Lowville United Church

The Zimmerman Room-Hello Lowville! I have found myself pining these days for our coffee hours, lingering lovingly around the tables like family at Sunday dinner. And Lowville makes this into a whole other form of worship. The way your lives are intertwined is one of the things that makes us a church. You all have personal stories about the tender turns that life has taken in your families, and homes as we are touched by the ripple effects of Covid. And we haven’t been able to... share these milestones while juggling cups of George’s famous coffee. We are grateful for those who continue to keep track of our ups and downs. And we trust in the way one another faces drift through our prayers. May our place at the table be a feeling of belonging we can draw close whenever we need it. Reminder: Final reminder that annual reports need to be passed along as soon as possible to Lou Ann so that we can honour our timeline. Upcoming Events: For the next couple Sundays we will explore what we believe in a Covid world. January 31 2021 at 10:00 Lowville United On-line Webcast This will be a pre-recorded service. Stay tuned for the link on Sat. February 7 2021 at 10:00 Zoom worship Scripture readers: With our focus being on on-line services these days, it would be so meaningful to hear from more voices. If you would be willing to share scripture by videotaping or recording yourself at home, please let Kelly know. Words of Wisdom for the Week: Send us a quote or poem that really struck a chord with you, and we’ll love to share it!

Hello Lowville friends! We are looking forward to you joining us this Sunday (tomorrow) at 10:00 for our joint Zoom service with Guelph Line Churches (Nassagaweya and St. David's Presbyterian churches, Ebenezer United, and St. George's Anglican) honouring the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We are excited about uplifting music, and members from each of the congregation who will be sharing their thoughts on how they have seen the Spirit at work in their congregation. The ...bulletin is attached. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94686501682 Meeting ID: 946 8650 1682 Password: church on

As One-Greetings Lowville folks! Yesterday, the world paused together to experience a moment of resilience with the inauguration of Joe Biden. He spoke a lot about unity and the hard work of actually going about the work of fostering it, by engaging constructive disagreement and dialogue. As we begin the Week of Prayer for Unity, and embark on Black History month, we are more painfully aware of the work of awareness and understanding before us. May these words from Martin Lut...her King inspire us into new connections We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Reminder: Today, Thursday Jan. 21 at 11:00 Coffee and Conversation https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87866517368 If/when prompted: Meeting ID: 878 6651 7368 Passcode: 5800 Gratitude Moment: George McNaught’s extraordinary woodcarving of the Blue Jay found a new home at Christmas time and we are so grateful for the generous donations towards the church from the gifts of his craftmanship. Upcoming Events: Sun. Jan 24th at 10:00 Zoom Worship: Guelph Line Churches joint service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Stay tuned for Zoom link on Sat!) The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a movement that is supported by the Canadian Council of Churches. On a yearly basis, faith communities from a broad range of denominations come together in a common act of worship they share around the world. Our UCW has celebrated this event for many years (for as long as they can remember!) The theme for 2021 is Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (John 15:5-9) Grafted into Christ the vine as many diverse branches, may we bear rich fruit and create new ways of living, with respect for and communion with all of creation. For more information follow this link to the web-site www.weekofprayer.ca/2021-week-prayer-christian-unity-theme. 2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Theme | Week of Prayer for Chris... The international resources for 2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the Monastic Commu... Sun Jan. 31st at 10:00 Lowville United On-line video worship Scripture readers: With our focus being on on-line services these days, it would be so meaningful to hear from more voices. If you would be willing to share scripture by videotaping or recording yourself at home, please let Kelly know. Words of Wisdom for the Week: Send us a quote or poem that really struck a chord with you, and we’ll love to share it! New to Zoom worship? If you are trying out Zoom there is a list of detailed instructions attached, including how to listen in by phone only. Feel free to call Kelly to arranged a one-on-one tutorial over the phone

Re-Membering-Hello Lowvillians! This year our acts of Remembrance, like many milestones this year, will be unfolding closer to home. As we hold our breath for this world turning point in the U.S. election, we wonder about how we are called to be active Peacemakers in a world where tensions erupt, it seems the only place to begin is right where we live. In our home, lies a small bound book of Colin’s Grandpa’s memories that began as handwritten notes on lined paper and crease...d photos carried in pockets. In the act of remembering, we draw on a well of memory that runs deeper than our own grasp of the past, that picks up from where we leave off, and returns like the tides. This is what is meant by ‘the peace that passes all understanding’. We are grateful for the stories that made it into words and the stories that never did, as well as those that are yet to emerge. Wisdom for the week Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice... No one can prevent you from being aware of each step you take or each breath in and breath out. Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life Upcoming Events: Nov. 8th at 10:00 Indoor Service Remembrance Sunday Nov. 15th at 10:00 Zoom worship Nov 22nd at 10:00 Indoor Service Community Events: The folks at Carlisle United Church are working with neighbouring churches in creating a live Christmas story event called The Bethlehem Experience on the evening of Dec. 20th. Anyone interested in volunteering for this project can talk to Kelly for info.

