You Are Invited!
Be Bold, Be Brave
Praise God in the holy temple!
Praise God for mighty deeds!
Praise God for bountiful mercies!
Praise God who meets our needs!
Psalm 150 (from Voices United)
It seems like a very long time, since Grant Williams played the Harry Potter theme music for us at the Meridian Centre and the Hogwarts Sorting Hat helped us discern our places on the Regional Council.
Just six months later COVID-19 shut us down for in-person events and we had to be bold and brave in how we met and functioned together as the United Church. Now, at last, after more than 2 ½ years we will be having our first Horseshoe Falls Regional Council meeting together with an in-person component.
Thursday evening, May 26, our meeting starts at 7 p.m. over Zoom. The keynote speakers for this evening will be Indigenous leaders Eileen and Grafton Antone. Many of you may remember Eileen’s address to us at our last in-person meeting at the Unifor Centre. She is a powerful, passionate speaker, who boldly challenges the status quo. Her husband Grafton is known to many as well, as a United Church Minister. You will not want to miss this presentation.
The evening of Friday, May 27 we will meet again by Zoom, this time at 5 p.m. Worship for the evening has been developed by Ryk Brown, Kevin Steeper, Dianne Matheson-Jimenez and Thérèse Samuel. Using the story of David and Goliath, they will bravely address the issue of bullying in the church and ways that we as laity and clergy can work to address it. This will be another stimulating evening for everyone with lots to ponder and consider.
Supports, Connects, Empowers Communities of Faith
But what you really do not want to miss is our in-person/online event on Saturday, May 28 at the Meridian Centre. We will be Zooming this meeting for those who would prefer to do so, but your Planning Committee is hoping that you will seriously consider attending.
We have been isolated and often alone with our thoughts and feelings over the past few years, and it will be good for us to finally get together to share our stories of courage and bravery. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. A leisurely lunch, with lots of time for people to reconnect, will be served after the morning session, with the meeting slated to conclude at 4:30,p.m.
During this difficult time, we have somehow found ways to bravely be church. It is my hope that this May, we will celebrate all we have boldly done in what have been difficult times and all that God has done for us.
President Robert Lawson
Horseshoe Falls Regional Council
