Sunday, June 1, 2025 The Seventh Sunday of Easter

 In a number of churches today may be celebrated as Pride Sunday, reflecting the United Church’s choice to be a welcoming, accepting, and affirming denomination. 🌈

Hymn       Sweet Hour of Prayer

Scripture Lessons:      Acts 16:16-34

                                    Psalm 97 

                                    John17:29-26

Message 

Prayer:  Risen Christ, today, tomorrow and always your Spirit lives in us. Sometimes we feel we understand so little. But remaining in your presence, wherever we are, is prayer. And perhaps close to you, O Christ, silence is often everything in prayer. And then we sense that, our whole life long, we advance when in you guides every step, when a trusting heart is at the beginning of everything. Amen. 

Hymn        What a Friend We Have in Jesus #664

This Sunday is Confirmation and Communion Sunday in both of our congregations. We will be gathering in St Paul’s at 9:30 and in Howick at 11:00. We are delighted to welcome Ashton Bryson, Preston Mason, Alex Quinn and Jacob Tannahill in Ormstown and Ryley Chisholm, in Howick, along with Billie Nussey by Profession of Faith and Winnifred and Cameron Sherry by Transfer of membership. 

Next Sunday we will be holding our Centennial celebration for the United Church next Sunday in Howick, beginning at 10:30am. The service will be followed by a BBQ lunch potluck salads, and cake and ice cream. An RSVP to Anita Greig, Wilene Cullen, or Allyson Orr would be appreciated to help us plan for the lunch, if possible. 

We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Marjorie Coffin, whose memorial service was held yesterday. 

We send our best wishes to the new members of the order of ministry of this region, following the Celebration of Ministry service yesterday: Florence Bukam, Lisa Byer-de Weber, Jean Philippe Dubé-Goupil, Bailey Eastwood, Adedeji Sunday Akintayo, and Virginia Wallace, who were admitted, commissioned and ordained, as well as to those who have completed their ministries and are retiring. 

We also send best wishes to Maureen Kabwe, who was commissioned in Kahnawake United Church last Sunday.

Sunday, May 25, 2025 The Sixth Sunday of Easter

 

Hymn.      We Praise You O God #218VU

Scripture Lessons:       Acts 16:9-15

                                     Psalm 67 p.786VU

                                     Revelation 21:10, 22:1-5

Hymn       Shall We Gather at the River #710VU

Message

Prayer:  A Prayer on a Wet Day

Loving God, creator of water on which all life depends, we are close to you on this wet day. 

   Thank you for the rain which softens and refreshes the earth, making springs rise and streams flow. 

Thank you for rivers, lakes, and oceans, and for all that lives beside them and in them. 

Thank you for all that is green and growing. Thank you for the rain, on which our food depends. 

Thank you for the water in our taps. 

We pray for all those in drought-stricken lands, where women trudge many miles for water and men toil on barren land. Thank you for clean water. We pray for those whose water is contaminated, bringing disease and death. 

Thank you for the rain washing the earth, cleaning the air in cities, sparkling as jewelled droplets in the sun, bringing out the deep colours in rocks and stones. 

Thank you for warm clothes and dry houses. We pray for all who are living rough or in inadequate housing. 

Thank you for the rain without which there would be no rainbows! 

Forgive us when we grumble or complain on wet days. 

Forgive us when we only want sunshine in our lives. 

Forgive us when we take for granted and waster your life-giving water. 

So, our loving Creator, thank you for this wet day. Amen. (a prayer by Frances Hawkey and printed in the Iona Community’s Fire and Bread)

Hymn      We Plough the Fields and Scatter #520

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

Next Sunday will be Confirmation and Communion Sunday in both congregations. 

A new newsletter has been printed and is available, with information for upcoming events such as the combined Centennial service (June 8th, 10:30 in Howick) and the Strawberry Social (Takeout, June 26th, 5-7pm) in the hall in Ormstown. 

This afternoon (May 25th) at 3pm there will be a time of gathering to remember the life of Brian Smith at the Legion in Ormstown. This will be an opportunity to drop by and share memories and stories with his wife, Robin Wright and family. 

On Saturday, May 31st at 2pm there will be a service and reception to remember and celebrate the life of Marjorie Craig Coffin. There will also be a visitation the night before at the McGerrigle Funeral Home. The service and reception will be held at the Dining Hall on the Ormstown Fairgrounds. All welcome to come and share your memories of Marjorie. 

                                     

Sunday, May 18, 2025 The Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

Hymn      Come We that Love the Lord #715

Scripture Lessons:      Revelation 21:1-6

                                    Psalm 148 p.871VU

                                    John13:31-35

Message

A Creed for the Sowing of Seeds

I be liege that this one of the earth’s finest moments, that the sun lifting yellow and greens into life of tiny poplar leaves is much like God’s own Spirit of love lifting life into me. 

       I believe that the Word of God has many times been planted in my life, often because of another who received the seed in ready soil, brought forth a harvest, and shared that goodness with me. 

       I believe that the call to be a sower of the Word is a privilege and a blessing, that no one can ever earn the right or claim the duty, that is a gift, freely given and a ministry to be constantly celebrated in gratitude. 

       I believe that great things can come forth from even the tiniest seed planted in love and cared for tenderly in the heart of another. 

        I believe that usually only God knows what sprouting and greening will come from the Word planted through my ministry. I am content in knowing that I have tried, with the Sower’s grace, to seed that Word in faith and with joy. 

       I believe that even the most insignificant aspects of life can be the seed of God’s gifting, that deeper faith can root and mature in very ordinary soil. 

