The Newsletter of Dunbarton-Fairport United Church June... · The Newsletter of Dunbarton-Fairport United Church ... see Helen Cox if you have any questions. ... freely through the

The Newsletter of Dunbarton-Fairport United Church

June 2016 Issue 5

We are not alone,

we live in God’s world

Dunbarton-Fairport United Church is an affirming

congregation.

Bring your life story to our faith story

Page 2

Messenger Summer 2016

Summer Spectacular Garage Sale –

June 18th – 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. Join us on Saturday, June 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for our annual Summer Spectacular garage sale hosted on the east lawn at Dunbarton-Fairport United Church. This wonderful fundraiser happens rain or shine. In addition to the gigantic garage sale, there is a BBQ, bake sale and home party event. The United Church Women of our congregation organize the home party event which include vendors such as Tupperware and Avon, and they collect the table rental fees. If you are interested in helping with the event sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex. Please see Helen Cox if you have any questions. Help is needed on the Friday night and early Saturday morning to assist with set up and at the end to tidy up. Donations of baking or items for the BBQ would be appreciated. Donations of good used books (no textbooks) and household items (clean and functioning) are appreciated but we ask that the items be brought to the church on the Friday evening after 6:00 p.m.

ANNUAL ERSKINE CEMETERY SERVICE -

SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH AT 3PM

In the past couple of years, we have not been going up to Erskine for one of the summer months due to accessibility issues, lack of washroom facilities and also our desire for people to find our services on a weekly basis and may not feel comfortable driving up to another spot…and may not come back. This is part of our desire to be welcoming to people at all times. So our annual service at Erskine, in which families come to remember their loved ones who have joined the great cloud of witnesses is not only for them…but also a chance as part of our outreach to keep memory along with them. All are welcome to come and sing and pray and be part of the many families who treasure this wonderful tradition thanks to the Trustees committee. This wonderful little chapel is part of our heritage and our story…so please be welcome and join us

IN APPRECIATION

Since taking up editing the newsletter at DFUC in September 2011, it has been enjoyable being informed about the happenings of the church. Being newsletter editor during my graduate degrees when I was not able to attend services after a late Saturday night studying enabled me to feel connected to DFUC when I was unable to be physically present at morning service. With new initiatives, I regret that I am no longer able to commit the time towards working on the church newsletter. A big thank-you to our church family for sharing your news with me and for your many years of support. I am excited to welcome Tanya Bhatia as our new newsletter editor starting with the

September issue!

Page 3

Messenger Summer 2016

June 5th Pride Service

As part of our becoming an Affirming congregation, our call to

welcome extends beyond our walls. That welcoming Spirit will

travel to Oshawa on Sunday June 5th as I am part of a church

service with other churches and organizations for the Durham

Pride celebrations. We know all too well that the LGBTQ

community have felt on the margins in their faith lives with

church. So at the invitation of PFLAG Durham themselves we

are going to them with a church service and a chance afterwards

to attend the BBQ and then Dunbarton-Fairport will once more

march in the Pride parade. Worship service will take place at

the Memorial Park Bandshell. They are excited we are willing to

be allies with them. People are welcome to join us for this

service which begins at 10 a.m. but a reminder that the regular

church service will be held here at Dunbarton-Fairport with Ken

FOOTCARE CLINIC

For Seniors & Diabetics by an advanced footcare trained nurse at Dunbarton-Fairport United Church on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016, Wednesday July 27th, and Wednesday, August 24th, 2016. Call Carol in the Church Office at 905-839-7271 to book your appointment. Cost: $24.00 (cash or cheque)

www.wecare.ca

Church at the Pub: Join us on Tuesday June 7th, Tuesday, July 5th, or

Tuesday August 2nd, for Church at the Pub at the Fox Goes Free Pub in Pickering rom 6:30-8:30pm and bring your questions. You buy your meal and join in the

conversation.

