Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Newsletter of Dunbarton-Fairport United Church
January 2018 We are an Affirming Congregation Issue 01-18
Elizabeth’s Story by Jan Hannon
Advent III – December 17, 2017
(Elizabeth enters from the back of the sanctuary. She is an older woman, in her senior years,
dressed in a long skirt, tunic and head scarf. She addresses the people assembled as she walks to
her seat…)
Shalom. (Peace) (sha loam)
Shabbat Shalom (Sabbath peace) (shaw bott)
Shalom Aleikhem (Peace upon you.) (a lay kem)
(Elizabeth sits, and begins her story.)
Boker tov (good morning) to you all. I understand you were expecting to hear from my
Kinswoman, Mary, today. Instead, it is I, Elizabeth, the mother of the one you call John the Baptizer,
who will share the story of her visit to me. Sometimes, as I have learned, God chooses unlikely
people to carry His message to His people.
Let me begin by telling you a bit about myself. I was born many years ago into the priestly
tribe of Levi. My family is descended from Moses’ brother Aaron. I was raised in the worship,
prayers, customs and teachings of Jewish Law. I cherished the prophesies of Isaiah that foretold of
the coming of a Messiah, a Saviour, to redeem us from our captives. Looking back, I think this was
part of God’s plan.
When I was 13, I married a young man from my tribe, whose name was Zechariah and went
to live in the hill country in Judea, about five miles from Jerusalem. Zechariah was trained to be a
priest, who would, one day, serve in the Great Temple. I, like all other young Hebrew girls when
they became women, was ready to live my life’s purpose…to be a wife and a mother and keep the
Jewish Law. It was what I was born to do. (Continued on Page 2)
Throughout the Advent season, members of our congregation were able to share their messages with us on
Sunday mornings or on Christmas Eve. We are delighted that they have provided us with copies to send to you,
whether you are hearing them for the first time or wanting to review their presentations, this edition of the
newsletter is happy to provide you with that opportunity. Enjoy!
Page 2
Messenger January 2018
But, alas, motherhood was not to be and it became my shame before the people. You see, in
my time, children were considered a sign of God’s blessings and favour upon the righteous. To be
barren and produce no children meant that God looked upon me with disfavour. I became a person
of ridicule and gossip and the people whispered about what could be my secret sin.
I knew that we were blameless and that we lived righteously before God, keeping all the
commandments and regulations of the Lord (Luke 1:6). And so I lived my life with faith and humility
and obedience. I trusted that somewhere there must be a purpose to my life. I devoted my life to
God and served Zechariah as a faithful wife; although I’m sure he secretly wondered why God was
so displeased with us…as did I when each month came and went.
The day that Zechariah was chosen for the honour of a lifetime…to burn incense and pray for
Israel inside the Holy of Holies at the Great Temple… something strange happened. I was in the
crowd outside, praying, when my husband appeared…and he couldn’t speak! But he was acting as
if he’d been taken over by a spirit. I realized from his actions that he’d had a vision and was trying
to communicate.
I was terrified as I waited for him to come home. Imagine my shock…when he wrote down
for me what had happened. He told me he had lost the power of speech, because he didn’t
believe…so he cautioned me to have faith as he gave me the message. An Angel of the Lord?
Gabriel? We would become pregnant with a son, whom we would name John? (vs 13)
Miraculously, I believed every word!! The Lord had heard our Prayer…finally after all these years of
longing, Zechariah and I would conceive a child together! We would be blessed with a son who
would be a joy and delight to us and many would rejoice at his birth!! (Luke 1:14) It was a miracle. I
was long past my time of fertility, but God had chosen to look upon me with favour. My shame would
be ended. (Slowly and with awe) And. I .Became. Pregnant!!! Truly, with God, nothing is impossible!
For five months I hid myself away after I knew I was with child. I needed a time of seclusion
from the community to take this all in. You women know that feeling. As Zechariah shared with me
more of the messages from Gabriel, I knew that our son was going to be the one foretold in Isaiah.
