This Sunday is also being observed as Earth Sunday, when we give thanks to God for the world in which we live, and committing to be faithful stewards of it.
Wednesday was also Genocide Awareness Day, and we recall the genocides of the past, learn the lessons we can, and seek to prevent genocides of the future.
Hymn All Creatures of our God and King #217VU
Scripture Lessons: Revelation 1:4-8
Psalm 150 p. 875VU
John 20:19-31
Hymn. The Strife is O’er #159
Message
Prayer: God of renewal and new life, like the first snowdrops of spring, help us to be harbingers of a new beginning, filled with light and warmth and love.
Like the yellow daffodils, help us to bring joy to all that see us.
Like the many-coloured tulips, help us meet different needs for different people, doing what we can to bring hope and peace.
God of renewal and new life, may your spring come soon, and may we help usher it in. Amen. ( a prayer from the United Church’s Philanthropy Department)
Hymn. Christ the Lord is Risen Today #157
This week’s services will be Ormstown at 9:30 and Howick at 11:00.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Marjorie Coffin, who died earlier this past week.
The Confirmation Class will begin to meet again on Monday, April 28th at 4pm in the hall in Ormstown.
Prayer: O God, we celebrate this wonderful day! Jesus has shown us that your love and your way are more powerful than the forces of evil in our world. You have shown us that life cannot be defeated by death, and through faith in you we do not have to fear. We thank you and praise you as we celebrate Jesus alive again and with us forever. Amen. (a prayer from Seasons of the Spirit, 2007)
Scripture Lessons: Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:14-24 p.837VU parts 2 & 3
Luke 24:1-12
Hymn Welcome Happy Morning
Message
Prayer: For the life of Jesus which brings us new life, let us give thanks to God.
For the death of Jesus, which shares the power of death, let us give thanks to God.
For the resurrection of Jesus, which brings us hope in all things, let us give thanks to God.
For the life of the church, sharing the Good News in word and deed, let us give thanks to God.
For our new life in Christ, moving us to acts of courage and compassion, let us give thanks to God.
On this Easter Day, let us lift our voices in thanksgiving. Let us give thanks to our God. Amen.
( a prayer written by Frances Flook and printed in Gathering, L/E 2013.)
Hymn Jesus Christ is Risen Today #155
This Sunday’s services will be Easter Sunday services with Communion in Howick at 9:30 and in Ormstown at 11:00.
We continue to hold the families and friends of Jean Templeton and Mary Greer in our thoughts and prayers following their memorial services this weekend.
The Confirmation Class will not meet this week, but will begin again next Monday at 4:00 in the hall in Ormstown.
The deadline for renewing a subscription to Broadview (the United Church’s general interest magazine) is coming up! If you would like to start or renew your subscription, the cost is $30 for the year. Please let Wilene Cullen you would like this, and get your name, address, and payment to her by April 27th. Payment may be made in cash, cheque, or by e-transfer.
Prayer: Holy God, who has opened our ears to hear your Word and our lips to proclaim your truth:
open our eyes this day to see n the cross the revelation of your love; through Jesus the Crucified, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, be honour and praise, now and forever. Amen. (from the United Church’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence)
Scripture Lessons: Isaiah 52:13-53-12
Psalm 22:1-22
Luke 23:36-5
Hymn
Message
Prayer: Jesus Christ, may your death be my life and in your dying may I learn how to live.
May your struggles be my rest, your human weakness be my courage,
Your humiliation be my honour, your passion be my delight, your sadness be my joy,
In your shame may I be exalted. In a word, may I find all my blessings in your trials. Amen.
( a prayer written by Peter Faber and printed in Taste and See, edited by Jacqueline Syrup Bergan and S. Marie Schwan.)
Hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross #149
We will be holding Easter Sunday services with Communion in Howick at 9:30 and in Ormtown at 11:00.
This Saturday Jewish families will be preparing to celebrate Passover. May this truly be a time of celebration and joy.🙏🏽
Hymn. All Glory, Laud, and Honour #122
Scripture Lessons: Philippians 2:5-11
Psalm 118:19-29
Luke 19:28-40
Hymn. Hosanna Loud Hosanna #123VU
Message
Prayer: Living God, Jesus suffered with all humanity because he became “like human beings” (Philippians 2:7). He died on the cross because someone like Jesus who confronts injustice, heals the sick, breaks the chains of oppression, feeds the hungry, and loves his sisters and brothers so fully always makes enemies of tyrants and bigots, people filled with hate. The forces of evil cannot tolerate such good ness. Cleanse my soul and will of all that is destructive, so that I can love as Jesus did, even if it means that I too will suffer for it. I know from Christ that death will not have the last word. Bring me to the glorious Resurrection, the true victory of the cross. Amen. (from “The Cross” in taste and See by Jacqueline Syrup Bergan and S. Marie Schwan.)
Hymn Ride On, Ride On, in Majesty #127VU
This Sunday is Palm (or Passion) Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. Services will be held in both Howick at 9:30 and Ormstown at 11:00. In Ormstown there will also be craft activities for families.
There will be an extra blog this coming week, for Good Friday, as well as Easter Sunday.
Next Sunday we will be celebrating Easter Sunday with Communion. The services will be the same times: 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown.
We hold the family and friends of Brian Smith in our thoughts and prayers following his death last week.
We hold the family and friends of Jean Templeton in our thoughts and prayers, following her death last Sunday. A service to remember and celebrate her life will be held on Friday, April 18th at 2:00 in Howick United Church. Visitation will also be held at the church, from 1:00. A reception will follow the service.
