Pastoral Care Team Training

Family Life Centre presents : Pastoral Care Team Training

Friday, April 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 21 from 8:30 AM to 4 :00 PM

at Cedar Park United Church
204 Lakeview Avenue, Pointe-Claire, QC H9S 4C5

Refresher for pastoral care visitors, clergy, and anyone working in caring professions.
Training for those who might want to join a pastoral care team in their congregation.
This seminar will also be of interest to everyone who wishes to learn more about listening with the heart, honouring silence during conversations on difficult topics, and extending a compassionate hand to friends, family or acquaintances.

Learn more about listening, specifically to those in palliative care (and their families), those who are grieving or dealing with difficult diagnoses personally or with their loved ones (physical and mental health), those facing acute or chronic illness, and those who are housebound due to age or mobility.

The seminar includes presentations by experts, role-play (for those who feel comfortable), sharing of best practices on practical help, and small group discussions on connecting in meaningful ways in this fast-paced, largely technology-based world while maintaining safe boundaries.

$24 per person, includes materials, refreshments and lunch.

Open to all.

Pre-registration is essential by April 16.

Minister's Message: The Greening of the Earth

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome ran from the tomb, distressed and afraid. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.  - Mark 16: 1-8

One could say it is slow in coming each year, the interplay between the ending of winter and the arrival of spring. More sunshine, then cold, gardens starting to sprout then wind and snow. Back and forth like a tug of war.
The resurrection story in Mark's gospel is profoundly human. It is not the full blown Easter joy of the other Gospels but rather the slow greening of the spirit. It is a story of encounter with the emptiness of both tomb and spirit.
The women who go to the tomb find it empty, hear the angelic proclamation "he is not here, he is risen," then run away "distressed and terrified." And instead of sharing joy they say nothing to anyone because of their fear.
This is not the more regimented religious version that accommodates the need for certainty and explanation: the one that goes so quickly from death on the cross to resurrection joy and leaves one with whiplash.
There is progression in the greening of the spirit just like in the greening of the earth. There is room for fear, distress and disbelief. There is not always an immediate turn around, but the slow converting to the light of each place in our hearts, minds and spirit. Resurrection may be an immediate moment but letting the stone be rolled away from my heart takes time.

May I let Life touch my fears, questions and distress.
As the earth is renewed this springtime may I be slowly greened in my faith.
Let the greening begin in me o God!

- Rev. David

When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain,
your touch can call us back to life again,
fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
love is come again, like wheat arising green.
                            (VU 186, John Crum, 1928, to the tune of Noël Nouvelet.)

Minister's Message: Easter Greetings 2018! Joyeuses Pâques 2018!

Sing praises to the Lord, O you God's saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5)

I want to shout it and live its joy: the celebration of resurrection and the promise of new beginnings!

Easter parallels the end of winter and the transition of seasons. We can only appreciate its radical joy after the night of tears. We come to the empty tomb only after the pain and sadness of Good Friday for there is no resurrection without death. As the sun warms our faces and the frozen earth, we see hope realized in the snow drops and other spring flowers.

Death and resurrection, winter’s cold to springtime blooms: all are part of our lives and their seasons. We live in faith community the emotions of passion as the drama of Christ’s last days is relived in liturgy and worship. Out of suffering and death, the love of God raises Jesus to new life.

En cette fête de Pâques, fête du renouvellement de la nature et de nos esprits, nous sortons de l’hiver avec un profond besoin de crier: Alléluia!! Pendant le Carême, nous avons suivi les pas de Jésus dans le désert, un chemin de choix et de sacrifices difficiles à comprendre  pour nous en 2018. La vie vient après la souffrance, la joie après la longue nuit de pleurs, la résurrection après la croix. Oui, nous fêtons, mais toujours après avoir enduré de dures réalités.

Que Pâques remplisse vos cœurs et vos relations de la joie de la résurrection. Quand on vous dit : Christ est ressuscité, criez à pleins poumons : Alléluia!!

May the God of resurrection touch our lives with new life and renewal: Alléluia!

Rev. David Lefneski
SouthWest

Thine is the glory, risen conquering Son:
Endless is the victory thou o'er death has won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes where the body lay.

