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More and more people are being vaccinated and by fall, surely, we should be able to return to our church building, but will there be anyone there? Will there be anyone to take up collection and help count the offering and to do all the various tasks it takes for us to have a service? Over the past months, I've asked for volunteers. A few offered to read Scripture and some to light the Christ Candle during our Zoom services, but what about when we are back together again? What about our fundraisers? Will we have any? If not, how do we pay our bills and maintain our building and the manse (which requires numerous repairs)? Where are the family members in our Aylmer United Church family? I don't know about when you were growing up, but when I was, we all had roles to play and chores to do and were active in church work as well - teaching Sunday School, washing dishes, making loaves and loaves of sandwiches and baking for teas and sales, funerals and special occasions, baking for dinners and pot-luck meals. What has happened to us in the congregation of Aylmer United Church. I think - just my opinion - but too few people have taken on the burdens for the rest. How many (other than those who have been doing it for years) will write to say "Count me in, I'll do it." when we ask for someone to organize a Christmas Bazaar or dinner, or to help in all the many ways needed. Should I hold my breath? As Chair of our Church Council, I want to keep this congregation together, but I wonder how with about 30 coming to our Zoom services - and several of them not part of our congregation. What more can I do than I am doing? What more can your Council do? Looking forward to hearing from you (aylmeruchurch@gmail.com or 819-685-0656). God bless, Ellen
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The greatest gardener of all is God the Almighty, the Creator of all things. At Coffee Fellowship on Sundays since spring arrived, we often talk about gardening and I offered to send the link to the daily gardening message I receive from The Old Farmer's Almanac and here it is Sign Up for The Almanac Daily Companion. It is full of interesting things about planning, planting, harvesting, insects - good and bad - and has nice recipes. I enjoy reading it each morning. Are you ready - are you ready to harvest what you sow? We don't have to plant actual seeds and raise flowers, vegetables, and trees to sow - we can sow our good deeds and share our beliefs as we walk God's paths and hopefully grow our church. Remember the parable of the good seed? There are so many people who do just that and work for all the rest of us in so many ways to keep our United Church of Canada functioning. This past week on Wednesday, I participated in the EOORC (Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council that replaced the Ottawa Presbytery) Zoom United Church Women (UCW) Annual General Meeting with approximately 50 women who live throughout the region. I've met many of the women in person at UCW Fellowship Days and what an amazing group of women. On Friday and Saturday, I was again at the computer attending the Zoom EOORC AGM (so many acronyms!). There were about 200 people at the meetings and I was amazed at how many I knew at least by name and how many I had actually met through the years. There was a great deal of discussion and many motions passed. In spite of the pandemic, the work of the church goes on. We are truly blessed to have so many dedicated people working on our behalf, sitting on committees and representing their churches at local, regional and national levels. Then on Sunday, more Zoom with church and coffee fellowship with Patricia Power. Our numbers were lower than usual - hopefully people were celebrating their mothers and will come out next Sunday. Let's sow our Aylmer United Church garden and see it grow by coming to church via Zoom - there is lots of room in the garden for you and yours. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday. God bless, Ellen |
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