Connie Davidson

August 15, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - August 16, 2020

Connie Davidson

August 15, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

August 16, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: “Who Comes From God” Voices United #892

1. Who comes from God, as Word and Breath? Holy Wisdom.
Who holds the keys of life and death? Mighty Wisdom.
Crafter and Creator too, Eldest, she makes all things new;
Wisdom guides what God will do,
Wisest One, Radiant One, welcome, Holy Wisdom.

2. Who lifts her voice for all to hear? Joyful Wisdom.
Who shapes a thought and makes it clear? Truthful Wisdom.
Teacher drawing out our best, magnifies what we invest,
Names our truth, directs our quest,
Wisest One, Radiant One, welcome, Holy Wisdom.

3. Whom should we seek with all our heart? Loving Wisdom.
Who, once revealed, will not depart? Faithful Wisdom.
Partner, Counsellor, Comforter, love has found none lovelier,
Life is gladness lived with her,
Wisest One, Radiant One, welcome, Holy Wisdom.

Welcome & Announcements

Good Morning! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I extend a warm welcome to you today and I greet you in the name of Jesus, our mentor and guide, and the very reason we gather together as a family of faith.

This is the third Sunday of our summer sermon series on Wisdom in the book of Proverbs and today we will hear Lady Wisdom extend an invitation to us all that will be hard to turn down!

During this time when we are not able to gather in the church sanctuary, please know that BCUC offers our worship services in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org for our audio, video, and text formats, along with the weekly announcements, online meetings, events, and other updates. To access the service on your telephone, you can dial 613-820-8104 to listen to the most recent service. We also encourage you to show that you care by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls, and prayers.

Here are a few announcements to highlight this week:

David’s Flowers are available for purchase by donation every Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:30, drive-through style. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to bring donations by exact change or a prepared cheque, and remain in your car to receive instructions from our volunteers. Thank you for your support!

Next Saturday, August 22, from 11:00am till noon, we will also be treated to a small barbecue, hosted by “Two Men and a Stove”. To help us comply with the current Health and Safety measures, we ask that you register in advance by contacting the church office at 613-820- 8103. At that time, you can choose between a hamburger or hot dog, with onions and condiments, along with a small bag of chips and a soft drink for just $5 per person. Tables will be placed and cleaned according to the Health regulations and folks are asked to be masked until seated. Proceeds from the barbecue will go to the BCUC Operating fund.

So, plan to join us on Saturday for flowers and stay for lunch!

Every Wednesday evening at 8pm, we invite you to join your prayers with others from the comfort of your own home. Wherever you are, say a prayer for the world, for your community, the congregation, your family, and yourself.

Volume 2 of the book of Memories is available for purchase in either print or digital format. Please call the church office to reserve your copy and arrange payment and pick-up.

You can also purchase Grocery cards by calling the church office.

For those who are able to join us by Zoom, there will be a “Virtual Fellowship Time” every Sunday at 11 am. The link will be sent to you by email. If you have not yet received it, please call the office for more information during regular church office hours.

For more announcements, please check the church website.

Let us now gather our hearts and minds for worship…

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Hazel Smith

Just as we light candles on our dining table to celebrate a special meal,
Just as we light candles on a cake to celebrate a birthday,
Just as we light candles to provide a warm light on a cold, dark night,
We light this candle to celebrate that the warm light of Christ is among us as we gather in worship.

Call to Gather: Jack and Katie Kelly

I hear a noise. I hear a sound. Do you hear it?
It is Wisdom calling.
Where is she? Where can I find her?
She calls from the heights of the heavens
and speaks with truth on her lips.
May I come? May I learn?
Yes, you may come. You may learn.
Wisdom calls all people
to faith, peace, love, and hope.[1]

Prayer of Approach[2]: Katie Kelly

God of Wisdom,
You spoke through the prophets and writers of old.
You speak to us today as a church in challenging times and an uncertain future.
Touch our hearts in this time of worship. Inspire us to deeper commitment.
Make of us a gracious and generous people, faithful into the future.
Amen

Hymn: “Long Before My Journey’s Start” More Voices #63

1. Long before my journey’s start, when in my youth I searched in my heart,
I would pray for her, wait for her,
Wisdom, my road, my goal, and my star.

2. From the blossom to the seed, long has she filled my cup in need
May I cling to her vine, taste of her wine,
Wisdom my life, my perfect design.

3. When I stretched my hands to the sky, when in despair my soul raised a cry,
I was saved by her gaze, led in her ways,
Wisdom, my love, the light of my days.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Erin Berard

Over the past couple weeks we’ve heard about Lady Wisdom calling out to us from the streets. We hear lots of messages calling out to us, too, don’t we? Our parents, in the community you might see something on a billboard. They’re giving us advice, or warning us, or pointing out inequalities or injustices. You might hear: “Look both ways before you cross the street!” “Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds!” “Black Lives Matter!””#SafeSeptember” “That is really not a good idea!”

But in today’s reading, Lady Wisdom is calling us to come and have a meal with her! And this doesn’t sound like just grabbing take out from McDonalds and eating it in the car! When I connect it with Bells Corners United Church, it makes me think of having a shared meal with our neighbours at the Mosque or enjoying a Two Men and a Stove community dinner or even having us all gathered together for a Choir meal before rehearsals. Maybe it’ll make you think of a special meal with extended family and friends, or even just your regular, every-night supper with your family.

When we sit down together and take time over a meal, we get a chance to talk and hear about how everyone’s day went, we can share stories and experiences, tell about things that are worrying us or concerning us. It’s a chance to ask questions and work things out together.

It’s often really difficult to really understand an issue when you don't have all the information, just a slogan or a hashtag. We might need to ask to get more information. We need to know: What am I looking for when I look both ways? HOW do I wash my hands well? What will be the risks and challenges as we head back to school? What can I be doing, exactly, to support the Black community where I live?

So maybe the next time we hear a big, loud statement in the news or in our community or from our friends, we could stop and take a little minute listen and try to understand more about what’s going on and ask God to help guide us in the right direction.

Hymn: “I Am Walking a Path of Peace” More Voices #221

1. I am walking a path of peace, I am walking a path of peace,
I am walking a path of peace, lead me on, lead me on.

2. I am walking a path of love, I am walking a path of love,
I am walking a path of love, lead me on, lead me on.

3. I am walking a path of hope, I am walking a path of hope,
I am walking a path of hope, lead me on, lead me on.

4. I am walking in Wisdom’s way, I am walking in Wisdom’s way,
I am walking in Wisdom’s way, lead me on, lead me on.

Prayer for Illumination[3] Reader: Barbara Bole Stafford

God of Grace,
As we receive these words – words inspired by you –
May we discover your urgings,
May they stir our thoughts,
May we be empowered to grow,
And may we act in ways that reveal who you are to all who would notice.
Amen

The Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6 (The Message) “Lady Wisdom Gives a Dinner Party”

1-6 Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home;
    it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted,
    wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids,
    Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
    and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
    Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,
    roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
    Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Amen.

Sermon: “Come, Join Me at the Table” Lorrie Lowes DM

Welcome, Friends!

In these days of isolation and social distancing, how I wish I could invite you to dinner! It would be such a wonderful treat to get together around a delicious meal and talk about all the things that are happening in the world – especially all the concerns around this virus and around the racial unrest, the political situation in countries like the USA and Belarus, the tragedies that are happening in places like Lebanon. So much to talk about, so much to ponder, so much to try to make sense of…

Where do we turn for information?
How do we sift fact from fiction?
Who do we trust?
What should we do?
Where is God in all of this?
What is my role as a follower of Jesus?

We can think and worry about these things silently; we can discuss them with the people in our “Covid Bubble”, but sometimes we need to hear views of others with different experience and perspectives. We need to sift through it all and pull out the wisdom together. We need to have the kind of civilized discussion that can happen around a dinner table, a place where intimate and honest conversation can take place among people who feel safe enough with each other to not only lay open their hearts and deepest thoughts, but to open their minds enough to really listen to what others have to say.

For the past two weeks, our readings from Proverbs have introduced us to Sophia, Lady Wisdom, who is calling to the people of the world to pay attention to what she has to tell us. First, in Proverbs 1, she calls out in a warning – “Pay attention or else!” she seems to say, “If you choose not to listen to me, well then you are on your own and I will laugh at the results. Don’t come crying to me when it all comes back to bite you!” Last week, in Proverbs 8, Lady Wisdom is still calling out in the street but this time, she is sharing her credentials. “I was there right at the beginning! I was part of God’s creation of this world. I know how it was designed to work and my input, my wisdom, was a big part of the design and the process. I have important things to say that you need to hear!”

Well, in today’s reading, Lady Wisdom has taken a new approach. It seems that she realizes that threats don’t work. She also sees that, while people love the image of her presence at Creation, they don’t think they need to pay attention to something that happened eons ago, that it doesn’t really apply to what’s happening in the world today. In Proverbs 9, she goes once again to the public square, but this time, she issues an invitation. “Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!”

… no dire warnings, no pleading to be given a voice, but an invitation to join her at the table.

It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the invitation is not to a town hall meeting with a panel of experts and powerful political speakers? This is no rally with a free barbecue lunch and balloons for the kids. This is a sumptuous dinner party in her home. A sit-down dinner with all the comforts and delights – a lavish table set with flowers and candles and her very best dishes. A feast of roasted lamb, fresh baked bread, and a selection of fine wines. We are invited as honoured guests to an intimate dinner at the table in a sturdy, well-established house, built by Wisdom herself and supported by seven hewn timbers. It sounds like a place where you can feel safe, a place where your questions and your musings will be accepted with grace, a place where you can work out your confusion amongst others who are also struggling to find answers, a place where the conversation is facilitated by Lady Wisdom herself.

It is an invitation into relationship.

I think Lady Wisdom has finally figured us humans out. She now understands what we need in order to put down our defenses and to leave our weapons at the door. She has created a safe place where we can meet each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect, a place where listening – really listening – to others is as comfortable as sharing our own perspective. Unlike the town hall or the rally, we don’t come to a dinner table with our guard up against people we think are trying to hard sell their personal world view. In this elegant setting with sumptuous foods and fine wines, we are open to meeting new ideas. We are open to asking for more information. We are open to looking for the wisdom we need to move forward in these confusing and somewhat frightening times. We are interested. And what better host could we ask for than Sophia, Wisdom herself?

This reminds me a bit of the party conversation starter where someone asks, “If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose?” I always struggle a bit with that one. There are so many amazing people in history and in today’s world that I would love to have a conversation with… but I don’t think I ever considered Lady Wisdom as a possibility. Given the state of the world these days, perhaps she is the very person whose company we need the most… Never mind the fantastic stories she would have to tell about Creation and the divine plan it was based on! Yes, I think she would be an amazing dinner companion…

Heaven knows, these days we are bombarded with complicated issues – stopping the spread of the Covid19 virus while getting the economy back on track… sifting through the messages from our leaders and the experts to discern which restrictions are necessary or which loosening of the guidelines are safe and which are politically motivated…

How do we deal with the inequities in this world where some have more than they can ever use and others are lacking the bare necessities of food and shelter? How can we help others and still give our own families the life we have worked so hard to provide?... How do we help others and still keep their dignity intact? …How do we help without taking control? …How can we be sure that what we do is actually helpful?

We look at the racial unrest that is happening everywhere but perhaps most violently in our neighbours to the south of us… How do we stand up for the rights of black lives and how do we justify the violence that has erupted around this movement?... How do we acknowledge the racism that exists even in our own communities? … How do we face the ways that systemic racism affects each and every one of us?... Can I be an ally without feeling guilty about the privilege I hold in society?...

There are so many opinions, so many voices, so many causes…

It’s difficult to figure out where the wisdom lies… Yes, I think I’d like to be invited to Lady Wisdom’s dinner party…

Perhaps she would have all the answers to all of our questions, but I don’t think she plans to give us a cheat sheet or to do all the work herself. We’ve been reading scripture long enough to know that God doesn’t work that way. God is always there to guide and support us – but we are expected to do the work. So, I imagine that our gracious host would facilitate the discussion, maybe by asking some questions – open ended ones, of course, questions meant to get us doing the talking and the work of figuring things out.

I wonder who else would be sitting at the table with us… I wonder if Sophia has a seating plan in mind… Would I be seated with people I wanted to meet or with people I needed to meet? …

I think you can see that I am intrigued by this invitation from Lady Wisdom! So, how can we take advantage of this offer today? I think we need an opportunity like this now, more than ever. I know I am stressed by everything that is happening around me, are you too? Where is that invitation to dinner? Where is Lady Wisdom when we need her?

Perhaps she is right there on the street corner, exactly where she has always been. Perhaps the invitation is as sincere as it was in the time of these ancient writings. Perhaps we need to slow down, take a deep breath, and look for her amongst the bustle and noise of this busy intersection we live in.

Wisdom is still calling to us, begging us to stop the shouting and the arguing, the pushing and shoving as each voice strives for power and control. She asks us to slow down, to take the time to enjoy each other’s company, to share our thoughts and ideas, to listen at least as much as we speak, to savour a mouthful of delicious food, or fine wine – and not jump in to talk with our mouths full – to savour the time in good company. She wants us to get to know each other. She wants us to take the time to think, to consider, to discern… to find the wisdom that is waiting for us in the mutual respect of a caring community.

Now, perhaps a fancy dinner party isn’t your style. Are there other metaphors you might use to create the same atmosphere? I am reminded of a Thomas Rhett song that Rory Gardiner has shared with us at BCUC – “If I Could Have a Beer with Jesus” – perhaps not a song you expected to hear in a church, but I think the message is just the same as in this passage today. Find a venue and a situation where you can relax and spend quality time with Wisdom, or Jesus, or God in any form, as the facilitator of the discussion. A place where you can relax, let your guard down, and open your heart and mind to the voices around you.

What questions would you have for them?
What questions do you think they’d have for you?
Who else would you invite to the table?
Are they the same ones you think they might invite?

It’s a refreshing and comforting thought for me that Wisdom is still there, calling out her invitation to us right in the midst of the turmoil of this world. Will you look for her? Will you accept her invitation?

May it be so.

Amen

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

God of Wisdom,
We come to you today, so full of worries and questions.
We long to accept Sophia’s invitation.
We long to have your guiding presence and peace that will lead us and the world to a path that will make a positive difference.
We pray for your presence with us as we struggle with the difficulties we face and with the pain of this world.

Help us to calm the inward fear and anxiety that the news of the day causes us.
We pray for a healing resolution to the pandemic …
We pray for the safety of our families and loved ones …
We pray for strength, courage, and safety for the frontline workers we depend on …
We pray that our leaders make wise choices in the restricting and in the easing of restrictions as we move forward …

Help us to see the human realities of life in places where there is war, violence, and injustice.
We pray for all those who are marginalized by the colour of their skin, their choice of religion, their sexuality, their manner of dress and all outward things that block us from getting to know the person inside…
We pray for those who struggle to find the necessities of life – food, clean water, shelter, and safety…
We pray for all those who are living with tragedy, both personal and communal …for the people of Lebanon as they deal with the aftermath of the explosion …for those who have lost loved ones, especially in these times where we cannot gather together to grieve or to comfort…
We pray for the places in the world where there is political unrest and violence… for the people of the United States …for the people of Belarus…

Help us hear the voice of Wisdom calling us into relationship with you and with each other.
We pray for the voices that struggle to speak over the din…
We pray for those who close their ears, their minds, and their hearts to new or different perspectives…
We pray for ourselves that we may look at the world with the openness needed to discern and to make a difference.

Help us to see past the frightening, and sometimes ugly, things that are happening so that we can celebrate the good and beautiful things in creation and in each other.

Help us know, God of Love and Compassion, that you have not abandoned us, that you are still calling out to us from the street corner, that we are still invited to Lady Wisdom’s table.

We pray for ourselves; we pray for our communities, we pray for this world – and we remember the wisdom of Jesus in the words he taught – words we repeat together:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kin-dom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever,
Amen.

Invitation to Offer:

With graciousness and open arms, Lady Wisdom spreads a sumptuous table and invites all to share in the experience. In this same spirit, may we too share our bounty with others.

I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer[4]:

Let these gifts, O God, spread your wisdom through the teachings of the scriptures
And your love through the help we give to each other, our community and the wider world.
Amen.

Sending Forth[5]:

And now may the light of the sun be our guide,
The warmth of the summer breezes refresh our spirits,
The generosity of the earth be our model for discipleship,
And may God bless us, and bless us kindly, today and always.
Amen

Hymn: “Open Your Ears, O Faithful People” Voices United #272

1. Open your ears, O faithful people,
Open your ears, and hear God’s word.
Open your hearts, O faithful people,
God now speaks to you.

Refrain:
God has spoken to the people, hallelujah!
And those words are words of wisdom, hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2. They who have ears to hear the message,
They who have ears, now let them hear.
They who would learn the way of wisdom,
Let them hear God’s word.

Departing: Beer with Jesus - Huckaby/Miller/Akins Performer: Rory Gardiner

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

[2] Inspired by Jean Barkley and Mark Fleming, Gathering Summer-Autumn 2010, p39. Used with permission.

[3] Sheryl McLeod, Gathering Pentecost 1 2019, p46. Used with permission.

[4] Karen Boivin, Gathering Pentecost 1 2018, p45. Used with permission.

[5] Bob Root, Gathering Summer-Autumn 2010, p43. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

August 8, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - August 9, 2020

Connie Davidson

August 8, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

August 9, 2020

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering: Precious Lord – Voices United #670 Duet: Ellen & Bernice

Acknowledgement of Territory

We begin our worship service by acknowledging the territory where most of us gather and where I am located. We acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe First Nation. We pay respect to the elders past and present and honour all indigenous people’s reverence of this land throughout the ages. May we live in peace and friendship to sustain the earth and all its people.
Thank you for permitting us to live and work on this land.

Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, wherever you are, in today’s worship service. This is the second Sunday of the summer sermon series in the book of Proverbs. Today we are going to hear Lady Wisdom, calling us again from the streets and public squares to pay attention reminding us that she was created by God at the very beginning even before the world was created.

During this time when we are not able to worship in the church sanctuary, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with the weekly announcements, online meetings, events and other updates. You can also listen to the service via telephone by dialing 613-820-8104. I also encourage you to show that you care by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Here are some announcements:

The Book of Memories Volume 2 is completed and copies are now available for purchase. You can order a print copy with a suggested minimum donation of $30 or a Digital copy with a suggested donation of $15. Please contact the office to place an order.
Join us for a spontaneous Prayer Circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, say a prayer for the world, your community and the congregation, your family, and yourself.
David’s Flowers are back drive-through style and they are available every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, bring exact change or prepared cheque for donations, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!
Grocery cards are now available for purchase. Please call the office to place your order.
For those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.
Friends, I now invite you to reflect and to listen to Wisdom’s calling. May we hear her call and grant us the courage to respond. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Victoria Ogden

All creation is made of star stuff.
From the basic building blocks of the universe,
come fire, air, earth and water.
All creation sings praise to the Creator of all.
Warmed by this flame,
We go where Christ’s wisdom shines!

Call to Gather: (inspired by the prayer of Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, 2017) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Let us gather to praise God of all life,
whose hands touch Creation, and it moves;
whose heart beats and life pulses anew;
whose Spirit dances and the world is changed!
In this time together,
let us praise Wisdom and help us move,
to live,
to be changed
by God’s love,
for the sake of Creation.
Let us gather in worship.

Prayer of Approach: Walking with Wisdom (from If Darwin Prayed by Bruce Sanguin)

O Holy one,
we come in humility and awe,
waiting on Wisdom, Holy Sophia,
to reveal to us Her way.
She, incarnate in Jesus,
embodies in cells and centipedes,
woos us with a wink
into an unknown and unknowable future:
except that is shall be delightful,
for She is delighted by creation;
and it shall be beautiful,
for beauty is the path She walks;
and it shall be good,
for She is the irrepressible goodness of creation;
and it shall be just,
for she is outraged by oppression,
of all Her children,
human and other-than-human.

O Holy One,
we turn now from our foolish ways
to walk the path of Wisdom –
lightly, lovingly –upon and as
this beautiful green planet.
Amen.

Hymn: Oh a Song Must Rise More Voices #142

Refrain
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh a song must rise once again (again)
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
the faithful voices blend,
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend. (descend)

1. From the mountains to the valleys,
from the desert to the sea,
a song must rise once again.
From the voices of our leaders,
the voice of you and me,
a song must rise for the spirit to descend.

2. From poverty and riches,
from the voice of young and old,
a song must rise once again. (again)
From the free and the imprisoned,
the timid and the bold,
a song must rise for the spirit to descend.

3. From ev’ry house of worship,
in ev’ry faith and tongue,
a song must rise once again.
From the villages and cities
a new song must be sung,
a song must rise for the spirit to descend.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes, DM

Good Morning! We are continuing on with our series about Wisdom in the Bible, and today we’re reading again from the book of Proverbs. It’s difficult to talk about and to describe God in a way that makes sense, that is big enough to cover what God really is to any us. And so, the writers in the Bible often given God many personalities. We talked about that when we talked about the Trinity, didn’t we – that there are lots of different ways of describing God and that sometimes it makes it sound like God is more than one being or one existence. Well, the writers of the book of Proverbs have talked about Wisdom in that way, like a separate kind of being, and generally as a woman. She is sometimes called Sophia or, as in the reading we are looking at today, Lady Wisdom.

This is a really beautiful passage, talking about Wisdom being right there as a part of Creation. I love the verses that really point this out. In verses 30 and 31 of Proverbs 8 it says,

“I was right there with God, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there with my joyful applause, always enjoying God’s company, delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family.”

It really brings out that excitement, doesn’t it? I can imagine how exciting it would be to have been around when Creation happened. And I think sometimes, that whole idea of excitement has to do with wonder as well. Wonder is something we are familiar with in our world, and I think that in being wise, wonder plays a big part. Delighting in the beauty and order of the created world is a way that we wonder. When we think about how a caterpillar can turn into a chrysalis and then into a butterfly, that’s something that is really a wonder. As we wonder and learn about how those things happen in the world and about how they fit together that’s a way we become wise, as we learn things, as we talked about last week.

So, what does Wisdom have to teach us about the way we look at God’s world? Well, I think that Wisdom tells us in this passage that we should delight in the way everything fits together so beautifully, how Creation is organized to work together as one, how we should rejoice and delight in Creation, about our place in Creation and how we can help make this all work together, and how every single piece of it is an important part of God’s world.

I hope that you will look at the world today with a sense of Wisdom’s wonder!

A Poem: God’s Garden (by Dorothy Frances Gurney) Vernon Sulway

THE Lord God planted a garden
In the first white days of the world,
And He set there an angel warden
In a garment of light enfurled.
So near to the peace of Heaven,
That the hawk might nest with the goose,
For there in the cool of the evening
God walked with the first of us.
And I dream that these garden-closes
With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses,
Were laid by the hand of God.
The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,--
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

Hymn: O Beautiful Gaia More Voices #41

Refrain:
O beautiful Gaia, O Gaia,
calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia, calling us on.

1. Soil yielding its harvest,
O Gaia, calling us home.
Soil yielding its harvest,
calling us on. R

2.       Waves crashing on granite,
          O Gaia, calling us home.
          Waves crashing on granite,
          calling us on. R

3.       Pine bending in windstorm,
          O Gaia, calling us home.
          Pine bending in windstorm,
          calling us on. R

4.       Loon nesting in marshland,
          O Gaia, calling us home.
          Loon nesting in marshland,
          calling us on.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Nicole Beaudry

O wise God, let your word speak in each heart. Let your truth set each one free. Let your wisdom inspire us for justice. Let your presence fill us with joy. Amen.

The Reading: “Lady Wisdom Calls Out” Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-36 (The Message)

8 1-4 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
    Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
    at the busiest intersection.
Right in the city square
    where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,
“You—I’m talking to all of you,
    everyone out here on the streets!

22-31 “God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—
    before God did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago,
    well before Earth got its start.
I arrived on the scene before Ocean,
    yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes.
Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape,
    I was already there, newborn;
Long before God stretched out Earth’s Horizons,
    and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather,
And set Sky firmly in place,
    I was there.
When God mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean,
    built the vast vault of Heaven,
    and installed the fountains that fed Ocean,
When God drew a boundary for Sea,
    posted a sign that said no trespassing,
And then staked out Earth’s Foundations,
    I was right there with God, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
    always enjoying God’s company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
    happily celebrating the human family.

32-36 “So, my dear friends, listen carefully;
    those who embrace these my ways are most blessed.
Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
    don’t squander your precious life.
Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me,
    awake and ready for me each morning,
    alert and responsive as I start my day’s work.
When you find me, you find life, real life,
    to say nothing of God’s good pleasure.
But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul;
    when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “In the Beginning was Wisdom” Rev. Kim Vidal

In 2005, about 400 women and a few men, comprised of clergy, feminist theologians, Bible scholars, professors, church lay leaders and advocates gathered at Carleton University in Ottawa for what turned out to be one of the most controversial yet transformational ecumenical church events that I’ve ever attended. The conference was sponsored by Women’s Ordination Worldwide, an organization run primarily by feminist members, mostly connected with the Roman Catholic Church, whose main goal is to raise awareness about and advocate for the ordination of women not only in the Roman Catholic Church but in all Christian churches. I attended the conference partly due to two feminist theologians that I follow: Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza and Rosemary Radford Ruether.

“Breaking Silence, Breaking Bread – Christ Calls Women to Lead” - the theme caused tidal waves across the Christian religious landscape because it did what its title said it would do. It broke women’s silence, particularly those who are advocates of women’s ordination, while breaking bread together, placing diverse women’s experiences at the centre of Jesus’ ministry. It also emphasized female images of the Divine at the centre of the worship and ritual life of the conference. The backlash to the conference was tremendously big. It concluded with the so-called ordination of four Roman Catholic “priestesses” and five “deaconesses” on the St. Lawrence River that drew media attention.

During the conference, there was one particular worship experience that introduced me to Lady Wisdom, also known as Sophia that I remembered so well. In that worship service, I was introduced to songs from the album Dancing Sophia’s Circle composed by Colleen Fulmer, a former member of Loretto Spirituality Network and converted to the United Methodist Church, now an ordained minister. 400 plus voices all joined in the refrain- “O Wisdom Sophia, Wisdom Sophia, the power and presence of God.” The worship centered around the image of Lady Wisdom that broke open something in me. I would say it was life-changing. It transformed me!

I have had amazing spiritual and theological experience during and after the conference, not to mention the friendships formed and the wisdom that I learned from the marvelous speakers.

So here we are on this second Sunday of the sermon series on Lady Wisdom, challenging and disturbing, yet transformational. Last Sunday, we have heard her voice for the first time in Proverbs 1 calling out to everyone from the streets and marketplaces, from the hub of communal life. Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who will not be silenced, standing at the public square, calling the attention of humanity, insisting that she be heard, frustrated by those who pretend they don’t know any better, pointing an angry finger at those who choose ignorance over wisdom. She wrestles with questions about how one ought to live and about the meaning of life. With questions about justice and fairness and where God is in the midst of our human experiences.

Today in Proverbs 8, Lady Wisdom calls out again from the same spot on First and Main streets, on the city square, but this time, she will tell us that in the beginning, even before the world was created, she already existed with God, like a master worker, a co-creator in the formation of the world. The ancient Israelites wrote of wisdom, first in God’s creation, witnessed all of creation and worked alongside the Creator God. Both are complementary dimensions of the creation process, or as Proverbs describes it, Lady Wisdom is at God’s side, as an agent, companion and celebrant in the creation process.

Proverbs 8 is a beautiful depiction of creation that would complement the creation stories in Genesis. Wisdom is earthy, deeply rooted and is woven into the fabric of all creation, personified as symbolic of transcendent power ordering and delighting in the world. In the words of feminist theologian Elizabeth Johnson, “She is constantly luring human beings to life, to a way of living that rightfully orders the world such that everyone is able to delight in it. She has been there from the beginning of this world.” Listen again to her words translated by Eugene Peterson in The Message

“God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—before God did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start…

I was there…I was right there with God, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
always enjoying God’s company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
happily celebrating the human family.”

From the beginning, Lady Wisdom dances and rejoices and delights in Creation. She is a lover of people – she “delights in the human race and happily celebrating with them.” Historian and author Lilian Calles Barger, writes: “In the biblical Proverbs, Woman Wisdom is identified with God, present at Creation and infusing all. She seeks close engagement with the world and delights to be with humanity. Contrary to gender-stereotyped images of women, she is in no way passive but is portrayed as a liberator and establisher of justice, a lover in pursuit of humanity who, in return, responds to those who love her.” Wisdom invites us to delight with her in creation – and to care for all life. She is so intimately connected with the earth and nudges the people to nourish and care for our environment.

