TRURO, N.S. MARCH, 2019 First United Newsfirstunitedtruro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/First... ·...
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Submitted by Chris Bowman Back in 2014, due to the generosity of the Audrey Cornell estate, we were able to purchase a Yamaha C7 concert grand piano for use in our sanctuary. This instrument was new to us, having been built in the 1980’s. We were told when the piano was first serviced by our technician that in roughly 5 years we would need to have the piano’s hammers replaced (something that is standard with any instrument that is played as often as this one is). The Music and Music Under the Steeple committees have been preparing for this ever since. Through our saving, raising money through concert ticket sales, Candlelight concerts, CD sales and other fund- raisers, and once again drawing from the Cornell fund, the re-hammering of the piano was completed in February. And what a difference it makes! Without getting too much into the technical aspects (please feel free to ask me if you are curious) the piano now plays much more evenly and has a much warmer tone due to the new hammers. It is now one of the finest, if not the finest instrument in town. In a time where we are trying to raise money for so many different things, we were fortunate to be able to complete this work without devoting church operating funds to pay for to this necessary but not inexpensive project. Thanks to the music committees of the church for their careful planning and saving, and to the congregation and audience from the wider community for their generous support of our concert offerings which helped make all of this possible. Editor’s Note: Thanks to Chris for his work in organizing and directing concerts, as well as his work in producing the CD. Yours in harmony, Chris Bowman, Minister of Music Submitted by Rev. Sandy MacLean That is a line from a Gospel Hymn that came to mind on Sunday morning, February 24th at 10am when I arrived at Church to chaos. Plan A for the day had been worship service, move to the Hall for pot luck lunch, followed by the Annual Meeting. The Hall was cold as the Arctic, the heating system was out of order, hence an unexpected move to Plan B. Everything had to take place in the church! Food tables set up, chairs and tables carried from the Hall in -17C weather, cold food brought over and arranged, hot foods to come after the serve (Kitchen stoves working!) With all the last minute confusion on such an important day, I felt like wailing “My Lord what a morning . . .” I knew how hard it would be to move from Plan A to Plan B in short order. How upsetting for potluck providers and Annual Meeting set up, to say nothing of the Ministry team and Choir to get around and ready for Worship. But guess what? At the end of the day I was ready to go home and sing with joy “My Lord What a morning! Why? Because everything came together to bring order out of chaos and we were all set to go by service time. It was amazing! The service was well attended, the ministry team - Valerie, Chris and Choir, Roger and Adam and teachers contributed wonderfully to the service. The potluck dinner was great with good to spare. The Annual Meeting went forward without a hitch. All due to the diligent work of dozens of contributors to the 69 page annual report, covering so many important aspects of our internal, local community and international mission. My Lord What a morning! Minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care Rev. Valerie Kingsbury Faith Formation Minister Rev. Roger Moore Minister of Music Chris Bowman First United Church Box 185, Truro, N.S. B2N 5C1 Phone: 902-895-8098 Fax: 902-893-9376 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.firstunitedtruro.ca Sunday Services 10:30 a.m. Valerie’s Visions Page 2 “That God Chose Trump and Other Dumb Ideas” Page 2 Colchester Historical Society Award Page 3 Church Services & Up-Coming Events Page 3 “Music to our ears” Images from the Contabile Pages 4 & 5 Outreach And Social Action Committee Pages 6 Lead With Your Heart Pages 6 Images of Recent Moments at First! Pages 7 Sympathy and Prayers Pages 7 Birthdays Pages 8 Christmas Index & Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Page 8 Inside . . . Rehammering our Piano Clean up Day at First... February 2, 2019 A little humour on clean up day. Carolyn Emanuel digs right in with her broom during clean up. Don MacQueen helps out on clean up day. Greg Allan and Burt Amiro wait in the dumpster. My Lord What A Morning... First United News MARCH, 2019 TRURO, N.S.
Transcript of TRURO, N.S. MARCH, 2019 First United Newsfirstunitedtruro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/First... ·...
Submitted by Chris Bowman
Back in 2014, due tothe generosity of theAudrey Cornell estate, wewere able to purchase aYamaha C7 concert grandpiano for use in oursanctuary.
This instrument wasnew to us, having beenbuilt in the 1980’s. Wewere told when the pianowas first serviced by ourtechnician that in roughly5 years we would need tohave the piano’s hammersreplaced (something thatis standard with anyinstrument that is playedas often as this one is).
The Music and MusicUnder the Steeplecommittees have beenpreparing for this eversince.
