Sunday, September 28, 2925 The Third Sunday of Creation

 This is the Sunday before September 30th, National Truth and Reconciliation Day, so we observe it as Truth and Reconciliation Sunday, or Orange Shirt Sunday, when we remember with sadness and shame our church’s involvement in the residential school system here in Canada. The United Church has apologized for its failure to respect the culture and languages of our indigenous peoples and the harm that was done. 

Hymn      Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life #681VU

Scripture Lessons:       Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

                                     Psalm 91:1-6,14,15

                                      I Timothy 6:6-19

Message

Prayer: Today we wear orange to remember and honour all the indigenous children who went to residential schools.

Today we wear orange and we pray for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling. 

Today we wear orange and we are thankful for those who speak the truth and who work to shine a light on injustice. 

Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation. 

Help us, O God, to remember and to act on this, this and every day. Amen. 

Hymn       Fight the Good Fight #674VU

This Sunday will be observed as Orange Shirt Sunday, aka Truth and Reconciliation Sunday. Services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. 

We wish our Jewish brothers and sisters a very blessed Holy Week as they have already celebrated Rosh Hoshanah and are preparing to mark Yom Kippur as well. 

This afternoon (Sunday, September 28th) Rennies United Church will be holding an Open House and Anniversary celebration at 1:30, beginning with a short service and historical reflection and display and ending with refreshments. We can also see the renovations which have been completed with the United Church’s Faithful Footprints program. 

Congratulations to Adele Bryson and Michael Robidoux who welcomed their daughter Elizabeth Gisele into their family last Sunday. 

Barbara has prepared a newsletter for the fall season. A copy can be emailed or delivered to you, if you wish. 

Do you want a Canadian church calendar for 2026? If so, please speak to Anne Carpentier and let her know. The price will be $10 per calendar. We will place the order when we know how many we need. 

Next Sunday will be Worldwide Communion Sunday and the sacrament of Communion will be celebrated in both our congregations, 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. 

Next Sunday is also the day for Howick United Church’s BBQ Chicken Dinner. If you wish to order a meal, it must be ordered by Wednesday, October 1st. Tickets are limited and may be reserved by contacting Wilene Cullen, Anita Greig, or Allyson Orr. The cost is $20 for and adult meal or $12 for a child’s (nuggets). 

On Thanksgiving Sunday St Paul’s (Ormstown) will once again be collecting food for our local food bank, La Bouffe Additionelle. Seasonal produce or non-perishable food items would be greatly appreciated. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council will be holding a consultation on the future of the church in 2 locations: in Beaconsfield United Church on Friday, October 17th from 9:30-4:00 and in Lennoxville United Church on  Saturday, October 18th. Registration is requested. 

Sunday, September 21, 2025. The Third Sunday of Creation

 

Hymn      Jesus Calls Us #562VU

Scripture Lessons:        Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

                                      Psalm 79 p.793VU

                                      Luke 16:1-13

Message

Prayer:  Creator God, 

Mysterious as the essence of life, there is hope and healing at the core of life.

Expand our awareness of the hurts and hopes of the world around us, 

Arouse us, God of the life-giving water, to serve and to care. 

Nations struggle together and internally, erupting in violence, polluting rivers and streams, destroying land and leaving the lives of their people in ruins.

Inspire within us hearts and minds of deep compassion that we may not be idle, paddling our feet, or watering our gardens while people are hungry for food, for water, and for love.

Nurture within us a sense that the time is now, to look beyond our own fears, and share with those who have grasped already the urgent need to heal the earth. 

Grow us in wisdom, knowledge, and love that we may be like trees along the river bearing fruit and providing for the healing of the nations from the life-giving core of our lives. Amen. ( a prayer from Seasons of the Spirit 2013)

Hymn      There is a Balm in Gilead #612VU

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

We continue to hold the family and friends of Gerry Cavanaugh following the Memorial service held for him on Saturday. 

Happy birthday to Thyra (Tolhurst) Ness who celebrates a birthday on Saturday. 🎂

A new (printed) newsletter will be printed for Sunday, September 28th. If you have any items of news to include, please get them to Barbara by September 25th, by phone (450-829-3855) or by email. 

Please keep in mind Howick United Church’s BBQ Chicken Luncheon and fundraiser. It will be held on Sunday, October 5th following the 11:00 service. The meals can be taken out from the church for eating at home or eaten at the church in the church hall, with other church members. The costs will be $20 for adults and $12 for children (nuggets). Meals must be pre-ordered by October 1st. Tickets are available from Wilene Cullen, Anita Greig, Allyson Orr or from Barbara Bryce. 

