Sunday, October 1, 2023 The Fourth Sunday of Creation

 This weekend our country marks National Truth and Reconciliation Day, (also known as Orange Shirt Day) remembering and repenting the damage and injustice that many policies, including residential schools, did to the indigenous peoples of this country. 

Hymn       When Morning Gilds the Skies #339VU

Scripture Lessons:     Exodus 17:1-7

                                   Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 p.792VU

                                   Philippians 2:1-13

Mediation 

Prayer: Powerful Christ, we are grateful that you came to us as a child, who grew out of a community that nurtured, supported, and taught you the way of your ancestors. 

You have asked us to do the same: to treat each child as we would treat you, to love every person as you have loved us. 

  We are grateful that your power is rooted in love, not force; your strength is displayed through community not might. You have taught us to work toward a better world where all of creation thrives, and where every child matters. 

   On this Orange Shirt Day, we remember Phyllis Webstad as a child, and the stolen childhood of all children forcibly raised by church-run institutions, known as residential schools. We lament how these institutions stole from children the opportunity to grow in a safe and loving environment, stole from the Elders the opportunity to share their teachings and wisdom with younger generations; and stole from communities the opportunity to live intergenerationally. 

   We mourn the children who never made it home, the communities that were destroyed, the broken hearts, the stories never shared, and the shattered relationships. 

   We ask that you provide comfort to all who are seeking healing and who daily wrestle with the ongoing harmful legacy of these colonial institutions, strength to all who name how colonial powers have harmed us as a people’s and as a nation: often at great personal cost, and courage to all who are working toward reconciliation. 

   Christ Child, as you grew you reminded us to always welcome and care for children.

 We remember your children today.

 We lament and acknowledge the sinful ways that colonial powers tried to eradicate indigenous cultures within Canada, breaking indigenous families, removing children from their homes while destroying communities. And we pray for healing, so that we who live together in this country can also work together to build a better future where all children are cherished, beloved, and given what they need to thrive. 

   So that we may treat all children as we would treat you, our Beloved. May it be so. Amen. ( a prayer of the United Church of Canada)

Hymn      All the Way My Saviour Leads Me #635

This week there will be no morning service in Howick, to allow members to attend the 200th anniversary celebration in Georgetown Presbyterian Church, beginning at 10:30am. There will be a service in Ormstown beginning at 9:30am, but it will be a shorter service for the same reason. There will also be some craft activities for children offered at the same time.

Unit C of Howick’s UCW will be gathering for dinner out this coming week, on October 5th. Location to be determined. Keep in touch! 

There will be a memorial gathering in honour of Donald and Rosemary Hooker held Saturday, October 7th from 1:30-4:30 in the hall in Ormstown. All are welcome to come and to share your stories and your memories of Don and Rosemary with their family. 

Next Sunday will be Thanksgiving Sunday, and there will be services in all three of our congregations: 9:30 in Franklin, 11:00 in Ormstown, where there will also be a collection of food for the food bank, and also 11:00 in Howick led by Debbie Beattie. 

There will be a town hall meeting for rural congregations and communities in the Nakonhaka Regional Council to be held on Zoom October 12th at 7pm. This is part of a consultation process to set priorities for our region for the coming years. If you would like to participate, please let Barbara know and she will forward you the link. (There will also be other meetings held for intercultural communities and an in person meeting in the city on Tuesday, October 3rd at 7pm at Wesley United Church, 5964 Ave. Norte-Dame-de-Grace, Montreal.) 

For those who would like to attend an information session on Zoom concerning the remit sent to our congregations by the General Council, on creating an autonomous and independent Indigenous church, one will be held this coming week October 4th at 7pm. Please let Barbara know you are interested and she will send you the link. 

There will be a congregational meeting held in Howick to inform the congregation about the Stewards work on an application for Faithful Footprints, an ecological program for United Church buildings. It will follow the 11:00 service on Sunday, October 22nd. 

There will be a combined service for our three congregations held Sunday, October 29th in Franklin beginning at 11:00. There will be a time of fellowship preceding the service with coffee etc and snacks provided.