Where can we find Lady Wisdom so that we can participate in this whole creative process? Rev. Greg Wooley in his sermon on wisdom shares wonderful insight to this question. He says: “One good place to start, is to cultivate personal habits and spiritual practices that invite God’s wisdom into your day. This includes moments of contemplation, prayer or journaling, doing yoga, visualization, meditation, and breathing-prayers.” Rev. Wooley also encourage us to slow down our information intake relying on high-speed, internet sources, by enhancing it with other sources that take us deeper. Books, including the Bible, newspapers, documentaries, thoughtful magazine articles and podcasts can all help. Taking a deep breath and inviting a deep thought provides favourable conditions for the growth of wisdom. And I would add to this list, inspiring music – both instrumental and sung, traveling and nature walks, as well as wise people and friends – our family and social circles – these are wonderful sources of wisdom. A wise person once said: “Surround yourself with positive people who will inspire you to do better.”

If there is one thing that I hope we will take away from this sermon, it is this: The ancient writers of Proverbs 8 were on to something wonderful when they depicted Lady Wisdom in such a vivid and tangible way – not as an abstract philosophical concept or idea, but as a real, live, flesh and blood, living being, when they imagined her side by side with God from the beginning of time, standing on the street corners, at our borders, at our city gates, calling to us from all of the highways and byways of life. We all can be vessels of wisdom. We all can be co-creators with God and we can claim the gift of creativity if we follow Lady Wisdom’s ways. Poets, artists, musicians, preachers, leaders, housekeepers, health workers, gardeners, bakers, everyday workers, young and old– we all can claim our work as part of God’s creative power. We, alongside with God, contributes to this creative process in preserving and healing the earth.

Lady Wisdom emerges in our actions, in our choices, in our relationships. Like water, she finds Her way. Like light, we turn toward Her, especially as the darkness deepens. Like a tree, she taught us to become deeply-rooted with creation and the world where we live. Wisdom and life are inseparable. This human life, this pilgrimage, this adventure, this journey, this is where Wisdom comes to find us. Wisdom calls us not out of our lives, but deeper into them: deeper into our innermost being, deeper into our relationships, deeper into our communities and neighborhoods, deeper into the presence of creation itself.

Going back to the 2005 Women’s Ordination Worldwide Conference that I have attended, if there’s one thing that have inspired me in my ministry and in my life, it would be the wisdom and music of Colleen Fulmer, particularly her song In Your Presence that we’ve sang during one of the worship services in that gathering. Let me share some of its lyrics with the hope that you will find it inspiring too as you continue to seek and follow Lady Wisdom-Sophia in your life journey:

We are bathed in radiance, clothed in glory
Crowned in splendour, embraced in joy.
O Wisdom Sophia, Wisdom Sophia,
The power and presence of God.
Our earth was created as you danced and played
So delighted by beauty and form.
You sang and mountains and valleys appeared.
All the meadows, the seas and the shores.
O Wisdom Sophia, Wisdom Sophia,
The power and presence of God.

I thank God for Lady Wisdom. With her beauty and grace, she invites us to walk, sing, laugh, play, work and dance into the light of God’s new day. Thanks be to our wise God. Amen.

Sources that I used:

Sheri Hostetler, https://blog.menno.org/2017/12/12/sermon-christ-sophia/
Elizabeth Johnson’s She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse
Emily, Literature & Liturgy, https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/sermon-lady-wisdom-proverbs-8/
Rev. Greg Wooley’s sermon on Proverbs 8, Ralph Connor Memorial United Church, Canmore AB, 2018.
Barger, Lilian Calles. Chasing Sophia: Reclaiming the lost wisdom of Jesus. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass, 2007.
Colleen Fulmer, “In Your Presence”, from the album Dancing Sophia’s Circle.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Like gentle rain from above that blesses us each day,
so are your gifts of life to us, Creator God.
In your wisdom you move our hearts from anxiety to an act of gratitude.
Like the sun that rises in the morning so is the steadfastness of your love that provides for us.
In your grace, you move us from trust in things we’ve made to trust in your goodness and promises. Like a surprise gift, you offer us possibilities and a chance to breathe again.
In your presence, you move us from fear to courage in your ways.

Creator God, in your wisdom,
we give you thanks for the care that we can give and receive as your creatures.
We thank you for the land upon which we dwell, land that nourishes body, mind and soul.
We thank you for fresh water to drink and water that flows in rivers and lakes.
We thank you for the air which gives life to all.
We thank you for seeds and crops, plants and trees, for birds and animals.
As earth’s vegetation and creatures care for us, may we care for them in return.
We acknowledge the fragility of all life and pray for ourselves as your people.
Free us from harmful attitudes towards the land, crops, animals and human beings.
Free us from despair in times of calamities, famine, drought or flood.
Free us from wastefulness and greed in times of plenty.
May our lives reflect awareness of our bonds with the earth and with all of creation.

We pause at this time to remember the people in Beirut especially the grieving families and loved ones of the victims who died in the recent deadly explosion. We ask for your blessings and love to heal their broken hearts and spirits as they mourn their tragic loss. We pray for healing and comfort to those who are injured, shelter to those who are homeless and sustenance to those who hunger.

We continue to pray for Canada and the rest of the world as we continue to combat the ongoing pandemic. We pray for our loved ones and friends, those whose loved ones perished due to this virus, those who have been diagnosed, those undergoing treatments and those who are recovering from this virus and other ailments. May they find healing, comfort and full recovery knowing that we are praying for them in this time of need.

We continue to pray for the frontliners, the healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, personal support workers, the grocers, the postal workers, the essential services employees, church people and our leaders. We pray for their safety and good health, wisdom and courage as they serve others in this time of pandemic.

Wisdom-Sophia, may your Spirit bless us with wisdom and help us to change.
To change ourselves and to change our world.
To know the need for it.
To deal with the challenges of it.
To feel the joy of service.
To undertake the journey knowing that you will journey with us.
All these we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Wisdom’s incarnate, who taught his friends and disciples this prayer that we say together…

Invitation to Offer: Lorrie Lowes, DM

Offertory Prayer

Sophia God, we hear and we respond to your words of wisdom,
your words of call and life. May these gifts, not only of our time, talents and treasures,
but of our very selves be acceptable to you and help spread your justice and love. Amen.

Sending Forth: (based on the words of Bob Root, Gathering 2020) Lorrie Lowes, DM

And may the God of Wisdom who brought us into being,
to care for creation and one another
bless us as we leave:
May we be blessed in the air we breathe,
the relationships we nurture,
and the acts through which love is shared,
that God’s blessing, light, and love
will be known by all.
Go in joy,
blessed to be a blessing.

Hymn: Teach Me, God, to Wonder - Voices United #299

1. Teach me, God, to wonder,
teach me, God, to see;
let your world of beauty capture me.

Refrain:
Praise to you be gi-ven,
love for you you be lived,
life be celebrated, joy you give.

2. Let me, God, be open,
Let me loving be;
Let your world of people speak to me. R

3. Let me, God, be ready,
let me be awake,
in your world of loving my place take. R

4. Teach me, God, to know you,
hear you when you speak,
see you in my neighbour when we meet. R.

Departing: Fairest Lord Jesus – Voices United #341 Arranged: Stewart Landon Duet: Ellen & Bernice

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

August 1, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - August 2, 2020

Connie Davidson

August 1, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

August 2, 2020

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering: Fur Elise – Beethoven Abe: piano

Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone!

On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, wherever you are, in today’s worship service. For the next three Sundays, we are reflecting on Wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Today, we are going to hear the cries of Lady Wisdom, calling us from the streets and markets, from the ordinary, common places of our lived experience.

Here are some announcements:

The Book of Memories Vol 2 is completed and copies are now available for purchase. You can order a print copy with a suggested minimum donation of $30 or a Digital copy with a suggested minimum donation of $15. Please contact the office to place an order.
Join us for a spontaneous Prayer Circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, say a prayer for the world, your community including the congregation, your family, and you.
David’s Flowers are back drive-through style and they are available every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, bring exact change or prepared cheque for donations, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!
Grocery cards are now available for purchase. Please call the office to place your order.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Friends, I now invite you to get ready, to listen to Wisdom’s calling. May we hear her cries and grant us the courage to respond. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Marion & Pierre Dugas

As we light this candle, let us remember that light is a gift from God, a gift to be shared.
Jesus came into our midst as the light of the world,
and the Holy Spirit is present to illumine our work and witness.
Let us worship this day mindful of the light and wisdom of God.

Call to Gather: (posted on Literature & Liturgy) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Who among you is seeking the wisdom of God?
We long to hear God’s Word spoken to our hearts.
Who among you is seeking God’s bright and holy truth?
We long to learn the ways of wisdom and righteousness.
Who among you is seeking a Spirit-filled life?
We long to live lives of holiness and light.
God grants God’s wisdom generously to all who ask.
Come near, people of God!
Let us worship in wisdom and truth.

Prayer of Approach: Sophia’s Delight (by Bruce Sanguin)

We are drawn together by Sophia,
Wisdom of the universe,
nature’s intelligence,
embodied in Jesus
and present in all souls
who gather at Her table.
We gather to receive grace to give up our foolish ways,
to walk in Her light,
to delight in creation and in one another,
as Sophia delights in us.
May we open the gates of our souls,
that Sophia may enter,
making us friends of God and one another.
We open to Her transforming power. Amen.

Hymn: Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom - More Voices #10

1. Come and seek the ways of Wisdom,
she who danced when earth was new.
Follow closely what she teaches,
for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice,
Showing us what love must do.

2. Listen to the voice of Wisdom,
crying in the market-place.
Hear the Word made flesh among us,
full of glory, truth, and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens,
peace and righteousness embrace.

3. Sister Wisdom, come, assist us;
nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit guide and close companion,
bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes, DM

(Today, our Story Time will be introduced by a reading of “Mo Willems Presents: That Is Not a Good Idea” It will be read by my three grandchildren and the illustrations will be on the screen. It’s a cute children’s story about a very dapper fox who sees a goose and decides he would like to have her for dinner. He invites her to go for a stroll and she accepts, then he takes her through the deep dark woods, to his kitchen, and asks her to help him make some soup. At each new invitation, little chicks are in the background saying, “That is not a good idea! That is really not a good idea!” In the end, he tries to trick her into looking into the pot to see what ingredient is missing – obviously planning to push her in! The goose outwits him though and declares, “Yes, a key ingredient is missing – YOU!” and it becomes fox soup instead. The little chicks sigh, “Well, we did try to warn him!”)

Wasn’t that a funny story? The ending was quite a surprise to me! I thought all those messages from the chicks were for the goose but they were for the fox. The fox was not very wise; he didn’t listen to those chicks at all. I think the chicks were more wise than the fox, don’t you?

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be talking about Wisdom. Wisdom is something that we all hope we will get as we grow older, but it’s not something that just automatically happens, is it? In order to become wise, you have to learn lots, read lots, and listen to experts and listen to lots of different opinions so that when we need to make choices, we make wise ones. That’s how we become wise as we grow older.

The fox wasn’t paying any attention to what the chicks had to say because he thought the message wasn’t for him at all. Do we do that sometimes? I think we do. We think, “I don’t need to listen to that rule because it doesn’t apply to me,” or “I won’t listen to what that person has to say because they aren’t very important to me. So, I wonder if that’s a wise thing to do…

Over the next few weeks we’re going to be talking about Wisdom in the Bible. Wisdom is a way that we think about God and we are hoping that we will learn to listen for God’s voice, listen for the things that God wants us to know about how we should be in this world and how we can be good Christians as we take care of each other and the world. Let’s all keep learning, no matter how old we are. It’s a good thing to keep listening, keep learning, keep reading, and learn to become wise.

Hymn: And On This Path - More Voices #8

1. And on this path, the gates of holiness are open wide, (3X)
Open wide! (3X) The gates are open wide!

2. So enter in, the gates of holiness are open wide, (3X)
Open wide! (3X) The gates are open wide!

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Susan Young

O wise God, let your word speak in each heart. Let your truth set each one free. Let your wisdom inspire us for justice. Let your presence fill us with joy. Amen.

The Reading: “Wisdom Calls” Proverbs 1: 20-33 (NRSV)

20Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
21At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
25and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
27when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
29Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30would have none of my counsel,
and despised all my reproof,
31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
32For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Wisdom Cries Out!” Rev. Kim Vidal

A story was told about an angel who, one day, suddenly appears to a church minister in his office. Because of the minister’s faithful commitment to serve, the angel asked him to have one choice from three wishes: wealth, wisdom, or fame. The minister without thinking, immediately chooses infinite wisdom. The angel disappears, and the minister excitedly tells his wife what happened. So the wife curious to check whether her husband was given infinite wisdom asked him: “Indulge me, my dear, say something wise.” And the minister scratched his head and responds, “I should have taken the money.”

Wisdom. This is our sermon theme in the next three Sundays of August based on the book of Proverbs. Proverbs translates to the Hebrew word mashal meaning “sayings” or “riddles” or “instructions” that belongs to the genre of wisdom literature along with the books of Job and Ecclesiastes. The wisdom literature of Israel is a “collection of collections” that may have been developed in the family, in villages, the royal court, and houses of learning and instruction. If Psalms were attributed to King David, the book of proverbs was attributed to King Solomon because he was famous for having great wisdom but it does not mean to say that Solomon wrote the book. He was known as the patron of wisdom and encouraged chiefs, professional sages, wise men and women, and scribes in the service of the court, to write, collect and organize maxims and sayings about the practical, wise and intelligent way to conduct one’s life particularly about the very worth and meaning of human life. Our biblical text probably was written around 400 BCE when Jewish scribes viewed "wisdom" as encompassing not only practical guidelines for living, but also obedience to God’s law. The image of Wisdom was embraced by the author of Proverbs as a metaphor telling one how to live a moderate, practical, patient, cautious life that leads to making wise choices.

What comes to mind when you think of wisdom? A small illusive voice that whispers in the night? A rich, theological discussion? Listening to the words of a poetry being read? The choir singing or children laughing? Does it remind you of a very wise person? A lot of times, wisdom is compared to its sister, knowledge. But these two words are not synonymous at all. The dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.” Knowledge, on the other hand, is “information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.” Wisdom is the fitting application of knowledge. Someone once said that knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting that tomato in a fruit salad. Knowledge understands the light has turned red; wisdom pushes the brakes. Knowledge sees the thunderstorm; wisdom stops the soccer game. Knowledge reads the teachings of Jesus; wisdom puts them to practice. Knowledge learns of the COVID-19 pandemic; wisdom applies social distancing. Knowledge makes use of hockey arena for kids playing; wisdom opens the arena as shelter for the homeless.

In today’s text, we hear the call and cries of Wisdom personified as a woman. Hence it is referred to as Lady Wisdom. The Greeks call her Sophia. If you are surprised that Wisdom is personified as an authoritative woman, you might be more surprised that she speaks like a prophet. She demands that her listeners decide right now to listen to her words and follow them. She knows that the consequence of not heeding her words is disaster. Wisdom calls everyone to a radical spirituality, to a way of being in the world and in right relationships. Lady Wisdom takes center stage and cries out: “Here I am. Pay attention!”

Where do we find Lady Wisdom in this text in Proverbs? You might be dismayed that she is not in the temple, not in the synagogue, not in a church assembly or the so-called holy or sacred places. Don’t even bother searching her in Ivy League schools, or where the scholars and theologians are debating about God. Lady Wisdom is right in the middle of a market place! She is standing, not on some remote mountaintop, not in some lonely spiritual retreat, not separated from the grit of everyday life; nor is she in the privacy of homes. She is on the busiest street in town at the same level as the people. She is in the sites of communal life, of bustling relationships. She is where all kinds of people do their daily living. I would say, she is one extroverted woman- watching the folks in all walks of life hurrying into shops, their arms full of goods; watching the hustle and bustle of business life; watching the people hurrying to and fro, back and forth, the constant stream of people, the endless parade of busy human lives.

Here the text places her squarely in the place we least expect to find wisdom, as if the author is trying to remind us that wisdom comes in the ordinary daily routines of life, in doing our jobs, relating to people, caring for our neighbors, dealing with finances, going to meetings or having a party. These are Wisdom’s domain. Thomas McKibbens offers inspiring comments. He says: “Wisdom is not presented here as some demure wallflower; not as some shy and blushing debutante; not as some quiet companion living in the shadow of her husband; this lady is the epitome of a competent, self-assured woman...Here is Lady Wisdom on Main Street at noontime speaking her mind for all to hear!”

Look how she delivers her message. Lady Wisdom’s voice is loud and clear. She raises her voice just as a mother might with a stubborn, resisting child. Wisdom is not just whispering her message. She is crying out in the street. There is some kind of urgency that wants to get everyone’s attention. What is her message? Why is she crying out? One can only assume that there are life issues in the world that need wise choices, wise judgments, wise decisions, wise relationships. She is crying out to beg love, compassion, justice, peace, honesty, truthfulness. Wisdom, according to Kathleen O’Connor is not particular about who follows her. She does not only call the chosen, the holy or the privilege but invites everyone – top of her list, in Eugene Peterson’s words, are the simpletons, the cynics and the idiots. You may not like the tone of

Peterson’s language, but in this case, I think Peterson just offers a genius translation because he shocks us to attention and gets our ears open – exactly what Lady Wisdom is trying to do.

She is not only speaking to the cultured elite, the religious and the spiritual, the wealthy and the powerful, as much as we might like to think that wisdom resides only with them, but is also speaking to the street people, the marginalized, the outcasts, those who walk the streets with her. Yet despite Lady Wisdom’s shouting on the street corner; after all her warnings and admonitions that have rung out loud and clear; the result is refusal from people to listen. The people clearly ignore her. Not a head is turned; not an eye is lifted. The bustle of business and traffic goes on as before. Deals are made; clients are seen; money is exchanged; stocks are bought and sold; business as usual, nothing changes! Life goes on as if no voice of warning has been lifted! But after the people completely ignore her, disaster strikes! There is panic and calamity and distress and anguish, all accompanied by the mocking, “see what I told you” laughter of Lady Wisdom. The Proverbs writer eloquently expressed: “because they turn away from the gift of life she offers, she will turn away from them when calamity strikes and will laugh at their distress. But if people have listened to her calls and cries, she will offer them true security, trust and freedom from fear because disaster will not come to her followers.”

After delivering a talk in Melbourne, Australia, the famous Viennese psychiatrist Victor Frankl was given a boomerang as a gift. Dr. Frankl thought for a few minutes and then said that he felt the boomerang symbolized human existence. People assume that the function of the boomerang is to return to the thrower. But this is not the case. The boomerang returns to the thrower only when it misses the target. The same is true in life, he said. We return to ourselves to become self-centered and self-absorbed when we have failed to find meaning in life - when we fail to use the gift of wisdom that is crying for our attention. If we live for ourselves, spend our money only on ourselves or those closest to us, if we squander our time, and exert our strength only for those things that please us, we pay the price of a meaningless existence.

How does wisdom show up in your life? Where is wisdom in your lived experience? Often, she shows up in a time of need; in moments of crisis or desperation, moments of grieving and illness, in times of uncertainty and fear. But she also lurks where joyful occasions are celebrated - the welcoming of a new season, celebrating a birthday, the gathering of the faithful where prayers are evoked and songs of praise are sung. The way of wisdom leads to life, to real life: to the vital, life-giving, Spirit-filled lives we all long for. I like what the writer of Jesus Scribbles wrote: “Wisdom touches, in widening circles, our neighborhood and city streets, daring to see

the practice of life. It is the daily and hourly practice of giving, honoring, and respecting life in all its forms. God’s face in neighbour and stranger and nurturing it, cherishing it, helping it thrive, Wisdom is the practice of life. It is the daily and hourly practice of giving, honouring, and respecting life in all its forms.”

Few months seems to have passed in the blink of an eye as we remember with heavy hearts when COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. In an instant, everything seemed different, like the world as we knew it would never be the same. There's some wisdom in that observation, I think, to hear Lady Wisdom calling us, reminding us to live life in the midst of this pandemic crisis. Wisdom calls us to listen to the voices of the government and health officials, to do our part in stopping the spread of the virus – washing of hands, wearing a mask, social distancing, while saying a prayer for health and healing at the same time. Wisdom also nudges us to rejoice in the acts of courage, compassion, and commitment of front line and essential services workers and those who come forward to making a difference in this time of crisis. Wisdom pushes us to look forward, to embrace the present that is not defined by pandemic and deaths but instead is shaped by hope, possibility, and the grace of God.

In closing, let me read to you an excerpt from a poem entitled The Lamp of Wisdom:

To all who long and strive to realize the Self,
Illumination comes to them in this very life.
This divine awareness never leaves them,
And they work unceasingly for the good of all.
When the lamp of wisdom is lit within,
Their face shines, whether life brings weal or woe.

Lady Wisdom is crying out - do you hear her? Will you listen?
Remember this- Wisdom ignored - leads to disaster. Wisdom heeded - leads to life.
Thanks be to our wise God. Amen.

Sources that helped me with my sermon:

1. Viktor E. Frankl Anthology
2. Kathleen O’Connor, Feasting on the Word, Year B, Vol. 4, pp. 51-55.
3. Sermon of Thomas R. McKibbens on Wisdom
4. https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/category/sermons
5. Yoga Vashishta , The Lamp of Wisdom, http://www.easwaran.org. 6. Sermon Illustration on Wisdom

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Lorrie Lowes, DM

God of us all,
We come to you this day, full of gratitude for our many blessings.
But we also come seeking guidance and help.
We open our hearts and minds to your Wisdom.
Lord, hear our prayers, and in your mercy answer.

We pray for our world, for all that you have created and all the gifts it gives to us.
Grant us the wisdom to use these gifts in a way that supports and nurtures all it encompasses, from the planet itself to all that inhabit it.
We pray for the environment as it struggles to heal itself from the stress we humans have put upon it…
We pray for the creatures of the air, the land, and the water…
We pray for people everywhere, our brothers and sisters around the world, as they cope with the ongoing pandemic, and hardships such as war, injustice, hunger, and fear…

We pray for Canada and for the leaders who we have chosen to guide us through these turbulent times.
Grant them the wisdom and the compassion to take us in a direction that is pleasing to you and beneficial to all…
Lord, hear our prayers, and in your mercy answer.

We pray for this faith community,
For those who are suffering from illness, both physical and mental…
For those who are feeling isolated and lonely…
For those feeling anxious about the changes surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic…
For those who are missing loved ones through distance, ill ness, or death…
Grant us the wisdom to see where we can reach out to each other to both give and receive caring support.
Lord, hear our prayers, and in your mercy answer.
All these things we ask in the name of Jesus, our example and our guide, as we continue in the words he taught his disciples…

Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim Vidal

Offertory Prayer:

Sophia God, we hear and we respond to your words of wisdom, your words of call and life. May these gifts, not only of our time, talents and treasures, but of our very selves be acceptable to you and help spread your justice and love. Amen.

Sending Forth: Rev. Kim Vidal

We have opened our hearts to God’s Wisdom.
As you welcome another week,
may God’s wisdom give life to you,
to others and to all creation.
Let God’s wisdom embrace you
with goodness and love.
Let us live with hearts wide open in every
place and time wisdom calls us to be.
Go in peace. Amen.

Hymn: Forth in Your Name, O Christ - Voices United #416

1. Forth in your name, O Christ, we go,
our daily labour to pursue,
you, only you, resolved to know
in all we think, or speak or do.

2. The task your wisdom has assigned
here let us cheerfully fulfil,
in all our works your presence finds,
and prove your good and perfect will.

3. You may we set at our right hand,
whose eyes our in-most secrets view,
and labour on at your command
and offer all our works to you.

4. Help us to bear your easy yoke
in every moment watch and pray,
and still to things eternal look,
and hasten to that glorious day.

5. Then with delight may we employ
all that your bounteous grace has given,
and run our earthly course with joy,
and closely walk with you to heaven.

Words – Charles Wesley, 1749 / Music – Robert Schumann, 1839, adapt.

HAPPY 7th YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT BCUC REV. KIM VIDAL!!!

AND HAPPY WOW BIRTHDAY IDA BLACKWELL!!

Departing: Early One Morning/Happy Anniversary/Birthday! Abe: piano

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

July 25, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - July 26, 2020

Connie Davidson

July 25, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

July 26, 2020

The video of this service can be found here
You can also dial in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering: Agnus Dei M.W. Smith Soloist-Angela Starchuk

Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone! The psalmist declares: “Let everything that breathes praise God!”

On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you wherever you are on this fifth and final Sunday in our Psalms sermon series as we reflect on the timeless words of Psalm 150, which is a psalm of praise.

Here are some announcements:

The Book of Memories Volume 2 is completed and copies are now available for purchase. You can order a print copy with a suggested minimum donation of $30 or a Digital copy with a suggested minimum donation of $15. Please contact the office to place an order.
A Summer Trivia via Zoom will be held on Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 pm. Check the announcements for the link to register or call the office for more information. Join in the fun!
David’s Flowers are back drive-through style and they are available every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, bring exact change or prepared cheque for donations, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!
Grocery cards are now available for purchase. Please call the office to place your order.
And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.
Friends, I now invite you to offer your praise to God in awe and in reverence, as we gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Angela Starchuk

May the light of Christ remind us to praise God. Remember these words of the psalmist: “My mouth will speak in praise of God. Let every creature praise God’s holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:21)

Call to Gather: (inspired by Jim Mckean, Gathering 2016) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Summer is a time for wonder.
It is also a time to renew, restore
and rebuild with joy and love.
Today, God the Composer, has called us
to be renewed, restored and rebuilt.
We rejoice as God’s people,
thankful for opportunities to serve and care.
Now in the faith of healing and growth,
let us worship God who will not keep us
from praising and from singing!

Prayer of Praise: (by Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Gathering 2016)

O God, gather us in this time of worship.
Gather us in your strong presence.
Gather us with song and scripture.
Gather us young and old.
As your church family,
we gather with thankfulness, eager to be renewed,
Here in this time and in this place,
our worship will rise. Amen.

Hymn: Make A Joyful Noise Voices United #820

Refrain:
Make a joyful noise all the earth!
Worship your God with gladness.
Make a joyful noise all the earth.
Come to this place with a song!

1. Know that your God has made you.
Know it’s to God we belong.
And come to this place with joyfulness and praise.
Worship your God with a song! R

2.Enter these gates thanks giving.
Enter these courts with praise.
Sing thanks to your God and bless the holy name.
Worship your God with a song! R

3.Ages through endless ages,
Seasons of endless years,
The love of our Maker ever shall endure.
Worship your God with a song! R

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes DM

Good Morning!

Today we’re finishing up our study of the book of Psalms for this summer and we’re doing it with Psalm 150, the last Psalm in the book. 150! Imagine that – there are 150 different Psalms in this book of the Bible. This one is a great one for us to end on because it’s a praise psalm and I think people like praise psalms better than the ones that lament or worry about things that are going on in the world. They are important too but a praise psalm is a great way to start the day.

In this one the psalmist talks about praising in ways that we are familiar with praising God with trumpets and instruments that make a big, loud, happy noise. That’s the kind of praise that we’re used to and the kind of way we praise in church every Sunday. We praise God by singing and by playing instruments like the piano and the organ and all of the other wonderful instruments that people in or congregation share with us. The band plays for us sometimes. And so, we praise God by singing and by praying and, sometimes at Bells Corners, we even praise God by dancing. If we were in the sanctuary this morning, I’m sure that Erin would have pulled out the box of rhythm instruments that she has tucked away in the music room and you would all have rhythm instruments and maybe be marching around the sanctuary as we sing.

That would be so much fun!

We seem to praise God more in church than anywhere else. I don’t think most of us praise God when we’re out in public or even at home with our families. I wonder about that a little bit… But the other thing was, that in this psalm, right towards the end, there is a beautiful line that says, “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.” I love that! So, I was wondering, what was the psalmist thinking about – obviously not a church service… “everything that breathes”. So, I took a look outside and thought about being in my yard. The first thing I hear when I go out there is the birds singing, which is especially wonderful at this time of year. I think maybe that’s the way birds praise the Creator! I hear the buzzing of insects too and maybe that’s a way that insects praise God.

I think about nature in other places, like British Columbia, where we were fishing off the coast of Vancouver Island and there were whales breaching all around us. That just seems like such a fun and joyous thing to do. So, I think maybe jumping out of the water like that is a way that whales praise God for their wonderful life. There are quiet things that breathe in nature that praise God too, like flowers. The flowers in my garden are just going crazy right now and the colours are beautiful. Maybe that’s a way that flowers praise God, by putting forth those beautiful blooms. I think about trees that seem to reach right up into the sky. They seem to be praising God as well when they lift up their branches like that. Sometimes I look at a tree that is growing on a really rocky place and I wonder how it finds enough soil to put down its roots and stay there through storms and everything else. It’s like it insists on staying there and praising God by reaching up to the heavens. So, there are silent ways that nature praises God.

Then I got thinking that, you know there are other things that give me that same feeling of awe and wonder that aren’t breathing. I think about being out west again in BC and Alberta where the mountains are just majestic and they seem to reach right up into the heavens. Maybe that is the earth praising God. I think about waves crashing on the big granite cliffs out where we were fishing. So beautiful! And sometimes even beautiful buildings like a cathedral or a lovely arts place can make us feel that way as well. Maybe that’s another way that people praise God, by building beautiful things. So many different ways to praise God!

