Westminster United Church, Whitby
1850 Rossland Rd. E. L1N 3P2 Whitby, ON, Canada

Wishing you a year full of love and laughter!

There's just one day left to make a Mission & Service gift in 2020. It has been a year like no other and more people than ever will struggle to make ends meet in 2021. If you are able to give a gift through Mission & Service, now is the time. Let’s let those in need know they can count on our support. Thank you for your generosity. To give a gift, go to: http://ow.ly/eRdc50CIg8o #UCCan

Friends, our Christmas Eve Service has been a huge hit and we have had requests to leave it online for a few days longer. Please feel free to watch it again or share the link with others who may wish to experience some Christmas Joy. Many Blessings! https://youtu.be/94u8R5M3QJg

Today is Reign of Christ Sunday, the last day of the Church year, the liturgical year. Next Sunday we look forward to ringing in the New Year, as Advent begins!

Race, gender, religion, sexuality...we are all people and that's it. We're all people. We're all equal. - Connor Franta

May the glow of Joy, Prosperity and Happiness illuminate your life and your home. Wishing you a Happy Diwali!

We hope you'll consider worshipping with us at 10:30am from the comfort of your own home, your own Sanctuary. The link below will connect you with our livestreamed service...Many Blessings! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7L7TRHvetc

It’s TIME to BROWSE Westminster’s ONLINE AUCTION ITEMSand currently there are 211 awesome items from which to choose! There is truly SOMETHING for EVERYONE! Just 5 Browsing Days left before this event goes live on Monday, November 23 at 9:00am! Here’s how it works: 1. Click on the link below. 2. Scroll through the various items up for bids and find your favourites.... 3. Get ready for the Auction to open on Nov. 23 by Registering to Bid (to Register, simply click on the words Register to Bid on the top right of your screen and then follow the easy prompts). Thank you for supporting this new and exciting Fundraiser and for sharing this post with your friends and family! https://www.charityauctionstoday.com//Westminster-United-C

On Sunday, November 15th, Westminster will be celebrating 62 Years as a Community of Faith and Fellowship! We give thanks to those who laid our foundation, those who continue to serve and worship, and those who will become our future. May God continue to bless Westminster and her many Ministries!

A beautiful Remembrance Day Tribute by one of Westminster's very talented young people. Thank you for sharing this gift with us! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW8kCUXGvqg

We are excited to have Dr. Betty Pries from Credence and Co. sharing a message with us in Worship this Sunday (via video). Join us online or in person, as together we enter a Season of Prayer.

When you can’t put your prayer into words, God hears your heart. AnonymousWhen you can’t put your prayer into words, God hears your heart. Anonymous

Every life, no matter how brief, forever changes the world.

Definition of Reformation: 1. the act of reforming : the state of being reformed. 2. capitalized : a 16th century religious movement marked ultimately by rejection or modification of some Roman Catholic doctrine and practice and the establishment of Protestant churches.

Today (Friday, October 23) at 1:00pm (Ontario time), all United Church congregants are invited to take a moment to pause and pray, both for and with the Mi'kmaq community fishing within their treaty rights. Please read this letter to the Church and Prayer for Peace and Healing from Moderator Richard Bott and the Rev. Murray Pruden, new Executive Minister, Indigenous Ministries and Justice: https://united-church.ca/.../united-church-supports... https://ucceast.ca/60405-60405/

A Prayer for Remembrance Day... God of All, we come before you with the mixed emotions of this day. We come in thanksgiving for those who have answered the call to serve in the hopes of creating a better world. We come in sorrow for all those who have left, never to return, or to return with wounds both seen and unseen which will never fully heal. We come in hope for a world where peace can prevail and in fear for our world where conflict seems to be the order of the day. We ...pray for those who currently serve in the armed forces and find themselves apart from their families and in places of fear and violence. We pray for those who have served in the past and for whom today is a particular reminder of a time they will never forget. We pray for those in our country who served in the armed forces of another nation and for all that Remembrance Day brings to mind for them. We pray for those who wished to serve but were denied for physical or mental reasons, - or because of who they were - the colour of their skin or who they loved. We pray for our leaders who must choose where to deploy our forces in order to balance both leadership as a country of peace and the need to serve and protect those who most need our help. We pray for those in our world who know war as civilians. Those who hear the bombs and feel the heat of fire as they lay in bed at night. We pray for those who must leave their homes because of war and find themselves refugees in a strange land. We pray for peace-makers and peace-keepers, who seek to keep this world secure and safe. We pray for ourselves as we renew our efforts to find true ways of peace in our daily lives. As we remember how peace was forged and how it has failed, let our words now echo the words of the generations before - never again. Amen. - Rev. Janelle Shaw

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Westminster couldn't do what it does without you, so thank you to all who have reviewed, prayerfully considered and returned their Planned Giving and PAR forms. These forms were recently distributed in a very important Stewardship Package. If you haven't reviewed or returned them yet, please do so, as they help in planning for the coming year. The due date is October 18th, so there's still time to get them in the mail.

