February 22, 2023
Calvary Compass – February 22, 2023 - Calvary United Church, www.calvaryuc.ca
Dear Friends of Calvary,
Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Due to the threat of bad weather tonight, please be aware that the service at White Oaks UC has been cancelled. For those interested, Rev. Rob at Wesley-Knox is doing the Imposition of Ashes at 12:15 in their chapel.
We have also cancelled CHAMPION for today, in order to ensure everyone stays safe.
Jazz Vespers takes place on Wednesday, March 1st at 7pm.
Worship Services are all live-streamed:
• February 26 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEORmHdM09k
(Baden Powell Sunday)
• March 5 - https://youtube.com/live/qSNUED8ilnI
(Note: On March 5, the Annual Meeting will follow the church service)
• Recorded service for February 19 - https://youtube.com/live/SkPgfb5cGM8
Pink Shirt Day, February 22
Today is also Anti-Bullying Day which is an annual event held in Canada and other parts of the world, where people wear a pink-coloured shirt to stand up against bullying. The initiative was started in Canada, where it is held on the last Wednesday of February each year.
The Day of Pink 2022 online talk hosted by London Public Library and City of London is available on YouTube and what Ruthanne based her presentation on for the Affirming Minute on Sunday, February 12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu6iD4dU8oM&t=1s
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The World Day of Prayer Committee of Taiwan has prepared a prayer service video distributed in Canada by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada. Please join Bill, Karen, and Ruthanne for a viewing of the video on Friday, March 3rd at 1 pm followed by a time of prayer and discussion at 2 pm on Calvary’s Zoom link To preview the World Day of Prayer 2023 Full Service Video (53 minutes) before March 3rd, please use the link https://youtu.be/xT5TdU33tMQ.
Rogers TV will broadcast on Fri. March 3 at 8:30 and 5 pm.
LENT
What is Lent?
Many people are familiar with Easter, a holiday that’s celebrated by Christian and secular people alike. However, some people might not know about Lent, the period that comes before Easter. So, what is Lent?
Lent is an important period of reflection, growth, and new beginnings in the Christian calendar. Christians use this special time to show their devotion to their faith, draw closer to God, and prepare for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove/Pancake Tuesday, and six weeks before Easter. It ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Lent is 40 days long, as Sundays are not counted. In Christianity, Sundays are the Sabbath day – a day of rest, feasting, and joy where Christians celebrate and worship Jesus Christ. Because of this, Sundays aren’t considered days of observance in the season of Lent.
Some interesting notes about Lent follow:
• The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, and many Christians mark this day and the start of Lent by going to church, where the minister/pastor will place ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross. This is a way to express the Christian faith and the ashes symbolise the dust God made people from and so represents their mortality. We join together with White Oaks UC at 7pm Wednesday evening.
• Fasting is another common practice during Lent. In earlier centuries, fasting during Lent was extremely strict and only one meal in the evening was to be taken during these 40 days and 40 nights. However, you may wish to only observe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as the obligatory days of fasting.
• As well as being a time for self-sacrifice, Christians see Lent as a time to give to those less fortunate, and so many save up their money or non-perishable food items or they clean out their closets during the 40 days of Lent and then donate to charity for those in need.
• Christians use this time to engage in prayer and/or Lenten reflections.
• The colour of Lent is purple, as this colour symbolically represents royalty and mourning. It is used in both churches and the homes of Christians to both solemnly remember the pain and sacrifice of Jesus's death and joy in his royalty and resurrection.
Black History Month
Micah Nelson, granddaughter of the late Honourable George E. Carter
Ms. Nelson is an educator, artist, holistic health practitioner and author who shares her experience as a Black woman growing up in Canada and building success in her life. She shares the stories Black Canadians who have demonstrated outstanding excellence—including her grandfather, George E. Carter, who was the first Canadian-born Black judge. Watch her stories on YouTube. https://youtu.be/AJYtiYqKieE
She is also committed to supporting the arts for children’s development, the children’s charities Trails Youth Initiatives and The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment.