Through our saving,raising money throughconcert ticket sales,Candlelight concerts, CDsales and other fund-raisers, and once againdrawing from the Cornellfund, the re-hammeringof the piano wascompleted in February.And what a difference itmakes! Without gettingtoo much into thetechnical aspects (pleasefeel free to ask me if youare curious) the pianonow plays much moreevenly and has a muchwarmer tone due to thenew hammers.
It is now one of thefinest, if not the finestinstrument in town. In atime where we are tryingto raise money for so
many different things, wewere fortunate to be ableto complete this workwithout devoting churchoperating funds to pay forto this necessary but notinexpensive project.Thanks to the musiccommittees of the churchfor their careful planningand saving, and to thecongregation andaudience from the widercommunity for theirgenerous support of ourconcert offerings whichhelped make all of thispossible. Editor’s Note:Thanks to Chris for hiswork in organizing anddirecting concerts, as wellas his work in producingthe CD.
Yours in harmony, Chris Bowman,
Minister of Music
Submitted by Rev. Sandy MacLean
That is a line from a Gospel Hymn thatcame to mind on Sunday morning,February 24th at 10am when I arrived atChurch to chaos. Plan A for the day hadbeen worship service, move to the Hall forpot luck lunch, followed by the AnnualMeeting. The Hall was cold as the Arctic,the heating system was out of order,hence an unexpected move to Plan B.
Everything had to take place in thechurch! Food tables set up, chairs andtables carried from the Hall in -17Cweather, cold food brought over andarranged, hot foods to come after theserve (Kitchen stoves working!)
With all the last minute confusion onsuch an important day, I felt like wailing“My Lord what a morning . . .” I knewhow hard it would be to move from PlanA to Plan B in short order. How upsettingfor potluck providers and Annual
Meeting set up, to say nothing of theMinistry team and Choir to get aroundand ready for Worship.
But guess what? At the end of the dayI was ready to go home and sing with joy“My Lord What a morning! Why?Because everything came together tobring order out of chaos and we were allset to go by service time.
It was amazing! The service was well attended, the
ministry team - Valerie, Chris and Choir,Roger and Adam and teacherscontributed wonderfully to the service.The potluck dinner was great with goodto spare. The Annual Meeting wentforward without a hitch. All due to thediligent work of dozens of contributorsto the 69 page annual report, covering somany important aspects of our internal,local community and internationalmission.
My Lord What a morning!
Minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care
Rev. Valerie Kingsbury
Faith Formation MinisterRev. Roger Moore
Minister of MusicChris Bowman
First United Church
Box 185, Truro, N.S. B2N 5C1Phone: 902-895-8098
Fax: 902-893-9376
WEBSITEwww.firstunitedtruro.ca
Sunday Services 10:30 a.m.
Valerie’s VisionsPage 2
“That God Chose Trump and Other Dumb Ideas”
Page 2Colchester Historical Society
AwardPage 3
Church Services & Up-Coming Events
Page 3“Music to our ears”
Images from the ContabilePages 4 & 5
Outreach And Social ActionCommittee
Pages 6Lead With Your Heart
Pages 6Images of Recent Moments
at First!Pages 7
Sympathy and PrayersPages 7
BirthdaysPages 8
Christmas Index &Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Page 8
Inside . . .
Rehammering our Piano
Clean up Dayat First...
February 2, 2019
A little humour on clean up day.
Carolyn Emanuel digs right in with herbroom during clean up.
Don MacQueen helps out on clean up day.
Greg Allan and Burt Amiro wait in thedumpster.
My Lord What A Morning...
First United NewsMARCH, 2019TRURO, N.S.
Submitted by Rev. Roger Moore
We’ve heard of people, or readof people, who have asserted thatGod chose Trump to be president,but most of these were likelypeople who believed all sorts ofother nonsense. It is somethingthough to hear it from a person,who in all other respects, seems tohave normal cognitive functioning.
When I read Sarah HuckabeeSanders’s statement, my firstthought was, well that explains theconstant spinning and lying. Afterall, if you are doing it for God’schosen vessel, it must be serving ahigher purpose. And to dootherwise might incur the wrath ofGod. I suppose it also eases theconscience somewhat you know,helps one sleep at night.
Let’s unpack this a bit. Shethinks God wanted Trump to bepresident. And thus, he is - Doesthat mean God wanted Obama to bepresident for eight years? Did Godwant Bill Clinton to be president?Did God want Nixon to bepresident? Did God want NancyPelosi to be Speaker of the House?Did God want the Democrats totake over the majority in theHouse? Did God put Robert Muellerin place?
