Faith in Action – July 11, 2025

*Tech tip:  If you find that you are not seeing photos in your e-mail, click on the “View in browser” link at the top of your page.

Reminder – NO Worship Services in July – Please note that we will be continuing our tradition of giving our staff and volunteers a time to rest, recharge and catch-up on work behind the scenes by not having Sunday services during the month of July.  Our next service of worship will be on August 3 with Rev. Teresa Moysey.  The office will be closed until August 18, but the answering machine and e-mails will be monitored – please don’t hesitate to reach out as needed.

Catch up time! Summer is a great time to go back and catch up on services that you missed during the last few months.  To find previous services, please visit: WPUC 2025 Playlist

It’s time for WPUC’s Annual Virtual Garden Tour! – Calling all gardeners (or anyone who loves gardens and photos!) It’s time for WPUC’s 6th Annual Virtual Garden Tour! Keep your eyes open for beautiful plants and flowers at home or wherever you visit this summer and have your camera ready to get a picture and send it in. Send your photos to: laura.wpuc@gmail.com.

Remember: Photos work best for the slide show if they are taken in landscape (horizontal) mode. Try to move closer rather than using your zoom to avoid a pixely (overly grainy) photo. If you need tech help, contact Laura at laura.wpuc@gmail.com.

The deadline to send in your photos is Thursday, July 31!

For some inspiration and to see the videos from the 2020-2024 Garden Tours, click here:  WPUC Garden Tour Playlist  Did you know that last year’s tour has received over 400 views?  Watch for the 2025 Virtual Garden Tour video in early August!

Pastoral Care Group – As we go through the summer, if you are aware of anyone from our church community who might benefit from Pastoral Care support, please email or leave a general message (office@windsorparkunitedchurch.com or 204-256-8792) to share discreetly – someone will get back to you.
*Again, please note that the answering machine and email will be monitored regularly during July and August.

The Holy Grounds Café will be open every Wednesday from 1-2:30 p.m. throughout the summer months. Come out for a coffee and a visit – all welcome!

Emergency Food Cupboard – Our Emergency Food Pantry will be open during the summer months on Wednesdays only (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)  Thank you to everyone who volunteered to work a shift!
Our pantry is fairly well-stocked at the moment but we will continue to collect donations of food items throughout the summer months on Wednesdays during Food Pantry hours (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)  Thank you in advance for any support that you can offer. Together, we can ensure that members of our community have access to some basic items at a challenging time.

Summer Book Sale – Thank you to everyone who supported our June book sale and to those who set up and took down the sale!

Little Free Library – If you are at the church and notice the Little Free Library needs a tidy, please feel free to go ahead!  Also, please check to see that the doors are closed and latched (at the bottom).  This community outreach gets many visitors, so your help is much appreciated!

Garden Caretakers –  Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to keep our gardens looking beautiful over the summer!

WPUC Memorial Roses in bloom 2025

Keep spreading the word!  WPUC has space for rent!  Thank you to everyone who has been sharing suggestions and information on our rental spaces.  For more information on spaces and fees, please visit http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/services/  or call the church office!

Beyond Our Walls:

Wildfires in Manitoba and Ontario:

Many communities in the Prairie to Pine region continue to suffer the impacts of the ongoing wildfire season. This includes Garden Hill/Anishininew Okimawin First Nation (see below); Snow Lake, which is under mandatory evacuation for the second time; and continuing threats in the areas of Thompson, Flin Flon, Creighton, and so many others. A number of First Nations in Northwest Ontario are again under evacuation, after a brief reprieve in the weather. People are being flown to communities as far away as Toronto.

This is a very hard time for so many. All of these communities are facing significant trauma and immediate needs. We are asked to continue daily prayer for all of God’s creation affected by the wildfires (see below). Please also see the pastoral letter from Prairie to Pine’s leadership. Donate to The Red Cross through their Manitoba wildfire appeal at this link.

Support for Garden Hill through the United Church Foundation

On July 10, Garden Hill First Nation, one of the communities that Indigenous Ministries and Justice serves, came under a mandatory evacuation order due to wildfires. The province of Manitoba has again declared a provincial emergency. Pastoral staff at Garden Hill, in consultation with community leadership, have said that in addition to prayers, donations to the community’s relief efforts would be appreciated. The United Church of Canada Foundation will accept these donations, provide you with a tax receipt, and forward the funds to Garden Hill First Nation.

How to donate

1. Visit the United Church of Canada Foundation website:
https://unitedchurchfoundation.ca/
2. Click the ‘donate now’ button on top right corner
3. Under ‘fund’, choose the ‘Ann Baker Estate Trust for Emergency Relief’
4. Write a message indicating to direct the funds to Garden Hill First Nation for wildfire relief

(Source: Prairie to Pine email)

Prayers:
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who are impacted by the extreme heat/weather changes/hazardous air quality due to smoke that we have been experiencing in Manitoba, particularly those without indoor shelter and those attempting to care for their health and safety needs;

Please pray for all God’s creation; for the safety and spiritual and mental health of those evacuating or awaiting such orders and of all first responders and leaders.  We also pray for those returning home to devastation and loss.  Through our prayers, may we be moved to offer whatever help we can in this moment and over the longer term, as the reality of trauma and destruction make themselves felt.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in places across the world where war, aggression, and human-induced famine continue.

The Power of Prayer: Call for daily prayer for wildfire impacts. Keewatin Circle, the Indigenous United Church in Manitoba, invites you to pray with them for all communities in Canada regarding the forest fire emergencies.
You are invited to observe a time of  prayer each evening beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Please pray for the following:
Rain
Safety of all communities
Safety of evacuees
Safety for all those responding to the needs of evacuees.
Safety for those who are in communities fighting fires.
As well as the animals both domestic and wild