Welcome to Lent!
Today is the start of the season of Lent. Lent will continue to Maundy Thursday on April 6th.
Lent is a season of 40 days – 40 days that remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness discerning the Spirit leading him and blessing him; 40 days of being tempted to take a path to power, and choosing instead to follow God’s path of love.
This first day of Lent is known as Ash Wednesday. Christian faith communities will hold services. During those services, people will be invited to have the symbol of cross traced on their foreheads – traced either in ashes or in oil.
Jazz Vespers: TMUC celebrates Ash Wednesday this evening with a service of Jazz Vespers at 7p.m. Jazz is a musical expression that expresses a range of human emotions and experiences as well as a range of musical influences.
Our guest musicians this evening will be the Evans Miles quartet. The Jazz Winnipeg website states, “Evan Miles is an up-and-coming jazz pianist on the Winnipeg scene. He is entering his fourth year of study in his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano at the University of Manitoba. With his quartet, Evan strives for emotionally engaging, intense, hard swinging music as well as a high degree of interaction among the bandmates”
Everyone is welcome to this evening’s Jazz Vespers. The service will be followed by a time of refreshments and visiting in the lower hall.
Other TMUC Church News:
TMUC’s office is open Tuesdays from 9 to 2 and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 to noon!
Children’s Palm Sunday Choir: Crystal Schau will direct a Children’s Choir that will sing during the Palm Sunday worship service. The choir is for children ages 5-12 years. Practices are Tuesdays from 6:15- 6:45 p.m. and the Children will sing in Church on April 2 at 10!
The Book Group is reading True Biz by Sara Novic and will meet by ZOOM on February 28. All are welcome.
TMUC’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday March 5th, following the morning service. You are invited to bring finger food to share. We are holding a Silent ‘Cake’ Auction to raise money for the Middle East Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and the Humanitarian Coalition to show tangible support for the people of Türkiye and Syria. Donation of cakes and baking and ‘gift certificates are welcome!
TMUC’s Glenlea Greenhouse plant sale fundraiser is now available for online shopping until April 15, 2023. Get growing with us by supporting the online plant sale by clicking on the link and selecting Transcona Memorial United Church in the drop down menu at check out.
There are bedding plants, hanging baskets, hanging bags, vegetables, and herbs for sale with 20-25% of profits being returned to TMUC. The more we sell, the more we get back. Please see the link for more information.
https://www.glenleagreenhouses.com/collections/2023-spring-fundraiser-home-page
The plants will be delivered to TMUC on Friday May 12 and pick up starts at 3 pm. If you require delivery, please contact tmucflowers@gmail.com and we can make arrangements with you.
Come for conversation! Tuesdays from 1:15-2:15 and Thursdays from 6-7pm we welcome people to gather in conversation. Those learning English are eager to practice! Come and join us in the Multi-purpose room to chat! All are welcome!
Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support of TMUC’s ministry. Donations online can be made through CanadaHelps:
We are still collecting pop cans for recycling (so far we have raised $207.55) and partnering with TruEarth for fundraising:
Dinner Theatre News:
TMUC’s Caught in the Act Co.’s (CITAC) Dinner Theatre returns with performances of ‘Borrowed Time” April 20-23. Tickets are $50 each (purchasers receive a $20 donation receipt). Non-refundable tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Clocks needed! The Dinner Theatre needs clocks (NOT digital) of various sizes to use as props in the play (which is set in a clock repair shop.) If you can loan a clock please bring it to the office, and please put your name on your clock so that we can return them to their owners after the production. Thanks!
We also need a sound and light apprentice! – someone who would work with CITAC’s current sound and light technician in order to assume that role at next year’s performance. Please contact the office if you are interested.
Many volunteers are needed to produce the Dinner Theatre. We have major roles associated with the production and all casting complete; we are now looking for people who would be willing to coordinate support roles. We are have posted details previously – we’re still looking for coordinators for:
- Set-up/Take-down
- Evening clean-up
- Serving Staff
- Hospitality room
- Table setting
- Greeters
Community News:
You are invited to a rally at the CMHR on February 24, 2023 at 6:00pm to#StandWithUkraine for the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine
In commemoration of the one‐year anniversary of the unlawful Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Museum for Human Rights invites you to the launch of Ukrainian Artists United, on Friday February 24, 7-9 p.m.
Ukrainian Artists United is a temporary installation featuring multi‐media portraits of Ukrainian artists whose lives have been impacted by the war. Their stories, told through images, voiceover and music, provide insight into the human cost of conflict.
The launch will feature presentations from the project’s creators Darcy Ataman and Jason Willheim as well as a choir performance by Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus.
Easter Baskets for Kids Donation Drive:
Local Discovery Toy Play Advisors are seeking donations to assemble Easter baskets for children and families who seek assistance from Women’s Shelters in Manitoba, Dignity House and those staying at Ronald McDonald House MB.
Each child will receive a basket containing a game, toy, or book, toiletry products, Easter candy and other treats. Baskets can be sponsored for $30 each (they want to provide 250 baskets), but any donations are welcome. You may also donate candy, toiletries or other care items.
Donations are to be received by March 31. E-transfers accepted at tiasunley@gmail.com. For cash or cheque or other donations, please contact Tia Sunley (granddaughter of Val and Keith Cale) at discoverytoys.tia@gmail.com
Prairie to Pine Regional News:
The Regional Annual Meeting will be held June 1-4 at the United Church in Meadowood (Winnipeg). About 250 people from throughout the Region are expected to attend.
The theme of the meeting will be “Through the Wilderness Together.”
A meeting such as this requires the work, skills, talents, and ministry of many volunteers.
We need people who would billet delegates coming from other areas of the Region. While many people will likely choose to stay in a hotel, or with family or friends, we anticipate that some people will request to be billeted.
Please let us know the name, email and phone number of anyone willing to billet – either one person, a couple, or perhaps a family, including children. The Planning Team will match people requesting to billet with families willing to host a billet and they will be in touch.
There are numerous volunteer needs before and during the meeting, including:
• People and communities of faith to provide dainties/snacks for break times
• People to serve dainties/snacks and coffee/tea/juice during the meeting and clean up
• Drivers to transport people from their hotel/billets to and from the meeting; to workshops during the meeting; and perhaps to drive people to and from the airport
• People to help register participants as they arrive
• People to help with set-up and clean-up before, after and throughout the meeting
• People to set up and decorate tables for the Retirees Banquet (on Saturday evening, June 3) 2023 Prairie to Pine Regional Meeting Page 2 February 1, 2023
• People to setup and take down a book display, and to ‘staff’ the display and manage sales throughout the meeting
• Sometime during the week prior to the meeting, people to help prepare name tags, hospitality packets and center pieces for those attending the meeting
Anyone interested in volunteering or receiving more information may contact us by email at: cabad@united-church.ca. To make it easier for us, please put the area you’d like to volunteer in the subject line. For example, Annual meeting: book table, set up, communion ware.
-from the Regional Meeting Planning Committee
We keep you in our prayers,
Carol and Jeff