JOIN US FOR A POTLUCK PICNIC

From the CE committee:

Members of the congregation are invited to two upcoming events:

1) Sunday June 19th, 2016 the congregation is invited to our annual picnic. Please bring your own blanket or lawn chair and sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

2) Mark your calendars for Saturday September 17th, 2016 for a welcome back pot luck and game night! More information to follow.

~Krista Shepherd

Thank You

A heartfelt Thank You to my wonderful Church Family for all your kind thoughts and prayers prior to my Brother Arthur’s peaceful passing on May 2nd, 2016. We deeply appreciated all the cards, flowers, phone calls, personal visits, and eMails of condolences following our return from Manitoba. My brothers George, from BC ; Ronald, from Manitoba; and I were able to spend some quality time with our eldest Brother Arthur in Dauphin Hospital, sharing stories and memories of our childhood.

Most Sincerely, Marjorie Green (nee: Shaw)

Page 4

Messenger Summer 2016

DUNBARTON-FAIRPORT WOMEN’S SPIRITUAL BOOK CLUB

In June we will be reading "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. Our discussion meeting

will be Thursday June 16, 1:30--3:00 p.m. in McKay Hall.

Upcoming books for the rest of 2016/2017 are:

September "They Left Us Everything" by Plum Johnson (non-fiction)

October "The Snow Child" by Eowyn Ivey

November "God Has A Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time" by Desmond Tutu (non-fiction)

January 2017 "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S.Lewis (children's)

All women of the congregation are welcome to check out a discussion meeting, and/or to read along with the group (even if you cannot make the discussion meeting). Of course, we always

welcome new members.

Our discussion meetings are the third Thursday of the month, 1:30--3:00 pm., except for July, August and December. We use the public library system exclusively, so no one has to purchase a

book--we share the available copies.

For more information about the Book Club, please see any member of the group. For a copy of the June book, please contact Susan Neal.

SUMMER 2016 DATES

Sunday June 5th Pride Event in Oshawa at10 am

Tuesday, June 7th Church at the Pub

Sunday June 12th UCW Potluck Lunch at 12 noon

Sunday, June 12th Erskine Cemetery Service

Saturday, June 18th Summer Spectacular Garage Sale

Sunday, June 19th Congregation BBQ after service

Tuesday July 5th Church at the Pub at 6:30 pm

Tuesday August 2nd Church at the Pub at 6:30 pm

Church office vacation: Friday September 2nd to Sunday September 18th

Page 5

Messenger Summer 2016

DUNBARTON-FAIRPORT PRESBYTERY SUPPORT SUNDAY

Rev. David Moore and Arthur Smith • Notes • April 24, 2016

Worship

The service was reasonably well attended with a wide range of age groups in attendance. The congregation was engaged and responsive. There is an excellent music ministry and the Music leader, Dawn Duncliffe, was a great help in getting acclimatized before service and in leading worship.

The worship space is unique in Lakeridge Presbytery with its circular design. Presiding was a joy as I could move freely through the congregation without ever losing sight lines. The arts ministry was evident on the walls and made the worship environment all the more vibrant with colour and brilliant imagery.

Luncheon

Following service, the congregation gathered in the “Upper Hall” (Former sanctuary). A cold lunch was provided, offering a variety of cold cuts, salad, sandwiches, veggies and cheese.

Discussion

Arthur Smith led the discussion after lunch. The majority of the congregation stayed and there was good response to all of Arthur’s questions and comments. No one dominated and there was sharing from all ages (with the exception of the children) and genders. There is a good awareness of both strengths and weaknesses. The whole discussion took place with ease and gentle good humour.

GROWING EDGES

The congregation understands that the places for improvement start with what they have and are now.

The would like to grow membership and understand this would mean evangelism

They feel there is a need in the community for more support groups

There is an awareness that the church grounds could be used more effectively for ministry to the community, perhaps a community garden?

