Knox Shuniah United Church

Harmony United Church

Telephone: 345-5065

email: [email protected]

web site: http://www.harmonyunited.webs.com

Announcements - August 2nd, 2020

Serving & Helping…

If you aware of anyone who is in hospital or requires a pastoral telephone call, please notify the Church Office.

Do you have a suggestion for any of our church committees? If so, please put it in our locked mailbox until further notice. The Committee Chair will be notified of your suggestion.

Harmony’s Facebook Page site administrators are Gary Pederson and Teri Lynch. Please share any ideas and words that may bring comfort or joy to members of our congregation, and pictures of what you are doing to keep busy. Please contact them at [email protected] & [email protected]

Greeters, Scripture Readers and Coffee Hosts/Hostesses will be needed when we get back together again. Please call the church office to indicate your interest: 345-5065.

Monthly GO Team Collection: 3rd Sunday of the Month. (August’s collection will benefit “The Thunder Bay United Churches Milk Fund”.)

Donations of Canadian Tire Money are gratefully appreciated to help offset our operating costs!

Monday Gardening @ 10:00 a.m. at the Current River site:

We have harvested all of the onions (total of 73 dozen) from the Current River Memorial Garden and we continue to 'weed and water' on Mondays. Carrots will start being ready for harvest in a few weeks. Assistance is always welcome. We are wearing masks and gloves to do our work these days. All the produce goes to the Food Cupboard hampers.

Events Happening at Harmony United

Until our banking arrangements have been finalized, please continue to make out your cheques to Knox United Church. Many thanks to those who have been dropping off giving envelopes and donations in the church’s mailbox!

Harmony United has numerous copies of the Voices United, and More Voices hymnals as well as New Testament Bibles that are surplus to our needs.  They are from the Current River church.  If you are interested in having a personal copy of any (or one of each) of the three books, please email or leave a telephone message for Patricia (345-5065) and a copy will be set aside for you.  If you need multiple copies (within reason), please include the quantity in your request.

How to Worship from Home

(Courtesy of Murray Young …

Streamed services from Trinity United Church: http://trinityunited.church/livestream/

Click on “TRINITY LIVE” to connect to live streaming shortly before, or during a service

To watch a service at a later time, click on the small circle labelled “PREVIOUS

BROADCASTS”. They will appear, with the most recent to the left.

You can also view the streamed services on Trinity’s Facebook page.

JULY & AUGUST SERVICES: These are the worship leaders for the July and August on-line services:

August  9th - Rev. Randy Boyd

August 16th - Rev. Rob Smith

August 23rd - Anne MacDonald

August 30th - Robert Cosbey

Greetings.

An online survey has been created to get feedback from those watching (or not) the

Sunday services provided by clergy and lay leaders in Thunder Bay.  The link to the survey

is also on the Trinity United Church website.

Joan Bailey

We'd like to get your feedback on the weekly online Sunday services provided by the

clergy and lay leaders in Thunder Bay.  Please visit this link which will take you directly to

a short survey.   

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNPWZMT


We value your feedback. Thank you!

Minister's Message

July 30th, 2020

“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;

and the greatest of these is love.”

1st Corinthians 13:13

It is with a deep sense of gratitude but also sadness that I write my last weekly message to you, the good people of Harmony United Church. I am grateful to have served as your minister for over a year, for we have shared so many special times together. I will miss seeing you on a regular basis, sharing spirit-filled worship, visiting together in times of joy and times of sorrow, enjoying times of music, fun, amazing food, and laughter, and doing our best to serve God together in our community and in our world. Peter and I feel truly blessed to have been part of this church family.

I will be on holiday during the month of August, and will be retiring (again!) after that. I was ordained 30 years ago, and have had so many great and varied experiences. But now it's time for new experiences. With COVID 19 restrictions still in place, our holiday travel, like that of many of you, will be limited to exploring our local area. We have been fortunate enough to be able to reserve a cabin for a week at the Sleeping Giant Park, and look forward to rest and relaxation in that lovely setting.

I have great affection for all of you, dear friends, and will hold you in my heart and in my prayers. I also pray that Rev. Sakala and his family will soon be able to come to our city, and that his ministry with you will be a great blessing, as I know your warmth and support will be a great blessing to him and his family. You are special!

God bless you,

(Rev.) Joyce Fergus-Moore

COFFEE DROP-IN

Wednesday Mornings

(rain date – Thursday)

10:30 a.m.

Harmony Garden

1 Shuniah St.

Bring your chair and your coffee/tea/beverage

Note: Safe distancing will be in effect!

