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.