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Weekly News

May 31, 2019

Dear friends,

What a blur these last few weeks have been!

Last Thursday, I had the deep privilege of receiving a Paul Harris Community Service award from the Comox Rotary Club. I was surprised, having been nominated by our own Ernie von Shilling, and felt a little out of place with three other far more accomplished and selfless individual award winners. However, it was a good reminder of just how necessary community is for the Christian life. The award, really, was for God's work in our community of faith that we together as individuals take part in and some how end up accomplishing more than we could alone. One of the fun things was that as an award winner I was able to choose a charity for a $1000 donation from the club. I chose our dear friends and previous year partners Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness who provide immediate relief for tenants in our housing crisis. Thanks to Ernie and Deliah von Shilling for the recognition and their hospitality.

This past Sunday was truly a joy to be with you. It was especially wonderful to be able to gift the Rev. Ray Brandon with an official United Church of Canada award on the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a Minister. Ray and Pat have exemplified the servant nature of ordained ministry since their arrival in the Comox Valley fifty years ago. It's been an honour to serve in a church that God used them to build, and that God continues to gift us with their service. Congratulations, Ray!

As most of you already know, I'll be heading off on sabbatical from June 1-August 31st. The United Church of Canada mandates a sabbatical every five years that a minister spends in a congregation, which means I've been here five years! I was so touched by the send off and blessing offered by Ingrid and the gathered congregation. I really don't deserve such an incredible, loving, and risk-taking community of Jesus people. Luckily, God gifts us with far more than we deserve, and for that I'm truly grateful. As for my sabbatical, we'll be doing a cross-country drive to Ottawa, exchanging homes with a United Church clergy couple who live there for three months in July. We'll be emphasizing the "sabbath" part of sabbatical, but I'll also be taking the opportunity to read on preaching, write a couple pieces for "Touchstone" the United Church's academic journal, and researching and writing about ancient and contemporary catechisms.

This Sunday, both Ingrid and myself will be gone, with Ingrid and Virginia East attending the first Annual General Meeting of the newly formed Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church in Langley. We're delighted to have Keith Kovacs preach on the 46th Psalm and Rosemary Carnahan preside in our absence.

Otherwise, thank you all again for being such a wonderful band of disciples, and I will see you again in September! Ingrid will be acting Lead Minister in my place, and you can all enjoy me shutting up for a while.

Grace & peace,
The Rev. Ryan Slifka

Events and Announcements


Have an announcement for the Bulletin or Weekly Email?
Contact of the office: office@stgeorgesunited.com or 250 334 4961 by Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. to have your announcement included.

Pentecost/New Member Finger Food Lunch Sun June 9 | After worship Narthex (front lobby) Please bring a plate of sandwiches, buns, desserts, fruit or veggies, on a take-away or recyclable plate as we will not be able to wash dishes during the kitchen renovation. *Please only bring items that will not spoil in 1.5yrs as we do not have refrigeration available. Cold drinks will be provided. We hope you will all enjoy this time of fellowship and welcoming our new members! 
Shared Summer Services
Sun. June 30 | 10:00am | Comox United Church
Sun. July 7 | 10:30am | Comox Valley Presbyterian Church
Sun. July 14 | 10:30am | St. George’s United Church
Each summer we share services with our friends at Comox United and Comox Valley Presbyterian. There will be no worship at St. George’s on June 30 or July 7.
Register Now for Summer Day Camps!
July 2-5 | 9am-3pm | $60/week | Cumberland United Church
July 8-12 | 9am-3pm | $60/week | St. George’s United Church
Through storytelling, art, crafts, games, and activities, children will explore the “Great Commandment” to love God, self, and others. For all children ages 5-11. 50% bursaries available. Email ingrid@stgeorgesunited.com for more info.
Visit www.stgeorgesunited.com/summer-day-camp to register for Courtenay or
www.weirdchurchcumberland.com/summer-day-camp for Cumberland.
Rev. Ryan on Sabbatical
Our Lead Minister, the Rev. Ryan Slifka, is away on sabbatical until September 1. Any leadership-related inquiries can be made to the Rev. Ingrid Brown, acting Lead Minister. If you have any questions about the sabbatical, please contact M&P by email to: rosemary-carnahan@shaw.ca, or speak with any member of the committee.
Board of Elders Vacancy
Are you a St. George’s member interested in joining the Board of Elders, providing spiritual leadership to the congregation? We have a vacancy for a Member at Large, effective immediately to the end of 2020. If you are interested or have questions, please speak to Joyce Wilson or Betty Anne Molitor. A copy of the job description is available in the church office.
Volunteer Gardeners
The Property Committee needs an additional couple of volunteers for the Gardening Team. This group plants, waters and weeds the 3 flower beds in the front of the church. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact the church office or a member of the Property Committee.
Volunteers needed for the Pastor’s Pantry
The Pastor's Pantry is needing 2 or 3 volunteers for Thursday mornings 9am -11am. Weekly or even Monthly would be great! Please speak with Louise Smiley or Hope Wydenes.
Weird Church Events

Friday Feast: The Blues
Friday June 14th 6:30 - 7pm @ Cumberland UC

No matter who we are or where we are in our spiritual journey, the spiritual blues manifest in all of our lives. Sometimes the blues are a brief but intense visitor, other times they move right in, a constant companion we never invited in. Join us for dinner, music, stories, and conversation in welcoming and wondering Christian community where guest speakers will share short stories about how God has shown up in their lives.  All are welcome to come, eat, listen, sing and just be. 
Details and registration for Weird Church events can be found at https://www.weirdchurchcumberland.com/events or email info@weirdchurchcumberland.com
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Seventh Sunday in Easter
Service of the Word 10:30am
Keith Kovacs preaching, Rosemary Carnahan presiding
Rev. Ryan Slifka begins sabbatical


Sunday, June 9, 2019
Day of Pentecost
Service of the Word 10:30am
Sermon series: "Surprise!"
New Members Received
Rev. Ingrid Brown Preaching

Sunday, June 16, 2019
Trinity Sunday
Service of the Word 10:30am
Rev. Ingrid Brown Preaching

Sunday, June 23, 2019
Second Sunday After Pentecost
Service of the Word 10:30am
Rev. Ingrid Brown Preaching


Sunday, June 30, 2019
Third Sunday After Pentecost

Worship at Comox United Church 10:00am
NO WORSHIP AT ST. GEORGE'S

Sunday, July 7, 2019
Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Worship at Comox Valley Presbyterian Church 10:30am
NO WORSHIP AT ST. GEORGE'S

Sunday, July 14, 2019
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Joint worship at St. George's 10:30am
The Rev. Ingrid Brown preaching
Leadership Contacts
Kara Derma, Chair of the Board
kderma@fastmail.fm
The Rev. Ryan Slifka, Lead Pastor minister@stgeorgesunited.com
Eve Mark, Director of Music music@stgeorgesunited.com
The Rev. Ingrid Brown, Minister of Children Youth and Families & Weird Church ingrid@stgeorgesunited.com
Copyright © 2019 St. George's United Church, All rights reserved.


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