Friday, July 24th
 
Dear First Family,
 
Wishing you well on this misty morning! The gardens and trees look refreshed with gratitude for yesterday’s showers.
 
What’s been helping you cope with the changes and challenges in your life because of COVID-19? What’s helping you take a look at the way life’s been and a look forward to positive changes in society? 
 
Several things come to mind but two things stand out. For me, our garden has been a real saving grace. It is life-giving for me - being close to the earth, encouraging growth and thanking God for colour and beauty! Also, I’ve always been a collector of quotes. They open my eyes, spur me on, challenge me to act and broaden my life. Here are some I’ve collected over the past few months - “We step forward by asking questions.”- Parker Palmer; “The fabric of society is community and relationships.” ; “Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.”- Bonnie Henry  ; “The narrative that you use during a crisis affects how you come through it.”;  “In times of prosperity we seem to forget the most vulnerable.; “ If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”; “Being creative is being brave.” (I apologize for not being able to identify all the authors.)
 
Do you have a favourite quote? What has been helping you cope? Would love to hear from you so it’s more like a conversation. That way we could share ideas with others at First! (If you want to remain anonymous, just let me know.) Email me at kbd@golden.net or phone 519-744-5012.
 
Take good care.
 
Lynne
 
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Praying with Scripture
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87232934849
Meeting ID: 872 3293 4849
 
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Worship Leadership for the coming weeks
 
July 19 - Catherine Stewart Savage with Kathleen King-Martin with special musical guest Autumn Debassige
July 26 -  Kathleen King-Martin with special musical guests Nathan Martin and Isabella Giuliano
August 2 - Lead by Westminster United
August 9 - Lead by Westminster United
August 16 - TBD
August 23 - TBD
August 30 -TBD
September 6 - Eva Mezo with Kathleen King-Martin
 
If you would be interested in leading a worship service or in participating in some way please let me know at gregjcase@gmail.com.
Pastoral Care during the summer:
Current to Jul 31:  Rev. Andrea Allan,
        Westminster United Church,
        519-301-7864  rev.andrea.allan@gmail.com
 
Aug 1-15:              Rev. Heather Power,
       Parkminster United Church,
       519-885-0935 Ext 22,  revheather.parkminster@gmail.com
 
Aug 16-30:           Rev. Jenn Hind-Urquhart,
                               Emmanuel United Church,
                               519-635-2184  pastorjenn11@gmail.com
 
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Stewardship/Finance Update:
  June Year to Date
General Fund Local                   $17,159.00 $96,663.26
Wage Subsidy Grant     1,281.07     2,828.15
Other Operations                               6,217.75   41,102.59
Mission & Outreach                           4,917.00   23,782.00
TOTAL INCOME                            29,572.82 164,376.00
TOTAL EXPENSES                       26,368.57 201,124.15
EXCESS INCOME\EXPENSES                     $3,206.25 ($36,748.15)
Capital Income                                     915.00    45,998.22
Capital Expenses                                         90.88    31,299.87
CAPITAL EXCESS INC\EXP            $   824.12  $14,698.35
 
Thanks everyone for your continued support and please do not forget our Easter collection that supports Supportive Housing of Waterloo, Rainbow Camp and the Skylight Festival.            
 
 
 
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.
 
 
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 complement 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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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