Sunday, September 29, 2024 The Fifth Sunday Creation

Tomorrow will be National Truth and Reconciliation Day across Canada (aka “Orange Shirt Day”) so people are invited to wear, if you can, an orange shirt to church if you are coming, and/or on Monday to mark this day. 

  

Hymn.      Praise to the Lord, the Almighty #220VU

Scripture Lessons:       James 5:13-18

  

                                     Psalm 124 p.848VU

                                     Mark 9:38-50

Message

Prayer:  Today we wear orange to remember and honour all the indigenous children who went to residential schools.

   Today we wear orange and we pray for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling. 

   Today we wear orange and we are thankful for those speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice. 

    Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation. 

     Help us, God, to remember and act on this and every day. Amen. 

In the light of the events of this past week:  O God, maker of the whole human family in heaven and on earth; stand by those who sorrow; that as they lean on your strength, they may be upheld, and believe the good news of life beyond life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

We trust that beyond absence there is a presence, 

That beyond the pain there can be healing, 

That beyond the brokenness there can be wholeness, 

That beyond the anger there can be peace, 

That beyond the silence there may be the word,…. 

That beyond silence … there may be Love. by Anonymous.

Hymn.         Tell Me the Old, Old Story

This Sunday there will be a combined service that will be held in St Paul’s in Ormstown at 11:00. We will begin at 10:30 with coffee and goodies. 

We hold Debbie Beattie and her family in our thoughts and prayers at this time. 

We also hold Debbie Templeton and family in our thoughts and prayers following the death of her mother in Ottawa. 

Once again Anne Carpentier will be ordering United Church calendars for sale. This year we are inviting you to let Anne know if you would like a calendar. They are $15.00 due to increases in the cost of the calendar and shipping. She will be making the order in a few weeks, so please let her know if you would like one (or more). 

Next Sunday will be Communion Sunday in Ormstown (9:30) and Howick (11:00). All welcome to share in this sacrament. 

This will also be the Sunday Howick will be holding its BBQ chicken fundraiser. We are taking orders for Benny &Co chicken dinners, either $20 for adults, a quarter chicken with fries and cole slaw, or a children’s order with chicken nuggets for $12.  Orders need to be received by Wednesday, October 2nd, and are required. Meals can be eaten in the church as a community meal or taken out to share family or friends. 

Sunday, October 13th will be Thanksgiving Sunday. Services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. In Ormstown we will also be collecting food for La Bouffe Additionelle, our local food bank. Both fresh and non- perishable food items would be welcomed. 

Sunday, September 22, 2024 the Fourth Sunday of Creation

 

This is the first Sunday of Autumn. We celebrate the gifts of harvest and abundance in this beautiful and blessed season. 

Hymn      Great is Thy Faithfulness #288VU

Scripture Lessons:     Proverbs 31:10-31

                                   Psalm 1 p. 724VU

                                   Mark 9:30-37

Message 

( I will admit that I recorded this on Tuesday, so the situation may change through the week. Nevertheless, the question remains, is greatness based on what we achieve for ourselves, or the difference we make for others.)

Reflection and prayer written by Lois Wilson — Veils

It’s a bit of a shock to see veiled women.  

Why can’t they be like me? 

Even the girls at the Ecumenical Centre will draw the sari across their mouths and noses in the presence of a dignitary

A sign of modesty.

I suppose it might be rather interesting to go through all of life

always peering out at other people. 

But it’s part of the culture I find hard to fathom. 

And we without veils….

What do our faces reflect? 

           Anxiety? 

              Despair?

                 Frustration? 

                    Boredom? 

                        Preoccupation? 

May my face O God reflect like a mirror your presence in my life.

May my face Christ Jesus transparently announce to all that You live in me. 

May my face Holy Spirit be shining with love and holiness. ( from Lois Wilson’s Like A Mighty River, published in 1981).

