October 15, 2020
Coronavirus Connections
Luc Lamadeleine has been faithfully composing Coronavirus Connections these past several months on behalf of your Adult Education team. This week’s “Note from the Revs” comes as the latest installation of Coronavirus Connections. Thanks, Luc!
On October 2nd, the Ontario Government introduced tighter COVID-19 restrictions following sharp increases in reported cases, especially in the areas of Toronto, Peel and Ottawa. Medical experts advise that we may well be experiencing a second wave of the Coronavirus.
Naturally, this latest setback is both disappointing and disheartening. As a community of faith, we long to see each other and to worship together in person. We miss spending time with our friends and family and taking part in the numerous activities we enjoyed before the coronavirus.
This has been a difficult time for all us and may yet be so for some time to come. Nonetheless, we ask everyone, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, to take some time, in quiet reflection, to consider all our blessings. In our current workshop, “Being Grateful During Difficult Times”, we are learning that we may lessen periods of anxiety and distress by being regularly and intentionally grateful.
Reverend Eric Lukacs, of the Virtch Worship team, produces a weekly video series entitled “Piece for Peace”, which he posts to Facebook every Monday morning. His Thanksgiving edition provides resources and tools for taking care of our mental and emotional well-being in these times:
If you cannot access Facebook, please email Molly or Caroline to receive a different video link.
We recognize that being intentionally grateful may not be enough to overcome periods of mental distress. If anyone is experiencing acute mental health issues, As Rev. Eric’s video points out, please reach out and seek support from a medical professional or be in touch with Caroline or Molly to schedule an office visit. We are here to support you. You are not alone. We are a community of believers and God is always with us.
Finally, please remember that we are a community who prays for one another. We invite you to pass along your prayer requests and it will be a pleasure to pray for you. And this week, we will be keeping Rev. Molly, and Stephen and Emma in our prayers as Molly undergoes and recovers from surgery.
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Grace and peace & with thanks to Luc,
Molly & Caroline
September 24, 2020
Psalm 13:2 “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?”
At the writing of this week’s newsletter, we learned that Ottawa is one of 3 areas in Ontario currently experiencing a measurable spike in new Coronavirus cases. For parents, who have recently had to decide whether their school age children would be taught in class, or virtually, this year, this is yet another frustrating development.
For parents, the responsibility of looking after their children’s physical and mental well being during the pandemic has been overwhelming. The unusual circumstances parents find themselves in has created, in many, anxiety, uncertainty, frustration, anger, and despair. To provide children with an ongoing sense of assurance and peace, parents may not always, understandably, be expressing and sharing their concerns and feelings and rather letting them fester inside.
The above-noted Scripture passage affirms that we can, and should, share our anguish with God, even if our prayer looks and feels less like a silent and meditative prayer and more like a primal scream. God knows us and can help us carry our current burdens.
With our recent research, we’ve retrieved some interesting resources that may be useful for parents currently struggling with their children’s return to school and with their own return to work. They are noted below for your reference:
https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/resources-and-support/resources/P6225E.pdf
https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/covid-19-and-schools.aspx
https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-support-students-and-parents
At this time, we hold up in prayer all parents, who, for their love of their children, are doing all they can to cope and remain resilient during this most disconcerting time. We hold firm to our belief that God loves us, is with us, and can strengthen us during our greatest need.
June 18, 2020
We know that many of you have already put into place some measures to help your “kiddos” and yourselves and would love to hear from you. Is there something you’ve done that could be helpful for others? Have you found some interesting online resources? Please contact Sandra Sales at
sandra.sales093@gmail.com to share!
Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
We are currently researching and collecting website addresses (URL’s) that could provide interesting tools and resources to help us during this time of physical distancing and other necessary restrictions to flatten the COVID-19 curve. These have been added to the new “ OUC Website Potluck section of our website: http://orleansunitedchurch.com/ouc-website-potluck-2/
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing these resources with you in bite sized morsels. This week, we are forwarding the remainder of the diverse resources we’ve found:
Website – CAMH
Resources – “Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic” – FAQ’s, Coping with Stress and Anxiety, Quarantine and Isolation
https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19
Website – Good Housekeeping
Resources – Bored at Home? Here’s a Massive List of Museums, Zoos and Them Parks Offering Virtual Tours
Example – Vatican Museum’s Virtual Tour
Example – San Diego Zoo for Kids – Live Cams and Videos, Activities, Games, Stories Example – Sea World Orlando – Virtual Tour – includes virtual ride on a roller coaster –
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/
Website – Atlantic Health
Article – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/what-coronavirus-will-do-kids/608608/
Additionally, visit the OPL website and our new Isolation Recreation section for regularly updated eContent, news and resources for children, teens and adults.
1 Peter 4: 10-11 – God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
Our regular virtual social hangouts, Zoom Cafés, have been temporarily put on hold for the moment. Nonetheless, if these virtual social visits interest you, please let us know and keep in mind that although some of you may already be quite connected virtually, this may be an opportunity to reach
out to others who may be desperately seeking to connect with others during this most difficult time. Should you have any questions, please call or email Luc Lamadeleine at 613-296-3155 or luc@duuo.ca.
Wondering what’s coming next? While you have time to consider what’s important in life, what societal gains do you think, or hope, might arise as a result of covid19? Watch for upcoming zoom discussions on topics like this. Contact Annemarie Humenuk at kayakforever@gmail.com if this type
of forum interests you and/or you have suggestions for possible topics.
Additionally, we encourage you to check out the new “Coronavirus Connections” section of our website for a calendar of all of our virtual events: http://orleansunitedchurch.com/covid-19-updates/
June 11, 2020
We know that many of you have already put into place some measures to help your “kiddos” and yourselves and would love to hear from you. Is there something you’ve done that could be helpful for others? Have you found some interesting online resources? Please contact Sandra Sales at
sandra.sales093@gmail.com to share!
Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
We are currently researching and collecting website addresses (URL’s) that could provide interesting tools and resources to help us during this time of physical distancing and other necessary restrictions to flatten the COVID-19 curve. These have been added to the new “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website: http://orleansunitedchurch.com/ouc-website-potluck-2/
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing these resources with you in bite sized morsels.
This week’s following resource is an article on trying to overcome some of our current COVID-19 related challenges:
Website – Harvard Health
Article – “Grandparenting in the time of COVID-19”
URL – https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/grandparenting-in-the-time-of-covid-19-2020032119261
Additionally, visit the OPL website and our new Isolation Recreation section for regularly updated eContent, news and resources for children, teens and adults.
1 Peter 4: 10-11 – God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking
through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him
forever and ever! Amen.
Our regular virtual social hangouts, Zoom Cafés, have been temporarily put on hold for the moment. Nonetheless, if these virtual social visits interest you, please let us know and keep in mind that although some of you may already be quite connected virtually, this may be an opportunity to reach out to others who may be desperately seeking to connect with others during this most difficult time.
Should you have any questions, please call or email Luc Lamadeleine at 613-296-3155 or luc@duuo.ca
Wondering what’s coming next? While you have time to consider what’s important in life, what societal gains do you think, or hope, might arise as a result of covid19? Watch for upcoming zoom discussions on topics like this. Contact Annemarie Humenuk at kayakforever@gmail.com if this type of forum interests you and/or you have suggestions for possible topics.
Additionally, we encourage you to check out the new “Coronavirus Connections” section of our website for a calendar of all of our virtual events:
http://orleansunitedchurch.com/covid-19-updates/
June 4, 2020
We know that many of you have already put into place some measures to help your “kiddos” and yourselves and would love to hear from you. Is there something you’ve done that could be helpful for others? Have you found some interesting online resources? Please contact Sandra Sales at
sandra.sales093@gmail.com to share!
Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
We are currently researching and collecting website addresses (URL’s) that could provide interesting tools and resources to help us during this time of physical distancing and other necessary restrictions to flatten the COVID-19 curve. These have been added to the new “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website:
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing these resources with you in bite sized morsels. This week’s following resource is an article to help parents support their kids through this crisis:
Website – Child Mind Institute
Article – “Supporting Kids During the Coronavirus Crisis – Tips for Protecting and Nurturing
Children at Home”
https://childmind.org/article/supporting-kids-during-the-covid-19-crisis/
Additionally, visit the OPL website and our new Isolation Recreation section for regularly updated eContent, news and resources for children, teens and adults.
1 Peter 4: 10-11 – God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
Zoom Cafés
We have introduced regular virtual social hangouts, Zoom Cafés, for those of you who may be interested. Depending on whether you have a computer with internet access, telephone conference calls or virtual video chatting could be set up for this purpose. We have scheduled our next virtual coffee/tea/wine break for parents with young children. It will
be held on Tuesday, June 9th, at 8h45 pm via Zoom. There is no agenda for this meeting. We hope that many of you will be able to join us.
If you are interested, please send an email to Luc Lamadeleine at luc@duuo.ca and he will provide you with the Zoom Meeting details.
May 28, 2020
We know that many of you have already put into place some measures to help your “kiddos” and yourselves and would love to hear from you.
Is there something you’ve done that could be helpful for others? Have you found some interesting online resources? Please contact Sandra Sales at
sandra.sales093@gmail.com to share!
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
OUC WEBSITE POTLUCK
We are currently researching and collecting website addresses (URL’s) that could provide interesting tools and resources to help us during this time of physical distancing and other necessary restrictions to flatten the COVID-19 curve. These have been added to the new “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website http://orleansunitedchurch.com/ouc-website-potluck-2/
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing these resources with you in bite sized morsels. This week’s following resource lists numerous websites to help parents keep their kids busy with fun educational activities:
Website – University of British Columbia
Resources – Online resources during COVID-19 – Virtual Camps & Courses, Activities, Online
Games, Educational Podcasts and Videos, Emotional Support Resources
Example – Khan Academy – exercises, quizzes and tests to students can practice and master
skills (math, grammar, science, history)
Example – Science World Teaching Resources – science experiments you can do at home
including instructions and videos
Example – National Geographic for Kids – learn and explore, play games and watch informative
videos
Example – 25 Best Podcasts for Kids – for instance, “But Why – A podcast for curious kids”
Example – Kids Help Phone – Supporting the Young People in Your Life During COVID-19; 8 Ways
to Foster Hope in Your Daily Life
URL – https://geeringup.apsc.ubc.ca/online-resources-for-kids-during-covid-19/
Additionally, visit the OPL website and our new Isolation Recreation section for regularly updated
eContent, news and resources for children, teens and adults.
Galatians 6:2 ESV
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Zoom Cafés
We have introduced regular virtual social hangouts, Zoom Cafés, for those of you who may be interested. Depending on whether you have a computer with internet access, telephone conference calls or virtual video chatting could be set up for this purpose.
We have scheduled our next virtual coffee/tea/wine break for parents with young children. It will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 8h45 pm via Zoom. There is no agenda for this meeting. We hope that many of you will be able to join us. If you are interested, please send an email to Luc Lamadeleine at luc@duuo.ca and he will provide you with the Zoom Meeting details.
Wondering what’s coming next?
While you have time to consider what’s important in life, what societal gains do you think, or hope, might arise as a result of covid19? Watch for upcoming zoom discussions on topics like this. Contact Annemarie Humenuk at kayakforever@gmail.com if this type of forum interests you and/or you have suggestions for possible topics.
Additionally, we encourage you to check out the new “Coronavirus Connections” section of our website for a calendar of all of our virtual events: http://orleansunitedchurch.com/covid-19-updates/
If these virtual social visits interest you, please let us know and keep in mind that although some of you may already be quite connected virtually, this may be an opportunity to reach out to others who may be desperately seeking to connect with others during this most difficult time.