The one who would prepare the way of the Lord. He would be the voice calling out in the desert,
bringing back the people of Israel to the Lord, their God. The Angel foretold that he would be filled
with the Holy Spirit even before his birth! Wondrous things were happening. I was feeling small
flutterings from inside and with each passing month, my faith and trust in God grew stronger…if that
was even possible. Oh, how we rejoiced and praised God.
Then, one day, in my sixth month, I heard the voice of a young woman outside my house,
calling out my name in greeting. It was my young kinswoman, Mary, from Nazareth...80 miles from
her home and alone! She was the daughter of my mother’s sister. What was she doing here? All of
a sudden, I felt my baby within me turn somersaults! My old ribs…what a beating they took. It was
like my son was leaping for Joy!! And just as suddenly, I was filled with a feeling that came over me
like I’d never experienced and I KNEW WITHOUT HESITATION it was the Holy Spirit and that I was
being visited by the mother of my Lord. I turned to her and began to speak words of prophesy. I
called out in a loud voice “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will
bear!” (Luke 1:42)
(soto voce) With child??? Why would I even have suspected she was pregnant??? What was
I saying? She was 14, and yes, she was betrothed to a young man named Joseph. In our society,
that was almost married…but not quite.
But little did I know that my words were reinforcing what the messenger Gabriel (yes, the
Page 3
Messenger January 2018
same Gabriel) had told her was happening to her…that she had found favour with God and would
conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a son. She was to call him Jesus and he would be great and be
called the Son of the Most High.
She believed….I believed. There was no question. So I continued to speak words that I just
knew were true (and my baby continued kicking)…”But why am I so favoured that the mother of my
Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my
womb leaped for joy! And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was
spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:43-45)
Then Mary, with her face glowing, and tears in her eyes, spoke words to me that I knew came
from her total faith and love of God. She sang of how “He who is mighty had done great things for
her, and holy is His name.” (Luke 1:46-49) She continued to joyously praise the works of the Lord in
song, and when she was finished, Mary and I looked at each other. She was referring to the beloved
words of Prophesy in Isaiah that told of the coming of our Saviour…our Deliverer!!
It was like four souls were meeting…our two babies and we two women. It struck me that the
Lord had chosen me (after Mary herself) to be the first person to recognize her as the mother of the
Messiah…and her baby as the Son of God. And our sons – John and Jesus - would be linked
together for eternity as God worked miracles for His people. It would be my John who would baptise
Jesus in the river Jordan to begin His ministry. It was almost more than we could take in. God had
chosen us…two unlikely women…one elderly and barren and one an unmarried young girl to bring
His Gift to the world. The messenger Gabriel had told us to not be afraid. And…we weren't! We
humbly believed! We trusted!! We gave praise for God’s goodness and mercy.
Mary and I spent the next three months together, planning for her return to Nazareth to face
her family and Joseph. She shared with Zechariah and I about her visit from Gabriel…all the
feelings that she had experienced when the Messenger visited her…fear, astonishment, not
understanding how she could be pregnant without being married, yet comfort being told that I was
with child when it had been impossible. (I think she came to us because it was a safe space to
share her miracle and absorb what was coming.) But, most of all, she told us how she willingly gave
herself up to God’s plan…she unquestionably allowed herself to be God’s servant in this most
miraculous way. She was courageous, knowing that she could face stoning and death, should
Joseph chose to divorce her. However, she believed God would protect her and sustain her. She
was totally at peace. Truly “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will
be accomplished.” And Blessed be the Holy One of Israel.
So, that is my witness. God finally gave me my life’s purpose. I give testimony to the events
that took place in those months leading up to the Birth of the Messiah so that you, too, may believe.
Shalom Aleikem to you all.
By Janice L. Hannon
December 2017
Page 4
Messenger January 2018
Pop Up Prophets:
From Rev. Jeff:
The idea for pop up prophet
came at a gathering of church
people I was a part of. We had
worship and without knowing…a
person would “pop up” and do a
reflection without us knowing who
it would be. So often in our lives,
people pop up in our midst with a
message that can touch our
hearts, stir us to action. And
these people can be unexpected,
unknown. God uses people with
open hearts and so this past
Advent and Christmas we had
people pop up and share what
Hope, Peace, Joy , Love and
Christmas meant to them. We
share their “pop up” reflections
with you here.