I mean, how does this work? Iswhomever wins, the person Godwanted to win, whether president,or speaker, senator,congressperson, etc.? And, even ifthey represent completely differentphilosophies and goals? Is Godconfused? Is democracy a joke?
Was she making an extremeCalvinist-like assertion that God isin control of every single event,from the movement of an atom tothe expansion rate of the universe,and absolutely nothing happens
without God’s direction? Thus, Godwanted or allowed Hitler to come topower too? Is God ultimately thecause of evil then? And she usesthe word “wanted.” It was God’sintention. Not that God allowed it,but that God actually “wanted’Trump to be president. Does sheknow the mind and intention ofGod in that regard? That aloneshould send shivers.
Is she saying that, out of all thecandidates, God wanted the thricedivorced, sexist, racist, bullying,and dishonest person with the leastamount of decency, integrity, andcharacter to be president? Godwanted the person who cheated onhis wife with porn stars andplayboy bunnies to be president?God wanted the person whosemany business/charity practiceshave been shown to be either illegalor cons, to be president? Godwanted the person who made fun ofa handicapped man, and urged hisfollowers at campaign rallies tocommit violence to be president?
In other words, all of a sudden,contrary to everything we’ve beentold by evangelicals we shouldwant, and what God wants, in acandidate for political office, withTrump God has now made it clearhe wants the exact opposite. Is thatwhat we are to take away?
Let me suggest what we mighttake away from such assertions likeSander’s: They are unmitigatednonsense. They reveal anastounding theological immaturityand ignorance. They suggest anamazing lack of philosophical andintellectual curiosity or grasp ofbasic logic. They demonstrate aclosed mind, a shallow sensibilityand notion of a god made in one’sown political-ideological image.
Further, they show an alarmingcapacity for presumption as toknowing the mind of God.
The idea God wanted Trump towin, or if it was reversed and thenotion was that God wanted Hillaryto win, is no more sensible thanwhen we hear a coach or athlete sayGod wanted their team to win.
These are statements made bypeople who, while meaning well, orjust trying to give thanks, arespeaking out of turn. But a coachor athlete we can overlook, as theirstatements, usually made in theglorious aftermath of a win, are notconsidered in those moment to beserious theological orphilosophical reflections to beginwith. We consider the moment andthe source.
It is different though withSanders. My guess is her statementwas a calculated attempt to shoreup support for a president who istanking with almost every voterdemographic. They have to hold onto white evangelicals.
But if she was serious, heshould be embarrassed.Unfortunately one has to have, atleast, a tiny bit of self-awareness, asense of how one’s missed theenormity of the conversationsurrounding their topic, for that tohappen. This White House and thepeople who work there seemincapable of such.
Join us forSunday Services
10:30 am
Valerie Kingsbury
The days are growinglonger and you can alreadybegin to feel the heat of thesun change. In just a littlemore than a week we willenter the season of Lentand turn our faces againtoward Calvary.
By the time you read this we will be way on ourway to Easter. Lent is that time of year when weare invited to take a step back from the chaos ofthe everyday, enter the wilderness with Jesus, andcontemplate the journey before us.
This is a time of deep reflection and ofpreparation as we listen carefully to the voices ofthe ancestors and take the time to feed our souls.In some ways it is a journey into darkness wherethe soul is nourished in the rich soil of creation,lifting us up to see the sun rise again.
One of my favourite authors is MacrinaWiederkehr. In her reflections on the darkness ofwinter she writes a piece that, for me, speaksabout the Lenten journey from darkness intolight.
Minister NotesValerie’s Visions
“That God Chose Trump and Other Dumb Ideas”
Rev. Roger Moore
Far from the city’s lightsthe darkness is free to be dark.
Even the stars creep respectfullyinto their caves of cloudsas if to honour the dark.
The trees hold their breath.Not even a leaf falls,
nothing breaks the silence.
A nurturing, comforting darknesssurrounds me; I lean into it,
terrified with joy,remembering my birth
from the womb of darkness.
Out of the darknessa song arose,
akin to the song of the first creation.In that dark singing womb I ripened,
blessed and cradled by darkness.
The singing darknessfilled me with melodiesuntil I became a song.The singing darkness
carried me into the dawnand sent me forth to sing my own song.
Tonight, I honour the darknessand sing of the life I was given
in the holy darkness of my first home,the nurturing, earthy wombwhere I grew bright with life
and blossomed in God.
