She didn’t recognize him. Somehow, she didn’t recognize him. What THE MEETING PLACE had happened to Jesus over those three days in the tomb such that March, 2009 Mary no longer knew him when she saw him? Was it the experience ______of the betrayal and his death that marked him in such a way that Jesus United Church Newsletter had become unrecognizable to her? Events do that. The things that we face in our life change us. The birth of a child. The death of a Thanks to all those who suggested names for the newsletter. The choice of parent. A traumatic accident. Somehow, we change. Perhaps we don’t The Meeting Place echoes our hope that the contents of this publication even recognize ourselves after “it” happens. Was this what happened will grow to be a written embodiment of our Centretown United Vision: to Jesus? … a Christian meeting place of spirit, faith, and community for all Scripture and the early Christian Theologians were very clear that … rooted and recognized in Central as a place to nurture spirituality and question the values of secular society Jesus really died – he didn’t just appear to die on the cross. He was … all who enter find something meaningful to their lives and experience a dead, dead, dead and laid in a tomb. The Apostles’ Creed speaks to loving community in times of celebration, fun, joy and sorrow. this claim by saying that Jesus “descended to the dead”. If the joys and the struggles of this life can change us, then what changes might From the Ministers’ Desk be visited on us by death? Did the harrowing of hell so put its mark upon Jesus that he was unrecognizable? 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, While these two explanations might account for a part of the reason, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent there is another element at work: the transforming action of the Spirit over to look into the tomb of Life. God’s Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. He was “made new” – 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had not just fixed up a bit, but made new . It is no wonder that Mary been, one at the head and the other at the foot. doesn’t recognize Jesus. She is looking for the old Jesus as she 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken remembers him. Until she is willing to see that Jesus is not the same, my Lord away”, she said, “and I don't know where they have put she cannot recognize him for whom he really is – nor can she claim a him.” relationship with Jesus in his transformed life. It is only when Jesus 14 At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she greets her that she is able to see him for who he really is in this “new did not realise that it was Jesus. life”. Though she wants to hang on to him, Jesus tells her that she 15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are cannot – the demands of his transformed life require that their looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you relationship be redefined – he must return to God. She becomes a have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I witness to the other disciples about what she has seen in the garden will get him.” that day, and whom she has met. 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). God is working resurrection through us. This is what God does. This 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to is what God is always doing, in the power of that first resurrection the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am event that took place two millennia ago, to which John bears faithful returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your witness. God is working resurrection through us. We may not God.” recognize ourselves when God’s through with us. This is hard. We 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: I have seen like our former life. We know its shape, its contours. But it is no the Lord! And she told them that he had said these things to her. longer our life. Our life now belongs to God in Christ. God has (John 20: 10-18) claimed it. We may no longer be recognizable in our new “way of being in the world for the world”. There is loss, but there is blessing as well. Are we willing to see our becoming unrecognizable as a cuts them off from Jerusalem. The Cities at Peace project builds blessing that comes from being embraced by the Spirit of the God of relationships and understanding between Arab and Jewish young new life? The journey does not end in the tomb, and neither does it people from neighbouring communities. I met members of Rabbis for end in the garden. Jesus goes on to be with God, whose life is love Human Rights, Palestinian, Christian ecumenical groups, and Arab without end. And praise God, so can we. Amen. women’s organizations, all seeking peaceful solutions to the violence, fear, and injustice that are part of daily life. UNITED FOR PEACE CAMPAIGN In Colombia, we visited Methodist Church leaders who are helping A letter from the The Right Rev. , Moderator to heal individuals and communities wounded by the horror of forced Dear Friends, disappearances and executions. In Nicaragua, the Antonio Valdivieso I greet you in the name of the One whom we call “the Prince of Ecumenical Centre works to heal those who were traumatized by civil Peace.” Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be war. All of these people—and countless others around the world—are called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We’re all in favour of peace as peacemakers, children of God, and our friends. Their hope has been an idea. I am writing to call on you to take action, to be a peacemaker raised and their spirits lifted by the United Church commitment to in the world. One of the ways you can do that is by getting involved in being united with them for peace. We cannot let them down. the United for Peace Campaign. I am writing to invite you and your congregation to respond to The United for Peace Campaign was adopted during General God’s call to be peacemakers and to take an active role in the United Council 2006 in response to our heartache about the long history of for Peace Campaign. In this mailing, you will find resources that violence in Israel and Palestine. Commissioners committed the address the General Council commitment to call on the Canadian church to raising $1 million for peace activities there. The United government to take action for peace. The United for Peace website Church of Canada also committed to learning about root causes of also continues to offer a variety of excellent educational and violence and the work of our global partners in the Middle East. And fundraising resources. the church promised to call on our own Canadian government to “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed work for peace around the world. Since then, the Executive of General you were called in the one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 Council broadened the scope of the campaign to include peacemaking activities in other parts of the world and raised the campaign goal THE FAITH FORMATION COMMITTEE from $1 million to $2 million. Easter Congregational Breakfast As your Moderator, I have visited our partners in Israel and Everyone is invited for breakfast in the dining hall at 9:00 am Palestine, and in Nicaragua and Colombia. During those visits I heard following the Easter morning “sunrise” service. Breakfast stories of both despair and hope. I shared our intention to financially will be cooked and served by the youth and children of the senior class with help from their adult sous-chefs. The youth are offering this breakfast in support, learn about, and advocate for their efforts for peacebuilding. support of two other young people, members of our congregation, who will Project proposals from partners in those and other places of violence be volunteering their time this spring and summer in mission-service trips. have been arriving steadily. Mary Fee , who is graduating from Glebe High school this June, will travel Unfortunately, financial contributions to the fund have not. Less than to Kenya, Africa in August as part of a cross-cultural initiative to build a 10 percent of our goal has been achieved. At the November 2008 school while working with members of the local rural community. This is meeting of the Executive of General Council, an additional $25,000 a program organized through Free the Children . Participants are from was committed from the Mission and Service Fund to promote the across Canada and volunteer with this non-governmental organization to United for Peace Campaign. The work is too important to neglect. aid community development, expose young Canadians to international In Palestine and Israel, I met children who attend schools in development issues and improve their teamwork and leadership skills. refugee camps in Bethlehem. These schools are run by United Church partners. I saw the murals they had painted on the towering wall that Camille Audet , a fourth year student at Trent University studying to To sign up: If you would like to participate, contact Linda Pollock (613- become a teacher, is volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in early May. 232-0370, [email protected] ) or Lenore Porter (613-248-0271, Camille will help to build a house for a family in New Orleans who lost [email protected]). their home to hurricane Katrina. Faith Formation Committee wants to thank Jane Ambridge for finding the There will be a free will offering at the breakfast and all proceeds will go perfect change table for the Nursery. Thank you too to the Sunday school to defer some of Mary and Camille’s travel costs. Please come and enjoy teachers who are doing a spring clean-up in the Nursery during March. breakfast prepared by the children, meet these young people, and encourage them in their outreach ministries. Special Holy Week Services of Worship Camp Kalalla For Girls April 5 - 10:30 am Palm Sunday worship service with Bruce McLelland has registration order forms for Camp Kalalla. There are Holy Communion two, 10-day camp sessions this summer July 21-31 and August 4-14 for April 9 - Maundy Thursday 5:30 pm Pot luck dinner followed by girls aged 10 to 15 years old. Applications must be received and Communion with hand washing in the Dining Hall. confirmed by the registrar a minimum of 2 weeks prior to camp. (Everyone is asked to bring either a main dish or a salad or a dessert.) Centretown Book Group “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” April 10 - Good Friday. 1:15 pm Walk with the Cross followed by – W. H. Auden, First Things First 2:00 pm Worship Service in the Sanctuary We are baptized with water. Water is a sacred symbol of our faith. March April 12 - Easter Sunday. 