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140 Wineva Ave, Toronto ON M4E 2T4
April 5, 2015
Heartbeat: weekly newsletter
Holy Week
This week we travel through
the biggest season
of the church year—
bigger even than Christmas!
We follow Jesus
from his celebrated entrance
into Jerusalem,
to his death by crucifixion
to his resurrection
Maundy Thursday
April 2, 7:00pm Communion Service
Jesus meets with his friends and disciples for the last time over a meal.
He prays & is betrayed in the garden of Gethsemane.
Good Friday
April 3, 10:30am Worship Service
Move with Jesus through arrest & trial to his death. Explore the “word on the
street" through poetry by Ins Choi & photographs of life in Toronto.
Activity table for children will be part of the worship experience.
Holy Saturday
April 4, 6pm Potluck & Documentary
As we keep vigil let’s eat a meatless or plant-based potluck. Let’s watch &
discuss a 30-minute documentary 1000 Suns filmed in Ethiopia, New York, &
Kenya, that tells the story of the Gamo Highlands and the unique worldview held
by the people of the region.
Heartbeat: BUC Newsletter
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140 Wineva Ave, Toronto ON M4E 2T4
April 5, 2015
Celebrate
Easter
Season
Easter Sunrise
April 5, 6:45am worship on the beach
Meet at Leuty Lifeguard Station for an interactive service - wear warm clothes.
Return to BUC for a simple, potluck breakfast. Coffee will be ready and hot!
Easter Communion
April 5, 10:30am Communion Service
Celebrate the end of Jesus’ story and the beginning of our story by reflecting
on what resurrection means through sharing communion.
Activity table for children will be part of the worship experience.
Flowers will decorate our sanctuary & will be delivered to members who are unable
to attend service. If you can help with delivery that would be wonderful!
Easter 1
April 12, 10:30am
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation will join us for a joint
service.
Easter 2
April 19, 10:30am
We will celebrate the baptism of William Burley as we explore what it means to
be resurrection people.
Easter 3
April 26, 10:30am
We will celebrate the baptism of Jeffrey MacDonald as we explore what it
means to be resurrection people.
Fellowship of the Least Coin
The least coin is a symbol of prayer for peace and reconciliation:
http://www.wicc.org/programs-events/fellowship/
From March 22 to April 26 please add your loose change to the jar
found on the coffee table, nestled among the cookies!
Heartbeat: BUC Newsletter
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140 Wineva Ave, Toronto ON M4E 2T4
April 5, 2015
Speaker’s Series
at Beach UC
7:30-9pm
Wednesday, April 8
Kim Echlin
Monday, May 11
Terry Fallis
Sabbatical News
Karen Dale is completing a third and final month of
sabbatical from April 13 to May 19. This last month will
consist of completing the design and writing of a resource
to help people nurture their spiritual selves whilst living
through times of high stress. Testing and evaluating this
resource by a small group (5) of pre-designated people
will be part of the process. A final re-write will be needed
to include the comments and suggestions received.
Abigail Johnson begins a 3-month sabbatical block on
June 1. She will write a proposed book on a spirituality of
depression. Her plan is to combine personal experience,
pastoral practice, and creative arts. She will reflect on
how our spirituality is affected by depression as well as
how our spirituality can impact our depression.
Heartbeat: BUC Newsletter
Neighbourhood Unitarian
Universalist Congregation
Piano Benefit Concert to show off the
refurbished piano, which came from BUC.
Saturday, April 11, at 7pm at 79 Hiawatha
Doors open at 7pm
Piano Tech Presentation 7:15pm
Performance at 7:30pm
Bring a snack to share. Coffee & Tea provided
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140 Wineva Ave, Toronto ON M4E 2T4
April 5, 2015
A message from Council:
As you can imagine, Council was surprised and saddened to learn of Abigail Johnson’s decision to leave Beach United at the end of
December 2015. Her role at Beach United can be described as “pre-eminent”. As part of our new congregation’s very first ministerial team,
Abigail has shared her tremendous gifts in spiritual growth, pastoral care, intellect and innovative thinking. She is a thought leader - not only
in Beach United, but in the United Church of Canada - and we have been very, very fortunate to benefit from her leadership. Council is just
beginning to determine what will happen next as a result of Abigail’s announcement, but here are some answers to questions you may have:
Why is Abigail leaving?