The Singing Darkness
May you know the embrace of Divine love thatcradles you in the times of darkness andnourishes your soul until you become a song.
Blessings - Rev. Valerie
Archery
Gayle Caudle Turnbull helps Braxton Dalrymple(Carolyn's grandson) with his archery skills.
First United NewsPage 2 March, 2019
First United Church News wishesto thank its advertisers and
sponsors for their help inpublishing this paper.
Charlotte MacQuarrie, archivist for First UnitedChurch, recently received a Heritage Award from
the Colchester Historical Society in recognition ofher work in the preservation of the archives of ourChurch. Heritage Awards are presented to“individuals whose work helps to preserve localhistory or promote an interest and enthusiasm forour local history”.
In addition to her work at First United, she was asupporter for the creation of the Marigold Society,has been involved with the Colchester Historium,and participated in the designation of the threeheritage districts within the Town of Truro. Shehas created and funded a Maker Lab at the Library,and is a long-time member of the Heritage Trust ofCanada.
Congratulations, Charlotte, on your well-deserved honour!
Charlotte MacQuarrie
Charlotte Receives Heritage Award
Congregaional Members at the Annual Meeting.
Lisa amiro and Bob Jordan at the Congregational Annual Meeting.
Church Services & Up-Coming Events
Sunday Worship @ 10:30 am
Food Bank - Last Sunday of the Month
Change for Change - First Sunday of the Month
March3 2pm . . . . . . Worship @ Wynn Park5 . . . . . . . . . . Pancake Luncheon and Supper6 2pm . . . . . . Seniors’ Social Tea
April3 . . . . . . . . . . Seniors’ Social Tea7 . . . . . . . . . . Afternoon Children’s Chorus
of Nova Scotia20 . . . . . . . . . . Easter Egg Hunt/Pancake
Breakfast - for the Kids!27 . . . . . . . . . . Evening Nova Scotia Youth
Orchestra
May1 2 pm . . . . . Seniors’ Social Tea4 9 am. . . . . . Plant Sale4 Cantabile Spring Concert5 2 pm . . . . . Worship @ Vimy Court25 Cantabile Youth Singers
June2 2 pm . . . . . Worship @ the Mira5 2 pm . . . . . Seniors’ Social Tea8 2 pm . . . . . Pastoral Care’s Spring Social9-14 . . . . . . . . . . Atlantic Seminar in Theological
Education23 . . . . . . . . . . Sunday School Closing
Hay Ride!
First United NewsMarch, 2019 Page 3
Brookfield Hilden Combined Elementary School Choir
Cantabile Boys' Choir
Cantabile Impact!
Cantabile Singers
CCJHS Choir: Ursa Major
CEC Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Creative Voices
First Baptist Girls' Choir
First United Church Choir
Front Mass Choir
Left Mass Choir
Sunday School News Letter.
Right Mass Choir
Truro Youth Singers
Tatamagouche Area Singers
Choirs for Comfort ConcertFebruary 2019 - “Music to our ears”
First United NewsPage 4 March, 2019
First United NewsMarch, 2019 Page 5
Mental WellnessPeer Support Group
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of every monthFirst United Church Memorial Hall
7:00 pm
For more information please contact Laurie Dobbs White (902) 895-2786, Valerie Kingsbury (902) 895-8098,
Shelly Austin (902) 956-7184 or Valerie Hollingsworth (902) 956-9087
“Experience The Benefits”
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(902) 893-0508
Two years ago this month FirstUnited Church and Lead With YourHeart formed a partnership to createa mental health support group.
The group meets the thirdWednesday of every month andcovers a wide range of topics.
What we talk about is generated byparticipants.
We have had sessions on thingslike addiction, grief, meditation,music, and invited speakers fromother community organizations toshare with us their resources - CMHA,Women’s Wellness Centre, FutureWorks just to mention a few.
On the occasion of our firstanniversary we decided to branch outand include an Art Therapy Course, aTheatre Group and an Energywellness class.
The Art Therapy group has runseveral 4 week sessions now with 10participants each time.
In February this group wasafforded an amazing opportunity totell their story through the art theycreated. For the month of February, 9artists had their work on display atthe McArthur Gallery, NSCC.
