Life Changes

Second Sunday of Lent – March 13, 2022

For our second Sunday during the season of Lent, our theme is Shared Stories. The service will include parts of the service Black Experiences in Canadian Churches (originally planned for February but postponed due to tech challenges). We will also remember that it is PIE Sunday, light a candle marking two years since the start of the pandemic, and share a prayer “The Burden of War.”

Our music includes If Ye Love Me by Thomas Tallis, with pandemic words written in March 2020, a solo Come to Me by Dan Forrest, and the hymn In Christ, There is No East or West.

If you are worshiping online, join us on Zoom following the service for a time of conversation.

Looking Ahead
On Sunday, March 20, the third Sunday during the season of Lent, we will reflect on the beauty of nature and the simple goodness of life. Our music will include bagpipes, and other choices in memory of Bryan Pyper.

Wilderness Time with Rev. Dr. John Young – March 6, 2022

First Sunday of Lent
Wilderness Time

Guest Preacher – the Rev. Dr. John Young,
Interim Principal of Emmanuel College

At 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our weekly Sunday morning worship.

Today we welcome guest preacher Rev. Dr. John Young, who was ordained in 1978 and served in several congregational ministries before joining the faculty of Queen’s Theological College at Queen’s University in 1991, where he taught in the areas of History of Christianity and Pastoral Studies until 2016. He was then the Executive Minister, Theological Leadership, in the United Church’s General Council Office, until becoming the Interim Principal of Emmanuel College in the fall of 2021.

As we move into the season of Lent, we will explore the theme “Wilderness Time” through word and music. The sermon will focus on Luke 4:1-13, and our hymns continue the theme of Jesus in the desert. Our anthem will be “Be Still, My Heart” by Matthew Emery.

We also invite you to take a few minutes to learn the Introit we will be singing during Lent, Senzeni Na, along with Matt and our leads:

If you would like to mark the beginning of the season of Lent before Sunday, you might be interested in our 12 minute Ash Wednesday worship:

Looking Ahead
On Sunday, March 13 we mark the second Sunday during the season of Lent. The service will draw on a service created sharing Black Experiences in Canadian Churches, while also acknowledging PIE Sunday, and two years since the beginning of the Pandemic.

The Spirituality of Gardening – March 12th at 10:30am

variety of green plants

Spirit Alive on March 12 at 10:30am will be on the theme: The Spirituality of Gardening. Led by Margaret Franklin on Zoom.

In preparation I would ask that if you have a chance to do so, read the piece in the latest BROADVIEW, “If Jesus Was a Gardener” by Anne Theriault.

And especially find a flower and a time to look very closely at the details of the flower, maybe take a few photographs or make a drawing or a painting, maybe close up, and even use a magnifying glass to see the detail.

And bring your gardening stories.

All are welcome.

Contact office@leasideunited.org for the Zoom link.

Healing Series: Being Present – Sunday February 27, 2022

WORSHIP WITH LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH
February 27, 2022

Eighth Sunday after Epiphany
Black History Month

Healing Series: Being Present

We are pleased to continue our in-person worship option!  If you are worshiping online, join us on Zoom following the service for a time of conversation.

Today we will continue our healing series, on the last Sunday of every month). We hear a short opening prayer en français and readings from a variety of sources that connect the idea of healing with being present, storytelling and listening to stories.

During our service, we will also take time to light candles for joys and sorrows. With Covid restrictions we cannot presently invite everyone to come forward and light candles.

Whether or not you are able to worship with us this week, you are invited to share in a prayer for peace. A prayer from our Moderator, Richard Bott (below).

Looking Ahead
On Wednesday, March 2 we will share a short (15 minute) Ash Wednesday time of worship, online only.
On Sunday, March 6 we mark the first Sunday during the season of Lent by welcoming guest preacher the Rev. Dr. John Young, Interim Principal at Emmanuel College.


photo of sunflower
Photo by icon0.com on Pexels.com


A call to pray for peace from Moderator Richard Bott
The world sits below a precipice,
waiting,
after the first stone has been pushed to the edge
and started to roll.

And we wonder,
where will it stop.

We wonder,
what lives will be lost –
who will die on this war’s altar?

Soldiers?
Combatants?
Civilians?

Children?

I pray for the decision-makers of the world,
including Mr. Putin,
that they would find a way to
bring this to an end, now;
that they would find a way out –
for the people of Ukraine,
for the people of Russia,
for the world.

Tonight, I pray for all those who are protesting
this decision for war by the Russian government,
especially those Russian citizens
who are standing in the face of their government,
who are risking arrest and harsh punishment,
by telling their leaders this invasion must stop.

I pray for the people of Ukraine.
For the ones who are picking up arms
to defend themselves and those they love.
For the ones who are trying to get themselves,
their families, and their neighbours,
to safe haven, away from the fighting.
For the ones who are sleeping
in the subway, or in the basement,
or in a cellar,
for fear of the bombings.

I pray for the most vulnerable,
the ones who don’t understand what is happening,
and rely on others for their safety;
and for those who carry the burden
of protection and care.

I pray for them all, God.

But, most of all,
I pray that your peace would pour down
like a God-aweful waterfall,
that those who, for whatever reason,
are choosing to make this happen,
would find all of their reasons and rationalizations
washed away by your overwhelming peace,
and your infinite love.

Help us, God.
As individuals, as communities,
as nation-states,
help us to be peace-bearers.

Overwhelm all that would kill and destroy,
we pray,
with your forever love,
and your amazing grace.

In Christ’s name,
i ask these things.

Amen.

Will you pray with me?
Will you ask your government’s leadership to help to bring this to an end?
Amen.