Sunday, May 19, 2023 Pentecost Sunday

 

Hymn      As Comes the Breath of Spring #373

Scripture Lessons:       Ezekiel 37:1-14

                                     Psalm 104:24-34, 35b p. p.827VU, pt 2

                                     Acts 2:1-21

Message

Prayer: May the enthusiasm of the Spirit leap incessantly within you and help you to live a vibrant life. 

May the warmth of Spirit’s fire be extended through your concern and care for all those who need your love. 

May the blaze of Spirit’s courage enable you to speak the truth and to stand up for respect, dignity, and justice. 

May the undying embers of Spirit’s faithfulness support you when you feel spiritually dry and empty. 

May the strength of Spirit’s love sustain your hope as you enter the pain of our world. 

May the clear light of Spirit’s guidance be a source of effective discernment and decision-making for you. 

May Spirit’s patient endurance be yours while you wait for what is unknown to be revealed. 

May the steady flame of Spirit’s goodness within you convince you every day of the power of your presence with others. 

May the joyful fire of Spirit dance within you and set happiness ablaze in your life. 

May the spark of your relationship with Spirit catch fire in the hearts of those with whom you live and work. 

May you be mindful of the Eternal Flame within you. May you rely on this Source of Love to be your constant ally and steady guide. (a blessing for Pentecost by Joyce Rupp, published in Out of the Ordinary.) 

Hymn       Breathe on Me Breath of God #382

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. We will be celebrating Pentecost, one of the great festivals of the church calendar. 

On Monday, May 20th members of the Howick UCW are invited to come to help cleanup the kitchen after the renovations. We are in the home stretch now! 

On Wednesday, May 22nd a pilgrimage to Ottawa is being held to call for a fair and sustainable peace in the Middle East, with a number of leaders of national churches. Members of this regional council are invited to participate. 

Next weekend the Regional Council will be meeting and will also hold a Celebration of Ministry service at Montreal West United Church on Friday May 24th. Beryl Barraclough will be ordained at this service. If there are those who would wish to attend, you are requested to register so the planners will know how many people to expect. The service will also be available online. 

The deadline for applying for the Hugh Duncan and IFE bursaries is approaching. These bursaries are for university and college students who are confirmed members of the United Church of Canada. The deadline is June 2, 2024 and is available in our churches, on the regional council website (nakonhaka.ucc.ca) or from Barbara. 

On Sunday, June 2nd Howick United Church will be holding its anniversary celebration, and will be followed by a lunch. Debbie Beattie will be present as well, so we can say our “Thank yous” to her. 

On Fair Sunday, June 9th there will be no Sunday service in Howick. There will be services in Franklin (9:30) and Ormstown (11:00).

Nakonhaka Regional Council will be offering a workshop on worship on Saturday, June 8th, from 9-4:00 at Cedar Park United Church in Pointe Claire. If you wish to attend, you are asked to register so the planners can prepare properly. 

On Sunday, June 9th at 4pm the United Church of Canada will be holding a special pre-centennial celebration to kick off our preparations for our centennial in 2025, at Metropolitan United Church in Toronto. This service will also be available online on the United Church’s YouTube channel. 

Sunday, May 12, 2024 Christian Family Sunday

 

Hymn.     Praise My Soul the God of Heaven #240

Scripture Lessons:       Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

                                     Psalm 1 p.724VU

                                     John 17:6-19

Message: 

Prayer:  Today, O God, on this Christian Family Sunday, we give thanks and we pray for families. We thank you for families rooted in love, where character is formed and values are learned, where lives are filled with hopefulness and laughter. We acknowledge that families can disappoint us. People fight; people hurt one another. Forgive us, gracious God. Where there is pain, resentment, or bitterness, enter with your healing love. Open our hearts to families who suffer abuse and violence. Increase our compassion towards all with painful memories. We pray with hope that all families may be a source of blessing and abundant life. Amen. (a prayer written by Ted Dodd, from the United Church’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence, slightly adapted) 

Hymn.       For the Beauty of the Earth #226

This Sunday there will be services in all three of our services, 9:30 in Franklin, 11:00 in Ormstown, and 11:00 in Howick with Debbie Beattie. 

