Sunday, June 28, 2026 The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

 This Sunday sits squarely between Fete National and Canada Day. We give thanks for the place where we live and the gifts and blessings we find here. 

Hymn      This is God’s Wondrous World #296

Prayer:  O God, For more light in the day, we thank you, 

For gentle mornings, we thank you, 

For nighttime conversations, we thank you, 

For friends and family we thank you, 

For gardens and all manner of creatures, we thank you. 

Help us, Creator and lover of our souls. 

Help us love this earth. 

Help us dwell whole-heartedly in our lives this day. 

Help us pray as we walk, work, play, rest and create. Amen. (from Ignatieff Spirituality)

Scripture Lessons:      Psalm 13 p.734VU

                                    Matthew 10:40-42

Message

Prayer:  Loving God, Creator of all things and places, we thank you for the gift of summertimes, the days of light, warmth, and leisure. 

       Thank you for the beauty that surrounds us everywhere we look:  the multi-coloured flowers, the deep blue of the sky, the tranquil surface of lakes, the laughter of children at play, people strolling in parks, families gathered around picnic tables and the time to spend with family and friends. 

       As we open our eyes and ears to the landscape of nature and people, open our hearts to recall as a gift. Give us that insight to see you as the Divine Artist. Help us to realize and appreciate that you are labouring to keep all in existence. Warm our souls with awareness of your presence. 

       Let all the gifts we enjoy this summer deepen our awareness of your love so that we may share this with others and enjoy summertime of re-creation. Amen. ( from Marquette University) 

Hymn       Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life #681VU

This Sunday’s services are Ormstown at 9:30 in St Paul’s. Howick’s service is at 11:00 and is a little more fluid. We are still hoping to hold the service outside, hopefully at Knox Cemetery in St Louis de Gonzague. A new sign has been put up, near house #232 on route 236, so hopefully you can find it. If the weather or the driveway does not cooperate, we will let you know Sunday morning and we will meet at the church. If we are outside, please bring a chair, a sun hat, and some bug spray (if we are at the Cemetery). We will have Noah Tolhurst providing the music and this will be a Communion service. The loose offering that will be collected on this Sunday will be used for the maintenance of the Cemetery. 

This will be the last blog for a while. I will be going on vacation until August 2nd. The next service and blog will be August 9th, though I will be back home and in the office before that. 

In my absence, the Rev. Mher Khatchikian has agreed to cover any pastoral emergencies that might arise. 

We hold in our thoughts and prayers once again the family and friends of Sharon Fletcher following her burial last week. 

Many thanks for all the help for the Strawberry Takeout that took place on Thursday. It is greatly appreciated. 

A new newsletter has been printed and is available for those who would like to receive it. 

Please keep in mind the Valley Flower Shiw that will take place Saturday, July 25th from 1-4:00 in the Ormstown Rec Centre. Admission will be $7 for adults and $2 for children 10 and under.

In August there are a number of special events happening. St Paul’s will be holding a special concert with Ryan Hull, who played at Georgetown last year. He has graciously agreed to come to play once again. The concert will be Friday, August 14th at 7pm in the church. This will be a fundraiser for Organ Transplant. 

On Sunday, August there will be a Quilt and Artisans Show at Georgetown Presbyterian Church from 11-4:00. Admission will be $10 and there will be family activities and a light lunch served for a donation. Proceeds of the event will go to local organizations, Girl Guides, 4-H, and the Health Coop. 

Sunday, June 21, 2026 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

 This Sunday is both Father’s Day and National Indigenous People’s Day, an interesting combination! Both deserve time and attention at this time🙏🏽

Hymn       For the Beauty of the Earth #226

Scripture Lessons:       Genesis 21:8-21

                                     Psalm 86 p.803VU

                                     Matthew 10:24-39

Message

Prayer:  O Great Spirit, whose voice we hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear us.

We come before you as your children. We are small and weak; we need your strength and wisdom. 

Let us walk in beauty, 

and make our eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. 

May our hands respect the things you have made, 

May our ears be sharp to hear your voice. 

Make us wise, that we may know the things you have taught your people, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. 

We seek strength, not to be superior to our brothers and sisters, but to live in harmony with ourselves and all your creation. 

Help us to be ever ready to come to you, so when life fades as a fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame. Amen. ( a traditional Native American prayer printed in Celebrate God’s presence, a United Church worship resource).

Hymn        Faith of our Fathers #580VU

This Sunday’s services are back to the usual schedule, 9:30 service in Howick and 11:00 in Ormstown. We will be marking both Father’s Day and National Indigenous People’s Day, or the National Indigenous Day of Prayer.

Next Sunday will be a regular Sunday in Ormstown at 9:30, but in Howick we are hoping to hold an Outdoor service, possibly at the Knox Cemetery at 11:00. Please keep in contact so we can confirm or change the plans, if necessary. 

Barbara is preparing a newsletter for this Sunday. Please let us know if you would like a copy. 

St Paul’s Stewards are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:30pm. 

