Sunday, October 13, 2024 Thanksgiving Sunday

 Our Jewish sisters and brothers continue to mark some of their most solemn holy days. Rosh Hashanah has passed and on Friday, Oct 11th at sundown until night on the 12th, it is time for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a time for fasting and for prayer. 

We also pray for peace in the Middle East, for Israel, for Gaza, for the West Bank, and for Lebanon, for all people, families, and children. 

Hymn      Come You Thankful People Come #516 VU

Scripture Lessons:      Joel 2:21-27

                                    Psalm 126 p.850VU

                                    Mark 6:24-33

Hymn         We Plough the Fields and Scatter #520

Message 

Prayer:  L:  For the beauty and wonder of creation, we thank you God. 

For our daily food, for our homes, families, and friends, we thank you God. 

For minds to think and hearts to lose, we thank you God. 

For health, strength, and skill to work, and for leisure to rest and play, we thank you God. 

For those who are brave and courageous, patient in suffering and faithful in adversity, we thank you God. 

For all who pursue peace, justice, and truth, we thank you, God. 

For all that is gracious in lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ, we thank you God. 

Today we give thanks for those we love and for all the saints whose lives have reflected the light of Christ, we thank you God. Amen. (from the United Church’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence.)

Hymn     Now Thank We All our God #236 VU

This Sunday’s services, will be a Thanksgiving Sunday service held at 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. In Ormstown we will be collecting food for the food bank, both seasonal produce and non-perishable food items. 

We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Jean (Robinson) McClintock, who died this week. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, October 18th from 2-5:00 in the Dining Hall on the Fairgrounds. Please come and share your memories of Jean. 

We hold also in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Milton Reddick, including the members of the Georgetown Presbyterian Church, following his death this past week. 

We also hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Kelsey Watt, following the celebration of her life held on Saturday. 

Howick United Church wishes to express its thanks for the support it received for its BBQ chicken fundraiser, it was a great success. Many thanks again to those who helped make it happen, as well as those who supported it, both from the churches and from the community as well. 

Next Sunday, October 20th, in Ormstown there will be a craft activity day for children and families. It will take place in the church along side the 11:00 service. All welcome. 

Sunday, October 27th, we will once again be holding a pumpkin and pizza Sunday in Howick, with our 11:00 service. Families are invited to come and share in the beginning of the service and then to decorate a pumpkin and to prepare a mini-pizza for lunch. All are invited to stay for lunch following the end of the service. 

St Andrew’s United Church in Chateauguay (46 DuPont W, Chateauguay) will be holding its 2nd annual Music Celebration, with lots of singing on Sunday, October 27th, beginning at 7pm. The music celebration will be followed by “everything apple” desserts. A free will offering will be taken to support the local food bank. 

The funeral service for the Rev. Lois Wilson will be live-streamed on the United Church’s YouTube channel this Tuesday, October 15th at 11:00, from Metropolitan United Church in Toronto. 

Sunday, October 6, 2024 The Fifth Sunday of Creation

This week begins the Jewish high holidays, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which comes to an end today, and followed by the Yom Kippur and the Day of Atonement, some of the most solemn days of the Jewish calendar. Shanah Tovah! 

Hymn        Great God We Sing that Mighty Hand #529VU

Scripture Lessons:       Job 1:1, 2:1-13

                                     Psalm 26

                                     Hebrews 1:1-4

Message

Prayer:  Loving God, be with our family and friends today, hold them in your love. 

THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS YOUR KINGDOM COME. 

Be with the poor today, show them you care. 

THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME. 

Be with the suffering of our world, give them peace. 

THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME. 

Be with the depressed, hold out your hand to them. 

THROUGH OUR LIVES AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME. 

Be with the lonely, let them know you are with them. 

THROUGH OUR LIVES, AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME. 

Be with the homeless, shelter them in your arms. 

THROUGH OUR LIVES, AND BY OUR PRAYERS, YOUR KINGDOM COME. 

Be with us and stay with us, we need you, God. We need you! Amen. (from the Iona Community’s Praying for the Dawn, edited by Ruth Burgess and Kathy Galloway.) 

Hymn       In Suffering Love #614 

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. It will be Communion Sunday in both congregations. 

St Paul’s Session will meet Wednesday, October 9th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

Next Sunday, October 13th, will be Thanksgiving Sunday. In Ormstown we will be collecting food, both non-perishable food items and seasonal food items for the local food bank, La Bouffe Additionelle. Services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. 

In Ormstown there will be a craft activity day for families on October 20th, in the church, in combination with the 11:00 Sunday service. 

In Howick we will be holding a pumpkins and pizza day on Sunday, October 27th for families. Come and join in the fun, preparing individual mini-pizzas and decorating pumpkins for Halloween, beginning with the 11:00 service in Howick.