Prayer: Creator God, you make all things and weave them together in an intricate tapestry of life. Teach us to respect the fragile balance of life and to care for all the gifts of your creation. Guide by your wisdom those who have power and authority, that, by the decisions they make, life may be cherished and a good and fruitful Earth may continue to show your glory and sing your praises.
Almighty God, you have called us to tend and and keep the garden of your creation.
Give us wisdom and reverence for all your plants and animals who share this planet with us and whose lives make possible our own. Help us to remember that they too love the sweetness of life and join us in giving you praise. Amen.
Holy Lord, make our eyes and our hearts more open to the needs of others, especially the hungry, the hurting, and the poor. Help us to see that in caring for the Earth, we are also caring for one another. And help us, O Lord, to live in ways that promote respect, compassion, justice, and peace for all people, and for all of your broken and yet beautiful creation. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen ( prayers from the CFGB prayer resource.)
Hymn I Sing the Mighty Power of God #231
This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. In Ormstown we will be holding a craft activity day for families and children which will take place in the church alongside the Sunday service.
Next Sunday the services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. In Howick we will be holding a pumpkin and pizza craft time, followed by a lunch and extra munchies. Please plan on joining us if you are able.
We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Mary Anne McCormick, who died this past weekend. A service to celebrate her life will be held in St Paul’s United Church in Ormstown on Saturday, October 26th at 2pm, preceded by a time of visitation beginning at 12:00.
We continue to hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Jean McClintock, whose celebration of life was held on Friday.
We will be beginning our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank this Sunday, which is World Food Sunday. If you wish to make a donation online, that can be done at foodgrainsbank.ca, or with the envelopes available at our churches.
( a few late blooms I found before the cold weather began.)
Our Jewish sisters and brothers continue to mark some of their most solemn holy days. Rosh Hashanah has passed and on Friday, Oct 11th at sundown until night on the 12th, it is time for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a time for fasting and for prayer.
We also pray for peace in the Middle East, for Israel, for Gaza, for the West Bank, and for Lebanon, for all people, families, and children.
Hymn Come You Thankful People Come #516 VU
Scripture Lessons: Joel 2:21-27
Psalm 126 p.850VU
Mark 6:24-33
Hymn We Plough the Fields and Scatter #520
Message
Prayer: L: For the beauty and wonder of creation, we thank you God.
For our daily food, for our homes, families, and friends, we thank you God.
For minds to think and hearts to lose, we thank you God.
For health, strength, and skill to work, and for leisure to rest and play, we thank you God.
For those who are brave and courageous, patient in suffering and faithful in adversity, we thank you God.
For all who pursue peace, justice, and truth, we thank you, God.
For all that is gracious in lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ, we thank you God.
Today we give thanks for those we love and for all the saints whose lives have reflected the light of Christ, we thank you God. Amen. (from the United Church’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence.)
Hymn Now Thank We All our God #236 VU
This Sunday’s services, will be a Thanksgiving Sunday service held at 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. In Ormstown we will be collecting food for the food bank, both seasonal produce and non-perishable food items.
We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Jean (Robinson) McClintock, who died this week. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, October 18th from 2-5:00 in the Dining Hall on the Fairgrounds. Please come and share your memories of Jean.
We hold also in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Milton Reddick, including the members of the Georgetown Presbyterian Church, following his death this past week.
We also hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Kelsey Watt, following the celebration of her life held on Saturday.
Howick United Church wishes to express its thanks for the support it received for its BBQ chicken fundraiser, it was a great success. Many thanks again to those who helped make it happen, as well as those who supported it, both from the churches and from the community as well.
Next Sunday, October 20th, in Ormstown there will be a craft activity day for children and families. It will take place in the church along side the 11:00 service. All welcome.
Sunday, October 27th, we will once again be holding a pumpkin and pizza Sunday in Howick, with our 11:00 service. Families are invited to come and share in the beginning of the service and then to decorate a pumpkin and to prepare a mini-pizza for lunch. All are invited to stay for lunch following the end of the service.
St Andrew’s United Church in Chateauguay (46 DuPont W, Chateauguay) will be holding its 2nd annual Music Celebration, with lots of singing on Sunday, October 27th, beginning at 7pm. The music celebration will be followed by “everything apple” desserts. A free will offering will be taken to support the local food bank.
