Message of Love from Reverend Mary White
Living in poverty is not about comparing oneself with all the material possessions others have, it has to do with basic needs. The need for the ability to acquire affordable shelter, healthy food, proper seasonal clothing, and to make a wage above the poverty margins. The housing crisis is expanding in the Powell River community.
Due to our rental homeowners moving from Vancouver back to Powell River, we were given plenty of notice to vacate. We soon discovered that there were no houses for rent in Powell River. With this in mind, and the real probability of having to move again after a year in a rental, we started to look at the prospect of purchasing a home. This would remove, in a year’s time, the possibility of having to acquire more moving costs. Our experience turned out to be quite an ordeal. Every time we put a bid on a house that was within our ability to pay, we were outbid by as much as 80 thousand dollars above the asking price. We were losing hope of finding shelter and were willing to accept almost anything that was in our affordable price range. Finally, after a couple of months looking at what we thought was affordable housing, we acquired a home on Harwood Ave.
Given the accelerated prices on home sales and the lack of available homes creating costs of rental properties to increase substantially, how can most find affordable shelter? For those living below the poverty level, shelter is a major concern.
With Love,
Rev. Mary White
Poem • In The Whole of My Life
by Tom Gordon
I always seem to fall short – not quite good enough,
always second best, never pleasing the people who matter.
I always seem to come off worst – failing to make the grade,
missing perfection, down the ranks from where I should be.
I always seem to be left behind – last one to be picked,
far from special, never chosen to be up front.
Then someone says I’m a good person – someone believes in me,
when I don’t believe in myself, and offers a different voice.
And I ask, ‘Can this be true? Am I a good person after all?
Whose voice is this that calls me good for the first time?’
Self-belief from such a small beginning?
Maybe not, and maybe not yet …
But a small voice against a lifetime of put-downs
has to be a good place to start …
Excerpt from Neil Paynter “Gathered and Scattered”
Message for Moms and Young Families from Brenda Pielle
Dear Families and Friends:
Happy Mother's Day for this Sunday. My wish for all mothers is to take some time out for yourself on this day to do some self care - even for fifteen or twenty minutes. We give so much of ourselves to our role of being a mother, we need to remember to show ourselves that same love.
My wish for all of us is to take some time to think about our own mothers and to express our appreciation for them in whatever way we can. It might be in a prayer, in a text or phone call, in a card or gift, or in a time of thinking about a treasured memory of days gone by.
Enjoy the special day.
Sincerely,
Brenda Pielle
Reaching Out to Families
Powell River United Church
Reading • In Love With the Life of Life
Excerpt from Neil Paynter
Looking at the world today, it feels that there is a real need for the new life and rebirth that the Easter Season brings.
Poverty and hunger still have a grip on too many people in our community sweeping them to the edges of our society and denying them a say in decisions that affect them. There are some politicians denying that poverty exists in our country or claiming not to understand how unjust policies leave people homeless or hungry.
Those attitudes trap people in poverty and divide communities with stigma and shame, rather than helping to build the just and compassionate society which most of us want to live in.
That is in stark contrast to the Gospel stories we hear today. The Last Supper inspires Christians with a vision of togetherness, sharing food and hospitality. The powerful should be servants of the vulnerable, rather than stigmatising, punishing and excluding them.
Poverty and Passion by Niall Cooper
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PRUC Online Worship Service
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PRAYER
Gift Giver of Life
You bless us with Love, compassion, laughter, tears and so much diversity, and we are grateful. May we be like Christ who championed for those living on the edges of society. May we take risks by standing with those on the edges demanding justice. May we affirm a faith that takes us beyond the edges and with an open heart allow ourselves to be used by the Spirit. We pray this in the name of the one who chose to live with those on the edges of life.
Amen