Trinity United Church Port Coquitlam

Letter from Governance to the Trinity Community

Oh, that light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel!!!

Our first in person service in 2 years is an example of that light. It was great to worship in the sanctuary and with people who we hadn’t seen for so long. Even with masks on I could feel all the smiles that were hidden.

For those of you worshipping at home we look forward to the time when you feel able to come and join us in the sanctuary. Until then Zoom will keep us in touch.

A couple of housekeeping items to mention: please, if you are planning to leave the building and plan to set the alarm, check to make sure no one is still in the building and that includes in the washrooms. If the door is shut please call out.

Also we are going to resume putting reports and minutes of meetings in the slots in the hallway for everyone to read. We will gradually be stopping putting them in the Friday announcements. Another step in getting back to our usual way of doing things!

The next few weeks are going to be busy ones for us, here at Trinity, as we resume planning for the future. Stay tuned!

Lastly, do not forget that we change the clocks this weekend! Unfortunately we put the clocks ahead and loose an hour's sleep, but days will be longer and Spring will be that much closer!

As always if you or anyone you know require assistance please let Syd Sawyer, 604-941-4565, or Judi Carroll ,604-941-2002, know and we will do our best to help.

I leave you with a Snoopy and Charlie Brown saying:
"The best feeling of happiness is when you’re happy because you’ve made someone else happy!"

Take care of yourselves and those close to you.

Blessings,
Your Governance Team
Wendy Squires, Pat McCann, Rev.Cathcart, Robert Nicolson, Syd Sawyer, and Judi Carroll

Daylight Savings Begins: Reminder to not forget to remember that the clocks "Spring Forward" this Saturday night! As always pyjamas are extremely acceptable for ZOOM but you want to get your cuppa ready first! And it's our second Sunday back in-person! Which you really don't want to miss. So set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend...

Hybrid Worship on Sunday, March 13, 2022 SUNDAY at 10:30 am: Rev David will lead our worship at 10:30 am on ZOOM and in-person. To join the ZOOM Meeting, CLICK HERE to "log on" on Sunday morning or dial 778-907-2071 to participate by phone. We will send out an email with all the ZOOM information on Sunday morning as well.

Lent 2, March 13, 2022, will also be an "In-Person" worship service: We are excited to welcome the Trinity congregation back to in-person worship. We will still be asking people to wear their masks and to observe distancing (no handshaking or hugging without sanitizer). Folks can sing behind their masks and we will be collecting offering as you enter and as you leave only. We will not be checking for vaccination status (and so keeping our numbers under 50 percent of sanctuary capacity, about 145 people).

In-Person Worship Notes: Entry is by the main door from the parking lot. Side doors will remain locked. There will be no coffee hour following the service for the time being, but we encourage you to meet up in the parking lot to chat following the service--weather permitting! For folks not yet feeling safe to come to in-person services, the ZOOM invitation and room will still be open for you to participate in the service from home.

Town Hall and Congregational Meetings: As most of you will know and remember, two years ago, before Covid, we were on the cusp of beginning a feasibility study with the 3 Point Housing Society of the Pacific Mountain Region. We had hosted a number of Townhall meetings and weekly lunches to engage in a number of topics around future ministry and development of the property. In the early days of lockdown, this opportunity with the region fell through. Since then, the Strategic Planning Team has been largely on hold. However, with the passing of the $68,000 deficit budget for 2022 last November, the Strategic Planning Team has come back into action.

Please save these dates: 11:45 am, March 27, we will hold a Town Hall Meeting. 11:45 am, April 3, we will hold a brief congregational meeting. At the Town Hall Meeting we will discuss a proposal brought forth by the Strategic Planning Team and approved by the Governance Team. At the brief congregational meeting we will vote on the proposal (revised or otherwise). Both meetings will be hybrid (online and in-person), though not live streamed to YouTube. Please plan to bring your own bag lunch for the Town Hall Meeting.

Thrift News: The Thrift had a one-day sale this past Saturday, Feb 26 and are pleased to report a profit of $1112 from that sale! Hurrah. Phenomenal! Please save the date for their next one-day sale, Sat, April 2, 10 am to 3 pm.

Concern for Ukrainian Crisis: The invasion of Ukraine is costing precious lives and creating a humanitarian crisis as people flee to safety. The United Nations reports that a growing number of over a million people, displaced from their homes, are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Many have lost friends, loved ones, and property; struggle to meet their basic needs, and face an uncertain future. The United Church of Canada has created a webpage with information on ways United Church people can express solidarity with Ukrainian neighbours, including a letter template, CLICK HERE.

Mission & Service Emergency Fund: United Church Mission & Service partners are responding to the rapidly unfolding crisis. You can help by donating through Mission & Service Emergency Fund: as part of this Fund, 100% of your donation goes directly to emergency relief, with 85% of your donation responding to this designated emergency and 15% responding to future emergencies that do not receive intense media coverage. Right now in Ukraine, people urgently need shelter, clean water, food, and medical attention. To DONATE: CLICK HERE.

One Day's Pay Project: During the Lenten season, we, at Trinity, have challenged ourselves to set aside One Day's Pay as a Lenten gift. Each person, family or group can participate. During this 40 day season of reflection One Day's Pay can be an opportunity for the spiritual practice of giving. Monies raised will be put to the support of Trinity United's mission in our community.

"Palm Parade Sunday": in preparation for Palm Sunday please take a picture of yourself and family waiving a "palm branch." The "palm branch" can be anything from a fern leaf, a spruce, or cedar bough, or a green streamer! Send the picture to revcathcart@gmail.com. The pictures will be compiled into a "Palm Parade"video for Palm Sunday. Deadline: April 3, 2022.