Lead With Your Heart
18 Willow Street, Suite 204
Truro, NS B2N 4Z4
Phone 902-895-7480 Fax 902-895-7499
Accounting, auditing and business advisory services Monthly computerized bookkeeping for small business Business valuation and litigation support Corporate and personal taxation Succession and estate planning
‘Lead With Your Heart’ Pictures
Respectfully Submitted, Co-Chairs: KenCameron, Janet White
The Committee held threemeetings during the year May 29th,September 27th, and November 6thand organized First Unitedparticipation in three major events.October 16, 2018 World Food Day, beandishes were prepared and served atthe Canadian Foodgrains Bank-sponsored “Room at the Table RationMeal” event held at Immanuel BaptistChurch. This was a greatcollaboration by the members ofImmanuel Baptist, First United, St.James Presbyterian and John CalvinChristian Reformed churches.
November 24, 2018, a nourishingpasta/vegetable meal with abrownie/ice cream dessert wasprepared and served to approximately60 people at the monthly CommunityDinner held at St. John’s Anglican
Church. Volunteers from First Unitedincluding Rev. Valerie and Adam andtwo members of the Youth Grouphelped throughout the meal andcontributed greatly to its success.
December 2018, First United wasonce again a participant in the annualChristmas Index Food and Gift Drivefor Truro and area. Christmas Cheerwas provided to 16 families. As inprevious years, Tillie Armstrongcoordinated this effort making acomplicated job run smoothly.
Monthly deliveries were made tothe Colchester Food Bank in the rangeof 70 90 pounds per delivery.
The total monies contributed toMission and Service for 2018 was$34,060.00 with $4825.00 of thisamount having been raised by ourUCW. The total exceeded the 2018Pledge made to the United Church ofCanada Head Office by $3,060.00 TheUCW’s effort is so gratefullyappreciated.
The Committee is currentlyexploring ways to offer assistance tothe Truro Homeless Shelter.
The Committee is also seekingways to keep the congregationinformed as to the contribution theirefforts are making to the communitypossibly by placing a description ofactions in the church bulletins on aregular basis.
The Committee would like tothank the members of thecongregation for all their wonderfulsupport in assisting with all ofOutreach’s events/projects this year.“Community Spirit” is definitely aliveand well at First United.
Outreach And Social Action Committee
...your stories,photos and
ideas for ournext edition!Contact your Church
Office!
Call 902-895-8098
or email: [email protected]
First United NewsPage 6 March, 2019
[email protected] MacCallum
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Images of Recent Moments at First!
Pam Bowman always has a smile when she visits us.
Busy workers preparing Apple Crisps for another successful sale.
Crafty Flakes - Coldest Night Walk 2019
Rev. Valerie installed the 2019 United Church Women Executive.
The sympathy and prayers of the congregation are extended to family and friends of:
James Barron, Carl Weatherbee, Charles Johnson,Kathryn Colburne, Donald Sutherland, Jordan Berry,Beatrice Bailey, Merle Chisholm and Eva Mattatall.
May the peace and comfort of God sustain them and all who mourn.
Sympathy and Prayers
First United NewsMarch, 2019 Page 7
MarchClyde Weldin Vic Yeadon Patricia Pryor Bill GatchellMarg Swan Irene WrightElva Archibald Arlene MacGregor
Dorothy Hingley
AprilJohn McElhiney R. V. MacKayBeth Smith Joyce MingoShirley Turner Joan MurrayVelma MacKenzie Norma Cameron
Shirley Jeffrey
MayCarol Dennis Carman BurnsShirley Grant Norman LaytonEthel Miller Muriel Drake Daisy MacFadyen Edna Daniels
Alice Guy
JuneAllan Stewart Greta GatchellDelbert Turner John MacDonaldGwen Rogers Ross ParksEva Fraser Ruth Sandeson
Jean Saunders
N.S. LicensedChild Care Centre
(Since 1977)
Infant to School AgeEnriched Programs
39 Harris Avenue, Truro NS B2N 3N3
Patricia Roberts B.A., ED1 ECE, NSTC Class 5Director/Owner
[email protected]: 902-895-6521 • H: 902-895-9216
F: 902-895-9563
www.mount-pleasant-daycare.com
Mount Pleasant Nursery School
Tax and Estate Planning GroupGeorge L. WhiteJane M. Gourley-Davis
QUEEN AT WADDELL 902-893-4381TOLL FREE 1-888-BLAIKIE
www.blaikiesdodge.com
Be su
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ro.ca
A few guests at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.
Carolyn Ward takes a plate from Shirley Creelman toserve during the Pancake Supper.
Delivery for the Christmas Index Families.
Karen, Janet and Ann take a break on delivery day forthe Christmas Index.
Christmas Index Shrove Tuesday
Images of Recent Moments at First!First United News
Page 8 March, 2019