No bathroom available!

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Minister's Message

July 23rd, 2020

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”

Ovid

This advice from Ovid, a philosopher of ancient Greece, seems particularly relevant in these challenging times of dealing with a global pandemic when there is no end in sight. There is an underlying level of stress associated with that, and ongoing stress leads to a profound sense of weariness. As people steeped in the Protestant work ethic, it's often hard for us to recognize and admit that we are just plain tired.

It is not only OK to rest when we are tired, it is the good and faithful thing to do. Jesus took time out on the lake when he needed rest so that he could have the strength to care for others. Surely we too can let things go awhile and lay down our weary heads when we need rest and renewal. Summer is a wonderful time to pause, feel the warmth of the sun, and wonder at the beauty of God's creation.

God's holy presence in all creation was highlighted in our worship service last Sunday. Thank you to all our music-makers and singers for your amazing and inspiring offerings. If you didn't have a chance to take it in, you can find it on the Trinity UC archives (July 19th livestream).

Dear friends, I pray for your health and happiness in these mid-summer days.

Peace be with you,

(Rev.) Joyce Fergus-Moore

Harmony United Church

Telephone: 345-5065

email: [email protected]

web site: http://www.harmonyunited.webs.com

Announcements - July 19th, 2020

Serving & Helping…

If you aware of anyone who is in hospital or

requires a pastoral telephone call, please notify the

Church Office.

Do you have a suggestion for any of our church

committees? If so, please put it in our locked

mailbox until further notice. The Committee Chair

will be notified of your suggestion.

Harmony’s Facebook Page site administrators are

Gary Pederson and Teri Lynch. Please share any

ideas and words that may bring comfort or joy to

members of our congregation, and pictures of

what you are doing to keep busy. Please contact

them at [email protected] &

[email protected]

Greeters, Scripture Readers and Coffee

Hosts/Hostesses will be needed when we get back

together again. Please call the church office to

indicate your interest: 345-5065.

Monthly GO Team Collection: 3rd Sunday of the

Month. (August's collection will benefit “The

Thunder Bay United Churches Milk Fund")

Donations of Canadian Tire Money are gratefully

appreciated to help offset our operating costs!

Monday Gardening @ 10:00 a.m. at the Current

River site: our group plant onion sets and carrots

only. If anyone is interested in planting, weeding or

watering beginning please come to the church with

your own tools (hoe, rake, gloves) between 10:00

and 11:00 a.m. each Monday. A good productive

way to begin your week! All are welcome. Please

call Christina Stricker @ 683-6696 to confirm.

Events Happening at Harmony United

Until our banking arrangements have been

finalized, please continue to make out your

cheques to Knox United Church. Many thanks to

those who have been dropping off giving

envelopes and donations in the church’s mailbox.

Harmony United has numerous copies of the

Voices United, and More Voices hymnals as well as

New Testament Bibles that are surplus to

our needs.  They are from the Current River

church.  If you are interested in having a personal

copy of any (or one of each) of the three books,

please email or leave a telephone message for

Patricia in the church office (345-5065) and a copy

will be set aside for you.  If you need multiple

copies (within reason), please include the quantity

in your request.

How to Worship from Home

(Courtesy of Murray Young …

Streamed services from Trinity United Church:

http://trinityunited.church/livestream/

Click on “TRINITY LIVE” to connect to live

streaming shortly before, or during a service

To watch a service at a later time, click on the

small circle labelled “PREVIOUS BROADCASTS”.

They will appear, with the most recent to the left.

You can also view the streamed services on

Trinity’s Facebook page.

JULY & AUGUST SERVICES:

These are the worship leaders for the July and

August on-line services:

July 26th Christina Stricker

August 2nd & 9th Rev. Randy Boyd

August 16th Rev. Rob Smith

August 23rd Anne MacDonald

August 30th Robert Cosbey

Search Team Update July 14th, 2020

Well, folks, there has been a little set-back in our

Journey to Ministry! Rev. Sakala informed me last

week that Immigration Canada would like to see an

updated Offer of Employment as our proposed

start date (March 1st) had long since passed. So ...

back to the drawing board!

I have returned to the Church Hub website, re-

issued a new Record of Call or Appointment, using

a start date of October 1st, and waited for

'Acceptances' by various church bodies, and have

begun a new Job Offer document through

Immigration Canada. This all takes a bit of time,

but at least most of the data is already gathered.

