The Nearly New Thrift Sale takes place Friday, September 25, 6pm-8pm and Saturday, September 26, 9am-11:30am. Come and shop – bring your own bags. For further information, contact Judith Srna.
Founded as Bytown, this Saturday, September 26 marks Ottawa’s 200th birthday. Here are some of the things going on. The main event is the free Ottawa 200 Block Party at Marion Dewar Plaza in front of city hall, from 10am-10pm. The family zone and the art zone are open all day, with interactive games, exhibits, and a vintage OC Transpo bus you can climb aboard. Opening ceremonies are at 10:45am, with pow wow drumming, jingle and hoop dancing, and a performance of the city’s 200th birthday song, Heart of This Place. Music runs from 12pm on. Izzy Rose, The Blind and The Beautiful, Jessy Lindsay, Mehdi Cayenne and Propeller Dance through the afternoon, with comedian Jonathan Dion hosting and giving away prizes for Ottawa trivia. Duava at 6:45pm, Cody Coyote at 7:45pm, and NO DEF Collective closing it from 9pm. Away from city hall, the Canadian Armed Forces are racing assault boats on the Rideau Canal all afternoon, and each race starts with an artillery cannon fired from Parliament Hill. Nuit Blanche runs the same night, with installations across the city after dark. The Bytown Museum, the Ottawa Art Gallery and SoundScape all have Ottawa 200 programming. OC Transpo is free all weekend, Saturday and Sunday, so leave the car at home. Happy 200th Ottawa!
September 27 is Orange Shirt Sunday at Rideau Park. Wear an orange shirt to say that Every Child Matters. When shopping for shirts with the “Every Child Matters” logo, check to see that they are sourced from Indigenous designers and that the proceeds return to the Indigenous community. Wednesday, September 30 marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The church office will be closed that day.
One of Rideau Park’s handbell choirs, La Bell Ensemble, will be part of a handbell concert at Winchester United Church (519 St. Lawrence St., Winchester) on Sunday, October 4 at 2pm.
Natalie Archambault, a graduate of the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at PranaShanti Yoga Centre, will be offering a thematic movement eight-week yoga series starting Wednesday, October 7 at 5:30pm in Beecroft Hall. Each week combines mindful movement and breath work with themes of grounding, strength, compassion, expression, intuition and connection. There will be no class on November 4. To sign-up, email Natalie.
Chancel Choir: rehearses Thursdays, 7:15pm-8:45pm with a break midway Youth Choir: Grade 2 and up, meets Thursdays, 6:30pm-7pm in the Sanctuary Cherubs: Toddlers to age six and their grown-ups are to invited to sing Thursdays, 6pm-6:30pm
Pictorial Directory Update: If you missed the photo sessions and would still like to have your photo in the directory, or would like your information included in the back of the directory, please contact the office at administrator@rideaupark.ca or 613-733-3156 by Thursday, October 1.
An order for church name tags will be placed at the end of this month. Email info@rideaupark.ca or phone the office (613-733-3156) by Tuesday, September 29 at noon to be included in this order. The office will need the following information: name for the badge, your pronouns (optional), and whether you would like a pin or a magnet.
After we sing our final hymn and you head to coffee hour, where are your thoughts? Are they spinning around in your head because of what you just heard: the sermon that Rev. Jim shared, directly meant for you? The music of the choir and soloists that won’t stop churning through your brain? The organ postlude so spectacularly resounding around and around? You could be part of the planning for all of that! The Worship and Music Committee works alongside those individuals planning our services and our themes and they need a Co-Chair to help them plan. Contact our Volunteer Coordination Team at volunteers@rideaupark.ca for more information.
Healing Pathway has started up again. Appointments for hands-on healing prayer will be available on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays. To make an appointment, send a request to healingpathway@rideaupark.ca or speak to Brian Neal.
Planning is underway for Rideau Park’s Christmas Treasures Bazaar on Saturday, November 7, 12pm-4pm. Mark your calendars and note the new start time. There are volunteer opportunities for all. More information can be found on the church website (UCW Newsletter) and in September’s ChurchPost (pages 7-8).
Calling all Bazaar bakers! Homemade goodies of all kinds are needed for the Bake Table. Uncut pans of light and dark squares (such as date, lemon and chocolate) are needed for the Tea Room. Thank you for helping! If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Simpson, Bake Table Convenor.
Discover Your Call: Become a Licensed Lay Worship Leader: Do you feel a call to talk about your faith? To share how faith impacts daily life? To encourage, inspire and challenge? Do you feel a pull to share your gifts and serve your community of faith in a profound way? You might want to explore becoming a Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL). If you feel called to this vital ministry, contact Sharon Sanderson.
Basic Income Workshop: Bells Corners United Church will be hosting a workshop with Dr. Evelyn Forget on Poverty Reduction and Bill S-206. The workshop will take place on Saturday, October 17 from 8:30am-12:30pm. For additional information, click here.
ChurchPost – Click here to view September’s issue.
Rideau Park’s Little Free Library (outside the middle entrance on Cunningham Avenue) is well used. We ask that when you take a book you bring back a book or two to help replenish the library.
Naloxone kits are available to use throughout the church – in the Sanctuary, in Brackenridge Hall, in Beecroft Hall and at the desk outside Beecroft Hall. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses of fentanyl, heroin and other street drugs. Please tell other church users.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Join us for coffee and conversation in Beecroft Hall after the Sunday service.
Sunday School: Kindergarten to Grade 6 meets in B13; and Grades 7 and up meet in the Parlour. Childcare continues to be available during Sunday services.
The ladies’ coffee time at Rideau Park continues on Wednesdays, 10am-12pm in the Parlour. For more information, contact Wanda.
The Euchre Club meets on Thursdays from 1pm-3pm. Cost is $2/person. Drop-ins are welcome.
Healing Pathway is offering healing sessions by appointment on alternating Tuesday and Thursday afternoons between 1pm and 3:15pm. To book an appointment, email healingpathway@rideaupark.ca or speak to Sharon Sanderson or Brian Neal. Short, chair sessions are also offered most Sunday mornings in the Chapel after the worship service. Click here for more information.
The Knitting Group meets on Mondays from 1pm-3:30pm in the Parlour. The Quilting Group meets on Thursdays from 9:30am-12pm in the Parlour. For more information, contact Doreen Hamilton.
Meditation Group Online via Zoom is on Thursdays at 10am. Contact the office for the Zoom coordinates.
Rideau Park Choir Practices Chancel Choir on Thursdays at 7:15pm Youth Choir (formerly Joyful Noise) (Grades 2 and up) on Thursday at 6:30pm Cherub Choir (ages 6 and under) on Thursdays at 6pm For information about these groups, contact Andrew Ager.
Handbell Choirs Touch of Brass on Mondays at 7:15pm. For information, contact Gord Dewis. Ringing Praise on Tuesdays at 6:30pm. For information, contact Jeanette Caton. La Bell Ensemble on Tuesdays at 7:30pm. For information, contact Jeanette Caton.
Fitness 50+ with Faiza on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:15am.
Line Dancing (45+) is no longer offered at Rideau Park.
Tai-Chi Classes meets on Saturdays at 9:15am (beginners) and 11am (all). For more information, contact Eduardo at molon@eduardomolon.com.
Alcoholics Anonymous Oasis meets in person on Mondays from 8-9pm in Brackenridge Hall. 12 Steps to Serenity meets in person on Thursdays at 7:30pm in Beecroft Hall.