HERITAGE UNITED CHURCH

A Spring that Waits to Be The small mounds of snow still laying here and there are a reminder that winter is still here. If we glance ahead on the calendar we will see that Spring is on its way in time! Eventually, the snow will melt and the glorious signs of Spring will burst into sight and once again everything will be transformed. The chill of winter will change to warmer temperatures, the snow will turn to rain, patches of grass will start to show and before the last layers of snow give way the bright and colourful blooms of spring flowers will push their way to the surface to remind us that new life is indeed all around us and we are renewed and rejuvenated.

Perhaps it is because of the snow that we sense new life emerging all around us as it begins to disappear. For me though, the season of Spring arrives with Easter. Before we can get to Easter we have to complete the more somber and reflective journey of Lent and Holy Week. During this time, and Jesus’ mission and ministry, we are reminded of his purpose for coming into the world

Heritage United Church

7046 11th Concession, Markham

(905) 294-0312 *

www.heritageunitedchurch.com

Winter/Spring 2016

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was to demonstrate through word and deed the importance of love, the need for reaching out in care and compassion, and that he came to offer abundant life as well as eternal life. Through Jesus’ life, his death and his resurrection, our lives are transformed. Because of him, the incarnation of God’s love, we have been given the promise of an enduring and transforming love for our lives. So, I associate creation’s season of Spring with the Christian season of Easter because both offer us the promise of new life that will surround us and revive us, our hearts and souls as well as our senses.

Just beneath the chill and snow of winter, as Natalie Sleeth’s wonderful hymn says, there’s a spring that waits to be. Just as we must journey through Lent and be reminded of the very harsh journey that Jesus took which he undertook for each and every one of us, there a resurrection, a victory. What better reason is there than this to follow in his ways and strive to create a world where peace, love, joy, and hope are a way of life for one and for all. Wishing you and your families a time of reflection and renewal this Lenten season as we make our way to a joyous Easter morn. Blessings, Rev. Lorrie

Folklore for Planting

To make a plant grow, spit into the hole you have dug for it Never plant anything on the 31st of the month Unless you sit on thyme after sowing it, it will not grow.

Plant cucumbers while you are wearing your pajamas, on the first day of May, before sunrise, and no bugs will eat them.

Anything planted on Good Friday will grow well.

Early thunder brings fine crops.

Peppers should be planted only by a violent-tempered person, a red-headed person, or a person in a bad mood. Plant flowers & vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing, of the moon; from the day the moon is new to the day it is full. Plant flowering bulbs and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark, or waning of the moon; from the day it is full to the day before it is new again.

From the Canadian Edition of The Old Farmers’ 2014 Almanac

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Symbols of Easter There are a number of symbols that are chosen for Easter, some of which will be familiar to you. The question however, is why were they chosen for this holiday? Eggs are one symbol that are associated with Easter. I don’t know about you but as a child I always looked forward to painting them different colours and on Easter morning hunting for the ones that had been hidden throughout the house. Eggs symbolize the tomb from which Jesus emerged and the hatching of the baby chick is the symbol of new life being born.

We all know that the rabbit is associated with Easter. You might not know however, that they had been chosen because the hare represents fertility; it is considered a symbol of rebirth and new life. There are two stories that I found that actually tell how rabbits became associated with Easter. The first states that when the Germans settled in America they brought with them a tradition in which a rabbit would visit homes the night before Easter and leave brightly coloured eggs for the children. This rabbit’s name was “Oschter Haws.” The second account states that Easter, (also known as Ostara), was the AngloSaxon Teutonic Goddess of both springtime and fertility. She was usually seen escorted by a rabbit.

Some other symbols associated with Easter include:

Easter Lilies - the white blossoms of Easter Lilies rise up in the spring and symbolize the purity of Jesus.

The Cross - the Cross is a symbol of the

victory Jesus had over death

The Lamb - the lamb represents the “Lamb

of God.”

Palm Branches - on that Palm Sunday when

Jesus first arrived in Jerusalem, palm branches were waved by the people to welcome him

The Butterfly - the butterfly is a symbol of

Easter because of its unique life cycle: it begins as a caterpillar that stands for the time Jesus spent on earth; the next stage, the cocoon, represents the crucifixion of Jesus and his burial; and the final stage, when a beautiful butterfly emerges, symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection in a new glorified body.

As you can see these symbols were not randomly chosen, they all have a specific meaning that is associated with new life and rebirth.

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PALM SUNDAY March 20, 10:00 am. Words, Music and Communion celebrating the beginning of Holy Week.

MAUNDY THURSDAY Thursday, March 24, 6:00 pm. Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and

established the ceremony known as the Eucharist or Communion. In the sharing of a simple meal, we will search for meaning in the symbols and memories that are always with us. We will share food, laughter, and companionship; and we will complete the evening with candles and a shared reading of The Last Supper, the Betrayal, the Trial, and Crucifixion of Jesus. The service will be casual and intimate and you are

invited. All that we ask is that you sign up so that we can prepare the appropriate amount of food for all. The sign-up sheet should be easy to find in downstairs at fellowship time in March… or even email Rev. Lorrie at ldalyprice@gmail.com.

GOOD FRIDAY Friday, April 3, 10:00 am. The story of the Passion. A time for reflection and perhaps a new way to see the cross and understand the story of Jesus' crucifixion.

EASTER SUNDAY April 5, 10:00 am The Big One!! Words and Music; Celebration for the Whole Family. Even if you've never been to church before, there is something here for you! (Come early and join us for hot cross buns before the service.)

Just to Keep You Up to Date for Holy Week and Easter

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Ministry and Mission Profile The United Church of Canada has asked that each congregation take some time to “Tell Our Story.” So, we began the process by reviewing all the various areas of ministry as outlined by Toronto Conference. These included discipleship, justice and outreach, leadership, ministry partnerships, pastoral care/ spiritual care, spirituality/ self-care, stewardship, and worship. Some of these categories made more sense than others to the ministry that we are a part of at Heritage United Church from the conversations we have shared and the work we have done so far.

We were then asked to rank them in order of importance and come up with 2-3 goals that we could focus on for the coming year. These were shared, discussed and agreed upon at Council in January. Then were shared at our Annual Meeting for the first time with the congregation on January 31, 2016. We hope you will all take some time to have a look at what is in the works for the coming year. Where would you like to contribute? Could you join one of the working groups?

OUR GOALS:

1. Revisit our vision statement for Heritage United Church to confirm relevance and encourage action-oriented leadership. Action to be taken:

Review the statement

Opportunity for all to be a part of “visioning exercise” and establish a working group by mid-March

Present new Vision Statement by June 2016

2. To define what spirituality means to the individual and to us as a congregation. To clarify how the definition of spirituality is lived out. Action to be taken:

Establish a working group to define what it is

Working group will revisit The New Creed and determine its role

Develop a spirituality model and a checklist of criteria to use when creating new programs

3. To grow the Sunday school program. Action to be taken:

Communicate with parents and new families about the program

Utilize the website, social media and technology to share our plan

Continue using our Rotation Model of teaching

Seek a dedicated leader for the program

Heritage United Church

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Please join us for

an Easter gathering

of crafts, stories

and worship on

Saturday, March 5,

from 11am to 1pm.