Orleans United Church

Welcome to Orleans United Church Here at OUC we strive to care for one another at every stage of life.  And on Sunday mornings that means learning opportunities for our children and teens, a loving environment in our Nursery, meaningful worship together as an extended family of faith, and of course a time of friendly fellowship in the Hall following worship.  Our goal is to give everyone an affirming experience of what it means to belong in a church community.  So we encourage everyone to look for someone whose name you still do not know and introduce yourself.  Making new connections at church is an important way we show God’s care for and with each other. Remember, at OUC we come together to spread God’s goodness!

Lent Is Here!  Rev. Molly and Rev. Glen will be preparing a Sermon Series for the 5 Sundays of Lent based on the assigned Psalms and pondering questions of the soul that help prepare us for our Easter celebration.

• Feb 22 Lent 1    Psalm 25       Where is God when life is hard?
• March 1 Lent 2    Psalm 22       So what do you want from God?
• March 8  Lent 3    Psalm 19       Where do you experience the praise of God?
• March 15 Lent 4    Psalm 107     How do we offer our thanks to God?
• March 22 Lent 5    Psalm 51       How will we be put in a right spirit?

You are also invited to join in the United Church’s Facebook group “Longing for Home: A Lenten Gathering”.  If you search that title in Facebook you will find daily questions for reflection, videos from the Moderator, discussions and other meaningful Lenten opportunities.

Change for Change  142!!!! After the first Sunday in Lent, we have collected 142 Breakfasts!  The Outreach Committee reminds you to keep on collecting for our Lenten Project- the Ottawa School Breakfast Program. This program provides a nutritious breakfast in 166 schools in Ottawa, for 13,000 children who would otherwise go hungry. Please empty your weekly collection into the big jar.

Lenten Bible Study  This study of Brian McLaren’s book “We Make the Road by Walking” will continue Wednesdays at 1:30 in the afternoon for women only, and at 7:30 in the evening for a mixed group.  To register, or for more information, call Shirley Holt at 613.841.5143, or email shirleyjholt@outlook.com

Coffee Hour  is a ministry of fellowship after worship.  Please consider joining the team of servers and muffin bakers.  This is indeed a wonderful opportunity to get together to get caught up on the latest happenings in our midst. Stephen and Heather Young (613.837.0269) are very happy to answer any questions you may have about this care ministry. Camp Awesome 2015  July 13 – 17, 2015.  This camp provides a week filled with friends, faith, and fun for campers ages 4 –12.  Camp is from 10 am until 3 pm each day, here at the church.  Tell your friends, mark your calendars, and prepare for a wonderful week of activities, games, crafts, and surprises.  Registration will begin after Easter.  Stay tuned for details or contact Rev. Molly with any questions you might have!

Boston Pizza Orleans, Church Rebate Program   OUC will receive 10% rebate (before taxes) on all Boston Pizza Orleans receipts that are submitted each month.  Simply leave your receipt with our church name on the back in the church office.

A Special Invitation  is extended to members of congregations who are engaged in environmental work, to attend the March Presbytery Program Meeting “Re-creating the environment:  Changing the Church’s Climate”.  This program will give us an opportunity to think about the theology of creation and care for the earth, our own home in God’s universe.  It will also explore the current challenge – what the latest science tells us, and what the political and diplomatic scene reveals.  How can the church work with many partners to promote wider action and cooperation?  The meeting will be held March 10 at Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island Park Drive.  Dinner is at 5:30 (make reservation with Kitchissippi@bellnet.ca or 613.722.7254, cost $12) and the meeting starts at 6:30.   Come.  Be part of shaping a way forward for UCC action on the environment in our region!Parking  A reminder that parking is allowed on Orleans Blvd (in front of the church) on Sunday mornings if the lot happens to be full.

Ladies, Walk With Me!  Coming soon: sign-up table for the 2015 Ladies’ Retreat.  Keep April 24 – 26 open, so you can come and join us for a relaxing break, filled with quiet moments, revelling in nature, fun, and lots of laughter. Sign-up begins on March 15, so you can “Walk With Me.”

Zero waste & Update on Recycling Tassimo Coffee Pods:  If you, or someone you know, owns a Tassimo, you can recycle the coffee pods and foil wrapper by giving them to Annemarie Humenuk.  At this time, we have not found a place to recycle the Keurig coffee pods but if you have a Nespresso machine, you can drop your used pods off at Home Outfitters on Innes. Wait there is more!  Go to http://www.terracycle.ca/en-CA/brigades.html to find a place to recycle diaper packaging, coffee bag recycling, snack & drink pouches and other items not recyclable in the city program. For more information, contact Annemarie at ahumenuk@magma.ca.

OUC Canadian Cancer Relay for Life – Looking for Participants  Once again Orleans United Church is very excited about participating in this year’s Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. The Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life is an overnight non-competitive relay that celebrates cancer survivors and pays tribute to loved ones. It’s a night of fun, friendship and fundraising to beat cancer. This year it will be on June 12th from 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. at Millennium Park, Orleans. If you are interested in joining the team please contact Esther and David Clarke at clarkefamily571@gmail.com or 613-907-6730.

