Life and Work of the St. Paul’s Community for the week of February 5, 2017

"Away in a meadow all covered with snow The little old groundhog looks for his shadow The clouds in the sky determine our fate If winter will leave us all early or late." - Don Halley In our prayers this week:

We pray for David Horn’s continuing recovery at home. We surround Margot and all her family with love and prayers. We continue to pray for the health and well-being of Carol Calvert, Beverley May, Grace Lawrie, Deanna Peacock, Mary Rose, Eleanor Wilson, Julia and Peggy Winn.

Church Calendar 7:00 p.m. Community Forum: Minimalism 7:00 p.m. O Town Improv group Friday, February 3rd th 9:00 a.m. John Schwartz filming Thursday, February 9 10:30 a.m. NIA class 8:30 a.m. Telecare workshop 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga Saturday, February 4th 3:00 p.m. Community Forum: Minimalism 12:00 noon Express Yourself Perf. Arts 4:45 p.m. Sunshine Strings rehearsal 1:00 p.m. Bauman Farewell drop in 6:00 p.m. O.Y.S.O. rehearsal 7:00 p.m. N.A. support group Sunday, January February 5th 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal 9:40 a.m. Chancel Choir practice th 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Jim McKean Friday, February 10 8:30 a.m. Telecare workshop Monday, February 6th 10:30 a.m. NIA class 9:00 a.m. Facilities Operations meeting 12:00 noon Orillia is Born wrap up meeting 10:00 a.m. Capital Campaign meeting th 10:00 a.m. Property team meeting Saturday, February 11 12:00 noon Orillia Homeschoolers 12:00 noon Express Yourself Perf. Arts 2:30 p.m. Book Circle th 3:30 p.m. Couchiching Jubilee House Sunday, January February 12 4:30 p.m. Meditation Group 9:40 a.m. Chancel Choir practice 7:00 p.m. Oddfellows Lodge meeting 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 7:30 p.m. N. A. Support Group 12:00 noon Fundraising luncheon for Atrium bar

Tuesday, February 7th Saturday, February 4 drop in to St. Paul’s 10:00 a.m. Teen Town Revisited meeting Banquet Hall between 1—4 p.m. to join us in 10:30 a.m. Floor Yoga wishing the Bauman family well as they prepare 11:30 a.m. Staff meeting to depart for their two year adventure in Nepal. 12:30 p.m. Green Haven drop in group Everyone is invited to contribute some “finger 2:00 p.m. B.R.A.W.C. meeting food” to the party – Cathy Marshall would 6:30 p.m. O.A. Support Group really appreciate hearing from you about what 7:00 p.m. Shout Sister Choir you are bringing so she can balance the menu. See the invitation later in this newsletter. Wednesday, February 8th 9:00 a.m. OSMH cooking group Announcing: Community Forums for 10: 30 a.m. Learning Circle February: We are planning to present two th 6:30 p.m. Brownies/Sparks forums during February. On February 8 , the topic will be Minimalism: How Might Your Life with a revised application form and a small be Better with Less? during which we will watch increase in rates. Minimalism: A Documentary About the The Leadership Team reaffirmed our existing Important Things which shows us people from policy that disposable water bottles should not all walks of life striving to live a meaningful life be brought into St Paul’s. It will take some time with less. On February 22nd, we’ll be watching a to re-educate everyone on this policy and short documentary about Guy Dauncey, the inform our external users. Water is an essential author of the book that the Learning Circle is element of life on our planet and not presently reading Journey to the Future, and something that should be bought or sold by discussing some of his ideas and how they fit multinational corporations. with St. Paul’s commitment to eco-justice. We started discussions on the budget for the Vista Gift Cards: The next order for gift cards will be coming year. 2016 financial results are not yet due Sunday, February 5. Order forms at the office or finalized however it appears we will be ending in the Atrium on Sundays. the past year with a small deficit. There are many requests and needs for expenditures in A note from Vista: HMV Inc. is set to close 2017. Careful consideration is being given to all all of its stores within a few months after an Ontario requests based on our values. We will be Superior Court of Justice approved an application to meeting an extra evening in February to finalize place the company into receivership; HMV operates a recommended budget for the annual 102 stores in Canada. HMV’s stores in nine Canadian congregational meeting on March 4, 2017. provinces will remain open for several weeks (the Don Atkinson, Chair end of April most likely) in order to liquidate remaining inventory, the company confirmed Friday. Announcing: Lenten Series: Gathering for VISTA will increase the rebate for $10 HMV cards to the Common Good 4%; this special offer is available on a final sale and Dates: March 19 & 26; April 2 & 9 "first come first serve basis" until supplies last. Format: Sunday afternoon from 4:30 p.m. to HMV stores have marked down all of their in stock 7:30 p.m. items storewide at which they offer movies, CD's, Pot Luck Supper DVD's, headphones, board games, super hero and Appetizer + Intro Question TV themed clothing, prints, records etc. Main Course + Central Question Dessert + Summary Question A Note from your Leadership Team, Closing January 2017 Topics: At the January meeting of the Leadership Team 1. The Common Good as a way of life we had an opportunity to hear from Michael 2. Embracing planetary well-being as a Gordon regarding the increased use of the common good sanctuary over the past few months. There has 3. The common good of right relations been a very positive response from the 4. A common good economy: living simply and community resulting in an increased number of abundantly for the common good bookings between now and June. With more bookings, it has been necessary to update and We hope that many of you will be able to join revise our guidelines for facility users. A clearer us for these meals and conversations in the booking process has been developed along format that was used when was here in September – a leisurely meal and good conversations on important questions. Please Tickets are available at the Opera House or at mark your calendars and plan to be here! the door [Adults $20, students $10, children aged 5-12 $5, children under 5 are free]. Baptism and New Members: On Sunday, February 12th we will welcome new members, Chair Team: celebrate baptism and recognize transfers of The Worship & Ritual Committee is looking to membership. If this applies to you and you put together a roster of people willing to help would like to take part in this service, please move chairs in the Sanctuary. It would involve contact the church office at 705-326-7351. arriving at Church 45 minutes prior to the service to reconfigure the seating and staying a MARIPOSA GRANDMOTHERS are getting half-hour after the service to put them back. ready for our annual book exchange/craft We don’t know exactly how often this would be sale/ café which will be held in the Banquet Hall but now that we have the flexibility to re- on Friday, February 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 arrange the seating it would be nice to have a p.m. – please see the poster later on in this team in place to make this happen without it newsletter. always falling to just one or two people. If you are interested in helping in this way, please Save the Date: On Friday, March 3rd St. Paul’s contact Rachael Howes, Chair of the Committee U.C.W. #1 will be hosting the annual at 705-325-7955. Thank you. ecumenical service to celebrate the World Day of Prayer at 1:30 p.m. in our Sanctuary. The Newfoundland Tour announcement: women of the Philippines have prepared this Would you like to celebrate Canada’s 150th year’s service. Birthday in a spectacular way with other United Church folks and friends? Communion Servers: The Worship Committee Well here is your opportunity. Check out the is looking for anyone who is interested in Newfoundland and Labrador DiscoveryTour at serving communion. We would like to have www.rostad.com with tour hosts Rev. Dr. Bob more people involved in this important part of and Fay Jackson. This is a 12 day tour from our worship service. If this is something you August 17 - 29. 2017. A fully refundable would like to do then please contact Anne $500 deposit made before March 15th will McKean at 705 325 3859 or email entitle you to a $300 discount. [email protected] A Spirit of Inclusion, Reconciliation, Hope: Accomplish something remarkable by doing (written by Ted Reeve for the Vigil Feb 2 2017) something ordinary! Walk with us on Saturday, February 25, 2017 in the Coldest A spirit of inclusion is part of Canada’s DNA. Night of the Year, a super-fun, family-friendly This stems from the First Peoples whose fundraiser that raises money for the hungry, hospitality helped Europeans to survive this homeless, and hurting across Canada. See Irene harsh climate. Green or Betty Noganosh for more information and to pledge. Unfortunately, there are glaring examples of how these settlers did not always carry forward Orillia Concert Band presents ‘Fun with the this inclusive spirit through a 150 years of Family’ at St. Paul’s Centre on Saturday, colonial mindset that excluded Jews, Sikhs, February 25th, at 2:30 PM. All are welcome. Chinese, interned Japanese, and sought to destroy the First Peoples who had been so minister at the Toronto Korean United Church generous. This tainted spirit still exists in our serving the large congregation from 1969 to country and needs to be challenged and 1988. contained. Reconciliation needs to happen. Yet under this misdirection the spirit of Funeral Service was on Wednesday, February 1, inclusion can still define who we are as the 2017 at 11 a.m. at Alpha Korean United Church present peoples of this land. It is at the heart of (300 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON). In lieu of all the great faith traditions of our global flowers, donations to the Mission and Service community. Fund of the or Victoria University/Emmanuel College would be It is why we come together this night. To greatly appreciated for peace, for global mourn the injustice perpetrated at the Islamic harmony, for the well-being of all. Centre in Quebec City and to pray for what, in our hearts, we know is the divine calling for Sunday Women’s Group: The February meeting is goodness in the world. This spirit of love – this being coordinated by Mary Town and she is looking golden rule – calls all of us to our better selves for a couple of co-facilitators to plan the program and to shape our community in this spirit. and assist with the refreshments. Please contact her directly by sending an email