Would like to see development of programs for pre-teens before they are lost

Would like to have a more integrated arts ministry

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

They know that there could be an increased sense of partnership with renters, particularly the Evangelical congregation that meets in the church on Sunday afternoons.

They see possibilities of expanding ecumenical and interfaith relationships modelled on the refugee support program

Members are participating in an open air service prior to the Oshawa Pride Parade this spring

Page 6

Messenger Summer 2016

BLESSINGS

Arthur asked the congregation to identify what they perceived to be their blessings.

These were identified as:

The people

Their outreach projects

Footprints

Refugee sponsorship

Safe Space

AA

Scouts

Daycare

Owl Tutoring

Afghan ESL classes

Their wider community involvement

Support foodbanks

The Back Door Mission

Partnership with other Faith Communities for Refugee project

PFlag involvement

Their Faith Life

Blessing of the Animals

Bible Study groups

Arts Ministry

Music Ministry and choir

Being an Affirming Congregation

Their Social Media presence

Their Minister – They love Jeff!

ROOF REPAIR

There will be a quick congregational meeting after church on June 12th to discuss a planned major roof repair and to obtain funding for it. Currently MacKay Hall has 2 places where it leaks badly but the rest of the flat roof is also weak and spongy and the entire flat roof (except parts over the daycare infant room) needs a major repair. At this writing we intend to approach the Extension Council of the Lakeridge Presbytery to help with the funding – more details on the 12th. Please plan to attend this meeting. From

Stewards, Trustees and Building Management

UPCOMING UCW POTLUCK

Both units are planning a joint Potluck lunch after

church (after the congregational meeting). All ladies

of the congregation are invited to a potluck lunch in

the upper auditorium.

BAZAAR – OVER THE

SUMMER

There will be a lot more about the fall bazaar which is the church’ largest fundraiser each year (about $14,000) in the fall newsletters. Over the summer, if you are doing any preserves, please save a few jars for the Country Store. The Pins and Needles table will also be looking for items top sell too, so this can also be

worked on.

Are you in need of

gluten free bread for

communion? In our

desire to make sure

everyone is able to

fully participate in

communion do you

have a gluten

allergy? Could you

please let Carol know

at the office and we

can arrange to have a

gluten free option

available when we

have communion.

Page 7

Messenger Summer 2016

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Information regarding Vacation Bible School for this year and our partnership with Peace Lutheran, Pickering: Dear Jeff: We would be delighted to have your young people join us for “Christmas in July” VBS – The most joyful week of the summer! I have attached our flyer (prints two per page to facilitate inviting friends) and registration form. I believe they contain all the pertinent information but if any of your parents have questions they can certainly email me here at home. We encourage families to complete the registration form and drop it with a cheque (no cash please) in the church mailbox which is located to the left of the glass doors facing the Tim’s drive-thru. Registration is first-come-first-served. Christmas in July is a home-grown VBS that we dreamt up to excite our young people about Christmas hymns. Thankfully they know the story, but we thought we’d all benefit from exploring the whole narrative in one week without competition from school concerts and family functions. Our first VBS team meeting is this Sunday, May 29th where we’ll finalize the curriculum and the various teams will present their ideas. So the following outline could change a

little, but generally we plan to cover:

Monday – Advent – John the Baptist and/or Elizabeth and Zechariah

(may vary by age group)

Tuesday – Christmas – The angel comes to Mary; Mary visits

Elizabeth

Wednesday – Christmas – No room at the Inn and birth of Jesus

Thursday – Christmas – Shepherds and angels

Friday – Epiphany – Magi and “wise men still seek Him”

Although some of our “traditions” such as a Christmas tree, Advent

Wreath and a Kings Cake are likely to creep into the peripheries,

the focus is the gospel message. Our decorations will primarily be

Bethlehem and our crafts will support the bible story. We operate

a typical rotational format VBS with the children organized by age

group. I’m still waiting on confirmation of one “station” but we

will definitely have craft, games, snack and a bible lesson station

sandwiched between opening and closing worship. We will be

singing many of the traditional Christmas hymns to familiar tunes

but with contemporary instrumentation on a sing-along DVD.

