LINKING THE CONGREGATION

TO ITS LIFE & WORK AT K U C

KUC THRIFT SHOP:

• Monday through Friday
• 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Newly located at 387 – 4th Avenue (across St. Paul Street from KUC)

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR JULY 10th: 

• Genesis 25:19-34   Psalm 119: 105-112   
• Romans 78:1-11   Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23                                                         

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

“When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present… we experience heaven on earth.” – Sarah Breathnach

KAMLOOPS OKANAGAN PRAYER CYCLE

This week we pray for General Council Staff, Mardi Tindal, Moderator and Nora Sanders, General Secretary.

KUC PHOTO DIRECTORY SALES

• At KUC after the worship service today and next Sunday, July 10^th.   Extra photo prints already ordered will be ready at this time.  New orders will be taken.
• During the first two weeks of July Photo Directories will be available for pick up through the KUC office.  Extra photo prints already ordered will be ready at this time.  New orders will be taken.
• At Berwick-On-The-Park the Photo Directory will be available after the worship service Thurs., July 14^th.   Extra photo prints already ordered will be ready at this time.  New orders will be taken.

KUC’s WEBSITE:  www.kamloopsunited.ca

• Check out pictures  from “Aboriginal Sunday” worship service
• read about some of our KUC Core Ministries
• check out the news page (both reporting of past events and things to come)
• see pictures of our 3 United Churches worshipping together at Riverside Park last month
• “see” the Folk of Note and Friends Spring Show
• read the latest Link or Worship Bulletin (those prayers you appreciated are there for you to pray again)
• see the Prayer Shawl ministry group at work
• and the lovely Easter bonnets and ears displayed at our Easter Tea
• And if there’s something you’d like to see on YOUR website, reply to the webminister (its right there on the webpage) with your suggestions.  You can also “leave a comment” (and see the comment Fliss left!).   Visit the website often and see the updates and new items.

LET US BE OF SERVICE

 – PROVIDE NEW LIFE TO YOUR VALUED ITEMS

Please set aside articles for a silent auction to be held this fall to feature entertainment and a TS BOUTIQUE  Fashion Show. This auction will include interesting and new, like new (or antique) items and will support our capital project.

Further inquiries can be directed to: Beppie Crawford 250-374-4764 or Mary Ann Milobar at mamilobar@shaw.ca

THRIFT SHOP HELP NEEDED FOR SUMMER MONTHS

If you can volunteer the odd day to work at our Thrift Store during July and August please call the Thrift Shop at 372-3448 and leave your name and number.  Please consider helping to support this important ministry of KUC.  Thank you.     

RIDES TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING

Recently we have had some requests for rides to church for some of our seniors who do not drive or live within walking distance of KUC.  This issue arises periodically and it would seem to be a very caring act of outreach to provide a roster of names we might call on for regular or occasional rides to church.  If each area of Kamloops had a few or several names offering rides no one would have to feel obligated for every Sunday and the onus for requesting rides would lie with the person who needs the ride.

If you would be willing to let your name stand on such a roster for rides in your general area of Kamloops would you please give me a call or email. Arleen Simmonds 250-374-2135 or email waskamloops@shaw.ca

If you have a need for a ride or know someone who does the above contact information can also be used.

USHERS – GREETERS – SCRIPTURE READERS WORKSHOP

If you are presently an usher, a greeter, and/or a scripture reader – or if you are able to assist with any of these important Sunday tasks – please mark your calendar for an important workshop to be held on Saturday, Sept. 17^th. Since our services will be in the gym for a time while renovations take place it is important for us to review and update our knowledge for ushers and greeters especially and training for scripture readers is always important.  If you have any questions,   please contact Sandy Baird at 250-376-6919.

RINGING LINK 2011

The entire Harmony in Hand Bell Choir and 4 ringers from Bells of Note will be travelling to Calgary, Alberta early in July to participate in “Ringing Link”, the Canadian Guild of English Handbell Ringers National Conference.  There will be handbell ringers there from all across Canada – a wonderful learning and ringing opportunity for all of the ringers! 

Harmony in Hand has been asked to play in a “Mini Concert” at this event.  One of the pieces we will be playing is the new arrangement of “Living in the Light” that was arranged by Linnea Good this past Advent especially for KUC and the Harmony in Hand Bell Choir. It will be the national debut of this piece so we feel we will be taking all of you with us.  We ask for your thoughts and prayers as we travel to Calgary and participate in this conference.                     Karen McClelland, Director, Harmony in Hand

HEADS UP

 “Recharge, Refresh, Retreat” 

KUC Leaders Retreat & Family Camp

• September 23-24, Camp Grafton. 
• Stay for the weekend or just Friday night; or join the group on Saturday. 
• Friday, Sept. 23: A time of spiritual renewal, reflection and fellowship  for KUC leaders and anyone interested. Saturday,
• September 24, join us for a time of play, worship, and spiritual nurture.
• The weekend will close with a communal barbeque and short worship. 

“End of Life Series”

Coming in October 2011, Tuesdays at 6:30-8:30 (Oct 4,11,18,25). Come explore Legalities, Finances, Representational Agreements, Medical Questions, Funeral Planning and Psycho-Social-Spiritual Issues. Come to all the sessions or the ones you are interested in.

