Sunday, March 2, 2025 Transfiguration Sunday

 Remember: the season of Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5th. Have you chosen something to give up? To add? Something else you have chosen for this season of Lent? 

Hymn.      When Morning Gilds the Skies #339

Scripture Lessons:       Exodus 34:29-35

                                     Psalm 99 p.819VU

                                     Luke 9:28-36

Hymn.       Open My Eyes #371

Message

Prayer:  God of the Mountaintops, from up here you can see forever— down onto fluffy white clouds, down further to the patchwork fields below. The air is so crisp and clean, a little thin…..

Is that part of my giddiness? 

I love you Jesus! 

When I am up here with you, everything is perfect. 

When I am up here, with a new friend, or a longtime love, everything else is so far away it doesn’t matter. But you are not just up here—

You are God of the Plains and God of the Valleys, God of the Every Day. 

You are still God when friends betray, careers collapse, when temptations’ snares have me struggling and I feel that I am below the bottom. Help me realize you were there and you carry me through, bringing me back to the here and now. 

God, you called Moses to lead your people out of slavery, and a bush. 

You gave Moses the law, and his face glowed. 

Spirit, you called Elijah home, and the chariot glowed. 

Jesus, you brought Peter, James, and John up the mountain, and you glowed. 

Glow through us, as we go through our valleys that others may see you and find the way. Amen. (prayers written by Kenneth C. Wells, in Maren C. Tirabassi and Maria L. Tirabassi’s Before the Amen.)

Hymn      I Love to Tell the Story #343

This Sunday’s services are Ormstown 9:30 and 11:00 Howick. In Howick the Sunday worship service will be combined with the annual meeting. Annual reports are now available. 

Next Sunday St Paul’s in Ormstown will be holding its annual meeting (once again in combination with the worship service). This will begin at 11:00. (Howick’s service will be at 9:30)

On Tuesday March 4th, Howick United Church will be holding a Shrove Tuesday Waffle Dinner from 4:30-6:30, either eat-in or takeout. Prices will be $15 for adults (2 waffles, 2 sausages, hashbrowns and applesauce) and $8 for children 6-10 ( 1 waffle, 1 sausage, hash browns and applesauce) and 5 and under free. This is planned as a fundraiser for the congregation. Hope to see you there! 

We have been hearing of a number of deaths in our communities recently, including Rachel Jacob, Yvon Tremblay and Roberta Todd. We hold their families, friends, and others in our thoughts and prayers. We also hold the family of Gerry McAdam in our thoughts following his death this past week. 

The new community of faith support person from the Regional Council’s, Esther Guillén, is inviting members and adherents to reply to a survey to try to help inform her of the needs in our communities of faith. Please let Barbara know if you would like to receive the link, and Barbara will send it to you. It can also be found in the Regional Council’s recent newsletter. 

Sunday, February 23, 2025 The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

 

Hymn.         Praise My Soul the God of Heaven #240VU

Scripture Lessons:       Genesis 45:3-11, 15

                                     Psalm 37:1-11 p.763VU

                                     I Corinthians 15:50-58

                                     Luke 6:27-38

Message

Prayer:  Sometimes, O God, your word is too much for us. You ask us to love our enemies, when we can scarcely love our friends as we should. You ask us to give when we want to take, and to forgive when we want to nurse bitterness. We thank you that you accept us as we are, and that you show us what we can be. Help us to believe that we can be loving, just, and holy like you; through the grace revealed in Jesus the Christ. Amen ( a prayer by Ruth C. Duck and printed in Flames of the Spirit.) 

Hymn.      Blessed Assurance #337VU

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

We have been saddened this week to hear of the death of Rachel Jacob, a longtime resident of Ormstown and a member of St Paul’s, who died this week. A service will be held this spring or summer in Ormstown to celebrate her life. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. 

The annual reports have now been printed and are now available for review. You can pick one up Sunday or request for one to be sent or delivered to you. 

Next Sunday, March 2nd will be Howick’s annual meeting, at 11:00 in combination with the worship service. 

Ormstown's annual meeting will take place on Sunday, March 9th in the hall at 11:00 in combination with the worship services. 

Howick United Church is planning a Shrove Tuesday Waffle Supper  March 4th from 4:30-6:30. Eat-in or take-out. Prices will be $15 for adults (2 waffles, 2 sausages, hash browns, applesauce and syrup) children 6-10 (1 waffle, 1 sausage, hash browns, apple sauce and syrup) $8, and 5 and under free. Tickets are available from Wilene. Volunteers always welcome! 