God bless,Helen Ehlers, Peace Lutheran Church, VBS Director 2016

JUNE CALENDAR FOR

SOCIAL

JUSTICE

Italian Heritage Month

Portuguese Speaking Heritage Month

1 June: Intergenerational Day

5 June: World Environment Day (UN)

6 June: Ramadan (Islam)

12-13 June: Shavuot (Judaism)

12 June: World Day Against Child Labour Day (UN)

17 June: World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought (UN)

17-26 June: LGBTTQQI2S Pride Week

20 June: World Refugee Day (UN)

20 June: Solstice – Litha/Yule (Wicca/Pagan)

21 June: National Aboriginal Day (Canada)

24 June: St-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec and Francophone Culture)

26 June: International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking (UN)

Page 8

Messenger Summer 2016

When Churches Want a Pastor Who Can “Bring

In Young Families”

By Jan Edmiston, DMin ’01

(March 12, 2015)

Almost every church I’ve ever known has wanted to Attract Young Families. The reasoning behind this includes the following:

If we don’t regenerate, everyone will eventually get old and die.

It’s energizing to have young people around.

Younger members can do the work that older members can’t/won’t do anymore.

Older members tend to be on fixed incomes and younger working members are needed for their pledges.

Young families (i.e. mom, dad, and kids) remind us of church when we were (or wish we were) part of young families.

There are a few things wrong with this reasoning, including the fact that “attracting” people in general feels manipulative – as if people are “targets” to be used for our own purposes. Yuck.

Let’s be honest about the “why?” Are we saying that we want these rare and valuable Young Families for what they can give to us?

What if – instead – the “why” of this demographic quest was about feeding souls and sharing authentic community? I always hoped – as a young mom – that church would provide adults that could help me nurture my children. I always wanted to know that – if my kids couldn’t come to me or HH with a problem – they would have other trustworthy adults to whom they could go (and they did.)

Instead of seeking a Pastor who can bring in those vaunted Young Families, we need to call a Pastor who knows how to shift congregational culture. The culture in which we live and move and have our being has changed, but we are killing ourselves trying to maintain a dated congregational culture.

Page 9

Messenger Summer 2016

News flash: Most pastors will fail at “Bringing in Young Families.” Families of every kind are drawn to communities that are in touch with real life. For example, check out Carey Nieuwhof’s recent post about why even committed Christians do not worship as regularly as they did in previous decades. At least two of his “10 Reasons” specifically impact cultural changes connected to Young Families.

So how can we be the kind of congregation that welcomes Young Families for more than their energy and wallets? We can:

1. Be real. Deal with real issues in sermons, classes, retreats, conversations, prayers.

2. Listen to parents’ concerns. Listen to children’s concerns.

3. Ask how we can pray for them. And then pray for them.

4. Allow/encourage messiness. Noses will run and squirming will ensue. There might be running. There will definitely be noise.

5. Check our personal Stink Eye Quotient. Do we grimace when a baby cries? Do we frown when the kids are wearing soccer uniforms?

6. Refrain from expecting everyone to be the church like we have always been the church.

7. Help parents, grandparents, and all adults become equipped to minister to children and youth. How can we learn to offer such loving hospitality to the younger people in our midst that they will always experience church as home?

8. Do not use children as cute props. Yes they say the darndest things during children’s stories, but they are

not there to entertain us.

9. Give parents a break. Really. Help struggling parents get coats and hats on their kids. Hold an umbrella. Assist in wiping spills.

Give parents a break administratively. Make it easy to participate. Minimize the unnecessary.

It’s also okay not to have Young Families in our congregations depending on the context. Some neighborhoods have very few young ones living nearby. But there are still people who crave some Good News.