Should you have any questions, please call or email Luc Lamadeleine at 613-296-3155 or luc@duuo.ca.
May 21, 2020
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
OUC Website Potluck
We are currently researching and collecting website addresses (URL’s) that could provide interesting tools and resources to help us during this time of physical distancing and other necessary restrictions to flatten the COVID-19 curve. These have been added to the new “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website: http://orleansunitedchurch.com/ouc-website-potluck-2/
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing these resources with you in bite sized morsels. This week’s following resource could be a helpful article for anyone learning (coping) to work from home while also supporting young children and their school studies:
CNBC
Article – “Working at home during the coronavirus crisis with kids underfoot? Here are 9 ways to cope”
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/working-at-home-with-kids-during-covid-19-crisis-with-kidsunderfoot.html
Additionally, visit the OPL website and our new Isolation Recreation section for regularly updated eContent, news and resources for children, teens and adults.
We also know that many of you have already put into place some measures to help your “kiddos” and yourselves and would love to hear from you. Is there something you’ve done that could be helpful for others? Have you found some interesting online resources?
Please contact Sandra Sales at sandra.sales093@gmail.com to share!
OUC has a long successful history of being a community of faith
and there may be no greater time than now for us to continue to support one another. These online resources may be added to the “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website for the benefit of others.
Galatians 6:2 ESV – Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
By now, it is likely that we have all embraced the need to keep a “physical distance” from one another and to practice “self-isolation” in an effort to protect ourselves and those around us from this novel coronavirus and to “flatten the curve.” Unfortunately, this prevents us from having face to face, in person, social visits with one another. Despite this constraint, there are a number of ways for us to stay connected with each other during this unprecedented time.
At this time, we would like to introduce regular virtual social hangouts, Zoom Cafés, for those of you who may be interested. Depending on whether you have a computer with internet access, telephone conference calls or virtual video chatting could be set up for this purpose.
May 14, 2020
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
We are currently researching and collecting website addresses (URL’s) that could provide interesting tools and resources to help us during this time of physical distancing and other necessary restrictions to flatten the COVID-19 curve. These have been added to the new “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website:
The OUC Website Potluck has resources such as helpful article for anyone trying to manage self-care at this time.
Website – Zero to Three: Early Connections Last a Lifetime
Article – “Young Children at Home during the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Importance of Self- Care”
URL – https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3262-young-children-at-home-during-the-covid-19-outbreak-the-importance-of-self-care
Additionally, visit the OPL website and our new Isolation Recreation section for regularly updated eContent, news and resources for children, teens and adults.
We also know that many of you have already put into place some measures to help your “kiddos” and yourselves and would love to hear from you. Is there something you’ve done that could be helpful for others?
Have you found some interesting online resources? Please contact Sandra Sales at sandra.sales093@gmail.com to share! OUC has a long successful history of being a community of faith and there may be no greater time than now for us to continue to support one another. These online resources may be added to the “OUC Website Potluck” section of our website for the benefit of others.
Galatians 6:2 ESV –
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
By now, it is likely that we have all embraced the need to keep a “physical distance” from one another and to practice “self-isolation” in an effort to protect ourselves and those around us from this novel coronavirus and to “flatten the curve.” Unfortunately, this prevents us from having face to face, in person, social visits with one another. Despite this constraint, there are a
number of ways for us to stay connected with each other during this unprecedented time. At this time, we would like to introduce regular virtual social hangouts, Zoom Cafés, for those of you who may be interested. Depending on whether you have a computer with internet access,
telephone conference calls or virtual video chatting could be set up for this purpose.
We have scheduled our third virtual coffee/tea/wine break for parents with young children. It will be held on Thursday, May 19th, at 8h45 pm via Zoom. I, Luc Lamadeleine, will be hosting this social time