“Keeping Us Connected (KUC) Visiting Team”

September 21, 6:30-8PM. One of the best things to come out of the Vision Fulfillment Process  2010 (The Capital Campaign), was the sense of connection, the sharing of stories, the stirring of hearts and minds over coffee and dining tables.

We are looking for a team of people (25-40: youth, adults and seniors), who are excited about ‘Keeping Us Connected’. Each member of the (KUCVT) will have a list of 5-10 ‘KUC households’ that they connect with (by phone, email, or face to face) at minimum, once a month (to check-in, to receive or pass on information). This is NOT a Ministry of Pastoral Care (although there may be moments of mutual care, support and understanding as we share our stories), but it is a Ministry of Relationship Building and Nurturing. Come join this integral, intergenerational, vital ministry team as we build and sustain an engaged and healthy faith community.

“Home-Coming Sunday” – September 18, 10AM.

We know, we haven’t left for the summer yet. But we are so excited about fall events, we want you to mark your calendars now. Don’t miss it or we’ll MISS YOU.  Bring your summer stories of adventure, rest, reunions and more. 

“Ministry of Mindful Meandering”

September 18, after church. Are you interested in exploring local walking and hiking trails; paddling rivers and lakes, with a group of like-hearted, spiritual seekers? Is there a place you would like to explore, but would love to go with friends, and take God along for the journey? Do you have a favourite spot you’d like to share with others? Would you like to come along with a group, discovering and rediscovering new places?  Join us for our first meeting to coordinate dates, explore places and shared leadership. Each spiritual journey will include a time of centering prayer and reflection at the midway point.  Lead or co-lead one or more spiritual adventures; or just come along to find God in Creation; and find each other in God. Weekly or bi-weekly, it is up to you.

Autumn Book Selection:  Wednesday Afternoon Study:

“Friedman’s Fables” (c) 1990

– most Wednesdays between September 14 and December 21. Fables, short stories with a message, thus, you don’t have to attend every gathering. We will explore two fables per week.

Written by Edwin Friedman…..

“These 24 mischievous (and some serious) tales capture the outrageous, the fantastic, and the paradoxical side of the human dilemma. Characters include flowers that wilt because they don’t appreciate their own beauty; spiders that get caught in the symmetry of their own web; birds that refuse to learn to fly ‘just ‘cause their parents want them to’; fellow creatures that criticize a lamb for not standing up to a tiger; and people…who are constantly controlled, if not tyrannized, by the sensitivities of others. What is most uncanny about these tales is that they are equally relevant to marriage, therapy, pedagogy, theology, medicine, motivational seminars, and raising children.”

A list of the Fables and their Focus will be posted in September.

Autumn Book Selection:  Thursday Evening Study, 6:30-8:00

“A Geography of Faith: An Altar on the World” by Barbara Brown Taylor (c) 2009.

12 wonderful chapters over 6 weeks between September 15 and Oct 27. From her introduction: “I have no idea what you will see when you look at your life-but if you are tired of arguing about religion, tired of reading about spirituality, tired of talk-talk-talking about things that matter without doing a single thing that matters yourself, then the pages that follow are dedicated to you. My hope is that reading them will help you recognize…some of the altars in this world.”  Chapters include: The Practice of Waking Up to God; The Practice of Wearing Skin; The Practice of Living with Purpose; The Practice of Saying No; The Practice of Pronouncing Blessings…

Winter Book Selection: Thursday Evening Study, 6:30-8PM

“12 Steps to a Compassionate Life” – Karen Armstrong

12 engaging chapters over 6 weeks between November 3 to December 15.

From Amazon.ca:

“In November 2009 Armstrong and TED launched The Charter of Compassion, which states that “We call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion…to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings — even those regarded as enemies.”

To date, it’s been signed by over 48,000 people on the Web, including such figures as The Dalai Lama and Queen Noor, Dave Eggers and Meg Ryan. (www.charterforcompassion.org)    Out of the ideals of that Charter has come this humane, accessible, indispensable short book for our times.”                                                         

PIT STOP NEEDS HELP FOR SUMMER SUNDAYS

• We are having difficulty filling the PIT Stop Schedule for 3 of the Sundays during the summer. 
• Teams are needed for July 31^st (the BC Day long weekend), August 14^th and August 28^th. 
• We are currently servicing 130 + people each week.  As usual preparations begin at 12:30, the meal is served at 3:30 and clean-up is usually completed by 5:30. 

Anyone  who is willing to lead or join a team for any of these days, if you are available either for the whole 5 hours, or a portion of the time, please contact me.  We require 10 – 12 volunteers for each dinner.  If no one comes forward PIT Stop will be cancelled on these days.  Thank you for considering lending a hand.  Send me an email at pitstop.stuart@gmailcom or  call me at 250-374-5196 and leave a message.                                                                           Diane Stuart, PIT Stop Meal Program Coordinator

LINNEA GOOD AT PLURA HILLS UNITED

Linnea Good and her husband, David Jonsson will be leading worship at Plura Hills on Sunday, July 24, 2011  with music, teaching, preaching and story telling.  Linnea Good has 10 credits in our new More Voices book and 5 in Voices United including familiar ones like “Make a Joyful Noise all the Earth”.  For more information on her CD’s and various accomplishments check this link:    http://www.linneagood.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=54  

Everyone is welcome! ! !