Craindrais-je encore? Il vit à jamais,
celui que j’adore, le prince de paix;
il est ma victoire, mon puissant soutien,
ma vie et ma gloire : non, je ne crains rien!              (VU 173)

UCC Moderator's Easter Message 2018

[transcript of video message]

Hallelujah, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, hallelujah! That is our Easter refrain—full of joy and conviction. But that sure wasn’t the response of Jesus’ disciples on that first Easter morning. The various gospel accounts show the disciples responding with awe, fear, incomprehension, doubt, terror, and amazement. Our response is born of hindsight. Knowing what we now know about how it all turned out, we think of Easter morning and we declare, “Hallelujah!” But when one is in the midst of resurrection, when it is happening to you or around you right now, it’s a very different experience: full of uncertainty, anxiety, dread, and disbelief. Resurrection is, by its very nature, unexpected and unimaginable. We cannot see it coming; we are never prepared for it. It is the revelation of new life where just moments ago there was nothing but the possibility of despair and loss. The hallelujahs we announce at Easter are our affirmation that despite whatever hopelessness threatens to overwhelm us, we trust in the power of God’s love to bring about resurrection within our lives. We don’t know when, we don’t know how, we don’t know what it will look like, and we will certainly be confused and confounded by it if it should happen. But today, our hallelujahs declare that we believe resurrection is possible. And so we do not lose hope, no matter how hopeless a situation appears. This Easter season, as you sing, shout, whisper, and proclaim “Hallelujah!” may it strengthen your faith in the power and possibility of new life for you, your church, and our world. May we truly be a resurrection people.

Good Friday at the Mission

What is so good about Good Friday?

At the bank there was a notice: closed for Good Friday. Please God, I would like to take that day off as well, and change the direction from passion and death to a ‘being anywhere else day’.  What is so good about Good Friday? it is the darkest day of the Christian year. Jesus dies, crucified.

Throughout the Lenten season the invitation to worship has resonated:

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,
It remains that and nothing more;
But if it dies it bears a rich harvest. John 12:24

Holy Week, with the turning of the cries of Hosanna to Crucify, is upon us.

The only way to arrive at the Easter Sunday shout of Alleluia is to follow Jesus through these dark days of betrayal, anguish, torture, tears and deep dispair. I am forced to face my own death, ponder the meaning of life and to question the darkness of the cry: Whay have you forsaken me?

Read the story in the Gospels, ponder the characters in the Passion. Where are you in the Passion story?

See Matthew 26-27: 66, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, John 18-19.

Follow Jesus in his last days.

Experience the depth of emotions, absence and death.

A traditonal hymn and meditation for Good Friday is this one written by Paul Gerhardt in 1656 (Voices United 145, french words by Henri Capieu, 1974, Nos Voix Unies).

O Sacred head sore wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down;
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how art thou pale with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn;
how does that visage languish,
which once was bright as morn!

De l'humaine misère
tu t'es fait serviteur;
de chacun de tes frères,
tu portes la douleur.
Seigneur, de nos souffrances
et de nos lendemains,
garde notre espérance
en tes vivantes mains.

May the prayer of the brigand dying at Jesus’ side be ours:
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. (Luke 22: 42)

- Rev. David

The office will be closed, but as is our tradition, we will have a Good Friday service at the Mission at 11AM on March 30th. Stay afterwards for a simple community lunch. 631 Melrose. All are welcome.

Spring Youth Forum in Sherbrooke

What is Youth Forum?
It is a weekend retreat for high school and CEGEP youth organized by folks from the United Church of Canada (Quebec Presbytery). It is planned by youth, for youth. It has been going on in this region for more than 40 years!

What will we do there?
At Youth Forum you will play games, eat yummy food, make music, learn new things, meet new people, participate in Worship, explore and deepen spirituality and faith. Youth Forum is hard to explain, it is best lived!

Why should I go? I don't go to Church...
Everyone is welcome at Youth Forum. It is organized by a Protestant, Christian Church, however people of all faiths or no faith are always welcome. This is not an event to convert folks, but to explore meaningful relationships and new ideas. We are an open-minded and diverse community. 

The Theme of the upcoming Youth Forum in Sherbrooke in April is Healthy Relations. We will focus on a number of important topics facing our world and our youth today: navigating the tricky territory of relationships, sex, self esteem and consent. In the wake of #metoo it seems more relevant than ever to talk about healthy boundaries and how to create positive and loving friendships and romances. We will also explore how our ideas of sex and relationships have been shaped and affected by the Bible and modern religious culture. By creating a comfortable open and safe space to talk about these big issues, in the company of peers and role models, we can explore trickier topics. Adult leaders have experience working with youth and are all police-checked.

This event costs 50$ - but please do not let that be a barrier, if you cannot afford the registration cost, just speak to Shannna and we can organize a solution.

