Minister’s musings
You know how some of the stories in the Bible seem so incredulous – a global flood, a burning bush, 40 years wandering in the desert, an itinerant preacher who could heal people, and who raised Lazarus from the dead? Not to mention the empty tomb. I mean unbelievable, right? How could this happen?
When I think about some of these stories (that some of us hold as narrative and some of us hold as fact) I think about how HUGE they are – so beyond what anyone had experienced or known before. Something inexplicable. Something that would have been a real challenge to put into words.
Well, that’s how I feel about Psalm 91 (our scripture for Sunday – vs 1-6, 14-16). When I read it and hold it privately in my heart it makes all the sense in the world and feels comforting and nourishing. Feels like a real gift I want to hold safe. Reading it out loud, trying to put into words what the feelings mean and how they stir a heart, and where God is in all of it – well I wonder if that’s how the Israelites might have felt when they had to explain Manna, without warning, falling from the heavens. Inexplicable.
What is your experience of Psalm 91? How would you articulate it to a friend?
Blessings
Julie
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Memorial Notices
You are welcome to join the memorial for Kerry Karram on Saturday 24th of Sept at 3pm at Highlands United Church.
To join virtually please use this link to go to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYnNJ9hFNWI
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Here is the link to the livestream of Jim's celebration of life that will go live this Saturday September 24th at 1:00pm from the Chandos Pattison Auditorium.
Feel free to share the link to those who cannot attend in person:
Also, some have asked for clarification between the Surrey ceremony, and the Victoria gathering.
The main ceremony is at Chandos Pattison Auditorium, in Surrey, Sept 24 at 1:00pm.
The Victoria gathering is hosted at Broad View United, 2625 Arbutus Rd, Victoria, Sept 24 at 1:00pm, where anyone in Victoria is welcome to attend and watch the livestream together.
Please join us to honour and celebrate Jim's beautiful life.
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Children, Youth & Families News
Sunday children's programs this Sunday, please ask your children to follow Allie after theme time.
Thursday G2 (Youth choir grades 4 to 12) will meet 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Gods Free Spirits ( age 4 to grade 3) will meet 6:30 to 7pm in the choir room.
For more information please contact Allie Keir or the church office.
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To Everything There is a Season
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is preparation for a time when you are not able to speak for yourself due to serious injury, illness, or advancing cognitive decline. This is not just for older adults! It is preparation for all adults of all ages, no matter their state of health.
ACP is an umbrella term for ongoing conversations and documentation about your values, beliefs, and preferences for care for a time when you are seriously injured or ill, when you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or life-ending illness, or you have advanced cognitive decline.
During this workshop you will learn about:
- Choosing your future decision makers and Representation Agreements
- Importance of an Enduring Power of Attorney in health care
- Determining your values and beliefs and preferences for future care
- Understanding 'heroics', resuscitation, and levels of treatment.
You will go home with clear workbooks to help you put together a Letter of Wishes for Health Care or an Advance Directive.
Connie Jorsvik was an RN for 25 years and has owned and has operated Patient Pathways for 12 years as a healthcare navigator and patient advocate. Advance Care Planning is the essential bedrock of her business. She is the past National Coordinator for Advance Care Planning. Her book Advance Care Planning: Planning for Serious Illness was published in 2020 and she is currently writing Navigating the BC Healthcare System.
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Due to a scheduling issue, the children, youth, and families All Hallows Eve Event will be taking place on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30th from 4 - 7 pm! Please save the date as it's sure to be a fun night!
**NOTE** The Senior Youth Event on Friday, October 28th will still be taking place as previously sent out :)
If you have any questions or would like more information please reach out to me at gowens13@shaw.ca.
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Urgent Appeal for Socks
The generous donations of socks for First United from Highlands and other congregations has been completely depleted. Before setting a date for our annual “Socks and Ponchos” appeal the Local Connections Committee is organizing a one day appeal for socks. Sunday October 2nd will be “Sock Sunday”. On that day, there will a collection box in the Welcome Space to receive men’s or women’s socks or cash donations. If it is more convenient for you to leave your donation during the previous week (September 27-30) it can be left at the church office.
Thank you in advance for responding to this urgent appeal.
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Thursday Dinners Return!
Please sign up here to let us know if you are coming to the 1st dinner on Sept 29, so we can plan for quantities and special dietary needs.