I want a Pastor who can minister to whoever lives in the neighborhood in the thick of these cruel and beautiful times.

https://columbiaconnections.org/2015/03/12/when-churches-want-a-pastor-who-can-bring-in-young-families/

-----

"Imagine if every church wanted a pastor who could bring in broken people...now that's a church." What a great article for us to read and reflect on and offer your comments. What would this church look like if we did? ~ Reverend Jeff (May 12th)

Information received by the Church Office regarding Summer Youth Employment: Based on our collective goal to support youth in the community, on April 1, Employment Ontario will be

launching two new student programs in Ajax for Summer 2016:

• Youth Job Connection (YJC): summer component helps barriered students (15-18 years old find summer

jobs [www.vpi-inc.com/yjc]

• Youth Job Link (YJL): year-round program which helps non-barriered youth including students (15-29 years old) find jobs throughout the year and for the summer [www.vpi-inc.com/yjl] Please note that the deadline to register for this year's YJC summer component is April 22, 2016 and registration for the YJL program is open all year-round. If you're currently working with unemployed youth, please let them know about these opportunities and ask them to contact us for more information: [email protected] or 1-800-

336-9500

Page 10

Messenger Summer 2016

JUNIOR CONGREGATION

Starting June 5th, we will be having our Junior Congregation program for the summer months. All the materials will be supplied for you to teach the lesson. If you have something else that you think the children would enjoy doing that would be wonderful. A sign up sheet is available in the narthex or

speak to Christine Collins.

HELP NEEDED!

Volunteers are requested to assist in the Nursery at the Church on Sunday mornings. Please speak to Christine Collins for more information about this wonderful opportunity to connect with our congregation's

youngest members.

Bridges Kinder Connection

Daycare Opportunities

Bridges Kinder Connection Daycare is a family owned daycare that has been in operation for over 30 years. As you may know, we are located at Dunbarton-Fairport United Church.

We Are Government Licensed, Spaces May Be Limited, Before and After School Programs, Summer Camp Program and Subsidies Are Available.

We welcome enquiries regarding daycare spaces or employment opportunities.

Infants (3 months) to 12 years of age.

Please check out our website at www.bridgeskinderconnection.com.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (905) 831-9161.

The Crafty Ladies, and the Bazaar “Pins and Needles” table display case is open year round for all your shopping needs.

They are always looking for donations of new baby outfits in pink, white, and unisex colours.

Now accepting used Greeting Cards for any occasion (not just Christmas).

"There's nothing like the feeling of June sunshine on your face. It somehow seems to make the world a kinder, gentler place but there's a special kind of warmth on which we can depend to stay with us the whole year through - the warmth of a true Friend."

Thank you my church family for allowing me to be at the Festival Of Homiletics this week in Atlanta. It did my spirit much good. ~ Reverend Jeff Doucette (May 17th)

PLANTING SUNDAY

Church school planting of the church gardens takes place on Sunday, June 5th during the worship service. Please dress appropriately for the task and the weather. Donations of plants, annuals and perennials, as well as funds to purchase additional plants are greatly appreciated.

SUMMER WALKING GROUP IS BACK!

Licorice Lace-Ups, our Wednesday evening walking group has resumed at 6:30 p.m. Contact Carol at the church for more information.

Page 11

Messenger Summer 2016

St. Paul's on the Hill Community Food Bank are in need of the following items:

Coffee (Instant), Tea bags, Breakfast cereal, Cookies, Peanut butter, jam, Cheez Whiz, Sugar, Rice, Flour, Meal Helpers (Sidekicks etc.), Lunch snacks, Desserts (muffin or cake mix,), Canned fruit, (No canned pineapple), Jello, Pudding, Juice (28 oz), Dry soup (Mr. Noodle, etc.), Kraft Dinner, Canned pasta, Baked beans, Pasta sauce, Stew, chili and hearty soups, Canned vegetables (No corn), Diapers (size 4 and pull-ups), Infant cereal and jarred foods (fruits and jr.), Supplement Drinks (Boost, Ensure, Pediasure etc). Please note: We do NOT require: Dry

pasta, canned corn, pancake mix, Tetra drink boxes, saltine crackers

To find out what the Food Bank currently needs check out their web page at

http://www.stpaulsonthehillfoodbank.ca/currently-needed.php

We request that all donated food be non-perishable in good condition and with current expiry

dates (watch your Best Before dates). Thanks!