Skeletons in the Closet-Hello Lowville! This year as our Hallowe’en celebrations change, I hope that you will find ways to make it fun. There is still something magical and mysterious about meeting the things that spook us face to face and walking in the shoes of our heroes for a night. Even though we are finding ways to celebrate closer to home, we were so grateful for the familiar sight of the epic haunted house decorations appearing on the lawn of the family who live at t...he end of our street. They have been taking over the whole corner, and creating a Hallowe’en landmark in childhood memories since before our kids were born. Hopefully some Hallowe’en memories of homemade costumes, and neighborhood pranks will come to light for all of you. I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light. Barbara Taylor Brown, Learning to Walk in the Dark Reminder: Daylight Savings time, we’ll be turning the clocks forward on Saturday Oct 31st! Upcoming Events: Nov. 1st at 10:00 Indoor Service Like a Healing Stream Please review our safety practices (attached) and make sure you arrive early. If possible please bring a print out of the attached bulletin. There will be a few bulletins available if you forget. Nov. 8th at 10:00 Indoor Service Remembrance Sunday In order to honour our Remembrance Sunday traditions in the sanctuary, we will be doing back to back indoor services, just for this month. Nov. 15th at 10:00 Zoom worship Community Events: Winter Bazaar at Nassegewaya Presbyterian Church-November 7th from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Due to COVID-19, we are taking extra precautions this year including providing a pre-order/drive-thru option for various baked items. For more information about pre-ordering, visiting in person or the items available, visit www.nassagaweya.com/winter-bazaar/. We look forward to seeing you.

Finding Beauty in our Everyday Hello Lowville friends and neighbours! The other day while doing our daily tour through the neighborhood on our bikes, we took a little side-trip off the beaten path, and stumbled upon a labyrinth that someone had set up in their yard. It was set up as a peaceful prayer garden set apart, with beauty and thought poured into all of it, and a big old maple in the middle of it. A welcome sign, and a fountain inviting people in, opened up their own h...ome for passersby to stop for a meditative moment. This reminded me of learning about the way homes in biblical times always included a courtyard to welcome wayward travellers who needed a place to stay. The need for this kind of hospitality was an expectation built into daily life. I am grateful for sacred spaces like these encouraging us towards communal cultivation of peace. (Take a look at the photo below!) Upcoming Events: Oct. 25th No service due to Kelly being on vacation Nov. 1st at 10:00 Indoor Service Nov. 8th at 10:00 Indoor Service Remembrance Sunday In order to honour our Remembrance Sunday traditions in the sanctuary, we will be doing back to back indoor services, just for this month. Nov. 15th at 10:00 Zoom worship Community Events: Week of Guided Prayer, Oct. 25-31 Guelph Line churches are offering a Week of Guided Prayer as a much needed retreat in the midst of daily life during these tender times. The week begins with a Zoom worship session on Sun. Oct. 25th at 2:00 p.m. and end on Sat. Oct. 31st at 9:00 a.m. Daily meetings with a prayer companion will be arranged by Zoom, phone or in-person with safety practices. Cost is $25

Hello Lowville! One of the projects we have been working on weekends, is clearing out our garage, where all our ‘stuff’ seems to land. We put it off all summer and now we squeeze ourselves into the small path that is carved out between our ‘treasures’ that now need a home. De-cluttering is work that takes us to the heart of our lives, and what we let go of and hang on to. It’s a hopeful act of making more room for possibilities, blessing what we carry to those who may need it..., confronting our attachments, and creating a little bit of a clean slate. So for all of you that are purging you way into fall, may we find some fresh new space for living! Indoor services As we prepare for our second indoor service, we are moving forward with gratitude for all the great energy we created of making a beginning step together into this new phase. We continue to navigate this confusing time of second wave, of sorting out our own choices about what levels of contact we are comfortable with. With each step of this journey, we continue in our mission to create a safe and comfortable environment for those who attend in-person worship, and create options for worship from home. We will continue to be a connecting point of peace where we create hope together. And we will be committed to listening for the actions that we are called to take as a faith community in our response to the world around us. Upcoming Events: Oct 18 at 10:00 Indoor Service In our service this Sunday we will be taking some time to honour our anniversary, and exploring Essential Workers of the Bible. Please review our safety practices and make sure you arrive early. Thurs Oct 22 at 11:30 Zoom Coffee and Conversation Oct 25th No service due to Kelly being on vacation Community Events: Week of Guided Prayer, Oct. 25-31 Guelph Line churches are offering a Week of Guided Prayer as a much needed retreat in the midst of daily life during these tender times. The week begins with a Zoom worship session on Sun. Oct. 25th at 2:00 p.m. and end on Sat. Oct. 31st at 9:00 a.m. Daily meetings with a prayer companion will be arranged by Zoom, phone or in-person with safety practices. Cost is $25

Homecoming-Hello Lowville! We are so grateful for those who have paved the way for our ‘homecoming’ service this Sunday. This has been a hope-filled process that has been made possible by the grit and gumption that makes our community who we are. In the pews, our kitchen tables, in the walk up and down the big hill, we still long for sanctuary, in all the forms that it takes. At the same time, with the ever changing realities of the second wave being upon us, we are confiden...t that we have created a safe environment and continue to support one another as you decide what fits your own safety of body, heart, mind and spirits. The sanctuary waits for all of us whenever we find our way there. Bulletin can be viewed on our website. Upcoming Events: Sun. Oct. 4th Indoor Service Homecoming We are looking forward to Rosemary Jackson and Lorretta Bailey providing music since we will not be singing as a congregation. The video recording of the service will also be available online later Sunday. Please review the letter outlining the safety practices we will be following. Feel free to contact Perry, Dave and/or Kelly with any questions or feedback. Thurs. Oct 8th at 11:30 Zoom Coffee and Conversation ***Note the time shift to 11:30. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3260077287 If/when prompted: Meeting ID: 326 007 7287 Passcode: 5800 Sun. Oct 11th Zoom Worship Thanksgiving celebration of Gratitude