Activities
In early summer, Dr. Lucy Rabb (retired) gave a presentation to our congregation on Operation Christmas Child and sending shoebox gifts around the world with Samaritan’s Purse. Your Outreach Committee has accepted this project in place of our annual Angel Tree this year. We have ordered 50 boxes and hope to receive them in the next few weeks. We will announce this project to our congregation when the boxes have been received and training provided to our committee.
In June our UCW donated $1,000.to the Art for Aid Project which enabled the purchase of 1,000 Mylar Blankets for our northern communities. Outreach also donated $500. These blankets have been received by us. Art for Aid is conducting an online fundraiser to purchase additional blankets.
The Richmond Village Refugee Welcome (RVRW)
The Richmond Village Refugee Welcome (RVRW) is a group of dedicated Richmond and surrounding area residents who have been working together since fall 2015 to privately sponsor a refugee family of six from Syria. Mom, dad and four boys finally arrived in Ottawa this past June and settled into a fully furnished southwest Ottawa apartment.
Their first priorities included mountains of paperwork as well as doctor and dentist visits, but learning English is a priority. However, the family has had time to take in: swimming, biking, museums and the National Art Gallery, berry picking, a boat ride on the canal, tours of the city and Gatineau Park, taking in Canada Day events as well as the Richmond Fair and the RCMP Musical Ride. The 15 year old is an accomplished soccer player with the Ottawa South United team. The two younger boys are in public school nearby and the two teenage boys are off to high school while their parents are taking English as a Second Language each weekday morning.
The family has felt right at home with the hot weather we experienced this summer, but they will be in for a rude awakening as winter approaches so the RVRW has plans to outfit them with winter clothes.
The Outreach Committee has generously contributed to this worthwhile cause and together with the congregation, St. Paul’s has provided over $1,200.
If you would like to make a donation in cash or by cheque, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church has offered to take in the donations and issue tax receipts for amounts over $25. Make cheques out to “St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church” and write “for refugee sponsorship” on the memo line. Cheques should be mailed to P.O. Box 846, Richmond, ON, K0A 2Z0. You can also visit the web site http://www.richmondvillagerefugeewelcome.ca for further information.
Camp Awesome 2018: We had another successful very successful camp. Thirty-seven children attended the camp. Several of our own children helped throughout the camp – Lauren & Emma ran the before and after camp program. Taylor and Grace welcomed the children each morning and also helped throughout the day. A special thank you to these girls. Rev. Jessica joined the children for lunch each day. A special thank you to Judy for organizing everything and to the other ladies who volunteered their time that week..
Sunday School: classes resume on September 23rd.
Our Christian Education committee met on Sept. 17th to plan for the upcoming year. We are very fortunate to have all of our teachers back again for another year. This year we will be using a lectionary bases program to coincide with the children’s story time.
The Sunday School children will be upstairs for children’s time and the children’s hymn.
Messy Church: The following dates were chosen for Messy Church:
October 28th (pumpkin carving)
November 18th
December 16th
January 20th/19
February 24th/19
April 7 /19
May 5th/19
In December, we ‘ll be holding a Christmas Carol evening. The tentative date is Dec. 16th.
There will be a Valentine’s Day lunch.
Our Palm Sunday Breakfast is on April 14th
Mother’s Day is May 12th
The Sunday School Picnic will be on June 9th. This will be the last day for Sunday School classes.
On June 16th we will be making Father’s Day gifts and cards.
We will also be participating in the Richmond Garage Sale (May 2019)
Do you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles but don’t want to always have to buy them? We now have a jigsaw puzzle exchange in the church hall. The puzzles can be found in a white cupboard beside the elevator and you are welcome to take any of them home. Also if you have any hanging around your home feel free to bring them in to add to the collection for others to borrow! This cupboard is for puzzles only – no books, please.
St. Paul’s Memorial Gazebo
We are pleased with the construction of a Memorial Gazebo on the south side of the Church. It looks beautiful and the interlock brick around it as well as the walkway from the city sidewalk to the rear door completes the project! This was built by funds which have been donated to St. Paul’s Memorial Fund over the past several years. The names of the deceased are listed on a plaque inside the gazebo. The Church bell which used to be on the roof was placed inside the gazebo. It all looks so pretty at night when the lights are turned on.
The interlock walkway was paid for by the Pie Ladies in memory of the ladies who were faithful to the pie making project but are now deceased.