Cet événement passera principalement en anglais, mais les francophones sont toujours les bienvenus, la plupart des participants sont bilingues et la traduction peut être arrangée.

When: April 13-15, 2018

Where: 
Église Unie Plymouth Trinity United Church
380 Dufferin, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 4M7

Contact Shanna Bernier for more info  - shanna.bernier@gmail.com
819-791-1974  

Minister's Message: Thanks to Harvest Montreal

I wrote a thanks this week to Geverny Hajjar and the team at Harvest Montreal/ Moisson Montréal. Geverny coordinates our monthly pickup of donated food items. We benefit from partnership with this organisation that recovers many tons of food from across Montréal that would normally find its way into a garbage dump. Each month Darlene lends the 'Silver Bullet' to Frank and Léonore who load it to the brim with meat, non-perishable foods and fresh produce. I wrote a thank-you specifically because I saw many ways these donations touched individuals, groups and our community meals.

Kitchen Dream Team Welcome Wednesday

Since the food donations were brought back last Friday this is in part what I observed:

- Children of Breakfast Club loved the ham that was served one morning! 
- Community Celebration/Méli-mélo had an abundance of food prepared by our kitchen co-ordinator and the dream team in the kitchen. The grapes and tortilla chips were a hit.
- some food baskets were delivered to seniors.
- the 'Libre Frigo' was well stocked and many families enjoyed the bread and fresh produce.
- the lemons, sausages and brussels sprouts were being transformed into tasty elements of the upcoming Welcome Wednesday meal.

Wonderful sights and sounds!! 

I wrote: « Veuillez donner ce mot de gratitude à toute l’équipe de Moisson Montréal en notre nom. Merci! »

I remember the story of the child who shared his lunch with Jesus who then blessed it to nourish thousands (John 6:1-14). Generous giving should always be appreciated and a word of thanks in in order, to donors of all kinds and in varying quantities. "Thank-you" keeps the blessing moving along.

I want to gratefully acknowledge :
- a recent gift from the Teen Haven Foundation, Verdun.
- our local Legion # 4 that continues to donate dry goods for the pantry.
- SouthWest's food drive on the first Sunday of Lent of non-perishable food, shared between the Mission and Manna food bank.

Rev.David

Sharing the Loaves and Fishes

Sharing the loaves and fishes,
You gave us an image of solidarity with the hungry, O Lord.
Sharing yourself in the bread and wine,
You called all to the table, O Lord.
Give me the hunger to be a part of the feeding
And the healing of this world.
Nourish me with your Grace,
So I may work with joy to serve your children.
Open my eyes and my heart
To recognize those in poverty
And increase my awareness
Of the structures and systems
That need to be changed
So we may all break bread together.
In your name we pray for the end of hunger.

Education for Justice (internet resource)

An invitation from St. Columba House

Soul of the Community — Building Neighbourhoods of Hope — 2

You are cordially invited to a workshop. The primary goal of this workshop is to engage in interactive case studies involving faith communities. These faith communities are drawing a map of their neighbourhood in order to find new ways of being church in their neighbourhood.

In the afternoon, we will further explore how faith communities contribute to the common good. And we will examine some of the struggles that faith communities are facing.

Sharing of our own experiences, the exchange of ideas with experts, and the review of available resources, we will strengthen existing links and trust relationships within the Presbytery as a whole. In this way, together, we build neighbourhoods of hope.

Saturday, MARCH 17, 2018, 9:00—3:30 p.m.

At Saint Columba House
2365 Grand Trunk, Montreal

 All are welcome

 Lunch provided

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Patricia Lisson at 514-241-9036, 
or Lisa Byer-de Wever at 514-932-6202 ex.224

Sponsored by: JGER Committee, Vision and Transformation Committee, Saint Columba House, EDGE Network of the United Church of Canada.

L’Âme de nos communautés — Engendrer des quartiers riches d’espoir 2

Vous êtes cordialement invité à un atelier où l'objectif principal est de s'engager dans des études de cas interactives impliquant des communautés religieuses. Celles-ci dessinent une carte de leur environnement afin de trouver de nouvelles façons d'être l'église dans leur quartier.

Dans l'après-midi, nous explorerons davantage comment les communautés religieuses contribuent au bien commun. Et nous examinerons certaines des luttes auxquelles elles sont confrontées.

