New Vision Notes for Thursday October 30, 2025

Welcome to a new edition of New Vision Notes! We are grateful to be reaching you each week. This Sunday is All Saints Sunday. Our service (featuring communion, baptism and new members!) will be led by Rev. Diane and Rev. Dr. Miriam, with help from other wonderful folks from our New Vision Community.

Worship will be upstairs in the Music Hall during renovations! Please enter through the door at the corner of Main and MacNab. Seun has made a helpful poster that you may download by clicking here.

Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, so don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night!

Our application to sponsor Sulah to settle in Canada has been submitted to the Refugee Program Coordinator at the UCC, and she sent it to the next Canadian authority. Thank you, everyone, for your support in getting us this far! Now we have to wait until we hear about the next step, which is that his application is forwarded to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) authorities overseas. But we and Sulah reached a significant milestone on the journey this week. Prayers of thankfulness and ongoing blessing are in order!

In the new year, we will continue fundraising until we reach the target amount set by the Refugee Sponsorship and Training Program (the Canadian government’s advisory agency for sponsors).

If you feel so moved and are able to contribute to the sponsorship, please consider sending a tax-deductible donation to NVUC, ear-marked “Sponsorship” in a note or on a cheque.

Questions? Please ask a member of the Refugee Sponsorship Committee: Karen, Jen, Diane, Miriam, Dixon, Helen, and Yusi.

Collect gently used clothing, household goods, or books and other media.
Bring it to church with you in boxes or bags on Sunday OR
Call Helen for porch pickup @ (905) 807-2319
Helen Bradley will collect the goods and store them until our Dec. 1 drop off to Value Village.
We will get paid a set price per lb. for all your donations.
All proceeds for Refugee Sponsorship Fund.
Help us reach our goal of $1500!

For more information about the FUNdrive, please click here to download the flyer. (Printed flyers are available at church)

These beautiful calendars that feature images from our United Church communities are available to order for only $10 each! Please see Arlene after worship if you would like to purchase one.

The 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism are underway. As always, you can participate at any time of year. Together, we will learn, pray and reflect on actions we can take as a faith community. Our Minute for Mission on Sunday will talk more about this meaningful time.

1. Create dedicated and expedited immigration pathways for LGBTQ+ individuals who face systemic discrimination, loss of rights, or threats to safety in their countries of residence;

2. Expand the use of humanitarian and compassionate grounds in immigration decisions where LGBTQ+ rights are under direct attack; and

3. Publicly reaffirm Canada’s role as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people worldwide, ensuring that Canadian immigration policy reflects this commitment

As an Affirming congregation, we hope all citizens and Permanent Residents will support this petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6864

A Song of Faith – A Song of Faith, adopted in 2006, seeks to provide a verbal picture of what The United Church of Canada understands its faith to be in the historical, political, social, and theological context of the early 21st century. It is also a means of ongoing reflection and an invitation for the church to live out its convictions in relation to the world in which we live. Please click here to view (and/or download) this important literature.

Would you like to try leading a worship service? Our worship team is looking for some folks to consider leading worship. It’s a fun and meaningful way to contribute to our faith community! Please reach out to Julie or Dan to learn more about putting a service together.

Enjoy Daily scripture readings from The Revised Common Lectionary: This three-year cycle of scripture readings is used by most churches in Canada and the US. Let the Word inspire you by visiting https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/daily.php?year=B#id79

You’re invited! Join us on Sunday mornings 10:30 am week to week either in person at 24 Main St. W. or on Zoom by clicking here. The link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/782292511. If you’re on Facebook, you may also want to consider joining our New Vision United Community Group , where we post updates and share with one another online.