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Westminster United
Church Board Members
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Teresa
Young
Vice Chair of the Board
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John Mort
Treasurer
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Boyd Rausch
Chair of Fellowship
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TEEN
CONFIRMATION
For the past few months, eight teens have been exploring
their faith in Westminster’s teen confirmation class.
Led by Robert Campbell, Katherine Abra, and Teresa Rydberg,
the group met on three Friday evenings, and on one Sunday
afternoon, to prepare themselves for renewal of their
Baptismal vows, to become members of the Church. This
renewal and confirmation event will take place Sunday,
May 15th. The group also participated in community service
at International HOPE and Winnipeg Harvest, lead the worship
component of the Christian Education Committee’s
Getting Ready for Easter event, and visited a church of
another Christian denomination. Below, a short biography
of each new member:
Hayley Caldwell
is in Grade 8 at École Sacré
Coeur. Her interests include singing, shopping, and going
to the movies. Her dreams for the future include becoming
a published author, marrying and raising children, and
helping change the world.
Kara Gillis
is in Grade 11 at Miles Macdonnell
Collegiate. She participates in track, swimming, soccer,
hiking and Student Council. Kara plans to attend the University
of Winnipeg, and hopes to travel someday. She would also
like to work for Doctors Without Borders.
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Heather
Gillis
is a Grade 9 student at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate
Institute. She enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, and
the piano. She hopes someday to travel the world, have a good
job, and help the world achieve peace.
John McLeod Arnould
is in Grade 9 at Silver Heights
Collegiate. His interests include hockey, playing the guitar,
and making movies with his friends. John hopes to pursue a
career in hockey, and would also like to be a doctor. He would
also like to learn to play the bass guitar.
Steven Setka
is in Grade 8 at Hastings School. He loves
hockey, playing the guitar, and listening to music. He hopes
to attend St. Paul’s High School, and to play hockey
for the AAA Warriors team. In the future, he would like to
be a Physical Education teacher, or pursue some other sports
career.
Emily Smith
is in Grade 9 at Kelvin High School. Her
interests include playing the piano, swimming, and skiing.
In the future, Emily plans to volunteer in the community,
as well as travel.
Chelsea Weselowski
is in Grade 8 at Lockport School.
She enjoys playing the piano, swimming, and playing basketball.
Chelsea hopes to achieve her Grade 8 in the Royal Conservatory
of Music for piano. In the future, she plans to attend university,
and would also like to teach swimming.
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West
Broadway Community Ministry
Bob Gilbert, Community Minister
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Meet
Jennie -- a single mom, trying to start a new life
after escaping an abusive relationship. Meet John
who suffers from an assortment of mental illnesses
and finds it difficult to make friends. Meet Christine
-- a drug addict struggling for acceptance and support.
Meet Jason who is daily challenged to live on a
very small pension. Meet Lesley, depressed and lonely
having lost her livelihood due to the onset of seizures
from a brain tumor. Meet Matt who is between jobs
and has little income and even less self-esteem.
Meet Margaret - in her eighties - who simply likes
to be around other people in a safe place.
Where is it that you meet these persons? At Crossways-in-Common,
at the corner of Broadway and Furby within the programs
and services of West Broadway Community Ministry.
Serving the people of West Broadway for over thirty
years, the ministry exits to respond to the physical,
emotional and spiritual needs of the community.
Utilizing one
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full
time staff person and well over 50 volunteers,
West Broadway Community Ministry provides the
following: a drop-in center four afternoons a
week which includes a light lunch; food bank;
seniors lunch and activities program; computer
awareness program and public internet access;
voice-mail service; laundry and shower facilities;
emergency food kits; parenting skills training
through its “Building Healthy Families”
and “Family Time” programs; and a community
kitchen. Addition-ally pastoral care and chapel
services are regularly provided. Recently a diabetes
education and cooking demonstration occurs in
the drop-in center once a month thanks to dieticians
from Klinic medical centre. Periodically guests
enjoy a “movie night” often sponsored
by supporting churches.
What underlies all these programs and services
is the provision of a safe, accepting, community
environment. As one representative individual
expressed it when asked why he
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continues
to frequent West Broadway Community Ministry: “It
is the only place in the neighbourhood where I can
come and be with my friends and feel safe and accepted.”
