Sunday, November 2, 2025 All Saints and All Souls Sunday

 This Sunday can be observed as All Saints Sunday and All Souls Day. It can also be observed as Reformation Sunday, remembering our Protestant heritage. However we observe this day, we give thanks for God’s faithfulness throughout the ages and generations. 

Hymn        For All the Saints #705

Scripture Lessons:      II Thessalonians 1:1-4,11,12 

                                    Psalm 137-144 p.841VU pt 6      

                                    Luke 19:1-10

Message

Prayer:  O God, we thank you for the many people throughout the ages who have followed your way of life joyfully; 

for the many saints and martyrs, men and women, who have offered up their very lives, 

so that your life abundant may become manifest. 

For your love and faithfulness we praise and thank you, O God. 

O God, we thank you for those who chose the way of Christ. In the midst of trial, they held out hope;

In the midst of hatred, they kindled love;

In the midst of persecutions, they witnessed to your power; 

In the midst of despair, they clung to your promise. 

For your love and faithfulness we praise and thank you, O God. 

O God, we thank you for the truth they passed on to us: that it is by giving that we shall receive;

It is by becoming weak that we shall be strong;

It is by loving that we shall be loved; 

It is by offering ourselves that the kingdom will unfold; 

It is by dying that we shall inherit life everlasting. 

O God, give us the courage to follow in the Christ’s way. 

For your love and thankfulness we praise and thank you, O God. ( a prayer from the National Council of Churches of the Philippines and printed in the UCC’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence)

Hymn       A Mighty Fortress is our God #262VU

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. We will be observing this Sunday as an All Saints Sunday, singing hymns nominated by our members and remembering past members, and giving thanks for their lives. 

We continue to hold the family and friends of Gordon Lang in our thoughts and prayers. Gordon died last week and his funeral was held on Saturday at St Paul’s. 

This is the absolutely final day to order the Canadian Church calendar. Please speak to Anne if you would like one (or more!). The cost is $15 and the order should be going in tomorrow. 

This afternoon the reception to recall the history of the old Ormstown Medical Centre and to have a chance to thank the doctors for their many years of care and service will be held from 1-4:00 in the hall. 

Next Sunday November 9th we will be participating in a combined Remembrance Sunday service at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, beginning at 10:30am. This will be a service for the Georgetown, Howick, and Ormstown congregations. 

Now is the time to apply for the Holden-Templeton bulletins, which are provided for students in CEGEP, university or vocational training who are members or connected with Howick United Church. The application can be found in the church or on the website. The deadline for applying is December 1st with the bursaries given at the Sunday, December 21st evening service. Please give or send your completed application to Marlen Stuckey, Debbi Templeton, or Scott Templeton by December 1st.

Barbara will be printing a new newsletter for Sunday, November 16th. If you have items to include, please get them to Barbara by November 13th. 

On Sunday, November 23rd St Paul’s will be offering a Family Craft Day on Sunday, November 23rd at 9:30am. We will be making Christmas decorations to decorate the church or home.

We will be offering an organ concert in St Paul’s that afternoon at 2pm. As part of our celebrations for the Centennial of the United Church. We are hoping that Emily will really let her rip so we can appreciate the instrument we have in our church. 

Sunday, November 30th we will be holding a combined service in Howick United Church at 11:00 (coffee and goodies at 10:30). We will also be welcoming Esther Guillien from the Regional Council as a guest. We will be sharing a Soup Luncheon following the service to close off our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. (There are envelopes in the churches and donations may also be made online to food grains bank.ca.)

St Paul’s has now placed baskets in the church for mittens, hats, socks, etc. (I am sure Howick’s will not be far behind!) They will be there to collect items until the White Gift service in December. 

St Paul’s UCW will be holding its Christmas Turkey Dinner on Friday December 12th at noon at MacDougall Hall. The cost will be $25 and the deadline for signing up is December 5th. 

Sunday, October 26, 2025

 

Hymn.         Just As I Am        #508VU

Scripture Lessons:        Joel 2:23-32

                                      Psalm 65 p.782VU

                                      Luke 18:9-14

Message:  

Prayer:  God, our creator and sustainer, you loved us long before we knew ourselves to be lovable, and you loved us long us still. 

Give us, we pray, a greater awareness of your love for all people, and a confidence in the action of your grace in us and in your church. Inspire us with a greater sensitivity to the poor and oppressed. Give us the courage to act on their behalf. 