A Prayer for People of Courage on Remembrance Sunday. We offer to you, O God, our prayers for those who seek justice and resist evil. We pray for those who need... your presence and strength to stand firm; for those who are oppose the use of violence in any form in faithful response to the Prince of Peace. We pray for those are prepared to be firm to protect those in danger. We pray for those who walk with others who need strength. We pray for those who protest, those who organize letter campaigns, those who give sacrificially on behalf of others. We pray for those who speak the unpopular truth; who protect the unpopular victims; who choose the unpopular path of peace. We pray for those who do not let their desire for peace hinder the requirements of justice, and for those who do not let their zeal for justice override the call for peace. from "On This Day of Remembrance," prayers for Remembrance Sunday by the Rev. Dr. Neil Parker, military chaplain at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford, ON. [Photo: hennasabel, Flickr, CC by 2.0] https://www.united-church.ca/prayers/prayer-people-courage #UCCan #RemembranceDay #RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget

As we hear emerging reports of Hurricane Eta hitting Central America, The United Church of Canada is concerned for all those caught in the path of the hurricane..., and is called to compassionate response for all those facing significant disasters at home and around the globe. The United Church of Canada has reached out to the Moravian Church in Nicaragua, partners in El Salvador, and others in the region, to understand how best to offer our support. Please include the people of Central America in your prayers. https://apnews.com//hurricane-eta-nicaragua-category-4-3b4 #UCCan

Last cut of the season! Have you ever seen such happy faces? A huge thank you to our amazing Property Team for keeping us looking so spiffy!

Who or what are you thankful for this week? (Name them aloud in gratitude and with love)Who or what are you thankful for this week? (Name them aloud in gratitude and with love)

Two of our dedicated Food Bank volunteers restocking our shelves. Thank you to all who support this important outreach ministry!

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. "Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." ~Bill Clinton

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~e.e. cummings

October 18th is Persons Day in Canada. On Persons Day, we honour the bravery and determination of the Famous Five (Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards), whose landmark case helped pave the way for women to participate equally in all aspects of life in Canada. We also honour all those whose work in the years since then has expanded and strengthened those rights.

On this World Food Sunday, we are grateful for all who support our Food Bank! Thank you for making a difference!

Here are the two best prayers I know: 'Help me, help me, help me' and 'Thank you, thank you, thank you.' ~Anne LamottHere are the two best prayers I know: 'Help me, help me, help me' and 'Thank you, thank you, thank you.' ~Anne Lamott

Rejoice always, pray constantly, and in all circumstances give thanks. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Rejoice always, pray constantly, and in all circumstances give thanks. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

A Prayer for World Food Day by Alydia Smith Creator, Conspire with us... to create a world where all have access to nutritious and sustainable food sources, and none live with scarcity or food insecurity. Redeemer, Save us from oppressive and unjust systems. Mobilize us to be a part of a world response that works in partnership with those of good will to foster equitable resource sharing. Sustainer, Cultivate our resilience and expand our imaginations, so that we might continually find new ways to answer the call to end hunger until all may flourish. Amen.

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is "Thank You," it will be enough. ~Meister EckhartIf the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is "Thank You," it will be enough. ~Meister Eckhart

Today was Worldwide Communion and although it looked a little different this year, with many providing their own elements from home, the message was still clear...all are welcomed at Christ's table!

In Canada right now, COVID-19 is the final straw for families who were already pushed to the financial edge before the virus struck. By the end of the year, 12,000 people per day living around the world could die from hunger because of the pandemic. And the situation is getting worse by the hour. Together, as a United Church, we can make a difference. When we stand together, we can have an impact that we never could on our own. (Source: United Church of Canada)

Love...it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1Corinthians13:7)

Wearing our Orange Shirts to honour and remember those who have been impacted by the Residential School Systemfor those who survived and for those who did not! This day is inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s experience. On her first day at residential school in 1973, Phyllis was stripped of her new orange shirt, a shirt that had brought her a sense of affirmation and dignity. Please take a moment to watch the video clip of Phyllis' story. www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3vUqr01kAk

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Westminster couldn't do what it does without you, so thank you to all who have reviewed, prayerfully considered and returned their Planned Giving and PAR forms. These forms were recently distributed in a very important Stewardship Package. If you haven't reviewed or returned them yet, please do so, as they help in planning for the coming year. The due date is October 18th, so there's still time to get them in the mail.