The document summarizes the work of the Aboriginal Peace and Friendship Project, a partnership focused on reconciliation between First Nations and non-Aboriginal peoples in the Maritimes. It works to foster understanding and heal past hurts through dialogue. The Project advocates for Aboriginal voices in government decision-making. Contributions to the Mission and Service Fund support this important reconciliation work.

1. MINUTE FOR MISSON
At the 31st General Council, held in Sudbury in 1986, then Moderator the
Right Rev. Robert Smith made an apology to our Aboriginal brothers and sis-
ters for the United Church’s historical imposition of European culture on
them. In 1998, the church apologized for harm done by church-run Ind-ian
Order of Worship for
Residential Schools. Since that time, many groups have worked on establishing
OROMOCTO & PINE GROVE
right relations with First Nations communities.
UNITED CHURCH
One such group is the Aboriginal Peace and Friendship Project at the Tatama-
gouche Centre in Nova Scotia. The project is a partnership of Tatamagouche
Centre and the Mennonite Central Committee in association with the Atlantic
Aboriginal Rights Coalition and the Task Group on Aboriginal Relationships We welcome everyone to this time together in worship. We gather in this church in
and Concerns of Maritime Conference. Its work is focused on peace, justice, the belief that we are all equally God’s guests whether we’ve been here all our lives
and mutuality among First Nations peoples and non-aboriginal peoples and or this is our first time. We welcome everyone in this spirit of Christ as it is our belief
groups in the Maritimes. that this is how we are to live. Everyone, without exception, belongs equally at
God’s table. We hope everyone will remain for ‘loonie lunch’ at our fellowship
The project seeks to foster constructive networks where understanding may tables following worship in the church hall.
bloom. It is hoped that the hurts of previous generations will be eased as peo-
ple enter into a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation at Tatamagouche Centre If you are visiting with us please sign our guest book opposite the usher’s table. If
you are new with us and wish a follow up contact please fill out a ‘Guest/New
and through other partnership networks in the Maritimes.
Member Card which can be found with the guest book. As well you may pick up an
The Aboriginal Peace and Friendship Project advocates that Aboriginal voices orientation package on the table in the entrance. We invite visitors from other
should be heard in the decision-making of our governments. This work is churches to pick up one of our Peace Candles to take home with you. An
made possible through your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund. Please give explanation of this symbol accompanies each candle and these can be found on the
usher’s table.
generously so that we might work together as children of God.
Should you require a rest room it is at the end of the hall and it is equipped with a
baby change station. If you have young children who become restless there is a
nursery behind the back pew where they can play while you hear the service over
the speakers. You are welcome to bring a coffee into worship with you. The coffee
Together, we carry out the work of our United Church. Make a pot is in the entrance.
difference! Join the partnership! Support the work of the Mission *While we stand for most hymns and at others times in our worship, please feel free
and Service Fund today. not to if for any reasons you can not or would rather not. VU stands for Voices
United and MV for More Voices. You are also invited to pick up a Bible version of
your choice at usher’s desk. Should you have any concerns please speak to an usher.
Minister Rev Robert McDowell
VU: Voices United – our hard cover red hymn book
Accompanist/ Choir Director Joyce Andrews MV: More Voices – our soft covered hymn book
Office Administration Jennifer Chiasson Rev Bob McDowell
Office 357-3423; Cell 470-1155; Home 488-2154
Oromocto United Church Email: mcdowell@nb.sympatico.ca
144 Winnebago
Oromocto
oromoctopinegroveunitedchurch.ca
March 11, 2012
10:30 am