The ministry is a joint Anglican - United Church
outreach ministry. By God’s grace it continues
to serve the low income population of West Broadway
through grants (the provincial government and the
United Church’s Mission and Service Fund provide
the largest grants) and through donations from churches,
individuals and some organizations. Financial donations
are always gratefully received but so are donations
of non-perishable food items to stock our emergency
food pantry and our lunch program cupboards. We
also welcome those interested in visiting the ministry
or desiring to become a volunteer.
I thank the congregation of Westminster United Church
for its interest in the life and work of West Broadway
Community Ministry.
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WEBSITES OF
THE MONTH
Carol
Latter and Roy Halstead attended a United Church conference
called "The Morph Project" in late April, a
conference dedicated to innovative approaches to worship.
There hasn't been time to put together a report for this
newsletter. Hopefully in the June edition! In the meantime
you might be interested in checking out some of the following
websites suggested at the conference:
1)
www.smallfire.org
This site give an overview of the ideas behind alternative
worship.
2)
resonate.ca
A place to "meet" other Canadians interested
in conversations and idea -sharing about the now and future
of worship.
3)
jonnybaker.blogs.com
Jonny (from London England) was a featured speaker at
the conference. If you have never encountered a "blog"
this one has multi-interesting paths of ideas to follow
and they all, ultimately lead back to the spiritual presence
of God in our lives.
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Sighted
at the Sunday Service at the May 1st service,
Joan Jarvis,
our new Diaconal Minister
, with her daughter, Deanne.
Joan starts, officially, July 1st. but she will actually
begin work August 1st.
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AN
EVENING WITH MARY ANN TAYLOR
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We
know Mary Ann from our years of association with her
as our choir Soprano Soloist (1968), latterly our
Alto Soloist (since.1989) and formany, many years
as the violinist who closes our Christmas Eve services
so gently with the melody of the hymn“Silent
Night”. Whatmany of us didn’t know was that
her violin was doing solo work through these years
with the Winnipeg Symphony, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet,
The Manitoba Opera and CBC Music, Manitoba. Finally,
when a recent Free Pressarticle detailed the fact
that Mary Ann Taylor is Music Director and Conductor
of
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the Winnipeg Pops Orchestra,the whole picture sharpened:
Mary Ann is a “triple threat” musician!
Singer, instrumentalist and orchestra conductor! Joining
the orchestra as a violinist she was appointed Concert
Master and Assistant Conductor in 1987 and, finally,
as Music Director and Conductor in 1993. And now,
on Thursday, May 19th, at 7:30 pm Mary Ann is bringing
The Winnipeg Pops Orchestra to Westminster for a fundraiser,
organized by the Membership and Pastoral Care Committee.
Tickets for the event are available through members
of the Committee or call 784-1330.
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MAY
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7:30
p.m.
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Tuesday,
19
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Winnipeg
Pops
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Orchestra,
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fundraiser
by
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M
& P C
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Moday,
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BUILDING
CLOSED
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7
p.m.
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Tuesday,
24
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Board
Meeting
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7
p.m.
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Monday,
30
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MATCH
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JUNE
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4
p.m.
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Thursday
2
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Membership
&
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Pastoral
Care
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Committee
Meeting
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7:30
p.m.
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Worship
Committee Meetting
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9:00
a.m.
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Wednesday,
8
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Executive
Meeting
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7:00
p.m.
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Board
Meeting
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THE
EIGHTH WESTMINSTER OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT
The tournament is scheduled for Monday, June
6th noon at River Oaks Golf Course with refreshments
and dinner to follow at Peter and Maureen Macdonald’s
home, 430 Hosmer Blvd.
Mike Weir failed to qualify for the 2004 tournament
and has requested a sponsor’s exemption
for this year’s event.
This is a fund raising event for Westminster
Church and is open to all Westminsterites and
others, who may wish to join us – don’t
hesitate to bring your friends. Details:
1. Strong golfing skills are not a prerequisite,
as a Texas scramble format will be used.
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2.
Tee-off in foursomes will start at 12:00 noon
and continue every seven minutes until all of
the groups are away.
3. Some people have asked to play in a foursome,
which we will try to accommodate. Otherwise
the committee will draw the teams.
4. To access River Oaks, drive south on Waverley
Street beyond the Perimeter Hwy. Just before
you arrive at the La Salle River, turn off Waverley
to the right, for about a mile.
