MINISTER’S MESSAGE
Rev. Steve Gillam
Happy New Year, everyone! May 2025 be filled with good health and happiness for you and yours.
So, any New Year’s resolutions? Are you someone who makes resolutions at the start of a new year? Do you keep them? I admire people who make them and stick to them. I have struggled with that. Starting a new year is a good time to reflect on one’s life, and dedicate yourself to changes to improve life for yourself, others, and the planet.
I, in case you were wondering, don’t make any new year resolutions. Two reasons. First, I am easily distracted, and don’t need the stress that comes when I realize that I forgot about my resolution, or just flat out ignored it. And secondly, I’ve always believed that making changes in one’s life, reviewing and improving (hopefully), is something that happens every day.
Whichever path you follow, the beginning of this new year does invite us to a fresh start. It may be time to let go. Repent, as The Good Book says. That’s a fancy way to say unclog those spiritual pipes. Get rid of anything that blocks or interferes with your connection with the Spirit. Or perhaps it may be time for you to take on something new. Something that will challenge you, or feed your soul, or make you feel more connected to the world around you.
I hope that you will take some time to take care of yourself in this way. Prayer might help (the listening kind, not just the talking kind), or meditation, reflection, reading, journaling. Whatever helps you discover what might be a good change in your life.
Cuz, know why? You are worth it. Worth taking care of. Let’s face it, if we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of others. (Think airplane oxygen masks!) And I’m not the only one who thinks you are worth it, so does God. Yup, God loves you and wants the best for you. (Again, The Good Book says so.) We sometimes believe that we are unworthy. Wretches. Undeserving. Maybe we think that is the pious thing to believe. But God wants good things for us. God loves us. Not because we earned it, but just because. We are God’s beloved. So, take care of yourself.
I’ve been sharing some stories about my ministry journey. I’ve talked about my first pastoral charge on the South Shore. My second was St. Andrew’s United in the east end of Lachine. I was there for seven years. Met a lot of wonderful people. Including a woman I’ll call Rose in this story. She was one of those warm, friendly, humble, caring people that is so easy to talk to. Much loved and respected.
I once asked her if she would consider becoming an Elder in the congregation. In many ways, she was already doing the work, and her compassion and strong faith were great gifts to share in the ministry of the Session. Her response: “I can’t. I’m not worthy. Elders are important people.” Her response led to a wonderful conversation (as was always the case with Rose), but she never did agree that she was indeed “good enough”.
So, if you are starting something new at the beginning of this year, or will be facing a resolution of some kind a few months from now, please remember this: You are worthy. You are loved. You are forgiven. You are enough. Smart enough, strong enough, faithful enough. Remember the little mustard seed. (That’s another Good Book thing!)
Have a blessed new year. Journey on.
Peace.
Rev. Steve
Sunday, January 12, 2025
11:00 AM
Worship Song: MV#115 “Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New”
Hymn: VU#82 “A Light is Gleaming”
Connections: Shine!
Hymn: VU#92 “In the Darkness Shines the Splendour”
Reflection: A Child of God!
Hymn: MV#157 “I am a Child of God”
Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer (sung VU#959)
Offering and Sung Dedication: VU#55 “In the Bleak Midwinter” Verse 4
Hymn: VU#79 “Arise, Your Light Is Come”
You may join us via Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
Meeting ID: 719 779 7321, Passcode: 442730
Or by phone at: 438-809-7799
COMING UP
Next Balcony Boutique is this Saturday, January 11, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Come for the bargains upstairs, stay for the coffee and conversation in the hall. And have a look among our book selections for that perfect deep winter read.
Wednesday Morning Zoom Coffee is back online on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. For some warm conversation from the cozy comfort of your home, tune in at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
Burns Day Hot Potato lunch: Sunday, January 26th, 12:00 noon – Mark your calendar and plan to stay after the service for a celebration of all things Scottish, including hot baked potatoes with toppings, and some sweet desserts from our willing bakers. And there will be haggis, properly addressed. Don’t miss it!
Lynne Lesiak reminds us that our Fundscrip fundraiser is back! Now that the Canada Post strike is over, let’s get back to ordering gift cards. Fundscrip is the Canada-wide fundraising program in which our congregation members pay for their everyday shopping (i.e., groceries, gas, gifts, etc.) with gift cards bought from FundScrip. A percentage of the cards purchased is donated to LTUC. There is no cost to us. Simply order your gift cards and use them to pay for your purchases when you shop. Our enthusiastic members raised $126 between the end of September and the beginning of December. That’s only 2 ½ months! Let’s see if we can beat that in the next 2 ½ months! For more information or to place an order, please see Lynne after church on Sunday or email her at mark.lesiak@sympatico.ca
REV. STEVE ONSTAGE AT THE SEGAL CENTRE
We have all come to know and appreciate Rev. Steve’s strong talents in theatre, as a writer, producer and actor. This month, he will feature in a production of “Paul and Linda Plan a Threesome” by Jane Cooper Ford, at Montreal’s Segal Centre, January 20-23 and 25-26, 2025. The play is billed as “funny and heartfelt; a celebration of love in many of its forms.”
For information and tickets, call: 514-739-7944, or visit: https://www.segalcentre.org/en/shows/2024-2025/paul-linda-plan-a-threesome
*Not suitable for children under 16 years of age.
FOOD COLLECTIONS
Doris McConnell writes:
It really was amazing how much food was collected over the past few months. Thank you to all!! Also, many thanks to all the knitters who supplied several bags of hats, scarves, and gloves….they were lovely and each of our four food banks will receive many items!!
However, the need does not end after Christmas, so please continue contributing. The food banks help those less fortunate in our community. The food being collected now will go to On Rock, along with a bag of knitted items.
May 2025 be a year of blessing for all!!
WE GIVE THANKS
The email address for e-transfer is: ltuc98givings@gmail.com. Please indicate how you wish to have your offering divided. If not indicated, it will be designated as local offering.
Cheques should be made payable to Lakeshore Trinity United Church. They may be dropped in the mail slot at the church or sent by regular mail if you are not attending church in person.
Rev. Steve Gillam can be reached by phone or text at 514-235-9383 or by email at macduffsdad@hotmail.com.
Lakeshore Trinity United Church
98 Aurora Ave. Pointe-Claire, QC, H9R 3G7
514-697-6459
The church office is open Tuesday to Friday mornings from 9 AM to noon.
email: lakeshoretrinityunited@gmail.com
website: www.lakeshoretrinityunited.ca
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeshore-Trinity-United-Church-101331995747334