Hope Artist: Peter Stoll
Hope by Scott Fisher, Pop Up
Prophet:
When Jeff asked me to share with the church family what HOPE is to me I was honoured and completely unsure of what I would say. I have never sat and thought what hope was, other than a word which I used describe opportunity, wishes, desires, and a catch-all for seeking change to something. After sitting and reflecting on it I chose to apply the word in a way which I will apply to others and not myself. I don’t get to HOPE
for things. That doesn’t mean I don’t have wishes, desires, or would not want to see some situations change. What it means to me today is that it is for me to give to others, its not for me to hold to myself. If I was to do that it would be selfish. In looking at the word in this context it is a word which is full of riches for others and not a word which befits self. Let me give an example. About 9 months ago my father passed due to illness. He knew he would not recover, sure he wished to enjoy life to the best and fullest he could, and he did, that is a completely different story for another time. He also gave HOPE to myself and others. That HOPE was his most generous gift. It allowed me to see his passing as a major learning point in my life it taught me a way to deal with acceptance, disappointment, struggle, and contentment. I can carry those lessons all through my life they don’t go out of style, wear out, nor entice me with the new model. My Dad’s gift of HOPE allowed me to accept what my father was going through, to accept I would be with-out him at the end of a phone, or sitting to my left in his comfortable armchair when Cheryl and I went to visit. I do have to say looking back the last few months of his life he passed on so much by the way he acted and responded to questions. He truly gave me HOPE. Values changed for him material things where important, but not most important, Relationship of family and friends where his biggest treasure. I do wish he and I would of had our conversations earlier and under different conditions, but that was not our reality. We can change our reality if we want to, chose to, and act to influence it. We can have our wishes, dreams, goals, desires we
just need to have someone give us a foundation of HOPE to build upon. But best of all is that we can give HOPE to others so they can do the same. In this season I can’t see a better gift to give to another than HOPE. Whatever wrapping is on that gift, be it support, encouragement, enlightenment, safety, belonging, it doesn’t matter its the gift that counts. So I wish not HOPE, that we call all give a little HOPE to someone else this season and keep giving this gift which is ours to give, so it can be treasured for a lifetime by others."
Peace Artist: Judith Jewer
Peace by Sandra Halls, Pop Up
Prophet:
PEACE – 2nd Sunday in Advent Good morning, The definition of Peace: Freedom from disturbance, quiet and tranquillity, stillness. Freedom from or the cessation of, war or violence Peaceful times for me include but are not limited to:
First flakes of snow on a
quiet still winter night
Christmas eve after
everything has been prepared, wrapped, by the glow of the tree lights.
Page 5
Messenger January 2018
Singing in the choir
My friend Lesley, playing with
her grand-daughters
The Manger Scene
A good news day
When I see people helping
others
Playing with our dog, Ellie, in
my mom’s backyard of the house I grew up in.
And Finally …..
Jeff’s Benediction he sometimes uses from Numbers 6: The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you Peace.
Joy Artist: Kimberley Taylor
Joy by Johanne Blake, Pop Up
Prophet:
Everywhere we look at this time
of year we see the word Joy. On
cards, wrapping paper, signs etc.
we encounter this word, as it is
one of the emotions the
Christmas Season makes us
more aware of. With the birth of
Baby Jesus that First Christmas
Day the angels told of the Joy
that this event would bring to
us. We just need to look around to
find ourselves surrounded by Joy.
