Category: News (Page 4 of 8)

Trinity-Clifton United Church Council met early on Sunday, March 15^th to discuss the guidelines outlined in the United Church of Canada’s Emergency Plan that pertained to our Community of Faith.   Most significantly, this concerned how best to continue ministering with compassion, hope and love and respond to the needs of our community in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

Upon the declaration by the World Health Organization of a pandemic, the UCC Emergency Plan recommends the cancellation of all Community of Faith church gatherings, which include Worship services and non-worship gatherings such as governance meetings, Christian Education activities and social gatherings.

Following these recommendations, it was decided to cancel church services indefinitely, not only to protect our congregation members, but to adhere to the guidelines of the Chief Medical Health Officer of PEI and help stop the spread of this virus. This means that the Annual General Meeting scheduled for March 29, 2020 is postponed until further notice, the UCW General Meeting for April 6, 2020 and the Tuesday Night Supper scheduled for April 7, 2020 are cancelled.

This also means that, unfortunately, we are unable to support our groups who rent space in the building for various functions. The situation will be revisited as needed, based on guidelines and direction from our provincial and federal health authorities. We look forward to the time when we can once again accommodate and support these important groups.

We are in the process of putting together a list of people who may require assistance during this difficult and isolating time.  We will be contacting these individuals to determine what their specific needs may be, and will be reaching out to our congregants to request volunteers who may able to provide comforting assistance such as picking up medications, groceries or other basic staples. We also encourage those that are able, to use the Food Bank donation boxes that are conveniently set up at the local grocery stores.

Rev. Doreen is not permitted to make pastoral visits to the hospital and nursing homes at this time, but she is pleased to continue to provide pastoral care by telephone.   She can be reached at (902) 940-1863 or by email   <doreenedaley@gmail.com>.

The Church Building is closed, however if you need to reach Trinity, feel free to contact the office by email: trinityunited@eastlink.ca or Phone: (902)892-4114 and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.   Also, check our website www.trinityclifton.org and FaceBook (Trinity United Church) pages as we will try to keep them updated to reflect any changes.

Trinity United Church is still operating and, as such, expenses are being incurred.  There are various options available to continue contributions during this difficult time. Donations are gratefully received by cash, cheque, Visa, Mastercard and Canada Helps (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/trinitycliftonpei/ ).    If you already support by using PAR, thank you, if not please consider signing up for PAR at this time or mail your donations to the Church office (220 Richmond St. Charlottetown, PE C1A 1J5).

Please stay safe and healthy. We, as a community of faith and the general community, will get through this.  In closing, we would like to share these recent words from Dr. Richard Bott, Moderator of the United Church of Canada:

“It’s important to remember- church doesn’t close. Ever. We may need to temporarily stop our face-to-face, full-on peace passing, Communion-by-intinction and offering-of-the plates by the church. The Body of Christ is a 24/7/365 reality. It’s lived, around the world – and in our homes. it acts, when our hearts reach out; it keeps going, Wherever there is one disciple of Jesus, or two, or three – Living the Way we’ve been taught. And, with Paul, I’d like to remind you there is nothing – there is NOTHING – not a single thing – not in the sky above, or the earth below, And powers, nor principalities, not things seen, or unseen – nothing in all creation that can separate that creation from God’s love in Christ. We are the church always and all ways.”

Church is cancelled due to the weather. Stay safe everyone.

https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/lifestyles/local-lifestyles/guest-sermon-bask-in-septembers-beauty-349471/

Congregational Meeting will take place on Sun., Aug. 11 following the service to discuss the repair of the stained-glass windows. The focus of this meeting will be to inform all on the proposed work.

Affirming Ministries work to offer the full inclusion of people of all gender variations and sexual orientations. As an Affirming Ministry, Trinity-Clifton is one of over 340 ministries in total in the United Church…and another 150 ministries are in the Affirming process!!

Some of the highlights of the 2018 year are available by visiting: www.ause.ca

The United Church of Canada strongly condemns the horrific attacks by a suspected White nationalist on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15, 2019. At least 49 people were killed and another 48 injured in this act of terrorism while Muslim worshippers were at Friday prayers.

The people of the United Church are deeply saddened and many are weeping alongside the families and friends of the people who were killed and injured. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul writes: “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:15–16a). People in the United Church are joining with people around the world in mourning the lives of the innocent victims lost in this abhorrent attack.

The United Church recognizes Islam as a religion of peace, mercy, justice, and compassion and has affirmed that the church wants to journey towards reconciliation, understanding, and cooperation with our Muslim neighbours. The church is deeply committed to working with Muslims and others for peace and justice for all humanity and to seeking ways to build right relationships among us.

The church joins with people around the world in condemning the attacks, including Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), full communion partner the United Church of Christ, and the World Council of Churches. The United Church also laments the fact that, in the wake of these attacks, the NCCM has had to issue a safety advisory for worshippers at mosques to ensure that Muslim communities feel secure in the days and weeks ahead. The NCCM notes that “the rise of Islamophobia is of urgent concern and the attacks in New Zealand reinforce the deadly consequences of unchecked racism and hatred.”

It has been reported that this heinous attack in New Zealand was perpetuated by a White nationalist with an anti-immigrant manifesto; the hate, racism, and xenophobia underpinning this attack does not exist in isolation. According to recent data on hate crimes directed towards racial, religious, and other minority groups, crimes against Muslims in Canada were up 151 per cent in 2017. Black and Jewish communities also had disturbing increases of 50 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively. The tragic attack in New Zealand claimed the lives of many racialized immigrants. The United Church therefore re-affirms its commitment to racial justice, engaging in interfaith dialogue, and speaking out against violence and discrimination rooted in racial superiority, including Islamophobia. The church’s anti-racism policy (search “That All May Be One” on United Church Commons) declares that “we believe that we are all equal before God.”

People of faith are invited to join in prayer in responses to these terrible attacks. United Church Moderator Richard Bott and the Canadian Council of Churches are among those who have offered prayers for Muslim communities. People are also invited to engage in acts of solidarity with Muslim neighbours, and participate in community vigils to honour the lives of those affected.

We pray for peace among people; God, hear our prayer.

https://www.united-church.ca/news/united-church-condemns-mosque-attacks-new-zealand

On March 14^th, Affirm United launched their first annual PIE Day. PIE focuses on Affirming Ministries’ actions that are: Public; Intentional; and Explicit in their welcome to members of the LGBTQ2S community. We are delighted that Trinity-Clifton was one of five ministries chosen to participate in the first PIE Day video.

This 15 minute video is completely free to download and to stream through Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/320966739

A special showing is being planned for March 31^st following worship service for our congregation. Coffee and pie will be served in the sanctuary. Hope you can join us!