Cambridge Street United Church
61 Cambridge Street North K9V 4C9 Lindsay, ON, Canada

Children have a special way of bringing us joy and laughter.

December 13 - For the third Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Joy, we celebrate at our regular 10:40 a.m. worship service. The scriptural focus is the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12). The Worship Band adds to the joy. Please note that our Living Streaming now begins at 10:20 a.m. to allow everyone to get connected and watch the announcements before the service begins at 10:40 a.m.

SOLD OUT - UCW Gift Baskets and Valued Treasures Thanks to those that came and shopped at our UCW Baskets and Valued Treasures event yesterday and this afternoon, we are happy to report that we are SOLD OUT! A big thank you to the organizers of this event and of course all the customers for your support.

UCW GIFT BASKETS AND VALUED TREASURES! The United Church Women of Cambridge Street United Church are having a fundraiser featuring gift baskets and valued treasures that would make lovely Christmas gifts or a special treat just for you! A feature presentation of the sale is a beautifully framed 37" x 34" Tom Thomson print entitled Canoe. This COVID-compliant event takes place in the church gym on Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 2-4, Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 2-4 and 7-9, and Thursday, Nov. 26 from 2-4. To allow for a 2-metre distance spacing and easy flow, customers are asked to enter the church at the Bond St. doors and exit using the Cambridge St. doors. Only 10 customers will be permitted in the gym at a time and masks must be worn. Sorry, no pre-purchases.

Sunday, December 6 - Be sure to arrive or tune in earlythe incomparable Carol Bradford will be playing a selection of carols before our 10:40 service. Dec. 6 is the second Sunday in Advent, Peace, with a focus on Joseph (Matthew 1:18-23). Please note that our Living Streaming now begins at 10:20 a.m. from our website to allow everyone to get connected and watch the announcements before the service begins at 10:40 a.m. http://theunitedchurch.com/

This amazing artifact is on display at the Olde Gaol museum's exhibition about J.D. and William Flavelle. It's a spectacular thank-you gift from our predecessor, Cambridge Street Methodist Church, to J.D. in 1917. Even more amazing: It was illustrated by Group of Seven member J.E.H. MacDonald!

Just a little Friday Fright Fun.

Calling all United Church of Canada musicians to help us form a virtual choir! We're looking for 81 people to contribute their voices to an arrangement of "Peace for the Children", More Voices #149, by Doreen Lankshear-Smith, a Music United member from Thunder Bay, ON. Do you know of someone who represents the United Church of Canada in one of its many expressions? Invite them to be a part of this project. Once completed, this video will be available for use by our members in congregations across the country.

Why "All are welcome" doesn't necessarily feel that way to those who've been hurt by their church. This thought-provoking article also appears in the November issue of Broadview magazine. https://broadview.org/inside-the-fight-for-lgbtq2-inclusio/

On Sunday, Oct. 25, CKL Councillor Tracy Richardson will speak at Cambridge Church following the morning Worship Service (approx. 11:40 a.m.) She will tell us about the CKL Healthy Environment Plan and, in particular, the Re-Cycling Program. Councillor Richardson has been invited by the Faith Development Team to further our Climate Change and Care of the Planet theme. We invite you to remain in the sanctuary after Worship on Sunday to hear Tracy Richardson and ask a question.

A good reminder.

The Church Council meeting on Sept. 8 looked a little different this time. With facemasks and physical distancing protocol in place, the meeting went forward as our "new normal". Thanks to all those that are helping us open in a responsible and healthy way.

The September 2020 edition of the Cambridge Chronicle newsletter is available from the office this week and on Sunday a volunteer will hand you your copy. Another great edition with lots of pictures and interesting articles to read. Please help us save postage costs and deliver newsletters to friends and neighbours. Newsletters that have not been picked up will be mailed out on Monday, Sept. 28.

A Toronto couple created a website to collect information about the towns they'd visited within 90 minutes of the city. (You may have seen the article about them in the Toronto Star.) Guess which church made the cut?!! https://ninetyminutesfrom.com//bl/cities-and-towns/lindsay

Cambridge Street United Church will be open again for in-person worship services on Sunday, September 13, 2020. Services will begin at 10:40 a.m. In accordance with directives from the provincial government and our local health unit, here are some reminders of what to expect: We cannot provide rides to church. Please respect directional signs, as well as those indicating how many people may use areas such as a washroom or the elevator at one time. Please enter the chu...rch through one of the Cambridge Street doors. You must wear a mask and respect physical distancing rules any time you are inside the building. You will be asked to sanitize your hands as you enter. A volunteer will record your presence at the service for contact-tracing purposes. An usher will direct you to a seat that is at least two metres from others. There will be no singing by the congregation or choir, although soloists and instrumental playing are allowed. In place of collection plates, offering will be taken as you leave, using washable baskets. There will be single-use activities for children available, but no Sunday school or nursery supervision. There will be no printed material available; the order of service will be projected on the screens at the front of the sanctuary. There will be no social time after the worship service. Please exit the sanctuary and the church as soon as possible, and we ask that you wait until you are outside the building before visiting with others at a safe distance. If you do not feel comfortable coming to church in person for worship, of course you should feel absolutely no pressure to do so. Sunday services will still be livestreamed. You can participate by visiting the church’s website and clicking on the blue streaming button, or by watching via Facebook Live, just search for "Cambridge Street United Church Live Service". See more

In-person worship services start again on September 13 with extensive safety procedures in place. Watch for details coming soon.

Hello everyone: For those of you who were watching our live-streamed service this past Sunday, Aug. 2nd, only to have it suddenly cut out in the middle of Rev. Robin's message, this was caused by a nearby lightning strike and brief power outage, which shut down our computers (talk about fire and brimstone!). After a bit of a scramble Sam Henry and I got things rebooted and running again. For those who may have missed the resumed service, it is available for viewing at our website streaming link and our Cambridge St. Live Service Facebook page. Take care and stay well, Walt Radda

August 1, 1834 is the day the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect, ending slavery throughout most of the British Empire - including in the colonies that would become Canada. It is estimated that on that day, 800,000 enslaved Black peoples were freed, as it became illegal for anyone to be a slave in the British Empire. There is a grassroots movement happening in the United Church and beyond to proclaim August 1 as one way to support the fair treatment of all humans and affi...rm that all persons are made in the image of God. The commemoration of August 1 reminds us that the fight against systemic and anti-Black racism is far from over, and that we need to continue the work for the creation of a more just society. It is one way to continue the work of becoming an anti-racist church. Join with people across the church in remembering August 1 and use the day to further the honest dialogue about the deconstructing of racism in our country. You are invited to join in a silent witness activity by wearing a T-shirt commemorating the end of slavery in Canada on August 1. There are two T-shirt designs available on the United against Racism website that can be iron-transferred onto T-shirts. There are also a number of blog posts to read on the United Against Racism website. https://www.unitedagainstracism.ca/rememberingaugust1st/

It's the Non-Event of the season! The Spirit Fundraising Team invites you NOT to attend, but donations are most welcome to support the continuing work of the church while we are unable to hold events in person.

Discovered treasures around the church!