Announcements - Bells Corners United Church

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
3955 Old Richmond Rd., Nepean, ON K2H 5C5
Tel: 613-820-8103 Fax: 613-820-5628
Website: www.bcuc.org Email: office@bcuc.org
Minister: Rev. Kim Vidal
Congregational Designated Minister: Lorrie Lowes
Director of Music: Carolyn Whitley
Office Administrators: Nancy Meyers, Ellen Boynton
Chair, Church Board: Sue Morrison
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9-12 noon, 1-4 pm
ANNOUNCEMENTS February 15, 2015
Meetings This Week Here at the Church:
Lectionary Group meets on Tuesday, Feb 17 at 10:30 am (Shalom Room).
Theme and Text: The Promise of a Rainbow (Genesis 9:8-17). All welcome.
Men’s Club meets on Wednesday February 18 for a coffee hour and
luncheon with Clarke Topp as guest speaker.
Book Club meets Wednesday February 18, 1:30 pm
Ash Wednesday Service takes place at 6:00 pm in the Music Room.
Church Board meets Wednesday February 18, 7:00 pm
Cope Kit for Thursday February 19, 9:15 am is ‘Tai Chi for seniors’ with
Virginia Thurston, back by popular demand. All welcome!
2014 Tax Receipts are available for pickup from the office through the
week. Please drop by and pick up your receipt and save the church postage.
Due to an oversight, the $10 donation of some members who contributed
to Advent Memorial Flowers, was not included on their tax receipts. Of the
47 tax receipts involved, most have already been picked up. If you wish to
receive a new tax receipt which includes this donation, please contact the
church office in the next two weeks (up to Sun Feb 22) and a replacement
tax receipt will be prepared in exchange for your current receipt. This
receipt would be available Sunday 1 March.
We are pleased to welcome Erna Poettcker as our organist for the month of
February while Carolyn takes vacation time that she missed last summer. As
well, Erin Berard will be directing the choirs and Cynthia Watson providing
piano accompaniment.
SOSA Lenten Project: In connection with SOSA's Lenten project, the
congregation is invited to attend the Blanket Exercise, "the indigenous rights
history we're rarely taught." The Assembly of First Nations has partnered
with KAIROS to educate Canadians about the history of Canada's indigenous
peoples. The Blanket Exercise starts with blankets spread on the floor to
represent Canada before the arrival of Europeans. The participants
represent indigenous peoples, who respond to cues given by the narrator,
as history unfolds. To participate in this exercise is much more than reading
history.
The Blanket Exercise will be held in the main hall at BCUC Monday, March
9, from 7 to 9 p.m. All are welcome. See the SOSA noticeboard for further
details, or contact Bridget McNeill at 613-595-0537.
Nicaragua Mission Trip Fundraising: If you would like to make a tax
deductible donation to the fund, please make cheques payable to Bells
Corners United Church with “Mission Exposure Fund” in the memo line.
Total raised to date is $18,609. Fundraising is on target, so thank you
everyone who has donated and supported our activities to date!
Centre 507 is a Drop in Centre housed in Centretown United Church at 507
Bank Street. The Centre supports over 100 people per day, 6 days and 2
evenings a week.
As you are probably aware Centre 507 recently found out that it has lost its
grants for
- street outreach work
- the rooming house support program
- the life skills program
This means laying off 5 full time staff. There won't be workers on the street
seeing to the needs of those who can't go to the Centre. There will be no
support for those living in rooming houses. No cooking classes, client
volunteer positions, social events, or trips. With only 3 1/2 staff left, the
hours the Centre is open will have to be addressed.
The Minister at Centretown United, David Illman-White is organizing an
information night to explain what the impact these cut backs will have on
the participants who come to the Centre. Media and different members of
government have been invited. The more people who attend the meeting
shows support for Centre 507 and also sends a message to our politicians.
Emergency meeting regarding cutbacks to Centre 507 Wednesday Feb
18th 7:30 pm Centretown United Church 507 Bank Street (Bank St 1 block
north of the Queensway) Parking at Glashan School.