It doesn’t have to be noisy, does it? Think about things that are breathing but have quiet ways of praising God. Think about a kitten purring when it’s very happy and content. It’s not a very loud noise, but I think that might be a kitten’s way of praising God, or a bumblebee just lazing along on a hot summer day looking for flowers to collect nectar. Praising God doesn’t have to be loud and flashy, does it?

In the hymn that we sang last week, “Pass It On”, the last verse says, “I’ll shout it from the mountaintop!” Sometimes do you feel like that? You just want to shout out to the world, “Praise God!” You want to praise life, praise it all, and you get that feeling that just wells up inside you. Well, we might do that on a mountaintop but we wouldn’t very likely do that in our living room, on the street, or in our classroom, would we? But I think that in many quiet ways, we all praise God as well.

So I wonder… How do you praise God?

Hymn: Bless the Lord, O My Soul – More Voices #46

Refrain:
Bless the Lord, O my soul
bless God’s holy name. (2x)

1 Remember the kindness of our God,
who showers us with blessing all our days.R

2 Remember the justice of our God,
who stands with those forgotten and confused. R

3 Remember the healing love of God
who calls us to be whole and to be free.R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Jordan Berard

Your Word, O God, sheds light to our spirit and brings healing to our hearts. Open our hearts and minds in contemplation, in praise, in wonder, and in reflection. Amen.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 150 (Inclusive Liturgical Psalter)

Praise for God’s Excellent Greatness

1 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord in the holy temple;
praise God in the firmament of divine power.
2 Praise the Lord for mighty acts;
praise God for excellent greatness.
3 Praise the Lord with the trumpet sound;
praise God with lyre and harp.
4 Praise the Lord with tambourine and dance;
praise God with strings and pipe.
5 Praise the Lord with resounding cymbals;
praise God with loud-clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “How Can We Keep from Praising?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Hallelujah! We have come to the final Sunday of our summer sermon series in the book of Psalms. We started with Psalm 1 as an introduction to the psalter and what a wonderful way of closing the series with Psalm 150, which is called by many as the Grand Finale! This is a “praise” psalm that we love to recite and sing, even though sometimes the word “praise” no longer makes sense for some people. Walter Brueggemann calls this psalm a good match for Psalm 1 since, “the expectation of the Old Testatment is not finally obedience but adoration or praise.” Other scholars call Psalm 150 the “Easter alleluia turned into an entire psalm.” What does the word “praise” say about who we are as people of faith?

Imagine coming to a worship service to find the sanctuary filled with people singing and praising God? Trumpets blaring, cymbals clashing, choir singing, children dancing and every member exalting “praise God!” Psalm 150 realizes this imagination. But do we really want a service filled with these cacophonies of sounds and movements? Let’s be honest here, sometimes we’d rather have a very solemn, quiet, very orderly service. Some of us long to worship in a quiet space not a sanctuary of loud music and dancing. But we also need to realize that a worship service does not only cater to those who want solitude. Sometimes, we also have those, particularly the youth and children, who long to experience a happy-clappy, cheery worship. And we certainly can have both! At BCUC, we do our traditional worship service in a rather structured, more solemn way but we have a place for singing and playing musical instruments like the piano, organ and sometimes the flute and the violin. Thanks to Abe and the many folks who share their gifts of music. We also have intergenerational worship service which is more contemporary and upbeat. In this particular service, we have a band that plays and sings bubbly and praise music accompanied by guitars, drums, keyboard and other percussion instruments. Praising God is present every time we gather whether it’s a quiet worship or an upbeat one.

The word praise has two meanings. The first one pertains to a secular culture where people offers personal praises to express appreciation or gratification on something tangible – be it wealth, happiness, success, beauty or fame. Giving and receiving praise is inherent in each one of us. The roar of the crowd when their hockey team shoots a goal. The cheers of a family when a child receive an award. The loud applause as the singer performs an encore. We love to hear people praise us – to hear those words of appreciation and plausible comments that make us feel good. Congratulations on a job well done! Wow- did you colour your hair? you look terrific! Is that a new car you are driving? You sing so well! Praise is something we all desire. In Reflections of the Psalms, C.S. Lewis said: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed…”

However, in the context of the Psalmist, if we understand praise as our ultimate expression of worshipping and loving God, then praise as expressed in Psalm 150 becomes more meaningful and relevant. This is the second meaning of praise. Praise in the psalmist’s imagination is not primarily about us – not our achievements, not our beauty, not our fame, not our wealth; but it is about God and what God stands for: be it justice, love, peace, healing, reconciliation – all those values that are life-giving – those that enhance relationships in all forms. Craig Satterlee’s comments make sense. He said: “When praise is grounded in God, rather than in our feelings and human circumstances, praise is participation in God’s mighty deeds…While our praise starts in worship, it continues as God’s people go forth into the world. Our praise extends from our worship to every aspect and arena of life.”

What is this practice of praising God? We praise God in order to offer reverence. Philosopher Paul Woodruff says that “Reverence is the virtue that keeps people from trying to act like gods. Reverence is the recognition of something greater than the self- something that is beyond human creation or control, that transcends full human understanding.” God fits that bill for sure… Reverence stands in awe of something – something that dwarfs the self, that allows us -human beings to sense the full extent of our limits – so that we can begin to see one another more reverently as well.

Psalm 150 begins and ends with “hallelujah”, a word that means more than simply "praise God". The word hallel in Hebrew means a joyous praise in song, to boast in God. We praise God through joyous songs and through musical instruments. No wonder Psalm 150 mentions a variety of musical instruments – lutes, harps, strings, cymbals – all these to aid in praising and boasting in God.

The Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, wrote: “Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honour. Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” Whether it's a praise chorus or cantata; a hymn, an anthem or a doxology, whenever people gather together to worship God, you'll find them singing and making music together.

Most of you know that I have a great love for singing and playing the guitar. I love how the notes and chords sound together and how the rhythm that each song or each sound creates. I love how the lyrics and the melody mysteriously combined to express something deep in my heart and soul. Just like what the hymn, His Eye is On the Sparrow declares, “I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free!” Singing for me certainly is a wonderful way of praising God. A song bubbles out when I’m in a wonderful mood. A song fills my heart when I see the beauty of God’s creation. And maybe what has been the most important for me is that when I feel as though life has been challenging and depressing, when I’m afraid, or worried, or grieving; a song comes from deep in my soul to assure me that I’m held in God’s heart. I’ve come to believe that a song is a deep expression of faith. A song can be a reminder to my heart and soul to keep believing, to keep praising, to keep holding on – a kind of promise that, if I just keep on singing, with God’s help, I will make it through.

Psalm 150 talks about God’s acts of power and excellent greatness. I think these are sufficient reasons why the psalmist reminds us to praise God. Lorrie mentioned in her story time how everything that have breath praise God. The birds, the trees, the flowers, the insects, even the oceans and the rivers - all have a way of acknowledging and praising the God of creation. Apart from singing and music, we praise God through our prayers – both spoken and unspoken. And if life is a prayer, we make sure that we live our lives worthy of praising God. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message summarizes it well: “All [true] prayer, pursued far enough, becomes praise. Any prayer, no matter how desperate its origin, no matter how angry and fearful the experiences it traverses, ends up in praise. It does not always get there quickly or easily — the trip can take a lifetime — but the end is always praise...”

Some of us have moments when we feel discouraged by life’s circumstances. When we experience low points in life – illness, death, stress, financial difficulties , social isolation or personal problems- it is hard to offer praise. There are times when praising God may seem too difficult, but take heart - keep on hoping anyway - whispering a prayer of praise can usher in a sense of comfort and peace. Praising God in the hard times doesn’t minimize or deny heaviness of heart, but it does open us to new perspectives and nudges us act. When Jesus was at his lowest point in life, he cannot keep from praising God through his life story. He knows that it is through his loving heart and his radical life that connect him again and again with God, his rock and refuge. He cannot keep from praising God because it is his way of acting out his revolutionary faith.

What about yourself? How do you praise God?

Today as we listen, recite and reflect on Psalm 150, may God continue to put praise in each of our hearts: a song of wonder for all God has done; a prayer of joy for how much we are loved; a breath of hope and assurance to remind us that God is with us; a life of praise to express all that is in our heart. We cannot keep from praising! Hallelujah! Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Let us join our hearts in prayer.

Here in this moment and place, O God of praise, we come to you. We are yours in the silence of our being. We are filled with new awareness of your great love and compassion. Gentle God, we greet you with deep gratitude for this time together, this community of faith, and this place where we live. We feel the warmth of summer surrounding us, as the sun touches our skin... as it sparkles on water...as it enlivens the rich colours around us... As the gifts of summer nourishes the earth, so we look to your love to nourish us – to help us gain strength to face challenges, to find joy even in times of struggle, and to stretch and grow in your love. May your love blossom forth into our hearts so we can lovingly and faithfully serve others and the world.

God of tender care, we pray with those who are praying. We join the spoken and silent prayers that come to you from the communities where we live; from sanctuaries and street corners; from happy parks and prison cells, from hospital rooms and festive tables, from voices throughout the world. With bowed heads or heads held high, standing boldly, sitting or kneeling quietly, we pray to you in earnest gratitude. We ask for your guidance and rest in your comfort. Hear this our common prayer and those of our hearts which we offer.

God of compassion and healing mercies, we pray for those who are crying for help; for those of us whose bodies and spirits need healing. We pray for women and men who seek love and support from others; for children who sleep in hunger; for all who are imprisoned by walls or worries, for all those who are hopeless because they feel rejected; for those who are grieving – for the Stinson Family in the passing of our beloved Reta. Bless us with courage that we may help lessen or eradicate the suffering of the world.

God of overflowing joy, we pray with those who are singing praise! We rejoice with sunset watchers, beach walkers, travelers, campers and cottagers, music lovers, children playing, new and expecting parents, old friends and family members, all in whom your life-giving Spirit wells up and overflows. For your steadfast love and continual goodness to us, we give you thanks O God. Hear this our prayer and those of our hearts which we offer. These we pray in the name of Jesus Christ who taught his friends and followers this prayer:

Invitation to Offer: Lorrie Lowes, DM

Offertory Hymn: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Voices United #541

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
praise God, all creatures high and low;
give thanks to God in love made known:
Creator, Word and Spirit One.

Words 1674 Thomas Ken, Music 1551 Genevan Psalter

Offertory Prayer:

God of grace, it is our delight and our devotion to offer these gifts to you.
Accept this joyful offering as a token of our abiding love.
May we use it to bring peace, justice and healing to all the world, Amen.

Sending Forth: Rev. Kim Vidal

With the blessing of God: Creator, Christ and Companion,
Sing and go into the world and share God’s love
with friend, neighbour and stranger.
Let our praises in words, in songs and in actions
witness to the Sacred in all walks of life,
knowing that Christ walks with us. Amen.

Hymn: Sleepers, Wake (verse 3 only) VU 711 (Wachet Auf)

Let all creatures sound thy praises,
now earth its voice with heaven raises,
with harps’ and cymbals’ joyful tone.

Gates of pearl swing wide before us,
thy guests who join that blessed chorus
of angels that surround thy throne.

No eye hath seen, nor ear
was yet so blest to hear such rejoicing!
Henceforth may we eternally
sing hallelujahs unto thee.

Words 1598 Philip Nicolai translation © 1970 Jay Macpherson
Music 1513 Hans Sachs adapt. 1599 Philip Nicolai, harmonization 1731 J.S.Bach

Departing Music: Praise the Mother, Praise the Father Too

Praise the Mother
Praise the Father too
Praise the Lord of all
And the source of you
Praise the River
Ever flowing through
To the ocean of who we are.

repeat

Hey ma-ma hey-ya,
um-bay, um-bay (4X)

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

July 18, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - July 19, 2020

Connie Davidson

July 18, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

July 19, 2020

The video of this service can be found here
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering: Arioso – Bach Cello: Daniel Parker

Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Leslie Wade, Dan and Sarah Parker

We light this candle, not to summon God but to remind us that God is always with us. Let this light ground each of us in the assurance that we are enfolded in that love and grace wherever we are, and let us carry that light and love to all we meet.

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes, DM

On a hot summer day in the dust of a city street,
God is there.
In a warm summer rain while running for shelter,
God is there.
On a beach by the shore where the water sparkles or the waves roar,
God is there.
In a wide-open sky filled with stars past counting,
God is there.
In a car, singing songs, when the journey’s been long,
God is there.
Wherever you are, in a crowd or alone,
God is there.
Let us worship God![1]

Opening Prayer

Holy God, here we are, ready to celebrate this day!
Open our minds to possibility.
Open our hearts to love freely.
Open our hands to each other.
Work through us, we pray,
Amen.[2]

Hymn: More Voices #131 You Creator God Have Searched Me

1 - You, Creator God, have searched me
          and you know my ways.
          You perfectly understand me.
          It’s my cause of praise.
          I cannot escape your presence
          in air, land or sea.
          Your arms of love and protection
          are always with me.

Refrain
          You know me, O God, you have made me.
          I am proud I’m the work of your hand.
          In my waking and sleeping moments,
          with my being I will praise your name.

2 - You created light and darkness
          and you love them both.
          You blessed the womb of my mother,
          you brought me to birth.
          In your image and your likeness
          wonderfully made.
          I will lift my voice to praise you,
          you are God indeed.

Words & Music © George Mulrain General Board of Global Ministries arr More Voices 2007
Song # 88734, Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Storytime for the Young at Heart Erin Berard

Have you ever been curious about the way something works?

My boys have. We took some time over the past few months, while we were doing school at home, to take apart an old mini tape recorder and see what was inside. We found all sorts of parts. We found lots of springs, gears, screws and switched. We took some time to find out what some of the components did. But, really, we just wanted to get inside and see what it was like.

What got me thinking about this little investigation project was reading the psalm for today. It starts: “God, you searched me and you know me”. Now I don’t think the psalmist was writing about God searching to know all our parts like our hair and arms or our organs, like the boys did when they took apart the tape recorder, but is perhaps writing about the things that really make us who we are: our strengths, our worries, our beliefs, our feelings, our hopes, our goals. God knows these things about us, knows who we really are… better than we know ourselves. Even grown-ups are still learning what really makes them happy, or how brave they can really be. God knows us through and through, and loves our whole selves.

While the boys did learn a little bit about the components of the tape recorder, there is no way they are going to be able to put it back together again! But when we’re thinking about us and God… if we’ve fallen apart - had a bad day and made some poor choices, feel confused about what we believe in, or feeling all alone - this psalm can remind us that God knows all this and God is there to guide us towards what we are meant to do and be.

Hymn: Voices United #289 It Only Takes a Spark (Pass it On)

1. It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around
can warm up in its glowing:
That’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it:
you spread God’s love to everyone,
you want to pass it on.

2. What a wondrous time is spring
When all the trees are budding,
The birds begin to sing,
The flowers start their blooming;
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it:
You want to sing, It’s fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

3. I wish for you, my friend,
this happiness that I’ve found
on God you can depend,
it matters not where you’re bound;
I’ll shout it from the mountain top;
I want my world to know:
The Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.

Prayer for Illumination[3] Reader: Mary Schmieder

Your Word sheds light upon our way,
Brings healing into our souls,
And gives purpose to our lives.
Open our hearts and minds to hear
What your spirit is saying to us. Amen.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 139 (NRSV)

The Inescapable God

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
    O Lord, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is so high that I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from your spirit?
    Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
    if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light around me become night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is as bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

13 For it was you who formed my inward parts;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15     My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
    all the days that were formed for me,
    when none of them as yet existed.
17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
    I come to the end—I am still with you.

19 O that you would kill the wicked, O God,
    and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—
20 those who speak of you maliciously,
    and lift themselves up against you for evil!
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
    I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Search My Heart” Lorrie Lowes, DM

God is everywhere!
God reaches the ends of the universe and yet, is as close to me as the air.
God is all around me God is present always!
God is in me and knows me through and through!

This concept of an ever-present, all-knowing, all powerful God, who has created the universe, continues to create and knows every intimate detail of that creation, is one of the most wonderful things about our faith and, at the same time, one the most difficult to express in a way that the human mind can comprehend. The psalmist, whose writing we are looking at today, has tried to capture this feeling. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.”

It’s a comforting thought, isn’t it, that this God who made me and who knows me better even than I know myself, is always with me. This God created me with great care and purpose. At first read – or even many reads – this is the message that Psalm 139 gives us. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” This God created me with perfection in mind…

I have to admit though, that when I was a child this whole idea scared me a little bit. What about the times when I’m not as perfect as God would like me to be? And I hear that in the words of the psalmist too. “You hem me in” he writes. “Where can I flee from your presence?” he asks. It’s a little overwhelming to think that there is no place – not even in our innermost thoughts – where we are not under the scrutiny of God’s presence. As a child, it reminded me a bit of those “eyes in the back of her head” that my mother seemed to possess, that uncanny ability to sense when we were up to no good!

But, as Erin expressed in the Children’s Time today, there is no need to fear because God loves us with all of our quirks and imperfections. That is, after all, what grace is all about. We may not always be on the right path but this ever-present God is close at hand to guide us back to where we need to be.

I think the writer would have done well to add that piece to this psalm. Without it, we might be tempted to fear God rather than feel nurtured and protected. Just like I could depend on my mother to love me even if I made mistakes, I know I can depend on God to accept me in my brokenness. Neither my mother nor God just accept my mistakes and let me go, however. There may not be punishment or banishment – but there is an expectation that I will see where I have gone wrong and be willing to do the work of getting back on track to being the person I was created to be, the person my mother and my God know that I can become. There’s an aspect of humility there on my part and a desire to keep learning and growing.

Without this missing piece, it’s tempting to read this passage with a very different attitude – one that feels to me like arrogance. I don’t think I noticed this before and it made me wonder why… Well, it seems I’ve never read this psalm in its entirety before. When I look at the Lectionary, when this Psalm rolls around, we are asked to read verses 1-12 and 23-24. Well, that makes me curious! I wonder why verses 13-22 were left out? Let’s take a look…

Nothing to worry me so far. In fact, it sounds pretty familiar. I know I have heard those phrases before… “You knit me in my mother’s womb” and “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” I love those lines. I really don’t know why they would be left out of the lectionary, perhaps just to keep it short? Let’s read on…

Well, this is where the tone changes for sure! Up to this point, I looked at the psalmist’s words as words that would apply to all of God’s people – but now I am hearing a division between “us” and “them”. In fact, the language itself is hard for me to reconcile with the rest of the verses. Words like “wicked” and “bloodthirsty”, “hate” and “loathe” grate on my senses. They don’t seem to fit with everything I read up to now. They don’t certainly don’t fit with Jesus’ message to love your enemies and to love your neighbour as yourself. And now, I look back on those beautiful words that came before, and I see them in a very different light. Suddenly it seems that the psalmist is saying – I am your perfect creation. I am in the right and you should just destroy anyone who thinks differently…

That’s a challenging thought, isn’t it? Even if someone felt that to be the truth, it probably isn’t what most people want to hear on a Sunday morning in church. I can imagine the committee who was tasked with the job of choosing what should go into the lectionary, the ones who wanted to be sure that we got to hear all of the “important” parts of the Bible on a rotating basis, might just decide that this bit is just too hard to deal with so we will simply leave that bit out.

It is hard to deal with on several levels. The language takes a sudden turn from the rest of the psalm. The sentiment pits people against each other and creates division rather than community. It labels one group of people as “better than” another group… I can see where it could be used to justify violence against someone who is different from me – and therefore no good… very problematic indeed and even dangerous.

I look at this passage and I wonder who the enemy was that sparked this “perfect hatred” in the writer. As it was written after the exile, we can assume it was the Babylonian empire. We can understand, I suppose, why the emotions are so strong. But I wonder how differently this passage would be understood if it was a Babylonian reading it… who would be the god that formed him? Who would be the ones to loathe?

Well, we don’t even have to go so far back in history to ask those questions and we don’t have to look at such differing theology…

How would this Psalm be read by a Nazi in World War II…
How would it be read by a black person demonstrating in Alabama …
How would it be read by a member of the KKK…

When you read this psalm, who do you identify with – the psalmist or his enemy?

It’s tricky, isn’t it?
I guess it’s understandable that this part was left out of the lectionary.
But I decided to put it back in for us today, and here’s why…

This section points out the blatant arrogance we humans have when we decide that we know who is right, who is worthy and who is God’s enemy.

Without this section, the last few lines lose their powerful challenge.

“Search me, O God and know my heart;
Test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”

These lines can be read in two ways, I think.

If I read it with that problematic section intact, it can seem like a challenge to God. “I am your perfect creation! You can search my heart and you will see that! I challenge you to find any wickedness in there!” I have already decided that I have the right interpretation of what God considers good or evil and have taken matters into my own hands. “I loathe those who rise up against you… I hate them with a perfect hatred.” So, the challenge is there for God to search my heart, in full confidence – or arrogance - that God will be pleased with what is found.

Or,

If I read it with that problematic section intact and my gut says, “Wait a minute! This hatred and wish for bloodshed go against everything I think God stands for, everything Jesus said about how to create God’s kin-dom here on earth,” then the challenge is made in humility. Search my heart and root out those places where wickedness hides and set me back on the right path.

I look around the world today, and especially here in North America, and I am disturbed by the violence and hatred that surrounds the Black Lives Matter movement. I wonder how differently this Psalm would be read by a black activist and a white supremacist. Would either of them see themselves as anything but justified? As anything but right in the eyes of God?

We might have a really difficult time convincing either one of them to ask God to search their hearts in humility.

But I think it’s a really good place for us to start. Not to ask God to search those hearts but to ask God to search our own.

These days there is a lot of rhetoric in the news and on television that gets people’s defenses up. “Racism is systemic,” we’re told. “It is built into the way our society has been designed to run.” Most people can accept that without too much emotion getting in the way. After all, it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t own slaves…or closer to home… I didn’t take children away from their families and put them into Residential Schools. I didn’t abuse anybody… Where it gets harder to take is when we hear this statement: “We are all racist.” That gets people really upset. It is heard as an insult, an accusation. It makes us feel that we are being labelled as evil people. We get defensive. We get angry. We “unfriend” people on Facebook. We have heated arguments with family and friends. We stop listening to each other and we shut down the dialogue. It not only slows the healing process, it stops it dead in its tracks.

Here is my challenge to you. Instead of hearing this statement as an accusation, approach it instead as a call to awareness. I think we can all agree that the experience of being indigenous or black, or even an immigrant in North America, is different from the experience of being white. It’s not something that just started this year, this reality has developed over many decades in ways that are as difficult to see as the movement of a glacier. The ways it manifests itself, even in those of us with the best intentions, is subtle. It is for instance, in the difference between the questions we ask each other when we first meet. “Where are you from?” seems like a reasonable question to ask someone who looks or sounds different, but do you ask it of a white person with a Canadian accent?

It is in the way we react to an indigenous person who has achieved great success: “She is a credit to her people!”

Of course, we mean no harm or disrespect. We are not bad people! We are being curious and friendly. We are sincere in our congratulations… But we are also pointing out the “other-ness” of them at the same time. We are placing a dividing line between us and them.

This is a hugely complex issue and I don’t mean to simplify it here. One sermon is nowhere near enough time to dig deep and this one-way communication doesn’t allow dialogue at all. My point in raising it at all goes back to Psalm 139…

It’s human nature to believe that what you are doing and how you choose to behave is justified and good. Very few people start their day with the intention of being a “bad person”. But the psalmist gives God this challenge:

“Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Are we brave enough to ask God to do the same for us? Are we confident enough in God’s love and grace to let our hearts be searched? Are we humble enough to accept that God might find something lurking there that we weren’t even aware of? Are we open to listening to the suggestion that we might need some guidance to get back on the way everlasting?

May it be so.

Amen

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Lorrie Lowes, DM

Inescapable God,
You know us through and through,
Our every thought, our every joy, our every fear and worry.
And yet, we come to you in prayer to put words to all those things,
Perhaps more for ourselves than for you,
To know our own hearts as you know them.

We praise you and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives:
For the joy of summer sun and the kiss of rain,
For the love of family and friends,
For the beauty of creation that surrounds us with colour and birdsong,
Mountain peaks and rolling plains,
Sparkling lakes and vast oceans.
For the bustle of the city and the peaceful quiet of the forest,
For the wonder of technology that keeps us connected,
For the many hands that work to keep us safe and comfortable in this, sometimes frightening, world.

We hold up to you all the things that are troubling our hearts:
The pandemic that has affected every part of our lives and that makes life even more difficult for those on the margins – the poor, the oppressed, the homeless, those without employment…
The fragile state of this planet and all the ecosystems so intricately created by you…
The social upheaval that seems to be rocking the world, where hate and prejudice, racism and violence seem to be trying to drown out the message of love and community…
Help us find the courage and the strength to do the work and spread the messages that the world so desperately needs.

We bring to you our concerns for the people in our family and our community who are struggling:
Those who are ill…
Those feeling isolated and lonely…
Those who are feeling helpless when they can’t reach out to support family and friends in their time of need…
Those whose struggle with mental and emotional illnesses made even worse by the current stresses in the world…
Those who have lost loved ones… and today we especially lift up the family and friends of Reta Stinson as they mourn her passing.
Be with them.
Give them the strength and courage to make it through,

And give them the peace that comes from knowing they are loved and held by you.

Help all of us, guiding God, to find ways to continue to be the church in these unusual times. As you search our hearts, help us see the places where we are strong and the places where we need to make changes.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus and in the words he gave his disciples so long ago…

Invitation to Offer

I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

“We are not alone; we live in God’s world.”
And because we do, we are greatly blessed and able to be a blessing to others.
The offering will now be received.

Offertory Prayer

Generous God, bless our gifts of time, talent, and resources. May they be used to bring hope, joy, and healing to this community and to the wider world. Amen.

Sending Forth

And now receive God’s blessing:
May the love that brought you into being fill you with hope.
May the peace that passes understanding be upon you.
May the joy that lives where justice is be alive in you.[4]
Amen.

Hymn: Voices United #384 The Lone, Wild Bird

1.    The lone, wild bird in lofty flight
          is still with you nor leaves your sight.
          And I am yours! I rest in you,
          Great Spirit come, rest in me too.

2.       The ends of earth are in your hand,
          the seas dark deep and far-off land.
          And I am yours! I rest in you,
          Great Spirit come, rest in me too.

3.       Each secret thought is known to you,
          The path I walk my whole life through;
          My days, my deeds, my hopes, my fears
          My deepest joys, my silent tears.

4.       In secret depths you knit my frame,
          before my birth you spoke my name;
          within my soul, as close as breath,
          so near to me in life and death.

5.       O search me, God, my heart reveal,
          renew my life, my spirit heal,
          for I am yours, I rest in you,
          Great Spirit, come, rest in me too.

Words v1,2 © 1925 McFadyen, Words v3,4,5 © 1991 Marty Haugen GIA publications
Music: Walker’s Southern Harmony, harmonized © 1968 Daniel Johnson, Augsburg Fortress
Song #G3538T & 17362, Reprinted with permission ONE LICENSE #A-733214.
All rights reserved

Departing: Adoration – Felix Borowski Violin: Leslie Wade

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

[1] Adapted from a Call to Worship by Maggie Watts-Hammond, Gathering Pentecost 1 2017, p 28. Used with permission.

[2] Jamie Miller, Gathering Pentecost 1 2020, p38. Used with permission.

[3] Fern Gibbard, Gathering Pentecost 1 2015, p37. Used with permission.

[4] Robin Wardlaw, Gathering Pentecost 1 2017, p 41. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

July 11, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - July 12, 2020

Connie Davidson

July 11, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

6TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

July 12, 2020

The video of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: What a Wonderful World – Weiss/Thiele Abe:keyboards

Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone! Let me greet you with these inspiring verse from Isaiah 40 that most of us know: “those who wait for God shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you wherever you are on this third Sunday in our Psalms sermon series as we reflect on the timeless words of Psalm 91, which is a psalm of assurance for those who are seeking refuge and safety in times of fear, grief and uncertainty.

Here are some announcements:

Join us for a simultaneous prayer circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, you may light a candle and say a prayer.
David’s Flowers are back drive-through style and they are available every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, bring exact change or prepared cheque for donations, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!
And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Friends, in the quiet of this moment, in the stillness of our hearts, I now invite you to seek the shelter of God’s refuge as we gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: David Stafford & Barbara Bole

Let the light of Christ draw us in: beautiful, life-giving, healing, sheltering.
Come into the welcoming light. Come into the light of grace and peace.

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes, DM

As a mother eagle lifts up her young,
lift up those who wait for you, O. God.
Renew us in this time of worship.
Trusting in your steadfast love, we wait for your presence.
Believing you are our source of strength,
we wait for you to empower us.
Longing for your healing touch,
we wait for you to transform us.
We wait, O God, for you.