Hymn       I Love to Tell the Story #343

This Sunday’s services will be Ormstown at 9:30 and Howick at 11:00. Next Sunday we will holding a combined service in Ormstown, at 11:00, with coffee etc. beginning about 10:30. All welcome. 

For those who would like to contribute to the Faithful Footprints project at St Paul’s, donations may be made by e-transfer to: ucwormstown@gmail.com. The security question is project funds and the password is church1234. Please include your fill name and address in the message box for the tax receipt. Donations may also be made by cheque to St Paul’s United Church 19 Lambton Ormstown QC J0S 1K0, or dropped off to the Treasurer. 

Howick is trying out a different kind of fundraiser: on October 6th we are offering Benny &Co chicken dinners, (including fries and cole slaw) to be picked up either for eating in or taking out. Adult dinners will be $20 and children’s dinners (nuggets) will be $12.  Meals can be picked up at noon, following the 11:00 service. Meals must be pre-ordered. Please contact Wilene Cullen for tickets. 

Worship Schedule for October:  October 6th Communion Sunday 9:30 Ormstown    11:00 Howick

                                                       (Howick’s fundraiser will follow at noon)

        October 13 Thanksgiving Sunday.  9:30.  Howick.     11:00.    Ormstown ( Ormtown will continue its tradition of collecting food for La Bouffe Additionelle, our local food bank. Both non-perishable food and fresh items would be appreciated)

        October 20 World Food Sunday 9:30.  Howick.     11:00.    Ormstown Craft Activity Day in Ormstown

        October 27       9:30.  Ormstown.     11:00   Howick    Pizza and Pumpkin activities for Howick

Riverfield Curling Club is planning its Homecoming Celebration for Saturday October 12th, beginning with a Scottish Lunch, followed by exhibits and games for the children, then a BBQ in the evening. Tickets are available from RCC members and the RCC website, at a cost of $10. 

St Andrew’s United Church in Chateauguay will be holding its 2nd annual Music Celebration on Sunday, October 27th at 7pm featuring music from local choirs and Everything Apple Desserts. A free will offering will be taken for the Châteauguay Food Bank. 

A date and time have been chosen for Lois Wilson’s funeral, which will be live-streamed on October 15th at 11am from Metropolitan United Church in Toronto ON on YouTube for the wider church. An endowment fund in her name is also being created to support UCC program work. Contributions would be gratefully appreciated. 

Sunday, September 15, 2024 The Third Sunday of Creation

 This weekend, September 14th and 15th has been named Days for migrant workers. Let us give thanks for their hard work and pray for their safety and security. 🙏🏽

This coming week has been named the week of prayer for Peace in Israel and Gaza. Let us pray for peace for our brothers and sisters there and everywhere. 🙏🏽🌍

Hymn     Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross #142VU

Scripture Lessons:      Proverbs 1:20-33

                                    Psalm 19 p.740-1VU

                                    Mark 8:27-38

Message

Prayer:  We offer you our praise and our worship, O God, knowing we do so under the shadow of the cross, sign of human shame and divine wisdom and love. Like Jesus, we would follow faithfully in your way; like Jesus, we would live to you and die to you. We are your people; we belong to you. We offer you our worship and our lives. May your name be glorified in the lives we live; in the love we share; and by Christ’s church, through Jesus the Christ, our Saviour and our Lord. Amen. ( a prayer adapted from the United Church of Christ’s Book of Worship.)

Hymn      When I Survey the Wondrous Cross #149VU

This Sunday’s services, September 15th will be Howick 9:30 and Ormstown 11:00. Next Sunday’s services, September 22nd will be the reverse: Ormstown 9:30 and Howick at 11:00. 

I have just received the notice of the Very Rev. Lois Wilson’s death. She was the first woman Moderator of the United Church as well as a long time minister in our church, as well as a former Senator in the Canadian Parliament. Well done, good and faithful servant! 

Howick’s Stewards will meet on Tuesday, September 17th at 7pm in the church hall. 