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Volunteer help needed!
- Chatbox ‘hosts’ for Sunday morning online worship (if you know how to say ‘good morning’ in the chat box you already have the skills needed! Training provided.)
- Helpers for Thursday dinners on Sept. 29 and/or Oct. 20. Duties include setting up tables/chairs, serving and cleaning up from about 4:45 - 7:00 p.m.
Please contact Sandi Parker for more information and to volunteer.Sandi.parker@highlandsunited.org
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Coffee This Sunday
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We’re excited to let you know that our Annual Flea Market Sale is coming up on Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 9am to 2pm. The proceeds from this annual sale support the work of the church including numerous outreach programs. We are grateful for your support and generous donations of household and other goods throughout the year.
This is a huge event in the life of the church and requires many hands to make it happen. This year, we have designed an on-line sign up form which we hope will stream-line the volunteer sign-up process. If you are helping out in any way during set-up week, or on the day of the sale, please click on THIS LINK and fill in the form. After you hit “Submit” at the end of the form, you will receive an e-mail confirming the days and times that you signed up for. If you are unable to complete the form, send an e-mail to Carol and she will get you signed-up! We’d like a comprehensive list so, even if you are the Department Coordinator, please fill in the form.
Please spread the word and let your friends, family and neighbours know to save the date. More specifics will follow in the coming weeks but if you have any questions or concerns about the sale, please don’t hesitate to contact any of our Flea Market Coordinators:
Thanks everyone for your support!
Highlands Flea Market Team
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The Artesana Collective is helping Carmela to begin a new life, after a court ruled that killing her husband was an act of self-defence. Help Artesana to help Carmela and others like her! Read more of Carmela's story HERE
Donating to the Artesana Collective:
You will need to make a donation to CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev), a Non-Governmental Organization based in Vancouver with a long history of connection to Central America. (Because, by Canada Revenue Agency rules, Highlands cannot send donations to Artesana and issue tax receipts.) More information about this organization can be found at www.codev.org . CoDev will issue you a tax receipt.
• Online donations: use this link:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/47013
Be sure to write Artesana in the space “Write a private message to us”.• Cheques can be made to CoDev Canada with Artesana in the memo line. Address is 2747 Hastings Street East, Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z8. For more information about Artesana’s work, look for “Artesana” on Highlands' website Outreach and Social Justice page (highlandsunited.org).
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Meridian Fundraiser is Back!!
Have there been tantalizing smells wafting over from your neighbour’s barbecue? Perhaps you have a hankering for sweet local peaches or juicy corn. Maybe you’re one of those uber organized people already planning your Thanksgiving feast. What a great time to stock up on gift cards for yourself or friends from our community partner, Meridian Farm Market. 30% of gift card sales ordered through Highlands is returned for the work of the church. So, as an example, if you buy spend $200, you receive $200 in gift cards and the church gets $60. How’s that for a deal?!
Sales will open on September 9th and will close on September 28th. Please check the Highlights for your links.
Gift cards, which never expire, are available in the following denominations.
$10, $25, $50, $75, $100
If you’ve seen the cute little red tractor on Marine Drive but aren’t sure what Meridian Farm Market offers, check out this 30 second video:
Sign up HERE and the form will take you straight to Paypal don't worry if you don't have a Paypal account just scroll done and find the pay with your credit card button.
If you have other questions, please reach out to Susan Hogman, Sandra Whittle, Julie or Ed Hunt |
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Janet Gear's - Undivided Love
During Covid, Janet was the writer in residence at Highlands and wrote part of her book while she was here! If you would like to own a signed copy please visit the church office, payment of $25 for the book can be in cash or cheque written to Janet Gear.
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Healing Pathway Phase 1 Workshop
Please register for this workshop via this FORM on the Lynn Valley Church website, limited space is available so register soon!
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ELL News
Sign up by clicking HERE or the poster for Intercultural Conversations and Speakers Group, for more detail please contact Judy O'Neill or Diana Bomford
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TRC News
On Sunday September 25 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, our congregation is invited to remember the lives of children lost and survivors of the Indian Residential School system
We would like to invite everyone to order an orange “Every Child Matters” shirt to wear on the 25th.
If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, the best website to order from is Native Northwest.
https://www.nativenorthwestselect.ca/T-shirt-Every-Child-Matters
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Flea Market News.