Please keep in mind the people and churches of the Democratic Republic of Congo, facing civil unrest and hundreds and thousands of displaced people. we hold them in our prayers and invite donations to the Global Emergency Response Fund to support the Église du Christ au Congo with their ongoing efforts to help those displaced. 

Sunday, February 16, 2025 The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

 Hope that your Valentine’s was a good day! Now we continue to celebrate God’s love revealed to us each and every day! 

Hymn.       Unto the Hills         842VU

Scripture Lessons:        Jeremiah 17: 5-10

                                      Psalm 1 p.724VU

                                      Luke 6:17-26

Message

Prayer:  Rock and Refuge, Stronghold of Souls, Unshakeable One,

 infuse your strength into the places where I feel the greatest weakness. 

Permeate the parts of my life that continually challenge my patience. 

Increase an ability to accept those who seem to be most unacceptable. 

Lessen any tendency in my spirit that gives way to a loss of hope. 

Reinforce an awareness of the daily manifestations of your presence. 

Boost my spirit when I think I can not manage what is mine to be and do. 

Provider of Purpose, Firm Foundation, Enduring Love, 

Support my determination to give the best of my self to others. 

Fortify the forgiveness you have placed and nurtured in my heart. 

Sustain a solid belief that I can get through what appears to be insurmountable. 

Bolster my efforts to be a person who reaches out to those who suffer. 

Foster greater trust in you when worries and anxieties attempt to prevail. 

Impart the courage I need to change what appears to be unchangeable. 

In you I find sufficient strength, abounding love, and secure security. Amen. 

(A prayer for Strength from Joyce Rupp’s Prayer Seeds) 

Hymn.       Blest be the Tie that Binds.      602VU

This Sunday’s services are planned for 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. (Considering the weather forecast for Sunday, please keep in touch. We will see what God has in mind for us!)

Good news! The annual reports have been printed and are available for review. 

An official Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19th at 1pm in the hall in Ormstown. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, February 19th at 7:30pm in the hall in Ormstown. 

Howick United Church’s annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 2nd at 11:00, in combination with the worship service. 

St Paul’s United Church’s annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 9th at 11:00 in combination with the worship service. 

If there are those who would be interested in receiving a printed copy of the United Church’s Lenten Study, Something Sacred, please let Barbara know soon so she can order them from UCRD. If you wish to have the study in ebook form, please check out ucrd.ca. 

The United Church has issued an urgent appeal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Donations may be made to the Global Emergency Response Fund, supporting the Eglise du Christ au Congo support the 400,000 people displaced by this crisis. 

Sunday, February 9, 2025 The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

 We continue to observe Black History Month, remembering and celebrating the contributions of people of colour to our society and communities.

Hymn          Jesus Stand Among Us #396

Scripture Lessons:        Isaiah 6:1-8

                                      Psalm 138 p.860VU

                                      I Corinthians 15:1-11

Message 

Prayer:  O God, as we reflect on the meaning of hope and resurrection in the midst of winter, we give thanks for the message of our faith and the witnesses who share that hope with us. 

   We pray in hope for peace in the midst of fear; for healing in times of pain; for comfort in times of sorrow and grief. We pray for renewal and transformation for ourselves and our world. We watch and wait and hope for signs of new life, now and always. Amen. 

Hymn.       Christ the Lord is Risen Today #157VU

This Sunday’s services will be Howick 9:30 and Ormstown 11:00. 

The Session of St Paul’s United Church will meet Wednesday, February 12th at 1:00 in the hall. 

The Official Board for the Ormstown-Franklin Pastoral Charge will meet on Wednesday, February 19th in the hall at 1:00. 

The annual meeting for the Howick United Church will be held on Sunday, March 2nd beginning at 11:00, in combination with the worship service. 

The annual meeting for St Paul’s United Church, Ormstown will be held Sunday, March 9th at 11:00 in the hall, in combination with the worship service. 

The season of Lent is approaching. There are a number of Lenten studies available both in print and online. The United Church prepares a Lenten study each year, both in print and as an ebook. This year the study is a reflection on faith and music. If people are interested, an order could be placed for print copies, or individuals could order their own ebook. The study is titled Something Sacred. The cost for the print book is 16.95 and for the ebook is 7.95.