Howick UCW (Unit C) will meet for supper Wednesday, September 18th. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, September 18th in the hall at 7:30pm. 

Sunday, September 29th will be a combined service held in St Paul’s in Ormstown at 11:00. We will begin with a fellowship time at 10:30. 

Howick United Church will be trying out a new fundraiser: on October 6th following the 11:00 service, (noon) Benny and Co’s BBQ chicken will be available for eat-in or takeout. Prices will be $20 for adults (breast or leg) and $12 for children (nuggets). If eating in, a drink and a dessert will also be provided. Pre-orders will be necessary. Tickets and sign-up sheets are now available. 

Please keep in mind these community events:  the O-HO Quilt Show Friday, September 20th and Saturday, September 21st at the Ormstown Curling Club, 10 - 4:00. Entry $5.00, which includes the tea. Proceeds will support local charities. 

Alyson Champ’s art show, Etalements, as part of the LBA’s Fall Festival, beginning Friday, 4:00 in the new dining hall on the Ormstown Fairgrounds and continuing through the weekend. 

Riverfield Curling Club’s Homecoming Celebration, Saturday, October 12th marking its 200th anniversary. This will include a Scottish Lunch, games and exhibits in the afternoon and a BBQ in the evening. Tickets are available from RCC members, or from the website, at a cost of $10. 

Sunday, September 8, 2024 The Second Sunday of Creation

 

Hymn     O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing #326 VU

Scripture Lessons:       James 2:1-10, 14-17

                                     Psalm 125 p. 849VU

                                     Mark 7:24-37

Message

Prayer: Eternal God, you are the author of life; all living beings depend on you; you care for all the earth. We pray for our neighbours whose expressions of faith are different from ours; the longings of whose hearts we do not always comprehend. Teach us to know that you love all peoples; help us to respect  what we do not yet understand; and to rejoice in the words and acts of truth, beauty, and love wherever they may be found. Enable us to love others as you love, and to live with others in ways that build your gracious rule over all of life. We ask this in the name of him who gave himself for all, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (a prayer from With All God’s People, from the World Council of Churches.) 

Hymn       In Christ There is No East or West #606VU

This Sunday’s services are: 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. Next Sunday will be the same. The next Sunday, September 22nd, the reverse. Sunday, September 29th will be a combined service in Ormstown, 11:00, with fellowship time beginning at 10:30. 

Good news! The work on the Faithful Footprints project, making our church in Ormstown more sustainable (both environmentally and economically) will be beginning this week. The oil furnaces and tanks will be removed from both the church and the hall and replaced with electric furnaces and heat pumps. We appreciate the funding provided by the church (up to $30,000!) but will also be hoping for additional donations to cover our $60,000 project. 

St Paul’s Session meeting was delayed to the Wednesday, September 11th at 7:30 in the hall. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, September 18th at 7:30 in the hall. 

Please keep in mind the O-HO Quilt Show taking place Friday, September 20th and Saturday September 21st from 10-4:00 in the Ormstown Curling Club. The cost to enter is $5, which includes the tea. Proceeds from this event will be used for local charities. 

Also keep in mind Alyson Champ’s show at the new Dining Hall in the Fairgrounds that will take place Friday, September 20th from 4:00. 

There will be a Flourishing Event with the Moderator, the Rt Rev. Carmen Lansdowne held Saturday, September 21st from 9:30-4:30 at Cedar Park United Church in Pointe Claire. If you are interested in attending, please let Barbara know and she will send you the link or help you to register. 

Riverfield Curling Club will be holding its Homecoming Celebration on Saturday, October 12th. This will include a Scottish Lunch, exhibits and games for kids and families in the afternoon, and a BBQ later in the day. Tickets for the lunch will cost $10 and are available from RCC members, from the website, or by calling 450-825-2577. 

Barbara will be printing a newsletter before the end of the month. If you have news to share, please let her know.