Sunday, March 19, 2023 The Fourth Sunday of Lent

 This past week we will have marked St Patrick’s Day and this coming week will be the official start of spring (we will see!) and also World Water Day when we consider the use and the conservation of a very precious resource, water. 

Hymn.       Open My Eyes #371VU

Prayer:  Loving God, radiance of our lives, you are the light to our darkness, hope to our despair, promise to our dreams. Gift our lives with an unfolding awareness of your life within us. Let us live in the joyful surprise of your transforming work, continually creating us anew, birthing through us, Christ to the world. Amen. (a prayer from Jacqueline Syrup Bergan and S. Marie Schwan’s Taste and See.)

Scripture Lessons:      I Samuel 16:1-13

                                    Psalm 23 p. 749VU

                                     John 9:1-41

Hymn       The Lord’s My Shepherd #747VU

Meditation 

Prayer:  O God, source of love and compassion, in the sufferings of all your children, we offer our compassion also for the hungry, and the sick in body, mind, or heart, the depressed and the lonely, all living in fear and under stress, all stricken in grief, the unemployed and the rejected, and those burning with hatred. 

Strengthen us to work for their healing and inspire us to build with you the kingdom of love where none shall cause suffering to others and all be caring, loving children of yours, our compassionate, all-embracing God, ever present, ever loving, never failing. Amen. (adapted from a prayer by George Appleton and printed in With All God’s People from the WCC, compiled by John Carden) 

Hymn.      He Leadeth Me #657VU

We hold in our thoughts and prayers the families and friends of Robert Ness and Myrna Rees who died this past week. 

We have also deeply saddened by the news of the death of Jade Ouellette who died this week. We pray for her family and friends in this very difficult time. 

Unit C of Howick United Church is offering a bread sale to members of the congregation and the community. The deadline for ordering is April 15th and the bread will be delivered on Wednesday, April 26th. Orders may be made through members of Unit C or on the form in the church. 

The Confirmation Classes are continuing to meet on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:30pm in the hall in Ormstown. 

St Paul’s Session will be meeting this Wednesday, March 22nd at 1:00 in the church hall. 

St Paul’s Stewards have decided to cancel their meeting for this month. They will be meeting again on April 19th. 

A reminder for those who may make donations to Howick United Church by e-transfer: the email address to be used for this has changed to howickunitedchurch@gmail.com. 

Best wishes to Merging Waters Pastoral Charge (Union Church Ste Anne’s and Beaurepaire United Church) as they mark the beginning of the new ministry that they will be sharing with Lisa Byer-deWever. 

Sunday, March 12, 2023 The Third Sunday of Lent

 This week we marked International Womens’s Day, recalling the many gifts and contributions women bring to our community, giving thanks for them, and praying for justice, peace, and equality for all women all around the world. Next Tuesday March 14th (3.14) is PIE Day (Public, Intentional and Explicit) offering support to congregations who are affirming and welcoming to LGBTQ+ members. The Moderator of the United Church has posted a message on the website and on the church’s YouTube channel. 

Hymn.      Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah #651VU

Prayer:  Gracious God, may your love, like water, pour over our thirsty spirits, cleansing, refreshing, renewing us. Be present as we seek to know you, to love you, and to respond to your unconditional love for us. Amen. (a prayer from Jacqueline Syrup Bergman and S. Marie Schwan’s Taste and See)

Scripture Lessons:     Exodus 17: 1-7

                                   Psalm 95 p.814VU

                                   John 4:5-42

Meditation 

Prayer: God our Mother, Living Water, River of Mercy, Source of Life, in whom we live and move and have our being, who quenches our thirst, refreshes our weariness, bathes and washes and cleanses our wounds, be for us always a fountain of life, and for all the world a river of hope springing up in the midst of the deserts of despair. Honour and blessing, glory and praise to you forever. Amen. (a prayer from Miriam Therese Winter’s Woman Prayer Woman Song)

Hymn.     I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say #626VU

The Stewards of Howick United Church will be meeting March 14th at 7pm in the hall. 

The Session and Stewards of St Paul’s United Church have delayed their meetings until next week, March 22nd. 

Howick UCW (unit C) will be holding a fundraiser, a sale of a selection of Grant’s bread (white, whole wheat, Canadian Harvest, Austrian, molasses oatmeal, farmer’s rolls, raisin bread, and pizza crusts). Orders need to be handed in by Saturday, April 15th and delivery will be on Wednesday, April 26th between 12 and 2 in the church hall. Members of Unit C can take your order. Your support would be greatly appreciated! 

The Confirmation Class will be meeting this week, on Wednesday night in the hall in Ormstown, from 6:30-7:30pm. 

Howick United Church is planning a Pancake Luncheon for Sunday, March 26th following the Sunday service. All welcome to come and join in the fun. A free will offering will be taken to try to cover the costs.

Please mark your calendars: a memorial tea will be held Sunday, April 30th from 2-4pm in the hall in Howick United Church to remember and to give thanks for the life of Marjorie Templeton. 

Sunday, March 5, 2023 The Second Sunday of Lent

 

Hymn      Unto the Hills #842VU

Prayer:  Creator God, from quark to planet your universe is awesome. 

Give us eyes to gape at the wonders daily about us, 

And the will to live in the harmony of your creating. 

Help us to recognize and honour the connections of all things, 

Even at cost to our own wants and comforts; 

So we may live gently on earth, 

And all creation praise you. ( a prayer by Chris Polhill and published in the Iona Community’s Lenten worship resource, Eggs and Ashes, edited by Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill)

Scripture Lessons:   Genesis 12:1-4

                                 Psalm 121 p.842VU

                                 John 3:1-17

Meditation 

Prayer:  By the prayers of Jesus, Lord teach us how to pray. 

By the gifts of Jesus, Lord, teach us how to give. 

By the the toils of Jesus, Lord, teach us how to work. 

By the love of Jesus, Lord, teach us how to love. 

By the cross of Jesus, Lord, teach us how to live. Amen. (printed in Frank Colquhoun’s Contemporary Parish Prayers) 

Hymn      I Love to Tell the Story #343

Next Sunday will be the combined service and annual meeting in both Franklin and Ormstown. Franklin’s service will begin at 9am and Ormstown’s at 11:00 in the hall. Annual reports are available for those who have not yet received one. 

Upcoming Events in Howick:  Stewards meeting Tuesday, March 14th 7pm in the church hall. 

Pancake Luncheon following the 11am Sunday service March 26th 

A Memorial Tea held for Marjorie Templeton Sunday April 30th, 2-4pm, in the church hall. 

Please mark your calendars! 

The Confirmation Classes have begun on Wednesday evening from 6:30-7:30pm in the hall in Ormstown. We will be beginning again after March Break, on March 15th.