Abigail told Council that she reached her personal decision that it was time to move on after a long period of prayerful discernment. She said
she is not choosing to leave because she is unhappy at Beach United, but because she is ready to seek a new challenge. She said she does
not have specific plans at this time for what she will do next, and she has not accepted a call to be a minister at another church.
How does this affect our vision and mission at Beach United Church?
Beach United's mission - Exploring Faith and Building Relationships with God, People and the Earth - has not changed.
How long has Council known that Abigail is leaving?
Abigail shared her decision with Council on Tuesday, March 24. With Council’s permission, she announced it to the congregation on the
following Sunday, March 29.
Why is Abigail still taking sabbatical leave this summer if she is leaving at the end of December?
Abigail earned her sabbatical leave as part of her employment contract with Beach United. All United Church ministers who have completed
five or more years of service in a congregation are eligible for sabbatical leave. It would be unfair to expect Abigail to not take her sabbatical
leave - that would be like asking someone to give up their salary or vacation days after they have given notice.
How will we fill the empty position?
Before any long-term staffing decisions are made, Council will consult with Presbytery for guidance on the best way to proceed. Typically,
when there is a change in ministerial staffing, a congregation strikes a special “joint needs assessment committee” (JNAC) with Presbytery
before putting out a call for a new minister. Due to changes at Presbytery the JNAC may now be replaced by a different process, but the
result will be the same: Beach United will work with Presbytery to determine a staffing model that reflects our congregation’s mission and our
financial situation.
What does this change mean for Karen Dale?
Karen has told Council that she will continue to serve as a minister at Beach United for as long as she is needed.
Weren’t we told that if one minister leaves, they both leave?
Last year, when the congregation was considering the proposal to change to a one-minister staffing model, Karen and Abigail made it clear
that they would both resign in this circumstance, to avoid any confusion about whether we were voting to "keep" or "let go" either one of our
current ministers. Abigail's resignation now is a different circumstance and Karen's contract with Beach United is not affected by it.
If you have thoughts, questions and concerns that you’d like to discuss, please feel free to talk to Abigail, Karen or any of the Council
members at Beach United: Chris Bell, Leigh Bowser, Marian Hilton, Wendy Johnston, Mary Anne Lemm, Jim McKibbin, Lee Muirhead,
Barry Truscott, Barry Watson, Marney Winn
If you need a council member’s phone or email address, please contact the church office 416 691 8082
Heartbeat: BUC Newsletter
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140 Wineva Ave, Toronto ON M4E 2T4
April 5, 2015
Pizza with Purpose
On Friday March 27th 15
youth and 5 leaders from
Beach UC and Eastminster
UC gathered to make pizza.
Veggies were diced and
sliced dough was stretched
and there was lots of
conversation and laughter!
First pizza out the oven!
17 pizzas were made for the
Thursday Inter-faith program.
Of course a few had to be taste
tested - just to make sure they
were delicious :)
Heartbeat: BUC Newsletter
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140 Wineva Ave, Toronto ON M4E 2T4
April 5, 2015
eSpirit
Last Sunday I announced my decision to leave Beach United at the end of this year, December 2015.
I have enjoyed my time at Beach. Together we faced challenges. We amalgamated, moved in and out
of 140 Wineva, and we are doing ministry in a smaller footprint. I love this kind of adventure. I’ve also
learned a lot from this community, as I always do.
We are all a bunch of unique, beautiful, and peculiar people—the kind of people that Jesus hung out
with. We are strong and fragile, tender and demanding—the kind of people that God loves. We are
visionaries and realists, people of life, death, and new life. I have loved my relationship with Beach
United--the whole community as well as individuals. We have shared blessings, tears, celebrations,
and hugs.
Where am I going on January 1, 2016? I don’t know yet. I have no new position lined up and I will see
where God’s Spirit takes me. In the mean time, I will be working hard here at Beach UC for the next 9
months.
In my experience, leaving a congregation is a little death. We end a relationship. If we meet again, it
will not be in the same way. But, death leaves room for new life. Something new will emerge.
In our season of Holy Week and Easter, we learn once again about life, death, and life after death.
Whether we know what’s ahead or not, let’s follow God’s leading with confidence and joy.
Shalom, Abigail
Heartbeat: BUC Newsletter
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