First United Church is a welcome place to explore familiar faith and new ways of coming close to the holy. We are a worshiping and faith-living community that encourages, inspires and acts in this world God loves. There are so many voices and expectations that clamour for our attention, it is not always easy to discern God’s call to live justly, to practice kindness and humility. Being part of a community of faith helps. We are stronger together! If you’d like to learn more, make a difference, grow in your faith,  get involved!
Announcements
Weekly happenings
 Sundays  – “Sunday Singers” rehearse at 9:30 am in the sanctuary. Rehearsals resume Apr. 7, 2024
You are welcome to join us in person or via the live-stream for worship at 10:30 am or on Facebook or You-tube anytime during the week.
 
There are a variety of services and Godly Play stories already on line with which to reconnect and refresh.
 
Mondays   9:30 to 10:30 am ~ Bible Study – John’s Gospel continues to mystify!  No gathering Apr. 1.
 Cantare Jubilate mixed voices  rehearses 7 pm in the sanctuary
 
Tuesdays –   Women In Song –  Rehearses 7 pm in the sanctuary.
 
On Facebook –
March 24 – 31 morning and evening “Stations of the Cross” short reading and reflection
 
Thursday’s you’ll find a prayer and upcoming readings for worship.
You’ll also find a short video from the Godly Play Foundation – The Faces of Easter
 
Friday evening we add another quote/question for “Pilgrim’s on the Way”, to Facebook. 
 
On Facebook and You-Tube
The Godly Play room is posting each Saturday morning!
You’re welcome to check out some of the previous weeks’ stories. 
 
Upcoming events
Mar. 24 – 10:30 am worship live and live-stream – Palm Sunday
3:30 pm, Worship with Communion at Seasons in Drayton Valley and 5:00 pm at Living Spirit United Church
Mar. 25 Stations of the Cross online worship through Holy Week, morning and evening
Mar. 28 – 5:30 pm, Soup and service, Maundy Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church, 4218 56 Ave
Wetaskiwin
Mar. 29 – 10:30 am, Good Friday worship live and live-stream, First UC
Mar. 31 – 10:30 am, Easter worship live and live-stream, brunch to follow
Apr. 1 – Office closed
Apr. 3 – 7 pm Spiritual Growth Team meets
Apr. 5 – Norquest in the building
Apr. 7 – 10:30 am, worship live and live-stream
Apr. 9 – 10:00 am, Worship Team meeting
1:30 pm, Stewardship Team meeting
Apr. 10 – 10:20 am worship at Seasons
Apr. 13 – Introduction to Godly Play online only – please pre-register
Apr. 14 – 10:30 am, worship live and live stream
Apr. 16 – 11 am, worship at the Hospital Chapel
7 pm Leadership Team meeting
Apr. 18 – 7 pm, worship at Peace Hills Lodge
Apr. 19 – Norquest in the building
Apr. 20 – Guides are in the building
Apr. 21 -10:30 am worship live and live-stream, Earth Day
Apr. 22 Earth Day
Apr. 22-23 – Community Kitchen is cooking
Apr. 24 – 28 – We welcome musicians and adjudicators participating in the Wetaskiwin Music Festival
Apr. 30 – An Afternoon to Remember 1 – 4 pm. Please pre-register to ensure a spot!
The Holy Family is on the move … 
Pilgrimage – a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place; in search of a new or expanded understanding of self, others, nature, or the holy. You may travel virtually or physically, on your own or accompanied by others, with the same companions or open to those unexpected guests who come and go. Whether you’ve a specific destination on the horizon, or an inner space of being, you may discover the transformation happens on the way.
Pilgrims on the Way ~
Jesus is arrested and executed. There are women looking on from a distance. Joseph of Arimathea comes to ask for the body, laying it in his own tomb. Sabbath is about to begin and Mary keeps watch. Ritual and remembering well can help us work through loss. Storytelling, sharing tears and laughter will come. But first there is a time of rest and waiting. A sacred moment when we can almost hear the earth breathing, if we are willing to listen.
I wonder what rituals help you remember well in the midst of loss?
I wonder how you ‘pause’ to let God breathe in you and through you?
Pilgrims on the Way ~
A palm parade and a mob yelling, ‘Crucify’. Holy Week emotions run wild and intense. Jesus is public and available during the day, but at night retreats to a safe place. He is doing the hard work of grieving his own death.
I wonder where you learned to lament? To grieve?
I wonder how expressing those emotions and thoughts has helped you heal?
Pilgrims on the Way ~
Coulda, shoulda, woulda, and ‘if only’ are the voice of guilt or bitterness that we sometimes take on in our grief. Like denial and avoidance, or keeping busy, they distract us from leaning into sadness. Or perhaps we bury our emotions in cliches, ‘God needed them’. In the last week of his life, a woman anoints Jesus with fragrant perfume. It is an act of extravagance, but also of making room for the reality of death. Instead of trying to fix or ignore it, she acknowledges what is, the sacrifice and the hope. Jesus is not alone.
I wonder where you find space to grieve and with whom?
I wonder how you create safe space for others to teach you about grief?
Pilgrims on the Way
“An odd by-product of my loss is that I’m aware of being an embarrassment to everyone I meet…I see people as they approach me, trying to make up their minds whether they’ll ‘say something about it’ or not. I hate it if they do, and if they don’t” C. S. Lewis.
The funny thing about bereavement is the way the bereaved are judged. D. L. Erickson
A widow comes to temple for worship. Jesus notices both her situation and her gift.
I wonder how you respond to those experiencing loss?
I wonder what responses from others you’ve found helpful in your own grief?
Pilgrims on the Way ~
Loss creates ripples that disrupt serenity, security and schedules. It is either spontaneous or dreadfully expected. And we are never ready for it… the funny thing about death is we think we can avoid it. D. L. Erickson
In life, in death, in life beyond death, we are not alone. A New Creed
I wonder how you have experienced God’s presence in the midst of loss?
Pilgrims on the Way ~
Children learn what they live … raise kind humans! Spread kindness like confetti!
I wonder what you’ve learned from a child recently?
I wonder what your words/actions are teaching the children of this world?