Weekly Update - May 29, 2020

May 29, 2020
 
Greetings to our First United Community of faith,
 
The weather has certainly warmed up. I hope that you are finding ways to enjoy the abundance of green outside. 
 
I am looking forward to seeing you during the announcements on Sunday. We are blessed to have Greg and Harold during this time to provide opportunities for us to stay connected. We are not able to do it the usual ways and so it is important that we are open to suggestions as to how to move forward in new and creative ways. Participating in such invitations as sending in pictures or videos of greetings is a lovely way to be assured that our church family is alive and well. These simple gestures can mean a lot for many of us at this time, so thank you for taking the time to share of yourselves.
 
This Sunday we are celebrating Pentecost. There will be an opportunity to participate in our Agape/Communion meal, so have something that you can eat and drink in order to take part in our celebration.
 
We are continuing to offer prayer meetings Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:00 am on Zoom. Please visit the website at https://www.firstunitedchurch.ca under Ministry and then Prayer Ministry to get the Zoom link.
 
Blessings,
 
Eva Mezo
 

A message from Lynne:

A big Hi from our church to you!
 
While you’re doing your best to keep yourself and others well and safe, First’s gardens are busy showing off. The heat has brought on much blooming of spring bulbs and fresh new buds, leaves and flowers on the bushes and trees. (Oh, yes and lots of cheery yellow dandelions dressing up the lawn too!) Let us be grateful to Craig and Bruce Lennox for the great work they’re doing cutting the grass. Also let’s be very thankful to the gardeners over the years who have planted bulbs, bushes and plants and worked hard to maintain the gardens. First United is dressed in its outdoor finery, bringing beauty to the corner of King and William! Surely it’s time to sing “For the Beauty of the Earth”!
 
Take good care.
Lynne

 
Message from Jean Hoffmann

Hi Everyone ,
I have been making hospital gowns for a group called the Gown Team.  They will be used in hospitals and medical offices etc.
Last night I finished number 100.  I have also been doing masks, and if you need one, let me know. They are free to all.
Jean Hoffmann

Message from Outreach:
 
Fridays at First - Our last week was incredibly hectic, but we got through it well. We served bagged lunches at both the front and back doors and were able to offer canned goods as well. Luckily the buses had already gone to free service, so we did not need to hand out bus tickets, as I could not figure out a way to safely do that without contact. 
 
Little Pantries - The Little Libraries were shut down when the public libraries closed. Some people had turned theirs into little pantries, and the board felt this would be good for us as well since the outreach committee had already explored the idea. For the last few weeks cans from Fridays at First cupboard have been used to fill the little library boxes. There was a new order of food brought in just before the sudden closing of Fridays at First and the Food Bank is not yet accepting donations of canned food, so this is a good way for us to serve the community for the time being. Once the libraries can reopen, we will figure out if this is something we can carry on or not. 

                                                                    April               Year to Date
General Fund Local                                         $15,117.00     $61,100.26 
Other Operations                                               6,590.57       28,272.76
Mission & Outreach                                            3,544.00       15,538.00
TOTAL INCOME                                                25,251.57     104,911.02
TOTAL EXPENSES                                            34,631.06     148,842.61
EXCESS INCOME\EXPENSES                           ($9,379.49)   ($43,931.59)
Capital Income                                                 1,056.20       34,763.22
Capital Expenses                                                   94.88       16,616.48
CAPITAL EXCESS INC\EXP                                  $961.32     $18,146.74       

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.

You can join us online at 10:30 am through First United's website https://www.firstunitedchurch.ca