The Flea Market is coming on Saturday, October 15 and many, many volunteers will be needed around that time. Details elsewhere in this email.
- Sorting for the Flea Market happens on Tuesdays at 9:00 in the Lower Hall until October 11th but will resume in January. Interested in joining in the fun of sorting? We have lots of opportunities for both men and women so just come on a Tuesday and help out.
- If you can't help sort then maybe you can take a turn helping out at the Drop Off on Saturdays, 10:00 - 12:00. Sign up here:
- Drop off will be closed on Sat. Oct. 15th but will continue after that until Nov. 19th. It will reopen in January.
Contact: Chris Robertson. |
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Shelter to Home
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HUGG
National Tree Day is Wednesday September 21st
Sponsored by Tree Canada. More information here.
Tree Canada by the numbers:
• 84+ million trees planted
• 700+ communities greened
• 10 communities restored following disasters
• 13 Urban Forest Conferences hosted
A bold economic strategy to achieve prosperity for a liveable planet.
As leaders gather this coming week at the United Nations to deal with a raft of challenges from war to energy crises, the authors of Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity present the results of a landmark global analysis by an international team of scientists and economists warning of rising social tensions and setting out survival pathways for humanity.
In a number of events surrounding the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week, the main authors of the book will be presenting the results. Please see this link for details of each event.
The first Symposium from Earth4All on August 30 can be viewed at this link. It’s a discussion on “Degrowth” and how an economy without growth might work.
How will we rid the oceans of plastic?
One of our members was encouraged by finding a well-produced video by Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch foundation developing technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. In the video, after clearly explaining the technology, Mr. Slat confidently declares, “We can now clean up 50% of the Pacific Garbage Patch in just 5 years time.”
That video is from 2017. So, how is the project going? We found several news updates:
2018: an unforeseen challenge needs to be remedied, article in the Guardian
2021: A base of operations is set up in Victoria BC, and the goal is now to remove 90% of the patch by 2040.
2022: The cleanup is back on track, with a new system that has removed 28,659 kilograms of plastic waste.
The Foundation has also developed a solution to clean plastic out of rivers before it reaches the oceans.
We are impressed by Mr. Slat’s persistent efforts for our environment since he founded the company in 2013 at age 18.
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Companion Adventures
Have you ever wanted to go somewhere like the theater, Grouse Mountain, a restaurant or a movie but not wanted to go alone? Why not link up with others who enjoy the same activities and who would like some company. Sign up here and add your ideas, someone will be in touch either by email or phone to connect you with another person who has the same interest as you. Together we can make it happen!
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"Create or join a casual Coffee Clutch this summer"
Gather in a small group to have a coffee - either in your home, back yard, or at one of our three Edgemont Village Coffee shops.
Simply look through the directory and invite a friend or two and possibly someone new or someone you'd like to know better.
Your choice of company, time, and place.
If you are a bit shy to initiate a Clutch yet would like an invitation, please contact Ann Echols
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We Welcome All!!
- Starting in September on Mondays at 1pm in the choir room, the prayer shawl group is growing to include crafters and sewers.
- As well our prayer shawls and toques projects we are excited to included needle crafts.
- No need to be alone with your projects join our group for laughter, friendship and conversation.
- contact Joy Dancey to join the group or learn more about the projects. email- jdancey@telus.net
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HUC Book Circle
Last Monday of the Month Book Circle:
Using our usual democratic dot-voting system we have selected the following variety of books for our up-coming discussions:
September - The Woo Woo by Lindsay Wong (2018)
- a "darkly comedic" memoir that is a "harrowing and honest depiction of the vagaries of mental illness experienced by a Chinese immigrant family"
- was a Canada Reads book in 2019
- multiple copies quickly and easily available from the NVDL's Book Club Sets program
Book Circle on Monday, Sept. 26th will be held at 7:00pm at 698 Wellington Place (just above Princess Park off Osborne)
October - How It All Began (2011) by Penelope Lively
We are a circle not a club!
If you have any comments or questions, please contact Phyllis HERE
Thank-you,
Phyllis
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Highlands Church Office
Opening Hours - Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 2:30 pm
Telephone number - 604 980 6071
Email address - churchoffice@highlandsunited.org or melissa.wilkin@highlandsunited.org
If you have an emergency outside of office hours please call
Will Sparks on 778 968 7718.
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