The funeral service for the Rev. Lois Wilson will be live-streamed on the United Church’s YouTube channel this Tuesday, October 15th at 11:00, from Metropolitan United Church in Toronto.
This week begins the Jewish high holidays, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which comes to an end today, and followed by the Yom Kippur and the Day of Atonement, some of the most solemn days of the Jewish calendar. Shanah Tovah!
Hymn Great God We Sing that Mighty Hand #529VU
Scripture Lessons: Job 1:1, 2:1-13
Psalm 26
Hebrews 1:1-4
Message
Prayer: Loving God, be with our family and friends today, hold them in your love.
THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS YOUR KINGDOM COME.
Be with the poor today, show them you care.
THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME.
Be with the suffering of our world, give them peace.
THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME.
Be with the depressed, hold out your hand to them.
THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME.
Be with the lonely, let them know you are with them.
THROUGH OUR LIVES, AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME.
Be with the homeless, shelter them in your arms.
THROUGH OUR LIVES, AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME.
Be with us and stay with us, we need you, God. We need you! Amen. (from the Iona Community’s Praying for the Dawn, edited by Ruth Burgess and Kathy Galloway.)
Hymn In Suffering Love #614
This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. It will be Communion Sunday in both congregations.
St Paul’s Session will meet Wednesday, October 9th at 7:30pm in the hall.
Next Sunday, October 13th, will be Thanksgiving Sunday. In Ormstown we will be collecting food, both non-perishable food items and seasonal food items for the local food bank, La Bouffe Additionelle. Services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown.
In Ormstown there will be a craft activity day for families on October 20th, in the church, in combination with the 11:00 Sunday service.
In Howick we will be holding a pumpkins and pizza day on Sunday, October 27th for families. Come and join in the fun, preparing individual mini-pizzas and decorating pumpkins for Halloween, beginning with the 11:00 service in Howick.
Tomorrow will be National Truth and Reconciliation Day across Canada (aka “Orange Shirt Day”) so people are invited to wear, if you can, an orange shirt to church if you are coming, and/or on Monday to mark this day.
Hymn. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty #220VU
Scripture Lessons: James 5:13-18
Psalm 124 p.848VU
Mark 9:38-50
Message
Prayer: Today we wear orange to remember and honour all the indigenous children who went to residential schools.
Today we wear orange and we pray for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling.
Today we wear orange and we are thankful for those speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice.
Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Help us, God, to remember and act on this and every day. Amen.
In the light of the events of this past week: O God, maker of the whole human family in heaven and on earth; stand by those who sorrow; that as they lean on your strength, they may be upheld, and believe the good news of life beyond life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We trust that beyond absence there is a presence,
That beyond the pain there can be healing,
That beyond the brokenness there can be wholeness,
That beyond the anger there can be peace,
That beyond the silence there may be the word,….
That beyond silence … there may be Love. by Anonymous.
Hymn. Tell Me the Old, Old Story
This Sunday there will be a combined service that will be held in St Paul’s in Ormstown at 11:00. We will begin at 10:30 with coffee and goodies.
We hold Debbie Beattie and her family in our thoughts and prayers at this time.
We also hold Debbie Templeton and family in our thoughts and prayers following the death of her mother in Ottawa.
Once again Anne Carpentier will be ordering United Church calendars for sale. This year we are inviting you to let Anne know if you would like a calendar. They are $15.00 due to increases in the cost of the calendar and shipping. She will be making the order in a few weeks, so please let her know if you would like one (or more).
Next Sunday will be Communion Sunday in Ormstown (9:30) and Howick (11:00). All welcome to share in this sacrament.
This will also be the Sunday Howick will be holding its BBQ chicken fundraiser. We are taking orders for Benny &Co chicken dinners, either $20 for adults, a quarter chicken with fries and cole slaw, or a children’s order with chicken nuggets for $12. Orders need to be received by Wednesday, October 2nd, and are required. Meals can be eaten in the church as a community meal or taken out to share family or friends.
Sunday, October 13th will be Thanksgiving Sunday. Services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. In Ormstown we will also be collecting food for La Bouffe Additionelle, our local food bank. Both fresh and non- perishable food items would be welcomed.
