Spring 2017 Student minister—Jan McCormick, in the office Wednesday mornings and available for Pastoral Care Visits by arrangement Valerie’s hours, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10-2 and answering emails from hillcrestuc8958@gmail.com 24/7

Greeters Schedule – March 5 Niemi Family 12 Howden Family 19 Rick & Marlene Bauman 26 Chuck Peterson & Bernie Wassenich April 2. John Field & Dave Emigh 9.Ross & Margaret Wark 16. Michelle Bauman & Eleanor Lawrence 23.Denyse W & Judy Barr 30.The Ford Family May 7. Doug & Carolyn McDonell 14. The Fitzpatrick Family 21. Wendy Durrant & Mary MacDonald 28. The Colwill Family

Please speak to Valerie to be added or removed from this list.

Upcoming Special Services

April 2nd, 10:30 am MISSON & SERVICE SUNDAY

Special Guest Speaker: Murray Brownridge

April 9th, 10:30 am PALM SUNDAY:

& COMMUNION

April 14th, 10:00 am GOOD FRIDAY:

April 16th, 10:30 am EASTER SUNDAY:

April 30, 10:30 am ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY:

UPCOMING EAT & MEET SCHEDULE

Please mark these dates on your calendar & plan to join in the fun &

socializing

Wed Apr 12th - 6-8pm - Easter Drama

(roles for all ages - children, youth & adults) -

sign-up sheet in the Narthex

Wed Apr. 26 - 6-8pm - ALS Fundraiser

Wed. May 24 - 6-8 pm - Canada 150 Theme -

Program suggestions welcome, contact Verna, Dave or Carolyn

Upcoming Meetings

Council Meeting Wed Mar 22 7 PM

Being discussed will be Remits # 3 & 4. Please feel free

to take a copy of the information about remits on the ta-

ble in the Narthex. For more information, see Jan`s note

in this month’s Newsletter or visit www.GC42.ca/remits

Our deepest apologies…..

Overlooked but not forgotten,

in the Annual Report for 2016

under ‘In Loving Memory”:

Bill Hyrciw and Jim McPhail.

Stickers are available on the table in

the Narthex so that you can fix this

unfortunate mistake.

Sincerely, the office

8958 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown ON L7G 4S5 www.hbuc.ca Office: 905-878-4872 E-mail: office@hbuc.ca

PROPOSED CHANGES WITHIN THE UNITED CHURCH Between February 2016 and 30 June 2017, each pastoral charge will formally be

asked to vote on 4 proposed changes to the United Church called ”remits” This process proposes some major changes to the structure and operations of The

United Church of Canada.

The intent of these changes if accepted is to create a sustainable and workable church structure in the face of a declining volunteer base and financial resources.

In keeping with this, Hillcrest will offer printed documentation in the Narthex (1 in

each month) during January, February, March and April. There will be write up in each newsletter and in May we will Vote on each one during a council meeting where

everyone is invited and welcome to attend. If necessary we will schedule some ad-ditional meetings for discussion however the intent is to come to the meeting in May

ready to vote on each of the 4 questions. Additional information can be found at http://www.gc42.ca/remits should you wish to begin to read and understand this in

more detail.

Pastoral charges that don’t register a vote, will be counted as a “NO” and there must be a clear majority of “YES” votes for these changes to be ratified and sent the 43rd

general council for approval in 2018.

Jan’s Journal Although I am eagerly anticipating spring, winter seems to be upon us! It is snowing heavily as I write.

Hillcrest continues to be a busy place! We are sharing Lenten Reflections via e-mail and prepar-

ing for Easter services. There will be an Eat and Meet on Wednesday, April 12th, which will feature an

Easter skit. Performers of all ages are invited to sign up for a part.

As my winter term draws to a close, I am able to devote more time to activities at Hillcrest. A Bi-

ble Study will be offered, beginning after Easter. One or two workshops about Spiritual Practices are in

the works, as well.

At the March meeting of Hillcrest Council, Remits 3 and 4 will be discussed. All members of Hillcrest

are invited to attend, in order that everyone is able to formulate an informed decision for the votes. Vot-

ing will take place at the May Council meeting. It was decided at the Annual General Meeting on March

5, 2017, that Hillcrest Council members would vote, representing all members of the congregation. This

means that it is important for everyone to speak to a member of Council to let them know how you would

vote. Council members will be representing you, so please make sure that you express your preference.

Remit 3: Office of Vocation: to ensure that the United Church continues to be served by trained, skilled,

competent and responsible ministry personnel, with accountability to the Office of Vocation. There would be changes to the oversight of training of students.