We praise you today for your mysterious ways among us: for your presence in the midst of human affairs and your seeming absence. By the power of your Spirit, may we grow in the truth that impels us to act justly, and thus give expression to the compassion of your child, Jesus. This we ask through this same Jesus Christ, who lives among us as friend and Saviour. Amen. ( a prayer from Janet Schaffran and Pat Kozak’s More Than Words)

Hymn.       What a Friend We Have in Jesus #664VU

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

In Ormstown this will be a Baptism Sunday and in Howick this will be a Family Craft Day followed by a mini-pizza lunch. All welcome. You can let Wilene Cullen know if you are planning to come so we can have enough supplies and food for everyone. 

We have been deeply saddened by the news of the death of Gordon Lang this past week. We hold his wife Thelma and all the family in our thoughts and prayers. 

We continue our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. Envelopes are available in our churches and donations may also be made online to: foodgrainsbank.ca. 

Next Sunday will be All Saints Sunday and I am inviting people to suggest or nominate hymns to sing on that Sunday. They may be your favourite hymn or a hymn chosen in memory of someone else. Boxes have been placed in the churches for suggestions, or you can speak to Barbara directly. 

Next Sunday there will also be a drop-in celebration for the Ormstown Medical Centre and its doctors, from 1-4:00, in MacDougall Hall in Ormstown. 

Do you want a copy (or copies) of the 2026 Canadian Church calendar? If so, please speak to Anne Carpentier by November 1st. They are available at a cost of $15.00.

On Sunday, November 9th there will be a combined Remembrance Day service for Ormstown, Howick and Georgetown held at the Georgetown Presbyterian Church, beginning at 10:30am. 

Barbara will be preparing a new newsletter for the Advent-Christmas season as well as the New Year, for Sunday, November 16th. If you have items to be included, please let Barbara know. 

Sunday, October 19, 2025 World Food Sunday

 Thursday, October 16th was World Food Day and we observe today as World Food Sunday. We are beginning our campaign to support the Canadian Food Grains Bank.

Hymn        Let Us With a Gladsome Mind #234

Scripture Lessons:      Jeremiah 31:27-35

                                    Psalm 119:97-104 p.840 VU pt 4

                                    Luke 18:1-8

Message

Prayer:  Our Loving Creator God, we bring before you this day the burden the whole world carries as it endures extreme poverty and hunger in every land. 

        Stretch out your loving arms, we pray, to embrace the suffering women, men and children whose bodies, minds, and spirits are shrinking before our every eyes. 

         Help us to look, really look, with clear eyes and open hearts, to see the pain and hopelessness in their bewildered eyes. 

        Kindle within each one of us a flame of love and purpose and then

Enable us to channel love into action in every way, possible and impossible. For this we pray. Amen. 

( a prayer written by Mimi Simpson and shared through the CFGB.) 

Hymn        I Sing the Mighty Power of God #231

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. We will also be beginning our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains Bank, which provides funding, tools, and education to help people around the world have food for themselves and their families, and also to help them to feed themselves. Envelopes are available in our churches and donations can also be made online to: 

foodgrainsbank.ca. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Karen Dowker, the organist in St Paul’s whose father died this week.

This afternoon there will be a classical concert offered at Georgetown Presbyterian Church at 2pm. The concert will be free, but a free will offering will be taken to support research on orphan diseases. 

Many thanks to all who brought food and donations for our local food bank, La Bouffe Additionelle. The gifts have been delivered and they were greatly appreciated! 

If you would like a 2026 Canadian Church calendar, please let Anne Carpentier know. The cost is $15 (please note that the cost has changed after some calculations on shipping etc.) The deadline will be November 1st. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet this Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:30pm in the hall in Ormstown. 

Next Sunday will be Craft Day in Howick next Sunday, at 11:00. This will be followed by a mini-pizza lunch. 

Did you know? Our Regional Council is offering a Youth Forum on the weekend of November 7-9 at the Riverside United Church (Rosemere) for youth across the region. If you would like more information, please contact Barbara and she can provide it. 

Worship Schedule: 

Sunday, November 2nd, nominate your favourite hymn in memory of past members of the church.

Sunday November 9th, combined Remembrance Sunday service 10:30am in Georgetown (for Howick and Ormstown)

Sunday, November 23 9:30 Craft Day in Ormstown

Sunday, November 30 11:00 Combined service for Ormstown and Howick

Sunday, October 12, 2025 Thanksgiving Sunday

 This Sunday is also the final Sunday of the season of Creation. We will continue to delight and rejoice in God’s wonderful world. 