This is the first Sunday of Autumn. We celebrate the gifts of harvest and abundance in this beautiful and blessed season.
Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness #288VU
Scripture Lessons: Proverbs 31:10-31
Psalm 1 p. 724VU
Mark 9:30-37
Message
( I will admit that I recorded this on Tuesday, so the situation may change through the week. Nevertheless, the question remains, is greatness based on what we achieve for ourselves, or the difference we make for others.)
Reflection and prayer written by Lois Wilson — Veils
It’s a bit of a shock to see veiled women.
Why can’t they be like me?
Even the girls at the Ecumenical Centre will draw the sari across their mouths and noses in the presence of a dignitary
A sign of modesty.
I suppose it might be rather interesting to go through all of life
always peering out at other people.
But it’s part of the culture I find hard to fathom.
And we without veils….
What do our faces reflect?
Anxiety?
Despair?
Frustration?
Boredom?
Preoccupation?
May my face O God reflect like a mirror your presence in my life.
May my face Christ Jesus transparently announce to all that You live in me.
May my face Holy Spirit be shining with love and holiness. ( from Lois Wilson’s Like A Mighty River, published in 1981).
Hymn I Love to Tell the Story #343
This Sunday’s services will be Ormstown at 9:30 and Howick at 11:00. Next Sunday we will holding a combined service in Ormstown, at 11:00, with coffee etc. beginning about 10:30. All welcome.
For those who would like to contribute to the Faithful Footprints project at St Paul’s, donations may be made by e-transfer to: ucwormstown@gmail.com. The security question is project funds and the password is church1234. Please include your fill name and address in the message box for the tax receipt. Donations may also be made by cheque to St Paul’s United Church 19 Lambton Ormstown QC J0S 1K0, or dropped off to the Treasurer.
Howick is trying out a different kind of fundraiser: on October 6th we are offering Benny &Co chicken dinners, (including fries and cole slaw) to be picked up either for eating in or taking out. Adult dinners will be $20 and children’s dinners (nuggets) will be $12. Meals can be picked up at noon, following the 11:00 service. Meals must be pre-ordered. Please contact Wilene Cullen for tickets.
Worship Schedule for October: October 6th Communion Sunday 9:30 Ormstown 11:00 Howick
(Howick’s fundraiser will follow at noon)
October 13 Thanksgiving Sunday. 9:30. Howick. 11:00. Ormstown ( Ormtown will continue its tradition of collecting food for La Bouffe Additionelle, our local food bank. Both non-perishable food and fresh items would be appreciated)
October 20 World Food Sunday 9:30. Howick. 11:00. Ormstown Craft Activity Day in Ormstown
October 27 9:30. Ormstown. 11:00 Howick Pizza and Pumpkin activities for Howick
Riverfield Curling Club is planning its Homecoming Celebration for Saturday October 12th, beginning with a Scottish Lunch, followed by exhibits and games for the children, then a BBQ in the evening. Tickets are available from RCC members and the RCC website, at a cost of $10.
St Andrew’s United Church in Chateauguay will be holding its 2nd annual Music Celebration on Sunday, October 27th at 7pm featuring music from local choirs and Everything Apple Desserts. A free will offering will be taken for the Châteauguay Food Bank.
A date and time have been chosen for Lois Wilson’s funeral, which will be live-streamed on October 15th at 11am from Metropolitan United Church in Toronto ON on YouTube for the wider church. An endowment fund in her name is also being created to support UCC program work. Contributions would be gratefully appreciated.
This weekend, September 14th and 15th has been named Days for migrant workers. Let us give thanks for their hard work and pray for their safety and security. 🙏🏽
This coming week has been named the week of prayer for Peace in Israel and Gaza. Let us pray for peace for our brothers and sisters there and everywhere. 🙏🏽🌍
Hymn Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross #142VU
Scripture Lessons: Proverbs 1:20-33
Psalm 19 p.740-1VU
Mark 8:27-38
Message
Prayer: We offer you our praise and our worship, O God, knowing we do so under the shadow of the cross, sign of human shame and divine wisdom and love. Like Jesus, we would follow faithfully in your way; like Jesus, we would live to you and die to you. We are your people; we belong to you. We offer you our worship and our lives. May your name be glorified in the lives we live; in the love we share; and by Christ’s church, through Jesus the Christ, our Saviour and our Lord. Amen. ( a prayer adapted from the United Church of Christ’s Book of Worship.)
Hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross #149VU
This Sunday’s services, September 15th will be Howick 9:30 and Ormstown 11:00. Next Sunday’s services, September 22nd will be the reverse: Ormstown 9:30 and Howick at 11:00.
I have just received the notice of the Very Rev. Lois Wilson’s death. She was the first woman Moderator of the United Church as well as a long time minister in our church, as well as a former Senator in the Canadian Parliament. Well done, good and faithful servant!
Howick’s Stewards will meet on Tuesday, September 17th at 7pm in the church hall.
Howick UCW (Unit C) will meet for supper Wednesday, September 18th.
St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, September 18th in the hall at 7:30pm.
Sunday, September 29th will be a combined service held in St Paul’s in Ormstown at 11:00. We will begin with a fellowship time at 10:30.
Howick United Church will be trying out a new fundraiser: on October 6th following the 11:00 service, (noon) Benny and Co’s BBQ chicken will be available for eat-in or takeout. Prices will be $20 for adults (breast or leg) and $12 for children (nuggets). If eating in, a drink and a dessert will also be provided. Pre-orders will be necessary. Tickets and sign-up sheets are now available.
Please keep in mind these community events: the O-HO Quilt Show Friday, September 20th and Saturday, September 21st at the Ormstown Curling Club, 10 - 4:00. Entry $5.00, which includes the tea. Proceeds will support local charities.
Alyson Champ’s art show, Etalements, as part of the LBA’s Fall Festival, beginning Friday, 4:00 in the new dining hall on the Ormstown Fairgrounds and continuing through the weekend.
Riverfield Curling Club’s Homecoming Celebration, Saturday, October 12th marking its 200th anniversary. This will include a Scottish Lunch, games and exhibits in the afternoon and a BBQ in the evening. Tickets are available from RCC members, or from the website, at a cost of $10.
Prayer: Eternal God, you are the author of life; all living beings depend on you; you care for all the earth. We pray for our neighbours whose expressions of faith are different from ours; the longings of whose hearts we do not always comprehend. Teach us to know that you love all peoples; help us to respect what we do not yet understand; and to rejoice in the words and acts of truth, beauty, and love wherever they may be found. Enable us to love others as you love, and to live with others in ways that build your gracious rule over all of life. We ask this in the name of him who gave himself for all, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (a prayer from With All God’s People, from the World Council of Churches.)
Hymn In Christ There is No East or West #606VU
This Sunday’s services are: 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. Next Sunday will be the same. The next Sunday, September 22nd, the reverse. Sunday, September 29th will be a combined service in Ormstown, 11:00, with fellowship time beginning at 10:30.
Good news! The work on the Faithful Footprints project, making our church in Ormstown more sustainable (both environmentally and economically) will be beginning this week. The oil furnaces and tanks will be removed from both the church and the hall and replaced with electric furnaces and heat pumps. We appreciate the funding provided by the church (up to $30,000!) but will also be hoping for additional donations to cover our $60,000 project.
St Paul’s Session meeting was delayed to the Wednesday, September 11th at 7:30 in the hall.
St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, September 18th at 7:30 in the hall.
Please keep in mind the O-HO Quilt Show taking place Friday, September 20th and Saturday September 21st from 10-4:00 in the Ormstown Curling Club. The cost to enter is $5, which includes the tea. Proceeds from this event will be used for local charities.
Also keep in mind Alyson Champ’s show at the new Dining Hall in the Fairgrounds that will take place Friday, September 20th from 4:00.
There will be a Flourishing Event with the Moderator, the Rt Rev. Carmen Lansdowne held Saturday, September 21st from 9:30-4:30 at Cedar Park United Church in Pointe Claire. If you are interested in attending, please let Barbara know and she will send you the link or help you to register.
Riverfield Curling Club will be holding its Homecoming Celebration on Saturday, October 12th. This will include a Scottish Lunch, exhibits and games for kids and families in the afternoon, and a BBQ later in the day. Tickets for the lunch will cost $10 and are available from RCC members, from the website, or by calling 450-825-2577.
Barbara will be printing a newsletter before the end of the month. If you have news to share, please let her know.
