Dear Willowdale Emmanuel United Church members,

We trust you are doing well considering this unprecedented time. 

We would like to update you with the following information:

1.    April 26^th marked WEUC’s third church service on YouTube.  Council is very thankful to have our Sunday service broadcast in a user-friendly format to all members who have access to the internet.  For those who do not have online access, we will continue to send our Sunday service by email and regular mail so that all members can be a part of the WEUC community.

2.    We would like to thank all those involved in preparing and participating in the services including Rev. YoonOk for her wonderful sermons, Lina Posa for the scripture readings, Ying Quan and Helen Kim Pratt for their music direction and Jason Kim for his expert filming and editing skills prior to uploading the service to YouTube.  The online Sunday services would not be possible without the team effort exhibited by our dedicated staff and members.  

3.    In keeping with our sermon format prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting Sunday May 3^rd, we will provide the sermon in English and Korean on alternating Sundays.  This will help to maintain consistency and remind us that we are one united congregation.  A benediction will be added to all future online services as a familiar way to end our time together.

4.    We will maintain the YouTube Sunday service length at 25 – 30 minutes since this has proven to work well. 

5.     With the church building closure, our renters stopped paying their rent except for CAUC which continues to pay their share of the building maintenance and utilities. Council passed a resolution to continue to pay Rev. YoonOk Shin and Lina Posa as they continue to work despite the building closure, and we have been receiving the 10% wage subsidy for the salaries paid to them to date.  The federal government has opened the link to apply for the 75% wage subsidy.  We have completed the application and once received, the church will be responsible for only 25% of current salaries.  

As for our contract workers, Rasul, Ying, Connor and Jong Moon Lee are paid without interruption as Rasul still maintains the building including grass cutting, occasional cleaning, and disinfecting the building. Since the others are students, Council decided to keep them on the payroll. Helen Pratt and Joe have been laid off as of March 31, 2020. 

In order to supplement our financial shortfall, we applied for the $40,000 CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account) interest free loan out of which $10,000 will be forgiven as long as we pay it back by December 31, 2022.

 For your general reference, please see the following information and guidelines for health and safety during this time.

·         The United Church of Canada https://www.united-church.ca/

·         City of Toronto  https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/

·         Province of Ontario   https://covid-19.ontario.ca/?_ga=2.9515765.1771362787.1585603692-1743700962.1585603692

·         Government of Canada  https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/canadas-reponse.html

For church administration enquiries, please contact our office administrator:

·         Lina Posa

Email: weunitedchurch@hotmail.com

Office:  416-225-2309

For information/Updates visit Church website: www.weunitedchurch.com

For anyone needing prayers/pastoral support, please contact:

·         Rev. YoonOk  Shin Kang

Email: yoonok2009@gmail.com

Home: 416-250-7506

Emergency contact:  780-903-6339

Sincerely,

WEUC Council Co-chairs

Myung Sook Kim

mskcga85@gmail.com

Bill Myhill

bill@idahinc.com