Prayer of Praise: (by Richard Bott, 2016)

From our hearts, with our hands,
through our voices, in our love,
we thank you, God!
For every sunrise and sunset,
for every smile and tear,
for every moment that has passed,
and for every moment yet to come.
May our thanksgiving fill the world
with gratitude and joy. Amen.

Hymn: This is God’s Wondrous World – Voices United #296

1 This is God's wondrous world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is God's wondrous world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
God's hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is God's wondrous world:
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker's praise.
This is God's wondrous world:
God shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass or mountain pass,
God's voice speaks everywhere.

3 This is God's wondrous world:
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is God's wondrous world:
why should my heart be sad?
Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:
God reigns, let earth be glad.

Public Domain - Words; Maltbie D. Babcock, English melody; adapt. Franklin L. Sheppard, alt.
Song # 97195, Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes DM

Good morning!

Have you ever had the chance to watch a baby bird learn how to fly? In the last house where we lived, we used to have a lot of robin’s nests around in a lot of different places on the property. We would watch all summer while the eggs would hatch and the mother bird would feed those babies and they would grow and grow and eventually, about this time of year, we would watch them come out of the nest and learn to fly. Often, they hopped around on the ground for quite some time and we would worry that they might not make it back up to the nest to keep warm for the night.

In our Psalm for today, there’s a line that is probably familiar to most of us. It talks about being lifted up on eagle’s wings. So, when I heard that, I was thinking about baby eagles and about eagles’ nests. You know, a robin’s nest is pretty high – but nothing like an eagle’s nest! An eagle’s nest is usually way up high, either on a large pole or on a tall, tall cliff. So, for those baby birds, it must be very, very scary to come out of the nest and trust those wings to fly. My first image was that, perhaps, the baby eagles would come out of the nest and the mother would fly underneath them so if they really couldn’t figure it out, the mother would lift them back up into the nest. That was pretty comforting. But, I did a little bit of research and that’s not what happens at all.

I thought, I wonder then what the psalmist was trying to say to us in this line. And so, I got thinking about that baby bird falling out the nest and going down, down and down. How frightening that would be! But then I thought, I bet the air from the falling like that would eventually lift up their wings and that would help them figure out what exactly to do with those wings that would help them fly and they would be lifted up again. They would be lifted up on eagle’s wings, like the psalmist says – but not on their mother’s wings, on their very own wings! That’s pretty amazing when you think about it, and very comforting for sure.

Then I wondered, “What is it that the psalmist is trying to tell us?” We don’t have wings, so it can’t be that literal… I wonder what it means to be lifted up on eagle’s wings for us… What I’ve come up with is, that in this life, when we have to do something really scary and we have to be very, very brave, sometimes we are just like that little eagle falling out of the nest. Just like the wind lifts up those wings and helps them to rise again, I think God gives us wings to fly in some way, gives us a way that we can face that scary thing, or that need to be brave, to make it work. So, I wonder today… What are your wings? What has God given you that helps you when you are in a scary situation?

Hymn: May God’s Sheltering Wings – More Voices #214

May God’s sheltering wings, her gathering wings protect you.
May God’s nurturing arms, her cradling arms sustain you,
and hold you in her love, and hold you in her love.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Sue Morrison

Your Word, O God, sheds light to our spirit and brings healing to our hearts. Open our hearts and minds in contemplation, in praise, in wonder and in reflection. Amen.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 91 (NRSV)

Assurance of God’s Protection

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
    the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Those who love me, I will deliver;
    I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them;
    I will be with them in trouble,
    I will rescue them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them,
    and show them my salvation.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Under God’s Wings” Rev. Kim Vidal

Psalm 91 is the psalm that inspires the famous hymn, On Eagle’s Wings, that most of us love to sing, composed by Fr. Michael Joncas in 1979 for a very close friend’s father who died. This psalm is saturated with images that make us think what was the world like when the writer wrote this psalm? A “fowler’s snare” sounds like the land mines concealed under the ground to destroy the enemies in wars. A “deadly pestilence” reminds me of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Terrors in the night sound like a description of anarchy and lawlessness. Flying arrows indicate people in battlefields killing each other with all sorts of weapons. Thousands falling reminds me of mass murders or terrorist attacks. These words are pretty scary. The language is evocative even disturbing. They present a world or a situation that is violent, fearful, deadly. Not our dream of an ideal world, if you ask me.

This psalm builds on the assumption that lies at the core of the ancient Israel’s covenant with God: the assumption that faith begins with hope; and hope begins with memory. Where memory fails, the faith of a hopeful individual or a community is threatened: be it political or social, personal enticement of ease and comfort, and the painful experience of being subjected to fear, brokenness and abandonment. We are like that too. When we are in the midst of a crisis, we easily forget the power and grace of God who journeys with us. We wonder whether God’s presence has left us altogether. Psalm 91 may be interpreted to describe the times in which we live. But a description of our times is not the main focus of this ancient psalm. The message of Psalm 91 is not “we are living in a time of uncertainty and fear period” but this: “yes, there is fear and uncertainty and yes, death is very real but our faith in God assures us of God’s protection and presence.”

Biblical scholars have proposed several situations why this psalm was written. It might be a testimony of someone who has found refuge in God’s temple, or a thankful prayer by someone who has recovered from a serious illness or perhaps a liturgical prayer by a king or a warrior before going to battle. It could be an affirmation of faith of one who believes in a God who provides protection and security. The words articulate comfort, confidence, courage and hope by one who trusts God in the midst of fear and hopelessness. The writer also talks about God’s faithfulness as being “shield and buckler”. These are things worn by a warrior in the arm and hand used to protect the warrior from harm and death. The Psalmist declares through these images that God will protect God’s people like a shield who will come between God’s people and their enemies as promised in the covenant. This is the Psalmist’s source of safety and security.

The psalm’s imagery and language resonate with many of us who are dealing with fear, anxiety, pain, grief and other challenging circumstances. We may use this Psalm to give us assurance that God hears our prayers in this time of pandemic. But we must remember too that humans are not exempt from harms or dangers or pandemics or deaths. We simply live through these challenges knowing that we are not alone and that God will give us the confidence we need to face these human realities; that God is constantly available sustaining those who will seek God’s presence. I like what Paul O’ Myhre said about this Psalm: “the refuge that is found in God alone will sustain people even if the body is destroyed. This refuge will provide rescue from those things that would harm our relationship with God. The refuge is precisely that. It is a refuge of solace that can provide an inner strength to endure the harshest trials of life.”

Few years ago, a country music group called Rascal Flatts had a hit single called God Blessed the Broken Road. The words are inspiring. It goes like this: “God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you… I got lost a time or two, wiped my brow and kept pushin’ through… It’s all part of a grander plan… This much I know is true, God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you. I wondered what the singer songwriter Bobby Boyd led him to write about the broken road. Perhaps he’d experienced heartaches or pains or he might have spoken of some crisis in his life? The themes of pain and suffering, joy and renewal are not unfamiliar ones. The lyrics indeed make sense: God blesses the broken road. Some of us may find this a troubling thought or perhaps even a misguided one. But God blessing the broken road is clearly an indication that God goes with us specially in our darkest moments – in our brokenness and pain. Brokenness is not a new dimension to any of us - we’ve experienced it in our personal lives, we’ve lived through it physically and emotionally through illness, depression, or even death, we’ve seen it in our communal relationships – in a faith community such as ours or even in our homes and workplaces.

In his book entitled Is Life Fair, Rev. Charles Poole, wrote these words in a time of great personal loss: “We limp across the rugged terrain of our complex lives, until our limping becomes its own dancing, because God is at work to make us strong, even in broken places.” In the very midst of this hopelessness, God speaks. Just when you may want to give up, the Psalmist says: “You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

When we think we have had bad days – try turning for inspiration to the ancient people in Israel who through the ages have complained, whined or questioned God for brokenness, weariness, hunger, loss, or grief.

One of the most expressive illustrations of the divine love and care in Psalm 91, is found in verse 4 that says: “God will cover you with pinions or with feathers and under those wings you will find refuge…” In this verse, the writer pictures God as a mother bird, most likely an eagle, with large feathers and wings to protect those who are in danger. It is a beautiful image of a mother bird sheltering her young ones under her wings. This image runs through all the Scriptures as a picture of God's sheltering love. These words may have been written to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Jerusalem had been destroyed and people were deported in 587 BCE. Their homes had been ruined in war. They have lost everything. Many had died and those who lived had been carried off to a foreign land as slaves. They were disillusioned. They were discouraged. They were weary and brokenhearted. But through memory, by remembering their covenant with God, the Psalmist reminded the people that God will be with them in their journeys, that God will embrace them under God’s wings blessing their broken roads!

Although not mentioned in Psalm 91 what kind of bird is being described, I readily thought of the eagle, a bird that is significantly important among the ancient Hebrew people. Eagles in that culture are highly respected and considered sacred. They represent strength, speed, power and freedom. As they roam the sky, they are believed to have a special connection with God. Eagle in Hebrew is ne-sher which literally means “a mighty warrior.” Given that one of the possible contexts of Psalm 91 is that of a prayer for those who were in the battlefield, I could only assume that the wings of God imaged in this psalm were likened to the wings of an eagle. To be under God’s wings like that of an eagle is an image most of us would welcome - a wonderful image when confidence has been shaken, when hope becomes foreign to our senses. The wings of God are wings of love, comfort, healing and assurance. They are wide-spreading…an expression of tender care and fierce love.

When Fr. Michael Joncas, composer of On Eagle’s Wings was diagnosed with a life-threatening paralysis in 2003, he spent months in the hospital recovering the use of his arms and legs. During that time, he said he gained insight into suffering and dependence on God and others. In an interview, he said these: “I learned that you don’t solve the problem of suffering,” You enter into the mystery of suffering. And it does change you, and it changes your world.” For a while, he could no longer play the guitar, and when he’s tired he sometimes stumbles. But in due time, he recovered and continued to write music. When asked what he learned from his experience, Father Joncas replied: “I didn’t know my faith would be as strong as it was… Now I can talk about an experience of a God of rescue, which is very different.” He continues to ponder what God was trying to teach him through his lived experience particularly his suffering. He believes it was God’s way of telling him, “You aren’t in charge, you aren’t in control. Let go.”

Maybe today you are feeling exhausted, weak and ready to give up. Maybe there are things happening or have happened in your life that you cannot understand, and you wonder why. It is common for us to be tired and weary. It is easy to be discouraged and pessimistic about the world. In any kind of difficult situation whether facing physical illness or grieving a loved one or undergoing some financial stress or dealing with difficult people, Psalm 91 assures us that under God’s wings, hope will come. To be under God’s wings means to stay in God’s presence. When we are under God’s wings we are filled up, enriched, satisfied. We gain new perspective, new direction, new vision. When we are under God’s wings, we find our strength renewed even as we journey on a broken road. Let me close with a Franciscan prayer:

Where eagles’ wings lift to that place beyond fear
and where God’s still clear calm protects all from harm
and where God walks with all year by longing year;
it’s there that God’s perfect love casts out our fear.

Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Lorrie Lowes, DM

Protecting God,
We know that, with you, we are in good hands,
Though sometimes the world draws us away
from trusting that knowledge.
Today, we come to you, secure in our faith
That you care for this world like a loving parent,
Wrapping your love, like wings, around us for protection.
And so, we bring you our joys and our concerns,
The ones we can name, and the ones in our hearts.

The long summer days bring us joy
As many of us contemplate time for rest and renewal,
Time to leave the busy-ness of work behind for a little while,
And time to spend with family and friends.
We give thanks for the blessings that summertime in Canada brings.
We give thanks for the loved ones and neighbours
Who continue to find ways to keep us connected
In these days of social distancing.
We give thanks for all the leaders and the frontline workers
who continue to work to keep us safe.
In their actions, we feel your loving wings surrounding us.

We pray for those who are sick and those who are mourning.
Today we hold the Durst family up to you as they mourn the loss of Cathy.
We pray for those in our world who are feeling isolated and forgotten…
We pray for those who struggle to find some sense of normal
in a time that is anything but…
We pray for those who worry about the future…
We pray for all those whose lives are marred by conflict and fear…
Help us be the presence that assures them of your love and protection.

We pray for a world where the actions of humanity threaten the life of the planet…
We pray for a world where peace and community seem overpowered by acts of
violence and hate…
We pray for a world where angry voices drown out messages of reconciliation and healing…
We pray for a world where the abundance for a few outweighs the comfort of many…
Help us hear your voice amid the chaos so that we can be part of the solutions.
Help us be the voices, the hands, and the feet that spread your love and protection.

In these days when noise and fear send many of us scattering.
Help us to recognize your voice.
Help us to turn to you for protection and guidance
Help us to be the people the world needs.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus
and in the comforting words he gave his disciples so long ago…

Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim Vidal

Offertory Prayer

Generous God, bless these gifts and bless the ministries they make possible. Encourage us to give of ourselves and our resources until we become joyful images of your love and service. Amen.

Sending Forth: Rev. Kim Vidal

May God, our refuge,
who shelters us from every storm,
lift us up in love on eagle’s wings
to sustain us, guide us and heal us
then send us forth
that we may offer shelter and love
to others and the world.
Amen.

Hymn: On Eagle’s Wings - Voices United #808 (choral arrangement Mark Hayes)

You who dwell in the shelter of our God,
Who abide in this shadow for life,
Say to the Lord: "My refuge,
my rock in whom I trust!"

Refrain:
“And I will raise you up on eagles' wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of my hand.”

The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear:
under God’s wings your refuge,
God’s faithfulness your shield. R

You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day;
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come. R

For to God’s angels is given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone. R

And hold you, hold you in the palm of my hand.

Words and Music © 1979 Michael Joncas, OCP, New Dawn Music Song # 80468, Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Choral arrangement: Mark Hayes

Departing Music: The Wind Beneath My Wings - Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

July 4, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - July 5, 2020

Connie Davidson

July 4, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

5TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE / CELEBRATING CANADA DAY

Featuring Canadian Hymn/Songwriters

July 5, 2020

The video for this service can be found here
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering: Hymn to Freedom – Oscar Peterson BCUC Men

Acknowledgment of Territory

We begin our worship service by acknowledging the territory where most of us gather and where I am located. We acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe First Nation. We pay respect to the elders past and present and honour all indigenous people’s reverence of this land throughout the ages. May we live in peace and friendship to sustain the earth and all its people. Thank you for permitting us to live and work on this land.

Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone! The psalmist declares, “You O God, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone. You protect me, and I have no fears.”

On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you wherever you are on this second Sunday in our Psalms sermon series as we reflect on the timeless words of Psalm 46. In today’s worship service, we are Celebrating Canada Day that was observed on July 1st showcasing hymns and songs composed by Canadians. As we honour this special day, we remember and give thanks for the gifts of freedom and diversity and for all people who have been the stewards of this land. We continue to commit ourselves to the work of justice, healing, and reconciliation.

Here are some announcements:

Join us for a simultaneous prayer circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, you may light a candle and say a prayer.
David’s Flowers are back drive-through style and they are available every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 pm. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, bring exact change or prepared cheque for donations, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!
And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Friends, I now invite you to be still and know that God is.

Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Victoria Ogden

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

National Anthem: O Canada! (Bilingual Version, 2018)
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command,
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits,
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Call to Gather: (by David Sparks, 2017) Lorrie Lowes, DM

The music of this faith community,
fills us with joy, enables our praise to take wing.
the friendly conversations we enjoy,
keep us in touch, allow us to give and receive support.
The Word we hear
challenges us to act justly, gives us peace in the struggle.
The way of Jesus before us
roots us in compassion, inspires us to change our world for good.
Come, let us gather.

Prayer of Praise: (inspired by the prayer of Robin Wardlaw, 2017)

Creator, Light, Shepherd, our refuge and our strength,
we trace our roots to your creative powers.
We embrace one another as children of your Spirit.
As we celebrate our Canadian history today, help us remember all of it;
that which makes us proud and that which makes us ashamed.
Remind us of your constant presence:
forgiving, restoring, recreating, and making all thing new.
Hear us, as we dwell for a moment in your goodness. Amen.

Hymn: It’s A Song of Praise to the Maker More Voices #30 (Ruth Duck/Ron Klusmeier)

1. It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
The gray whale sings in the sea,

Refrain
And by the Spirit
you and I can join our voice
to the holy cry
and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

2. It’s a call of life to the Giver
when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver
when high tides break on the shore,

3. It’s a hymn of love to the Lover;
the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover,
the summer breeze joins the song,

4. It’s the chorus of all creation;
it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation;
a song the universe sings,

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes

(lots of background noise)

Good morning! Today we are talking about Psalms again and I really like the one Rev. Kim started…chose to talk about this week – Oh, just a minute!

(radio and other noise turned off)

Ahhh, is that a little bit better? I can sort of hear myself think now and I hope you can hear me better too.

Isn’t our world noisy? I’ve noticed that a lot lately, that sometimes there are so many things going on in our world, so much noise! Our computers are going, our radios are going, there are machines going in the kitchen, there’s traffic out on the road. There just seems to be so much noise around that I can hardly hear myself think! So, I was thinking to myself today that I really love that line in this Psalm, in verse 10, that says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It’s a line that I use often. It’s kind of a mantra for me, something I think about when I need to calm myself. It’s a way of calming myself and paying attention to what’s going on in my mind and what’s going on with God – hearing the voice of God that I don’t always hear in this noisy, noisy world.

Nowadays, when we’re starting our summer holidays, everybody’s excited about so many things to do and things they want to do and making plans. Things are changing out in our world and there are so many crazy things going on in the news – scary things sometimes going on. Sometimes we just need to take the time to stop and to calm down. Even when you get really excited and happy, sometimes people will say, “Oh, please, just be still for a minute! Just be still.” And sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that.

So, I want you to think of the ways that you calm yourself down. This one, this line, is a really good one for me. “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s kind of a way of praying as well, or remembering to pray, and remembering that God is there to help us. I like to do that when I’m on a walk outside, all by myself. Sometimes it’s easier to be quiet when you’re all by yourself. Sometimes you just need to find a place to do that.

I’m hoping that you will take that time, now that we have this beautiful summer weather, the school stuff online is all finished, plans are being made for a wonderful summer. Be excited – that’s great! – but don’t forget to take a little bit of time to just be still and know God. Amen.

Hymn: There is Room for All MV 62 (Bruce Harding / French – David Fines)

There is room for all
in the shadow of God’s wing;
there is room for all,
sheltered in God’s love.
And I rejoice and sing,
“My refuge and my rock,
in whom I trust.”
There is room for all,
there is room for all!

Chacun a sa place
á l'abri sous l'aile de Dieu;
Chacun a sa place
en l'amour de Dieu.
De joie, je chanterai:
"Mon refuge en lequel
je me confie”.
Chacun a sa place,
chacun a sa place.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Keith Bailey

Open our hearts to your Word this day, O God. Open our minds to the mystery of your truth. Help us live in such a way that others may see your power shining in us. Amen.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 46 (NRSV)

God’s Defense of the City and People

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
    though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
    God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
    see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I am exalted among the nations,
    I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Choral: More Voices #77 Be Still and Know

Sermon: “A Very Present Help in Trouble” Rev. Kim Vidal

I was 23 years old, in my 3rd year of teaching in the Philippines, when I was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness that lasted for more than a month. During those times when my body was weak and death was seemingly very real, two things have sustained me - my faith and this prayer: “God is my refuge and my strength, a very present help in trouble…Be still and know that I am God…”

A devastating earthquake hit the Philippines in 1990 that killed a number of people and destroyed many buildings and infrastructure. I literally saw the earth opened, spitting out mud from its deep crevices. I heard the rumbling of the ocean waves that felt like the world was about to end. I looked up at the dark sky and I thought death surely is very near. In that moment of fear and chaos, I prayed and called on God to save us from this natural disaster and these words brought me assurance: “God is my refuge and my strength, a very present help in trouble…Be still and know that I am God…”

In 2007, 13 years after we moved to Canada, my father died after several months of battling cancer, at the Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital, surrounded by family and loved ones. Grief overtook each and every member of the Vidal family. In that moment of sadness and overwhelming sorrow, the words of the Psalmist brought us comfort: “God is my refuge and my strength, a very present help in trouble…Be still and know that I am God...”

Psalm 46 is one of the most beloved psalms turned into Martin Luther’s famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. For Luther, God is a stronghold and a tower, a bulwark never failing. It proclaims faith in God’s protection and presence while acknowledging the challenges, dangers and difficulties that one may experience in life.

Written around 700 BCE, when Assyrians sieged the city of Jerusalem, Psalm 46 is attributed to the descendants of Korah, believed to be porters of the temple who also provided singing during worship. This psalm is classified as a “song of Zion” where divine protection is promised to the king and is extended to include his city, Jerusalem, as place where God dwells. It is a prayer of refuge – of sanctuary and shelter, and comfort in troubled times, perhaps sung in a liturgical setting that celebrated God as protector of Zion.

In poetic language, the psalmist describes the way trouble can come. This ancient poem presents metaphorical descriptions of global catastrophes. The psalmist talks about the earth being changed, the mountains shaking in the heart of the sea and the trouble which comes with the sheer fury of a storm. We've all been caught in natural and man-made calamities and storms whether it be hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, forest fires, tsunamis or tornadoes. In those moments of fear and destruction, the psalmist offers hope that the God who created the earth and called it good is still present and in control.

On the political front, "nations are in an uproar and kingdoms fall." I think of wars that are still raging in many parts of the world. I think of the ongoing political protests on racial injustice and discriminations of all sorts that call for people to stand in solidarity with the black community, the LGBTQ and the Indigenous peoples, to name a few. I think of the uncertainty and fear brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic that still rages in Canada and many countries in devastating proportions. It is far from being over yet. Jim Wallis, Sojourners writer commented that “this pandemic has become very revealing of the inequities in our society, the gaping holes in our safety net, and the disparities in our health care and other systems, and the reality of our relationships across racial and economic lines.” This historical crisis will change us forever. And because of this crisis, the once outdoor festive celebration of Canada Day was celebrated virtually including a 3-minute firework display on YouTube. The psalmist declares that in the midst of political chaos and economic crisis, God’s presence and protection are felt, although it may take a while to realize this.

Despite the upheavals and chaotic moments, the psalmist draws God’s comforting presence in the form of a city where peace and safety dwells. A stream flows through it, bringing gladness, nourishment, abundance, joy and life, in contrast to the shaking earth and roaring waters of destruction and death. Homiletics professor Ruthana Hooke comments that “…given natural threats and disasters, and the prevalence of war and political tumult, we may well long for a place of delight and protection such as is presented in this psalm.” Even though difficulties and challenges and changes and chaos may be all be around us, threatening to overwhelm us, in the center, in the midst of us, in our innermost being, the God of refuge dwells within.

The most quoted verse in this Psalm is this line: “Be still and know that I am God.” At first glance, we might think of stillness as a situation devoid of noise and sounds, one that soothes the mind and spirit in a relaxing mode as in a quiet meditation. But there are some interpretations that gives us new understanding. “Be still” might mean getting someone’s attention, to stop whatever is distracting or disturbing you and being conscious that God is present in that moment of silence. And one way of stilling ourselves in the presence of God is through praying.

Praying is a spiritual practice that I personally do on a regular basis. It opens me to God’s presence and allows me to experience the holiness of a moment. Intimate time with the Holy changes how I see a situation and grants me the courage and wisdom to keep me grounded in faith. The point of praying is not just to vent, to celebrate, to ask or to emote, but also to implore wisdom by laying out and naming the desperate situation of people or the community. John Dominic Crossan defines praying as a collaboration between God and human beings, where faith and practice meet. Mother Teresa once said that: “Praying doesn’t change things. Praying changes people and people change things”. Praying may or may not change the world, but it does change the way we are in the world. Praying opens us to new perspectives and nudges us act – to reach out to people and places that needs healing, justice and reconciliation.

Troubled times abound. There are pains of individual wounds of loneliness, grief, isolation, depression, illness, unemployment, or broken relationships that call for our urgent care and attention. There are those caught up in the endless cycle of extreme poverty, not only here on the streets of Ottawa but also in many places in the world. Poverty is a disease of our time that needs healing. What about those whose human rights have been constantly violated? Women and children, the black community, indigenous people - all have been bleeding for their rights to be heard! Psalm 46 is a prayer of being present, an important tenet of pastoral and spiritual care ministry. Knowing that “God is a very present help in times of trouble” allows me to be present for others especially those who need care in times of illness, loneliness or grief. I gleaned from my experience that being present for others is about making connections – all my relations - one that focuses on the meaning of care that has made a welcoming space for each face among us. And when we do our part in being truly present for the other, we proclaim God who is present in times of trouble through our lives.

A word caught my attention when I read the Psalms and that word is present three times in Psalm 46. That word is selah spelled as s-e-l-a-h. What is selah you might ask? The meaning of selah is not known but various interpretations have been offered. It could mean an ending of a verse in preparation of a new one. Another possible meaning is that of an ancient musical notation meaning to stop and listen, or to pause and let the words sink in. I like this second meaning of selah. Stop. Listen. Pause and let the words sink in.

In times of illness, grief or natural calamities,
God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.
Selah. Stop. Listen. Pause and let the words sink in.

In moments of political chaos, economic crisis and this period of COVID-19 pandemic,
Be still and know that I am God.
Selah. Stop. Listen. Pause and let the words sink in.

And I would add this final verse:
God is in us. Let us be present for each other.
Let us pray and work for a better world.
Selah. Stop. Listen. Pause and let the words sink in.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Choral: More Voices #14 - Where 2 or 3 are Gathered

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

This Prayer of Gratitude, Lament, and Hope is inspired by a prayer written by Susan Lukey for Canada Day:

God in each of us, in whom all of creation and all peoples live and move and have our being, be with us as we celebrate Canada Day.

We pray in gratitude for the richness of this land that goes from sea to sea to sea:

For the First Peoples, who discovered this land millennia ago, and who teach us that we are all one with creation and with each other;

For the rich natural resources, the wonder of the variety of landscapes and ecosystems in our country, urban and rural, prairie and maritime, tundra and mountains, Canadian Shield and foothills;

For the wonderful tapestry of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures that make up our nation, making us all richer for the diversity;

For a country in which we are free and safe to cast our vote, where our vote and our voice count, and where we can give voice to what we believe, we offer our gratitude to you, Creator of Life. We pray in awe and wonder, seeking to live daily lives that reflect gratitude.

We gather in lament for the painful parts of our history:

For the devastation caused to the Indigenous Peoples through colonization of this land, the overuse of natural resources, and the loss of their cultures, spirituality, and traditions;

For all others in our country who have been discriminated against, abused, and devalued because of their ethnicity, beliefs, or country of origin;

For those who gave their lives and those who continue to experience the traumatic effects of their service in the Armed Forces, during both world wars, as peacekeepers, and in other conflicts;

For those who have suffered devastation in both natural and human-made disasters in Canada, this we lament, God, who is very present in times of trouble. We join our voices to cry out for justice for the continuing wrongs in our country.

We dream of the future for our beloved land of Canada:

For a country where the best of Canadian values of peacemaking, compassion, hospitality, generosity, fairness, and kindness are lived day by day and extended to everyone in this land; For a country where everyone shares in the abundance, where everyone has food, shelter, safety, and employment, where everyone is valued as they are for who they truly are;

For a country where we care for the land, the environment, and the creatures, and live with respect in creation, making wise use of our natural resources and understanding that we are one with all of creation;

For the possibilities and promise we have as a nation in which every one of us can contribute our ideas, our imagination, and our creativity for the good of all;

For the leadership and example we can offer as a nation to the world, in building right relationships between all people and in treating all citizens, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, with dignity and respect, and in radical caring for the environment;

For the vision and encouragement we can offer as The United Church of Canada, by striving for right relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, in seeking justice and proclaiming hope, as we seek to follow the Way of Jesus, to this we commit ourselves as your faithful people, Loving God.

You who reminds us to be still and know that you are God, we give thanks, we lament, and we dream, gathering all of our prayers together as we pray the words of Jesus:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever,
Amen.

Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim Vidal

Offertory Prayer

Generous God, bless these gifts and bless the ministries they make possible. Encourage us to give of ourselves and our resources until we become joyful images of your love and service. Amen.

Sending Forth: Lorrie Lowes. DM

Go now into the world,
Into this country strong and free,
Knowing we are blessed and ready
to be a blessing to others.
Go into this week,
With all of its joys and all of its challenges,
Listening for the voice of God
Urging us to “Be still”
And promising to always be
Our source of refuge, strength and courage.
Go now in peace, in joy and in love. Amen

Hymn: When Hands Reach Out Beyond Divides - More Voices #169 (Tune: Kingsfold)

1. When hands reach out beyond divides
and hope is truly found,
each chain of hate will fall away
and bells of peace shall sound,
and bells of peace, of peace shall sound,
and bells of peace shall sound,
each chain of hate will fall away
and bells of peace shall sound.

2. When fear no longer guides our steps
and days of war are done,
God’s dream for all shall live anew;
our hearts will heal as one,
our hearts will heal, will heal as one,
our hearts will heal as one,
God’s dream for all shall live anew;
our hearts will heal as one.

3. When race and creed blind us no more,
a neighbour’s face we’ll see,
and we shall dance the whole world round,
for love will set us free,
for love, yes love will set us free,
for love will set us free,
and we shall dance the whole world round,
for love will set us free.

Departing: BCUC men – Vive la Canadienne

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

June 27, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - June 28, 2020

Connie Davidson

June 27, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

4TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

June 28, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering: The Tree Song – Ken Medema soloist: Erin Berard

Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone! The psalmist declares, “This is the day that God has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!” On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you wherever you are in the name of Jesus Christ who calls us to righteous living! For the next five Sundays starting today, I invite you to reflect on the book of Psalms as we experience the life of faith.

During this time when we are not able to worship in the church sanctuary, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with the weekly announcements, online meetings and events and other updates. You can also listen to the service via telephone by dialing 613-820-8104. I also encourage you to show that you care by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

I would like to highlight some announcements:

David’s Flowers are back drive-through style and they are available every Saturday from 11:30 to 12:30 pm. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, bring exact change or prepared cheque for donations, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Friends, I now invite you to open your hearts to God’s compassionate love and justice as we gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle: Acolyte: Ellen Boynton

As we light this Christ candle,
I invite you to reflect on these words by Betty Lynn Schwab:
“Come from knowing into Mystery.
Come from certainty into Pondering.
Come from time-bound into Eternity.
Come from thinking into Being.”

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes, DM

From the freshness of summer, encircle us, embrace us, Creator God.
Visit us in small spaces.
Sprinkle summertime epiphanies on our paths.
Sing through our forests, splash in our rivers, dance in our fields.
Let us gather in worship, filled with the grace of the music-maker God,
the joy of Christ and the hope of the Spirit.
Let us gather in the light of God’s holy presence.

Prayer of Praise: (inspired by Psalm 1)
(written by Bruce Prewer, www.bruceprewer.com)

You, loving God, are the ground of our being and the river of life;
you both steady our roots and draw them to seek the living waters.
You are like the sunlight enticing us taller
and like the breeze rustling our leaves.
You are with us through hard seasons of summer heat,
and in the nights when winter’s frost ice the landscape
your love warms and sustains us.
You are everything to us.
O let our gratitude be great,
let our praise be plentiful,
let our worship be wonder-full!
Through Jesus Christ. Amen

Hymn: Come Touch Our Hearts MV 12 (verses 1-4)

1.       Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion,
         from failing embers build a blazing fire;
          love strong enough to overturn injustice,
          to seek a world more gracious, come touch and bless our hearts.

2.       Come touch our souls that we may know and love you,
          your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
          create a space for spirit to grow in us,
          let life and beauty fill us, come touch and bless our souls.

3.       Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason,
          set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
          help us to open doors of understanding,
          to welcome truth and wisdom, come touch and bless our minds.

4.       Come touch us in the moments we are fragile,
          and in our weakness your great strength reveal;
          that we may rise to follow and to serve,
          steady now our nerve, come touch and bless our wills.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning!

For the next few weeks we’re going to be talking about the book of Psalms in our services. And so, this week Reverend Kim is starting with Psalm 1, the very first psalm in the book. So, I took a look at that and I was a little bit surprised because one of the things it says is that, as righteous people, we should be like a tree. I thought that’s a little bit different from the kind of messages that we get from Jesus because, to me a tree is something that sort of stands all by itself. It doesn’t move around; it’s not involved in a community in any way… but then I got doing a little bit of research. One of the things I found out is that scientists have discovered that trees really DO have communities. They DO communicate with each other. That’s interesting!

Apparently, they do it underground, through their roots and then past their roots there are little fungal networks that join the trees together and that’s how the trees communicate. Now they don’t communicate exactly how we communicate. They don’t use words or have conversations – but they do help each other out. One of the things I learned was that some big trees – they call them mother trees – can use their nutrients and pass them on to the younger saplings that are underneath. That’s really important because when a little tree is starting to grow, it’s often in the shade of other trees, especially in a forest and it can’t get the sunlight and things that it needs to make the kind of food that it needs to grow. So, apparently these mother trees or other trees in the area can feed those trees by sharing some of the nutrients that they get from the air and the environment around them light and water and everything else. As well, if one tree is not doing well and is about to die, it can dump all of its resources, all of its good sugars and things that trees need, into the network so that they can be used by other trees who need them. They can also send messages to other trees if they are being attacked by an insect or by a disease and they can warn other trees to put up their defenses to make sure that they don’t get struck as hard by those diseases or insects as well. So, it’s kind of a hidden network that we don’t even see, that’s under the ground. Scientists have called this the “Wood Wide Web”, kind of a fun play on words.

So when I think back on my first thought that a tree is kind of a solitary thing and Jesus asks us to live in community, now I can see that those aren’t things that are totally separate. Trees don’t live as solitary beings or solitary creations of God. They do work in community and help each other out. So I think the psalmist was right when they wrote that, as righteous people, we should be like trees – because that’s exactly what Jesus has asked us to do, isn’t it?

Hymn: You Shall Go Out with Joy Voices United #884

You shall go out with joy
And be led forth with peace,
The mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy
And all the trees of the fields
Will clap, will clap their hands.

And all the trees of the fields will clap their hands, (clap, clap)
And all the trees of the fields will clap their hands, (clap, clap)
And all the trees of the fields will clap their hands, (clap, clap)
While you go out with joy.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Victoria Ogden

Open our hearts to your Word this day, O God. Open our minds to the mystery of your truth. Help us live in such a way that others may see your power shining in us. Amen.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 1 (Common English Bible)

The truly happy person
    doesn’t follow wicked advice,
    doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,
    and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.
2 Instead of doing those things,
    these persons love the Lord’s Instruction,
    and they recite God’s Instruction day and night!
3 They are like a tree replanted by streams of water,
    which bears fruit at just the right time
    and whose leaves don’t fade.
        Whatever they do succeeds.

4 That’s not true for the wicked!
    They are like dust that the wind blows away.
5 And that’s why the wicked will have no standing in the court of justice—
    neither will sinners
    in the assembly of the righteous.
6 The Lord is intimately acquainted
    with the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked is destroyed.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us!
Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “To Be Like Trees” Rev. Kim Vidal

Today, we begin a sermon series on the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms is a collection of poetry – a total of 150 - that were composed not only as poems but as lyrics to be sang. They are presented in different genres: praise, prayer, lament, thanksgiving, wisdom - all of which have a wonderful capacity to capture the reality of human experience. It was believed that the psalms were written over a period of six centuries from as early as 1000 BCE with its final form completed probably around 400 BCE. Psalms were often used in the context of worship. Although many writers particularly those from the priestly tradition were believed to have written the psalms, they were traditionally attributed to King David because it was believed that during his entire life, in times of joys or troubles, in battlefield or at the pinnacle of his greatness, David was immersed in the constant recitation and even singing of psalms to praise God.

In his book Spirituality of the Psalms, Brueggemann offers a framework for understanding the book of Psalms. He classifies each psalm in three movements that speak to our lived experience. The first movement is called Psalms of Orientation. These are the psalms that give us good feelings and offer comfort and inspiration. These are psalms of gratitude for God that reflects a life full of blessings. The second movement is known as the Psalms of Disorientation. These psalms are the reaction of the faithful to God when the world they knew was broken. These are psalms of lament that move and deepen our faith. The overarching message of these psalms convey that even in the dark places, God is still present. And the third movement is called the Psalms of Re-Orientation. These psalms move us from disorientation – from a place of darkness and lament to moments of restoration, justice and deliverance. These psalms of praise celebrating the God of salvation ushers in a new order. Using these three movements, Brueggemann suggests the book of Psalms like life, has a rhythm as it moves from one place to the next. Lawrence Richards commented that “In every experience of our own, no matter how deep the pain or how great the frustration or how exhilarating the joy, we can find psalms which echo our inmost being, psalms which God uses to bring comfort or to confirm release.”

Psalm 1 opens the book of Psalms with these questions: “Which road will you follow? Will you take the road that leads to destruction or the road that leads to life?” And we know that choices have consequences. Rolf Jacobson remarks that “the roads signal the directions one takes in life -- and the roads are characterized not by their geography but rather by who walks on each road... Down one road walk the wicked, those who do not depend on God, the sinners, those who rebel against God's will, and the scoffers, those who mock God…This road leads to nowhere. Those who take this road end up being non-resilient -- they cannot endure suffering. Down the other road walk the righteous or those who depend on God. This other road belongs not to those who take it, but to God -- who watches over it.”

Psalm 1 presents a choice and invites us to give attention to God’s teaching and instruction. It is the psalm’s hope that we choose following God’s direction that makes it possible to be rooted in love, grounded in justice and fruitful in grace. Walter Brueggemann says that “Psalm 1 as a preamble to the Psalter urges a lifestyle that finds its source in the Creator. The psalm speaks of life as a path or way, and of divine instruction as nourishment for the way...” For those who live their lives following the call of love, justice and grace “are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds.” (Ps 1: 3, CEB). They are like trees, whose roots are sunk deep into the earth next to a stream where they can flourish -- even when the going gets tough.

I love this image of a tree in Psalm 1 - rooted, strong, fruitful. When I think of a tree, what comes to mind is the famous poem Trees by Alfred Joyce Kilmer that I learned when I was in Grade 4:

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

No matter where you live, trees were probably part of your landscape. On my walks in the greenbelt near our house, trees abound! I see maples, oaks, pines, and crab apples unfurling their green leaves announcing summer life. There is also a giant blue spruce tree in our front yard that offers a haven for many animals all throughout the year. These trees remind me of Tolkien’s tree-like creatures Ents, in the Lord of the Rings- ancient shepherds of the forest, wise, and strong, allies to all that’s good and righteous and true. The arborist Criswell Davis once said that a symbiotic relationship exists between trees and humans. Humans breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, while trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen…The third and most important similarity between humans and trees is that each tree, like each human, is unique and beautiful in its own way.

In early June last year, Ken and I had the opportunity to visit South Korea. One of the few places that we’ve visited was the famous Hahoe (ha-hway) Folk Village, a traditional village dating from the 13th century Joseon (jo-son) era of Korean history. The village showcases Joseon period-style architecture, folk traditions, valuable books, and an old tradition of clan-based villages. In the heart of Hahoe village stands a huge 600-year old Zelkova tree also called Samsin Goddess Tree believed to be inhabited by a goddess named “Samsin” meaning three goddesses in one. Samsin is revered as the goddess of fertility and childbirth. The tree is encircled by a fence decorated by thousands of white “wish cloths”. Each cloth has a wish written on it most likely wishes or prayers for childbirth, for fertility, for good health or for good harvest. The Koreans pay homage to this timeless tree as sacred. They have preserved it for 600 years and made it a part of their way of life. It is a symbol of hope and a promise of new life.

A beautiful reflection on trees by Hermann Hesse from his 1920 collection of fragments, Wandering: Notes and Sketches caught my attention as I reflect on Psalm 1. Let me share with you an excerpt from his reflection:

For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forests and groves…In their highest boughs the world rustles, their roots rest in infinity; but they do not lose themselves there, they struggle with all the force of their lives for one thing only: to fulfill themselves according to their own laws, to build up their own form, to represent themselves. Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary than a beautiful, strong tree. When a tree is cut down and reveals its naked death-wound to the sun, one can read its whole history in the luminous, inscribed disk of its trunk: in the rings of its years, its scars, all the struggle, all the suffering, all the sickness, all the happiness and prosperity stand truly written, the narrow years and the luxurious years, the attacks withstood, the storms endured... Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life... A tree says: My strength is trust. I know nothing about my parents, I know nothing about the thousand children that every year spring out of me. I live out the secret of my seed to the very end, and I care for nothing else. I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live…Trees never try to be something else, like wart hogs or sledge hammers. They are content to be trees. Are we like trees?

Friends, there is a beautiful promise in Psalm 1. To be like trees is to have hope for today and for tomorrow; to trust in the promise that we will indeed thrive and produce, that good years will follow bad, that God’s goodness is to be counted on. To be like trees is a wonderful sign of promise that even when things get rough, there is still the promise of new life. May we all heed the way of God – the way of love, justice and grace. May we experience and exhibit the blessings and promises of a tree - fruitfulness, abundance, resilience, inclusion, patience and promise. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Sources used:

Walter Brueggemann, Spirituality of the Psalms (2002) and “Psalms” (2014)
Lawrence O. Richards, The Teacher's Commentary, electronic media.
Joan Stott, The Timeless Psalms, timelesspsalms.net
Rev. Timothy Keyl, Bethesda Lutheran Church bethesdanewhaven.org
Rolf Jacobson, Commentary on Psalm 1, Narrative Lectionary, workingpreacher.org.
Hermann Hesse, Wanderings and Sketches (1920).

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer: Lorrie Lowes, DM

Holy One,
We find in the Book of Psalms a wealth of examples
of the ways in which your children may approach you.
Not only have you given us these models, but through them,
through everything the psalmists wrestle with,
You issue to us an open invitation to speak our hearts to you.
Hear us as we open our hearts to you this day.

We open our hearts in gratitude
For the long days of summer,
For the time spent with family,
For the care given to each other and to the earth
in this time of pandemic.
Help us see the blessings in our lives.

We open our hearts in sorrow
For those who are suffering illness and loss,
For those finding life difficult in these days of social isolation,
For those who struggle with basic needs at the best of times
and those who find it even more difficult today.
Help us become the blessings in their lives.

We open our hearts in fear and anger
For the unrest in the world,
For those affected by war and violence,
For those facing discrimination and racism
– today and throughout history.
Help us see the places where we are the problem,
And help us become the allies they need.

Open our hearts, God,
To see the wisdom in the holy words
Written so long ago as our ancestors struggled
to understand your will for your world and our place in it.
Help us see the laws laid down by Moses and the example of Jesus
As ways to move toward the vision of your kin-dom here on earth.

These things we ask in the words that Jesus taught his disciples:

Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim

Offertory Prayer:

Use these gifts, O God, as we offer them with humility and willingness.
Bless what we bring and use them to build God’s reign on earth. Amen.

Sending Forth: Rev. Kim

As timeless as trees, go forth and walk each day
in communion with one another.
No matter where you go or what you do,
may the love of God walks with you,
the rays of Jesus’ light shine through you,
and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit empower you.
This day and in the days to come. Amen.

Hymn: Trees by Michael Morgan (2012) (Tune: DIX, VU 81)

Tree of Wisdom, fruitful, green,
flourishing beside the stream;
spread your knowledge day and night;
make your law my true delight.
Fashion me, O Lord, to be
strong and splendid as a tree.

Tree of Justice, ever bless;
shade me with your righteousness.
Teach me how to live your ways,
and my lips shall sing your praise.
Fashion me, O Lord, to be
ever branching as a tree.

Tree of Plenty, feed my soul;
nurture me, and make me whole.
Give me strength, cast fear aside;
let me in your love abide.
Fashion me, O Lord, to be
firmly planted as a tree.

Tree of Promise, keep your vow:
with me then, and with me now.
Springtime blossoms, winter tears,
mark the seasons of my years.
Fashion me, O Lord, to be
always changing as a tree.

Like a forest all around,
so the gifts of grace abound:
flowing waters, fertile sod,
sunlit dawn, the Word of God.
Fashion me, O Lord, to be
living, giving as a tree.

Words © 2011 Michael Morgan Faith Alive Christian Resources tune: DIX
Song #89337 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214.
All rights reserved

Departing: Gaelic Blessing – Rutter BCUC Choir

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

June 20, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - June 21, 2020

Connie Davidson

June 20, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

INDIGENOUS SUNDAY / CELEBRATING FATHERS

June 21, 2020

[The video of this service can be found here]

Gathering Music Celebration Song – offered by Esther & Marlon Stewart

Acknowledgement of Aboriginal Territory Rev. Kim Vidal

Friends, the drum does not beat alone, nor does the heart, in the circle of life.
We begin our worship service by acknowledging the territory where most of us gather and where I am located. We acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe First Nation. We pay respect to the elders past and present and honour all indigenous people’s reverence of this land throughout the ages. May we live in peace and friendship to sustain the earth and all its people.

Welcome & Announcements

Mino Kigijebawan! I just greeted you “good morning” in the language of the Algonquin people. On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you wherever you are in the name of the Great Spirit as we celebrate Indigenous Sunday and Celebrating Fathers. Today we join with our Indigenous brothers and sisters as they celebrate their heritage, their roots and their traditions that formed them as a people. May we with open hearts and minds, stand in solidarity with them as they continue to seek healing, truth and reconciliation. Special thanks to Esther and Marlon Stewart for their participation in today’s service. Migwech. Thank you.

Today we also pay tribute and honour the fathers, past and present, in our family, in our community and in the world. We give thanks for their contributions to the human community, for their love, their dedication, their faith, their courage, their strength and their gifts of time, talents and resources. Let us be reminded that "A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way." (Author Unknown) Happy Father’s Day!

I would like to highlight some announcements:

We welcome Victoria Ogden as our Christian Education Program Summer Student. Victoria has been an active member of BCUC particularly her involvement with UP Youth and Camp Awesome. Welcome Vicky!

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11 am. Link will be emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of the Great Spirit, Creator God who calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.

Prayers to the Four Directions Esther Stewart & Lorrie Lowes

First Candle: Let us turn to the direction of the East, the place of the rising sun.

Great Spirit of Light, you come from the East with the power of the rising sun. Let there be light in our words, let there be light on the path that we walk. Let us remember always that you give the gift of a new day. And never let us be burdened with sorrow by not starting over again.

Second Candle: Let us face the direction of the South, the place of warm sun and new growth.

Great Spirit of creation, send us the warm and soothing winds from the South. Comfort us and caress us when we are tired and cold. Unfold us like the gentle breezes that unfold the leaves on the trees. As you give to all the earth your warm, moving wind, give to us, so that we may grow close to you in warmth.

Third Candle: Let us turn to face the direction of the West, the place of ripening growth.

Great Life-Giving Spirit, we face the West, the direction of sundown. Let us remember, every day, that the moment will come when the sun will go down. Never let us forget that we must fade into you. Give us a beautiful colour; give us a great sky for setting, so that when it is our time to meet you, we can come in glory.

Fourth Candle: Let us face the direction of the North. This is the place of cold winter winds and the rich wisdom of fruitful living.

Great Spirit of Love, come to us with the power of the North. Make us courageous when the cold wind falls upon us. Give us strength and endurance for everything that is harsh, everything that hurts, and everything that makes us squint. Let us move through life ready to take what comes from the North.

Reader 2 (Lorrie): The circle of life is a powerful image. The Earth is round, the wind in its greatest power whirls. The sun and the moon come forth and go down in a circle. Even the seasons come back to where they began. As the candles move outward, they gather us into this great circle, as separate as the four directions and as one as life itself. May we grow in light and love; may the colours of creation paint beautiful memories, and may the warmth of the creator’s Spirit inspire us to tread gently on the web of life. Amen

Peace Song – offered by Esther Stewart

Prayer of Approach: Neil Lowes

Gracious God, in the course of our life-journey, we do not only move from place to place. We also move from thought to thought, from task to task, from feeling to feeling. We move between solitude and relationship, between growth and stagnation, faith and confusion. In gathering to worship, we give thanks for all fathers whom you bless as we celebrate their presence and contributions to the human family. We offer praise to you, Father God, parent to us all, to the living Christ and to the sustaining Spirit. Be with us, care for us, comfort us with your love and grace. Through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Hymn: “River” More Voices #3

1 River, rush-a-down to the ocean blue,
River from a mountain high.
River, as you do what rivers do,
River, draw the Spirit nigh.

2. Spirit, come-a-down to the river-side,
Spirit, spark of wondrous thought.
Spirit, I am free for you to guide,
Spirit, pray that I be taught!

3. Water, let me drink of your healing pow’r,
Water, strength and life you give.
Water, as I travel with each hour.
Water, help my body live.

4. River, flow-a-down where you ran before, River, source of clearer view.
River, as I walk your rocky shore,
River, see my journey through.
See my journey through. (3x)

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning!

Today is the day that, in the United Church of Canada, we celebrate the Aboriginal Day of Prayer. It’s an important one in our Canadian calendar, and this year, it coincides with our Aboriginal day in Canada, on June 21. Usually there are lots of powwows happening in the area and activities going on at the museums, places where we can learn a lot more about the cultures of the people that were first here on this land, people who lived here long before people from other countries in the world started coming here to settle in this beautiful, beautiful country.

Every year I look forward to getting ready for this service and the last few years it’s been really great to have Esther and Marlon Stewart and their family taking part in what we’ve been doing here at Bells Corners. They teach us so much about their culture and, because they come from a culture on the west coast of Canada, it’s very different from the Algonquin culture that we generally hear about in this area. You will have noticed this morning that the territory this church is on and the territory that all of us live on in this area belonged to the Algonquin people and it was never really ceded to the government of Canada. Zit still really belongs to the Algonquin tribes and we honour and respect that they took such good care of this land for many, many centuries.

Today we can’t have everybody in the sanctuary together but I hope you did enjoy the drumming and the Prayers to the Four Directions led by Esther this morning. I learn something new every time I do one of these services and so, I thought that today I would share something with you that I learned just last year – and that’s about the drum. You can see my drum hanging on the wall behind me here in my office. It’s a really important piece to me. What I learned about sacred drums is that they are a very sacred kind of item. They are used, not just in social things or dances that are recreational and fun. They are used in ceremonies, and so is the dancing. The drum is considered to be like the heartbeat of Mother Earth, so it is the heartbeat of the earth that they are thinking about when they are drumming, especially in their sacred ceremonies and singing and during prayer. Many of the cultures feel that the drum beat during prayer helps to send those prayers and messages to God. So the drum is a very important piece.

So, I want to show you my drum and share with you what I learned when I was creating it. As I said, I didn’t buy this drum; I created this drum. I’m being very careful not to say that I made this drum but that I created it. The way it was explained to me is that when you create a drum, you “birth” the drum. So, I gave birth to this drum. It started with just a big block of cedar and a huge deer hide and some other materials and we put them all together in a special way. If you look at the back of my drum, you can see that it’s made up of many, many parts. Each of the little angles that hold the pieces of cedar together represent the number of moons in the year. It can’t be just any size or shape but it needs to represent something that’s very important. The skin on the drum is an actual deer hide that has been carefully tanned and cured, and those of us in the class that were birthing our drums chose a part of the hide that “spoke” to us. We carefully traced out the shape we needed and soaked it overnight so that it was nice and pliable. We stretched it over the frame we had built the day before and then put it altogether with these cords. I think they would have traditionally used sinew but, in modern days, it’s happening with some more synthetic materials. Most of the materials in this drum are living materials and that’s part of what makes it special to me.

The drum and the drummer are considered to be sacred in our North American native cultures, and so when you hear someone drumming or singing, the respectful thing to do is to stand up. So, if that is happening at the front of our church, we should stand as a sign of respect – something I didn’t know last year – and when they are finished, you don’t clap, you sit down. That shows respect and keeps the feeling that this is a sacred moment.

The symbol on the drum is something that is important to you or to your culture. I chose the turtle because I’ve heard so many creation stories about the earth, and especially North America, being the turtle’s back. I chose the colours because I am very drawn to the west coast colours which tend to black, and red, and sometimes a bit of yellow.

When you play a drum, you need to heat it up first. It helps to make the skin more pliable. Remember, this was a living deer skin, so it’s important that we treat this material in a very different way than we would treat something that was made in a factory. To make the sound really good, we heat it up. I’m doing it with my hand. I’m thinking that my rubbing today isn’t going to make the sound really beautiful but this drum does have a gorgeous sound when it’s heated up properly. I hold it by the strings on the back so that it isn’t resting on anything and that helps the sound to echo through. I will play just a few little beats for you now – and, hopefully next year, I will be able to drum along with Marlon and Esther again!

Hymn: We Are One in the Spirit (They’ll Know We Are Christians by our Love)

1. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

2. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
And they'll know …

3. We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know …

Prayer for Illumination: Reader: Ian Howes

Creator of Life, through your Life-Giving Word, help us to face the truth about ourselves and humbly bring us to new life in you and with each other. Amen.

The Gospel Story: “Jesus Calms a Storm” Mark 4: 35-41 (NRSV)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

May we find ourselves renewed in this gospel story!
Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Crashing Storms: Calming Hearts” Rev. Kim Vidal

Have you ever felt like you were being swallowed in a stormy sea or the world crashing in on you? and no matter how hard you prayed, and how intently you called for help, no one just seem to be listening or responding? Do you sometimes ask questions like: Why? Why me? What did I do to deserve this? These questions and emotional sentiments, I’m sure were the feelings expressed by most of the survivors of the residential schools. Between 1831 and 1996, residential schools operated in Canada through collaborations between the Government of Canada and several Christian churches, the United Church included. This partnership came to an end when the federal government took over sole management of the schools, and then began transferring the control of First Nations education to Indian bands. The last known residential school, the Gordon Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, closed in 1996.

Two common objectives defined this period — the assimilation of indigenous children and convert them to being “civilized”. Thousands of indigenous children were taken forcibly from their homes, families and communities. They were stripped of their culture, language, religion, family roots and identity. Abuses in many forms were rampant. Relationships between children, their parents, their natural community, their form of worship, spirituality and cultural supports were violated. Fathers and mothers lose their capacity to nurture their children, to pass down their values and ways of life. The impact: an overwhelming failure that left the indigenous communities in anger, deep wounds, displacement, shame, and separation of families that were passed on from one generation to the next.

Listen to a survivor’s story shared by Karina Roman of CBC News[1]:

This is the story of Edmund Metatawabin, a Cree from Fort Albany First Nation and his was a success story. But when he was seven years old, he had no idea what was in store for him. In 1956, surrendering to pressure from Catholic priests, Edmund's father dropped him off at St. Anne's Residential School in Fort Albany. Edmund says students were hit, by hand or with objects, for the smallest of infractions, or for no reason at all. And it only got worse. Edmund was there for eight years. But his summers back at home, on the land with his father, were a respite he treasured. Edmund recalls: "And one of my father’s stories is that I would never be a trapper or a hunter. That my life would be with a pencil." His father was right. Edmund went to high school in Kirkland Lake, where despite being too afraid to speak in class, he succeeded because of athletics. "I learned to run. Long distance, cross country. Because I could beat the guys who were teasing me. So my body did the talking. That was my saving grace there." He went on to university and was working on his master’s degree when he was summoned back to Fort Albany to be chief where he served for 10 years. During those years as chief, he organized a conference for St. Anne's Residential School survivors in 1992. He saw the suffering of people in his community and thought it was time they told their stories. "All we want is justice," he said. "All we want is a movement that will make us feel it’s finally over…” But we know that it’s not over yet.

Edmund’s story is one of a kind – a success story for sure, for he rose against the storms of victimization and oppression. He did not succumb to anguish and depression and held on to what his father dreamt of what he will be – a life with a pencil! Thanks to his father’s wisdom and guidance, Edmund saw success in life. His story is just one story among thousands of survivor’s stories. What about those who did not make it in life? What about those who are still suffering from the scars of abuse and humiliation? those who are still living the brunt of racism and labelling? The legacy of racism and colonialism put upon to the indigenous communities resulted to family dysfunction, cultural uprootedness, not to mention, increased rates of chronic and infectious diseases, mental illnesess, substance abuse and suicidal behaviours, particularly among the young people. And add to that the plight of the families of the missing aboriginal women. As a community of faith, how do we respond to this complicated issue? Some of us might feel that it is not our business to solve the problem – after all, we were not there when the residential schools were put in place. But we know that doing nothing or being silent to this issue makes us complicit to the systemic abuse that permeates the indigenous communities to these days. We need to do something to heal the brokenness and be a part of the solution.

Come and step in the boat with me and perhaps an invitation for truth telling, for reconciliation, for mutual respect and for healing awaits us. Jesus was tired. He had been teaching and healing and socializing. He needed rest. The disciples took him to a boat and headed to "the other side." The other side indicates not only the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. The other side was the location of an enemy zone! The boat carrying Jesus and his disciples turns from a familiar Jewish territory and heads across the water for unfamiliar regions, remote, unwelcoming, foreign – reminiscent of the uprooting of indigenous children from a safe, welcoming, happy place to an unknown ground where fear, pain, abuse and loneliness loomed large. As familiar land receded into the background, the skies darkened, the winds began to howl and the waves began to rise. Storm was on the way!

The storm evoked fear from the disciples – fear that could be easily interpreted as lack of faith. But was it really lack of faith? or was it just pure and simple fear in the face of a death-threatening storm? Would we not react the same way as the disciples did if we encounter the same? Sharon Salzberg writes: “Faith doesn’t mean the absence of fear. It means having the energy to go ahead, right alongside the fear.”[2] When Jesus awakes from sleep in response to his disciples’ cry for help, he didn’t chastise them for their display of fear. Instead, he invites them to examine why they were afraid—why they have let the storm rule their reality—and invites them to go back to their faith in God’s power that will accompany them amid their fears. Mark says that Jesus quiets the storm, and then quiets the disciples’ hearts. He calls on the wind and waves to be still, and then calls on them to have trust. Mark’s community who has heard this story equates the storm with the persecution they experienced from the imperial powers of Rome. Mark’s community shared this story to profess that God’s power is stronger than any storm; stronger than any imperial, oppressive powers on earth.

