News and Events at First-Pilgrim

New Minister

As Paul's Long Term Disability leave continues, the Rev. Jane L. Wyllie to continues to look after the pastoral needs of our congregation. She has been with us on contract since September 1, 2008, and continues to June 30, 2010. We thank you, Jane, for your ministry among us. More information here...

Rosemary Godin, our 2008-2009 Intern, was ordained at Maritime Conference in Sackville, NB on Sunday 31 May, 2009. Rosemary is being settled in Moorefield-Rothsay, a two-point pastoral charge in Hamilton Conference near Guelph.
She is delighted to be returning to the Hamilton area.

News about our Past Pastoral Interns

• Rosemary Godin has passed her ordination interview and will be ordained at the next meeting of her Conference.

• Donna Bondy has recently accepted a position with the Y in Kitchener-Waterloo, working in their day care programme.

• The Reverend Bill Doyle has accepted the position of Executive Secretary of Saskatchewan Conference beginning this summer

Congratulations and Blessings to All!

Regularly Scheduled Events:

• Every Sunday: The Central Room is open for silent intercessory prayer every Sunday 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Please join us. Everyone welcome.

• Every Sunday: 10:30 a.m. Worship service

• Every Sunday: 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Filipino Methodist Church - Iona Hall

• Every Monday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. "H.O.M.E.S." Collective Kitchen - Pilgrim Hall

• Every Tues: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The C.A.T. (Community Around the Table) - Pilgrim Hall

• Every Tues: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Bible Study - Pilgrim Hall

• 4th Tues of the Month: Mood Menders - Pilgrim Hall, 4th Tuesday of every month.

• Every Weds: 10:30 - 1:00 p.m. Hostels to Homes (assists Ontario Works recipients to find adequate and affordable housing) Starting Feb. 23, 2009, this group will also be meeting at First-Pilgrim once a month for an evening session.

• Every Weds: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Campaign for Adequate Welfare & Disability Benefits - Pilgrim Hall

• Every Weds: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Circle of Friends (A.A. Group) Pilgrim Hall

• Every Thurs: 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Choir Practice - Iona Hall and Sanctuary

Notification

If anyone in the congregation hears of someone in our church community being in hospital or ill, please let one of the ministers know.

Holiday Travellers

Travellers, please remember the C.A.T. program always appreciates personal hygiene items – shampoo, toothpaste, soap, etc – from hotels. Thank you.

Other Announcements:

Flower Convener: First-Pilgrim requires a new volunteer flower coordinator. For more details, please see the posters on the office hall bulletin board, or speak to Sue or Jane.

Food Grains: All cash donations will be matched  4 to 1 by the Federal Government. All contributions must be inserted in a plain envelope or stamped envelope (from the back of the pews) clearly indicating "Food Grains", and then placed in the offering or in the marked jar in the sanctuary. When writing cheques please indicate "Food Grains", but make it out to First-Pilgrim United Church. Tax receipts are available.

For the Young Ones: Children's Resource Centre Bookcase at the back of the sanctuary with books to read, colouring materials, and pencils and crayons for use by the children during the service when there is no formal Sunday School. After the service, please return them to the bookcase.

Pastoral Visits: If you would like a pastoral visit, or know of someone else who needs one, please speak to Jane or Bill, or leave a message with the church office.

An Offer of Mentoring: If it hasn't happened to you, it's happened to someone in your circle of friends: estrangement from a loved one, followed by separation and divorce. It's heartbreaking. It's often preventable. It's difficult, but survivable. And there's no need to suffer alone.

Friendship, loving support, prayer, and hard work all help to get you through tough times.
Many are also helped by pastoral care and by therapeutic counseling. Other lifelines are provided by peer support groups and by mentors whose life experience has equipped them to be good listeners and compassionate guides, able to share hard-won, practical wisdom (e.g. concerning custody arrangement etc.) A member of our church family, Bob Lovell, is one of those willing to be a mentor to someone in need. He's interested in spending time with anyone who finds their marriage is strained or breaking down.

If you, or someone you know, would like to speak with Bob in confidence, he can be reached at 905-335-5683.

"MORE VOICES": We have placed our order for the supplement to Voices United. More Voices is a completely new collection of over 200 uplifting hymns. We are expecting copies to arrive late March/early April. You may still want to purchase a copy for yourself, or as an in memoriam donation for a friend or loved one. Contact the church office.

Community Around The Table (C.A.T.): See inserts in the Sunday order of service for this week's specific donation requests. We can always use canned meats, fish and vegetables, personal hygiene items, e.g. soap, shampoo, razors, deodorant, feminine products, bus tickets, etc. The C.A.T. programme serves many people every week. We would like to thank the congregation for their continued support of this worthy cause with prayers and donations of various kinds.

Various Other Special Events and Functions are held each year.
These include:

Pancake Supper – Shrove Tuesday as we prepare ourselves for Lent.
Movie Nights - watch for announcements.
Talent Night – A special evening to celebrate the talents of the congregation through Music and the Arts, Food and Baking, Hobbies and Stamp Collecting as well as other Collectables.
Spaghetti Supper – A social evening with live entertainment.
Christmas Congregational Luncheon – With live entertainment, Christmas Carols and Christmas Songs, lunch and the appearance of a Special Seasonal Visitor.
Christmas Concerts – put on by outside groups such as the Germania Choir.

[Past Events]