Rennies United Church’s BBQ will be holding an Open House and Annuversary celebration on Sunday, September 28th at 1:30. The celebration will include a brief service, historical reflection and display, and refreshments as well as an opportunity to view the renovations done to the church building. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council is holding a consultation on the future of the church on two dates, the first on Friday October 17th at Beaconsfield United Church from 9:30-4:00, and the second at Lennoxville United Church on Saturday, October 18th. Registration is requested for planning purposes. Please speak to Barbara if you would like the contact information. 

Sunday, September 14, 2025 The Second Sunday of Creation

 

Hymn      Come Let Us Sing of a Wonderful #574VU

Scripture Lessons:         I Timothy 1:12-17

                                       Psalm 14 p. 735 VU

                                       Luke 15:1-10

Message

Prayer:  My God, when your love spilled over into creation

You thought of me.

I am

From love, of love, for love. 

Let my heart, O God, always

Recognize, cherish, and enjoy

Your goodness in all of creation. 

Direct all that I am toward your praise. 

Teach me reverence for every person, all things. 

Energize me in your service.

Living God, may nothing distract me from your love….

Neither health nor sickness

Wealth nor poverty

Honor nor dishonor

Long life nor short life. 

May I never seek nor choose to be other

Than you wish or intend. Amen. ( a prayer from Taste and See, by Jacqueline Syrup Bergman and S. Marie Schwan)

Hymn        Amazing Grace #266 VU

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

We hold in our thoughts and prayers Bob Brooks, who lost his wife Wendy this summer and the family and friends of Gerry Cavanaugh, who died this past week. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet this Wednesday, September 17th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

Howick UCW will hold their Supper meeting this week, on Wednesday, September 17th. 

I will be preparing a newsletter for the fall season. Please let me know of any events that should be included. Deadline will be September 21st. 

Howick United Church is planning a fundraising luncheon on Sunday, October 5th, and will be offering Benny’s BBQ chicken dinners at a cost of $20 for adults and $12 for children (nuggets). Meals must be pre-ordered by October 1st and tickets are available from Wilene Cullen, Barbara Bryce, and other Howick United Church members. 

Rennies United Church will be holding an anniversary celebration and Open House to show its renovations to their church building on Sunday, September 28th at 1:30. The celebration will begin with a brief service, a historical account, and end with refreshments. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council is holding meetings to explore the future of the church for both lay leaders and ministers. This will be offered in 2 locations: Beaconsfield United Church on Friday, October 17th from 9:30-4:00 and in Lennoxville United Church on Saturday, October 18th. Members of the United Church are invited to come and share their hopes, their visions, and their concerns for the church, to help to shape its future. 

Sunday, September 7,2025 The First Sunday of Creation

 

Hymn       Spirit of the Living God #376

Scripture Lessons:       Jeremiah 18:1-11

                                     Psalm 139 p.861 VU

                                     Philemon 1-20

Hymn        You Servants of God #342

Message

Prayer:  Gracious Creator God, how amazing is your name. 

While you are over and above all things, still you are right here, with us, and we are so very grateful.

We think of the vast and wonderful families of your people that we are invited to participate in:  our churches, our schools, our workplaces. 

We think of sisters and brothers we know and love, and others whose faces we recognize but who we do not really know. 

Touch their lives, God. 

May they feel your presence as we do.

Help all to know all are loved

Unconditionally

By you, who shaped us in your image and breathed your wondrous Spirit deep in our lives. 

May we always be mindful of the need to speak out for the rights of any who cannot find or use their voices, and to uplift one another every chance we get. 

We are wonderfully made, gracious God, and as your humble people we pray. Amen. 

Hymn        Have Thine Own Way 

I hope that your summer has gone well. We are beginning to plan and look forward to events for the coming year. 

We hold in our thoughts and prayers Bob Brooks and family and friends, following the death of his wife Wendy over the summer. A private memorial has been planned for close family and friends. 

Howick’s Board of Stewards will meet on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 7pm in the church hall. There will be discussion about a quote for finishing the insulation of the church tower. (Please note this is a correction, as my fingers were not listening to my brain!)

The Session of St Paul’s will meet on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:30pm in the hall. 

Howick United Church will once again be holding a fundraising lunch offering Benny’s chicken on Sunday, October 5th following the 11:00 service. The cost will be $20 for an adult meal and $12 for a child’s. Meals must be pre-ordered. Tickets will be available at church or by contacting Wilene Cullen.