The Memorial & Bell were dedicated during a special dedication service on Sunday, June 23/13. It was a memorable service and Donald Foster was so happy to be the one who was asked to ring the bell!
Prayer Shawl Ministry
A Prayer Shawl Ministry is active at St. Paul’s. Contact Bonnie Warnock @ stpaulsunited@gmail.com for more information or to donate that yarn you bought and haven’t found a use for it.
Visitation at the Richmond Lodge and Richmond Care Home Services
St. Paul’s clergy and church volunteers visit the RICHMOND LODGE on the first Tuesday of each month beginning at 12:30pm and 1:15pm at the RICHMOND CARE HOME.
If you would like to volunteer for any of these dates, please contact Bonnie Warnock, Marg Walker or just show up at the times listed above.
The Richmond Lodge is looking for volunteer drivers to take residents to doctor and hospital appointments. Can you spare a morning or afternoon once in a while to help our residents get to their appointments? If so please call Maggie or Tracy for more info at 613-838-5016
613-838-5016.
Pie Fundraiser
On Tuesdays at 9:00AM, a group of volunteers meet in the church hall to make pies which they have been doing since October 2001. We invite customers to come to the church hall on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 – 11:30 for your pie order. If that time is not convenient for you, other arrangements can be made by using the contact info below. Thank you for your support in this fundraising endeavor as we are well into our 17th year!
Please note that we have increased our pie prices effective April 2019.
The pies are sold unbaked & frozen to anyone who would like to buy them. This has been a very successful fundraiser for St. Paul’s. The YouTube video follows it……
“The faithful gather at St. Paul’s United Church in Richmond every Tuesday for a tasty slice of life. For more than a decade, a dozen dedicated souls have been meeting weekly to make some of the most delicious pies around filled with sweet fruit or succulent beef and chicken. They also make tourtiere, tarts and several varieties of quiche. Proceeds from pie sales support improvement projects at the church. To date, the group has made more than 43 thousand pies. Frozen pies are available at the church on Tuesday mornings or can be ordered online.“
Last March one of our avid pie makers passed away. Dot Rea was very faithful to show up every Tuesday morning and she was a “master crimper”! We learned a lot from Dot’s skills She grew rhubarb in her back yard but it was not just any rhubarb but the red type! We were happy when the Rea family gave us permission to dig up the last remaining plants and we transplanted them in a new garden at St. Paul’s. It is a rhubarb only garden! We use lots of rhubarb for our pie making so this will make it handy for us to have some growing right there. On Tuesday, Sept. 18/18, we had a special dedication for this new garden led by Rev. Jessica.
St. Paul’s Senior Choir
We welcome new members at anytime! Choir practice is held on Sunday mornings @ 9:00 am as well as Tuesday evenings @ 7:00pm
Choir is planning musical ways to raise funds. If there is a special musical piece you wish to hear, please fill out the form at the back of the church and put it in the collection plate. The music can be a favourite hymn, a special anthem and you may choose how it should be sung, by choir, the congregation or as a solo/duet. This will be continued throughout the year so think of a hymn you might like to sing or have sung for you!
The Richmond & area Food Bank
Remember the Food Bank!
Please consider helping fill our Food Bank cupboards. Items to consider are facial tissue, toilet paper, Lipton Sidekicks, peanut butter, Hamburger Helper, tuna, canned ham. You can bring your donation to Church any Sunday and leave it in the extra large basket at the back of the Church. Thanks!
We are fortunate to have several volunteers to help out on a regular basis. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Judy Wagdin @ 613-838-5483 or Isabel Thompson @ 613-838-2031
Gift Cards for Sale!
St. Paul’s has been involved in selling various gift cards since 1996. We sell Loblaws, (Superstore, YIG, Valumart). Sobey’s (Price Chopper), Sears, HBC, GAP, Roots, Old Navy, Kids R Us, Canadian Tire, Food Basics, Metro, Home Depot, Chapters, Home Hardware, Tim Hortons, Farm Boy, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Farm Boy plus about 30 other merchants. We receive a percentage from these merchants which can be as much as 15%! The average percentage we make is around 5%. Thanks to the loyal members of our congregation who have been supporting this major fundraiser over the years. Contact Judy Wagdin @ 613-838-5483 if you are interested in purchasing any gift cards.
Book Club
During the year, all women are welcome to attend any of these (2nd Wed.) monthly meetings. Please phone Marg Walker @ 613-838-5802 if you have any questions regarding the Book Club.
