Worship

Sunday September 12, 2021 – Blessing of the Backpacks

Experiencing Creation with All Our Senses: Touch
Blessing of the Backpacks

Today’s service includes a Blessing of the Backpacks. You are invited to bring backpacks or bags to the screen for this blessing, or anything that for you symbolizes our students and educators who have just returned to school (even drawing a picture of a backpack or an apple on a piece of paper). If you appreciate the blessing and would like to send it to someone you know, we are also sharing a link to just this part of the service. For those joining on Zoom, we will also share an additional responsive prayer for students and educators.

Today we begin the Season of Creation with the first week of our series “experiencing creation with all of our senses.” We begin with the sense of touch, and hear of Jesus teaching about the importance of being like children.

This morning we begin a musical fall, with a full quartet leading our hymns, sung responses, and anthem. You will notice that there is more recording in our beautifully renovated sanctuary, as we continue to learn about the A/V system and how it can work for us.

Come for our Stories and Makers Nest starting at 9:55am, or any time before our 10:30am service. If you are watching on YouTube, join Zoom at 11am for a time of conversation.

Sign Up Now for Solo Sanctuary Time, Church Tour or Worship Viewing at Leaside United

Solo Sanctuary Times
Are you missing having some time in the church sanctuary, just to reflect, pray, and appreciate the space? Starting September 2nd, you can sign up for Solo Sanctuary times. Sign up for half an hour and stay for as much of that time as you would like, as you sit or walk in the sanctuary, light a candle, read scripture or hymn texts, or meditate. Let Emily know if you have any further questions.

Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAAAC28AAF5C70-solo

Looking for an opportunity to see more than just the sanctuary? You might be interested in a church renovation tour!

Church Renovation Tours
Join a small group for a tour of the newly renovated church, starting Tuesday, September 7th. Times will be available midday and in the evening with a member of the renovation team.

Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAAAC28AAF5C70-church

Worship Viewing
Would you like to watch or rewatch some of the worship that has been shared over the past year, but this time in our sanctuary? Starting September 16th we will have some opportunities to watch a previously shared service in our sanctuary, as another way to enjoy our new space and connect with what our congregation has been doing over the past year.

Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAAAC28AAF5C70-worship

Please note these 5 guidelines for any visits inside the church building:
– Anyone (12 and older) must be fully vaccinated
– Masks must be worn inside
– Maintain social distancing (6’ apart)
A wellness form must be filled out for each visit
– Please arrive 10 minutes early for your visit and enjoy our beautiful landscaping while you wait. Tours and sanctuary times will begin promptly at the start time, and since our doors continue to be locked to walk-ins it will not be possible to join late.

More times for church tours, solo sanctuary times, and worship viewings will be added, so if you don’t see a time that works for you check back with the same links next week!

If you are having any trouble signing up, just let Alison, Emily, or Michele know.

Sunday Worship in September

During September weekly worship will continue every Sunday on both Zoom and YouTube at 10:30am as we learn about our new A/V system and what is possible. We look forward to developing our livestream capability and moving towards adding an in-person option as soon as we have the technology in place and it is safe to do so. We will begin Creation Time and explore the theme “Experiencing Creation with all of our senses.” On September 12th we’ll also share a Blessing of the Backpacks as a part of our worship.

The Stories and Makers Nest will restart this Sunday, September 5th at 9:55 am and continue throughout the fall. This program is on Zoom and YouTube (on YouTube on an ongoing basis). The theme this month is “Fruits of the Spirit.”
We continue to collaborate with Rosedale United Church on creating this program and look forward to more weeks with Rebecca, Roberta, and some furry friends.

On September 19th we will begin a monthly outdoor time of worship, with some prayer and readings and more time spent engaging with nature as a way to connect with the sacred. Our theme on September 19th will be Balance as we approach the Autumnal Equinox, and we will take the opportunity to pay attention to the landscape, and native plants on the church property. This outdoor time will include options for all ages, and we welcome the youngest and the oldest to take part. Those who are spiritual but not religious might especially appreciate this approach to connecting with the sacred.

We look forward to the many different ways we will connect with one another in September and throughout the fall.