8:30 am Worship service 22 is World Water Day. The Centretown Book Group is reading the book 9:00 am Breakfast in the Dining Hall Blue Covenant- the Global Water Crisis and the Battle for the Right to 10:30 am Worship service Water. Maude Barlow makes a most compelling argument about what will be the greatest environmental and human crisis of the 21st Century - the Upcoming Worship Services global water crisis and ensuring access to safe drinking water as basic April - 26 Worship service led by UCW human right. You will not turn on the tap in the same way after reading this May - 31 - Pentecost with Holy Communion book. Please join us for dessert and discussion at Linda Pollock’s home, 89 Avenue Rd. Ottawa, on Friday, March 27, at 7:30 pm . All are welcome. NEWS FROM THE U.C.W. You can purchase copies of this book from Linda Pollock (613-232-0370) On Monday April 20 the UCW have invited the folks from Centre 507 or get it from the OPL. to dinner. They will be serving casseroles, salad, garlic bread,

followed by cake and ice cream. If you would like to donate food you Lenten Study Group – ECO-CHRISTIANITY can speak to Carole Ambridge, if you would like to donate financially The Centretown Faith Formation Committee invites you to participate in a you can put it on the Sunday offering plate marked 507 Dinner. six week study program “ Experiencing an Ecological Christianity ” based on the book Darwin, Divinity and the Dance of the Cosmos: An Ecological Sunday April 26 is UCW Sunday and Stephanie Coward-Yaskiw will Christianity by Rev. Bruce Sanguin, Minister of Canadian Memorial be our guest speaker. Following the service the ladies will be United Church in Vancouver. providing a simple lunch. Everyone is welcome! Dates, time and location: The program will be held between 12 and 2 pm starting on Sunday, March 15, 2009 and continuing each Sunday until April The UCW meets at 7:30 pm in the Lounge on the first Monday of 26 th , excluding Easter Sunday. All sessions will be held in the Lounge of each month from September to June. The evening includes a time Centretown, 507 Bank St., except the sessions on April 5 th and April 26 th of Worship, an interesting program, a short business meeting and of which will be held in the Kindergarten room. We suggest that participants course refreshments and conversation. If you don't already attend, bring a brown bag lunch to each session. the ladies would be pleased to have you join them. For more information or to organize a drive please speak to Nancy Desjardins Congratulations to Gail and Doug Thompson who recently celebrated their or Beatrice Moffitt. 35 th wedding anniversary.

JOINT SEARCH COMMITTEE The first meeting of the Joint Search Committee has been called by Presbytery in preparation to call a new minister by the summer of 2009. The Presbytery members are Rev. Gordon Roberts and Bryan Giffin. Centretown United Church Centretown members are: David Boal, Joan Fletcher, Myrtle Fraser, Mary 507 McDowell, Bruce McLelland, Susan McIntyre and Barbara Potter-Angus. Ottawa, Ont K2P0C2 Congregational feedback and input will always be welcome during the 613-232-9854 process. www.centretownunited.org

WHERE’S THAT SIGN? Minister - The Rev Shaun Yaskiw Wondering how to tell where Centretown United is? A sign company has - [email protected] been engaged to produce designs for a new sign for the church building. Office administrator - Nancy Desjardins Once received, they will be informally submitted to the Heritage - [email protected] Coordinator with the City of Ottawa for feedback before a formal Organists and Music Directors -Brenda Beckingham application for a sign permit will be submitted. As with most changes to -Elaine Graham the church building, there are many approvals before installation can take place. So please be patient in knowing that the sign is on its way. Church Council for 2009 Council Chair - Ian MacAllister Vice Chair - Joan Fletcher Ramp update Past Chair - Harold Curry We now have the plans narrowed down from three options to the Secretary- Barbara Potter-Angus final one. For a great number of reasons, the ramp will now extend straight out from the building rather then go up against it. Presently we are waiting for information from CCOC, the agency who holds Committee Chairpersons the land lease to our parking lot. Once we get the information, our Faith Formation - Linda Pollock architect will proceed to contact the City of Ottawa. Finance/Stewardship - Margaret (Peg) Craig Membership/Pastoral Care - Jean MacAllister NEWS FROM THE PEWS Ministry and Personnel - Jim Fee Mission and Outreach - Susan McIntyre We offer our best wishes to newlyweds Property - Duncan Lunan and Brenda Smith who were married at Centretown Worship - Harold Curry United on March 7, 2009 and

Robin Lawrance and Margaret Fitzgerald who were married at Other Committees Centretown United on Saturday March 14, 2009. Joint Search Committee - Susan McIntyre We also extend congratulations to: Ark-M Club - Carol Ambridge new grandmother Deborah Rosenlund on the birth of her grandson UCW - Nancy Desjardins William Kyle Rosenlund and new grandparents Mary and Rod McDowell and the birth of their baby grandson Logan Anthony Scarella. Logan’s parents are Dino and Tracy.