Good Friday, March 29, 2024

 

Hymn       There is a Green Hill Far Away #152VU

Scripture Lessons:      Isaiah 52:13-53:12

                                    Psalm 22:1-22 p. 744-5VU, parts 1,2

                                    Mark 15:25-39

Message

Prayer:  Gracious God of grief and suffering, this Friday seems ‘good’ for all the wrong reasons. Be with us in these hours as we pray under the shadow of the cross of Christ and hear again the story of Jesus’ death. This is not where we would choose to be, O God, brought face to face with this symbol of death and instrument of torture. 

   Forgive us, where we have sought to avoid such times: where we have ignored the cross or denied our own pain, or turned our backs on the suffering of others. 

    Strengthen us to be here today, that we may know the ways of the world, O God: you have been there; you are here; you have loved and cried and lived and died to be with us, to comfort us, to forgive us and to free us. For this we give thanks. This we call good. Amen ( from the United Church’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence) 

Hymn.       When I Survey the Wondrous Cross #149VU

Blessing: May you find in the cross a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven. And May the blessing of God go with you, now and forever more. Amen. ( also from Celebrate God’s Presence)

                                               ✝️                             ☦️                                 ✝️

This Sunday’s service will be a combined service held in Howick, as an Easter Communion Sunday, at 11am in the sanctuary. We will begin gathering at 10:30 for coffee and goodies. 

Next week we will be back to our normal worship schedule, with services at Ormstown at 9:30 (in the church) and in Howick at 11:00. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet this week, on Wednesday, April 3rd at 7:30pm in the hall. We will be deciding on the recommendation for Faithful Footprints as well as holding our monthly meeting. 

St Paul’s Session will meet on Wednesday, April 10th in the hall at 1pm. 

St Paul’s United Church will be holding a congregational meeting to discuss and decide on the application to Faithful Footprints. It will be held Sunday, April 14th following the Sunday service. 

Barbara will be away from April 15th to 21st for Cont Ed. Debbie Beattie will be leading the Sunday service. 

Michael Blair, the Executive Secretary of the General Council, will be in Montreal in May. He will be discussing the State of the Church: Leaning into God’s Future on Monday, May 6th from 3:30-5:00 at St George’s Anglican Church, 1011 Stanley St., Montreal. The convocations for Montreal Diocesan College and the United Theological College will follow at 7pm. This event will be free, but registration is requested, which can be done with the QR code on the poster or at montrealdio.ca/state-of-the-church. 

We continue to hold the family and friends of Ken Brooks who died last week.