Watch this week’s service on YouTube by clicking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYrDluZ5VyM
Please join us for in-person worship Sundays at 10:00 (masks recommended)
Our newest video for children video is available here: https://youtu.be/AtS0TYzL1Cw
Join us after church on Sundays for Hebrew’s Café, coffee and fellowship following worship in the Van Roon Community Hall
Did you know you can support this ministry by PayPal/Visa, e-transfer, automatic withdrawal, and gifted securities, in addition to weekly or monthly cheques? For Offering Information please visit: www.charleswoodunited.org/support
Thank you for your generous support.
Dear Friends,
Welcome to worship for Sunday, October 16, 2022.
In the beginning of the service this week you can find me sitting at the welcome table. You will be glad that I do not burst out singing the old gospel song “I’m gonna sit at the welcome table” but if you catch me in a weak moment (I actually need very little encouragement) I will offer you a verse or two. The welcome table was something we established not long after we had finished construction of the church addition in 2009. The issue was that in the previous orientation of Charleswood United Church when you came in the front door you were immediately at the back of the sanctuary. It wasn’t very difficult to figure out where to go next.
However, when we moved the “front door” to the south end of the building, it became a little confusing as to where a visitor should go next. Answer, a friendly face and a guiding hand. Come to the Welcome Table.
The practical necessity of our space led us to resume the volunteer position of Welcome Table before almost any other Sunday morning volunteer job as we reopened following the pandemic (along with cheery ushers George and Donna Wiebe). When we chose to resume HeBrews Café after church two weeks ago, it was dependant upon volunteers feeling ready to take on the responsibility. We discovered that not only do we need to re-visit our lists from three years ago but in many cases, we have to re-train one another. For example, does anyone remember how to operate the dishwasher when they haven’t done so since 2019? I know I didn’t.
As we move through this in-between time we are hoping that more and more volunteer opportunities can be reactivated. In the next month or so we will be actively sharing these opportunities with you. Some will be for Sunday mornings like readers, prayer leaders, communion servers, greeters. Some will be organizational like sitting on a committee.
Some will be special event planning as we hope to see the return of things like Super Saturday Sundae, Rummage Sale, and a full-on Christmas hamper program. Bulletins and emails will tell you of volunteer opportunities as they arise.
All of this, of course, is part of finding our footing once more. It is related to feeling safe and secure. It is even an aspect of regaining confidence. I hope and pray that you will give some consideration to ways of participating in the life and work of our church in the days to come, ways that feel right for you.
Charleswood United Church makes a difference in our community and in the lives of the people who connect to us. You are welcome here.
Grace and peace,
Michael