Partage de nos propres expériences, échange d'idées avec des experts et examen des ressources disponibles, nous renforcerons les liens existants et les relations de confiance au sein du Consistoire dans son ensemble. De cette façon, ensemble, nous construisons des quartiers d'espoir.

Samedi le 17 mars 2018 de 9 h à 15 h 30

à la Maison Saint Columba, 2365, rue Grand Trunk, Montréal

Tout le monde est bienvenu

Le lunch est fourni

Pour plus d'informations et pour confirmer votre présence contactez Patricia Lisson  514-241-9036 ou Lisa Byer-de Wever 514- 932-6202 ex 224

Parrainer par: Comité JGER, Comité  de la vision et transformation, La Maison  Saint Columba, Réseau Edge de l’église Unie du Canada.

Minister's message: Who is my mother, brother, sister?

Who is my mother, brother, sister?
« Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him. He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, "Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you."
 Jesus responded, "Who do you think are my mother and brothers?" Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, "Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God's will is my brother and sister and mother. »
(Mark 3: 31-35: The Message, Eugene H. Peterson)

As a foster parent I know that parental love is not about biology. I have welcomed into my heart and my home many youth over the years whose names never matched mine. I have been transformed in these relationships that were based on love, fulfilling promises and commitment.
Jesus redefines family biology in this simple gospel story.
I imagine that he was used to his mother telling about the 'specialness' of his birth. Not again Mom, please, he may have said. At 30 years old, Jesus, the eldest, left home to live God’s call on his life. He had outgrown the birth story and was ready to concentrate all his energies living as an itinerant preacher, to be judged on his own merits. He leaves home never to return. Mary, who was left in the care of his siblings, comes to him expecting priority status. This visit is used to show a realignment in Jesus' changing sense of filial relationship. Even Mary will transition into a new relationship with her son when she becomes a follower of Jesus.
Nothing stays the same? It encourages me to know that people evolve and that it’s not our biological family alone that determines spiritual identity. As important as it is to recognise our children as belonging to the Christian family at birth (baptism), each person needs to name their personal allegiance to living Christ's way. Each one needs to become a follower of Jesus by choice.
God has no no grandchildren. Only sons and daughters.
We are invited into relationship with God and Jesus based not on bloodlines, family loyalties, tribe or even status but on obedience to God, living in the light and resisting evil and empire. Jesus is looking for brothers, sisters, mothers!
On this Lenten Journey 2018 we hear the stories of scriptures as we follow the Bible Reading Guide inviting us to reimagine all our relationships.
We are transformed from the inside out as we follow Jesus wherever he leads us.
Will you/I be a Jesus follower?
Rev. David

A Lenten Blessing:

May the blessing of God
Give us strength for the journey;
May the Spirit of wisdom
Give us vision for the road;
May the love of Christ
Make us caring companions;
As together
We go forth in the Lenten time.
Amen.

Une bénédiction

Que la grâce de Dieu
Nous donne de la force pour le chemin;
Que l’Esprit de sagesse
Nous donne une vision pour la route;
Que l’amour du Christ
Fasse de nous des compagnons compatissants;
Alors qu’ensemble
Nous avançons en ce temps de Carême.
Amen

SouthWest Outreach worship services

Did you know that SouthWest offers regular worship services at three local seniors’ residences? Worship and communion are made available once a month in these Outreach settings, led by Rev. David, and organized by volunteers from our InTouch Ministry. The volunteers arrive early to invite and accompany people to worship and also to listen and offer care as needed.

Eileen and Yvette from Les Floralies, LaSalle gave monies and canned goods for families in need at Christmas on behalf of the residents.

Our core team travels to the three services and their presence is much appreciated: Dorothy Brown, Anna Christe, Don Ross
In addition, we have helpers from within the residences:
Champlain Hospital: Pamela Manchel
Le Cavalier: Barbara Smith, Helen Kunz
Les Floralies: Marge Cooper, Lil Jones, Yvette Riba.

Valerie Nickson is a Licensed Lay Worship Leader who serves both St Andrew's Delson and Centenary United. She participated in two of our Outreach services February 21, 2018 and shared this prayer she composed.
There were a total of 42 residents attending this week’s services.

Gracious God, we ask you to bless especially your children who have grown old.
When they can no longer care for themselves, send them loving caretakers who appreciate their wisdom and the richness of their experiences.
Send your angels to keep them safe as long as they live and to lead them home to you when their work is done.
Bless the families of the elderly with insight and good judgement.
Send your Holy Spirit to help them make wise decisions, and grant them the patience to care for those who once cared for them
We pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen