Sunday, April 19, 2026 The Third Sunday of Easter

 This Sunday is the beginning of Earth Week, as we prepare to mark Earth Day on April 22nd. 🌏

Hymn       All Creatures of our God and King #217VU

Prayer:  Loving and gracious God, you are a God of Creation.  Create in me a faithful steward of your world, showing me opportunities to make a difference, that I may live with respect in Creation. 

You are a God of Incarnation. Make me your heart and mind, equipping me to work for change. 

You are a God of Resurrection. Help me see new ways and new hope, planting in me the seeds of restoration and renewal. 

God of Creation, Incarnation, and Resurrection, help me go gently in this fragile world. Amen. ( from the United Church website, prayers for Earth Week.)

Scripture Lessons:       I Peter 1:17-23

                                     Psalm 116 p. VU

                                     Luke 24:13-35

Message

Prayer:  Creating God, you have called us to be in loving relations with all the Earth, living with respect in creation, choosing love and seeking justice at all times. 

Instead, humankind has acted in hateful ways, exploiting natural resources, choosing power and seeking wealth in the present over future abundance. 

We need your help to fight for a better future. 

Help to reawaken our love for Creation, that is so magnificent that we, with all our creativity and knowledge, could never articulate it, and so passionate that we, with the personal price and communal cost, would still fight for it. 

Help to deepen our relationships and love for each other: affirming the wisdom of youth strikers, so that we are not discouraged by empty platitudes and naysayers; and growing our community of allies, so that we can create a sustainable and faithful response to the imminent climate crisis. 

For the sake of your majestic creation, and for the love of all our relations. Help us to fight for a better future. Amen. (also from the UCC website.) 

Hymn     Thine is the Glory #173VU

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

We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of Sharon Fletcher, who died this past week. No arrangements have been made at this time. 

Wilene Cullen Treasurer for Howick, has prepared a quarterly financial statement that she wishes to share with the congregation.

St Paul’s Ormstown will be holding a Craft Day for young people on Sunday, April 26th at the 9:30 service in the church. All welcome. 

Howick Stewards will meet Tuesday, April 28th at 7pm in the church. 

Howick WI will be holding an Anniversary Tea Thursday, April 23 at 1:30 in the Howick United Church. The program will include Evie Kerr, Abby Stonehouse and some music and will be followed by refreshments. Wear your hat, gloves, or fascinator and come share in the celebrations. All welcome. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council is once again offering bursaries to university, college, or CEGEP students who are confirmed members of a congregation in the region. The application form can be found on the Regional Council website, Nakonhaka.ucc.ca and the deadline for applying is May 31st. Please contact Barbara if you have any questions. 

Sunday, April 12, 2026 The Second Sunday of Easter

 

Hymn.       Jesus Stand Among Us #396VU

Scripture Lessons:         I Peter 1:3-9

                                       Psalm 16 p.738VU

                                       John 20:19-31

Hymn.        The Strife is O’er

Message

Prayer:  O Christ, today, gloriously, joyfully, you live for ever in the life of the world, in the hearts of those who love you, in the power of the Spirit to transcend even death. May we who love you, and find in our hope, bear witness, as Thomas did, that your risen body still carries the marks of the world’s violence, injustice, and greed, and as we remember and rejoice, help us to keep faith with all who still, today, suffer the outrages of violence, injustice and greed. In our actions, in our prayers, in our choices and in our commitment, teach us the true meaning of good news for the poor. Amen. (a prayer by Kathy Galloway from Friends and Enemies)

Hymn        The Day of Resurrection #164

This Sunday’s services will be 9:30 in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. We will continue to celebrate our Easter faith and joy. 

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

Howick UCW will meet on Wednesday April 15th at 7pm in the church hall. 

Howick’s Stewards will meet on Tuesday, April 28th at 7pm in the church. 

Howick WI will hold an Anniversary Tea on Thursday, April 23rd at 1:30 in Howick United Church. There will be a program including Evie Kerr, Abby Stonehouse, and music, followed by refreshments. Memorabilia will also be displayed. If you choose, you might put on a hat, gloves, or fascinator for the celebration. All welcome. 

Nakonhaka Regional Council is once again offering bursaries to university, college, and CEGEP students who are confirmed members of a congregation in the region. Applications can be found on the council website, Nakonhaka.ucc.ca and the deadline for applying is May 31st. Please contact Barbara if you have any questions. 

