Haïti

A time to LISTEN, a time to LEARN, a time to be THANKFUL and an opportunity to ACT. On Friday evening, February 12th at 7:30pm, Beaconsfield United Church and the Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Congregation will be hosting a joint event with all proceeds going to Haiti Relief. The concert will include a number of professional West-Island musicians and will be held in Beaconsfield United Church Sanctuary (202 Woodside Road off Sherbrooke in Beaconsfield). Additionally, special guests Sue Montgomery, Gazette reporter, and Mike Armstrong of Global National News, who have recently returned from Haiti will be speaking. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from those who have witnessed this tragedy first hand. Tickets may be ordered in advance by calling (514) 695-0600 or at the door. Cost is $15.00 per adult. There is no charge for children. (Tax receipts will be provided).

We are pleased to announce that the Spaghetti Dinner held at Beaconsfield United Church on Saturday, January 23rd raised 9,975.00 for Haiti Relief. Thank you to everyone who attended the dinner or made a donation in their absence. A group of 41 volunteers, 17 of whom were teens, all came together to work hard for this important community initiative. We have made a wonderful beginning to the ongoing efforts that will be needed for Haiti. Your support, your effort and your work brings Hope.

Montréal United Church congregations in solidarity with Haiti

A Service of Remembrance and Hope was held on Sunday evening, January 24, at St. James United Church in Montreal in the presence of Mardi Tindal, Moderator of The United Church of Canada and more than two hundred members of local United Churches and of the Haitian community.
Arlen Bonnar, minister at St. James United Church led the service. Mardi Tindal, Moderator preached, both in French and English, on the consolation of God. Among those who addressed the assembly were Jean-Claude Icart, Associate Professor at the Sociology Department at l'Université du Québec à Montréal and a leader within the Haitian community, and Paula Kline, Director of Montréal City Mission who coordinates a program of newly-arrived refugees and immigrants. Prayers in English, French and Creole were shared.
The offerings collected Sunday evening will be added to the funds already collected by United Church congregations in the Montreal area to help and support the Haïtian population affected by the January 12th earthquake. During the service an amount of 31 000$ was presented to the Moderator by Cindy Casey, Chair of the Montreal Presbytery Committee for Haiti Relief. This amount will be included in the United Church of Canada’s total financial aid of approximately half a million dollars. The United Church will send these gifts through its Haitian partners, The Methodist Church in Haiti and Karl Levesque Cultural Institute.
Finally, the Peoples Gospel Choir of Montréal offered a remarkable performance with songs of praise and hope and led the assembly in a great Alleluia to begin the ceremony.

Information about the United Church’s Haiti Appeal has been posted on the United Church’s website (#www.united-church.ca) and will be updated as new information becomes available.

David Fines, Communication Coordinator

 Un culte commémoratif et d’espoir pour Haïti a eu lieu dimanche soir, le 24 janvier, à l’église unie St-James en présence de la modératrice de l’Église Unie du Canada, Mardi Tindal. Plus de deux cents membres des églises unies locales et de la communauté haïtienne y ont assisté.

......VOIR ICI

Our donations are so important, but Trinity United (Rosemont, Montreal) did something else on Sunday, Jan 24. For many years the congregation has rented space to a Haitian congregation, but there has been almost no contact between the two congregations, in part due to the differences in denomination and language.

However, at the beginning of their worship time this past Sunday, about 30 people from the Trinity and Anjou congregations joined with them. About 20 people sang in a choir, singing 2 verses of a hymn in French, sharing greetings and a prayer in the same language. An anthem was sung in English, but the words were just so appropriate it had to be sung. Translations were distributed to all present.

People from both congregations were touched by this short time together. Those from Trinity and Anjou were very graciously welcomed with very kind words from the Haitian pastor, Pastor Georges, who expressed his hope that contact will continue in the future.

Beaconsfield United Church

Fundraising Dinner For Haitian Relief

This Saturday, January 23rd

A Pasta Dinner will be served from 6:30 - 8:30pm at a cost of $50.00 per adult for which you will receive a charitable donation receipt.

Why Should You Support this event?
The United Church of Canada is one of the charitable organizations for which the Federal Government will match our donations dollar for dollar. Therefore, each $50.00 donation is actually $100.00 in relief for the people of Haiti.
No administrative costs so every dollar donated and matched is a dollar actually received.

Please note there is no charge for children and daycare is provided so they have a place to eat and play with other children should you wish.

To reserve your tickets please:
Stop by the church office
Call the office at (515) 695-0600
email us at: bu1@bellnet.ca

If you are unable to attend but would like to purchase a ticket
and make a donation it would be graciously received.

(Cheques should be made payable to: Beaconsfield United Church
Please write Haiti Relief Fund on your memo line.)

The minister of the Hungarian United Church in Montreal, the Rev. Attila L. György, has created a blog on this subject.  See:  http://unitedactionsforhaiti.blogspot.com/

Le pasteur de l'église Hongoise de Montréal, le pasteur Attila L. György, a créé un blog à ce sujet.  Voir:  http://unitedactionsforhaiti.blogspot.com/