Mission Exposure Fundraising Bake Sale is on TODAY! Drop by and
purchase some baking after worship this morning.
A Night in Nicaragua! is coming on Sunday February 22, 5:30 pm when
those who are participating in the March Mission Exposure Trip to
Nicaragua will be hosting a four course authentic Nicaraguan dinner
followed by special guest singer/songwriter/storyteller Rory Gardiner!
Tickets: $25- adults; $12.50 - 12 & under. Tickets: 726-1375
Upcoming Worship Services:
Season of Lent
February 18 – Ash Wednesday Service, 6:00 pm, Music Room
February 22– First Sunday in Lent / Communion
Sermon Focus: “Never Again!” (Genesis 9: 8-17)
March 1 – Second Sunday in Lent
Sermon Focus: “When Fine Print Matters” (Mark 8:31-38)
Friday March 6 - World Day of Prayer, 1:00 pm (BCUC hosting). All are
welcome. Focus Country: Bahamas
Theme: “Jesus said to them, Do you know what I have done to you?”
Youth Group will be collecting bottles - wine and beer- and beer and pop
cans next Sunday. Please bring your donations to support youth activity.
The Men's Club will hold a coffee hour and luncheon meeting Wednesday,
February 18, 10:00 am. Clarke Topp will lead a discussion on "A Fairer
Society" which will also look at our own "Interfaith Housing" The topic will
bring us up to date on what is going on with respect to poverty and the role
we are playing in assisting to correct the situation.
Lunch will be hosted by Ian and Ruth. Ruth will provide two kinds of
Homemade Soup, Ruth's Buns with Homemade Pie for dessert. This will be
in addition to coffee, tea and a cookie when you arrive.
Cost: $5:00, total proceeds to the Mission Exposure Fund. Come and bring a
friend. Tickets on sale today.
2014 BCUC Annual General Meeting: Sunday March 1, 11:30 am to receive
the annual report and audited 2014 Financial Statement, 2015 Budget and
Activity Plan as well as to elect BCUC officers. Copies of the proposed
agenda and the 2014 Annual Report will be available next Sunday.
Harmer House Outreach Adult Day Program is in desperate need of van
drivers on a Monday (AM or PM) or Thursday (PM). If you have a valid
Ontario Driver’s Licence and would like to work with seniors please call Sina
at 726-8882 x 223 or dayprogram@harmerhouse.ca to offer your help. See
notice on corridor bulletin board for more details.
Book Club meeting will be held Wednesday February 18, 1:30 pm to discuss
‘Through Black Spruce’ by Joseph Boyden. Info. Gerry Monnot 828-8482
Today’s bulletin covers have been generously donated by
Grace Runions & family
in memory of Jack’s February 22nd birthday
WAYS TO HELP AT BCUC - Sign up on lists posted opposite the office :
* Sunday morning Candlelighting: Children, youth and adults, please sign
up for the months of March through May.
* Sponsor a 2015 Sunday bulletin. For $25 your donation offsets the cost of
200 Sunday bulletin covers. You may donate in memory of a loved one or to
celebrate a special event. Cheques should be made out to Bells Corners
United Church with bulletin sponsorship on the memo line.
* Sunday morning help in the Crib Nursery. Two people are needed each
week.
Morrison Gardens Community House Coordinator, Paul Howes, 596-6229,
is asking for donations of skates and helmets from our church community to
be used by children and youth to skate on their local outdoor rink.
From May 30 to June 3, 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will
be submitting its final report and marking the end of its mandate. The
United Church is fully committed to supporting the Commission and its
recommendations. We expect large numbers of United Church members to
come to Ottawa to participate in the Commission's closing celebrations.
The churches of Ottawa Presbytery have a unique opportunity to provide a
ministry of hospitality by welcoming and hosting our visitors. We hope to
recruit 200 volunteers to billet one or more United Church member(s) from
out-of-town. Most visitors will come for the weekend of May 30 -31 and
need only one or two night's accommodation. Please consider hosting a
guest or two. Hosting Forms are available through the church in print and
electronically.