We hold the family and friends of Mary Greer in our thoughts and prayers following her death on Thursday. Plans have now been made: there will be visitation on Friday night and the funeral service celebrating Mary’s life will be held Saturday, April 19th at 2pm.
The Confirmation classes will begin on this Monday and will be held on Monday afternoons 4-5:15pm at the hall in Ormstown.
Nakonhaka Regional Council is inviting applications for bursaries for post-secondary education from confirmed members of the United Church. The applications are available on the website, nakonhaka.ca, or from Barbara. The deadline for applying is June 2nd.
This Friday, April 4th was World Refugee Day. We can take some time to reflect on whether these times of uncertainty make us more or less inclined to be welcoming to others.
Hymn Beneath the Cross of Jesus #135
Scripture Lessons: Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126 p.850VU
John 12:1-8
Message
Prayer: O God, sometimes life’s events call for extravagance and sometimes for restraint. Sometimes they call for thrift and other times they call for abandon. Help us in our discernment so that we can respond to life’s events in the way that are both faithful and life-giving, ways that show others and ourselves that you are present in all events even if we cannot feel you there. Show us your way to share your love. Amen. ( a prayer written by Catherine Tovell of Kilworth UC in London ON and printed in Gathering L/E 2025, slightly adapted.)
Hymn Take My Life and Let it Be #506
This Sunday’s services will be Ormstown at 9:30 and Howick at 11:00. Howick will also offer craft activities for families. Ormstown’s worship services will return to the church this week.
Howick UCW will meet next Wednesday, April 9th at 7pm. The subject for discussion will be technology. You are invited to bring your devices, if possible, so we can try out the solutions we find for each other.
St Paul’s Session will meet Wednesday, April 9th at 1pm in the hall, to plan and prepare for Holy Week and Easter.
Next Sunday, April 13th will be Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. There will be services in Howick at 9:30 and Ormstown at 11:00. There will be craft activities for families in St Paul’s as well.
There will be an extra blog for Good Friday, April 18th, as well.
Easter Sunday, April 20th there will be Easter Sunday services with Communion, in Howick at 9:30 and in Ormstown at 11:00.
Nakonhaka Regional Council is inviting applications for the IFE and Hugh Duncan bursaries for postsecondary students. Applications are available from the website, Nakonhaka.ca, and the deadline for applying is June 2nd.
Prayer: Blessed are you who don’t have all the right answers.
You who say “I don’t know” because i’s the best response for now.
You who lean in, unafraid to learn, change, be wrong along the way.
Blessed are you, stretched and pressed and pulled
By the uncertainty, deciding to not to stay the same,
We are not who we were.
We have been pulled into the unknown without our permission.
But the challenge is the same: reveal Truth with love amid chaos.
Blessed are you who realize that community can help see truth more fully.
Being fragile amid a world of hammers takes courage
To be wrong, to learn something new, to choose humility and kindness
Over being right.
May we be people who don’t have it all together
(And who are done posturing).
Curious, hopeful, courageous. (Written by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie printed in The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days.)
Hymn Amazing Grace #266 VU
This Sunday’s service will be a combined service in Howick. The service will begin at 11:00, with coffee and more beginning at 10:30.
Congratulations to Dustin and Liz who have welcomed a new daughter, Eloise, this past week.
Next Sunday Howick United Church will be offering craft activities for families on Sunday, April 6th at the 11:00 service.
In Ormstown, there will be craft activities offered at the Palm Sunday service, Sunday, April 13th at 11am.
On Easter Sunday, there will be Easter Sunday services with Communion in both congregations, 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown.
Nakonhaka Regional Council is inviting applications for bursaries for postsecondary education (IFE bursaries for college level and Hugh Duncan bursaries for university level) for confirmed members of the United Church of Canada. Applications are available on the RC website, nakonhaka.ca and the deadline for applying is June 2, 2025.
There will be an online Cross Canada Check-in with the Rev. Michael Blair and members of the General Council Executive on Wednesday, April 2nd at 6pm. Registration is available through CHURCHx (churchx.ca).
This is also the first Sunday in spring for this year! As we watch and wait for signs of new life around us, let us also hear the call to repentance and renewal we find in our faith.
Hymn Let Us with a Gladsome Mind #234VU
Scripture Lessons: Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8 p. 781 VU
Luke 13:1-9
Hymn I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Message
Prayers God, with Lent we approach the springtime of the year when the face of the earth is renewed and life emerges out of death.
We pray that this season of Lent may be a true springtime for our souls, so that our lives, quickened by the breadth of the Spirit and warmed by the sunshine of your love, may bear abundant fruit and be made radiant with the beauty of holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ( a prayer written by Frank Colquhoun and printed in Contemporary Parish Prayers.)
Hymn Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life #681VU
This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. Next Sunday we will hold a combined service in Howick at 11:00, with coffee and goodies starting at about 10:30.
Copies of both the newsletter and the annual report are now available. Let us know if you would like to receive a copy.
Howick Stewards will meet on Tuesday, March 25th at 7pm in the church hall.
Nakonhaka Regional Council is inviting applications from post-secondary students for the Hugh Duncan and IFE bursaries. Students must be confirmed members of the United Church of Canada. The application deadline is June 2, 2025 and applications are available from the Nakonhaka Regional Council website, nakonhaka.ca. Or you can request a copy from Barbara, she will be happy to provide a copy.
There will be an online cross-Canada check-in to be held with the GeneralSecretary of the General Council Executive, The Rev. Michael Blair and other members of the General Council Executive, on April 2nd at 6pm. Registration is available through CHURCHx (churchx.ca).