Ms. Nelson’s grandfather, the Honourable George E. Carter (1921 - 2018)
George Carter is the first black judge born in Canada. The first of 14 children, Carter grew up in Toronto, where he attended Orde Street Public School and Harbord Collegiate Institute, where he graduated at the top of his class. In 1944, he received his BA from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and, in the same year, enlisted in the Canadian army. After his military service, Carter enrolled at Osgoode to pursue his dream of a legal career. Graduating in 1948, Carter articled with B. J. Spencer Pitt, the only black lawyer practising in Ontario, then went to work for Sydney Harris ‘42, a Jewish Canadian. In 1980, Carter was appointed to the bench. As a judge, he was instrumental in establishing legal aid services and informing the Adoption of Coloured Children agency. George was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2014.
ANNUAL MEETING
By now, you should have received the Annual Report and Agenda for the meeting by email. If you wish a hard copy of the Annual Report and Agenda, please contact the Church Office.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be Sunday, March 5th after the worship service and will take place in the sanctuary. It will be both in-person and on Zoom using Calvary's Zoom link. A soup lunch will be provided by the Outreach Committee after the meeting in the lower hall.
CALVARY GREEN
Seedy Saturday on March 4 ….
Shopping and swapping! Seedy Saturday is back at Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre on March 4, 2023! Brought to you by London Middlesex Master Gardeners just in time to start growing come join us for our annual seed swap, educational speakers, vendor extravaganza and gardening know-how.
Bring your seeds to exchange in the community seed swap and get ready to grow with over 30 vendors and a fantastic lineup of speakers there is no better way to kick offspring!
$5.00 cash tickets at the door or in advance through Eventbrite.
Jennie Girard at 10:30 am - Bees, bees, bees
Sean James at 12:00 pm - Nifty Natives
Aaron Deacon at 1:30 pm - Natural Fertilizers
UCW - HEALING FUND SUPPORT
On Saturday February 11th, approximately 80 women gathered online to hear Joni Shawana, Healing Fund Coordinator UCC, Indigenous Ministries & Justice speak and outline the important work of the Healing Fund and to explore the UCW's commitment and strategies to support this fund over the next five years.
Here is the video if you missed the presentation
Stained Glass Windows Presentation
If you were unable to attend Ruthanne McLagan’s two presentations on the stained glass windows, they are now available on the Calvary website at: https://www.calvaryuc.ca/stained-glass-windows
Community Events
Potluck and Games Night, February 24, 5:30-8pm.
Gathering your favourite board/card games, a side or dessert to share, and come out for an evening of pizza and games in the Social Hall. Pizza will be ordered in and we will eat, play, and laugh the evening away. There is no cost, but donations to help off-set costs are always welcomed. Dan Leaver from Wesley-Knox UC, extends an invitation to Calvary members and adherents to join in the fun this Friday night, Feb. 24th for an intergenerational (all ages) event.
Please contact Dan if you have any questions or to RSVP. dan@wesleyknox.com
Riverside United presents Elvis Tribute Concert, March 26 at 3pm. Tickets are $25.
The Karen Schuessler Singers is excited to present its second concert of our 30th Anniversary Season: Road To Freedom: The Dream, Saturday, February 25, 7:30 pm , Wesley-Knox United Church, Ticket $25
Meetings this Week:
• Book Club – Monday at 7:30pm on Zoom
• CHAMPION – cancelled!
• Bible Study - Thursday at 11:00 am - 12 Noon via Zoom
Bible Study
Thursday - 11:00 am - 12 Noon
Scripture Readings: Psalm 32: Matthew 4: 1 -11
Psalm for the week:
Feb. 22nd is Ash Wednesday, the day we begin our Lenten journey of 40 days to Easter.
Psalm 51: 1 -2 New Revised Standard Version Translation
Have mercy on me. O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
Prayer for the week:
Prayer for the week as we begin our Lenten journey:
Gracious God,
out of your love and mercy you breathed into the dust the
breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbours.
Through our prayers and acts of kindness, you strengthen
us to face our mortality with confidence in the mercy of
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and teacher. who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.