COLLECTIONS IN THE NARTHEX

In the alcove to the right of the main doors, the United Church Women have collection bins for hygiene items (travel size), eyeglasses (not cases), pop tabs, Campbell’s soup labels, postage stamps,

clean milk bags and bread tags.

We also have the rolling bins for the Food Bank (box

has a list of suggestions)

Simcoe Street United Church Back Door Mission: Especially needed at this time: peanut butter, store-bought bags/containers of cookies, good condition shoes/running shoes, windbreakers/sweatshirts,

they are always in need of socks

Minister’s Discretionary Fund

A special thanks for your continued support to this fund that is used to help people who call upon us in need. Monies collected are used to buy grocery cards as well as small purchases for those in need. You can simply put your donations in an envelope (cheques made out to Dunbarton-Fairport United with a byline of Minister’s Discretionary Fund) and you will receive a tax receipt and our fund will grow to continue to help people.

OUR NEW CHURCH WEBSITE!

Our new website [http://www.dunbartonfairport.on.ca/] is now up and running. Same address but with a whole new look. We are looking for feedback so let the Church Office know what you like, what you don't like and what you would like to see added or changed. It is very easy to update the event menu. Please remember that to keep the site current, Jeff and the church office must be kept in the loop, so remember to share your info and update any changes you make to your programs. A big thank you to Will Taylor for his many years of keeping us on the web and as he continues to consult on our new site.

DONATIONS

Page 12

Messenger Summer 2016

Add Your Voice to Canada's Climate Plan The Government of Canada is asking Canadians what we want to see in a national climate action plan. This is a concrete opportunity for us to live into God's call to love and care for the Earth. You can easily submit your ideas using the web-based Climate Consultation Template developed by Citizens for Public Justice. The template contains proposed recommendations and an invitation to reflect on personal connections to climate change. Go to cpj.ca/climate-consultation to be part of the conversation!

“No Scents makes sense”.

More and more we have

people who struggle with

scents and allergies and it

keeps them from being able to

worship as they would like.

So I am asking us to be aware

of others and to refrain from

scented perfumes, soaps,

deodorants etc. Thanks.

We are

bringing to

your

attention

the

following

request,

and hoping

that as an

affirming/

affirm-

friendly

church, you

will help

promote /

participate

/ sponsor!

"There's never been a better time to find a bit of shade then pour a nice long drink -perhaps a cooling lemonade and raise a glass to friendship, to a peaceful summer, and happy times to come with friends who turn grey skies to blue."

Page 13

Messenger Summer 2016

A LETTER TO MY GRADE 8 SELF FROM 2016

Dear Jeff entering into high school…

You don’t know me…well you do as I am you but in the year 2016. As you enter into high school on the first day in 1976 I wanted to write you with a list of do’s and don’ts from the future. You will thank me. Trust me you will thank me.

First yes go ahead and think Herb Tarlek, salesman supreme of the TV show WKRP In Cincinnati is hilarious. Laugh all you want but do NOT I repeat do NOT think his sports jacket is cool and be excited when you found a similar one at the store to wear for your graduation picture. You will regret it every time you are older and look at your picture. And despite what you thought about Carl Parson and Con Durepos as barbers in Plaster Rock…either one of them would have done a better job than whomever attacked your hair.

No matter how bored you get in grade nine math with Mr. Sewell…do not snoop in his desk and find thr alarm clock thinking you can set it to go off in another class. Someone thought the same thing and it will go off in your hands. Oh and you will hate the poems Desiderata and If by Rudyard Kipling because you will spend many periods in front of them copying them because of your misbehaving in class.

