This Sunday is our final Sunday for the blog until August. I will be taking vacation time and I hope you will be enjoying some rest and recreation as well. This Sunday is also the day for our final service in Franklin United Church. Please join us if you can, at 11am.
Hymn O Day of Rest and Gladness
Scripture Lessons: Mark 1:35-39
Psalm 130 (p.853VU)
Mark 2:23-3:6
Message
Prayer: Generous and loving God, we thank you for your blessings without number. We bless you for the beauty of creation: for day and night, for summer and winter; for sun and rain, for seed-time and harvest; for your bounty supplying all our needs.
We bless you for protecting us in our weakness, and renewing our strength of spirit; for guiding us as we resist evil, and calling us to your truth, and to your service.
We praise you for sending Jesus to be among us: for his life on earth, his sufferings and death, for his resurrection to new life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Grant, O God, that our hearts may grow in thankfulness for these and all your gifts of grace, so that as the people of new life, we may proclaim your praise; in Jesus’ name. Amen. (from Voices United, Daily Prayer for morning.)
Hymn I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say #626
This week we will be holding a single combined service for our three congregations, which will be held in Franklin United Church at 11am. There will be a lunch offered after the service. This will be Franklin’s final worship service. Please join us if you can.
Congratulations to all the graduates! Well done! 👨🎓👩🏻🎓
Thanks for the support for St Paul’s Strawberry Shortcake Takeout, which was held on Thursday. You support is greatly appreciated.
Following this Sunday’s service, Barbara will start her vacation. She will be back in the office no later than August 1st. We will back to worship (and the blog will appear again) on August 4th. The worship schedule will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick that Sunday.
Happy birthday to Bill Templeton who is celebrating his 90th birthday this Saturday, June 29th at his home in Ormstown. Drop in between 1-4:00 and wish him a happy birthday yourself.
The Executive Minister of our Regional Council, Eric Hebert-Daly, is on a sabbatical, doing the Camino, and he has let us know that he will be praying for our congregations on July 14th.
This is the first Sunday of summer! Let us celebrate! Also, June 21st was National Indigenous Day, which we can remember as we celebrate summer as well, remembering the lessons about this land and how to live on it and in it that they have shared with us. Megwich!
Hymn Praise to the Lord the Almighty #220
Scripture Lessons: I Samuel 17:32-49
Psalm 107:1-9, 23-32 p.831-2, pts 1, 3VU
Mark 4:35-41
Hymn Tell Me the Stories of Jesus #357
Message
Prayer: As the green ripens,
As the flowers blossom,
As the gardens bear their first abundance,
As the season turns,
Warmth and light awaiting us still,
But soon, so soon the days shortening,
The nights lengthening—
Let us savour the radiance of each new Dawn,
And the long unfolding of sunset over waters we so love.
May our love for this earth deepen and unfold and expand so that we are a blessing to the ground we walk and the air we breathe, and the life hidden in the depths of the waters.
And as we emerge slowly from these many months careful and apart,
Still measuring the risk of each step,
May we make way for bright new beginnings - yet unknown-
Within us,
Within our land,
within our world.
May there be light within our hearts,
The fierce Light of the noonday sun,
The tender light of the evening dusk
And the night sky,
The hidden Light within the cloud of unknowing.
A blessed Light, a holy Light,
For you and me and all the beloved world.
Blessed be! (written by Jane Doull, printed in Let Us Pray, vol. 4, and shared by Janice MacLean in the Prayer Bench.)
Hymn Will Your Anchor Hold #675VU
This Sunday there will be services in Franklin (9:30) and in Howick (11:00). It will be Communion Sunday in both churches. In Franklin, it will be a traditional Sunday service with Communion. In Howick we will be holding an Outdoor service at the church(weather permitting). After the service there will be a lunch provided and from 1-3:00 there will be an Open House, as we invite the community to come in and see the renovations we have been able to complete, with the help of the Community and the Faithful Footprints program of the United Church.
St Paul’s United Church will be holding its Strawberry Shortcake Takeout on Thursday, June 27th from 5-7:00 in MacDougall Hall. Prices will be $10 for adults and $6 for children.
The Bee to prepare the berries will be Wednesday, afternoon in the hall. If you can, you can bring your bowl(s) knife, and apron. All volunteers welcome!
There will be a celebration for Bill Templeton’s 90th birthday on Saturday, June 29th from 1-4:00 in his home on Prince Arthur in Ormstown. Please drop by to wish him a happy birthday.
The final service for Franklin United Church will be held Sunday, June 30th at 11:00. The community is invited to come and share in the celebration of this church’s ministry over many years. A lunch will be offered after the service, when we can share our memories and stories.
Barbara will be having her vacation during the month of July. There will be no services held or blogs posted for the month. If you need help during the month, you are invited to contact one of the elders of your congregation.
Today is also being observed as an Indigenous Day of Prayer in many United Churches.
