Emmanuel United Church

This week the youth class compared charity with justice. Big discovery: Justice is hard work but the United Church jumps right in!

Thought for the month

Remember - love holds no grievances. Learn this and learn it well for it is here your delay of happiness is shortened.  The Course In Miracles tells us that "you do not hate someone for their sins but only for your own." You judge only yourself and your forgive only yourself.

As Christians, Jesus teaches us this principle through Scripture and through writings like the Course in Miracles.

Confirmation Weekend

Three of our teens wanting to be confirmed this year just had a terrific weekend thinking about their faith, learning about the United Church and having fun with teens from other churches. Thanks Five Oaks!

Worship Services at Emmanuel

Everyone wanting to worship, celebrate and learn more about the Holy Mystery that we call God is welcome at Emmanuel.  Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and is followed by a time of fellowship.  We are fully accessable and have a staffed nursery available, plus programs for children and young teens.    

Here are the upcoming special events:

February 26  - John Vanduzer, a Liscenced Lay Worship Leader from Fifty United will be leading our worship.

March 4 - We share in Communion

Challenge for February 2012

All that is necessary in life is to be willing to receive correction.  In Gary R. Renard's book "Disappearance of the Universe: he says that just as navigator or computer constantly corrects the course of a jetliner along its route the Holy Spirit is always correcting us. The jetliner is always going off course but through constant correction it arrives safely at its destination.

How we express ourselves.

ASSERTIVENESS - expressing thoughts, feelings and beliefs in direct, honest and appropriate ways that respects the rights of other people. In contrast, AGGRESSIVENESS - involves self-expression that is characterized by violating others' rights, demeaning what they believe or say in an attempt to achieve one's own objectives.

Anatole France says "Human beings are forever killing one another over words, whereas if they had only understood what the words were trying to say, they would have embraced one another" 

These thoughts are a good way for me to end January and begin a new month of consciousness. Namaste

January 2012, Blog of Rev. Sandra Ann McCarl
For many years now I have considered myself a scribe – something like Mark, Luke or Matthew who pass on a sacred story from someone else. In this New Year of 2012 when we acknowledge that life is always changing or transforming I think some thoughts from Marianne Williamson’s “Everyday Grace” are very appropriate.
She writes, “There is no corner on earth in which God’s love, expressed through me is not desperately needed. It is our power to serve the good and holy.” Remember that Cinderella’s fairy godmother didn’t ‘order out’ the things around them but rather transformed them. The pumpkin and the mice and the rags were already there. Anything and everything is the raw stuff of miracles and transformation. May it be so for you and me this winter of 2012.

Minister’s Message

January  2012, Blog of Rev. Sandra Ann McCarl

For many years now I have considered myself a scribe – something like Mark, Luke or Matthew who pass on a sacred story from someone else. In this New Year of 2012 when we acknowledge that life is always changing or transforming I think some thoughts from Marianne Williamson’s “Everyday Grace” are very appropriate.

She writes, “There is no corner on earth in which God’s love, expressed through me is not desperately needed. It is our power to serve the good and holy.” Remember that Cinderella’s fairy godmother didn’t ‘order out’ the things around them but rather transformed them. The pumpkin and the mice and the rags were already there. Anything and everything is the raw stuff of miracles and transformation.  May it be so for you and me this winter of 2012.