Sunday, February 4, 2024 The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

 February 2nd is not just Groundhog Day but it also known as Candlemas or the Presentation of Jesus, when we remember the story from the gospel of Luke when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple and met Simeon and Anna there. Candlemas is often observed by lighting candles as a sign of our welcome to Jesus, the Light of the World. So, whether the ground hog sees his shadow or not, we know there is light in the world! Let’s rejoice! 🕯️

Hymn.   When Morning Gilds the Skies #339VU

Prayer:  Maker of all that is, heaven and earth, known and unknown, birth and death and the sense of eternity: Giver of life, liver in life:  Words for you lift my spirit. Yet I am so small, my needs consume me. 

Hold my hand, encourage me to dance your dance to laugh with joy, surpassing all trouble and failure. 

Remind me of your beauty:  speechless  wonder    goodness:  light and darkness making light. 

Open to me your giving this day. Let me receive and trust myself into your hands. Amen. ( a prayer for the beginning of the day by the Rev. Neil Whitehouse and printed in Gathering ACE 2011-2.)

Scripture Lessons:       Isaiah 40:21-31

                                     Psalm 147:1-11 p.869VU pt 1

                                     Mark 1:29-39

Message

Prayer: God, in the midst, come close to us, and help us come close to you, as, for a fraction of time, we step back from the activities of the day. 

May we treasure such moments with you. Moments when we can bring to you the things we are doing, and find new meaning for them, and new strength for doing them. 

And moments for recalling how we are meeting you already, in the stuff of daily living and engagement, when faith is tested and compassion is translated into action. 

So, if as the day goes on, we forget you, do not forget us, O God. Amen. (a prayer from the Iona Community’s Iona Abbey Worship Book.)

Hymn.       What a Friend We Have in Jesus #664VU

This Sunday’s services will be held at 9:39 in Ormstown and at 11:00 in Howick. 

We want to say “thank you” to the Nakonhaka Regional Council who has provided the Ormstown and Howick congregations with copies of the newly translated Mohawk Bible. 

Unit C of the Howick United Church will meet on Wednesday, February 7th at 7pm in the church hall. 

The annual meeting of the Howick United Church will be held Sunday, March 3rd, during the 11:00 service time. ( Please note that this is a change from what may have been announced before, as our plans have changed.)

The Official Board of the Ormstown Pastoral Charge will be held on Wednesday, February 21st at 1:30pm. 

The annual meetings for Franklin and St Paul’s United Church will be held on Sunday, March 10th. In Franklin we will begin at 9am and in Ormstown at 11:00 in the hall.