Oh and don’t take Business in senior high. You may think that because you liked to play with dad’s receipt box that you will have a career in accounting. A hint…Enron will not be a good company. Oh and you will probably not want to take shop…you will be even worse as an adult with power tools. The name plate you will be so proud of to put on the basement door downstairs will mock you for years. Oh and don’t even think of College prep…you will suck so bad at Grade 9 Alegebra…and in cas you do not know…you can blow things up in chemistry…not a good idea to combine you, Bunsen burners and chemicals.

You will not be a partier…and that will be good. Later in life you will gag on your first and only sip of beer…you will struggle to stay awake on two glasses of wine and that will be embarrassing at dinner parties. The one party you will go to…take a six pack of diet Hires Root Beer. Stick to that…people will laugh at you but trust me…they will tell stories of waking up on the kitchen counter from drinking and falling asleep…you will tell stories of drinking Hires Root Beer.

Someone will convince you dressing up as Kermit the frog will be a good idea. And for some reason someone might will tell you that you are capable of making your own costume. So with lots of green material and ping pong balls as eyes you will look like…green material with ping pong balls. And if this is not bad enough…it will give you taste for dressing up in costumes. Without giving your life away you will dress up as a Mother Superior, a blond Viking woman, a lobster, a leprechaun, the Bouctouche Bush Monster, a mad scientist and a pile of yard leaves. Just sayin…..

Page 14

Messenger Summer 2016

Someone will also convince you that you would make a good actor. Your first foray into the world of the Bard will not be Shakespeare…but a quirky western comedy in grade 8 with Mr. Zinck called “The Liife and Death of Sneaky Fitch” The play will be cancelled because a Pentecost boy would show his mother the script and when the words “Some Son of a Bitch stole my suit!” were discovered…well the curtain closed on the production. You might think you got short changed and that maybe the future would reward you for the missed opportunity…NOPE! Your claim to fame will be much later on in years as you are 50 and you will play the part of the innkeeper at the church Christmas play and forget two lines…one that Mary was pregnant and about to give birth. Thank God a teenager will remember his and your lines.

Don’t try to eat and walk. You will try and eat peanuts while walking down the stairs to the amphitheatre. You will fail miserably and be a footnote in the “remember when” in your year book. Your capacity to walk and eat will not get any better in the future either.

Stick with your love of music and the classic sounds of the Eagles, the Stones, Rod Stewart, Queen…in the future, there will be twerking, Bieber fever and NickelBack.

You always longed for a dog…hahahahahahahahahahaha is all I can say 40yrs later.

You will hate delivering papers during high school mostly because of comments from a certain science teacher…but in 2016 you will wish you were back to doing that some days…you really will.

You will take a test to see what you should do as a career. You will find out you would make a good funeral director or an airline flight attendant. You will do neither but both wrapped into one job 40yrs later. You might have wanted to work harder on learning how to do things with your hands your health might have been safer because of what you chose to do eventually.

Through high school you will be shy and reserved and afraid to speak…later on in life no one will be able to shut you up.

They say High School were the best years of your life. Those are the people who drank a lot and woke up on kitchen counters and did not make it to class often. 0-5 years of age were the best years of your life...trust me...trust me...trust me!

Your older and wiser self,

Jeff

From Reverend Jeff’s new blog, Souljoy (www.souljoy.ca)

CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMP

Information regarding Golden Lake Camp. Registration forms are posted in the hallway and more information regarding this Bay of Quinte camp can be found through their website [http://www.goldenlakecamp.ca/]

Page 15

Messenger Summer 2016

Dates to watch for in Fall 2016:

Sunday, September 25th Souper Sundae

Saturday, November 5th Turkey Supper between

5 and 7 pm

Saturday, November 26th ‘Deck Your Halls’ Bazaar and Craft show

FALL EVENTS As we adjourn for summer break, mark your calendars for exciting

Fall 2016 events:

