May 2nd, 2023
Calvary Compass – May 2nd, 2023 - Calvary United Church, www.calvaryuc.ca
Dear Friends of Calvary,
Rev. Kerry has returned from his study leave and well-deserved rest. Thank you to Ruthanne McLagan for conducting our worship service last Sunday and to the choir and Randy Mills for that wonderful upbeat anthem. The link for the recorded service is below.
Please be aware that there will be a cleanup of our pollinator gardens this Friday, May 5th at 9:00 am. If you have a rake and/or clippers, please bring them with you. If it is raining on Friday, the cleanup will happen on Saturday, May 6th at 9 am.
There are now two bulletin boards at the back of the sanctuary in the narthex. One has Affirming information on it and copies for anyone who wants them of the definitions of the terms used. The other has Calvary's news of upcoming activities within the church. Most of this information is also mentioned in the Compass. Please take time to look at them.
Worship Services are all live-streamed:
May 7th - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnTh13Ajthc
Recorded service for April 30 - https://youtube.com/live/fztnfCs0JGg
Jazz Vespers is on Wednesday, May 3rd at 7pm.
PICKLEBALL
For anyone interested in learning Pickleball, on Wednesday, May 3rd at 1 pm there will be a demonstration in the Lower Hall. If you wish to try it, wear rubber soled shoes. Although this is a CHAMPION activity, everyone is welcome no matter your age.
AFFIRMING
Your Affirming Committee has been busy learning about LGBTQ2S issues. The vocabulary can be confusing; on the bulletin board in the narthex you can find a list of approved definitions. There are printed copies there for you to help yourself to if you'd like more time to look at the information.
One of the helpful books we've been reading is "Gender - Your Guide". It is by Dr. Lee Airton, a professor in the Faulty of Education at Queen's University and a researcher, blogger, and advocate for welcoming gender and sexual diversity in everyday Canadian life, speaking and writing from wide personal and professional experience with teachers and future teachers across Ontario. We recommend their book highly. It will be in the Calvary library soon. And/ or you could also visit https://www.leeairton.com/
Sunday, May 14th Dedication of the sanctuary renovations that were completed during the pandemic. We will dedicate (re-dedicate) the sanctuary space to the glory of God.
UNDIE SUNDAY
The deadline date for dropping off undies at the church is May 21st. They will be delivered directly to Mission Services of London that following week. May I remind you that you can purchase Giant Tiger cards and other merchants through our Fundscrip program (and the church receives some money). You can do your purchases from those, or pass cards along to me for a larger group purchase and possible discount. If you wish to give money or cheque, they can be given directly to me (Kristen Goodman) or by etransfer: krisgoodman@live.ca Thank you to those who responded already. There will be baskets at the back of the church starting April 30th. People shouldn't have to wear someone else's underwear. Providing some dignity is a wonderful gift to give.
Saturday, June 3rd, Gathering on the Green.
Volunteers needed for various shifts to engage with those that are seeking community of faith questions about Christianity in this time. If you are available please contact Rev. Kerry at kerry.stover@calvaryunitedchurch.on.ca to help set up, tear down or staffing Calvary's booth, rain or shine. We had a great time last year and we look forward to another joyous day on the green.
Sunday, June 18th, Baptism and Reception of New Members!
If you or someone you know would like to become a member of Calvary please contact Rev. Kerry at kerry.stover@calvaryunitedchurch.on.ca
It will be a joyous day of celebrating with the sacrament of baptism and welcoming new members. Adherents can also decide to become members at this time if they wish. Rev. Kerry will need to know of your interest in baptism or becoming a member by June 1st so that he can schedule a gathering time with prospective new members prior to June 18th. At that information gathering, Rev. Kerry will share information about the United Church of Canada and what it means to be a member of Calvary's dynamic congregation.
Sunday, July 23rd, London Pride Parade at 1 pm. Calvary along with many of London's United Churches will join together again this year to walk or ride in London's Pride Parade.
GARDEN CLEAN-UP
The cleanup for Calvary's Pollinator Garden will be held Friday, May 5th beginning at 9 am with a rain date, if needed, of Saturday, May 6th. We hope to have many of you willing to give Calvary Green a hand with the necessary raking and trimming back of perennial plants. No garden experience required. Please bring rakes and clippers if you have them.
LAMBETH ART ASSOCIATION
The Lambeth Art Association Show is at Lambeth United Church on Thursday, May 4 from 5 to 8 pm, Friday, May 5 from 10 am to 8 pm and Saturday, May 6 from 10 am to 4 pm. Ruthanne McLagan has four paintings in the art show.
BOTTLE DRIVE
The Scouting Group - Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers are having a Bottle Drive on Saturday, May 27th. They will be delivering flyers to some homes within our neighbourhood during the next few weeks. However if you would like to contribute and did not get a flyer in your mailbox, please bring your wine, beer bottles or cans to the church on May 27th. They will take them to the Beer Store Depot. ONLY BRING your contributions on Saturday, May 27th and leave them by the parking lot door.
LONDON HEALTH COALITION
The London Health Coalition is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. It is part of the Ontario Health Coalition, a network of over 400 grass roots organizations. Their goal is to advocate for public healthcare and keep people of London/Ontario informed. Recently they raised concerns about the Ford government tabling Bill 60, introduced in the legislature Feb. 21, 2023 as "Your Health Act", 2023. It passed second reading March 1 (and may already have been passed in the legislature as the Ford government has a majority). The main objective of Bill 60 is to allow "for profit" healthcare, which will ultimately denigrate/destroy Ontario's publicly funded healthcare system.
If you don't want our public hospitals and health services to be privatized to "for-profit" hospitals and clinics, VOTE NO in the citizen-led referendum May 26 and 27. On-line voting commences Tuesday May 2, 2023. On Friday May 26 and May 27 in person voting will take place at a variety of locations in London and across the province. The Coalition is respectfully requesting that individuals only vote once to maintain the integrity of the vote.
For more information, please pick up a brochure at the back of the sanctuary from Sunday, May 7 to Thursday May 25 or go to the PublicHospitalVote.ca for more information.
Meetings this Week:
• CHAMPION - Wednesday - 1:00 - 3:30 pm
• Bible Study - Thursday -11:00 am - 12 Noon via Zoom
• Stewardship and Finance – Monday - 7pm via Zoom
• Property – Monday – 7pm in the Parlour and via Zoom
Bible Study:
Thursday - 11:00 -12 Noon
Scripture Readings: - John 14: 1-14
Psalm for the Week:
Psalm 31: verses 23 & 24 from the New Living Bible Translation
Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
So be strong and courageous,
all of you who put hope in the Lord!
Prayer for the Week:
God of light and love,
we ask that you be attentive to our voices and responsive to our needs.
You alone are our Creator, Saviour, and Sustainer and we give thanks for
your attention to our prayers and supplications. Amen.