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October 1, 2023

 

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday.  It is also “Humanity” Sunday and “Water” Sunday during this Season of Creation.  What a wonderful combination.  Water is creation’s life source.  Without water, none of us can survive.  Human beings are composed of water.  Up to 60% of the human adult body is water.  According to Mitchell and others (1945), the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water.  The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.

No wonder the Israelites were unhappy with the lack of water as they continued to travel through the barren desert.  Water is necessary for life.  It ensures that every part of the body stays hydrated and healthy.  Too much water can cause serious health problems.

Like manna, extra water cannot be stored within the body.  If we take water and connect it to the concept that there is enough for the whole community, we might want to look at how water is used in our daily lives.

I am very much aware that I am at times quite wasteful in my use of water.  I do not pay attention to the litres that are poured down the sink when I brush my teeth or the amount that goes down the drain when I rinse my vegetables.

I am fortunate that I have access to what appears to be an abundance of water.  However, if I truly recognize my interconnectedness with all the others with whom I share this amazing planet, I need to be more cognizant of how my use of resources and my lack of awareness affects others.

We are all interconnected, we carry each other’s burdens and we share each other’s joys.  As people of faith this means not only with those we love and know, but with the stranger next door and the stranger half a world way.

We are each other’s mentor, guide, student, companion.  We are each other’s litmus test, when we look to each other and ask ourselves are we doing the best we can for our siblings in this wonderful complex world.

 

– Rev. Deborah

 

See this week's bulletin for Stony Plain here.

CONTACT INFO: Church: 780-963-4745
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website stonyplainunitedchurch.com 

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In Church Worship:  

Please join us for worship with us in person on Sunday mornings! Services are at 9:00 a.m. at Mewassin and 10:30 a.m. at Stony Plain. The Stony Plain service will continue to be available on Zoom or by phone.

Virtual Sunday Worship Link:  

Join us at 10:30AM Sunday mornings for worship together.
Sunday Worship Link

We would like to remind our Zoom attendees to please mute your microphones during the service so as to reduce background noise (you are, of course, free to un-mute your microphone if you are reading or leading a prayer, or asking/answering a question).  If you cannot mute your microphone, than we ask that you please be very quiet during the service.  We also ask that, when conversing, you speak slowly and try to avoid talking over anyone else.

See Minister's Message and link to bulletin.  We are still trying new and better ways to provide our worship experience.  Thanks for your patience and support.

 

OFFERINGS: We do not collect the offering during the service, as we used to.  Please leave your envelopes in a plate at the front of the sanctuary.  For those of you worshipping from home, you may mail, drop off or send your donations by e-transfer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).  Alternatively, you may also give an offering via P.A.R. (Pre-Authorised Remittance), which you can arrange by contacting the Church office.  Thank-you for your continued support.

 

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: As we come together, we respectfully acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene and Nakota Sioux.  We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 2, 3 and 4 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland.  We honour all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.  As treaty People, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, we share the responsibility of finding authentic ways to ensure that the spirit of Reconciliation and Treaty 6 is honoured and respected.  This acknowledgement also reaffirms our relationship with one another.

 

This Week

 

CARE HOME SERVICES: Exciting news!  We are resuming our services at Westview Health Care Centre and Whispering Waters starting on Wed. Oct 4 at 6:30 PM and 7:15 PM respectively.  Everyone is welcome to come to the services and perhaps visit with some friends who now reside in one of those homes.  CHOIR: We will meet first at Whispering Waters at 7:15 instead of coming to the Church.  After the service, we will come to the Church for the balance of our practice time.

 

CHOIR: CHRISTMAS CANTATA: We will start rehearsing for the Cantata on Wed. Oct 11.  Practices will be every Wednesday from 7 PM to 8 PM.  You don’t have to be a regular choir member to sing in the Cantata.  This is a short-term commitment (until Dec 17), so might appeal to those of you who like to sing, but don’t want a long-term obligation.  We will have practice CD’s available so you don’t have to be able to read music to sing with us.  Everyone is welcome to join us.  This year’s Cantata is “Joy! A Gospel Christmas Celebration” by Joel Raney and looks like it will be lots of fun to learn and share with our congregations and community!

 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE: The Congregational Care Committee will meet Thurs. October 12 at 2:00 PM at Stony Plain United Church.

 

Reminders

 

SEPT. 30 NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION: The Town of Stony Plain invites the community to come together in their “Walking Together for Truth and Reconciliation” event on Sat. Sept 30 from 9:30 – 12:30 at Heritage Park, with registration at 9:00 AM.  The 1.5 km walk will be followed by a free feast and a time of fellowship.  Everyone is encouraged to wear orange shirts.  Garry and Meredith plan to walk and invite others to join them.  The United Church strongly supports our collective journey toward healing and reconciliation.  Walking side by side with our Indigenous neighbours is a great way to demonstrate this commitment!

 

BOARD HIGHLIGHTS: Copies of the Board Highlights from the Official Board meeting on Sept. 14 are on the table outside the Sanctuary.

 

 

PHOTO CONTEST 2023 ENDED! Thank you to everyone who submitted photos!  The winner and runners-up will be announced soon.

 

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

Choir Practice Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.
Ukulele Group Wednesdays at 6:15 PM.
Card Recreators Thursdays, 10:00 AM

 

MEETINGS/SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 4

1:30 PM - UCW Meeting

Care Home Services:

6:30 PM - Westview

7:15 PM - Whispering Waters
Thursday, October 12

2:00 PM - Congregational Care Meeting

 

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