Storms are all around us. Storms of war are still raging in many parts of the world. Storms of poverty and famine flourish in developing countries. The COVID-19 storm still rages that affects many countries in devastating proportions. What about those who struggle through the storms of death, or illness or despair? We hear of those who are in stormy relationships and those who have not survived the storms of natural calamities. Storms of racial injustice and discrimination of all sorts are still alive that kills rather than heals. The George Floyd story is still fresh in our minds that calls for the world’s attention to stand in solidarity with the black community. Systemic racism is very much alive in this part of the world like a crashing storm that diminishes human lives particularly those of the indigenous communities.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that drafted 94 “calls to action”. We need to review these calls to action particularly those that are addressed to faith communities like ours and do our part in promoting understanding and developing meaningful, respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. As the Body of Christ, we are asked not to ignore the storms around us, but to walk into a storm supporting each another, hand in hand, in faith and in love. And some of us will continue through life without having heard about the residential schools and their continuing impact on First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people in our country. Some of us will continue to judge, to discriminate against, and to put down indigenous people. It is our responsibility to spread the word about residential schools including its demeaning impact and to keep us informed of what’s happening. The healing and reconciliation that we are seeking for all people will be hampered as we continue in our conflict and division. The winds will still rage. The waves will fill our boat with water until we sink and die. And the boat will rock until we can stand it no more. I don’t know what the next steps are but what I know is that there is no quick fix to this issue. Not even apologies that two of our United Church moderators have expressed will mend the scars right away. We will for sure be in for a long haul and God knows how many more storms we will meet on the way until this issue will be put to rest. Jesus spoke a word of peace and the storm calmed down.

Perhaps, like Jesus, we need to offer a word of peace. And to do this, we need to change the way we treat others. When we look at an indigenous person and treat him or her like a brother or a sister, that is a starting point. We can never move past our prejudices and biases until we see ourselves in the “other” particularly those who are different from us. May we listen attentively to their stories and their struggles, to acknowledge their past, to appreciate the beauty of their culture and spirituality and to stand with them as they advocate for the government to live out its responsibility. May we plant seeds of respect, honour and compassion and pray that God’s grace will bless those seeds until they grow and blossom into the reality of truth and reconciliation.

We can also show our support through art and poetry. On June 16th, Patricia Heinzman, former mayor of Squamish, British Columbia was our guest participant at the lectionary group study. Patty, as we fondly call her, wrote a powerful poem in response to a young First Nations man who wrote and performed a spoken-word poem during a Bright New Day Reconciliation Circle that Patty attended. Patty’s poem is a reminder of the ongoing struggle of the Indigenous peoples and one that opens our heart to respond. Let me share her poem with you:

Truth. Reconciliation.
Is more than an apology and deprecation,
a prayer to remove a stain upon our nation,
a shame rooted in colonial aspiration.
This failure of Christianity, of humanity,
our arrogance and vanity,
is Canada’s unfortunate profanity.
Our era without sanity.
With complete disregard and without considerations,
deference and dignity, and with near surgical ablations,
we systematically cut the First Nations,
demoralized generations,
destroyed languages and cultures to the quick, realpolitik.
So it’s time to be introspective.
Not just to remember our history selective.
150 years we’ve been in denial
of this bias we must reconcile.
The art of the possible is what I choose,
It’s harmony that we should collectively infuse
to rectify this system of abuse.
A country’s consciousness to transfuse.
With prisms new and a sense of hope,
positive reflections viewed through a common kaleidoscope,
evolving patterns, transparent, rotating perspectives
engender a uniquely Canadian antidote.
We’re birds of a feather,
in the same canoe pulling together.
After all, humanism is Canada’s shared endeavour,
everyone’s welfare our promotion, our devotion…whatsoever
C’est notre raison d’être, it’s in our DNA.
And it’s why we’re here to celebrate Indigenous Day
We all need to hear what our first peoples have to say to usher in a bright new day. O’siem.

And finally, dear friends, let us offer our support through words of encouragement and inspiration. Let me offer this blessing of peace written by Jan Richardson to our indigenous brothers and sisters as we journey with them in their continuing struggle for truth and reconciliation:

I cannot claim/ to still the storm/ that has seized you, cannot calm/ the waves that wash through your soul, that break against your fierce and aching heart. But I will wade into these waters/ will stand with you in this storm, will say peace to you / in the waves, peace to you / in the winds, peace to you / in every moment that finds you still within the storm. In the name of the Great Spirit, Amen.

[1] St. Anne's Residential School: One survivor's story by Karina Roman, CBC News Posted: Dec 18, 2013.

[2] Sharon Salzberg, “Choosing Faith over Fear”, O Magazine, January 2002.

Moment of Remembrance: Esther Stewart (on recordings only)

The Great Spirit Prayer[3]: Lorrie Lowes, DM

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind,
whose breath gives life to all the world.
Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Help me to remain calm and strong
in the face of all that comes towards me.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Help me seek pure thoughts and act
with the intention of helping others.
Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother or my sister.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.

[3] Author unknown.

This is our prayer in the name of the Risen Christ who taught us the way to restorative justice through the Lord’s Prayer written for the First Nations People.

Great Spirit, whose long house is in the sky,
whose hunting ground is the earth,
mighty and fearful are you called,
Ruler over storm, over human, bird and beast,
over earthway, over skyway;
Find us this day our meat and bread,
that we may be strong and brave.
Put aside from us our wicked ways,
as we put aside bad works of them who wrong us.
Let us not be led into troubled roads
but keep us from all evil.
For yours is all that is: the earth, the sky, streams and hills,
the stars, the moon, the sun,
and all that live and breathe the wonderful shining mighty,
mighty Spirit. Amen

Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim Vidal

* Offertory Prayer (together)

God, who is like a providing father to us, we give you thanks for your love and presence in our lives. With these gifts we now offer, help us to bring new life to our homes, to heal and to be healers in our families and in our communities. Amen.

Sending Forth: (by Lee Claus, Francis Sandy Theological Centre, 2008) Rev. Kim Vidal

Return now to the circle of Life, knowing,
That the love of Creator God is with us,
The compassion of Jesus inspires us,
The hope of the Holy Spirit comforts us.
May everyone we meet, know of our praise
of God’s name, by the singing and dancing
of our hands, heart, and feet! Amen.

*Hymn: My Love Colours Outside the Lines More Voices #138

1. My love colours outside the lines,
exploring paths that few could ever find;
and takes me into places where I’ve never been before,
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

2. My Lord colours outside the lines,
turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
and takes me into places where I’ve never been before
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown,
body and soul need a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the grave-stones if we’re not prepared to die,
and realize there are worlds outside the lines.

3, 4 My soul longs to colour outside the lines
tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before,
throw open doors to worlds outside the lines

Extinguishing the Candles to the Four Directions: Lorrie Lowes, DM

1: All good things come from the East The freshening wind brings warm rain and sunshine. Each day guide us to see you in everything we do, everyone we meet. Be kind in your blessings, Lord.

2: The warming south winds bring new growth, gentle rain, healing sunshine. Bless us with enough food and the good things from the earth. As we eat nourishing food help us to know you as the giver of all good gifts, Lord.

3: The sun sets in the West giving us glorious colors in our life. Night can sometimes be scary. The darkness can also mean calming, healing sleep. May good dreams and deep sleep cleanse us from all that is bad or evil. Renew and refresh us, O Lord.

4: North winds sometimes bring stormy weather and snow. Let your warmth in our coldness wrap us as with a blanket of love to keep away all that hurts. May all our people have warm houses and full tables against winter’s chill, Lord.

Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

June 13, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - June 14, 2020

Connie Davidson

June 13, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SUNDAY
Sunday School Closing & Celebration
All-Ages Worship

June 14, 2020

[The video of this service can be found here]

Gathering: More Voices #26 Your Love is Amazing – BCUC band

Words and Music; Brenton Brown and Brian Doerksen © 2000 Vineyard songs
Song #5b057fdf9f6f6 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214.
All rights reserved

Welcome – Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church in Ottawa, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who calls the children to come to him and lifts them up as belonging in the Kin-dom of God. Today we are celebrating Christian Education Sunday. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate and acknowledge the presence of our youth and children at BCUC as we continue to journey with them in faith and in love. We also extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Lorrie Lowes, our diaconal minister, who looks after our Christian Education ministry and all of the Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, nursery providers and other volunteers as they continue to support and nurture our youth and children.

Whether you are joining us from Ottawa or other parts in Canada or perhaps in other countries like the United States or in the Philippines, thank you for being part of our virtual worship service today.

During this time when we are not able to worship in the church sanctuary, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with the weekly announcements, online meetings and events and other updates. And in this trying time of COVID-19 pandemic, I encourage you to show that you care by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of God who welcomes us like a child, full of wonder and trust. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Acolytes: Wightman Family

Voice 1: “Jesus called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Voice 2: Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18: 2-5)

*Call to Gather: Berard Family

Reader 1:
We are the children of the world,
and despite our different backgrounds,
we share a common reality.

Reader 2:
We are united by our struggle to make the world
a better place for all. You call us the future,
but we are also the present.

Reader 3:
So come, sisters and brothers of every age!
Come, cousins and kin from every land and place!
As children in this time and in this place—
disciples of Christ and children of God—
we’re here with the belief that the world can be different.

All:
We’re here with the belief that God’s love,
living in us and through us, changes the world! Alleluia!

Richard Bott, ‘We Hold These Children”, A Service for Children’s Sunday.

Prayer of Approach: (written by Rt. Rev. Richard Bott) Wendy Morrell & Dan Lanoue

(arms open wide) Holy God,
(arms move in, pretending to rock a baby)
you were with us when we were born,
(squatting down, slowly rising with arms overhead)
you are with us as we grow,
(covering heart with hands and crumpling a bit)
you are with us when we hurt,
(standing tall, arms to side) you are with us when we are whole.
(cupping hands at belly) Thank you.
(raising cupped hands to chest level) Thank you!
(raising hands above head) THANK YOU!
(making “binoculars”) Would you help us to see?
(cupping ears) Would you help us to hear?
(stretching arms out) Would you help us to love?
(making 360-degree turn) So we might change ourselves.
(making 360-degree turn) So we might change the world!
(arms open wide) Amen.

Hymn: “One More Step” Voices United #639

1.One more step along the world I go;
one more step along the world I go,
From the old things to the new,
keep me traveling along with you.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new,
keep me traveling along with you.

2.‘Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see;
you’ll be looking at along with me.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new,
keep me traveling along with you.

3.As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me traveling the way I should;
where I see no way to go,
you’ll be telling me the way, I know.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new,
keep me traveling along with you.

4.Give me courage when the world is rough;
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me traveling along with you.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new,
keep me traveling along with you.

5.You are older than the world can be,
You are younger than the life in me,
Ever old and ever new,
keep me traveling along with with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Time of Celebration & Appreciation Lorrie Lowes

If we were at the church today, everything would be abuzz! The CGs and Bell Canto would be warming up with the band, Rev. Kim would be making sure the children and youth had their parts for the service, “Two Men and a Stove” would be firing up the barbecue, and the UP Group would be setting up for games on the lawn. This was supposed to be an all-ages service in celebration of the end of the regular Sunday School and Youth programs followed by our Sunday School picnic. From what I see on the weather forecast, it should be a perfect day for it – sunny but not too hot. It is disappointing that we can’t be doing all of these things – but we can still celebrate!

Today I celebrate all of the children and youth who bring such life and spirit to this faith family. As I plan your programs each week, I think about each one of you and am excited about the ideas and wisdom you will bring to the lessons. I look forward to the time when you come forward for our chancel chat before you head off to your classes. I love how engaged you are and how willing and eager you are to share your ideas. You make all of us at BCUC very proud. As you think about putting away your school books for the summer, I wish you sunshine and joy and I look forward to the time when we can gather on the chancel again. I look forward to your smiles and your hugs!

Today we also celebrate all the folks who make this program work – the teachers, the youth leaders, for Erin who puts in so much love and time to help you create the music and the creative activities in response to the lessons. I celebrate the teamwork of the teachers who are willing to jump in and help wherever they are needed. I appreciate them all so much and I know you do too.

We can’t hand them a flower or a little gift in person this year – so here is our gift to them…

(Photos of Sunday School children with thank you cards for their teachers)

Hymn: I’ve Got Peace Like A River Voices United #577

I’ve got peace like a river (3x) in my soul
I’ve got peace like a river (3x) in my soul

2-Joy like a fountain 3- Love like an ocean 4- Peace, joy, love like a river, fountain, ocean

Words and Music; public domain Song # 95106
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination: Leader: Raven Miller

Dear God, we come as children, humble, innocent and trusting. We come, ready to hear your Word. Let the words speak in each heart. Let the truth set each one free. Let gospel inspire us for justice. Let the Spirit’s presence fill us with joy. Amen.

The Gospel Story: Reader: Phoenix Miller

“Jesus Blesses Little Children” Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV)

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might bless them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

May we find ourselves renewed in this gospel story!
Thanks be to God!

Reflection: “What Do We Want To Tell the Children?” Rev. Kim Vidal

(inspired by the writing of Ann Weems in Reaching for Rainbows)

I’m a big fan of Ann Weems. In case you are not familiar with her, Ann Weems was a celebrated American poet, a prolific author, a Presbyterian elder and a profound lecturer. She passed away in 2016 at a ripe age of 81. She wrote a number of books, most of which are in my personal library. Her books revealed her beliefs, her convictions, her spirituality, her theology, her love for humanity, particularly children. The first book that introduced me to Ann Weems was Reaching for Rainbows. In this book, she offered words of joy and hope, faith-filled prayers and contemporary worship resources. She had a big heart for children. That’s why I am using some inspiration from one of her works to celebrate our youth and children at BCUC. She wrote a short essay about what do we want to tell the children. I have highlighted some of her thoughts and added them to mine in this reflection.

In the rush and crunch of our mission as God’s children, we sometimes forget who we are: the children of God.

In our grown-up practicality, in our busy adult-conscience productivity, we sometimes forget that Jesus said, “Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” We even forget who Jesus is and we begin telling the story all wrong.

What about the children of this world who are not filled with life’s joys? What about the children who are “have-nots” – who have not food, clothing, medicine, warm shelter, parents? What about the abused or neglected child? And the child who lives in darkness?

Gabriela Mistral, Nobel prize-winning poet from Chile, has written: “We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time the child’s bones are being formed, blood being made, senses being developed. To a child, we cannot answer “Tomorrow”. The child’s name is “Today!”

The United Nations has declared that every child in this world must have certain rights:
The right to affection, love and understanding.
The right to adequate nutrition and medical care.
The right to free education.
The right to full opportunity for play and recreation.
The right to name a nationality.
The right to special care, if handicapped.
The right to be among the first to receive relief in times of disaster.
The right to be a useful member of society and to develop individual abilities.
The right to be brought up in a spirit of peace and universal community.
The right to enjoy these rights, regardless of race, colour, sex, religion, national or social origin.

What do we want to tell the children?

Ann Weems said that children know the fears of darkness. But we want to tell them that a man named Jesus came, taught us about God’s love and took our hands and held them so that we would be safe. Children know about holding hands with someone who can make them safe. We are now the hands of Jesus so let us hold their hands in love.

We want to tell them that Jesus led us into the Light and that’s where we need to live now – in the Light! Each child must learn what it means to go from darkness to light.

It’s like when nighttime comes and you run upstairs in a hurry because you feel like something will get you and you run as fast as you can and turn on the light and you feel safer. Then you go and find your mom or dad or someone who will put their arms around you and then you know you’re safe. We are now the light of Christ to every child. Let that light guide them to safety and peace.

That’s why Ann Weems thinks, and I agree with her, why we come to church. We come to be in the Light. We come to thank God for the Light, and we go out into the world and find people who are hurting and crying, and we pick them up and carry them into the Light. We wipe away their tears and tell them that they can stay in the Light, and we hold their hands so they won’t be scared anymore.

At BCUC, I am proud to say that we treat each other like a family, where each one, particularly the children and the youth is invited, welcomed, listened to, blessed and loved. BCUC is our spiritual home – a home of God’s grace. More than memories, more than experiences, more than the physical space. In this church, there are rooms for everyone and everyone has a place. It reminds me of Rudyard Kipling’s quote on family: “A family shares things like dreams, hopes, possessions, memories, smiles, frowns, and gladness...A family is a clan held together with the glue of love and the cement of mutual respect. A family is shelter from the storm, a friendly port when the waves of life become too wild. No person is ever alone who is a member of a loving family.”

In the song We Are the World – it seems that the late Michael Jackson paraphrased today’s gospel story. The song tells us what it means to be a child, welcomed and embraced by Jesus. Jackson’s musical theology is one that resonates the true meaning of God’s kin-dom. “We are the world – we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving. There's a choice we're making. We're saving our own lives. It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me”. These words embrace a vision and hope for young people like Terry Fox who raised awareness and healing through his unfortunate cancer and physical disabilities; of Craig Kielburger who organized Free the Children movement against child labour; of the young Ryan from Kemptville, just outside Ottawa, who started the well project for clean waters in Africa; of the Japanese girl Sadako who raised world peace awareness through the peace cranes that she folded, of the African Children’s Choir whose melodic voices challenge the powers-that-be in diminishing the humanity of women and children in Africa, of the Pakistani young woman, Malala whose activism for girls’ education spread like a wildfire and the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize; of young environmental and climate change activists like Greta Thunberg and Autumn Peltier who inspire people and leaders to pay attention to the groaning Mother Earth.

Here at BCUC, I am proud to say that our youth, young adults and children are doing their part in making a difference: Hazel & Doyle Smith who travelled with Lorrie in a partnership visit to Chipembi; 16 people, including 10 youth and young adults who went to Nicaragua and built homes for those in need; Elly Crow who raised awareness on body shaming; some members of the UP Youth who ran the Camp Awesome program with Tamara; children and youth who offer their gifts and talents, their voices, their participation, their questions and their presence that touch many of us in the congregation and beyond.

Friends, let us go and tell the children that here at Bells Corners United Church, in this church family, and around the world, that there’s still a lot of love going on.

What do we want to tell the children?

Tell them that everyone is a child of God.
Tell them that Jesus calls them to him just the way they are.
Tell them that they are cherished and that we love them strongly.
Tell them to speak up and let their voices be heard.
Tell them that we care.

Let us celebrate the children!

Thank you Lorrie, the Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, nursery providers and volunteers! Thank you yound people and Sunday School children! Thank you Ann Weems! Thank you Jesus! Thank you God! Amen.

Invitation for Prayer: “Lord, Listen to your Children Praying” VU#400 – BCUC choir

Lord, Listen to your children praying.
Lord, send your Spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to your children praying.
Send us love, send power, send us grace.

Prayers of the People & Lord’s Prayer Lorrie Lowes

Loving God,
Hear us as we lift up our prayers for ourselves, our family, our friends, our community, and your world today.
We thank you for each new day given to us,
And we give thanks especially for the days that bring us together as a family of faith,
even when we can’t meet in the sanctuary of our church.
We thank you for the many blessings this community brings.

Compassionate God,
There is so much happening in the world that confuses us, frightens us, and even angers us.
We pray that you give us strength as we cope with the new realities the Covid-19 pandemic brings.
We pray for those who are suffering, for families who are missing close connections, for people feeling isolated and trapped in their homes.
We pray for the frontline workers who work so tirelessly to provide the necessities of life – health care, safety, protection, and comfort.
We pray for all those who are unable to work and for those who are preparing to make their way back to their jobs.
We pray for the teachers, the ministers, the counsellors, and all who support us as we navigate these strange times through technology.
Help us see not only the struggles but also the blessings these days bring.

God, we lift up those around the world who do not have enough,
enough food…
enough access to health care…
enough peace…
enough love…
enough joy.

We pray that you help us cope with the racial injustice and violence that is happening all around us. Make us see each other as you see us all, through the eyes of love.
Help us recognize the systemic racism in the world, in our own country, and in ourselves.
We pray for all racialized people and today, especially for people of colour.
Help us understand their anger and their grief.
Help us be part of the solution by becoming the allies they need in this struggle.
Jesus told his disciples to become like little children.

Today we celebrate the children and youth who are such a vital part of our faith family.
We recognize and give thanks for their enthusiasm, their commitment, and their insight into what it means to be a follower of Jesus today.
We give thanks for the vision they bring to us of better tomorrows.
We give thanks for all those who nurture them and help them on their faith journey.

Thank you for the Sunday School Teachers, the Youth Group Leaders, the “Secret Pals”, and all those who take the time to listen and to encourage.
Lead us to work for the welfare and protection of all young people.
May we respect their dignity that they may flourish in life.
All these things we lift up to you in the name of Jesus who taught these words to his disciples.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering: Rev. Kim Vidal

*Offertory Prayer (together)

Holy God, we thank you for all the gifts that you have given us. With thankful hearts we offer our gifts for the care and the healing of your world. Use our gifts and bless all that they may touch. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sending Forth: A Blessing for All the Children of the World (by Alyson Huntly) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Children of God,
May someone hold you close tonight,
and may you never wake alone.
May you have food to eat,
and may you never wake hungry.
May you sleep in a safe and quiet place,
and may you never wake to the sound of fighting.
May you have someone to love and protect you,
and may you never wake in fear.
May you have a shelter over your head,
and may you never wake in the cold.
May you always know that you are one of God’s beloved one,
may you never wake alone. Amen.

*Hymn: Go, Make a Diff’rence More Voices #209

Refrain:
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

1- We are the salt of the earth,
called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world,
Not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a diff’rence in the world. Refrain

2- We are the hands of Christ
reaching out to those in need,
The face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope;
We are the voice of peace.
Go make a diff’rence in the world. Refrain

3 – So let your love shine on,
let it shine for all to see.
Go make a diff’rence in the
world. And the spirit of
Christ will be with us as we go.
Go make a diff’rence in the world! Refrain

Departing: My Lighthouse - the Rend Collective – BCUC Band

Chris Llewellyn, Gareth Gilkeson © 2013 Thankyou Music
CCLI Song #7002032 CCLI License #11199365

Zoom Fellowship

Hosted by Lorrie at 11 am on Sunday, June 14.
Link has been emailed. See you there!

Connie Davidson

June 6, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - June 7, 2020

Connie Davidson

June 6, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

A CELTIC TRINITY SUNDAY

95th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

WORSHIP SERVICE

June 7, 2020

[The video of this service can be found here]

Gathering: Be Thou My Vision - arr. Mark Hayes Abe - piano

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Kim Vidal

Good morning! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church in Ottawa, I welcome and greet you in the name of the Triune God: Creator, Christ and Companion on this Trinity Sunday. Today we are celebrating the 95th anniversary year of the United Church of Canada which was inaugurated on June 10, 1925. Whether you are joining us from Ottawa or other parts in Canada or perhaps in other countries like the United States or in the Philippines, thank you for being part of our virtual worship service today.

During this time when we are not able to worship in the church sanctuary, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with the weekly announcements, online meetings and events and other updates. And in this trying time of COVID-19 pandemic, I encourage you to show that you care by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

In light of the ongoing racial strife in the United States that sparked anger and awareness in many parts of the world, Canada included, I urge you to offer your solidarity with the black community in their continued fight against racial injustice and to offer prayers of healing and reconciliation. Let us be reminded of our call as followers of Jesus - to stand up against all forms of injustice and to welcome people of every colour, ethnicity and creed.

I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of the Triune God who calls us to gather in the name of justice and love. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Three Candles: (A Celtic Tradition) Acolytes: Davidson Family

One: I will light a light in the name of God,
who lit the world and breathed the breath of life into me. (light the first candle)

Two: I will light a light in the name of Jesus whose compassion
blessed the world and stretched out his hand to me. (light the second candle)

Three: I will light a light in the name of the Spirit
who encompasses the world and blesses my soul with yearning. (light the third candle)

All: Three lights for the trinity of love:
God above us, God beside us, God beneath us;
the beginning, the end, the everlasting one.

*Call to Gather: (Celtic Prayers) Lorrie Lowes

I arise today
through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
through the belief in the threeness,
through the confession of the oneness
of the Creator of Creation.

Three folds of a cloth, yet only one napkin is there;
Three joints in the finger, but still one finger fair;
Three leaves of the shamrock, yet no more than one shamrock to wear;
Frost, snowflakes and ice, all in water their origin share.
Three Persons in God: to One God alone we make our prayer.

*Opening Prayer: (reflecting the four core functions of the United Church of Canada: witness, faith formation, community and service by Rod Sykes):

For 95 years, the Triune God has called the people of the United Church of Canada toward greater faithfulness: to witness to the power of God’s love in transforming self and society.
Triune God of hope, strengthen our resolve.
For over nine decades God has shaped this church to be a home for the hungry heart where faith is formed.
Triune God ever questing, ever yearning, grant us wisdom.
Through fourscore years and fifteen, God has nurtured this body of Christ, caring for each other with open hearts and hands.
Triune God, bring to birth among us true companionship in Christ.
Throughout the generations, the good news of the Way of Jesus has moved our forebears to respond to human need and challenge social wrong.
Triune God, ignite within us renewed commitment to your Reign. Amen.

Opening Hymn: I, the Lord of Sea & Sky - Voices United #509

1 - I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

2 - I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people's pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
Who will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send? Refrain

3 - I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send? Refrain

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie

How do you introduce yourself?

I usually say, “Hi, I’m Lorrie!” … well most of the time…
I might say, I’m Will’s mom, or maybe I’m Bree’s grandma… or Neil’s wife… or one of the ministers at BCUC… or your new neighbour…
Hmmm… I guess it depends on who I’m introducing myself to!
Sometimes people will ask me for my full name – like on a registration form, or at the doctor’s office or the bank… Then I would say, “Lorraine Ann Lowes” …

In high school my friends had a nickname for me. They called me Lorrie-belle…
My kids call me Mom – well except for my oldest son. He likes to call me Ma when he’s being silly….
My brother calls me Lor
Neil calls me “Hon”
Some people call me Mrs. Lowes, others call me Aunt Lorrie…
When I was little my grandma called me Lorelei Kilgallon – no idea where that came from!

I can keep going! There are so many different names for me…
It seems kind of confusing, doesn’t it? But, know what? I always know that they are talking to me or about me, no matter which name they use. I recognize their voices or the situation or the story.
I think it’s kind of the same thing with God.

Today is called “Trinity Sunday”. It’s a day when we talk about God being three in one. It’s a concept that is important to Christians but confusing at the same time. How can there be just one God but we talk about that God as Father, Son (or Jesus), and Holy Spirit? It sounds like 3 different things altogether!

I think we use different names for God depending on the situation, or our feelings at that moment, or our relationship with God – just like people use different names for us depending on those things.
I find it interesting that, although we talk about the Trinity, we have so many more names for God than just three:
Creator… Redeemer… Breath of Life… Savior…Yahweh …Jehovah… Lord… Holy Mystery…Love…Christ…

Just a walk through our hymn book gives many examples. I’m sure you can think of more. But each time, no matter which of these words we use, we are still talking about the same God. Just like I am the same person, even though I am addressed in many different ways.
And that reminds me that no matter how many names I use for God, I am still talking about the same one…
And that one God recognizes all of those names and listens to what I have to say.
Sometimes I wonder what God’s answer would be if we asked what God’s full name is…

Children’s Hymn: Father, I Adore You (sung in a round)

Father, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you.

Jesus, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you.

Spirit, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you.

Three-in-One, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you

Prayer for Illumination: (written by Beth W. Johnson) Reader: David Stafford

Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, your Word is a light in the shadows, nourishment for our hunger, challenge for our complacency, and comfort for our sorrow. Enlighten, feed, challenge and cheer us today. Amen.

Epistle Readings

Ephesians 4: 4-6

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Creator of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

2 Corinthians 13: 11-13

Final Greetings and Benediction

11 Finally, brothers and sisters farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Trinity Talk: One-in-Three - God as Holy Mystery” Rev. Kim Vidal

You all know me as Kim – a minister, a teacher, a mother. But I am also a daughter, a sister, a wife. I describe myself as an empowerer, a lover, a friend. Three distinct words for one “me”. Not three Kims. Only one Kim. Now if you were to describe God, what words would you use? I’m sure you will have more than one description for God. I ask this question in the context of today’s sermon on the doctrine of Trinity. Like many other Christians, I wonder why we even spend time focusing on this 4th century doctrine. I believe that taking time to intentionally and thoughtfully examine the doctrine of Trinity is absolutely crucial to our understanding of the nature and character of God.

