Sunday, November 16, 2025 Children’s Sabbath

 

Hymn.       O Day of God Draw Nigh #688

Scripture Lessons:        Isaiah 65:17-25

                                      Isaiah 12 p.880VU

                                      Luke 21:5-19

Message

Prayer:  Today we celebrate the gifts of children, gifts of love, trust and joy. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them. 

Today we remember the needs of children, for food, clean water, safe homes, education, and medical care. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them. 

Today we acknowledge the vulnerability of children to war, violence, abuse, and neglect. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them. 

Today we recognize the openness of children, to faith and belief, to surprise and discovery, and to joy and delight. And we ask for God’s blessing upon them. 

Today we consider the ambition of children, to grow and to become, to learn and to experience And we ask for God’s blessing upon them. 

Today we recall that Jesus offered a child as an example of both humility and greatness. Today we remember Jesus’ words that it is to children that the kingdom of God belongs And we ask for God’s blessing upon them. 

Today we hear God’s promise that we are all children of God And we ask for God’s blessing upon us all. Amen. ( prayer from the United Church’s resource, Seeds and Sowers, adapting resources prepared by the Children’s Defense Fund) 

Hymn.       How Firm a Foundation #660VU

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

We are saddened to hear of the death of Garth Cavers of St Paul’s United Church. We hold Ruth and all of the family in our thoughts and prayers. 

The newsletter for the Advent-Christmas- New Year’s season has been printed. If you cannot pick one up, one will be delivered to you, on request. 

The time has come to apply for theHolden- Templeton bursaries. They are available to students of CEGEP, university, or vocational school who are connected (members or adherents) of Howick United Church. The deadline for applying is December 1st. The applications are available at the church or on the church website. Please get your application to Marlene Stuckey, Debbi Templeton, or Scott Templeton by the deadline. We hope to present the bursaries at the December 21st Christmas Candlelight service. 

St Paul’s Stewards will meet on Wednesday, November 19th at 7:30 pm. We will be reviewing the results of the MRC inspection of the church and the hall. 

Next Sunday November 23rd at the 9:30 service St Paul’s will hold a Craft Day for children and families, in the church, at the same time as the service. All welcome.

Sunday, November 23rd we have asked Emily MacDonald to offer us an organ concert, at 2pm in St Paul’s. Come and hear what our pipe organ can do! 

Keep in mind the Rudolph Run this year, which is being organized by 4-H. It will be held on Saturday November 29th from 9-11:00, departing from the Ormstown Rec Centre at 9:00, and followed by goodies once you have finished your course. You can choose your distance to run or walk. A minimum donation of $5 is requested  (more would be accepted!) to help raise funds for La Bouffe Additionelle for the Christmas baskets and continuing to provide food for families into the new year. If you have questions, please contact Elen Cameron. 

On Sunday, November 30th, there will be a combined service held in Howick United Church at 11:00. We will be welcoming Esther Guillien as a guest speaker from the Regional Council. We will follow the service with a Soup Luncheon to bring our campaign for the CFGB to an end. 

The Mitten Trees are now up in both churches. We are collecting hats, mittens, scarves and socks as part of our Adventure preparations. 

The UCW in Ormstown is once again planning a Christmas Turkey Dinner for Friday December 12th at noon. The cost is $25 and if possible, it is requested that it be prepaid. If you wish to reserve a place, please contact Wendy Dennison, Lynn Bryson, Shirley Vandor, or Anne Carpentier. We will be collecting items for Residence-Elle: toiletries and other personal items for the use of the residents. These are not gifts, so they do not need to be gift-wrapped. 

On Saturday, December 6th, the day of the Santa Claus parade in Howick, Howick United Church and its UCW will be holding a Book, Puzzle, and Bake Sale from 11-1:30 in the church. Donations of books and puzzles would be appreciated earlier, and the baking can be dropped off that morning. Thank you for your support.