5. The cost for golf, refreshments and dinner
is $70 per person. Pull carts are $5, electric
carts are $30. The cost to non-golfers for refreshments
and dinner is $20 per person.
Further information can be obtained from Bruce
Linney (453-0845) or Peter Macdonald (889-6983).
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JOKE
of the MONTH
I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now
I don't know what to feed it.
Stephen Wright
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Garage
Sale Success
The Bats did it again and all it took was
OVER 2500 VOLUNTEER HOURS to make it happen!
Congratulations and thank-you.
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But
the multi- thousands raised for Westminster
aren't the end of the story.
The Garage Sale has created it’s own
community outreach with donations of unsold
items to other garage sales: for Young United
Church and Dalnavert Museum; the Thrift Shop
for Children’s Hospital; Oyata Tipi Cumini
Yape for single mothers; Laura Secord School;
Winnipeg Technical College; Salvation Army;
Agape Table.
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And
the leftover books are assisting a small community
near Rainy River to set up a library. A garage
sale success in every respect.
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Dessert
Bridge
:
Omar Sharif, Charles Goren and Larry
Elder were sighted amongst the 128 elite players at the
32 table successful Westminster Classic XII held Monday,
April 11th. An amazing addition was the Trevi Fountain of
Chocolate sided by the Pisa Pillar of Fruit. The smiles
on the faces of volunteers and participants must be attributed
to the desserts and bridge. $1,700 was donated to Westminster
Church.
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The
Great Westminster Church Fall Supper and Talent Auction,
Saturday, October 22nd.
Remember the fun we had in 2002 at this event? Well, we're
back at it again. The Planning Committee has already started
their organizing and this is their first call for you
to donate your talents for the auction part of the evening:
- Bake a cake, muffins, cookies;
- Host or cater a luncheon, dinner, afternoon tea;
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- Write up a will, do someone's income tax;
- Donate a week at a cottage;
- Rake leaves, shovel snow,
- Babysit, dogsit, fishsit!
And a host of other talents we know you have. Phone or write
your talent-donation to the church office. OR email
[email protected]
and Roy will pass the word along.
Once again Doug Abra will be the auctioneer.
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IN
MEMORIAM
Marion
A. Cameron
- Died February 17th. Marion was born in
Saskatchewan and grew up in Humboldt. After she moved
to Winnipeg she enjoyed a long career with the bank of
Commerce. Marion joined Westminster Church October of
1954. While here she was active in the Babyfold.
James Stewart McEwan
- Died April 23rd. Jim grew
up in the St. Vital, Windsor Park and Elmwood areas of
the city. His career was in engineering, first with G.
H. Currie and Associates and later with Smith Carter Architects
and Engineers. His work took him across Canada, to Europe,
the U.S. and Africa. As a teenager he was a member of
the sea cadets, and developed a love for astronomy which
became a life-long activity. He leaves to mourn him his
wife, Judy, his daughter, Eleanor, many siblings and friends.
Victor (Bruce) Gillis
- Died April 29th. Bruce
was born in 1926 in Winnipeg. After his graduation from
St. Johns in 1944 he joined the family quarry business
where he worked until his retirement in 1996. He was an
avid golfer and curler. He was a member of Rotary, the
Shrine’s Khartoum Temple and the St. Andrew’s
Society. Bruce was a dedicated Visitor for Westminster
for many years and a balcony sitter.
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MILESTONES
Broken
Bones Department:
Elaine Finnbogason
has a broken leg.
Marjory Harvey
has a broken ankle. Both patients
are reported doing well.
Jessie and Fred Headon
just returned from Ottawa
where son, Fred Jr, had married Mary Ellen Kenny on
April 23rd. The young couple honeymooned in Buenos Aires.
They will be living in Montreal
Just a note to say Hi! from
Margaret Uhrich
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While checking the United Church Online under "H"
I noticed your name (Halstead) and thought I'd look
(at the Westminster Newsletter) and see what Westminster
was up to. It was interesting to note the number of
active
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people
whose names are still familiar to me.
One item caught my attention and that was the fact that
the Winnipeg Music Festival was held at Westminster Church.
You know when I read that I thought of Maisie Love. Maisie
was indeed a "love" who spent her days volunteering
for different organizations such as Winnipeg Art Gallery
producing their newsletter and every Friday at 10 am.
she would come into the church office and help fold the
bulletin. Ever faithful, ever cheery, always humming or
whistling (keeping the voice in shape for Friday's choir
practice). How I enjoyed her companionship and stories.
