Upcoming Dates to Remember
Mondays Centering Prayer Group 9:30am Wednesdays Coffee and Conversation with Open Sky 10-11am Thursdays Parents & Tots (at St. Andrews Presbyterian) 9:30-11am 1st Thursday Project Linus Blanket Making at Main St Baptist 1pm April 10-12 Morning Holy Week Reflection/Prayer Services 9am April 10 Affirming Ministry Team Meeting 11:15am April 13 Maundy Thursday Meal and Worship at SUC 6pm April 14 Good Friday Service 10am April 16 Easter Sunday Pastoral Charge Sunrise Service at SUC 7am Upper Sackville (communion) 9am Sackville United (comm/drama) 11am April 23 UCW Service 9am/11am April 30 Potluck Celebration for Rev. Jenn at SUC 12pm April 30 Memory Cafe at SUC 2pm May TBA Yard & Bake Sale at Upper Sackville 8-11am May TBA Music Afternoon at Upper Sackville 2pm
ANNOUNCEMENTS for April 9, 2017- PALM SUNDAY
AN UPDATE FROM THE SRRC: The Sackville Refugee Response Coalition has been pleased to welcome two refugee families from Syria to our community over the past few months. The most important factor in the settlement of our families has been the participation of the Welcome Committees for each family. This committee is responsible for greeting and welcoming the family and helping them settle into life in Canada and in Sackville, doing everything from setting up bank accounts, accompanying them to medical appointments, helping them navigate daily activities such as grocery shopping, and many other things. In preparation for the arrival of our third family, a family of four from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, hopefully soon, the SRRC is establishing a third Welcome Committee. If you are interested in participating in an experience that will be life-changing, please contact Diane Fullerton at 536-3749, email her at dfullert@nb.sympatico.ca, or send us a message through the SRRC’s Facebook page.
HOLY WEEK MORNING REFLECTION/PRAYER SERVICES: A brief time of prayer, scripture, reflections and music will be held on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week at 9am in the sanctuary. Led by Bruce Moore and Jennie Del Motte, these moments of contemplation aim to deepen our connection to this life-changing week in our church year.
MAUNDY THURSDAY/GOOD FRIDAY: On Thursday April 13, beginning at 6pm, we share worship in remembrance of the last supper through and throughout a meal together – potluck with communion led by Rev. Jenn. Next, on Friday morning at 10am, a service of challenge, grace, and consolation led by Rev. Jenn.
EASTER SERVICES: This year the Pastoral Charge will offer three services on Easter Morning. The sunrise service, led by Jennie Del Motte and Bruce Moore, will be at 7am at Sackville United. Upper Sackville Easter service with communion will be at 9am, and Sackville United Easter service with communion will be at 11am. Special music at 9am and 11am services featuring Ed Knuckles, Branden Olsen and Skylar Richard.
ANDERSON SETTLEMENT: The Anderson Settlement United Community will have its first gathering of the 2017 year, on Palm Sunday (April 9th 2017) at The residence of Richard Wells at 2:00 pm. Reflection entitled “Setting our Spiritual Pace Through Life” All welcome to attend. Following the service, by notice of The Chair the Annual Meeting of the Anderson Settlement United Church will be held.If there are any questions, please contact Kyle Wells at kylerdwells@gmail.com
ROCKPORT UNITED: The first service of 2017 will be held on Sunday, April 9 at 2:30pm at Rockport United Church. All are welcome, and limited transportation is available. Please speak to Jennie or email the church office for more details.
UCW SERVICE APRIL 23: On Sunday, April 23rd, UCW is conducting the church service and will be providing refreshments after the 11 a.m. service at Sackville United. We will be providing a basket for donations towards our Mission & Service goal for 2017. Thanks!
A NOTE FROM MINISTRY AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: “The Ministry and Personnel Committee is conducting a routine review of Jennie’s performance as Director of Music at Sackville United. The congregation is invited to send comments on Jennie’s work in this capacity to any of the committee members– Gloria Turner (gloriaturnerpei@me.com), Shirley Hopkins (shopkins@nbnet.nb.ca), and Karen Bamford (kbamford@mta.ca). To be considered comments should be received by April 9.”
Would Someone You Know Appreciate a Pastoral Care Visit?: Pastoral care for SPC is generously being provided by Rev. Jean Ward. For any pastoral care needs, or if you know someone who might appreciate a visit, please contact Rev. Ward directly – 902-694-4372 or a.jean.ward@gmail.com
UCW COLLECTING SMALL ITEMS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE: UCW continues to save the following items: Independent Grocery Tapes, pop tabs, plastic bread tabs, used postage stamps (1/4″ border), the front cover of used Greeting Cards. All items can be left in the basket which is on the book shelf as you come in the main entrance of the church. Please note that the Campbell’s Soup Company has cancelled their soup label refund program; therefore, the UCW are no longer collecting these soup labels. Thank you for all the items you continue to collect for us. It is very much appreciated.
CENTERING PRAYER: Centering prayer group meets every Monday; all are welcome to join for one half hour of prayer together.
AFFIRMING MINISTRY: The Affirming Ministry team will meet this coming Monday “after Mel’s” (11:15am) at the church.
OPERATION BEAUTIFICATION: We have been invited to participate in the first annual “Operation Beautification” town clean-up project, on May 10 anytime between 8:30am-6:30pm. Supplies, gloves, and snacks will be provided.
“Six Weeks of Disney”:
In anticipation of Rev. Jenn’s upcoming trip to Disney World, each week we hear a Disney song that reflects themes in our scripture: Lent 1 (Jesus in the Desert): “Candle on the Water” – Pete’s Dragon Lent 2 (John 3:16): “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” – The Lion King (Elton John version) Lent 3 (Living Water): “How Far I’ll Go” – Moana Lent 4 (Man born blind): “A Whole New World” – Aladdin Lent 5 (Lazarus): “You’ll Be In My Heart” – Tarzan (Phil Collins version)
Quotations to Ponder
We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace. – William E. Gladstone
People are mostly layers of violence and tenderness wrapped like bulbs, and it is difficult to say what makes them onions or hyacinths. – Eudora Welty
Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. – Mark Twain
A “WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY” AT SACKVILLE UNITED
As was mentioned at the Annual Meeting of the congregation, the Executive feel that the Exterior Window frames are in need of painting. We would like to see this done this Spring. An estimate of $4200 has been suggested. There is also a potential additional expense to replace rotting wood on some of the frames.
As this falls outside of our regular budget, we would like to see this as a Special Fundraising Project which the congregation would support in addition to regular offerings.
A “Window of Opportunity” will soon appear at the back of the Sanctuary to help us in our fundraising efforts – stay tuned!
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