Each day that I wake up and
have been given another day, work
on those things that bring Joy into
my life, I feel profoundly thankful
and give thanks to God for another
opportunity to try and bring
happiness and joy into the lives of
others. Whether I am supply
teaching or working on a social
justice project my heart sings when
I see joy on the faces of others or
read about how the little that I have
been able to accomplish that day
has made a difference in someone
else's life. Being able to help
others warms my heart and gives
me a direction and purpose in
life. Being able to change the lives
of the children and adults who live
on Kasabonika First Nation
Reserve in any small way fills me
with Joy and makes me eager to
find other ways to be of
assistance. Networking with
others, whether they be from my
church community, circle of friends
or people I have just met, who want
to help puts a smile on my face. Of
course there are people who do not
understand why I walk this path, but
any doubts I have are quickly
removed when I receive the
wonderful letters from the adults
and children of Kasabonika. Thank
you for the support Jeff and the
Dunbarton/Fairport Church
Community provides to me. I know
that God is looking down on all of
you with Joy.
Love Artist: Heloise Regan
Love by Kelly Collins, Pop Up
Prophet:
Love:
Love is superhero pins.
Love is knowing that there are people out there willing to do amazing things for kids they have never met.
Love is a pair of purple dragon socks.
Love is a congregation that blesses Batman sock monkeys, prayer shawls and race horses.
Love is having friends come to see you and your little man while the transition was being made.
Love coming in to work and looking over the railing and seeing the little boy at the bottom of his crib having a party at 6 am.
A Thank you from one of the
children of Kasabonika!
Page 6
Messenger January 2018
Christmas Eve Artist: Michael
Joe
Christmas Eve by Michael
Lehikoinen, Pop Up Prophet:
"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"
It's a time of joy when family get together to share a meal...
It's the time of year when I don't my apron and bake the treats my mum makes. It stirs up some memories!
A time for grateful reflection on all that we have: A loving family, a roof over our heads, clean water and food in our bellies...
A time of tradition. Placing a star on the tree at the start of Advent, then swapping ng it out for an angel on Christmas Eve...
Singing Christmas carols, watching White Christmas, Trading Places, and listening to Dave cooks the Turkey.
Remembering that there are many others less fortunate than us. Looking for ways to do more in the coming year...
Finally. Celebrating the birth of a tiny child in a humble manger who would be reared in exile only to return to bring hope to the world for centuries to come.
Merry Christmas
Let’s have a look at the following opportunities:
Worship Committee
The Worship Committee has the responsibility of all worship services. This
committee ensures the provision of meaningful and spiritually enhancing
worship for all who attend and/or participate in the services. The Worship
Committee typically meets monthly except for in the summer.
Christian Education Committee
This committee is responsible for the Christian Education Program within
Dunbarton Fairport United Church. They review, develop and recommend
goals for Christian Education for youth (ages 3 to high school), and adult
programs; Provide a Nursery program as needed for birth to age 3 and act as
a coordinating committee for all CE activities.
Vice Chairperson
The Vice-Chairperson must be a member of the congregation and is
responsible for assisting the Chairperson as necessary and filling in where
necessary in the Chairperson’s place when they may be unavailable to fulfill
their role. The term for the Vice Chairperson is 2 years and shall not be
extended except by agreement of the chair and approved by vote of the
congregation.
Building Management Committee
The Building Management Committee is responsible for the general
maintenance, accessibility and safety of the Church building and property.
While many repairs and maintenance are handled by outside contractors, the
committee helps recommend and retain (upon financial approval) contractors
to facilitate these repairs. The committee also help organize work parties to
help maintain the grounds and building in areas that our gifts and skills allow.
Members are limited to a maximum term of 2 years which can be extended by
another 2 years if desired by the member.
If there is anything that interests you, please reach out to David Green
at [email protected] or 905-839-2934.
Are you looking for a way to
make a Significant Contribution in
the way we run our church?
Volunteers are one of the
keystones of overall operation
from Hospitality volunteers who
greet people every Sunday and
hand out bulletins to the
members of Session who help
decide what our spiritual interests
are to the Finance committee
who help to keep an eye on our
bank balance and more! Yes,
there is work that is to be done as
a member of a committee, but
leadership in church can be a fun
and rewarding experience!
Submissions for the 2017 Annual
Report are due in the church
office on Friday, January 5th.