Hymn      Come You Thankful People Come #516

Scripture Lessons:        Deuteronomy 26:1-11

                                      Psalm 100 p.824VU

                                      John 6:25-35

Hymn       We Ploughed the Fields and Scatter #520

Message

Prayer:  God of renewal and new life, Loving and wonderful God, you know us. 

You know our needs and our bodies. You made us to eat. You have kept us fed. 

You give us bread to fill our bellies, and Scripture to feed our souls. 

Thank you for your bounty.

Thank you for your love. 

Thank you for Jesus, the bread of life, who broke of us. 

God of bread and food, this is the season of Thankfulness. 

And so we thank you for caring for us. Amen ( a prayer from the United Church of Canada)

Hymn       Now Thank We All our God #236

This Sunday’s services are 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. Ormstown will once again be collecting food for the food bank, both seasonal produce and non-perishable food items would be grateful received. 

Many thanks to all who supported the BBQ Chicken lunch last Sunday. It was a great success and a great time to gather together to share a meal. 

Does anyone want to order a Canadian Church calendar, if so please speak to Anne Carpentier, to order what you need. 

Howick UCW will be meeting on Wednesday, October 15th at 7pm in the church. Marlene will be sharing ideas on using air fryers. 

Georgetown Presbyterian Church will be hosting a classical concert offered by Ryan Hull on Sunday, October 19th at 2pm. The concert is offered free of charge, but a free will offering will be taken to support research into orphan diseases. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday October 22nd at 7:30pm in the hall, to review and finalize decisions discussed last month. 

On October 26th Howick United Church will be holding a Craft Day for children and will offer a mini-pizza lunch following the 11:00 service. 

On November 2nd we will be holding an All Saints service in both congregations. You can suggest some hymns for this service in memory of past family and church members. 

On Sunday, November 9th we will sharing a combined Remembrance Sunday service for Howick, Ormstown, and Georgetown churches. It will be held in Georgetown Presbyterian Church beginning at 10:30am. 

Sunday, October 5, 2025 The Fifth Sunday of Creation

 

Hymn       When Morning Gilds the Skies #339

Scripture Lessons:      Lamentations 3:19-26

                                    Psalm 116 p. 836VU

                                    II Timothy 3:-14

Message

Prayer:  O God our Creator, your kindness has brought us the gift of a new day. Help us to leave yesterday,  and not to covet tomorrow, but to accept the uniqueness of today. 

By your love, celebrated in your word, seen in your Son, brought near by your Spirit, take from us what we need carry no longer, so that we may be free again to choose to serve you and to be served by each other. 

Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. 

I believe that God forgives and sets us free. 

We believe that God forgives and sets us free,  At the day’s beginning, we commit ourselves to following where Christ calls and to loving one another. Amen. ( a prayer from the Iona Community.) 

Hymn       New Every Morning #405

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick (which will be followed by the BBQ Chicken Luncheon). It will be Worldwide Communion Sunday in both Churches. 

Many thanks for all the support the BBQ Chicken Fundraiser has received. The deadline for tickets has now passed and the response was phenomenal. Please recall that you can pick your lunches up at the church, back door or you can eat in as a fellowship lunch as well. We look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks also to those who came out on Tuesday night for the work bee at Howick United Church. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with our Jewish sisters and brothers following the attack on the synagogue in Manchester on one of its holiest of holidays, Yom Kippur. 

St Paul’s Session will meet on Wednesday, October 8th at 7pm in the hall.

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:30pm in the hall to finish some decisions that were discussed at last month’s meeting. 

Next Sunday, October 12th, will be Thanksgiving Sunday and we will be celebrating the end of the season of Creation as well as the harvest season. St Paul’s will also be collecting food items for the food bank, La Bouffe Additionelle, both seasonal produce and non-perishable food items. 

On Sunday, October 19th we will be observing World Food Sunday and starting our campaign for the Canadian Food Grains bank. Envelopes will be available (for when the mail actually starts moving again) or donations may be made online. 

On Sunday, October 26th Howick United Church will be holding its annual Craft Day and mini-pizza lunch following the 11:00 service. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council will be holding a consultation on the future of the church on two dates and two locations: first at Beaconsfield United Church on Friday, October 17th from 9:30-4:00 and at Lennoxville United Church on Saturday, October 18th from 9:30-4:00. Registration is requested. Barbara would be happy to send you the link.