The first woman to have been ordained as a rabbi in Reconstructionist Judaism is Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. She had written a wonderful children’s book called In God’s Name. This book affirms the need to call God by many names: Source of Life – Creator of Light – Maker of Peace – My Rock –Ancient One – Mother – Father – Friend. The progressive Christian and professor, the Rev. Carl Gregg wrote: “We call God by many names because we recognize the limits of human language and that our lived experience of God is so diverse that no ONE name for God can capture the fullness of God.” The composer Brian Wren wrote a beautiful hymn called “Bring Many Names.” The lyrics he wrote in naming God is diverse: “Strong mother God, working night and day…Warm father God, hugging every child…Old, aching God…wiser than despair…Young, growing God, eager, on the move, crying out for justice…” Sasso, Gregg and Wren urge us to bring many names for God. They are windows of our lived experience of who God is in our lives.

Within Christianity, the most common expression of naming God is profound in the doctrine of Trinity expressed as Three-in-One, One-in-Three. Sounds like the 3 Musketeer’s motto: “All for one and one for all!” Putting words to that distinction, the church fathers who proposed this doctrine in the early 4th century chose to designate the Trinitarian Formula as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is no doubt, however, that this designation is both hierarchical and patriarchal. And the major problem flowing out of this is that the Christian Church itself, following the culture of its day, also became obsessed with hierarchy and patriarchy – top down and male dominated. This approach has had profound and oftentimes devastating political, religious and social consequences especially for women.

One of my Catholic colleagues from St. Paul University recalled the first time he became aware of just how difficult and obscure the doctrine of the Trinity can be. He said that as a teenager growing up in the Roman Catholic Church, he was asked to recite the Athanasian Creed. When he got to the part which reads, The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible, he muttered, too loudly to the horror of those around him, “Geez! The whole damn thing is incomprehensible!' I totally agree with him! His story does express a general feeling among many Christians, you and I included. ‘Trinity’ is incomprehensible indeed! Over the years, people came up with images and ideas to illustrate the Trinity. “Trinity is like an egg: shell, albumen and yoke, one thing.” How about this illustration from the Celtic tradition: “Trinity is like a three leaf clover: three leaves, one clover.” Or this: “Trinity is like water: three forms (ice, steam, liquid) as one substance.” But the funniest I’ve ever heard is this: “Trinity is like 3-in-1 shampoo: shampoo, conditioner, body wash - one substance.”

It is helpful to remember feminist theologian Elizabeth Johnson’s comments that “The New Testament…contains no full-blown doctrine of the Trinity…nor does the word ‘Trinity’ even appear.” A bit of history here. It was not until almost 200 years after Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians that the Christian apologist Tertullian, writing in the early 3rd century, attempted to apply the Greek word “Trinity” to Christian theology. And it was yet another century before the doctrine of the Trinity was more fully debated and formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 and the Council of Constantinople in 381. In other words, it would take 350 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus before Christians, particularly the Church Fathers, were able to articulate a full-fledged doctrine of the Trinity. During those three centuries, there were also many other diverse ways that Christians understood their experiences with God besides the threefold pattern that eventually became the orthodox position. And here we are in the 21st century- still trying to decipher what could Trinity mean for us today.

A problem that may arise in our understanding of the Trinity is the fact that we see the Trinitarian God as a Person. We were taught in church particularly in Sunday School, that Trinity is God in Three Persons – this is what we profess in hymns like Holy, Holy, Holy or in the ancient creeds that some still recite. The late NT scholar Marcus Borg suggested that the Latin and Greek word “persona” translated as ‘person’ does not mean what ‘person’ most commonly means in English. Today, a ‘person’ means a separate being. But ‘persona’ in the ancient texts refers to the mask worn by actors in Greek and Roman theatres. Borg’s comments caught my imagination: “To speak of one God and three persons is to say that God is known to us wearing three different ‘masks’... in three different roles” (Borg 1997:98). Indeed, a Holy mystery. A multi-faceted sacredness - creating, indwelling, sustaining, resisting, recreating, challenging, guiding, liberating, completing. Borg suggests that when we step away from a literalist understanding, ‘Trinity’ shows that God is not primarily a lawgiver and judge but the compassionate one. And the religious life is not about requirements, but about relationship.” So where does that leave us in terms of understanding the doctrine of the Trinity in this time and place?

In her book, She Who Is, Elizabeth Johnson traces the origin of Trinitarian thinking to early Christians especially those who follow Paul and his teachings. Although Paul did not attempt to define the doctrine of Trinity, the closing verses in most of Paul’s authentic letters and those attributed to him accentuate how the early Christians “experienced God in a threefold way.” His letters particularly to the 2nd Corinthians is a good resource in understanding Trinity. Paul, Johnson writes, “experienced the saving God in a threefold way as God beyond them, God with them, and God within them, that is, as utterly transcendent, as present historically in the person of Jesus, and as present in the Spirit within their community. These were all encounters with only one God. Accordingly, the early Christians talk about God in this threefold pattern: “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Early Christian letters and gospels are filled with this threefold cadence that appears in hymns, greetings, confessions of faith, liturgical formulas, doxologies, and short rules of faith…. In the process, the monotheistic view of God flexed to incorporate Jesus and the Spirit…. Their language expanded creatively to accommodate their threefold religious experience.

I like what Johnson proposes, that the early Christians believed in one monotheistic God, but they experienced this one God in at least three particular ways: “beyond them, with them, and within them.” I think this is one of the many ways we could address this doctrine of Trinity in this day and age. Like the early Christians, we may experience a transcendent God who is beyond us. This means that the fullness of God is beyond our language, beyond our knowledge, and beyond our experience. On June 10th, the United Church of Canada is turning 95 years old. In the United Church of Canada’s Song of Faith, we profess that God is Holy Mystery. But this does not mean that we should sit comfortably and say – I do not need to explain this because mystery is mystery. I think we are making a big mistake if we ignore to understand and unearth this Holy Mystery in our midst. The best way to do this is naming God that speaks to our own lived experience. When I was about 5 years old, I imagine the vast ocean as God – with all living creatures underneath, the endless horizon touching the sky and the beautiful waves that kiss the shore. Through the years, I’ve added more to the mysteriousness of God by embracing more liberal, unorthodox concepts. God is like a tree – with branches and leaves and flowers and fruits – yet it is one huge tree. God is a positive energy giving life to all creation. Do not be afraid to use metaphors when you talk about God. Such is the beauty of expanding our thoughts and understanding of challenging doctrines like the Trinity.

Time and time again, we experience God with us in the flesh, believed historically in the person of Jesus. This became known as the theology of Incarnation: that Jesus embodied the ways of God through his life. We also experience God as within us, “as present in the Spirit within our community.” So, although there was a transcendent aspect of God that would always be beyond our experience and even after Jesus was no longer physically with us, we still experience the presence of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So here’s my challenge for you as you reflect on Trinity. How do you respond to the traditional language of Father, Son, Holy Spirit? Are you comfortable with these words? What feelings, thoughts, or memories emerge in response to these metaphors? For me, I see the doctrine of Trinity as a metaphor for connectedness or relationship. It encompasses God as a creative energy, present in Jesus - a just companion in our journey and alive in a community through the Spirit of mutual trust and friendship. I also embrace Augustine’s one of many attempts at alternative Trinitarian language: “Lover, Beloved, Love.” God is the Lover, Jesus is the Beloved, and the Spirit is Love. When we acknowledge a loving God, following the teachings of Jesus the beloved, who promotes the Spirit of love, imagine how the world will be like. A world where hatred and violence will be no more, where we are able to embrace the other as our sister or brother no matter what colour of the skin, no matter which status in life, no matter what creed one professes. What about you? How would you name God? What is your personal understanding of Trinity?

Deeply seated in the Celtic tradition is the mystery of God as One in Three. It was believed that St. Patrick taught the early Irish people the meaning of Trinity through the image of a shamrock. A poem attributed to St. Patrick during his Irish ministry in the 5th century expresses the Celtic meaning of Trinity. I leave you this prayer as you continue to reflect on the meaning of Trinity: I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same The Three in One and One in Three. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us join our hearts prayer

Creator, Christ, Comforter, today we celebrate the 95th anniversary of The United Church of Canada. We give thanks for the many ways of being a community of love, a community that embraces inclusion, compassion, justice, and truth. We celebrate how we continue to work towards living in right relationships and in healing the world. We pause to honour those who have gone before us and those who are still with us: ministers, lay leaders, educators, preachers, teachers, administrators, caregivers, dishwashers, builders, bakers, storytellers, peacemakers, musicians, and so many more—all part of the cloud of witnesses.

Lover, Beloved, Love, we are grateful for your constant caring among us in our faith community. We pray for our young ones and elders, our families, the singles, the couples, those of us who yearn for companionship. We pray for the wider church, the Regional Council where we belong, our Moderator and all the leaders of the United Church of Canada that they may guide us to life-giving ministries. I pray that all hearts and voices be heard as each congregation take a significant step in their desire to becoming one family of faith.

Compassionate God, we pray for people for whom the world is dark, for those who are dealing with pain and suffering, illness, loneliness, homelessness, poverty, disability, hunger, addictions, and broken relationships. May your light and love fill their lives so they may be both healed. We take a moment now, in silence, to offer the names of those who need your healing touch...

Justice-seeking God, there is an ongoing racial strife in the United States that sparked anger and protests in the US, here in Canada and many parts of the world. We pray that racial justice may be attained very soon, that it may lead us to dream with Martin Luther King. Jr where children are not judged by the colour of their skin. Empower us to welcome people of every colour, ethnicity and creed. Encourage us to be advocates of the sacredness of human life that welcomes all. We pray for those who are trying to survive devastating periods of terror, violence, war, unrest, hunger, displacement and the continued challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Triune God, deliver us from fear, greed, and all evil things that keep us away from your love.

Be with us as we long for fresh hopes and dreams for a better world. And with grateful hearts, let us unite in this prayer that Jesus taught us in the language of your choice:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering: Rev. Kim Vidal

I now invite you to offer our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, may love, hope and shalom be a reality through the sharing of our time, talents, treasures and commitment. Accept what we offer and who we are. Amen.

Sending Forth: (inspired by the words of UCC Song of Faith) Lorrie Lowes

May God, who we speak of as one and triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you as you go from here.
May you be strengthened by the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
Emboldened by God, Christ, and Spirit,
Held by Mother, Friend, and Comforter,
Inspired by the Source of Life, Living Word, and Bond of Love,
And, as you go, may you know that the One on whom our hearts rely,
blesses us and sends us forth to witness to Holy Mystery that is Wholly Love. Amen

Departing Music: My Soul Cries Out - More Voices #120

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things, that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn!

2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might,
put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn. Refrain

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears, ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. Refrain

4. Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around. Refrain

Music: traditional melody Ireland Words and arrangement: © Rory Cooney - GIA pub
Song #00762 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Choral Blessing: The Irish Blessing – Traditional words, music: Douglas Nolan

BCUC choir & Leslie Wade - violin

Bonus: We Rise Again – Dubinsky Abe - piano

Connie Davidson

May 30, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 31, 2020

Connie Davidson

May 30, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

PENTECOST SUNDAY
WORSHIP SERVICE

May 31, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering songs: More Voices #13 – O Let the Power Fall on Me

O let the power fall on me, my Lord, let the power fall on me.
O let the power from heaven fall on me, let the power fall on me.

For we want justice and truth and love, my Lord, we want justice and truth and love
For we want justice and truth and love, my Lord, we want justice and truth and love

Music: traditional Caribbean song Words verse 1 and Adaptation by Birchfield Aymer
arrangement by Patrick Prescod © the Caribbean conference of Churches
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

More Voices #6 – Holy Spirit, Come Into Our Lives

Holy Spirit, come into our lives. Holy Spirit, make us truly wise (continuously)

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Kim

Welcome! Bienvenue! Bienvinidos! Maligayang Pagdating!

On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday – the birthday of the Christian Church. Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad that you have joined us in our virtual worship service!

In this time of church closure, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Please check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with our weekly announcements and updates.

Beyond worship service, there are other weekly activities and meetings offered online. And in this time of pandemic, I encourage you to make a difference by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Friends, as we worship together,
May we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, like the people gathered on that Day of Pentecost.
May the winds of change and the tongues of flame rush into our hearts and empower our souls.
Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God as we gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Peck-Jones Family

We light this candle as a symbol of the presence of Christ.
Christ was known to us through the stories we share.
Christ was experienced by us through the gathered community.
Christ is present to us through the Spirit that is in our midst.
Come, Holy Spirit! Be with us today. Fill our hearts with joy and confidence!

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes & Nicole Beaudry

Holy Spirit, Giver of life, in the beginning of time,
you moved over the face of the waters;
you breathe into every living being the breath of life.
Come, Creator Spirit, and renew the whole creation.

Esprit-Saint, voix des prophètes:
(Holy Spirit, voice of the prophets:)
tu enflâmes des hommes et des femmes d’une passion pour ta vérité,
(you enflame men and women with a passion for your truth,)
et à travers eux, tu appelles ton peuple à des voies de justice et de compassion.
(and through them, call your people to ways of justice and compassion.)
Viens, Esprit de justice, et brûle dans nos cœurs.
(Come, Spirit of Righteousness, and burn in our hearts.)

Holy Spirit, Advocate, Friend, Wind and Flame
You break down barriers of language, race, and culture,
and heal the divisions that separate us.
Come, Spirit of Power, make us bold witnesses of your redeeming love.

Viens, Esprit réconciliant
(Come, Reconciling Spirit,)
et unis-nous tous dans l'amour de Dieu.
(and unite us all in the love of God.)
Viens, Esprit Créateur,
(Come, Creator Spirit,)
et fais de nous de nouvelles créations en Jésus-Christ.
(and make us new creations in Jesus Christ.)

Paul Detterman, Reformed Worship Magazine. French text translated by Nicole Beaudry.

Opening Prayer: (by Rt. Rev. Richard Bott) Erin, Noah & Nicolas Berard

With the beat of a wild wing (clap hands together)
With the rush of a mighty wind (rub hands together building tension)
With the Pentecost flame (place hot palm against forehead)
Touch us, Holy Spirit! (Open and cross hands, linking thumbs, so hands become a bird)
Love us into being, Spirit of God! (Bird flies to the left)
Love us into wholeness, Spirit of Wisdom! (bird flies to the right)
Love us into newness, Spirit of Christ!
(Bird flies straight up and hands undo, arms opening in praise)
Alleluia! (hands up in the air)
May it ever be! (hands over your chest)
Amen. (hands folded over chest)

Opening Hymn: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (Souffle, vent doux du Saint-Esprit) VU#375

Refrain (English):
Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow through the wilderness,
calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness,
stir me from placidness,
wind, wind on the sea.

1-Tu touchas la terre Esprit créateur
Tu dressas les montagne,
en gloire et splendeur;
à travers les âges, tu crias à tous vents: “déployez vos ailes, sortez du néant.”

Refrain (French):
Souffle, vent doux du Saint-Esprit;
Tu grâce me conduit hors du desert.
Souffle, grand vent du Saint-Esprit,
secoue notre apathie, vent, vent sur la mer.

2-You swept through the desert,
you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people
with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded
with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets
to open their eyes.

Refrain

3-You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill
then you whispered in silence
when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people
on the rush of the wind.

Refrain

4-You call from tomorrow,
you break ancient schemes.
From the bondage of sorrow
all the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions,
our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise.

Refrain

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie:

Good Morning!

Today is Pentecost Sunday. It’s a pretty important day in the year of our church. It’s kind of the beginning of how church began. Today’s story explains how that happened. So, it happens in Jerusalem, a couple of months almost after Easter. The disciples and the followers of Jesus were in Jerusalem and they were in a room or a building together. They were probably wondering what they were supposed to do now that Jesus wasn’t with them anymore – but he had promised them that he would send the Holy Spirit to help them out, and that’s what happened that day! They describe it as if a big wind came into the building all of a sudden and it took their breath away… and then it seemed that there were little flames above everybody’s heads that they could see. I think that means that they got really excited or “fired up” about something, maybe about sharing the news about Jesus. And the other really exciting thing that happened was that they could be understood by everybody around! That was a big deal because outside of the building were people from all over the world at that time. People who spoke all kinds of different languages – and they could all understand what the followers of Jesus were saying when they came out of that building! That would be pretty neat to hear all of those languages at once and be able to hear your own language and be able to understand what was being said.

Do you speak more than one language? Most of you take French at school, I imagine, so that gives you English and French. Some of you may speak another language at home if that’s part of your family heritage. You may have learned another language from your grandmother or from your parents. You are really lucky if you can do that! I really love to learn languages and I try to learn a little bit of the language everywhere I go. But, you what? I think we already DO speak a lot of languages – all of us, even you! Language is a way we share our thoughts and our feelings. We usually think about that as words but there are other ways that we share our thoughts and our ideas and our feelings too…

Think about art. Art is a kind of language – a way to express how we’re feeling or to express ideas. You, for sure, draw pictures of things that you’d like to build or fantasy things that you’d like to see, or pictures that make you happy – or pictures to tell other people how you feel about them. That’s a way of expressing your ideas, thoughts and feelings, so that’s a kind of language.

Another one would be music. Musicians express their thoughts and feelings when they write or when they perform music. Often when we hear music it makes us feel in a certain way, which is exactly what the writer or the composer or the performer was trying to do for us. Even when we sing a song, that often expresses how we’re feeling as well. So music is another kind of language that we all have a bit of in us.

Sometimes we might express ourselves in negative ways. We might stomp our feet if we’re really angry, or scowl at someone or even shake a fist. That’s not exactly a great kind of language - but it is body language and people understand what you’re trying to say, even without words. But, I think I like the body language of a smile better. So, if you’re feeling really good about things, or you like someone and you give them a big smile, that tells them something too. Again, no words needed.

I bet you’ve told someone how much you care about them when you give them a big hug when you see them. There’s another way that you have language without using any words.People sometimes talk about flowers as being a kind of language. Have you ever picked a bouquet of dandelions for your Mom or Grandma? That’s a way of expressing your ideas or your feelings about things. That’s something that people do a lot, for special occasions or bringing flowers into the house is a way of expressing yourself. So, maybe there’s a language of flowers as well.

Even doing a good deed for someone is a kind of language because it conveys what you think about the world and what you think about the world around you. Right now, even wearing a mask is a good deed because you’re protecting the people around you and it tells them that you care about them. Staying home is another part of that these days. It’s kind of strange…but there are a lot of good deeds that we do – helping out around the house, helping at school, helping your neighbours…all of these things are ways that you tell people, without words, exactly how you feel and that , probably, you are a follower of Jesus because you’ve learned those lessons well.

So, all of those things are ways of expressing love – which is the language Jesus really wanted us to learn, isn’t it? So, see! You can speak lots of languages already! That’s a pretty amazing thing – and I think that’s the message we should be taking away from this story about Pentecost. We can share our understanding, we can share our love for each other, we can share what we learn from Jesus’ teachings – and all of those things can be done in languages that don’t need words. So, Pentecost, when that happened for the disciples and all the other followers of Jesus, was a very important day in our church history…

And so, today we celebrate that and we say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHURCH!

Children’s Hymn: Over My Head MV#88

Refrain (English)
Over my head,
I hear music in the air. (3x)
There must be a God somewhere.

Refrain (French)
Au-d’ssus de moi,
c’est d’la musique que j’entends. (3x)
Il y a un Dieu quelque part.

When the storms of life are ragin’
I hear music in the air. (3x)
There must be a God somewhere.

When the winds of strife are blowin’
I hear music in the air. (3x)
There must be a God somewhere.

When the Spirit lives within me,
I hear music in the air. (3x)
There must be a God somewhere.

Words and Music: African-American spiritual French translate © 2006 Denise Soulodie
arrangement © 2006 Stephen Lee – Professional Music Services Song# 30114796
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination: Reader: Alison Bridgewater

Holy God, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Let the Holy Spirit give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, and strength to follow on the path you set before us through Jesus Christ. Amen.

NT Reading: “The First Pentecost” Acts 2:1-21(NRSV)

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Winds of Change” Rev. Kim Vidal

There’s a huge celebration going on in the streets of Jerusalem. This is because of a religious festival known as Feast of Pentecost or Feast of Harvest that gathers thousands of Jewish people from all over the Empire. This festival is linked to the Jewish Festival of Shavuot which commemorates the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel that assembled at Mount Sinai. It also celebrates the first harvest giving thanks to God for the blessings of food and sustenance.

While people outside are busy doing their festival business, a group of about 120 people gathered inside a big room praying and praising God. Whether Luke is exaggerating or not, this gathering marked by the presence of the whooshing winds, tongues of fire, and speaking in different languages make me think that Pentecost was a huge event that will change the lives of the first followers of Jesus forever.

The story of Pentecost is about how the Christian church came alive by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a life-changing event. It was a gathering that inaugurates the first followers of Jesus to carry on his teachings to the world. From ordinary folks, they became transformed, empowered and equipped for ministry. On that day, they received the power of the Holy Spirit to take the gospel from the room where they gather to the streets there in Jerusalem... and eventually throughout the world. What happened that day was such a powerful experience that the people gathered there had to turn to extraordinary symbols and metaphors to describe what happened. Luke says it was like a mighty violent wind blowing on them and tongues of flaming fire sitting over their heads. A sense of community and understanding transcended the differences of language and ethnicity of the first believers. That rushing violent wind-- was the exciting sound of old barriers broken down and old ways being shattered. On the day of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus acquired a holy boldness that they’d never had before. If before Pentecost, they were living in moments of grief, uncertainty, fear and despair, now they were totally changed! Prodded and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the once disheartened followers moved on to proclaim the good news of God’s love through the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Imagine how this group of believers who gathered in that first Pentecost will change. They’ll struggle with pressures, put-downs and persecutions from powers that be. They’ll attempt to spread the good news about Jesus and God’s love and sometimes they will fail at it. They’ll be fired up wanting to convert newcomers to the faith but will find some challenges along the way. They’ll try to be inclusive, but not always successful. They’ll argue and debate about the best way to go on and they will sometimes quit and give up. Sound like any church if you ask me!

Change among the first believers was not always easy. But they understood that change is part of a life of faith. Invited or not, welcomed or not, change always knocks on every door.

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher once said that the only constant in life is change. I totally agree with him. Nothing in life ever stays the same. People change. Perspectives change. Relationships change. The world changes on a daily basis. Today we are living in a time of huge change: technological, political, cultural, religious, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Empty streets, schools are closed, social distancing, virtual worship services, travel restrictions, no large gatherings and the list goes on. We have never seen change like this before! So, it’s no wonder if we feel anxious… disoriented… and afraid.

But I think we’re in a time when God is trying to do amazing new things, through us. It’s a time when we need to be honest and to open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit – to offer love and kindness, to lift each other up in prayer, to offer support where it is needed, to proclaim that there is hope amidst the uncertainties. The Spirit is and will always be on the move! Pentecost reminds us that the winds of change still blow into our lives to prod and urge us to move forward!

How will the Spirit be poured out on us individually and communally and change the way we relate to each other? Language matters. That is one of the messages of Pentecost. And sometimes we need to hear the story in different languages. Pentecost asks us, to open our ears - to listen to one another in diverse ways - to welcome the untamed wind who blows through closed doors and closed minds- to be opened to the flames of power to transform us, both as individuals and as a community. The diversity of our church life is amazing, each one brings their authentic faith, lived experience and gifts that brought us together to this church at some point in our lives. In our stories, I hear an urgent message to all of us –that even in this time of social distancing, even when we do not see each other face to face, there is still a hunger for deep joy, authentic longing, renewed hope and meaningful connections.

The Holy Spirit – that agent of change comes in like tongues of fire and moved the lips and hearts those who are gathered in Jerusalem on that Feast of Pentecost. And now, and always, there are and will be an endless array of voices, of deep wisdom and conviction. These voices are the winds of change. They speak. And we listen.

From the tongue of Leonard Cohen, legendary Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and author: “Ring the bells that still can ring / Forget your perfect offering / There is a crack in everything / That's how the light gets in.”

From the tongue of 12th century German mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, who chose life in a cell over the other options available to her in her culture and time, these words: “Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures, Spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures, Glow of charity, light of clarity, Taste of sweetness to the fallen, Be with us and hear us.”

From the tongue of Oscar Romero, Catholic Archbishop, martyr and champion of the poor: “We are prophets of a future not our own. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that”.

From the tongue of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, Nobel Prize winner and anti-Apartheid icon: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

From the tongue of Nellie McClung, Canadian feminist and social activist: "I saw what could be done with words, for I had a vision of a new world as I talked."

From the tongue of the poet William Blake, I close this reflection with these words: “Unless the eye catch fire, God will not be seen. Unless the ear catch fire, God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catch fire, God will not be named. Unless the heart catch fire, God will not be loved.

Unless the mind catch fire, God will not be known.”

So let the fire and spirit of God fall afresh on us, opening our lips to preach and sing and our hearts to love. We ask God’s fire and spirit to ignite our hearts and inflame our souls that we may burn anew with God’s love. We ask the Pentecost God to give us the fire and spirit of lively living, believing and holy babbling; to take our words and speak through them; to take our minds and think through them; to take our hearts and set them on fire; to take our spirit and make us winds of change! Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer for Pentecost

God, the light of your Spirit has fallen upon us,
The seal of your ownership is on us,
You have placed the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Like tongues of fire it has renewed and restored.
In our rising and our sleeping,
In our working and our playing,
In our joys and in our sorrows,
Your Spirit’s brightness has dispelled the darkness,

In our loving and caring,
In our touching and our listening,
In our thoughts and in our actions,
God’s Spirit has brought life out of death.

(Pause to silently invite the Holy Spirit to touch those who need healing and God’s presence)

God, your spirit fell like tongues of fire.
It filled those that were empty,
It empowered those that were weary.

God, your spirit fell like tongues of fire.
It brought together those that were divided,
It reassured those who were afraid.

God, your spirit fell like tongues of fire.
By its power we can walk together as one,
By its power we can find strength to share.

God, your spirit fell like tongues of fire.
By its power we can find freedom in loving each other,
By its power we can find life in you. Amen.

Part of a longer litany used at the Mustard Seed House. Posted on Godspace.com

And with grateful hearts, let us unite in this prayer that Jesus taught us in the language of your choice:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering: Lorrie Lowes

Offertory Prayer

Generous Spirit, bless these gifts of time, talents and treasures that we offer and guide us as we use them. May your power be added to all that we bring. Amen.

Sending Forth: (inspired by a blessing written by Robin Wardlaw) Rev. Kim Vidal

We have opened our hearts to God’s Spirit
on this day of Pentecost.
As you go from this time of worship,
let your breath give life to others
and to all of God’s creation.
Let God’s Spirit breathe into us with goodness,
and breathe out of us in love.
With your every breath and with the breath of all that lives,
give praise to God.
Gracias a Dios! Salamat sa Dios! Grâce à Dieu ! Thanks be to God!
Amen.

Departing Music: Come O Holy Spirit MV 23

1. Come, O Holy Spirit,
set the Church on fire;
strike it as the lightning
hits a posing spire.
Burn away the structures
and consume the sham
of our holy systems:
Come, in Jesus’ name!

Refrain (English)
Come, come, come, in Jesus name!
Take our hearts by storm.
All the world lies open
Pentecost is now!
I said a - Repeat refrain

Refrain (French)
Viens, viens, au nom de Jésus
Tempête en nos coeurs;
Partout c’est l’attente
La Pentecôte est là!
Et je dis: - repete

2. Blow away the cobwebs
of our stubborn past.
Come, send flying from us
myths unfit to last.
Wind of change, refresh us
and disturb our calm;
teach us what true love is,
take our hearts by storm. R

3. Free us from the babble
of our Babel mind;
spark in us a language
all can understand.
Lighten then our darkness,
Come and show us how
all the world lies open:
Pentecost is now! R

A-----men!

Words © 1972 Fred Kaan rev. 1998– Hope Publishing Co. Song # 18536
Music © 2000 Ron Klusmeier www.musiklus.com Song# 80560 French © 2006 David Fines
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Connie Davidson

May 23, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 24, 2020

Connie Davidson

May 23, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

7th SUNDAY OF EASTER
WORSHIP SERVICE

May 24, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering: The music of Chipembi Mission of the United Church of Zambia

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Lorrie Lowes DM

Good morning! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ whose love and teachings bind us together on this seventh Sunday of Easter. Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, if you are with family or if you are alone, we are so glad you have joined us in our virtual worship service!

In this time of church closure, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with our weekly announcements and updates.

Friends, let us gather together today where our journeys overlap.

Lighting of Christ Candle

Lorrie Lowes BCUC:

No matter when or where we gather,
If we gather in Christ’s name,
we are assured of His presence among us.
And so, as we begin out service of worship today,
We light a candle as a symbol of that Holy Presence with Bells Corners United Church…

Keith Jeacle, Emmanuel United Church:
… and we light a candle as a symbol of that Holy Presence with Emmanuel United Church…

Representative from Chipembi, Zambia:
… and we light a candle as a symbol of that Holy Presence with Chipembi.

May Christ bless us as we join our hearts in loving partnership.