St Paul’s in Ormstown will be offering a craft activity day this Sunday, May 12, for children and families. All welcome to participate. This will take place in the sanctuary during the 11:00 service. 

The Franklin Joint Board is called to meet at 9:00 to discuss plans for the closing of the church on Sunday, May 26th, at 9:00 before the 9:30 service. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council is inviting applications for the Hugh Duncan and IFE bursaries for college and university students, who are confirmed members of the United Church. Copies of the application form are available in our churches, on the council website (nakonhaka.ucc.ca) and from Barbara. The deadline for applying is June 2nd. 

Next Sunday will be Pentecost Sunday. The Moderator has prepared a Pentecost message for the church which can be seen on the United Church’s website (united-church.ca), on Facebook, and on the United Church’s YouTube channel. Take a look and a listen! 

I am hoping to produce a newsletter for next Sunday. If anyone has any news to include, please let me know. 

Registrations are now being received for Rendezvous-Vous 2024, which is a gathering for Young Adults, which takes place July 3-6 at Brock University in Ste Catherine’s ON. The theme is Audacious Hope and there is some help for travel costs available. 

Congratulations to the UCC graduates from the United Theological College, Marie Silvenie and Adedeji Akintayo, who received their testamurs at the Convocation celebration this past week. 

Sunday, May 5, 2024 The Sixth Sunday of Easter

 

Hymn.       Joyful Joyful We Adore You

Scripture Lessons:       I John 5:1-6

                                     Psalm 98 p. 818VU

                                     John 15:9-17

Message

Prayer:  O God, hear our prayer:  breathe kites high into blue skies, Sow bright mirth into circles of friends, embroider brilliance into stars of night, and teach us how to joy. 

Paint the air with lilac’s fragrance, feast the earth with gentle rain, clothe each creature with a whimsy, and teach us how yo joy, 

Dance the seasons with new colour, caress each face into a smile, splash creation with your laughter, and teach us how to joy. (a prayer by Keri K. Wehlander, and printed in Joy is our Banquet.)

Hymn       Rejoice the Lord is King #213 VU

This Sunday’s services will be Ormstown at 9:30 and Howick at 11:00. 

Next Sunday in Ormstown there will be a craft activity for young people and families. It will take place at 11:00 in the sanctuary, along with the service. 

St Paul’s Session is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

The time has come to renew (or start a new) subscription to Broadview, the United Church’s magazine. The cost for a year’s subscription is $30 and the deadline for renewing us May 19th. Please let Wilene know if you wish to renew and you can pay your subscription by check, cash, or by e-transfer. If you are starting a new subscription, please give Wilene your name and address as well. 

Congratulations to Gordon and Thelma Lang, who have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past week! ( and also to Joanne Brown and Doug Lang who have welcomed a new grandchild into the family, Eliza who was born in Fredericton this week.)

Please let university and college students know of the Hugh Duncan and IFE bursaries that are available to confirmed members of the United Church through the Nakonhaka Regional Council. The deadline for applying is June 2, 2024 and the forms are available in the churches, on the council’s website (nakonhaka.ucc.ca) or from Barbara. 

Tomorrow, May 6th. Michael Blair, the Executive Secretary of the General Council will be speaking in Montreal, at St George’s Anglican Church, from 3:30-5:00. That evening the Convocation for the United Theological College and the Montreal Diocesan College will be held. 

Registration has now begun for Rendezvous 2024, an event for young adults in the church. It takes places July 3-6 at Brock University in Ste Catherine’s ON. More information is available on the United Church website ( united-church.ca) and the First Third Ministries (formerly Youth and Young Adults) will be holding an online information session on Tuesday, May 7th at 6:30pm.