Remit 4: Funding a New Model: This one is complex. It pertains to assessments of individual pastoral

charges, grants, allocation of money from M&S donations. It covers investments, Reserve Funds, funding

of each level of governance. The new funding model encourages equal sharing of funds across the

national church

ONGOING HILLCREST ACTIVITIES

Coffee and Conversation

Join us Wednesday mornings at 10 am for coffee, tea and a home baked goodie.

Meaning conversations in a safe and confidential small group of friends.

All are welcome.

Prayer Shawl

The group continues to meet the 3rd Thursday of every month, 11 am.

Going Deeper:

An opportunity to explore scripture passages and sermon messages in more depth.

Meet the last Sunday of each month, immediately following worship, next date~

March 26th

HILLCREST ANNIVERSARY Hillcrest will be celebrating its 48th year this spring

and we would like to do something special to

celebrate. We are interested in having people share

their personal testimony with the rest of the

congregation. Anything from how you came to

worship at Hillcrest, what being a part of this

congregation has meant to you over the years, how

your faith has led you to the work you do or the

mission trips you have gone on, sharing stories and

pictures of your experiences. Please see Valerie to get

your name on the speakers list.

Children and Youth

Junior Youth Group

will be starting

March 24th, 6:30-8:00 pm for kids in grades

4-8.. Come out for a night of fun, games

and friendship. Bring a friend for a chance

to win a gift card.

PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE On Feb. 17th, Ross Wark was one of two

people to receive a 2016 Lieutenant

Governor's Ontario Heritage Award at

Queen's Park, Toronto.

This lifetime achievement award was for

photographing the Oakville scene since the

early 1960's,his extensive collection

of vintage Oakville postcards, and his

writings in Oakville Memories Old and New.

Both Ross and Margaret are longtime

members of the Trafalgar

Township Historical Society.

Jan’s Journal, continued

There will be print outs of the information for each remit

available on the table in the Narthex, or consult GC42.ca/

remits

As we anticipate spring, with buds on the trees and bulbs

pushing green shoots through the earth, let us focus, also,

on the renewal and rebirth of our individual and personal

relationship with God.

Blessings for the Easter season,

Jan

Easter Memorial Flower Tribute

If you wish to take part

in the Easter Flower

Memorial please take a

form from the table in the Narthex

and hand it in to John Field by Sun-

day April 9th.

STAY UPDATED!

Hillcrest United Church has a wonderful

website and a Facebook page. If you need

updates or access to information about

what’s happening check these sites out!!

www.hbuc.ca , https://www.facebook.com/

hillcrestunitedchurch/

NEW INFORMATION? Please keep the office updated with your

new information. New address or e-mail?

Or maybe you have given up your landline

and are only using your cell phone now.

We want (need) to know!!

EAT & MEET WITH OUR SYRIAN FAMILY

Fifty people attended the Mar. 7th Eat & Meet to

hear our Syrian refugee family`s story.

The Melle`s home was in Aleppo, Syria. One night

about 6 years ago, they were awakened around 2am

by bombing near their home. They fled to an under-

ground shelter & stayed there for two days. They

were aware that many people had been captured &

tortured so they decided to leave Syria. Hayat left

with the four children ( the oldest was in college, the

others in school). They took only a couple of bags of

clothing each, drove in a van to within a few miles of

the Turkish border and then had to get walk across

the border during the night. Because of his job, Ser-

han was not able to go with them but joined them a

few weeks later.

The family chose to go to Turkey because they had

relatives there. This also enabled them to leave the

refugee camp & stay with relatives. However the

children were not able to go to school & the boys

took whatever small jobs they could find to support

the family. After a couple of years, the oldest son

decided to try to get to Germany. He left on one of

the boats to Greece & did make his way to Germany.

The family reported to the UN & hoped to go to Ger-

many as well. With so many refugees in Germany,

the UN suggested Canada. After many meetings with

various officials of the UN & Canada, they finally

received approval to come to Canada. This took al-

most a whole year.

They had mixed feelings coming to Canada, both

happy & a little frightened as they knew little about

the country but had heard how welcoming & friendly

Canadians were. This welcoming attitude was rein-

forced when they were met at the airport by our SA-

FARI group & taken to their temporary home where

one of the family could speak some Arabic.

They are now settled into their new home in Milton.

The two younger children are in high school & while

learning a new language and trying to catch up on 6

years of no schooling is difficult, they are finding the

teachers & classmates very helpful & encouraging.

The older son, whose English is quite good, is just

completing a trades course in Burlington designed to

help refugees get jobs in the home renovation field.

For Serhan & Hayat the language is the big challenge

but they are taking ESL classes every day.

The two boys are taking skating lessons & are enjoy-

ing a typical Canadian activity. Jabbar, the youngest

wishes to play soccer in the summer. Members of the

Rotary club have provided bicycles for the family.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT!