Please Note that for the public evening events for the Conference of The Hymn Society (mentioned below) you can find the details and links in the events section at:

https://www.firstunitedchurch.ca/events/the-hymn-society/2020-07-12

Friday, July 10th

Dear Family at First,
 
This is my last Sunday before my two weeks of study leave and my month of vacation. There have been many aspects of the past few months that have been very challenging. However, working with Kathleen and Harold on our Sunday services has been very exciting. They are both so skilled at what they do and bring many creative suggestions to the process. I would also like to mention the supporting roles of Sheena and Walt and all of the folks that have contributed to our services with their gifts. Gordon’s contribution to the final hymn on Sunday continues to ring in my ears. 
 
On my list of books to read during my study leave are Lois Wilson’s I Want To Be In That Number, Brian McLaren’s A New Kind Of Christianity and a couple of books by Thomas Berry. For my vacation I have The Love Story Of Missy Carmichael. I hope to spend some time by the lake with my family and marvel in the beauty of God’s creation. 
 
Sending you Love,
Eva

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July 2020 -  A Report on the Search for New Ministers
The board met on Friday July 3 to discuss the resignation of Eva Mezo and how to move forward with ministry at First United.
Eva will be with us until the beginning of September and we need to be working now to have as seamless a change as possible.
While we recognize that these are very different times for all of us, we also have committed to a time of Intentional Interim Ministry and the decision of the board is that we need to continue on that same path with the same compliment of paid ministry. We know that this will be a financial strain on us, but the work is important if we want to move into the future together as a congregation.
The job description for the intentional interim minister is based on having a part-time minister as a member of the ministry team, and the successful candidate for the Intentional Interim positon will need that support to be able to devote the 30% time needed to help us discern the future of our ministry here in Waterloo.
Since we do not want to guess at the outcome of our discernment process, this part-time position will also be an appointment. We cannot in good conscious call a minister to a position that could be very short and could change direction considerably from what it is now.
The transition team was asked to expand their search to also find a part time minister of worship and pastoral care. This made a great deal of sense for a couple of reasons:
  • The process of search is the same for all ministry positions, so there is no point in having two groups doing essentially the same work.
  • It would take more time to find people to serve on a separate search team.
  • The two new ministers will need to be compatible and having the same people interviewing will make that a bit easier to accomplish
Your transition team is up and running. The members from first are Mary Joan Brooker, Greg Case, Shirley Irish, Debora Smith (secretary) and Cathie Stewart Savage (Chair) and we are joined by Carol Stephenson from Western Ontario Waterways Region. Our first, and most pressing task is to find a full time, intentional interim minister, and now, also a part-time minister of worship and pastoral care.
The Intentional Interim Minister position has been posted to the United Church HUB and we have had applications. We will have the part-time position posted soon. 
The members of the Transition Team ask for your support and prayers as they do this work for the congregation.
Cathie
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During Annual Conferences of The Hymn Society, we have customarily extended invitations to members of local churches and the wider community to join us at no charge for our evening hymn festivals. We continue that tradition this year by extending a world-wide invitation for anyone to join us for any or all of the four evening events of our upcoming Annual Conference:
 
Sunday, July 12. Tom Trenney: "Will You Come and Follow Me?"
Monday, July 13. Kim Harris: “African American Freedom Traditions”
Tuesday, July 14. Saya Ojiri: “Songs from Asia”
Wednesday, July 15. Diana Sanchez-Bushong: “Everything Old Is New Again”
 
Please share this information with your church members, colleagues, and friends. Invite them to join us each evening at 7:30 p.m. EDT on either our YouTube channel or on Facebook to view the livestream.

CONTRIBUTE NOW
Just a reminder about offering during this time of physical distance.
 
To get your offering to the office you can use PAR, e transfer, website donation www.firstunitedchurch.ca or send a cheque. Checks can be dropped off at the church mailbox which is located at the Entrance on the William Street side of the building.
 
Also you may send your cheque to
First United Church
16 William St. West
Waterloo ON
N2L 1J3
 
Reminder, credit card companies have a fee of around 3-5%.  If you wish First to get the full amount, then please add that percentage to your contribution.
 
 
AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION NEEDED
If anyone knows of an apartment or part of a house that would be available for the Badr family (3 people) to rent please call Bryan Kirkham 519-888-7117 or Sheena in the church office 519-745-8487. Prefer 2-bedroom.
 
 Together We Stand, but Apart