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.