       I believe that some dying of seed has to take place before it can give itself over to life, that every heart has its germination time, it’s dark moment, before future hallowedness of harvest comes. 

      I believe that it takes much patience to sow a seed, to freely give it away to the heart of earth, to allow it to take root and to grow in its own good time. 

      I believe that my life will always know the season of hope, that I will find flowers after every finality of ice and snow, that I will find green, growing things after every harsh, barren reign of winter’s rage. 

     And most of al…..

I believe in the Sower of all seeds, in the God of Springtime, in the Giver of all good and growing things, my Lord and my God! (written by Joyce Rupp and printed in Fresh Bread and other gifts of spiritual nourishment)

Hymn       Rejoice the Lord is King #213VU

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. We will be celebrating a Rogation Sunday, blessing the fields, seeds and plants that are being planted in this season. 

There will be no Confirmation Class this Monday, as it is the long weekend. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, May 21st at 7:30pm in the hall in Ormstown. 

There will be a (paper) newsletter next Sunday, with plans for the combined anniversary service in Howick, June 8th beginning at 10:30am and followed by a BBQ lunch, with salads, as well as the Confirmation and Communion and the Strawberry Social. If you have other news to be included, please let Barbara know. 

The Nakonha:ka Regional Council is once again offering the Hugh Duncan and IFE bursaries for post-secondary students who are confirmed members of the United Church of Canada. Applications are available on the website, nakonhaka.ca, and the deadline for applying is June 2nd, 2025. 

Sunday, May 11, 2025 Good Shepherd Sunday

 Today we celebrate the gifts that families can bring to us, and especially mothers, on what is often known as Mother’s Day, though in the church we sometimes  call it Christian Family Sunday instead. 

Hymn      The Lord’s My Shepherd 747VU

Scripture Lessons:      Revelation 7:9-17

                                    Psalm 23 p.749VU

                                    John 10:22-30

Hymn         The Lord’s My Shepherd (Brother James’ Air) #748VU

Message

Prayer:  O God, our good shepherd, in you is fullness of life. When we experience lack and loss, in you there is fullness of life. 

When we walk through the valleys of uncertainty, fear, evil, and death, in you there is fullness of life. 

When we need correction and guidance, in you there is fullness of life. 

When you provide wisdom and healing, in you there is fullness of life. 

When your goodness and steadfast loving-kindness pursue us, in you there is fullness of life. 

When you receive us in your abode and provide a feast for us, in you there is fullness of life.  

When all of your children and creation sing together in joy, O God, you are our good shepherd, in you there is fullness of life. Amen. (a prayer written by Sharon Winegarden, of Lion’s Head, ON, printed in Gathering, L/E 2022, adapted) 

Hymn       The King of Love My Shepherd Is #273VU

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

Howick UCW will meet on Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm in the church hall. The subject of the meeting will be mothers and mothering and members are invited to bring a photo of your mother if possible. 

Howick Stewards will now meet on Thursday, May 15th at 7pm in the Howick church. Please note the change in date and time! 

St Paul’s Session will meet on Wednesday, May 14th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, May 21st at 7:30pm in the hall. 

Nakonha:ka Regional Council is offering bursaries to post-secondary students who are confirmed members of the United Church of Canada. Applications are on the website, nakonhaka.ca and the deadline for applying is June 2nd. Please speak to Barbara if there are any questions or concerns. 

We pray for God’s blessings of the new Pope of the Roman Cathipolic Church, Popoe Leo the 14th. We join him in praying for peace, for peace for all the world. 🙏🏽

Sunday, May 4, 2025 The Third Sunday of Easter

 May 5th is Red Dress Day, a day when we remember the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and their families. We pray for healing and true reconciliation that brings an end for the need of this day. 

Hymn      When Morning Gilds the Skies #339VU

Scripture Lessons: Revelation 5:11-14

                               Psalm 30 p. 757VU

                               John 21:1-19

Hymn       Jesus Stand Among Us #396VU

Message

A Blessing:  Christ of the morning’s rising blesses you. 

Christ of the moon’s setting blesses you. 

Christ by the lakeside edge blesses you. 

Christ of the birdsong hymns blesses you. 

Christ of all creation, all the gifts of creation, blesses you. 

Christ of the cooked fish offered blesses you. 

Christ of the sweet syrup blesses you. 

Christ of the fruits of the earth blesses you. 

Christ within you. 

Christ around you. 

Christ in creation. 

Blesses you, keeps you, holds you, from the dawning of the day to its dawning again. 

All your days. All your places. Until your life here becomes your life in Christ forever. Christ of Easter blesses you always. Amen. 

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! ( written by Bob Root of Peterborough, ON and printed in Gathering, L/E 2025

Hymn        This Joyful Eastertide #177VU

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

The Confirmation Class continues to meet on Monday afternoons from 4pm in the hall in Ormstown. 

The UCW in Howick will meet Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm in the church. The subject will be mothers and mothering and members are invited to bring a photo, if possible. 

We send our best wishes to the graduates of both the United Theological College and Diocesan College who will be holding their Convocation tomorrow at St George’s Church in Montreal. 

Barbara is planning to produce a new (paper) newsletter for June, with its special events. If there are other news items to be included, please let Barbara know. 

The Nakonhaka Regional Council is once again offering bursaries for post-secondary education to students who are confirmed members of congregations in the region. The application is available on the Regional Council website, nakonhaka.ca, and the deadline for applying is June 2nd. 

A special Spanish language service for foreign workers is being held at Georgetown Presbyterian Church on Friday, May 9th at 2pm. The gathering will begin at noon, with a lunch and to allow the workers to get to know each other.