Page 7
Messenger January 2018
On behalf of UCW: Many
thanks for all the donations I
received to take down to the Fred
Victor Centre in downtown
Toronto. On Tuesday
December 5, I took 44 Christmas
bags made up of travel size
toiletries for the women at the
centre. I also had a box of men's
products of shaving creams and
shavers, combs, hand soaps and
shampoo and toothbrushes and
paste. As part of our UCW
annual donation, I was able to
buy $150.00 worth of breakfast
items for their Friends Restaurant
at the centre. They were so
happy to receive all this. I have
such Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
doing this every year.
We were also able to give sleep
PJ's, shampoo and other large
sized toiletries to Joanne's
House. These were given to Jeff
to take them with his delivery of
socks from his Sock it to Me
Sunday.
Now we continue to collect for
The Back Door Mission at
Simcoe Street United Church in
downtown Oshawa. So please,
keep giving and putting them in
the space provided in the
narthex.
I will be doing down to the
Massey Centre this year in May,
so if you have baby items, gently
used baby clothing, or gently
used young ladies clothing/
maternity, please give them to me
or just put them into the space
provided in the narthex and mark
it for Massey Centre.
Your donations are greatly
appreciated.
Valerie Hendry, chairperson
UCW evening Unit.
UCW ANNUAL MEETING:
THE UCW ANNUAL MEETING
is Jan. 21st right after our worship
service in McKay Hall. Please
bring your lunch as we try and
begin around 12 and it usually
runs for about an hour. We will be
approving our events for the year
and our budget. This is a great
time for ladies of our congregation
to come out and see what we
do. Maybe this is a place for you
to get involved in our
mission. ALL ARE WELCOME.
Easter Egg Sales
Once again the UCW will be selling chocolate covered cream filled eggs starting March 11th This year we expect there to be 6 flavours available – watch out for announcements for the ones we actually make. The sale will run 3 weeks or until we run out. If you would like to help with the assembly we are working on them the following times:
Friday, March 9th 6 P.M. kitchen – make centres.
Saturday, March 10th 2 P.M. kitchen – dip in chocolate, decorate, put on plates, bag and tie with ribbons.
Another Souper Sundae coming
Get ready – On Sunday, January 28th, there will another Souper Sundae, put on by the UCW. As usual, there will be homemade soup, chili, French bread, a variety of salads, and the usual make your own Sundaes for dessert. The price is $5 a person or $15 a family. Mark this date and come ready for lunch that day.
UPCOMING UCW
MEETINGS
Evening Unit –
Sunday, January 7th at 7 P.M.
Chair – Valerie Hendry –
1-905-438-3117
Day Unit –
Wednesday, January 10th at
12.30 P.M.
Contact – Marjorie Green – 905-
839-2934
Any women of the congregation
are welcome to join us for a time
of worship and fellowship
Page 8
Messenger January 2018
Mark your calendar:
Sunday Jan 7th is Feast of
Epiphany followed by our
Epiphany pot luck lunch
Sunday Jan 28th is Souper
Sundae
Sunday Feb 4th is our Annual
General Meeting during
our Sunday service
Saturday February 10th - our
C.E. Committee is planning a
games afternoon and potluck
dinner from 3pm-
7pm (games 3pm -
4:45pm dinner at 5)
Wednesday Feb 14th is
Ash Wednesday
FOOTCARE CLINIC
For Seniors & Diabetics,
Anyone interested in Proper
Footcare
Monthly Footcare Clinics
By an Advanced Footcare
trained nurse at
Dunbarton-Fairport United
Church
The fourth Wednesday of each
month
Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Next Clinic is Wednesday,
January 24, 2018
Call Carol in the Church Office at
905-839-7271
to book your appointment
Cost: $24.00 (cash or cheque)
Counters Needed
The method used at Dunbarton-
Fairport for the counting and
deposit of the weekly offering is
for a rotation of volunteers to be
used. We like to have enough
people in this rotation so a
volunteer only has to count about
every 3 months. Currently we
don’t have enough volunteers to
be able to spread it out this
much. Do you have a spare
Sunday afternoon once in a
while? Could you look after this,
taking it home, counting,
recording and dropping the
money at the bank later in the
day? If you could help the
rotation out, please contact Jim
Little at 905-420-4391.
Summer Spectacular Garage
Sale – June 16th – 8 P.M. to 2
P.M.
