New Vision Notes Wednesday November 22 2017

I had an interesting chat with legendary music producer and Hamilton native Daniel Lanois Saturday afternoon. I told Dan of our aspiration to have our sanctuary double as a live music venue. We see that aspiration as a part of our response to the plain fact that people don’t make use of the space in a religious way as they once did. We want the space to be an accessible social space for the renewing downtown. A music hall seems like a good beginning shot at this. But at the same time, it is sacred space.

Daniel Lanois responded by saying the space is a “Spirit House” and that congregations in these spaces come and go like monsoons. There can be people in them like great torrents. And then, nothing, for a time. For example the crowd he was going to play to that night was a congregation. But the congregations that once filled this space for services are not gone forever. He looked at me and said, “God is patient.”

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the year for Christians following the church seasons calendar. It’s reign of Christ Sunday. The band will be sitting in. Our Palestine Peace Box will have arrived, and Palestinian olive oil and other products will be on sale thanks to Trish, Dan and Diane. These are great Christmas gifts, not to mention staples in some of our kitchens.

New Vision is hosting the JR Digs Acoustic Christmas Concert this year as a charity contribution to Hamilton. It takes place on Saturday, December 23. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, November 23. I am told that they sell out very quickly, so if you want to go go to JR Dig’s website where you’ll find a button that takes you to the ticket purchasing site.

Blessings this Sunday; I am away on a study leave. But see you in two weeks — at the beginning of the new year – the First Sunday of Advent, December 3rd.

Rev. Ian

Summer Day Camp 2016

Dear downtown Hamilton family:

New Vision United Church is hosting Surf Shack Summer Day Camp for children ages 5-11 the week of July 25-29, 2016. The camp runs from 8:30 am to noon Monday to Friday. We’ll be holding it in the vast meeting room on our fully accessible second floor at 24 Main St. W. There is no cost for the camp. The freewill donation to the camp’s mission logo2project is pay-as-you-may.

At New Vision United Church’s Surf Shack, your camper will discover an interactive and energizing experience that will give them an opportunity to ride the waves with God. During summer day camp at Surf Shack: Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love, campers become surfers and explore how to share God’s love and experience God’s awesome presence in their lives and the world around them.

After a high-energy Opening Assembly at the Surf Shack, surfers make their way to the Story Deck to catch Bible waves. Interactive lessons where water is a basic part of the Bible story are highlighted by Wave Words to help surfers recognize where God is inviting them to participate in God’s ongoing creation.

The students will expand on what they’ve discovered by participating in a variety of activities: making their own art projects at the Craft Hut, singing new music at Tidal Tunes, participating in recreational activities at the Recreation Station, exploring science activities at Discovery Dunes, and enjoying tasty Shack Snacks. Along the way, the Surfers will hear about our Victory Garden mission project and have an opportunity to give time or a donation and enjoy being active!

Surf’s up! To register, download, print, and fill out this registration form:

Surf Shack Registration Form

Good Friday Stations of the Cross Walk

A social justice faith walk in downtown Hamilton

Good Friday Stations of the Cross Walk

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“Break the Silence– Name the Gap”
Click here to view or download the event poster as a pdf
meet at 2:00 pm at New Vision United Church (former Centenary Church) 24 Main St. West, at MacNab

Winding through the downtown core, we will stop at various points for reflect on the gap between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the vulnerable. The walk ends with soup and rolls at Christ Church Cathedral, 252 James Street North

Sponsored by the Ecumenical Stations of the Cross Committee of Hamilton

 

Wesley’s Christmas Store at Holton Site

christmas-store-tree-230x300 Wesley Urban Ministries 2015 Christmas Store is located at New Vision’s Holton Street site. Dates/times are as follows:

Tues. Nov. 24 to Fri. Nov. 27 (daily, 10 am to 4 pm)
Tues. Dec. 1 to Fri. Dec. 4 (daily 10 am to 4 pm)

closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Here’s the link to the event information on Wesley’s site. There are links to the event poster, registration information (for shoppers) and information on how to donate gifts.

Donna Robinson funeral

Bulletin from Donna Robinson's Funeral Service
Bulletin from Donna Robinson’s
Funeral Service

Donna’s brother Chris has kindly given us an electronic version of the bulletin from her funeral service that was held Saturday October 3 2015 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hamilton. Click the graphic to open (jpg).

If you would like an audio file of the eulogy, please email officeadmin@newvisionunited.org with your email address.