Directory Update 2022: It is time for an update to Trinity's DIRECTORY. If you have any changes, would like to be included or removed please contact Zoe at the office or Betty McLean at 604-468-2050 or betty-me-mclean@hotmail.com .

Mission & Service Report 2021: Congratulations! Thank you! Trinity people have again met their stated M&S goal and surpassed it. At the Financial Planning meeting for 2021, we set a goal of $10,000 for Trinity's contribution to Mission & Service. In 2021 we gave $12,085.85 to M&S--WOW! This generosity is greatly appreciated. Respectfully submitted, Joy Galea, Mission & Service Enthusiast.

An Invitation To Trinity Members: United Seniors Housing Society (USHS) is holding its 2022 Annual General Meeting virtually on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 9:30 am. You are welcome to attend. Please email Jo-Ann Dahms at: dahmsjoann2005@gmail.com to receive the ZOOM invitation.

Trinity Prayer Circle: We have two prayer circles set up to receive and act on your prayer requests. Please refer prayer requests to Linda Lund (778-883-3064/linda.lund60@gmail.com).

Trinity + Worship: Missed the first In-Person Sunday Gathering since 2020!? Check out the Lent 1 service presented by Rev David CLICK HERE , streamed on our YouTube Channel this past Sunday, March 6.

Prayers of the People: March 13 - 19, 2022
In the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches this week, we pray for the peoples of Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. CLICK HERE to find out more about this part of the world and the ecumenical prayer cycle. In our own Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church of Canada, we pray for St. Andrew’s UC (North Vancouver, Quesnel, Rossland, Williams Lake), and St. Andrew's UC / St. Mary’s Anglican SM (Lillooet).

Healing Pathways: We are offering distance healing during those times or whenever convenient for both practitioner and receiver. Contact Linda Lund (778-883-3064/linda.lund60@gmail.com). We may not connect "Hand to Hand," we must deepen our practice of connecting "Heart to Heart".

Bible Crossword Puzzles: Here's the link to a fresh, new crossword puzzle with a Christian theme. God bless whoever keeps making these every week, it is remarkable! CLICK HERE to see this week's puzzle, which you can fill in on the webpage or print out to fill in at home!

This week's prayer roster:

March 13
Touba Akearin and Reza Asfandyari
Majdalin, Baleegh, Zien and Hala Alali
Randy and Diane Alex
James and Beth Anderson
Betty Anne Dempsey

March 14
Jean Becker
Jim and Sharon Black
Eunice Blancaflor
Maureen Boguzki
Sherie, Anibal, Felix and Kamila Bohorquez

March 15
Carol Butterfield
Margaret Cahan
Liz and John Chichka
Liz and Harold Crossley

March 16
Aleks and Jeannette Deda
Dale and Lois Deguire
Roderick, Dizeree, Jessica, Derik and Jasmine DeVera
Debra, Rebecca and Sephora Dobbs

March 17
Alf and Barb Dumont
Isabel Eckford
Merv and Shirley Evdokimenko
Mark, Bonnie, Sarah and Zander Fabricius
Maxine and Frank Fairclough

March 18
Mark, Nancy, Sarah and Liam Fernandes
Norma Fida
Marie and John Findlay
Bill, Gail, Matthew and Daniel Flasch
Mike and Karen Forrest

March 19
Bryan Furman
Ken Gould
Stephen Grootendorst
Polly Hawkins

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

Dear Friends of the Pacific Mountain Regional Council,

Greetings to all of you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the one we invite to live within us through faith, and in whose footsteps we try to follow. I write to you in deep sadness over the events of the past week in the Ukraine. And in this moment, I invite you into a time of reflection.

It is inconceivable to me that in these most modern of times, we are witnessing invasion and war, to achieve singular political gain, construed to be a viable choice; that people still believe violence is a justifiable way to solve complex social and political issues. In one hand we hold the undeniable truth that violence is not God’s way. And in the other hand, we witness violence and acts of aggression – both large and small – every day of our lives.

As you take a minute to imagine these two realities in your hands, sitting in front of whatever device you read this from, we recognize that the scales of justice are in our hands. In one hand, the peace that surpasses all understanding not just for you, but for everyone. In the other hand, violence and acts of aggression, we see and/or unwittingly participate in.

This happens when we fail to see each other’s humanity, each other’s right to the fullness of life Christ speaks of in the gospel of John. From where I sit, that is what is happening in the Ukraine right now. The failure of one to see and recognize the other. And while this affects us all, none so much so as those in the direct line of fire, fleeing from homes and safety to God only knows where. And whether we’re in disagreement about vaccine protocols and leadership capacities, pro-life or pro-choice, matters of reconciliation and right relationship, the minute we fail to see someone else’s humanity, the easier it is to dehumanize them.

On your behalf, in words barely adequate for the time, I have written to the Father Mykhailo from Holy Eucharist (Ukrainian) Cathedral in New Westminster expressing our sadness and solidarity. And I know you are expressing your own words of love and support to those in the Ukrainian communities where you live and serve. That’s what we do.

Let’s also recognize that the way of peace takes practice right here at home, deep within each of us. Peter Short’s words are present for me in this moment: “Behind every pair of eyes is a soul at work.” Even those with whom we most disagree. Our common humanity is our common ground.

May be the peace of Christ be with you in the troubling days ahead.

Rev. S. Blair Odney

Letter from our Governance Team

The week of March 13, 2022

Kapa’a United Church of Christ

Pastoral Letter from Blair Odney

Actual photo of the holy spirit...reminding you to laugh to keep from crying.

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