[email protected] or by contacting her at In this spirit we come together in solidarity with 705 326 9337 the families of those killed and injured. With our Muslim sisters and brothers who feel threatened; for all who feel marginalized and demeaned. And with each of us in our yearning

Obituary: The Very Reverend Dr. Sang Chul Lee: It is with sadness that we announce the death of The Very Reverend Dr. Sang Chul Lee on January 28, 2017 at home in Newmarket, Ontario at the age of 92.

Rev. Lee was elected as the President of Toronto Conference in 1985. He served as the 32nd Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1988-1990, and was named Rainbow Chief at the All Native Circle Conference in 1989. He was a Minister at several churches in Korea. Upon arriving in Canada, he was a minister at Steveston United Church. He founded the Korean Harry and Sue Braun in United Church in 1966. He was a longtime

Our gifts for Mission & Service support racial justice and our intercultural journey. As we begin Black History Month or African Heritage Month in Canada, let us celebrate the many contributions of Black people to Canadian society and to the United Church. Let us take time to remember African-Canadian history, the struggles and the haunting legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Black people have been part of the United Church from its beginning and continue to play a vital role in the church today. We celebrate this history by sharing the story of in Montreal, Quebec. This church was created in 1907 and was known as Union Congregational Church. From the start Union led the way in reaching out to the Black railway porters and their families who were segregated from the rest of Montreal, offering them a place of worship and a place to call their own. We sing thanksgiving for the foundation of Black people who have led the way toward The United Church of Canada becoming an intercultural church, a church where all are welcome! If Mission & Service is already a regular part of your giving, thank you so much! If you have not given for Mission & Service, please join me in making Mission & Service a regular part of your life of faith. In all our Mission & Service giving, with a willing heart, we sing thanksgiving to God!

February is a great time to curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and your favourite seed catalog and start planning your spring gardening!

The Mariposa Grandmothers are already starting to collect art for their sale in May – what piece(s) in your possession could to go to a new home while benefitting African grandmothers in the process? Call Ann Downard 705-325-6008.