MacGregor United Church
12 Hampton Street East R0H 0R0 Macgregor, MB, Canada

Daintie Sale happening now until 4:30! Trays are $20. If you are unable to pick up today but would still like one please contact Wendy or Bev.

A message to the people of The United Church of Canada....

I have been away from media for most of the past week, and didn't see the news from Kamloops until today... you're welcome to pray with me... O God, we are gri...eving. O God, we are shocked. O God, we are horrified. But, God, if we truly listened, we can’t be surprised. The Elders and the Communities had already told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, told the governments and the world, the stories of the children, dead and buried, unnoted by the settler systems, but never ever forgotten by their siblings, their parents, their communities. We grieve for the Indigenous children, taken from their homes and parents by the government, handed over to the responsibility of the Christian church, the children who died under its care, never to be held by their families, never to be returned to their communities not only the 215 children of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc and other Indigenous communities along the west coast and interior whose bodies have now been found on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds, but all of those children whose bodies have not yet been found who died in any of Indian Residential Schools. We grieve for the survivors of the Indian Residential Schools, the children who did come home, but were changed by their experience, the children who grew up, and have the trauma of remembering, again, what happened to them. Even as we give thanks for their families and communities, who hold the stories of the children, who have kept searching, who keep searching, we grieve that that search is even necessary, that even one child was taken, that even one child died, that even one child’s death went unnoted by the system. Help us to stop, to sit in silence. to remember the names we do not know. May their spirits have peace, and their bodies be brought home to their lands. And God? Help us to take this grief, this shock, this horror, and turn it into right action action that works for right relations action that works for healing and justice and hope. And, please, don’t let those of us who are settlers and descendants of settlers, newcomers to this land, let the horror, the shock, and the grief, just be an outpouring of words, or tears, or ineffectual hand-wringing. Let this be a moment that changes, a moment that transforms the brokenness, that we might walk in right relations, for the good of your children, for the good of your world. Please, God. These things we pray, in the name of the one who brought Creation into being, in the name of Jesus, our teacher and friend, in the name of the Holy Spirit, whose wings spread across the sky. Amen and amen. (Image: "Bleeding Hearts" by Wade Simmons, CC-a, flickr) #mod43prayer

Merry Christmas from your MacGregor United Church family!

Good Evening Friends of the United Church, As we get closer to Christmas our Leadership Team would like to create an opportunity to see one another virtually in a setting somewhat similar to our Christmas Eve tradition. We are requesting videos of our church families, and anyone associated with our church to send a short silent video of your family "passing the light" that will be put together with a recording of "Silent Night", and sent our to our emailing list as part of ...our Christmas Eve service materials. Most of you will be familiar with the tradition of lighting candles for each person at our traditional Christmas Eve services during the singing of the hymn "Silent Night". This will be our own virtual version of this tradition. Candles can be picked up at the church if needed. They will be left in a box outside the church, however feel free to improvise (safely) at home with lighters, sparklers or battery operated tea lights. If you pick up candles from the church please keep them. Start on the Left with your first family member's candle lit, then light the next person's with that one and the next, and so on. When you get to the last person, have them reach out of the video's line of vision, so it looks as though they are sharing the light to the next group of people. This can be done with most smartphones, tablets or Ipads in the camera function. Simply prop it up on your table and see where you need to be. Keep in mind, this is not designed to be a masterpiece, but rather a way of connection with those in our church family that we haven't see for a long time and those we would normally see on Christmas Eve. We will be adding this message to our Facebook Page and I would ask that you forward this email and share our Facebook post with those in your family that may not be on our mailing list to spread the word to as many folks as possible. We would ask that you send your videos to Sharla Davey at [email protected] or to Jaret at [email protected] by Monday December 21st in order for this to be pieced together in time for Christmas. Please have fun with this as we look forward to seeing as many of you as we can.

Unfortunately, due to current conditions and keeping with health protocols, our planning committee is not able to go ahead with our annual dainty sale. There’s simply no way we can pull it off and ensure that everyone involved would be safe. If you can, bake some cookies for your neighbour, and leave them for them in a contactless delivery method!

And even further back..... Beaver Choir, 1979-80. The outfits!! Thanks to Mary Kalberg for resurrecting these photos and Bev Wolfe and Joanne Hoyak for posting them in the church.... Feel free to tag!

Throw back Sunday!

Waaaaay back weekend!! If you’re looking for something amazing on your Sunday morning while you’re drinking coffee, watching the world go by.... you’ve found it! Beaver Choir in 1984 and 1992. Thanks to Mary Kalberg for resurrecting these photos and Bev Wolfe and Joanne Hoyak for posting them in the church.... Feel free to tag anyone!

The decision has been made with Southern Health going into red on Monday to cancel this year’s Fall Supper, in order to keep everyone safe and follow protocols. Thank you so much for your continued support and understanding.