Hymn. Great is Thy Faithfulness #288
Prayer: Spirit of the living God, be the gardener of my soul. For so long I have been waiting, silent and still— experiencing a winter of the soul. But now, in the strong name of Jesus Christ. I dare to ask:
Clear away the dead growth of the past,
Break up the hard clods of custom and routine,
Stir in the rich compost of vision and challenge,
Bury deep in my soul the implanted Word,
Cultivate and water and tend my heart,
Until new life buds and opens and flowers. Amen. (by Richard J. Foster, collected in Richard J. Foster’s Prayers from the Heart)
Scripture Lessons: II Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Psalm 20 p, 742VU
Mark 4:26-34
Message
Prayer: Sower of Seeds, you have planted in our hearts the potential for many gifts of your love to grow and develop within us: charity, authenticity, mercy, honesty, humility, forgiveness, loyalty, patience, understanding, courage, kindness, faith, respect, and other qualities reflective of your goodness dwell within us. We give thanks for these seeds you plant within us and pray that they will continue to bear fruit in our lives. We rejoice in the diversity and richness of all we receive and can share and we offer you our thanks, now and always. Amen. (adapted from a prayer written by Joyce Rupp and printed in Prayer Seeds)
Hymn. Faith of our Fathers #580
This week Sunday services will be held in Howick at 9:30 and in Ormstown at 11:00. We give thanks and pray for fathers, here and everywhere.
This week, June 20th will be Refugee Day. Let us consider the joy we can give and the gifts we can receive when we welcome people seeking a safe and a just place to call home.
We celebrate and give thanks for the ministry of the Rev. Dr Phyllis Smythe who is celebrating the 60th anniversary of her ordination this afternoon with a gathering and special service at Westmount Park United Church beginning at 4pm.
Next Sunday there will be Communion Sunday in Franklin at 9:30, a traditional service, and in Howick at 11:00 as part of our annual Outdoor service which will (hopefully) take place in the church parking lot. This will be followed by a lunch, which will take place before the Open House we will hold from 1:-3:00, which will enable community members to see the renovations that have been completed.
St Paul’s will once again be holding its Strawberry Takeout Thursday, June 27th from 5-7pm at MacDougall Hall. (Please note new hours.) Prices will be $10 for adults and $6 for children. We will be holding a Bee to prepare the berries on Wednesday, June 26th, in the hall, in the afternoon. If you can, please bring your own bowl, paring knife and an apron. Many hands make light work!
Bill Templeton will be celebrating his 90th birthday on Saturday, June 29th. You are invited to drop in and wish him a happy birthday between 1 and 4:00 at his home at 25 Prince Arthur in Ormstown. Best wishes, Bill!
Sunday, June 30th will be the final service to be held in Franklin United Church at 11am. This will include members of the Franklin Ensemble as well as Kent Sutton. The service will be followed by a lunch. All welcome to share in this special service.
Not only is June Pride month, it is also Indigenous History Month as well. We give thanks for the generosity of the indigenous peoples who share knowledge of this land with us and seek reconciliation so we can live together with respect and justice.
Hymn. There is Sunshine in My Soul
Scripture Lessons: II Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Psalm 138 p.860VU
Mark 3:20-35
Hymn Be Still My Soul #652VU
Message
Prayer: God in whom we live and move and have our being: from sea to sea to sea we share in prayer; on this anniversary we give thanks for your care, your guidance, and correction. In this heritage of trust we pray for this United Church and for faithful living on this land, our Source of Life, Living Word, and Bonding Love. Amen. (a prayer written by Catherine MacLean for Union Sunday)
I am leaning on the heart of God.
I am resting there in silence.
All the turmoil that exhausts me
Is brought to bear on this great love.
No resistance or complaint is heard
As I lean upon God’s welcome.
There is gladness for my coming.
There is comfort for my pain.
I lean, and lean, and lean
Upon this heart that hurts with me.
Strength lifts the weight of my distress.
Courage wraps around my troubles.
No miracle of instant recovery.
No taking away of life’s burdens.
Yet, there is solace for my soul,
And refuge for my exiled tears.
It is enough for me to know
The heart of God is with me,
Full of mercy and compassion,
Tending to the wounds I bear. ( Joyce Rupp from Out of the Ordinary)
Hymn. Take Time to be Holy #672VU
This Sunday there is no service in Howick, but there will be services in Franklin (9:30) and Ormstown (11:00).
This Wednesday, June 12th St Paul’s Stewards will meet in the hall at 7:30pm.
There will be no Official Board meeting this year for the Ormstown-Franklin Pastoral Charge, due to the closing of the Franklin congregation.
Sunday, June 23rd will be Communion Sunday in our congregations. Franklin will be celebrating a traditional communion service. Howick will be (hopefully) holding its annual outdoor service, on the church property, with Communion. This will be followed by a lunch for attendees then the public Open House for the community to see the renovations that have been completed with the help of the United Church’s Faithful Footprints program.
Also, St Paul’s in Ormstown has now been approved for the Faithful Footprints program as well.
Please keep in mind the Strawberry Takeout that St Paul’s will be holding Thursday, June 27th from 5-7pm in the hall. The costs will be $10 for adults and $6 for children.
The Bee to prepare the strawberries will be Wednesday, June 26th. Officially this will begin at 1:00, but the strawberries are expected at about 11:00, so come when you can! Please bring your own bowls, knives, and apron, if you can.
There will be a celebration for Bill Templeton’s 90th birthday on June 29th from 1-4pm at his home at 25 Prince Arthur St. Please drop by for a few minutes or longer to wish him a happy birthday.
Franklin United Church will be holding its final service Sunday, June 30th at 11:00 and will be followed by a lunch. Please join us to help us celebrate the legacy of faithfulness of this congregation.
