News & Events
Holy Week
Combined Good Friday Service
10:30 am at Parkdale
Lenten Workshop
for young families, children and youth
Friday, April 18 from 12:30-4:30 pm
Easter Vigil – April 19/20
signup online for an in-person or virtual vigil
Easter Sunday Service
Pre-service breakfast in Memorial Hall at 9 am
followed by the worship service at 10:30 am
Good Friday
10:30am Service – Come join us as we unite, here at Parkdale, with
St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Dominion Chalmers United Church to remember the work of the Cross that Jesus sacrificed for us all.
Lenten Workshop for young families, Children and Youth – from 12:30-3:30pm. ROAD TO RESURRECTION is a powerfully moving, multi-sensory family event that takes us along the path that Jesus walked during his last days on earth.
Easter Sunday Breakfast
Begin Easter celebrations by joining us for a continental breakfast including locally baked Hot Cross Buns. The breakfast will be served in Memorial Hall from 9-10 on Easter Sunday morning. Please let us know you are coming (indicate family numbers) by sending an email to pdale@trytel.com
The Men’s Breakfast
will meet at 8 AM on Thursday April 24th at Zak’s (Churchill and Richmond).
Spring Rummage Sale
Our Spring Rummage Sale is booked – from 9am to noon on Saturday, April 26, 2025! Please consider donating those things you no longer wear or use to this worthy community cause.
Popular items are men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, books, linens, toys, kitchen utensils, small appliances, etc. We do not accept furniture, baby cribs, car seats, exercise machines, heavy non-flat screen TVs and computer monitors, textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, or anything broken or soiled. If you have accumulated an excess of reusable cloth bags, we would be happy to receive them as we are trying to minimize our use of plastic.
Contributions must be dropped off at the church prior to Thursday, April 24, 2025. If you need help with pick up, please contact Jo-Anne in the office at 613-728-8656.
We are looking for volunteers to help with set up on Thursday, April 24 starting at 8:30 am, and Friday, April 25 until 4:30, as well as for the sale itself on Saturday from 8:30 to 12, followed by clean-up. If you are able to help, even for a couple of hours, please advise Val Hum at Valerie.hum@rogers.com or at 613-728-8830.
MUSIC AT PARKDALE 
CHOIRS AND GUITAR including the Parkdale Choir – concert at 2pm Saturday April 26
PARKDALE ORCHESTRA – concert on May 3 https://www.parkdaleorchestra.ca/season-24-25
KIWANIS Ottawa West – concert at 7pm Saturday May 17 – featuring the Concert Docs and the Kiwanis Music Festival
CENTRALAIRES CONCERT BAND – concert on May 31 https://centralaires.org/#concerts
TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS!!
Please join us on Volunteer Sunday, April 27, to express gratitude to our In From The Cold volunteers and all those who minister in various ways here at Parkdale. After the service, please join us in Memorial Hall to enjoy fellowship and light refreshments.
Parkdale Family – We Want to Hear from You!
As we search for a new coordinating minister, your voice matters. What do you hope for in our worship, outreach, and future leadership? Join a small focus group (5 or fewer) to share your thoughts. Contact us at search@parkdaleunitedchurch.ca to take part. Your input will help guide the search committee!
Discover the Witness Blanket
and join a Right Relations discussion on May 4th
The Mission, Outreach and Justice Committee invites you to explore a powerful artwork that honours the resilience of Survivors of the Indian Residential School system. Called “The Witness Blanket”, this art installation was made by Carey Newman with contributions from Indigenous communities across Canada. A free, 90-minute online film tells the story of how it was made, and a replica of it is at the Museum of History until May 5th.
Watch the film online, visit the exhibit if you can, then join us for a Right Relations discussion on Sunday, May 4th, after church. (bring your own snack). Some questions for you to consider: How do you respond personally to the testimonials in the film? How should the history of Indian Residential Schools be remembered as the United Church of Canada celebrates its 100th anniversary this year? Do you think this history can inform our church’s path for the next 100 years?
See the film: Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket (90 minutes)
https://humanrights.ca/story/picking-pieces-making-witness-blanket
Museum of History: The Witness Blanket Exhibit https://www.historymuseum.ca/exhibitions/witness-blanket
For admission cost (free on Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm), see: https://www.historymuseum.ca/plan-your-visit
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
The two reports that were distributed to the congregation in advance of the AGM are now available on the Parkdale website:
2025.01.24 Parkdale Housing Subgroup Full Report
PARKDALE REDEVELOPMENT January 28 2025
These two reports represent the culmination of seven years of prayerful and meaningful discussion and discernment.