Miscellaneous Collections
We NO LONGER collect used eye glasses. The GREEN COLLECTION BIN on the driveway side of the church is no longer being used.
UCW
President: Joannne Braaskma stpaulsunited@gmail.com.
St. Paul’s UCW holds regular meetings on the fourth Monday of every month @ 1:30PM .
NOTE: We have changed the time to 1:30pm from 7:00. All women are invited to attend.
The UCW always usher and look after during the month of April.
Next meeting will be held at St. Paul’s on Monday, September 23rd @1:30pm
Weddings Arrangements at St. Paul’s
We are pleased that you wish to hold your forthcoming wedding at St. Paul’s. We will do all that we can in order to make this day a memorable one in your lives.
Couples being married at St. Paul’s must take pre-marital counseling either through Ottawa Presbytery’s Marriage Preparation Course or another form of counseling which has been approved by the minister. Weddings are booked only on a tentative basis until this requirement is met.
St. Paul’s sanctuary seats approximately 175 people.
You will be given a selection of materials to help you plan your wedding service and you may choose some of your own. However, services must be consistent with practices and principles of the United Church of Canada.
A rehearsal is usually held and may be planned with the Minister. Only one hour is necessary. Please ensure members of your wedding party are on time.
The minimum honorariums required for the church staff who will be assisting with your wedding are:
Minister: $300.00
Organist: $200.00 plus $25.00 for wedding rehearsal & $40.00 for each additional rehearsal
Church Rental: $200.00
Custodian: $100.00
All of the above fees must be received by the church two weeks prior to the wedding.
Each wedding request at St. Paul’s United Church is to be brought to St. Paul’s Session for approval.
Other Information Pertaining to Weddings:
Pictures: Pictures can be taken by the official photographer as the bride comes up the aisle, during the signing of the register and as the couple leave. Videos may be recorded throughout the ceremony if the camera is on a tripod. Guests may take pictures after the ceremony is concluded, i.e. during the signing of the register and as the couple leave.
Decorations: You may provide floral decorations which you may take with you after the service or leave for the use of the Church on Sunday. Pew markers may be used but must not be stuck to the pews. There are 2 sets of candelabrum, one holding 5 candles, the other 7, are also available for your use.
No confetti, please.
Music: Since your wedding is a special service of worship it is important that the music chosen contribute both to reverent worship and the spirit of joy which the occasion embodies. The music should, therefore, be sacred in nature. Secular songs can be used as solos if the complete lyrics are shown to the minister and approved three weeks before the wedding.
The Director of Music will be pleased to suggest suitable music for your wedding. There are four places in the service where music would be appropriate. They are: the Prelude, the Processional, the signing of the Register and the Recessional.
Music Equipment: If you are renting our church for your wedding you may use our Sound System provided it is treated with respect. However, none of the components can be moved elsewhere in the church. Users are not to adjust any of the knobs without obtaining permission from Judy Wagdin, Isabel Thompson or David George. These knobs are set for sound required for our Sunday services. Please do not move the Music Director’s equipment unless you have his permission. David’s equipment consists of a keyboard and stand, floor speakers, sound board and amplifier. If you are renting and providing your own musician for your wedding, a damage deposit of $150.00 is required to be given to St. Paul’s. It will be returned after conditions are assessed.
The marriage policy of St. Paul’s (Richmond) is applied equally to any couple requesting a marriage in our church, regardless of sexual orientation.
If further information is required, please contact 613-838-5397(church office).
We hope you have a joyous wedding day!
Board of Management (changed to St. Paul’s Council effective February 2016)
Our Church Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month @ 7:00pm . They are usually over by 9:00pm. Upcoming meetings:
- Oct. 17/18
St. Paul’s Council is excited to announce the creation of a Pastoral Care Team to better meet the needs of our community. The structure of the committee is currently being formulated but if you feel called to join this ministry, or to learn more please speak to the Marg Walker
We need your help: The Church Council is seeking your ideas for meeting our budget commitments. Do you have an idea for an event that you think others might support? Maybe you have a creative fundraising idea?
St. Paul’s Cemetery Service
The annual cemetery service is held on the fourth Sunday of June every year at 2:00pm. Further information can be obtained from Lorna McCurdy @ 613-838-2849
Exercise with The Ladies in the Church Hall (Fellowship Hall)!
