Sunday, January 29, 2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

 This week is also a week for awareness of Islam and against Islamophobia, recalling the shooting in the Quebec City Mosque 6 years ago. We hold our Muslim brothers and sisters in our thoughts and prayers at this time of remembrance. 

We can also recognize that this Friday was Holocaust Remembrance Day as well, held on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. At this time when anti-semitism seems to be on the rise, it is even more important to remember. Hopefully we can be united in our grief and in our work for justice for all people. 

Hymn.       Blest Are the Pure in Heart 

   

Scripture Lessons:      Micah 6:1-8

                                    Psalm 15 p.736

                                    Matthew 5:1-12

Meditation 

Prayers:  Gracious God, you have commissioned us to make our common home a place of justice for all. In your generous love, you send rain on the righteous and the unrighteousness and, in Jesus, teach us to love without discrimination. We confess that we have failed to follow this teaching by: disrespecting our neighbours; spreading falsehoods through various social media; participating in the disruption of social harmony.  Our conduct risks making the world a barren field that no longer brings forth justice for all of creation. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and lead us to eternal life. Amen. 

We pray for those who live in the midst of injustice. Encourage us to lift up their voices and strength their hope. We pray for those who continue to perpetuate injustice. May your kindness fill our hearts and make us agents of freedom and peace. We pray for every institution and person who stands for justice. Let us act justly according to your words. Today we ask you: O God, hear our prayer and grant us your justice. 

We thank you for the many colours, cultures, and customs that we share in this world. In our differences, unite us by your love. Enable us to act together to uphold life and to make this world a just and peaceful household for all humanity. Today we ask you: O God, hear our prayer and grant us your peace. Amen. (a series of prayers from www.week of prayer.ca)

Hymn.     Blest Be the Tie that Binds.   #602 VU

   

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Franklin and 11:00 in Howick. 

Next Sunday Howick United Church will be holding its annual meeting in combination with the worship service. All members and adherents are invited to attend, to review what has been done in the past year and to look forward to the coming year. (The annual meetings for Franklin and Ormstown will also be held in combination with the worship service, on Sunday March 12th. In Franklin we will begin at 9am and in Ormstown at 11:00.)

We are planning to hold a Confirmation Class this year, either this winter or in the spring. Please let me know if there is someone who would like to take part and possibly join the church. Give me a call (450-829-3855) or send me an email (ormstownfranklin59@yahoo.ca) so we can begin making plans. 

Sunday, January 22, 2023 Third Sunday after Epiphany

 This Sunday is right in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The week begins on Wednesday, January 18th, the Feast of the Confession of St Peter to January 25th, The Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. This year’s theme is “Do Good, Seek Justice.”  During this week we pray for more understanding and cooperation between churches, and also between people of other faiths as well. 

Hymn        When Morning Gilds the Skies #339

Scripture Lessons:      Isaiah 9:1-4

                                    Psalm 27:1,4-9 p. 754VU

                                    I Corinthians 1:10-18

Meditation 

Prayer: O Lord our God, listening to us here, you accept also the prayers of our sisters and brothers in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas and Europe. 

    We are all one in prayer. So May we, as one, rightly carry out your commission to witness and to love in the church and throughout the world. Accept our prayers graciously, even when they are somewhat strange. They are offered in Jesus’ name. Amen. (a prayer from the church in Ghana and printed in the Iona Community’s A Wee Worship Book, the 4th incarnation)

We pray for the visible unity of the Church. 

Lead us to fulfill Jesus’ prayer that we may be one and work together to manifest your Kingdom. 

Today we ask you: O God, hear our prayer and grant us passion for unity. Amen. ( from resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) 

Hymn      Jesus, United by Thy Grace #591

The dates for our annual meetings for all three congregations have now been set. For Howick, the date will be Sunday, February 5th in combination with the service, beginning at 11:00. For Franklin and St Paul’s, the date will be Sunday, March 12th, in combination with the worship service, beginning at 9:30 and 11:00 respectively. The time has come for reports to be turned in for the annual report. The deadline is January 29th. 

St Paul’s Stewards will be meeting on Wednesday, January 25th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

We are hoping to offer a Confirmation Class this year. If you know of someone who might be interested in participating, please let them or Barbara know. The classes might be offered during the winter or spring, hopefully in person, but possibly partly on Zoom as well. Those interested could contact Barbara by phone or email. 

Sunday, January 15, 2023 The Second Sunday of Epiphany

 Did you know that this weekend is Martin Luther King Junior Weekend and that tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day in the US? Maybe reflecting on his life and ministry may bring inspiration on how to be God’s servants in the world today. 

Hymn.      You Servants of God #342

Scripture Lessons:        Isaiah 42:1-6

                                      Psalm 40:1-11 p.764VU

                                      John 1:29-42

Hymn.      Just As I Am #508 VU

Mediation 

Prayer: Through human lips, Christ is speaking.

Through human hands,  grist is healing. 

Through our hearts, Christ is loving. 

Through us all, Christ is working. 

So we behold the truth: God is living, loving, speaking and healing through Christ our Saviour. Amen 

(written by Richard Becher and printed inSeeing Christ in Others edited by Geoffrey Duncan)

Hymn.      Songs of Thankfulness and Praise #101

Howick United Church has set the date for their annual meeting for this year. It has been set for February 5th, during the 11:00 service. Please get your annual reports in to Wilene  as soon as possible so the reports can be printed and distributed as soon as possible. 

Annual reports are also being prepared for the Franklin and Ormstown congregations. Deadlines for these reports is January 29th. 

St Paul’s Session will meet on Wednesday, January 18th in the hall at 1pm. 

St Paul’s Stewards’ meeting will be delayed for a week, until Wednesday, January 25th at 7:30 pm in the hall. 

Anyone interested in a Confirmation Class this year? It could be held this winter, during Lent, or later this spring. We can do it in person, on Zoom or perhaps a combination of the two. Please let me know if you are interested and what might work best for you. 

Sunday January 8, 2023 Epiphany Sunday

 

Hymn.     Angels from the Realms of Glory #36VU

Scripture Lessons:      Isaiah 60:1-6

                                    Psalm 72 p. 790VU

                                    Matthew 2:1-12

Hymn        What Child is This   #74VU

Meditation 

Prayer:  We give you thanks, O God, for those who believed Jesus to be your Promised One. We thank you for Mary, who praised your name because you chose her as mother of the Christ. We thank you for sages who were led from the East by signs in the sky to greet the holy birth. We give you thanks for John, who bore witness to Jesus. Most of all, we give thanks that when Jesus was baptized, you showed your affirmation of Jesus as your beloved child and servant. 

      Through the word of many witnesses, we too name Jesus as our Christ and Saviour, our Light and Life. Shine in our hearts through the light of Christ that we may be signs of your presence on earth, making peace and doing justice. May your people be a light to the nations, through Jesus, your faithful servant. Amen. (a prayer from the Book of Worship of the United Church of Christ published in 1986).

Hymn       The First Nowell #91

As we begin a new year and a new season, Epiphany, may you know God’s blessings. 

Also, as we begin a new year, we will be collecting the reports for our annual report for last year, 2022.  We will need them by the end of the month. 

This Sunday’s services will be held in Ormstown at 9:30am in the hall and in Howick at 11:00.

Howick United Church’s Board of Stewards will be meeting on Tuesday, January 10th at 7pm in the church hall.