As in the past few years,
the summer spectacular will be
held on the lawn at the church.
We are asking for donations of
pre used items for this giant
garage sale from the
congregation. This includes books
and household and gardening
items. The books should not
include textbooks, old computer
books, travel books and
cookbooks as these do not sell.
Please do not bring items that
should be thrown out. Appliances
should be working, things should
not be dirty and for most part
functional. These can be left at
the church the week before, but
we prefer if possible, that you
bring them Friday night or
Saturday morning between 7 and
8. Once again we will be having a
barbeque as well as drinks and a
bake sale. There will be sign up
sheets for donation of barbeque
items, and for lots of help starting
in late May. We also are looking
for people who can take a carload
of items to Salvation Army or
Value Village after the sale. We
will need to people on the Friday
night to help get the tables ready
to do out, received and sort items.
We will need a crew from 6 A.M.
onwards on Saturday to get tables
out, boxes out and items sorted.
We will need sellers at all times
from 8 to 2.
If it rains, we will hold the
sale inside using the 3 smaller
rooms downstairs and baking and
BBQ in the narthex (The BBQ
itself under the overhang outside).
Some years our help for
set up and sales has been very
low. We will need to people on the
Friday night to help get the tables
ready to do out, received and sort
items. We will need a crew from 6
A.M. onwards on Saturday to get
tables out, boxes out and items
sorted. We will need sellers at all
times from 8 to 2. Please make an
effort to help or we can’t continue
to hold this fundraiser. At the end,
again we need a large crew to tidy
up and remove items.
As well the garage sale,
BBQ and bake sale, the UCW is
planning to hold a ‘home party’
event outside with the sale. At this,
various vendors who normally
come to homes to sell commercial
goods, have a table each where
they can sell these items.
Page 9
Messenger January 2018
CHURCH SCHOOL
Teachers are needed for all
classes and units. We use The
Whole People of God curriculum
and the lesson plans are provided
on-line. If you are interested in
teaching and would like to see a
copy of a lesson plan, please
speak to Christine. If you know
that you will be teaching this year,
please let Christine know what
class and unit you are interested
in.
Classes are Age 4 to Grade 3;
Grades 4 - 8 and Grades 9 - 12.
Units are
January 7th - February 11th -
6 weeks - regular services
February 18th - April 1st - 7
weeks - Lent and Easter
April 8th - May 27th - 8 weeks
- regular services
Our C.E. Committee will be
collecting the Loblaws "bread"
gift cards on behalf of anyone
who would like to donate them to
Joanne's House. For the months
of January and February, if you
would like to donate the Loblaws
card, just place them in the
offering plate and we will collect
them. Thank you for your support
of Joanne’s House.
Wishing everyone a very Happy
New Year and all the best in 2018.
FOOTPRINTS 4 Autism had an
amazing 2017! Thank you to our
Dunbarton-Fairport United Church
family for your faith and support of
our programs for the past 13 years.
To meet the needs of our families
we are making a change to our
respite sessions. We will no longer
be running our alternate Friday night
program. No worries we aren't
discontinuing it...we are moving it
to Saturday afternoon and
increasing it to four hours! We have
more families asking
for Saturday respite so will be
running every Saturday, two
separate sessions each week to
accommodate more families.
If you are or hear of anyone looking
for volunteer opportunities...we are
looking for volunteers at both
Dunbarton-Fairport and St. Mark's.
We are also looking for Steering
Committee volunteers to assist with
governance.
Here's to a fabulous 2018!
Julie Cashin-Oster, Operations
Manager
FOOTPRINTS 4 Autism
www.footprints4autism.org
Dates to watch for in 2018
➢ February 4th - Annual
meeting during the service
➢ January 28th—Souper
Sundae
➢ March 11th to March 25th
– Easter Egg sales
➢ June 10th—Erskine
Cemetery service
➢ June 16rd
- Summer
Spectacular Garage Sale
➢ September 30th - Souper
Sundae
➢ November 3rd—Turkey
Supper between 5 and 7
➢ November 24th—‘Deck
Your Halls’ Bazaar and Craft
show
Our Next Church at the Pub will
be Tuesday, February 6th. Join
us at the Fox Goes Free in
Pickering at 6:30 p.m.. You buy
your meal and join the
conversation. Let Carol in the
church office know if you will be
attending.
