Sunday, March 13, 2022 The Second Sunday of Lent

 Hope your International Women’s Day was happy! Now we are looking forward to St Patrick’s Day! 🍀

Hymn     Stand Up and Bless the Lord

Prayer:  Gracious God, you call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship. Help us to understand and accept the costs of following Christ, that we may know the joy you intend for the faithful. Make us lifelong learners in the school of faithfulness, through Jesus Christ. Amen. ( a prayer by Ruth C. Duck and published in Flames of the Spirit)

Scripture Lessons:     Philippians 3:17-4:1

                                   Psalm 27 p.754-5

                                   Luke 13:31-35

Meditation 

Prayer:  O God, you gather us; your outspread wings gather us for protection, for comfort, for nurture. You hold us close, and we are at rest. May we too, gather in all those in need of protection and comfort, nurture and rest. May we spread our wings of caring. 

O God, you invite us to return. Your wings offer a warm place a home that is a place of love and compassion. May we return to this home: a place we can be still, a place we feel your gentle touch. 

O God, you comfort us. With your loving wings holding us close, we know ourselves to be loved by you. May we in turn offer comfort, holding close those in need— those who hear for the first time: God is love. 

O God, on your wings we soar. We live in your energy and spirit. You renew us; you encourage and strengthen. May we in turn encourage and strengthen. May our strong wings uphold others that together we may soar unafraid. Amen. ( a prayer by Rosemary C. Mitchell and adapted and published in Birthings and Blessings II)

Hymn       Standing on the Promises

The United Church has launched a special appeal for Ukraine. You can contribute online, through the United Church’s website, by phone with a credit card, or by mail. Howick United Church at its annual meeting has chosen to support Ukrainians through the Red Cross from the Outreach Fund, because the funds will be doubled by the federal government. (though I see that the 10 million has now been matched and the offer is complete.) 

This Sunday, March 13th, Franklin will be holding its annual meeting, beginning at 9am. St Paul’s in Ormstown will be holding its annual meeting, in combination with the Sunday service, March 20th, beginning at 11am. We will be reviewing both the years 2020 and 2021. Annual reports will be available at the meeting. 

Howick United Church will be holding a Session meeting on Tuesday, March 15th at 7pm in the church. 

St Paul’s United Church (Ormstown) will hold a Stewards meeting Wednesday, March 16th at 7:30 pm in the hall.