Category: News

At his installation as 41st Moderator of The United Church of Canada on August 18th, the Right Reverend Dr. Gary Paterson compared the United Church to the early church that Paul described and prayed for in his letter to the ancient city of Ephesus.
“They found themselves in a vast multicultural community and began struggling, praying, wrestling, and fighting about what it means to be an intercultural church . . . We, like those people of Ephesus, are struggling, and we need to hear this prayer from Paul,” he said.
Dr. Paterson was speaking at the end of the General Council meeting in Ottawa, in which 350 delegates (commissioners) from across Canada had gathered to review where the Church has been and discern God’s guidance on the way ahead.

• They had looked back in celebration and with new clarity, officially recognizing the 60 Aboriginal Methodist and Presbyterian congregations who had joined at Union in 1925.
• They had addressed the present, acknowledging, and at times mourning, the status of “church” in today’s world. And they incorporated the four colours of the Aboriginal medicine wheel and the phrase, “Akwe Nia’Tetewá:neren” (“All my relations”) in the United Church crest.
• They had looked squarely to the future, recognizing that the Church structures, both organizational and physical, will look nothing like they have in the past.

With Dr. Paterson’s words, commissioners departed, confident that with the help of the Creator, the United Church will be “able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)
* * * * *
For 87 years, The United Church of Canada has built its legacy as a prophetic, uniquely Canadian, voice in the world. It has made the ministry of Jesus a reality where and when it has been most needed, both in Canada and around the world.
And this legacy will continue, no matter where the United Church is headed?and no matter what form it will take.
Why not become part of this legacy? You can do your part by establishing a legacy gift. Perhaps a bequest in your will, or the purchase of a United Church gift annuity, or through the gift of a life insurance policy, designating the area of the church’s mission that moves in your heart.

For more information on the many ways that you can lead the legacy into the future, contact:

Lisa Di Veto, Financial Development Officer
Hamilton Conference
519.754-1803 ldiveto@united-church.ca

Every year a delegation from Toyo Eiwa University in Japan make a visit to Centenary, the home church of Martha Cartmell, missionary founder of Toyo Eiwa in 1884 and champion of women’s education in Japan.

This year’s visit happens on Sunday September 16. All are welcome to join the delegation for lunch after the service. This year we are combining our “Welcome Back” barbeque with the lunch reception for our guests.

Long time Centenary member Frank Hewett passed away on Thursday August 16. His memorial service will be held at Centenary on Saturday August 25. Visitation starts at 10:00 a.m. and the service, officiated by Rev. Liz Mackenzie, starts at 11:00. There will be a light luncheon following the service.

Donations to Centenary are gratefully accepted. For those who prefer to donate online, the link is www.canadahelps.org (key in “Centenary United Church”).

Please pass this information along to fellow congregation members who may not already know. The obituary is expected to be published today, Tuesday August 21.

Experience General Council from Anywhere!

Even if you aren’t in Ottawa, there are many ways to connect, share, and follow the 41st General Council in real time!

Online
The GC41 website offers a variety of mobile and desktop friendly options to follow the proceedings of the 41st General Council which will be meeting at Carleton University, August 11-18, 2012.
www.GC41.ca

Daily News
A team of reporters will bring you continuous news coverage of the work and activities of the 41st General Council. Follow the GC41 News page to keep up to date!
www.GC41.ca/news

Streaming Video
Watch GC41 virtually, including worship, plenary sessions, nominee speeches, the vote for the next Moderator- and more-directly on GC41.ca! You can also log in using your Facebook or Twitter account to share comments and discuss the proceedings. Tune in starting Saturday, August 11, to see General Council in action.
www.GC41.ca/live

Facebook and Google+
The United Church Facebook page will feature ongoing news, commentary, video, and photos throughout the 41st General Council. Follow the United Church page to share your own comments and keep up-to-date on all the proceedings. Connect with GC41 on Google+ as well!
www.facebook.com/UnitedChurchCda
http://plus.google.com/u/0/101905781790851712308

Twitter
Twitter is a great way to connect with GC41! Follow @UnitedChurchCda for the latest, up-to-the-minute updates from GC41! Share your tweets at #GC41 and join in the discussion with others.
www.twitter.com/UnitedChurchCda

WonderCafe and Caféchange
Join the conversation at WonderCafe and Caféchange (en français) to discuss the 41st General Council. Share your perspectives with the members of these lively online communities.
www.wondercafe.ca

YouTube
Each day short video clips will be posted on the United Church channel offering new perspectives on General Council, from breaking news to peeks behind the scenes at GC41!
www.youtube.com/unitedchurchofcanada

Photos
Follow the GC41 Flickr collection at www.GC41.ca. Those attending the council can also share their own photos via our GC41 Flickr Group.
www.flickr.com/groups/gc41

In June 2012 Centenary received copies of an English edition of Canadian Woman Missionaries at Toyo Eiwa in Japan 1882 – 2006. The book is a translation from the Japanese edition published in 2010. The translators, Rev. Seiichi Ariga and Rev. Wayne Irwin, are both former ministers at Centenary.

From the preface:

“Several books on the history of Toyo Eiwa from 50 Years of Toyo Eiwa to 120 Years of Toyo Eiwa have been edited and published, but there has been no single book that focused on Miss Cartmell, the founder of Toyo Eiwa, and the other missionaries.”

From the preface to the English version:

“Shortly after the original book has been published in early 2010, Toyo Eiwa provided us with a copy, and we were deeply impressed by the integrity of the people of Toya Eiwa and their never-fading appreciation and affection toward their missionaries in the past.”

Copies are available at the church office.

The memorial service for Ruth Coy (nee Whatmough) was held at Centenary on Monday July 30. Here is the obituary online or view / download the
obituary as a pdf file.

All women of the United Church were invited to gather for a Golden Celebration on July 23-27, 2012, at Redeemer University College, Ancaster, Ontario, to celebrate the past, share the present and anticipate the future, hosted by Hamilton Conference UCW.

On Wednesday July 25th, 34 women from this group toured Centenary and enjoyed a short organ concert with music director Brian Turnbull.