It’s September on the prairies!! The mornings are a little cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the gardens are telling us that winter will be here before we know it!- even if my garden was a bit of a diaster this year.
It is also the time of year when we start gathering the harvest. The potatoes are coming out of the ground, the carrots are being pulled, and the tomatoes seem to have decided that producing 47 at once is a good idea. And if you planted zucchini, well… you probably have enough to feed the whole neighbourhood!
Gardens remind us that good things take time. We plant a tiny seed in the spring, water it, pull a few weeds, hope for some sunshine, worry about too much rain, and eventually we have something to harvest.
Faith can feel a little like that too.
This Sunday, we welcome our Sunday School children back to worship! The SALT (serving and learning togther) shakers- Their energy, laughter, questions, and sometimes wonderfully unexpected answers are an important part of our church family.
The church is a little like a garden. We plant seeds of faith, hope, kindness, and love. We don’t always know when those seeds will take root or what they will grow into. But we keep planting, watering, encouraging, and trusting God with the harvest.
Paul reminds us:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
That is a good verse for both farmers and gardeners—and probably for parents, grandparents, teachers, and church families too!
Sometimes we wonder if anything is growing. Sometimes we wonder if the weeds are winning. But with patience, care, and a little help from God, something beautiful can happen.
So this Sunday, we give thanks for our children, for our church family, for the harvest from our gardens and fields, and for the simple gift of gathering together.
May this new season be filled with learning, laughter, friendship, and growing together in faith.
And may our harvest baskets—and our hearts—be full of gratitude.
St. Paul’s Weekly Update
September 20 – In person worship with Tanis. It is also muffin morning and there will be coffee and muffins before worship approximately at 10:15am.
SALT Shakers – Sunday School will begin on September 20th! We are excited to have Ella leading our youth once again. We look forward to another wonderful year of learning, growing, and sharing in fellowship together. We hope to see all of our youth there!
Church Office Hours – The church office is now open Monday – Thursday at regular hours of 9am – 12pm & 1-3pm.
Knit or Knot -Starting Tuesday, September 22, the knitting & Crafting Group will begin meeting again after our summer break! 2:00pm in the upper hall.
knitting isn’t your thing? No problem! Come and join us for the fellowship, fun, and good company. Bring your needlepoint, card making, or whatever craft interests you. So gather up your crafting supplies, bring your project, and come join us for an afternoon of creativity, laughter, and fellowship! Everyone is welcome!
Coffee Time – Join us Thursday mornings at 10:00am for a time of coffee and fellowship! This is open to everyone and all are welcome!
Food Cupboard Sunday – The first Sunday of the month is Food Cupboard Sunday and we invite you to bring a non-perishable food item for the Virden & Area Food Cupboard. Our next food Sunday is October 4.
ALF Youth Retreat – Minnedosa, MB – Oct 23 to 25, 2026 – Faith in Film
Calling all grade 7 to 12s from Prairie to Pine Region (and beyond) to explore with peers for a weekend how movies inform our faith. If this interests your or you know someone in this age category that are interested in attending please let me know.
Registration Open: Click here for info Any youth from St. Paul’s who wish to attend will have their registration fee reimbursed.
Change for Change Campaign – How is everyone’s change collecting coming along? Are your bags full? Change bags are due back in for Sunday, October 4.
The Outreach Committee is inviting everyone to collect their loose change over the summer and donate it to the Mission & Service Fund. Lovely decorated collection bags are available at the church, or you may use a bag of your own. Please return your collected change by the end of September. If you would like your donation included on your year-end tax receipt, please be sure to clearly label your bag with your name.
If you are not into collecting coins, our campaign is online also… help us turn change into change! Click here to help https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/119197150RR0001-st-pauls-united-church/p2p/change-for-change
Better late than never! 👏. in Knit or Knot…I thought it said bring your “witch craft”😆 but I reread it and it says 👓 “whatever craft” haha
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