- LIFE AND WORK OF OUC
CURRENT EVENTS – February 10/17, 2019
GENERAL(‘S) NOTICE FROM PETER HOLT: My humble apologies to everyone at OUC for forgetting to tell you what my announcement on Sunday was all about: Molly’s summer sabbatical replacement!! Mea culpa. No, Molly is not leaving us; she is taking her sabbatical as per United Church HR policy, and M&P has been fortunate enough to find a good M Div student, LCol (soon to be retired) Paul Whynacht, to fill in for her this summer. Plus Sherri Eustace, an experienced Sunday School teacher, will be joining the team in mid-August to help us prepare for the usual September rush of children for Sunday school and our Youth Group. Very good news, unfortunately badly delivered. Sorry about that.
OFFICE NEWS Kim is on holiday for the next week. The office will be open, staffed by volunteers. Gift cards will not be available during the week. Please stock up today!
KITCHEN BEE Make OUC’s kitchen sparkle again! Come out to help with our annual KITCHEN BEE on Friday February 22 from 9 to 11:30. Bring your favourite cleaning supplies and rubber gloves. Please contact Sandra Sales (sandra.sales093@gmail.com, 613.834.0932).
CONGREGATIONAL POT-LUCK DINNER Mark your calendars! Please come share fellowship and great food. Saturday, February 23, 6 pm. There will be a sign-up sheet at the back of the hall. Please signify if you are bringing a main course, dessert, salad or other (pickles, rolls, butter, etc.) NO COST. However, let’s all bring items for a Silent Auction. De-clutter and raise some cash for the Tower Takedown!
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Fortified by the pot-luck supper, please plan to attend this meeting, which will be held the next day, Sunday February 24 after service.
2018 TAX RECEIPT and 2019 OFFERING ENVELOPES are available in the Narthex on Sunday morning, and in the Office the rest of the week. Please pick yours up today!
MITTENS Many of the young moms at St Mary’s Home and Outreach do not have mitts. The centre receives loads of knitted infant hats, mitts and sweaters but nothing for toddlers, kids and moms. These moms are usually very low on funds and they view their needs as second to their kids. We are challenging the congregation to knit 30 pairs of women- and child- (ages 2-5) sized mittens by Valentine’s Day! If you are not a knitter or don’t have time, donations of new or gently used mitts and yarn would also be appreciated. A box is located in the church office to collect the mitts. For more information contact Joanne (rj.mitchell@rogers.com) or Joan (brocjo@sympatico.ca).
THE INTERCHURCH REFUGEE GROUP is anticipating the arrival of new family of three very soon. We are looking for gently-used winter clothing in size 3T for the family’s little boy (particularly a coat, snow pants and boots toddler size 7). We are also looking for a forward facing car seat in good condition if anyone has one their child has outgrown. Please contact Sara Washburn-Pichette at (613.314.7744, washburnpichette@gmail.com).
THE INTERCHURCH REFUGEE GROUP (IRG) invites you to a Pasta Fundraising Dinner on Saturday March 2, at St. Mary’s Hall in Navan, Ontario. The dinner will include salad, cooked-to-order pasta, wine and an array of delicious desserts. Doors open at 5:30pm and dinner service begins at 6pm. Tickets are $45 and will be available on February 10th after church. A charitable tax receipt for $30 will be offered. For more information contact Annette Loebach Bater (aloebachbater@gmail.com, 613.851.9488).
COUNCIL MINUTES The minutes of the November 2018 Council meeting are posted on the bulletin board outside the Office for your perusal.
FROZEN BERRIES February 10 is the last chance to order your berries! Joan Brockelbank will be taking orders after church services. The cost is: Blueberries $20; Raspberries $30; Cranberries $16. Please ensure you make your payments to Joan by February 10 (or cheques can be left in the Office).
SAVE THE DATE! Vacation Bible School July 15 – 19, 9 am – noon, 4 – 10 years. Watch this space for more details.
UCC NEWS
Friday February 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month in Canada. To help us reflect on the contribution to Canadian society of people of African descent, and to learn more about this history, please take a moment to watch a video on the history of Black people in The United Church of Canada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubWH9RSGGmE&feature=youtu.be). You can also explore United Church worship and study resources at https://www.united-church.ca/worship.
This Week (+ next) at OUC
Sunday February 10 Girls on the Spectrum – Lounge/Nursery, 1 pm
Monday February 11 Scouting – Chapel/Library/Hall/Choir Room/Kitchen, 6:15 pm
Wednesday February 13 Men’s Breakfast – Gabriel’s, St. Joseph Blvd., 7 am
Orleans-Gloucester Christian Women’s Club – Hall, 9:30 am
Monday February 18 Office closed – Family Day
Wednesday February 20 C.S.T. – Library, 7 pm
Joyful Yarn – Lounge, 7 pm
Thursday February 21 Java Jive – Library, 10 am
Senior Choir – Sanctuary, 7:30 pm
Friday February 22 Coffee & Conversation – Library, 9 am
Saturday February 23 Congregational Pot Luck & Silent Auction – Hall, 6 pm
Sunday February 24 Annual Congregational Meeting – Hall, after service
Girls on the Spectrum – Lounge/Nursery, 1 pm
LIFE AND WORK OF OUC – FEBRUARY 2019
FOOD BANK FOCUS FOR FEBRUARY Protein foods such as canned tuna, chicken, ham, salmon, corned beef, beans, lentils. Peanut butter. Baby food, diapers. Feminine hygiene products.
