New Vision Notes

Thursday January 11, 2024

Welcome to this week’s edition of New Vision Notes! If you’re reading for the first time, we’re glad you’ve subscribed. If you’ve been a subscriber for a while, we’re grateful to continue reaching you each week.

1. This coming Sunday‘s service will be led by Joda and others from our church community.
2. The Music Hall Advisory Group is working hard behind the scenes to renovate the church so we can better lease surplus space at New Vision to help fund our ministry.
   Next Wednesday, Jan. 17th, we will have a presentation to the Hamilton City Council General Issues Committee, which could result in some much needed funding from the City. This funding could pay for the first phase of New Vision renovations. Please come out to the meeting to show your support for our efforts! The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall.
   We can meet at New Vision at 9:10, then walk over across the street together.
   Any questions? Please speak to Dan Peace (email here)  or Helen Bradley (email here).
3. 
   Do you love to sing? But actually… does singing bring you JOY?  If you just said YES… then come and sing on Thursday nights with other people who love to sing, too. You do NOT need to read music, and if you feel like your singing best fits in a shower or when you are humming along in your head — please come and join us. Give it a try for the month of January and see if it’s a good fit for you.
   Our first practice is tonight (Thursday, January 11) at 7:00pm! We meet in the main room at New Vision and enter from the alley doors.
   If you can’t attend in person, the CHOIR ZOOM room is always open: Meeting ID: 653 054 8429. Passcode: 12345. (Please note this is NOT the same link as the Sunday services)
   Here is the folder where you will find the music.
   Please come and give it a try on Thursday: even if you are unsure, we welcome you to join us just to be in the space and listen or participate as you’re comfortable! We can’t wait to sing with you.
4. Everyone is invited to attend the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Ecumenical Service With Special Guest Pastor Peter Noteboom: General Secretary of The Canadian Council of Churches. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has roots at least as long ago as 1908 and has been taken up as an enduring global project of the World Council of Churches (founded in 1948), which is now a family of 352 churches, representing over 580 million Christians in 120 countries, striving to respond to Jesus’ prayer and manifest the unity of community, witness and service to which all Christians are called.
   Hosted by Westdale churches of varying denominations, the service will be held at The Westdale Theatre at 7:00pm, followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments. Anyone interested is invited to join the choir for the service by showing up at 6pm (enter through the Paisley Street Doors off the Accessible Parking Lot). The songs will include “Let Us Build A House”, “When I Needed a Neighbour” and “Siyahamba”.
5. It’s that time of year again! This is a reminder to all staff and council members: Non-financial reports for the Annual Report are due no later than Sunday, January 21st.
6. The World Health Organization has declared that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. We no longer ask people to mask to be part of our worship gathering; however, very much know that we remain mask friendly!
7. 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.

Together, let’s celebrate the gifts and graces of all people!