Rev. Marlene has again agreed to prepare a PDF

document on United Church letterhead, over her

signature, which is the Official Offer of

Employment, required by Immigration Canada.

This would be sent directly to Rev. Sakala to be

attached to his immigration application. I expect

this to be completed during this week, maybe by

the time you read this update! 

One positive element to this sequence of events is

that Immigration Canada is actually reviewing

applications now! So we are a bit closer to our

goal I think. Please continue to send ‘Encouraging

Thoughts’ to all of us who are striving to make this

happen. It continues to be Quite an Adventure in

Bureaucracy but the end is in sight! However,

don't start baking cakes for a welcome luncheon

yet!

We will carry on, in One Spirit, in One Love.

FLASH!

Search Team extra news:

The Church Hub steps have been taken and all the

Acceptances have been received. 

Rev. Marlene has already sent the PDF Document

to Rev Sakala, to attach to his application.

The Immigration Canada steps were completed

and Six Minutes after paying the fee, I received the

Offer of Employment Number, which I forwarded to

Rev. Sakala to attach to his application. 

So things are back on an even keel again I think.

Now we just need a few things to happen:

applications approved, visas issued, Covid to take

a rest so that travel planning can begin, and

borders opened so a flight bringing the Sakala

Family to Thunder Bay can occur. Is that too much

to ask for?

I think not. 

Keep your Prayers and Encouraging Thoughts

going and live in Hope with me!

Christina!

Christina Stricker, Chair of Search Team

Minister's Message

July 16th, 2020

“It always seems impossible until it's done.”

Nelson Mandela

Lately I have been doing a lot of things that are new to me, and some I would have thought impossible. You never know until you try, right? Video conferences and meetings on Zoom and planning all the aspects of our worship service this Sunday, July 19th by email, telephone, and Zoom, have all involved a steep learning curve. Of course, many others are facing the same challenges and so it is really good to share our questions and feelings with friends in this new territory. I feel blessed to be in a faith community that is rising to the challenge and working together cooperatively rather than competitively.

Another new activity for me was shooting a video for my spouse, Peter's musical offering this Sunday. He and our friend, Rob, have put together a wonderful version of “Holy Now”, composed by Peter Mayer of St. Paul, Minnesota. I hope you are able to tune in to our July 19 worship service to see and hear this song, along with Richard Kamo and Larry Kamo's dulcimer and guitar duets and hymns by Harmony singers.

I hope you are keeping safe and well, and that you are able to enjoy some new things too, or perhaps re-discover old things that still bring joy. May God bless you and your loved ones, dear friends. Special greetings and prayers for you, Rev. Mastard Sakala, and your family. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Thunder Bay and meeting you in person.

Peace be with you all,

(Rev.) Joyce Fergus-Moore

Minister's Message

July 9th, 2020

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

These words spoken by a wise teacher and philosopher many centuries ago still have much to teach us today. Seasons come and seasons go; seasons return again, though never exactly the same as before. There is the season of youth, the season of middle age, and the season of elderhood; there are seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall; there are seasons of energy and creativity, and seasons of quiet reflection.

Right now, our earth is struggling with a long season of contagious illness and we wonder if it will ever end. We need so very much to reclaim the assurance of our faith in a good Creator who will never abandon us, and we need to take the long view of our current circumstances. Our world has struggled before with devastating illnesses – bubonic plague, typhoid, polio, tuberculosis, and many others. Many people suffered and died, but medical and social progress has helped to ensure the survival of the human race. This happened because people cared enough about their neighbours, and about future generations, to work together for the common good. This is holy work, and we are all called to be part of it, each in our own way.

The teacher also says there is time for every matter under heaven. When we are stressed and uncertain, it is good to remember these words. If we take even a little time to ask God's help, we will find we really do have the time to do what is needed at any given moment, and to let go of what can wait, or what someone else can do. It helps to remember that the Holy Spirit is working in and through many people, not just us!

My prayer is that this season, with all its beauty and challenge, will provide you with the time to enjoy what brings meaning to your life.

Visits with family and friends, whether virtual or close-up, participating in worship, quiet times with music or a good book – these are some of the ways to use this strange time to renew your spirit.

May God bless you and your loved ones, dear friends. Special greetings and prayers for you, Rev. Sakala, and your family. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to Thunder Bay.

Peace be with you,

(Rev.) Joyce Fergus-Moore

Minister's Message

July 2nd, 2020

“I cannot find God apart from the rest of humanity.”

“I love Jesus – I just wish the Christians took him more seriously.”