CENTRE 507 is a drop-in program for women and men in downtown Ottawa. Donations of white socks, underwear and long underwear, as well as jam, regular ground coffee, soap, razors, toothbrushes and other personal supplies for the Centre are always needed, and may be put in the marked container in main OUC entrance.
PRAYER MINISTRY Confidential prayer requests can be sent to ouc.prayersforall @rogers.com.
OUC BOOKCLUB meets on Tuesday, February 26 at 1 pm in the Library. We will be discussing The Illegal Gardener by Sara Alexi. All are welcome.
PARKING is allowed on Orleans Blvd. (in front of the Church) on Sunday mornings
JOYFUL YARN meets every second Wednesday, 7 pm in the Lounge. Open to all. The next meeting will be on February 20.
SUPPORT OUC FINANCIALLY:
- February 10 will be our next Second Sunday Social at Boston Pizza, following the service. All are welcome to attend. 15% of your total will be given back to OUC. Please ensure you write OUC on the receipt and leave it at the hostess counter.
- Connor’s Irish Pub on St. Joseph Blvd. has made the following arrangement with Orleans United Church: when you dine there, write “Orleans United Church” on your bill and give back to your server (there is no box to put them in). OUC will receive 10% refund on these, in due course. On the last Sunday of the month the same applies, but we will receive a 15% refund.
- Gift Cards Superstore/Independent/No Frills/Loblaws; Metro/Food Basics; Farm Boy; Tim Hortons and Sobeys gift cards are available each Sunday in the Hall or during Office hours. There is no cost to you. OUC receives a percentage for each card we sell. Empty Farm Boy cards can be returned to the church to earn an additional 1%.
- Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) Your weekly givings can be offered through an automatic withdrawal by contacting Winston Babin (babin.a.w@bell.net).
ASSISTED LISTENING We have changed our frequency. A portable FM radio with headphones now allows you to listen on 101.1 Mhz.
VIDEOS OF OUC SERMONS In an attempt to further share God’s goodness and reach some of our congregation who are not able to be present in worship, we are posting sermon videos on our OUC YouTube channel. Go to http://orleansunitedchurch.com/sermons-2/video-sermons/. Please note that the videos do not contain images of anyone in the pews, attending the services.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUC PURCHASES BY VOLUNTEERS If you find yourself having to purchase supplies for our church, there are several ways you can be reimbursed (please note: all requests for reimbursement must be approved by the appropriate committee chair):
- ask Kim in the Office for a petty cash advance which will be provided either in cash or cheque depending on the amount of the request. Then submit applicable receipts and return any remaining cash to her.
- purchase the item yourself and then fill out the orange form in the office cupboard and leave with Kim. Reimbursement will be either by cash or cheque depending on the amount.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to speak with Kim who can also provide you with a detailed copy of the process. Should you not wish to be reimbursed for any church related purchases, you are still encouraged to submit receipts to Kim so you can receive an in-kind donation tax receipt.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
- Welcome Team: We are looking for people to join our Welcome Team, making OUC a more friendly place through serving as a greeter or usher, or at our welcome table or coffee hour on Sunday morning. If you are interested in helping out with any of these vital ministries, please contact Rev. Molly.
- Drivers: C.S.T. is looking for individuals who are willing to pick up congregants on Sunday morning for church on an occasional basis. Contact the Office if you can help.
- Ushers: We are looking for people to join our ushering team. If you are interested in this important welcoming ministry, please email Mark (mpogue@orleans-optometry.com).
- Coffee Hour: We need volunteers to make coffee/tea/muffins for Coffee Hour after church – a new sign-up sheet is posted beside the coffee urn in the Hall. (Lin and Mike, squidma@outlook.com, 613.837.6720).
- Audio-visual Presentations: looking for persons who would like to learn how to operate the audio, video and PowerPoint systems used every Sunday morning and on special events such as weddings. Training will be provided. Come and make use of your creative skills. Contact David Patterson (david.patterson@consultant.com ).
- Attention Photographers: We are looking for scenic pictures around Orleans that we can project on Sunday morning as part of the service PowerPoint presentation. Please email large picture files directly to David (david.patterson@consultant.com).
- Sanctuary Helpers Needed: Do you like to make things look beautiful? Could you spare two hours each month to help tidy the sanctuary in preparation for Sunday worship? Please contact Shirley Holt (shirleyjholt@outlook.com, 613.841.5143).
Colorectal Cancer Prevention Workshop
March 31, 2019, 11:15 – 12:45, Chapel of Orleans United Church. Hosted by Care and Support Team. This is a free educational workshop open to members of our church communities to learn more about colorectal cancer prevention and screening. The new guidelines from Cancer Care Ontario will be presented. This is your opportunity to learn from experts in the field about prevention strategies and recently up-dated guidelines. Presentation in the chapel with Julie de Loe, RN, Cancer Screening Coordinator, Champlain Regional Cancer Program, The Ottawa Hospital.
OUC is very active. Come out and get involved in one or more of our many events, whether it be joining the book club, participating in a social, volunteering, attending a retreat, the men’s weekly breakfast, one of our many scrumptious dinners, soup lunches, knitting, sewing, crafting, bible studies, joining the youth group, and yes, the list goes on!