Sunday, April 5, 2026 Easter Sunday

 This week both Jews and Christians are celebrating our major holidays. Many Jews will be observing Passover and sharing in a Seder. As Christians we will be celebrating the central holy day of our faith, Easter and celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. 

Hymn       Welcome Happy Morning #161

Prayer:  Almighty and everlasting God, we come with joy to worship you this Easter Day. And our joy is this, that the one who was crucified, dead and buried is now alive forevermore, our risen and reigning Lord. As we celebrate his resurrection, we pray that his joy may abide in our hearts and that our lives may proclaim his praise. To him be the honour and glory, this day and forever. Amen. (a prayer from Frank Colquhoun’s Contemporary Parish Prayers, written by Frank Colquhoun, adapted.)

Scripture Lessons:        Acts 10:34-43

                                      Psalm 118:14-24 p. 837 VU parts 2, 3

                                      John 20:1-18

Hymn        Come Children Join to Sing #345

Message

Prayer:  it is the Lord, in the dawning, in the renewal, in the arrival, in the new day. 

It is the Lord, in the crowd, in the church, in the conversation, in the crisis. 

It is the Lord, in our joys, in our sorrows, in our sickness, in our health. 

It is the Lord, in the stable, in the humble,in the stranger, in the poor. 

It is the Lord, risen and returned, alive forevermore, giving me new life, saving me in strife, it is the Lord. (by David Adam, printed in Bread of Tomorrow, edited by Janet Morley)

Hymn        Jesus Christ is Risen Today #155VU

Benediction:  May the love of the cross, the power of the resurrection, and the presence of the Living Lord, be with you always. And the blessing of the Eternal God, Creator, Sustainer, Risen Lord and Saviour, Giver of Holiness and love be upon you now and evermore. Amen. 

This Sunday we will be celebrating Easter with a Communion service in both congregations: in Ormstown at 9:30 and Howick at 11:00. All are welcome to join us in this celebration. 

Did you know that our Moderator , Kimberly Heath has prepared an Easter message? You can find it on the United Church’s YouTube channel, on Facebook or on the United Church’s website, united-church.ca. 

Our Regional Council is once again offering bursaries to university, college, or CEGEP students who are confirmed members of a congregation in the region. Application forms are available on the council’s website, Nakonhaka.ucc.ca and the deadline for applying is May 31st. Please speak to Barbara if you have any questions. 

A new newsletter has been prepared and printed and is available in our churches, or you can request a copy from Barbara or one of the elders. 

The Howick Women’s Institute will be holding a Tea to celebrate its 115th anniversary on Thursday. April 23rd from 1:30, in Howick United Church. We are invited to dress up to celebrate the occasion, with entertainment offered by Evie Kerr, Abby Stonehouse, as well as music, and followed by refreshments. The event is open to the public, so you can share the invitation. 

April 3, 2026 Good Friday

 

Hymn       Go to Dark Gethsemane #133 VU

Prayer:  Holy God, who has opened our ears to your Word and our lips to proclaim your truth; open our eyes this day to see in the cross the revelation of your love; through Jesus the Crucified, to when with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, be honour and praise, now and forever. Amen. ( from the United Church’s worship resource, Celebrate God’s Presence.) 

Scripture Lessons:       Isaiah 52:13-53:12

                                     Psalm 22:1-22

                                     Matthew 27:27-55

Hymn      There is a Green Hill Far Away #152

Message

Prayer:  Christ, when we survey the wondrous cross, strengthen us to face the very worst in our world:  hatred, greed, lust for power, fear that we are small or in significant or ugly or unworthy, violence, oppression. Help us to bring your truth, grace, faith, hope, wisdom, and love— the greatest of these being love. For your love has the power to destroy all that has brought you to this cross and us to your side. Amen. (a prayer from the UCC’s 2016 Lenten study, Parables, Prayers, and Promises)

Hymn       When I Survey the Wondrous Cross #149

There is no Good Friday service in Ormstown or Howick. There is the walk of the Cross led by the Huntingdon Ecumenical Community that begins at 9:30am in Huntingdon, at St John’s Anglican Church. 

We will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with an Easter Sunday service with Communion in both our churches, 9:30 in Ormstown and 11:00 in Howick. All are welcome to join in this celebration.