Sunday, September 18, 2022 The Third Sunday of Creation

 

Hymn      Standing in the Need of Prayer 

Scripture Lessons:      Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

                                    Psalm 79:1-9

                                    I Timothy 2:1-7

Hymn       There is a Balm in Gilead     #612

Meditation

Prayer:  Look in your mercy, O God, upon the suffering of your world, and help those in trouble or distress, whether in mind or in body. And May our prayer not be made empty by our neglect but carry with our readiness to act as your servants; that the lonely and the sick, the anxious and the sorrowing whom we meet may find us eager to help for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (a prayer by Roger Pickering published in Frank Colquhoun’s Contemporary Parish Prayers.)

Holy God, We give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses: people whose lives we honour and cherish, 

people  who have taught us to live as best we can;

We give thanks for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 

who is now gathered among the faithful who go before us. 

May you bless and keep all who love and who will miss Queen Elizabeth. 

We pray especially for the Royal Family, all who held her closely in their hearts, and all who will shepherd nations of people in the grieving process. 

May you bless and keep the Commonwealth, and all who wrestle with the complexities of the monarchy and what Queen Elizabeth represents. 

We pray especially for those who continue to unpack the legacies of colonialism as we work towards right relations and reconciliation. 

We bring all this to you, while giving thanks for the life of Queen Elizabeth, and while celebrating your sovereignty over our hearts. Amen. ( a prayer offered from the United Church on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s death.)

Hymn       What a Friend We Have in Jesus #664

We hold the family and friends of Barbara Story in our thoughts and prayers, following her sudden death this past week. 

St Paul’s Session will be meeting Tuesday, September 20th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

St Paul’s Stewards will be meeting Wednesday, September 21st at 7:30pm in the hall. 

Howick United Church will be holding a fundraising concert on Saturday, October 15th at 7pm in the church. The concert will feature Fieldstone Reverie with Sammi Grace as well. Tickets will cost $20 and should be available shortly. Proceeds of the concert will be split between Howick United Church and I am Heshima. Your support will be greatly appreciated. 

FYI: the federal government has announced that it will be matching donations for Pakistan Relief to organizations that are part of the Humanitarian Coalition, including Canadian Food Grains Bank, Oxfam, Save the Children, and others. The deadline for matching donations is September 28th.