Pre-Authorized Remittance  One of the ways you can help the church is by joining the PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) program.  If you already have automatic withdrawals from your bank account to pay your bills, you already understand the PAR principle.  It is a convenient way to ensure your regular monthly givings help our church’s ministries, even when you are away.  If you would like to sign up for the PAR program, fill in one of the forms in the pews or contact Winston Babin at 613.830.8826 for more information.

Gift Card Fundraising Table  Help yourself stay on budget. Grocery gift cards for all major grocery stores are available in the hall after service or in the church office during business hours. Cash or cheque payment accepted. This fundraiser costs you no extra outlay of cash but the church receives a percentage of all cards sold from the retailers.  Cards may be purchased in the church office during regular business hours.

Dinner & Movie Night Fundraiser  The Interchurch Refugee Group would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the February 13 Dinner & Movie fundraiser a great success. 142 people attended this ecumenical event.  Together we raised $2055 to support the sponsorship of a Burundian family of five soon to arrive in Ottawa. We hope you enjoyed the event, and please know that your ongoing support makes such a difference in the new beginning for this refugee family.World Day Of Prayer will be celebrated at Resurrection Lutheran Church on Friday, March 6 at 1 pm.  The service this year was written by the women of the Bahamas.  For more information or to carpool, call Shirley Holt at 613.841.5143.

Important Recycling Reminder  Please recycle at OUC as you would at home. Paper and cardboard go into the black boxes; cans, glass, drink boxes, aluminum foil, recyclable plastic into the blue boxes; food waste and compostable material into the green bins. We are taking part in the city Yellow Bag Program which allows us to put recyclables at the curb as long as we keep garbage that can’t be recycled to a minimum. This will allow OUC to make considerable savings on our waste pickup. Please talk to Sandra Sales (613.834.0932) with suggestions for making our waste management more efficient.

Tax Receipts for Church Offerings  The Finance Committee wishes to remind members of the congregation that offerings to our church through Preauthorized Remittance (PAR), offerings, special envelopes in the pews and cheques are considered as charitable donations by Canada Revenue Agency, and will reduce your taxable income.  Tax receipts are provided once a year, in January, following the end of the previous calendar year.  A member of the Finance Committee will be at a table in the Hall after the service for anyone wishing to register for PAR or envelopes.   You may also contact Winston Babin at 613.830.8826

Care and Support Team  Please think about joining the OUC Care and Support Team.  Our team is made of specially trained, but non-professional OUC members with the support of the Ministers to provide non-judgmental, social, emotional and spiritual support to people in need during times of difficulty and celebration.  If you are interested in becoming a member please contact Janice Eddy at 613.424.1765, or email at ouc.cst@rogers.com  where you will receive information regarding the process to join the team.  This includes an interview, police check and the Pastoral Care Training Program training course.

The next training course is scheduled for Mondays, March 9 to May 11, 2015, either 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. or 7:00 – 9:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 971 Woodroffe Ave (just north of the Queensway). Course cost is $110.00 before March 1, after March 1 the fee is $125.  For those that have already received training, continuing education courses are being offered April 7 from 1:00 – 3:00 or 7:00 – 9:00 and 4 Tuesdays in October.  Please contact Janice Eddy for a registration form for any of these courses.

Calling All 8th Orleans! Current & Past Members of 8th Orleans Scouting Group.  20th Anniversary! Please join us to celebrate! April 19th 2-5pm, Orleans United Church.

Happy 20th Anniversary 8th Orleans! For 20 years, thanks to the support of youth, parents, leaders, and the sponsorship of Orleans United Church, 8th Orleans Scouting Group has provided an excellent scouting program to the community. We’re trying to reach as many alumni as possible. Please help us spread the word. RSVPs are not necessary but appreciated so we can gauge how much food to prepare. RSVPs can be made through the website or registrar@8thorleans.ca. Craig Defries, Group Secretary, can also be contacted for further information, craigdefries@8thorleans.ca.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission comes to an end in early June with the presentation of its final report to the parties of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, including the United Church of Canada. Many visitors are expected in Ottawa on the May 30 – 31 weekend, and Ottawa Presbytery is attempting to arrange billeting for as many as possible. A “bed and breakfast” type accommodation would be most suitable, with guests responsible for any other meals or expenses. The Church in Society Ministry Team will coordinate the arrangements.  If you feel you can help, or if you would like more information, please contact the church office.

David Kai & Marly Bown are retiring this year and will be honoured at the end of May.  We are hoping that their presence here at OUC might be reflected in various photos. If you have any, please bring/send them to the office.  We are hoping to get as many as possible by March 15.

Rona Cards  free of charge, OUC/RONA discount cards for your wallets. Present this card to the cashier and you will receive 5% off your purchase and the church will make the equivalent 5%. Pick up your card today at the fundraising table in the hall. (When using this card, go to Cash 1)