2. SERVICE Announcements
Announcements:
Restorative Justice Sunday, Mar 18. We will be hosting a special Sunday on this
theme that is offering hope for new approaches to restoring people to proper rela-
tionships in society when thing go awry. Christina Farnsworth will be our guest
Welcome and About Today:
speaker and workshop leader as we engage this topic with the intent of creating
awareness and appreciation for how the restorative justice approach can represent
*Introit: MV 161- Verse 1&2 a more faithful response to crime and punishment. The workshop will begin at
about 12 noon. Please invite neighbours and friends to both or just the workshop.
Of course they are welcome to join us for lunch.
Lighting the Resurrection Candle:
Pot luck lunch next Sunday, Mar 18 after church and before the workshop. Please
Leader: Much of our living can be thought of as a call and a response come and join us and bring friends to worship who would enjoy a chance to explore
All: God calls us into life. How we live is our response. restorative justice.
Leader: This is our theme. Reverse Offering papers are in the offering plates. These are items the food bank
especially needs. If you wish you can select one and bring that item next week.
All: God calls us to move amongst the features of this created world to bring joy
and renewing love Please sign up to help lead in worship by lighting the candle, reading scripture or
Leader: God calls us to love. some of the other roles. Signup sheets are in the Narthex [entrance].
All: We respond by moving towards the hurts - the injustices and the horrors of Snow Day Cancellation Plan. From time to time it is predictable the weather will
this world with love. dictate there is wisdom in cancelling our church services machine. If Oromocto is
cancelled we will decide by 8 a.m. We will also try to put it on the website, send out
Leader: God calls us to bring love to those places where it is missing.
an email and ask the radio stations to broadcast our cancellation. You can also
All: May our candle remind us that we are called to respond with a transforming check the office number 357-3423 and a message should be there if service is can-
love – even the transforming love of Christ. celled. Should the power be off due to a winter storm you can safely assume can-
cellation.
*Our Hymn to Begin: VU 248, When Long Before Time
and the food offering collected and presented by the children The last loonie lunch will be Palm Sunday- April 1st. Please sign up for the remaining
few Sundays!
Our Prayer for This Day and a New Beginning Gibson Memorial United Church will be hosting a "Jigs Dinner'" on Wednesday,
March 28th from 4:15 - 6 p.m. Adult: $10.00, Child: $3.00. Please call 457-1951 to
*Our Hymn: VU 296 vs 1-2, : This is God’s Wonderous World rerserve your tickets or by chance at the door.
Time with the children:
Our Prayer and Our Lord’s Prayer
*Our Hymn: VU 296 vs 3, This is God’s Wonderous World

3. Dates To Note SERVICE
Mar 12, 5:30, Pine Grove Special Committee Lighting Our Candle of Concern
March 15, Thurs, 7pm, Session
Mar 18, Restorative Justice Sunday, Guest Christina Farnsworth Our Responsive Psalm #19, page VU 740
Mar 22, Bible Study, 1:30-3pm
Mar 24, 1-5pm, OVCL meeting, Hazen Park
Our Reading from the Christian Scriptures: John 2:13-22
Mar 29, OVCL Board meeting, 4pm, Oromocto Town Hall Commit-
tee Room
Apr 1, Palm Sunday *Our Hymn: VU 691, Though Ancient Walls
Apr 5, Bible Study, 1:30-3pm
Apr 6, Good Friday, Joint Service, 10 am, Pine Grove A Message for Today
Apr 19, Session, 7pm
May 5, Sat, 4-6pm, Spring Church Supper
June 23, AGM, OVCL, Hazen Park Watling Room, 1pm Anthem:
*Our Words of Faith, page 918 VU [standing]
March 7-8 break-in. The church was broken into this week by an unknown person
[s]. It appears to have involved more than one person. It appears the break-in oc- Our Offering Collected
curred late on Wednesday evening after the choir had left. The freezer was opened
and left open. Everything was still frozen with just the top most items beginning to
thaw. With the break-in first discovered by Karl Johnson early Thurs a.m. this sug- Our Offering Presented Offering: [tune 542]
gests a late evening timing for the crime. Entry was made through the south-east
window in the hall- a secluded corner further blocked by the maintenance shed. These Lenten gifts we bringing, our living faith express.
The screen was cut however the window appears to have been left unlocked. The We offer them most lovingly, and thus our hearts are blessed.
window was not damaged. O loving God, receive these gifts we gladly give
That show our faith and hope and trust;
Taken was the new large screen TV just donated to the church. Rev Bob's office Your way we seek to live.
was broken into using the fire extinguisher to smash the door. His bass guitar, amp,
case and associated cables etc were taken. Other than these items we do appear Our Prayers of Thanks and Concern
to have sustained any other loss despite the fact that other equipment etc was in
the path of this intrusion and ignored.
Our Hymn to Leave With: VU 135, Called By Earth and Sky
Perhaps you can take a look around for items you are familiar with to see if we are
missing other property or sustained other damage. The computer in the office was
left untouched. All this suggests someone perhaps familiar with our church who Our Benediction:
made entry to acquire specific known items. Perhaps the person left the window
open at an earlier time. However all this is further complicated by the fact that the
kitchen window was also left open. This is confusing as there are no tracks in the Our Choral Blessing:
snow outside the window. What this involved is a mystery. The screen was cut My Peace I give unto you
there as well from the inside and the curtain torn down. It’s a Peace that the world cannot give
Should you have any information to add to this mysterious occurrence please let It’s a Peace that the world cannot understand
Rev Bob or Ian Andrews or - if you prefer, perhaps for sensitive reasons, call Const Peace to know, Peace to live
Steeves directly at the RCMP. He is the investigating officer. We'll let you know My Peace I give unto you.
what surfaces as time goes on.

4. SERVICE SERVICE