Page 10
Messenger January 2018
November 1, 2017
To: c/o Johanne Blake
1847 Bowler Drive,
Pickering, Ontario, L1V3E5
From: Joan Carpenter, High School Teacher,
Chief Simeon McKay Education Centre
Box 120, Kasabonika Lake, Ontario, POV 1YO
Dear All,
We received your wonderful donations sometime ago. Sorry for the delay in reply.
As a high School teacher, especially appreciated the classroom supplies. I teach English and have no dictionaries, so I was excited to receive thesauruses which were part of your shipment.
As you are no doubt aware, the remote communities here in the upper reaches of the James Bay Lowlands really struggle with teaching materials as well as necessities such as clothes, food. Thank you form the bottoms, tops and the middles of our hearts.
Some of your shipment was shared with the community at the arena and some was shared here at the school. I did not see everything that was delivered but did hear that there are some grateful new mothers who received playpens and other infant needs; diapers are very expensive here and Kasabonika Lake has a high birth rate. Our small population is roughly 1200 people.
Believe it or not, the Elders are still parcelling up some of the clothes for the community. I have enclosed some artwork from Judy Winter's grade 4 class as well as some letters from my grade 9 English class. Students especially appreciated the sports equipment. Kasabonika Lake people and neighbours, like most Canadian Communities, are extreme hockey fans. This year the school has been blessed with a
wonderful gym teacher who has played professional hockey. He is a real credit to our community and school.
Also, this year our high school registration was higher than it has ever been. We are looking forward
to a new school in the year 2021. Once again, thank you for your thoughtfulness, your kindness, your hard work. And please keep in touch.
Sincerely, Joan Carpenter
Page 11
Messenger January 2018
Page 12
Messenger January 2018
Messenger is published twelve times a year. Contributions - whether written or pictures — are welcomed.
If you have access to the Internet, you can reduce distribution costs by signing up for convenient 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 or the newsletter editor to
have your email address added to the distribution list.
Thank-you very much to all of the contributors to this month’s issue.
The deadline for the February Edition of the Messenger is Friday, January 26th.
Cover Photo Credit: Brent Brook-Allred, used with permission.
Dunbarton-Fairport United Church, 1066 Dunbarton Road, Pickering, Ontario, L1V 1G8 -
905.839.7271
Minister: Rev. Jeff Doucette
Office Manager: Carol Taylor
Church Fax: 905.839.7288
Website: www.dunbartonfairport.on.ca/
dfunited
Director of Music: Dawn Duncliffe
Newsletter E-mail:
Rev. Jeff’s blog:
www.jeffdoucette.webs.com
Are you an Adherent and have thought about becoming a full member of the United Church? Do you
need to transfer your membership from one congregation to become part of ours? Contact the office for more
details on how to do this.
P.A.R. is the Pre-Authorized Remittance programme, which allows for an automated monthly transfer of funds
from your designated financial institution to Dunbarton-Fairport United Church. Information and enrollment
forms are available on the table in the narthex. A completed form, along with your voided cheque, must be
returned to the P.A.R. Coordinator, Brenda McLaughlin at 905-420-6521,
[email protected]. For more information, please contact Brenda!
Visits to the sick in hospitals and home bound. If you know of folks in our congregation who are in need of a
visit please contact the office. Rev. Jeff depends on your help. He does love to visit.
Baptisms: If you are interested in having your children baptized, please contact the church office to speak to
Rev Jeff or see him after services. Also anyone who is an adherent and interested in joining the church
officially, Rev Jeff would love to chat about this with you.
Rev. Jeff and Dunbarton-Fairport United church are on social media spreading the love? Check us out. Like
us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/groups/2368087542/ . Follow us on Twitter Rev. Jeff @revjeffdoucette
Dunbarton-Fairport on twitter @DFUnited
