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By Michael Wilson Pastoral Letters August 22, 2025

 Watch this week’s service on YouTube by clicking:

August 24 Worship Service Video

 

 

Join us following worship in the Van Roon Community Hall for the He/SheBrews Café.

 

  • Our annual School Supply Drive for students in need of support in Charleswood schools has begun. A list of supplies can be found on our website here: School Supply List .The School Supply Drive will continue until Sunday, September 7.

 

  • We are saddened to learn of the death of Gary Kent. Gary was a member of the church who was instrumental in leadership on our church expansion project 15 years ago, bringing a wealth of wisdom from his career in construction. A Celebration of Life for Gary will be held on Thursday, September 4 at 11:00 AM at the church. Please remember Gary’s wife Lynn and their family in your prayers this week.

 

  • Work on replacing the boiler continues. Financing for this unforeseen project is being stewarded by The Heritage Fund and will be repaid in conjunction with our loan for last year’s roofing project. A reminder that those monthly loan payments are a new budget expense this year. Your added gifts will help us meet that requirement and stay on budget. Thank you for your ongoing support.

 

 

Dear Friends

Welcome to worship for Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Rest was a big thing for our biblical ancestors. Ancient Israel saw it as so essential to its covenant with God that day-of-rest was included in the list of ten commandments which summarized all of the law. Think about for a second – Sabbath rest is equal in importance to not killing, stealing, or lying. Perhaps we should fine people for not taking time off?!?

One possible explanation for the importance of rest to Israel was that they were coming out of slavery and saw in Egypt’s relentless expectation of labour something that ran contrary to their understanding of what God wants for the living of our days. Rest matters.

I have just enjoyed four weeks of vacation, four weeks of ‘rest’. As important as daily rest and weekly rest, is annual rest. I will be the first to acknowledge that this comes from a place of privilege. I am grateful that my ‘work’ allows for such a break. And it is out of that gratitude that I want to recognize those who made it possible.

So, thank you to Rev. Milly Malavsky and Rev. Robert Campbell, retired United Church ministers covenanted with our congregation who both led two worship services this summer. Each also undertook some pastoral care responsibilities while I was away with their respective compassion and expertise. I rested in the knowledge that the church was in their capable hands.

Thank you to our staff team who remained on duty. Janet Ammeter, Faisal Alsaidi, Shauna Sperry, and Jacquie Craigen are all more aware about aspects of ministry than is indicated by their job descriptions. When it is their time to rest I hope they will find me just as supportive.

Thank you to Janet Goddard, our Council Chairperson, and Vice-Chair Anne Burns for welcoming the congregation each week I was away and hosting our guest preachers. Thank you to the volunteers at the HeBrews/SheBrews Café who allow us to exercise a ministry of hospitality throughout the summer months. I always think that the noise level of chatter in the Van Roon Hall after church is perhaps the best measure there is of our health and vitality.

And last but not least, thank you to the community that is Charleswood United Church. It is a delight to get tired working for you and a delight to take a break from you!! I am very grateful for such support that includes the encouragement to rest and the provision of resources that makes this possible.

Now, back to work😊

 

Grace and peace,

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

  • For news and events please have a look at Life & Work on our website: Life and Work

 

  • Did you know you can support this ministry by e-transfer, automatic withdrawal (PAR), and gifted securities, in addition to weekly or monthly cheques? For Offering Information please visit: https://charleswoodunited.org/support/   Thank you for your generous support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Wilson / About Author
Michael’s involvement in the wider church has included ministry with children and youth, membership on the National Division of World Outreach, supervision of campus ministry, and the Ten Days for Global Justice National Committee. He has been blessed by the opportunity to represent the United Church of Canada in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Africa on different occasions. Michael has taught at the University of Winnipeg – Faculty of Theology and is past President of the Conference of Manitoba and North Western Ontario.
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