Mahatma Ghandi

In this prolonged period of challenges posed by the global pandemic, the human race is being given a dramatic wake-up call. We are reminded daily of how our health and well-being are dependent upon the health and well-being of the rest of humanity. Our faith calls us to love God, seeking out what is right and good every day, and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. You cannot love God without loving humanity. That is the central teaching of Jesus. And it is the way to deep, lasting peace and fulfillment.

How we live out our Christian calling to love God, self, and other people has a multitude of manifestations. No particular way is better or more important than another. All are beautiful threads in the tapestry of God's intentions for our world. When you call someone who may be feeling lonely, just as you are, and they say, “You made my day!”, God smiles. When our Mission and Service gifts give people hope, God smiles. When we stop and think, “What would Jesus say or do in this situation?”, and change a sharp response to a kind one, God smiles.

We are not perfect, we don't have all the answers, but through prayer, and with the support of one another, what we offer together will be blessed and magnified by the Spirit at work in our world. Keep the faith, and live each day with all the joy and anticipation you can find in your heart. Even in difficult times like these days, God is with us, helping us to experience wonders, great and small.

I am grateful for you, the good people of Harmony United Church, and for our wider church community. I continue to take part in the planning and sharing of our shared online worship, and I have enjoyed several safe-distanced visits at some of your doorways or on your decks. Call me if you want such a visit (767-4220).

God bless you, and our wonderful, though not perfect, Canada, and all our global family. Special greetings and prayers for you, Rev. Mastard Sakala, and your family.

(Rev.) Joyce Fergus-Moore

Minister's Message

June 24th, 2020

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life... Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”

Matthew 11:28-29 (The Message)

Jesus is asking us some very pointed questions in this passage. In this strange time of dealing with a global pandemic there is major disruption of our normal routines and ways of coping with the stresses of life. Although we seem to have much more free time, it is almost impossible to make plans to use that time as we would wish. There is so much uncertainty about the timetable for lifting restrictions and about keeping ourselves and others safe. We want so much to get together with friends and family, but we have to think very carefully about how and when to do this in a wise and responsible way. All of this is extremely tiring and often disheartening.

So what can we do? I think Jesus is telling us to stop spinning our wheels, digging ourselves deeper into despair and frustration. He invites us to come to him, to let go of our worries, to take needed time to clear our minds and go gently forward again. When we remember and renew our faith, it is a great source of strength and comfort. I love the invitation to “learn the unforced rhythms of grace”. May this be our goal for the coming week. I recall seeing a sardonic prayer: “Lord grant me patience, but hurry!” Jesus is giving us a very different message – to slow down and live, trusting that we are not alone. His Spirit will always be with us, showing us the way.

May God's grace and peace be with you, and may you enjoy as much of these blossoming summer days as you can.

Joyce Fergus-Moore

Minister's Message June 17th, 2020

Jesus said, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

It has been three months since our last worship service in the sanctuary of Harmony United Church, and we don't know when it will be safe to gather for in-person worship again. We are hopeful we may be able to do so in the fall if all the necessary protocols are in place, but of course plans will need to be changed if there is a second wave of the pandemic. With this uncertainty it is a challenge to heed the words of Jesus and not “get worked up” about it. His words are particularly relevant in our current situation. I believe he is telling us to relax, and let go of any notion that we can take control and make things fit into our timetable and plans.

So what can we do? Jesus urges us to pay close attention to what God is doing right now, right around us. There are so many examples to give us hope. The bountiful regeneration of our forests and gardens, the kindness of friends and strangers, the new connections and relationships being formed through social media and video-conferencing and online worship services – these are but a few of many miracles happening in our community and in our world. Many of our church members have told me how nice it is to have time for more leisurely conversations with other people, and a number are enjoying life with less pressure to rush to the next activity. That is not to say that others are not missing regular visits with friends and family. Perhaps God is prompting you to pick up the phone and call someone.

We are fortunate to be part of a strong United Church network in our city and region. Our online worship is inspiring and our Zoom meetings provide good information and support. Last Sunday our shared worship included a covenanting service for Rev. Louise Hart and First-Wesley UC. There will be another covenanting service by Zoom, for Selina Mullin and St. John's UC in Marathon, on June 24 at 7:00 p.m. I look forward to the time when Harmony will also have a covenanting celebration, when Rev. Mastard Sakala is able to join us.

In the meantime, let us appreciate God's good gifts and daily opportunities. God is with us, and will help us deal with whatever may happen tomorrow.

May God's peace be with you,

Rev. Joyce Fergus-Moore