On-line Questionnaire – This was sent via congregational e-mail very shortly after April 6. Your response to this survey will be critical in informing the emerging vision for the future of Parkdale. The last day to submit your survey is April 20th.
MAY 25 – CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
A short congregational meeting will be convened immediately after the service on May 25, during which a vote to discern support for our emerging vision will be held by secret ballot. This is an important vote, the results of which will provide direction to Parkdale for coming years, so please plan to attend.
Planning and Planting for Summer Harvest
There are seeds available to plant seedlings to grow tomatoes, peppers and/or onions in your gardens this summer. When they ripen and you bring the harvest to the church, we will prepare sauce – some to freeze for the Caring Kitchens freezer and the rest to serve at a Spaghetti luncheon in the fall.
Baptisms and Membership:
Are you looking to know more about the United Church of Canada? Learn more about your faith? Are you interested in becoming a member of Parkdale? This could happen through transfer of membership, or by profession of faith after some conversations and learning. We would love to welcome you in this new way! Please speak to the ministers for more info.
The celebration of Baptisms will take place on Sunday May 11 during the worship service.
Rev. Natalie Matkovsky will also be offering two seminar sessions for persons seeking join Parkdale as members on May 4th and May 18th at 9-10 AM before the church service in the Parlour. The celebration of receiving new members will take place during worship in June. Please reach out to Bev or Huda if you would like more information or have any questions.
FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG FAMILIES
The Nursery: is staffed today. Parents are welcome to use it for their babies and toddlers.
Christian Education & Faith Formation: The children will have special programs at Sunday school on Easter Sunday. They will be back in church for communion. Youth are invited to stay in church for the Easter service. Please help us keep our records up to date. Register online for Sunday school and youth groups: https://form.jotform.com/242651912769061
Summer Camp
Buckle up for exciting destinations with the pup Scout at our Summer Camp 2025. It will be on Aug.18-22. Through engaging Bible stories, interactive games, and fun challenges, we’ll discover that God is always with us. Road Trip VBS is more than just fun — it’s a journey of faith, friendship, and unforgettable memories! Registration opens in May.
CONTACT
Have you been missing out on the Sunday bulletins and other events sent out via the congregational email? Is it possible that we don’t have your contact information? Please let us know if you want to receive messages. Contact the office at pdale@trytel.com
The Parkdale Prayer Group
invite you to join them in “Praying the Psalms” from now until the end of June. There is more information available in the Prayer Corner that outlines how we will read through the first 50 Psalms and use them as our daily meditation and prayer starter.
PRAYERS AT PARKDALE
Your PRAYER REQUESTS are always welcome. Please send them to prayer-requests@parkdaleunitedchurch.ca or you can use the prayer box in the sanctuary. If you want to be contacted please leave your name and number. We want you to know that we are here for you and that we stand together under God’s Grace.
Donations to Parkdale
There are several ways to make a donation to Parkdale
- Cash or cheques can be added to the offering plate that is circulated each Sunday. To receive a tax receipt, you can use a blue envelope (supplies are in the pews) and provide your name and address
- Personal boxes of envelopes are provided on request. They are now available for the 2025 year. You can place cash or a cheque in your uniquely numbered envelope and add it to the offering plate that is circulated each Sunday. Tax receipts will be provided after the end of each calendar year.
- Donations can also be made directly through your bank account or credit card using Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Givings are deducted automatically from your bank account or charged to your credit card once a month. PAR forms and information can be printed from the church website –https://parkdaleunitedchurch.ca/supporting-parkdale/
- E-transfer: donations can be made by sending an e-transfer to deposits@parkdaleunitedchurch.ca. Make sure you note what the donation is for and provide your name and address information for a tax receipt.
- Canada Helps is an agency that accepts donations for Canadian charities for a small fee, and then forwards the donation to the church. Canada Helps issues the tax receipt. There is a link to Canada Helps on the Parkdale website.
The Messenger
Contact
429 Parkdale Ave
Ottawa, ON K1Y 1H3
Phone: (613) 728-8656
Email: pdale@trytel.com