Monthly News Updates
“News Updates” are electronic newsletters published every month and e-mailed to Friends of First United who have requested Updates. If you would like to receive a monthly News Update please e-mail Cheryl Prior at cprior@firstunited.ca.
Some Thoughts for our Lenten Journey, Volunteering News, Emerging Congregation, Life at Reception, Remembering, Run/Walk for the Homeless, Golf Tournement, Message from Don Evans.
A fine balance, Open for Business, Mission Congregation Update, Taxes with Love, The word on the Tweet, Sun Run, Pastoral Care
Its all about the One, From my perspective, Mission Congregation is born, One open Door, A send-off for Stefan, First United needs your statement of support, Another resounding success, Christmas wish-list
A right to come in out of the cold, Setting the record straight, A story of three portraits, I walked into a family, Mission Congregation to hold the vision and values of First United, Men’s Choirs raise funds for Fircom Farm Project, We value your voice
The picnic and the door that could not lock, Exploring ‘Ubuntu’ at the southern tip of Africa, School for Community Living, Home to people who do not ‘fit’ anywhere else, Talking, praying and sharing together, Sandra Severs writes ‘From my perspective’, Hope – Is that a four-letter word? First United’s Strathcona United Football Club, Making a difference, Camp Fircom stands ready to welcome you.
Silver Wheaton Golf for the Homeless Community a resounding success-This year’s First United Golf tournament raised over $75,000 and registration was sold out prior to the event. First United celebrates 125 years with a Party in the Park, Learning Centre News, Greening kitchens on the Downtown Eastside, June 12 Pentecost Celebration at St Andrews Wesley to benefit First United,”From my perspective” reflections by Sandra Severs, Run/Walk – a great fundraising event, First United says Thank You, Kitchen equipment is needed.
The past few weeks have been challenging times for us as we have wrestled together with the tensions of ensuring that First United is a safe place for all while also a remaining place of refuge for all (a place from which no one is barred). This month’s News Update provides some different perspectives on these very real challenges.
A challenge to look beyond the familiar face of homelessness and to think about it in a different way, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music lifted the spirits of a near-capacity audience, Bob Burrows’ lively history of First United’s 125 years “Hope Lives Here” launched, Capturing a moment in time, Fund Raising News: “Hockey for the Homeless” donates a cargo van. Storage Facility meets funding objectives, “First Suppers” raise $29,450…
Centre for Alignment and Integration to begin work, Host a First Supper, Robert Milton to play in Homeless World Cup, Tote Story, your vote is needed, Volunteering: much to give and much to receive, The changing face of First United, Community Picnic at Deep Cove, First United Who are we? Comments from recent visitors to First
Advocacy Services expand in response to major grant, Prayer Room opens with Smudging Ceremony, Hoarding and Housing Conference meets need in Lower Mainland, Summer Staff at Frst United, Sharing the South African Experience – visit by Rev. Alan Storey, More Franchises: a second cup, Pilot Project in Dental Care ready to begin this summer, Fund Development News
Golf Fore the Homeless – a successful event, Thanks to our youngest player, Run/Walk for the Homeless, Dealing with difficult people, Becoming one, Community voice mail, You get right into the gritty real reltionships, A Valuable experience.
A Time for Bold and Courageous Leadership – announcing the First United Redevelopment Project, BC Housing Funding to continue till 2013, Paint Your Faith on Hastings Street, An Unexpected gift – Well-known aerosol artist, ChorBoogie paints a mural on the First United building, Volunteering at the Thrift Store, Fund Development announcements, Press Statement by Rev. Ric Matthews at the launch of the “Hope Lives Here” Initiative.
Robert Milton carries the Olympic Torch, Valentine’s Day with Hannah, First Community attends Olympic Events, Share the Gold – Stand in Solidarity, Are you Surviving the Change you Initiate?, Rites of Passage at First, Fund Development News.
Totem Pole will be part of Sacred Space at First, Share the Gold, Radical Hospitality-the Gospel call, Symbols of Sacred Space, Fund Development News.
Beds have arrived, First Time Event in Western Canada – The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington, Storage Facility opens, First United offers sanctuary to Iraq War Resister – Rodney Watson, Fund Development News.
October 14th Concert to Launch “A Time to Heal” Moving beyond Homelessness.
Announcing Opening of the Thrift Store, Overnight Refuge extended till June 30th, A Chance Encounter to be enjoyed only Once, A Time to Heal, Moving beyond Homelessness – a fundraising CD, The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington – first time performance in Western Canada, Fund Raising News.
Overnight Refuge extended till May 2nd, Not a Shelter – A place of Refuge, Not a destination, the beginning of a journey, Clothing Changes – Why? Moving beyond the stuckness, leveraging talent, Fund Development News.
Thank You Dinner, Welcome to April Pringle and expanding our food services, First United opening earlier.
Building Plan Developments, Discussions with First United Housing Society, VST course to start in Spring of 2009, Wednesday Celebration Services, Advisory Council starts, Fund Development News.
Newsletters
“First Things First” is published in the Spring and the Fall each year and is mailed to Friends of First United Church.
From Cirque du Soleil to First United, Call For Volunteers, Golf Tournament, Run/Walk for the Homeless, Message from a Community Support Worker, Called by the Spirit and Life Giving Connections.
Signs of Hope along the way, Talking praying and sharing together, A glimpse of Grace on East Hastings, Spreading our wings…, A question of safety, A moment of community was created.., Saying goodbye at First, Shaped and driven by the call of the Gospel.
Working with UBC to pursue research into compulsive hoarding, Sport building community and belonging, First United Housing Society re-integrated, Ripples go out far- Rabbi David Mivassair reflects, From my perspective- Rev Sandra Severs reflects on what it means to “be church”, Fund Development news and information on the 125th Anniversary “Party in the Park”
A Time for bold and courageous leadership, Centre for Research and Policy Development, Expanding our understanding of inclusivity, War resister marks first anniversary in sanctuary, Emerging models of CHurch, Host a First Supper, Your vote will make a difference
Celebrating our life and the Sacred together, Share the Gold, Paint Your Faith Event, I Open my Mind and my Heart…(Thoughts by Noel MacDonald) Surviving the Change You Initiate, New Programs being offered. Building an Inclusive Community – Project “Hope Lives Here” Fund Development News, Things we need.
Fielding a New Soccer Team, Ongoing Support for Round-the-Clock Place of Refuge, Nursing Students help prepare for H1N1, City of Vancouver partners with First to build storage lockers for homeless community members, Clothing – A Generous Heart is not always enough, Volunteers – You can be the difference, Inter-Faith supporters make meals possible.
Overnight Shelter at First – Three Months Later, New Director of Administration, Developments around Future Building Plans, We need help regarding emergency Food bags, Social Enterprise – Providing a hand up, Katy Hutchinson at First – A Journey of Healing, Healing for the Global Village – a poem by Dermott McInnes, Fund Development News.
Significant signs that we are becoming a new community, Changes to our food and clothing ministry, Community Art workshops connect communities, Youth Volunteers to provide regular meals, Brief Therapy Initiative starts, Living without Teeth or Glasses.
Building on our Legacy – early plans to build an all-inclusive community at 32o East Hastings, Keeping Insite open is our moral issue, Fund Development events.
First United Church
First United Church, proudly serving the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.