One of the events she never missed was the Winnipeg Music
Festival. She would periodically lament that very
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few
people went to hear the beautiful singing. How pleased
she would be to hear that her church was hosting the event!
Please say "hi" to my other love at Westminster,
David Swan.
My husband Jim is doing Intentional Interim Ministry.
We both thought it would be a rather fun way to finish
his last few years in ministry before retirement. An opportunity
to see the country. We have been living in Oakville for
the past year and a half and will be moving to Ottawa
in July. Jim has accepted a two-year contract with a church
in Ottawa.
Keep up the good work!
Margaret Uhrich, former Secretary, Westminster Church
[email protected]
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SAME-GENDER
MARRIAGE SURVEY
A Discernment Committee has been formed by the Board for
the purpose of surveying the congregation on issues involving
Same-Gender Marriage ceremonies. Following is the text of
their survey.
Hello, Since the passage of the Canada Act (1982) many issues
have risen out for The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which
guarantees that all Canadians are equal under the law without
discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin,
color, religion, sex, age or disability. The Government
is considering a change in law to allow couples of the same
gender to have the same right to be legally married as other
Canadian couples.
This presents a question that our Board has been discussing
for some time: Will same-gender marriage ceremonies be performed
at Westminster Church? Board members have had an opportunity
to read many materials available on the question, and have
decided to undertake a discernment process.
As
a first step, a small group is taking responsibility for
planning several events in which the congregation can participate.
The first “event” is this survey. Westminster
has had some real success with this method of gathering
ideas; we thought this could be useful again.
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Please answer the three questions the Committee has generated
for your consideration. If you attended church Sunday, May
8th you will have gotten a single sheet with the text of
this message and the questions. You may use that to send
you replies to the Committee (Grace Aoki, Ernest Janzen,
Anne Love, Peter MacDonald and Pamela McLeod Arnould). If
you are seeing the materials here for the first time you
may write your answers on a sheet of paper and mail it to
Westminster Church, attention Pamela McLeod Arnould. Or
send your reply by e-mail to
Westminster Church ([email protected])
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Questions:
1. When you consider same-gender marriages, what thoughts
come to mind?
2. What do you want Westminster Church to consider?
3. We are planning events about:
a) The civil issues (Human Rights Commission and legal concern)
b) The experiences of the United Church.
c) The authority and interpretation of scripture.
Are there other aspects of this topic you would like to
have discussed?
When you reply please include your name, if you wish.
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QUILTING
(Dwili
and Sonya)
Quilting
is alive and well at Westminster on Thursday afternoons in
the Church library. On a recent afternoon we visited with
Sonya Wright the “leader” of the activity, her sister
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Dwili Burns, her cousin, Pat Drewett (whomakes the tea) and
Georgine Palmquist for whom the current quilt is being made.
The quilters create quilts for sale at our garage sale and
they also do quilts by special order. Missing that afternoon
was: Carol Ellis, Pat Richtik, Pat Thomson, Grace Aoki, Kathy
Squair, Gwen Boross, Jo Hewitt-Nikkel and Dawn McKeag, also
Sonya’s sister! As you can see this activity is not an
exclusive family affair. The senior member, Lorna Waddington
still attends
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the season windup. If you enjoy quilting you would be welcome
to join the group contact Edie in our church office (784-1330)
for more information.
(Georgine
and Pat)
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From the United Church
Manitoba and Northwestern Conference website
(http://www.mnwo.uccan.org/)
UPCOMING
EVENTS
- A Leadership Development Day is in the works for early
Fall 2005. This is a chance to learn how tobe a youth leader
or how to plan, coordinate and train leaders for youth retreats.
- A United Church Ethos Workshop is planned for Fall 2005.
This is for youth leaders in all areas of the church to learn
how to lead effective and meaningful worship using United
Church theology
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- An ecumenical Food Justice Camp is set for August 15 - 21
2005. Please contact Lynda Trono at the Conference Office
(233-8911) for more information.
- The World Council of Churches will be opening up applications
for youth stewards (aged 18-30) soon for their next assembly
in February 2006, held in Brazil. Check this website for more
info!
www.wcc-coe.org
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