, and then to “figure out how much you can chew, bite it off, and do it”. All have the power to help make the change. He challenged us to “Ring the (church) bells” and be a little stone in a big pond. To not ask our Indigenous brothers and sisters what we can do to help…we have to figure it out. Then we will truly be on a path of reconciliation. It was strong medicine.
In the afternoon, we completed the Agenda by receiving, discussion and passing a motion to adopt “A
Statement of Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles” for the Region. Here’s the Vision “Strengthened by God’s grace and refreshed by the Spirit, we follow the way of Jesus in healing our world.”
Motions were carried to maintain the Mission Priorities and continue to work on them through 2021 as they were interrupted by CoVid; to adopt the Nominating List (including our Kimberly Collins who put her name forward to serve on the Affirm Forum for three years); to make the Affirm Forum directly responsible to Regional Council/Assembly of Elders; to make the travel reimbursement policy an equitable document; and to receive the financial statements and adopt the 2021 Budget as presented. We ended with a worship service in which the Region’s 28 Licensed Lay Worship Leaders were recognized and Licensed for the year.
On a personal note, the gatherings of the whole Council are an opportunity to see folks from across the Region in person. I greatly missed this, however, for the first time, I could Hear everything, I could See everything and I found that to be really rewarding. The expertise the tech team provided (keeping in mind they are mostly ministry and lay personnel who have learned as they went along) was excellent. The learning curve has been steep, but produced a smooth-running meeting, including “breakout rooms” for small group discussion, videos of the various presentations, quick and easy voting, opportunities for those who wished to speak, and a meaningful Worship experience with shared Communion that was, for me, a very Spirit-filled meal at the virtual table.
Submitted by Jan Hannon
FOOTCARE
Seniors and diabetics who have regularly attended the monthly footcare clinic held at Dunbarton-Fairport United Church on the third Wednesday of each month are welcome to contact Nguyen Tran (Win) directly. Win is offering to come to people’s home while the building is closed to offer the same care she was providing at the Church. Just give her a call:
Win @ 647-984-8178
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A SHORT UPDATE ON THE FINANCES AT DUNBARTON-FAIRPORT
A Brief Summary of January to August:
Revenue from envelopes – Program and Operating $63,820
Other revenue (rents, government grants etc.) $108,272
Total $172,092
Total Expenses $176,205
Mission and Service $6,291
Thank you to those of those who have continued putting in their offerings to the church, mailing them in, dropping them off, using e-transfer ([email protected]), Canada Helps, or PAR. Since our rental income has been negligible the last 6 1/2 months, the Finance committee wishes to thank you for these contributions.
Other than existing PAR contributions, the contributions to the United Church Mission & Service fund have dropped considerably since last year. In both Canada Help and e-transfers, there is place for comments that can indicate how to allocate donations. Offering envelopes have a place for Mission & Service, too. This is not limited the Mission & Service but can include other outside groups we have made donations to in the past – e.g. Footprints, Food Bank, Back Door Mission and a lot of others. Any of these donations will be passed to these worth-while causes.
Submitted by Helen Cox
UCW NEWS The United Church Women are currently considering dates to collecting food for the Food Bank and hygiene items for donation to the various shelters we help support. Once we have established a date and time we will let you know both how you can make donations and what is needed. In the meantime, please use the Food Bank donation boxes in local grocery stores.
To help save the church some money and since we have not been using our envelopes as regularly, I am asking that you use the remainder of your 2020 envelopes for the 2021 year.
When you hand in an envelope just change the date at the top to reflect your offering date and if you run out of envelopes please feel free to use a plain white envelope and put your number on it and date, or I have some left over envelope boxes from 2020 that I can change to your number and I can deliver them to you.
Please remember that switching over to PAR is also an option.
If you have any questions, please call me, Brenda McLaughlin, Envelope Secretary at 905-420-6521 or you can email [email protected] .
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Messenger is typically published twelve times a year. Contributions - whether written or pictures — are welcomed. The Messenger is distributed to all active members of the congregation. The current issue and back issues are always available through our website.
Submissions for the November newsletter are due on Tuesday, October 27th. Please send your submissions to Pamela Tetford at [email protected].
If you have access to the internet, you can reduce distribution costs by signing up for electronic delivery. Your newsletter will never be late and you are helping the church reduce its postage and paper cost. Each member of the family can even get their own copy! Contact the church office to have your email address added to our distribution list.
Thank-you very much to all of the contributors to this month’s issue.
Cover Photo Credit: Brent Brook-Allred, used with permission.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED
OFFERING BY PAR? Rather than church Offering Envelopes, why not consider participating in PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance)? If you have automatic withdrawals from your bank account for household expenses, then you already understand the PAR principle.
Using PAR, you can specify a donation amount to be transferred from your bank account (or Master Card or Visa) each month to our congregation’s account. Besides being convenient, using PAR for your offering ensures a
regular monthly giving to help our church’s ministry, even when you are away. You will be providing for our congregation a dependable flow of contributions, which increases our overall financial stability. PAR reduces the need for offering envelopes, making it more environmentally friendly and your regular giving supports the local ministry of our congregation.
How to Participate: 1. Prayerfully decide what you will
give each year, and divide that amount by 12.
2. Fill out the authorization form, and attach a cheque marked “VOID.”
3. Enclose both in an envelope and forward it to our Envelope Secretary, Brenda McLaughlin, Treasurer, Helen Cox, or leave it at the church office mail slot.
4. The amount will be transferred from your account to our congregation's account on the 20th of each month. You can modify or cancel your donation, change how it is designated, or change your information at any time.
For more information contact the church office (905-839-7271) or our Envelope Secretary, Brenda McLaughlin (905-420-6521), [email protected].
Dunbarton-Fairport United Church, 1066 Dunbarton Road, Pickering, Ontario, L1V 1G8
Tel.: 905-839-7271 • Fax: 905-839-7288
Minister: Rev. Deb Foster
email: [email protected]
Church Office Manager: Linda Rosling
email: [email protected]
Director of Music: Dawn Duncliffe
email: [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Pamela Tetford
email: [email protected]
Dunbarton-Fairport United Church is on social media
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https://www.dunbartonfairport.on.ca/
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