Virtual Voices - 59th and 1/2 edition Virtual Voices The Video E-Newsletter of Mount Royal United Church for Friday September 3rd 2021 Welcome to our fifty ninth and 1/2 edition of the Mount Royal United Church Video E-Newsletter. You will find the video at the bottom of this message. If you have any news items or information you think we should be including in an upcoming e-newsletter, please send your suggestion to newsletters@mountroyaluc.ca
we will do our very best to put it on for you. A quick reminder that our Sunday Service is live streamed from the sanctuary beginning at 10:30 AM and can also be watched later on the church website. The Prelude will begin at 10:15 AM with music and the announcement slides before the service begins
with Rev. Stuart. This video will be produced and sent out weekly on Friday morning with all the important things from our faith community. We plan to keep them short so you have time to drink a cup of tea or coffee while you watch. We hope you have a very good day today. Best Regards, Newsletter Committee Message from the Newsletter Committee Hi Eeveryone, September has arrived. Mount Royal staff were back to work this week after being on vacation for August. Office hours are again Tuesday to Friday 9AM - 3PM. For any pastoral care needs, please contact the office or for urgent matters, Rev. Stuart directly minister@mountrouyaluc.ca. This week’s announcements are going out by email rather than in our usual Virtual Voices video format. Would you like to record weekly announcements? If yes, email newsletters@mountroyaluc.ca. Do you know of anyone who does not receive email from the church and might enjoy hearing from us? If yes, encourage them to go to the email sign up and submit their information. Anyone is welcome. You don't have to be a member or even attend services to stay connected with Mount Royal. Here's where you find the email sign up on the church website. Click "Contacts" and then click "Email Signup New". Fill in the blanks and click "Subscribe" www.mountroyaluc.ca  Worship: Sunday, September 5th worship will be live from the sanctuary with music at 10:15 and the service beginning at 10:30. You can watch the recording any time shortly after the service from the church website. Recordings of our services can always be found, by date, in the Video Archives section of the menu found on the left-hand side of the church website. Covid -19: For now, as case numbers grow and the variant spread is uncertain, Council has agreed to keep Covid -19 protocols in place to help keep staff, volunteers and you safe. Here's why: While the province is officially in the green recovery phase and all mandatory orders pertaining to Covid-19 have been lifted, the Government of New Brunswick is encouraging all businesses, communities, and organizations to continue to exercise protective health measures to ensure employees and participants are safe from the spread of all contagious diseases, including Covid-19. Those suggested measures include:
In addition, people are encouraged to stay home when feeling unwell and be tested for Covid-19 if showing symptoms or if potentially exposed to the virus at a named possible exposure site. You can find all this and more in the easy-to-read guide "Living with Covid-19" found here: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/eco-bce/Promo/covid-19/guide-living-with-covid-19.pdf Activities This Week: Tai Chi - Wed and Fri AM and Sat AM Craft Group - Tues 10 AM Choir practice - Wed 7PM or as advised The Celebration of Life service for Krista McCabe will take place at Fergusons Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Road, Moncton on Thursday, September 9 at 1PM. Krista died on May 31st. The sympathy of the Community of Faith is extended to the friends and families of: Marie (Tina) Easton who died August 28th and Lori (Robinson) LeBlanc, daughter of June and Joe Robinson, who died August 30th. Upcoming Activities: Sept 12: Blessing of the Backpacks during childrens' time of worship. Be sure to have your backpack ready. Sept 13: 11:30 Pastoral Care Committee - boardroom Sept 13: 7PM Visioning Committee - boardroom Sept 14: 11:30 UCW meeting -social hall Sept 14: 7PM Worship Committee Sept 21: 7PM Council Sept 28: Movie study "Evan Almighty" Sept 30: Orange Shirt Day (orange ribbons recognizing Every Child Matters are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary) Celebrations: Congratulations and best wishes this week to: Meghan Foreman and Caleb Dow on their wedding September 3, 2021
 And Happy 100th Birthday to Jean Taylor. Congratulations Jean!  Birthday wishes as well go out to Nancy Brown, Terry Foreman, Donna Oke, Ethan Stuart and Jennifer Smith. Anniversary wishes are extended to Bill and Doris Seaman and to Donna and Charlie Munroe. All the best to these folks and anyone else celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or any other special event. Please pass along any requests for congratulatory messages to the church office. Upcoming educational opportunities and discussion group possibilities: Did you know that #59 of the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls upon the United Church to educate its members about why apologies to and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples are necessary? That is why we have been encouraging members of Mount Royal United to open their hearts and minds to develop greater understanding. "Church Apologies and Reconciliation - 59. We call upon church parties to the settlement agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church's role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary." Over the past several months, Debbie Maund, a member of our Community of Faith who has been educating herself, has been sharing sources of information related to Residential Schools and Reconciliation. She has now offered to facilitate a discussion group for others who want to learn more in a safe, non-judgemental space. To learn more about the books she recommends and how to contact her, check the church website in the upcoming week for details. Thank you, Debbie, for offering to facilitate the discussion. United In Learning: The United Church of Canada offers ongoing programs on a wide range of subjects. See their event listing here: https://united-church.ca/events If you are interested in taking a course or seminar, please contact Susan Fowler at councilchair@mountroyaluc.ca United Church and Social Justice issues: If you want to follow what the United Church is saying on guaranteed liveable income or see information on how you can support Haiti following the most recent earthquake, see the weekly announcements from the Fundy St Lawrence Dawning Waters Region. https://ucceast.ca/62582-fsldw-weekly-announcements-september-1-2021/ Support: Thank you for your messages of support and your calls and emails with questions and suggestions. It has been wonderful to see ongoing engagement even amongst people who have not as yet returned to in person attendance for worship. We hope to see you back soon. As well, your ongoing financial contributions are greatly appreciated. The expenses of the church continue even though in person attendance for worship has been light during Covid -19. Sending your donations to the church throughout the pandemic, either by mail or online through the website has helped maintain a good financial position. Thank you for that support. Lots of work has happened throughout the pandemic. Council will be looking at ways to cut energy expenses and to make the building more green and more accessible. As well, the 9 members of the Visioning Committee are looking to ensure the ongoing vitality of our Community of Faith. There will be lots more details to come on each of these subjects so stay tuned. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please call the office or contact Susan Fowler councilchair@mountroyaluc.ca If you have any announcements to be shared, please call the office at 506-855-5771 or email: newsletters@mountroyaluc.ca Have a safe week. Your Newsletter committee If you have any further comments or questions you can also contact, Susan Fowler councilchair@mountroyaluc.caCouncil Chair Mount Royal United Church 106 Mount Royal Blvd, Moncton  |
info@mountroyaluc.ca | All Rights Reserved