Minto Minute

Last Sunday we were truly blessed with a presentation offered by Major Ed Smith on the recent projects being undertaken in Cameroon by International Children's Awareness. Minto is the longest continuous supporter of I.C.A. and Ed's updates and words of gratitude confirmed that we have invested in a very worthwhile outreach ministry over all these years. What a joy to have Ed and

This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday marking the beginning of Holy Week - the most sacred week of the year for Christians. We invite all the children to gather before worship in their classrooms to prepare for the

host the 95^th Anniversary Rally of C.G.I.T. and we are honoured that the girls and their leaders will join us for worship.

Here is the entire text of a love letter intercepted by a second grade schoolteacher, passed on to a parent:

"Dear Billy, if you don't say you love me and walk to the bus stop with me, I will take your lunch and beat you up.

I love you and want to marry you soon. Suzy"

The little girl was eight at the time. The mother showed the preacher the letter at the rehearsal dinner the day before Suzy married Billy. Suzy was now twenty-four. During the wedding service, he shared the letter with the guests, and in her vows, had Suzy repeat these words:

"I, Suzy, promise you, Billy, never to steal your lunch or beat you up."

He later said, "If the marriage lasts as long as her love, and her love is as large as the laughter in the ceremony, the odds are good for a happy ever after."

We'll do some amazing things in the name of love, won't we? And the deeper our love, the more extreme is our willingness. That's why a mother is willing to stay up all night tending to a sick child. That's why it is hard for a parent to give up on a rebellious teenager who seems determined to get into trouble. That's why we go the

of our friends. That is why we give money to our church to help people we will never meet or ever know. And, in the most extreme example, it's why Jesus Christ was willing to give up his very life for us when we least deserved it.

"Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good

This demonstrates God's love for us." (Romans 5:6-8, GOD'S WORD)

May God's example of love motivate us during this Season of Lent to strengthen our relationships by learning the meaning of unconditional and sacrificial love.

Mar 28	Palm/Passion Sunday Brunch Children singing in Church
Apr 4	Easter Sunday Baptism Dedicate Baptismal Font in memory of Dennis Benson
Apr 11	Second Sunday of Easter Food Bank Coffee Hour - Creative Cookies
Apr 18	Third Sunday of Easter 30 Hour Famine Youth Service
Apr 25	Fourth Sunday of Easter Festivale Singers Brunch Camping Sunday

Mar 27		C.G.I.T. Rally & Sleepover
Mar 28		Passion/Palm Sunday & Brunch

Apr 1	Maundy Thursday	7 pm	Zion United Church
Apr 2	Good Friday & Lunch	11 am	Minto United Church
Apr 4	Easter Sunrise & Hot Cross Buns	7 am	Grandview Church

be baptized, our next baptisms will be on April 4^th (Easter Sunday) and May 9^th (Mother�s Day). Contact the church office as soon as possible for baptism forms or download

April 25^th. Not only will they be singing but they will be serving a delicious dessert to everyone at our brunch that day in order to express their thanks for rehearsal space and time at Minto! You won't want to miss this exceptional choral group as

Sunday morning from 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. in the Lounge throughout the six Sundays of this season. We will read

"Bread For The Wilderness". You will also receive a free Lenten devotional booklet entitled "The Sanctuary for Lent".