The time is coming for St Paul’s Strawberry Takeout! The Takeout will be held Thursday, June 25th from 5-7:00 in MacDougall Hall in Ormstown. Prices will be $10 for adults and $6 for children 5-12. 

We will be fixing the berries on Wednesday, June 24th beginning at 11:00. If you can come and help, please bring your bowl or paring knife (and apron), if possible. Your help would be greatly appreciated! 

Barbara will be going on holidays following the June 28th service. The Rev Mher Khatchikian will be available to assist in an emergency. 

Sunday, June 14, 2026 The Third Sunday after Pentecost

 This Sunday is Fair Sunday in Howick and Ormstown. We give thanks to God for the fruitfulness of the earth and all the blessings God’s creation gives to us. 

Hymn         Let Us with a Gladsome Mind #234

Scripture Lessons:        Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7

                                      Psalm 116 p.836VU

                                      Matthew 9:35-10:8

Message

Prayer:  When you told us to leave our old lives behind, to set out on a path you would show us and to put our trust in you, 

We laughed in our fear. We thought we might get lost. 

When you told us we were special, that you had chosen to bless us and lead us, and bless the world through us, 

We laughed in our astonishment. We thought we were too ordinary. 

When you told us you would make us you would create blessings numerous as the stars, 

We laughed in our doubt. We thought we were barren. 

But when the promise was fulfilled, and we held in our arms evidence of your love, the power of your faithfulness, 

We laughed in our joy, out loud! 

We laughed because it filled us out, and poured out our souls—

And because we heard you laughing as well! ( written by Anna Shirey and printed in Before the Amen edited by Maren Tira C. Tirabassi and Maria I Tirabassi.)

Hymn        All the Way my Saviour Leads Me #634VU

This Sunday there will be no service in Howick, but there will be a service at 11:00 in St Paul’s in Ormstown. 

Howick UCW will meet on Wednesday, June 17th at 7pm in the church hall. Our guest speaker will be Kim Wilson who will speak at the beginning of the meeting. The business meeting will follow. 

Barbara will be preparing a newsletter for next Sunday. Please let Barbara know if there are items to be included. 

There will be no Steward’s meeting in Ormstown this week. Instead they will meet  on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:30pm, so we can set up tables for the Strawberry Takeout. 

St Paul’s Strawberry Social will take place Thursday, June 25th from 5-7:00 in the church hall. Prices will be $10 for adults and $6 for children 5-12. 

The strawberries will be prepared on Wednesday, June 24th in the hall at 11:00. If you can come and help, please bring bowls and knives, if possible. 

Howick United Church is planning to hold its annual Outdoor service on Sunday, June 28th, at 11:00, which will include the celebration of Communion. We are hoping to be able to return to the Knox Cemetery in St Louis de Gonzague, if the weather and the state of the driveway cooperate. Please keep in touch, in case we need to make a last minute decision. 

Barbara will be on holiday in July, until August 2nd. In case of a pastoral emergency, the Rev Mher Khatchikian will be available to help. 

Sunday, June 7, 2026 The Second Sunday after Pentecost

 Today is also Union Sunday, when we celebrate the beginning of the United Church, which was formed June 10, 1925. We celebrate more than a century of the United Church! 

Hymn       O God of Bethel #650VU

Scripture Lessons:        Romans 4:13-25

                                      Psalm 33 p.760VU

                                     Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Message

Prayer:  God of the way, you are the road we travel, and the sign that we follow, you are bread for the journey, and the wine of arrival. 

   Guide us as we follow in your way, holding on to each other, reaching out to your beloved world. 

And when we stray, seek us out and find us, set our feet on the path again, and lead us safely home. 

In the name of Jesus, our Companion, we pray. Amen. (written by Janet Cawley, printed in Voices United, #648.)

Hymn.      My Faith Looks Up to Thee #663VU

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

This is also the day we will be celebrating Anita Greig’s birthday in Howick. There will be a lunch following the 11:00 Sunday services, the reception itself will be held from 1:30-4:00.  All welcome to come and offer your good wishes. 

Congratulations to Ruth Tannahill who celebrated 100 years with her family yesterday. 🎂🥳

Next Sunday there will be no Sunday service in Howick, because of the Ormstown Fair. There will be a Sunday service in Ormstown at 11:00. 

Sunday, June 28th will be the annual Outdoor service for Howick United Church, at 11:00, assuming the weather cooperates. We are hoping to return to the Knox Cemetery site, depending on the state of the driveway. Please keep in touch as the final decision about the service may have to be made on Saturday. 

St Paul’s is planning to hold its Strawberry Takeout Thursday, June 25th from 5-7:00 at MacDougall Hall. The prices will be $10 for adults and $6 for children. We will be preparing the strawberries on Wednesday June 24th at 1:00 also in the hall. Bring your bowls and paring knives and lend a hand! 

Barbara will be preparing a newsletter for June 21st. Please let her know if there is news to be included.

June is observed by many churches and organizations as Pride month. The United Church is committed justice and equity for all LGBTQ2+ people, both within and outside the church.