The focus of our yoga classes is to enhance personal well-being and to affirm life, health and vitality in the broadest sense. Classes include quiet centering, warm-ups, stretches, traditional and modified yoga postures and relaxation. Fees apply for a series of sessions. A new series starts every ten to 12 weeks.
Also posted in Health & Wellness | Tag(s): Yoga |
Summer Strollers at Willows Beach
Date: Thursdays from May to September/October.
Time(s): 10:30 to 11:45 a.m
Location: Willows Beach, Oak Bay
This popular strolling program is for folks who like to stroll and enjoy the views. Some bring their canes, others their walkers, and yet others are just a little slower than they were 5 or 10 years ago.
The Esplanade at Willows Beach offers an even, paved surface on which to walk and benches along the way to sit and catch one’s breath.
After a stroll, participants gather at the Kiwanis Tea Room for refreshments, great conversation and laughter.
All strollers are most welcome to come and join us. Rides are arranged for those who are no longer driving. We have a wonderful group of volunteer drivers to help folks get to our meeting point at the parking lot at Willows Beach (off Beach Drive), stroll with you and get you safely back home by noon.
If you would like to stroll and/or drive, please contact Ann Maffey (see below) or Carol Halvorson at (250) 386-6670.
- E-mail: Ann Maffey
- Phone: (250) 388.5188, ext 233
- Fax: (250) 388.5186
Health and Wellness Group (formerly the Chronic Illness Support Group)
This group is for anyone living with a chronic illness who would like to be part of a group for sharing life’s ups and downs and spiritual reflection. The group focuses on their own growth and healing and meets on alternate Friday mornings in the Chapel. New members are welcome to come and join us. Speak to Ann Maffeyfor more information.
- E-mail: Ann Maffey
- Phone: (250) 388.5188, ext. 233
Healing Touch
Date: Every Monday afternoon
Location: First†Metropolitan United Church
We believe that healing is a process guided by God to restore balance and wholeness of body, mind and spirit, not only within the individual but also within relationships, community and creation. Experience and research has shown that patients experience a faster recuperation with healing touch.
Healing Touch sessions are available by appointment on Monday afternoons on the hour from noon to 6:00 pm and other times by prior arrangement. To make an appointment, phone the First†Met office and leave a message in the Healing Touch voicemail box or phone Susan Walma at (250) 361-0694. A list of the healers is posted on the Wellness notice board. Each one can give information and healing.
On the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm, the healers meet to share our experiences and to practice new and old techniques. We welcome new healer members who have training in Reiki or Healing from the Heart.
- Phone: (250) 388.5188, ext. 235
- Fax: (250) 388.5186
The Pastoral Team sponsors a knitting group that meets to make scarves, hats, socks, toques, mittens, gloves, dishcloths, children’s sweaters, booties, lap robes for here and abroad. We meet once a month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in Room 107 at First†Metropolitan United Church. Check the events calendar for the upcoming dates.
We have worked on afghans and lap robes for the refurbished rooms at the Hospice. We also donate items to Cridge Centre for the Family, the Sandy Merriman Shelter for Women, Our Place, The Compassionate Warehouse and other locations. We have wool, needles, patterns, fun and fellowship to share!
For more information about the group or projects, please call Joan Mickelson at (250) 744-3047.
Minister of Pastoral Visitation and Outreach
Gordon Cann was born in Louisbourg, NS and graduated from Mount Allison University with a B.A. Before going on to Pine Hill Divinity Hall, Halifax, he served as a lay preacher for a year at Grace Methodist Church, Bermuda. He has a M. Th. from Atlantic School of Theology.
Ordained by the Maritime Conference, he was settled in the Newtown-Waterford Pastoral Charge (a five point charge near Sussex, NB). He was an assistant minister at Danforth United Church (now Eastminister), Toronto and Westboro United Church, Ottawa. Then, he was minister at St. Andrew’s Norwood, Saint-Laurent (Montreal), Knox, Lower Sackville (Halifax), McDougall and Ebenezer in Edmonton. He retired in 1999 and moved to Sidney in 2003.
He is married to Ann (Morrison) and they have four children and nine grandchildren.
Between January 2007 and March 2008, he was interim Pastoral Care Minister at First†Metropolitan. He is known for his gentle sense of humour, his compassion and his dedication to the needs of our homebound members. He and Ann have been members of First†Met for five years.
Staff Associate, Health & Wellness Ministry
The Health and Wellness Ministry in our church takes a realistic look at the health issues and challenges facing many in our congregation. In addition, it is a reminder to celebrate the strengths and resources of our church community as well as those available outside our walls.
Ann brings over 30 years of nursing experience, and a specialized interest in community and geriatric nursing to her position at First†Met. Through one-on-one and group meetings, information sessions, workshops, discussions around specific issues, and close cooperation with Pastoral Care, our church offers support and practical assistance within a spiritual context through the many of life’s challenges.
For many years, Metropolitan United Church served as the home of the Metropolitan Basketball Teams. Newly renamed the First†Metropolitan United Basketball Teams, upwards of 12 to 17 teams practice weekly in the Fellowship Hall and play at a local high school. This service is an “outreach” to the community, giving neighbourhood youth an outlet of healthy activity for six to seven months of the year.
Contact Rick and Sheila Vickery at (250) 479-0164 for more information.
Prayer Connections
“Remember one another in prayer”
The First†Met prayer team has been praying faithfully at home for prayer requests from the congregation and staff. Each request is prayed for one month and is kept private.
How can I make a request?
1. By prayer request slips.
- Weekdays: you can fill out a request slip (church office counter) and place it inthe adjacent “Prayer Requests” box.
- Sundays: prayer request slips are in the Sanctuary pews and the Chapel exterior entranceway. Fill one out and put it in the offering plate, from where it will be transferred to the prayer box.
2. By Email
(confidential)
3. Through staff: If you can’t get to get to church and don’t have Email, give your prayer request to a staff member, who will pass it on to the prayer team.
For whom can I request prayer?
For yourself, or those you care about – family, friends, neighbours, co-workers
What type of requests can I make?
Health problems, bereavement, relationship issues, work-related or student concerns,financial issues, etc. – whatever concerns you.
Consider making a request – we exist to support you in prayer!
The following are our past Newsletters. We hope that they will provide you with a “picture” of what is/has been happening at First†Met over the past while.
Newsletters