JAM MAKING

Canning for the 2016 bazaar on November 26th has begun. A big thank-you to Michael Maggs for the rhubarb

~Helen Cox

2016 COFFEE HOST SCHEDULE

The lottery for Coffee Hosts for 2016/2017 has been drawn and our amazing hosts are: September - Book Club October - Stewards Committee November - Trustees December - Youth Group January - Building Management February - Worship Committee March - MOA Committee April - Ministry and Personnel Committee May - United Church Women June - Christian Education Committee

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?

fbid=10153446877390163&set=gm.1015357594

6397543&type=3&theater

ONLINE CALENDAR We now have an online events/meeting date calendar [https://calendar.google.com/calendar/[email protected]&ctz=America/Toronto&pli=1]for members to check for upcoming items and reminders. Please remember that this is not a room booking calendar and represents church only events so only is a fraction of what is happening in the building. The information is collected from regular meeting dates, committee minutes, and items submitted to the church office for calendar booking. Please keep us informed so that the calendar can remain accurate. Thank you for your assistance.

A reminder to everyone that if someone is sick at home or in the hospital please let Rev. Jeff

know so he can arrange to check in on them. If he does not know he cannot visit.

Page 16

Messenger Summer 2016

Messenger is published ten times a year (monthly except for the summer issue) usually on the last

Sunday of the month. Contributions - whether written or pictures — are welcomed.

Thank-you to this month’s contributors: Christine Collins, Helen Cox, Rev. Jeff Doucette, Marjorie

Green, Rev David Moore & Arthur Smith, Susan Neal, Carol Taylor & the United Church of Canada.

If you have access to the Internet, you can reduce distribution costs by signing up for convenient electronic delivery. Your newsletter will never be late and you are helping the church reduce its postage and paper cost. Each member of the family can even get their own copy! Contact the

church office or the newsletter editor to have your email address added to the distribution list.

More information to follow for deadline for the September Newsletter. Starting with the September issue, we have a new email for the newsletter editor, Tanya Bhatia, who can be reached at [email protected].

Cover Photo Credit: Brent Brook-Allred, used with permission.

Dunbarton-Fairport United Church, 1066 Dunbarton Road, Pickering, Ontario, L1V 1G8 -

905.839.7271

Minister: Rev. Jeff Doucette

[email protected]

Office Manager: Carol Taylor

[email protected]

Church Fax: 905.839.7288 Website: www.dunbartonfairport.on.ca/

dfunited

Director of Music: Dawn Duncliffe

[email protected]

Newsletter Editor: Lynn Ikeda

Newsletter E-mail: [email protected]

Rev. Jeff’s blog: www.jeffdoucette.webs.com

Are you an Adherent and have thought about becoming a full member of the United Church? Do you need to transfer your membership from one congregation to become part of ours? Contact the office for more

details on how to do this.

P.A.R. is the Pre-Authorized Remittance programme, which allows for an automated monthly transfer of funds from your designated financial institution to Dunbarton-Fairport United Church. Information and enrollment forms are available on the table in the narthex. A completed form, along with your voided cheque, must be returned to the P.A.R. Coordinator, Brenda McLaughlin at 905-420-6521,

[email protected]. For more information, please contact Brenda!

Visits to the sick in hospitals and home bound. If you know of folks in our congregation who are in need of

a visit please contact the office. Rev. Jeff depends on your help. He does love to visit.

Baptisms: If you are interested in having your children baptized, please contact the church office to speak to Rev Jeff or see him after services. Also anyone who is an adherent and interested in joining the church

officially, Rev Jeff would love to chat about this with you.

Rev Jeff and Dunbarton-Fairport United church are on social media spreading the love? Check us out. Like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/groups/2368087542/ . Follow us on Twitter Rev. Jeff

@revjeffdoucette Dunbarton-Fairport on twitter @DFUnited