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes

From the comfort of our homes,
Alone or in small family groupings
We gather our hearts in worship.
In this time of uncertainty, we seek connection to the Divine.
We seek the companionship and warmth of the community we so dearly miss.
Let this shared experience of worship remind us of the love that connects our faith family,
Whether we are in one building or spread around the globe.
In spirit, let us worship God together.

Prayer of Approach*: Lorrie Lowes

Let us pray…
God, you invite us into community with you – at your table and in your world.
The responsibility is awesome
To love one another as Christ loves us.
Thank you – for this community of love.
Thank you - for being more than we can imagine.
Thank you, God!
Amen.

*Written by Richard Bott, Gathering, Lent- Easter 2016, p30. Used with permission

Opening Hymns: You Are Holy (MV45)

1. You Are Holy, You show us the way (4x)
You show us, You show us, You show us the way (4x)
2. You Are Freedom, You show us the way (4x)
3. You Are Justice, You show us the way (4x)

Words & Music © Traditional song South Africa
English paraphrase and arrangement More Voices 2007
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Know That God is Good (MV104)

Know That God is Good (3x), God is good, God is good. (English)

Mu-ngu ni mwe-ma (3x), ni mwe-ma, ni mwe-ma. (Swahili)

C’est vrai Dieu est bon! (3x), Dieu est bon! Dieu est bon! (French)

Ka-ton-da mu-lun-gi, (3x), mu-lun-gi, mu-lun-gi. (Luganda)

Words & Music © Traditional song Congo Song #94990.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Erin Berard

Alright, take one of your hands and tuck it behind your back! Now that you have just one of your hands, think of some things that might be really tricky to do now. Like, can you tie your shoe with only one hand? Or how about operate a can opener? Or, how about putting your hair up in a pony tail? Sometimes having two hands is definitely better than one!

Think about some games and things we do for fun. Have you ever tried riding a seesaw by yourself? Or playing a game of Battleship? It's a lot more fun when you have 2 people!

Think, too, about group projects you've done at school before. Sure, it's sometimes tricky working with other people. Somebody might boss the group around, or some people might not do their fair share of the work, and you have to get consensus on all the different ideas you have. But working together lets us benefit from everyone's strengths. You get to share ideas and build off of one another. It should make work easier, and hopefully a lot more fun, too. We can all help each other succeed.

In today's service, we get to learn more from Lorrie about BCUC's partnership with the Chipembi community in Zambia.

Think more about partnerships as you check out this week's Sunday School materials, and also check out BCUC's Facebook page. There's a post there with a question for you. You can comment or add a photo of your ideas of how two is better than one.

Children’s Hymn: I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me – Voices United #575

1. I’m gonna live so God can use me
Anywhere, Lord, any time!
I’m gonna live so God can use me
Anywhere, Lord, any time.

2. I’m gonna work so God can use me…

3. I’m gonna pray so God can use me…

4. I’m gonna sing so God can use me…

Words & Music © African American Spiritual Song #95386
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Prayer for Illumination: Reader: Neil Lowes

O God, we pray that you will open our hearts and minds
to hear your message of love
in this reading today.
May it inspire us as we continue your work in the world. Amen.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (The Message)

The Value of a Friend

9-10 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!

11 Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.

12 By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Reflection: Lorrie and Neil Lowes

We have been waiting so long to tell you about this last visit to the Chipembi Mission in Zambia! This pandemic has really affected so many aspects of our lives and this is just one small example.

When we left for Zambia on March 12 of this year, news of the Covid-19 virus was still fairly new. We were concerned that the trip might be cancelled - either by flight cancellations or border restrictions, or maybe that the people receiving us might see us as a health threat – but we were assured that everything was under control and that the people of Chipembi were eagerly awaiting our arrival. So, off we went, armed with Lysol wipes, and hand sanitizers to keep us safe on the plane and in the airports.

This was not a first visit to Chipembi for me. I traveled there two years ago with a group of Young Adults, including Hazel and Doyle Smith from our own congregation. It was a profound experience for me. One of the big realizations I had at that time was that this kind of visit has a limited effect. The visitors often have their eyes opened to life in cultures very different from their own. The hosts put a great deal of work into making the experience meaningful for the guests and appreciate getting to know something about us and our culture too. The concern and the work that is done during the visit is appreciated. The “partnership” aspect, however, seems to be lost once the visitors have returned home. Hopefully, we visitors come home with a renewed outlook on the world - but often the connection between new friends gets lost as life goes back to normal in both corners of the world. So, I returned from that first trip, determined to change that for us here at BCUC and for our new friends in Chipembi.

Our reading today focusses on working together in a partnership. It makes me wonder – What is the difference between helping out a neighbour on a one-time basis and becoming partners? I think it all comes down to relationship. In order to be partners, all parties need to be in a relationship of mutual care and respect for each other. The help and support are mutual things – every member is concerned for and ready to help make the others the best they can possibly be – for the benefit of everyone involved. Think of this in terms of teamwork… Games are not won by one member of the team. It takes the skill and the resources and the effort of every player to reach a victory. Some may stand out from time to time as the “stars” of the team but they reach that status with the support of the rest of the team.

When we think of this in terms of outreach work in the church, this moves us from a traditional charity model – where there is one magnanimous giver and one or more humble receivers – to a model that benefits all parties. As Christians, we want to help others – and that’s a good thing. We aren’t always as willing, however, to express our own needs or accept help from someone else. I think the important aspect that’s often missing in that traditional charity model is respect – and that’s something that is foundational in a partnership – and foundational in the concept of loving one’s neighbour.

On the wall in my office, I have posted an African Proverb:

“I see you and you see me, and therefore we shall be concerned for each other.”

It’s an expression of the Africa concept of “ubuntu”, a philosophy that I believe expresses this concept well. Ubuntu is an African word which means "I am who I am because of who we all are". It highlights the fact that we are all interdependent. We can compare it to “The Golden Rule” in western culture but I think it takes it a step further. I think it gives a clearer picture of what it means to be in relationship as partners in creation.

Today’s reading from Ecclesiastes also gives us the image of a three-stranded rope – an image I love for our context. The partnership we are building includes three communities – Bells Corners United Church, Emmanuel United Church, and the community of the Chipembi Mission. Like the three-stranded rope, we are all strong and vibrant communities on our own but can be so much stronger when we work together.

I have so many things to tell you about our last visit with our friends in Zambia! Neil will share some of his reflections with you this morning but there will be many more stories to tell once we can be together again in community.

My Reflections of Chipembi and the way ahead – Neil Lowes

My first trip to Zambia and I had been warned that the country and the people would affect me. Too true…..I found the people open, warm, caring, and above all receptive to our combined mission (BCUC and Emanuel United) of renewing the Partnership Agreement with the Chipembi Congregation of the United Church of Zambia.

We stayed at the farm of Omega Bula (Makumba Farm) named after her father who was a United Church Minister. The farm is a 40 minute walk to the village. Early in the trip, Lorrie and I walked to the village to orient ourselves to our surroundings. We only saw 1 snake on the trip and the hike had made me a little warm despite the summer clothes and ventilated hat I was wearing. I decided that a beard trim and a hair trim would solve things. So picture this old white guy sitting on a wooden chair with the barber working his magic, while three local children stood on a chair outside the window watching the old white guy get his head shaved and his beard trimmed close to his face. I think a good project would be to get hydro in his barber hut so his clippers wouldn’t rely on charge state of the 12V car battery.

Working, viewing, and discussing the workings of the Chipembi Mission site over the time we were there enabled us to identify many potential “Projects” that would improve the life and well being of the citizens of Chipembi, and the members of the United Church of Zambia in Chipembi.

The community “Leaders” are an ad-hoc committee made up of the minister of the United Church, Head Teacher (Director) of the Chipembi Girls Secondary School, Head of the Basic School, Head of the Chipembi Agricultural College, Secretary of the United Church Congregation, Director of the Chipembi Medical Centre, and several forward thinking young people. We met with these folks several times over the course of the week, and came to an understanding that while we all agreed there were projects that we all would like to fund and see to completion, however,

it would be the responsibility of the Chipembi Leaders to prioritize projects based on agreement among the leaders as to what projects are on the project lists and the importance of each.

This is an important aspect of the partnership so that the “we” side of the partnership doesn’t deliver a project that would not meet the goals of the Chipembi leaders. For example, while in church on our first day there it was hot and I thought ceiling fans would be a great idea to keep up air circulation and cool things down a bit. Then I noticed several men in suit coats and sweaters, while the women were covering their legs with a chitenge (like a blanket). Clearly, I was using our Canadian values to solve a perceived need that was not shared by this congregation.

Some of the projects identified over the course of our meetings, in no particular order are:

• Addition to the Church Building:

The committee has had architectural drawings done of the building addition, but the project has not yet had a project estimate done. Scope of the project would provide the minister with a proper office facility rather than the cupboard he currently uses.

In addition to a proper minister’s office, the addition would provide a Vestry Room, lounge, and conference room with washroom facilities. The current church building is used as a conference room when required. For example, The Director of the Girls Secondary School uses the church when he needs to address his full student population of 600 girls.

The new conference room would also be used as a community centre, providing space for activities such as sewing lessons for the women. There have been a number of sewing machines donated but there is no place to use them.

• Expansion of the Chipembi Basic school building to include Secondary school to grade 12:

Currently, the primary school in Chipembi stops at Grade 8 and students going on to grade 12 attend a secondary school 13KM away. Both boys and girls go for the week, walking to get there while carrying their food for the week. Expanding the Chipembi school would improve safety, security and overall learning performance for the students in Chipembi.

• Establishment of a computer Lab in Basic school with basic LAN, MS Office and Internet access:

There exists an 8 computer “Lab” in the primary school but the computers are old and no longer supported by Microsoft. There is no connectivity between any of the computers, each is an island unto its own.

This project would be an ongoing exercise to equip the younger generation with computer skills aimed at preparing them for the world towards which Zambia is rapidly moving. There is an extensive cellular data network in and around Chipembi and pretty much everyone has a smartphone. Laptop Computer Expansion within the student population at the primary and secondary schools would facilitate their ability to prepare for country wide standardized testing which they must take using the scarce numbers of computers available

• Bursaries for deserving students at Primary and Secondary Levels

It costs $75 US to send a student to school for a year. Not all families are able to afford this so deserving students don’t get the education they should. If the school waives the tuition, the school suffers funding loss paying the teaching staff and for projects they would otherwise undertake. The community leaders are the committee that decide which students would receive the bursary.

• Equipment for Medical centre

We toured the medical Centre and witnessed a shortage of medical support items that would be beneficial. Proper hospital beds are needed, maternity chairs / beds, and wheelchairs to name a few.

For example, on our tour we saw a wheelchair with only 3 wheels. I priced a replacement while I was in Lusaka, the city, and a brand new wheelchair is $350 US. Certainly a worthwhile project.

Overall a life changing experience, and, working in partnership with Emmanuel United, I believe the opportunity exists to not only fundraise for projects, but I believe we can become true partners with Chipembi by having members of the BCUC family participate both here and on site in Zambia to bring the prioritized projects to completion.

Lorrie

One small image I will leave with you is the overwhelming emotion I felt during the church service we attended on our first Sunday there. The music and the joy were amazing! And for me, one of the most powerful moments was when we recited the Lord’s Prayer. The words may be ancient and sometimes feel foreign to our modern ears, but when people come together from far apart places on this earth and recite those words together in worship, the feeling of being united in a faith family stirs the heart.

For thine is the kin-dom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever….

Amen.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Our prayer this morning is a meditation from Africa by Michael Colpey and Guy Gibbon
(The People - Meditations from Africa - Michael Colpey and Guy Gibbon)

Let us pray:

May we heal the fissures and cracks in our collective soul

May we see ourselves from a different point of view

May we let go of outmoded beliefs

May we recognize the opportunities our stories offer for growth and acceptance

May we release the love

May love replace fear

May we each accept our personal responsibilities to make a difference

May we see that there is enough for everybody

May we eradicate poverty consciousness from our destiny path

May we be open to receive abundance from the law of sharing

May we dedicate ourselves to the Earth and her changes

May we make a leap of faith into a new way of relating to our planet and her people

May we stand in our truth and not be afraid to dream big

May we acknowledge that each person has something beautiful to offer

May we not be blind to these sacred gifts

May we not put limits on our creator

May we remember our true purpose

May each soul be like a bead strung on the necklace of cooperation and teamwork

May humility have its way

May we experience balance and beauty

May we commit ourselves to peace

May we celebrate our diversity in the oneness of love

May we be ourselves and flower freely

May we resonate and glow

May we take the next step

The Lord’s Prayer

And we respond in the familiar words that Jesus taught his followers:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering

I now invite you to a time to express our gratitude for God’s blessings by offering our gifts of time, talents and resources. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Music: Chipembi Mission of the United Church of Zambia

Offertory Prayer*

Gracious Creator, we’re never really sure where giving ends and receiving begins. Or is it where receiving ends and giving begins? All we know is that in the process of giving and receiving, we are warmed by your goodness. May this offering be only the beginning of your good work in us. Through Jesus we pray. Amen

*Written by Kate Gregory, Gathering, Pentecost 1 2020, p47. Used with permission.

Sending Forth*

And may God, who brought us into being to care for creation and one another,
bless us as we leave:
May we be blessed in the air we breathe,
the relationships we nurture,
and the acts through which love is shared,
That God’s blessing, light and love will be known by all.
Go in joy, blessed to be a blessing.
Amen.

*Written by Bob Root, Gathering, Pentecost 1 2020, p48. Used with permission.

Closing Hymn: Alleluia, Praise to God - More Voices #59

1. Alleluia, praise to God
Alleluia, praise to God
Praises, high praises, we bring you, O God.
Alleluia, praise to God.

2. Songs of joy sing out to God.
Songs of joy sing out to God.
Dancing and singing, we praise you, O God.
Songs of joy sing out to God.

3. Beat the drums, sing out to God.
Beat the drums, sing out to God.
Praises, high praises we bring you, O God
Beat the drums, sing out to God.

Traditional Yoruba song, Nigeria translation © Emmanuel Badejo
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Departing music by Chipembi Mission of the United Church of Zambia

Connie Davidson

May 16, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 17, 2020

Connie Davidson

May 16, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

6th SUNDAY OF EASTER
WORSHIP SERVICE

May 17, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering: Humoresque - Dvorak, Leslie Wade-violin

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Kim

Good morning! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who calls us to be witnesses of God’s love on this sixth Sunday of Easter! Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad you have joined us in our virtual worship service!

Friends, as we worship together,
may the love of God welcomes us,
the grace of Christ awaits us,
and the joy of the Spirit enfolds us.
Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God as we gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Fowler Family

Let the light of Christ draw us in: beautiful, life-giving, healing.
Come into the resurrection light. Come into the light of grace and peace.

*Call to Gather: Lorrie

What does this gathering need?
Space where faith can grow,
music that blossoms hope,
scripture that puts love into action,
prayers that seek healing,
gifts offering service of the heart.
Who shall come to this gathering?
All who are seeking to follow God in their lives
that they may be alive with opportunities for service.
In faith, we gather now as friends and kin,
seeking new life in Christ.

Prayer of Approach: Lorrie

Let us pray.
God of new life, we dance with the fires of faith,
sing with the winds of peace
and whisper with the language of love.
Transform our worship into moments of renewal:
to risk for the gospel,
to free us from our worries and fear;
to bring about change.
In the name of the Risen Christ, we pray. Amen.

Opening Hymn: Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet – Voices United #245

(Words & Music: Natalie Sleeth)

Praise the Lord with the sound of trumpet,
praise the Lord with the harp and lute,
praise the Lord with the gentle sounding flute.

Praise the Lord in the field and forest,
praise the Lord in the city square,
praise the Lord anytime and anywhere.

Praise the Lord in the wind and sunshine,
praise the Lord in the dark of night,
praise the Lord in the rain or snow or in the morning light.

Praise the Lord in the deepest valley,
praise the Lord on the highest hill,
praise the Lord, never let your voice be still.

Praise the Lord with the crashing cymbal,
praise the Lord with the pipe and string,
praise the Lord with the joyful songs you sing.

Praise the Lord on a weekday morning,
praise the Lord on a Sunday noon,
praise the Lord by the light of sun or moon.

Praise the Lord in the time of sorrow,
praise the Lord in the time of joy,
praise the Lord in the every moment, nothing let your praise destroy.

Praise the Lord in the peace and quiet,
praise the Lord in your work or play,
praise the Lord everywhere in every way!

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie:

Hi Everyone!

In today’s scripture reading we hear that Peter and the other apostles have been preaching about Jesus on the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem and the priests there are not happy about it. When they are told to stop, they say “That’s impossible! We have to tell everyone what we have witnessed.” They just can’t hide their excitement and their commitment to what they have seen and learned from Jesus. Have you ever heard the expression, “Once you see it you can’t un-see it”? That’s what is happening here. These men are so sure that what they heard and saw when they were with Jesus was good and true, that they can’t look at the world in any other way. So, they are “witnessing” that to everyone who will listen – and, since these messages are about God and the Way to make the world the kin-dom that God dreams of for us, the Temple seems the most logical place to begin that witnessing.

How does that apply to us today? Are we as excited and committed to Jesus and his message as those men were? I think here at BCUC, we all can agree that what Jesus taught about loving your neighbour and sharing and forgiveness are all things that we believe are good and true – that they are necessary ways to live if we want to help create God’s kin-dom here on earth. We aren’t always good at shouting out that news once we leave the sanctuary though. We are a little shy, I guess, when it comes to telling the world – or even our friends – what we believe. But I think there are other ways we can show those things.

I have a few special pieces of jewelry that I like to wear. There are some crosses…I like to collect new ones when I travel to other places in the world… and this one is the stylized fish symbol that the early Christians used to identify themselves to other Christians. Some people have those on their cars too. Sometimes they are just this symbol and sometimes they have the word “Jesus” in the middle. Most people who see me wearing these symbols know that they signify that I am a follower of Jesus – especially when they see the cross – and I don’t have to stand up on a soapbox and tell them.

I think when people see that I am wearing a symbol that says I am a Christian, they look for other signs too – in what I say and how I act. I am showing the world what it means to be a follower of Jesus. If I am wearing these things, they help remind me of that too and maybe that makes me more careful or intentional about what I say and what I do.

Some of us in the church go on to become ministers and preach from the pulpit. That’s maybe a little closer to what Peter and his friends were doing on the Temple steps. Many other people though show their commitment to Jesus and his teachings in other ways. Here at Bells Corners we have some who teach Sunday School, some who sing and play music for worship, some who cook and bake and host communal dinners like Jesus did with his friends. Some work on committees that help other people in the community and even in other places in the world. Still others say prayers for people who are sick or hurting or make phone calls and visits to shut-ins. I think all of these things are ways that we “witness” to the world that we are Christians.

Are we like the apostles on the steps of the Temple? If someone were to say to us, “Stop doing all those things for everybody else!” I hope we would all say, “That’s impossible! We have to show the world what we have learned by following Jesus.”

Children’s Hymn: Shout for God - Voices United #246

(Words: Walter Farquharson / Music: Ron Klusmeier)

1
Shout for God (Shout for God!)
Make a happy sound!
(Make a happy sound!)
Clap for God! (Clap for God!)
God is all around! (God is all around!)

2
Hush for God! (Hush for God!)
Let the quiet sing. (Let the quiet sing.)
Wait for God. (Wait for God.)
Deepest feelings bring.
(Deepest feelings bring.)

3
Sing for God! (Sing for God!)
Sing a pleasant song. (Sing a pleasant song.)
Work for God. (Work for God.)
Good replaces wrong.
(Good replaces wrong.)

4
Praise our God! (Praise our God!)
Care for all God’s friends!
(Care for all God’s friends!)
Love our God! (Love our God!)
God’s love never ends!
(God’s love never ends!)

Prayer for Illumination: Reader: Rick Morrison

Make us witnesses, O God. Make us bold to tell the good news of the Risen Christ, inviting others to join with us as followers of Jesus’ way. Amen.

NT Reading: “Peter and the Apostles before the Council” Acts 5: 27-32 (NRSV)

Background:

This episode in Acts 5 denotes that some religious leaders arrested, detained, and interrogated the apostles for preaching the resurrection of Jesus. The religious authorities want them to keep quiet but Peter and the apostles persisted not to be silenced and proclaimed these powerful six words: “Obey God rather than human authority!”

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Witness Dialogues” Rev. Kim Vidal

Following the event of that first Easter and in the aftermath of the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost, the formation of an early church begins to unfold. Peter took the reins and led the followers of The Way, which historically points to those who believe and follow in the teachings of Jesus. In this particular story in Acts, Peter and the former disciples, now called apostles, meaning “those sent in a mission”, were teaching and healing at the temple in Jerusalem with great success. They wasted no time in gathering people proclaiming the powers of God through the Risen Christ – teaching, healing, witnessing.

They are now famous - like tele-evangelists. The verses just before this morning’s reading indicates that “A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.” So when Peter and his cohorts walk down the street, people would bring out the sick in hopes of being healed. A crowd would follow and gather wherever they go and listen to Peter’s preaching. But to make matters more scandalous, Peter and company would use the steps of the Temple to do their ministry. They were healing in the name of Jesus Christ just outside the doors of the Great Temple!

This did not sit well with the Jewish Council or the Sanhedrin who works under the authority of the Roman Empire at that time. Fearing that this would cause trouble or even instigate a rebellion, they had Peter and the apostles arrested and thrown into prison. But the prison cells, according to the writer of Acts, could not hamper the power of God. The prison doors did not stay locked. According to the writer, an angel of the Lord – now I will not take this literally as a celestial being with fluttering wings - but someone who might be a follower of Jesus, opened the prison doors and told Peter and the apostles to go stand in the Temple and continue with what they were doing. So that’s what happened. They escaped but fearlessly went back to the Temple with their healing and teaching and witnessing. The Roman authorities and the Temple leaders were not happy with this persistent behaviour of Peter and his companions. In no time, the Temple police arrested Peter and his companions and brought them before the Jewish Council to be tried. And here is where this morning’s story begins.

The opening statement of the High Priest was enough to give us a hint of the Council’s aversion: “Did we not tell you to keep quiet?” “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, (referring to Jesus), yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” I think the high priest and the other members of the Sanhedrin were scared. They did not want another Jesus problem – they thought he was already crucified, dead and silenced – so why is his voice still as loud as a thunder causing uproar in Jerusalem? The movement the Council had hoped would go away re-emerged with a greater following. The Romans in power don’t like this at all - it might instigate another people’s rebellion. It would for sure disturb Pax Romana or the peace in the land controlled by Rome. I can imagine the interrogation went on further. “Why do you insist on teaching about Jesus? Don’t you know the danger you put yourselves in? Don’t you know the danger you bring to the people you ‘teach’ with your nonsense propaganda?”

Peter this time did not run to the nearest cave to hide nor did he say: “I’m sorry your honour, we shall cease and desist and will stop teaching and healing in the name of Jesus”. No - that’s not what he said. Peter’s reply is something worth reflecting on: “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” This is a difficult aphorism to understand. Who is this God that Peter and the apostles must obey? What and who is this human authority that they detest? I think what Peter is claiming here is pure allegiance to the one true God – the very same God that Jesus followed and preached about. Peter and the apostles declared to obey this loving non-violent God over that of an oppressive human authority – the ruling Roman power.

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Here is my personal take on this and you do not have to agree with me. Through this statement, Peter has testified that he and the other apostles were witnesses to the acts of love, justice and compassion. They are witnesses to a non-violent God proclaimed by Jesus. A witness, like Peter and the apostles in this sense, is not simply a passive observer of an event, but rather someone whose life proclaims and acts out the teachings of Jesus about the God of restorative rather than retributive justice - a God of love and compassion, justice and hope. A witness like Peter and the apostles claim that this God they must obey is the very same God whom Jesus followed even to his death - not the god of the empire – not the human authority that promotes violence and fear.

But there is a danger that I see in this text. I agree, that if taken literally, these texts may unearth some tones of religious fundamentalism or bigotry. It may sound as if Peter is asserting that the God whom he believes is the only one true God that needs to be proclaimed and worshipped. I do believe that the God of love and justice is not exclusive to Christianity. Certainly – many religions including Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Indigenous Spirituality – all have taught about this God – this Divine Creator, this Supreme Being as source of love and justice. Truth be told that we are living in a pluralistic, secular society where freedom of religion is respected.

A healthy pluralism is one which genuinely respects differences and values them as such. To discredit or claim one religious or non-religious tradition better over the other is the root of discrimination and resentment rather than promoting tolerance and peace. It is of crucial importance to participate in open dialogues where we listen to each other – to celebrate our common ground and to appreciate our differences as unique ways of professing our faith or way of life.

I don’t know about you but I chose to be a Christian not because Christianity promotes absolute truths about God – not because I am far better than our brothers and sister who profess different faiths, but because I acknowledge that the teachings of Jesus are inclusive and embracing. Jesus promotes non-violence and through his barrier-breaking approach to life, the dividing wall that separated many races, cultures and creeds has been taken down, proclaiming a new way of life. Why are dialogues and collaboration important? Because if we think we are better than others, if we proclaim that we are the only ones who hold the truth, we may resort to violence and enmity. We lose our humility and we lose sight of God’s grace.

Friends – we need to undergo a serious discernment. It’s time we listen to the voice of authority –whether human or divine –if and only if that voice warrants right relationships, reign of shalom, mutual love and restorative justice. It’s time we become witnesses to the universal definition of Love and Justice.

Witnesses transform the world and they are unstoppable even in this time of COVID-19 pandemic!

A witness like Dr. Colin Brathwaite of a hospital in New York inspiring many with his moving rendition of Andra Day’s song "Rise Up" on the piano in honour of and as a tribute to his colleagues on the front lines.
Witnesses like the “caremongering groups” in many cities in Canada offering help to seniors and those most at risk amid the outbreak. They pick up groceries and prescription drugs, help set up computers and making masks producing hand sanitizers. They deliver food to the shut-ins and offer words of encouragement and assurance via email or telephone.
Witnesses like children and students in many places sending homemade cards and letters to older folks in isolation.
A witness like David Donaldson who brings flowers of cheer to those celebrating their birthdays; or witnesses like those in our congregation who gather virtually every Wednesday at 8 pm to lift everyone in prayer; or witnesses like Pat Stoate and Roger Champagne who drove to my house, stood outside my front lawn with a large poster that says: “It’s so long without you. We miss you. Keep well. Stay safe. We love you!”

You can’t stop witnesses to stand up and testify about this God that Peter and the apostles obey and follow– this God that Jesus claims as “Abba -Father” – the One whose grace and love abounds!

Love and compassion. Oppressive human authority will get them completely wrong.

Peace and justice. Autocratic human authority will deny them.

But you can’t stop God and God’s love for the world. If you claim to be a witness of God, ask these 6-word questions yourselves: Am I walking the Peace way? Am I embracing justice and compassion? Am I offering love and kindness? Go then and be a living witness! May you proclaim peace, compassion, justice, love and kindness in word and in action. May you step into the world with a word of truth to proclaim and may you proclaim it with humility. May you walk as advocates of faith determined to testify to God’s grace- here and now. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

God of new life and resurrection, we look up to you today for strength, comfort and hope. Like Peter and the apostles who became bold witnesses, speak to us through our lives as witnesses to Christ's way. Help us to proclaim your ever-unfolding story through our words and actions, in our prayers and in our day by day choices, for we are your people, your stewards in making a difference in the word.

Compassionate God, look into our hearts and minds and guide us in dealing with our personal fears and challenges. Help those in this church who labour with church duties, guide them in resolving difficult problems, clarify their vision to help focus the congregation in gaining insight into your message. Give us the strength to integrate that message into the actions and attitudes of our daily life.

God of healing, gently touch the lives of those needing comfort and wholeness in distressed lives and souls. With love and earnest concern, we pray for those in retirement homes and long term care facilities especially those who are affected by COVID-19 and those unnamed among us in need of your healing touch. We continue to pray for the families of those who have died from the virus, may healing love be with them in this time of sorrow. For those who are sick and those recovering from illness, may they find comfort from those who tend to them.

For the doctors, nurses, researchers, first-line responders and all health workers who seek to heal the sick and who put themselves at risk, may they know that many are praying for them and rallying behind them. For the leaders in all sectors of the society, may they lead with wisdom and foresight to act with love and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. We pray for those carrying heavy burdens. May we comfort those who have suffered deep losses in their lives and those who are troubled and distressed. We pray for peace in our neighbourhood. We remember the grieving families of the six members of the Canadian Armed Forces who died in a helicopter crash. We pray that they may find comfort knowing that we are thinking of them in their deep loss.

Journey with us with a heart willing to change and a heart ready to accept your call as your witness to love, justice and compassion. And with grateful hearts, let us unite in this prayer that Jesus taught us in the language of your choice:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering

Offertory Prayer

God of abundance, bless the gifts we present to you.
May all that we offer this day enable us to serve you faithfully. Amen.

Sending Forth

Go out into the world as witnesses
of a holy life that knows no barriers;
mindful of how demanding this call can be;
yet alive to its vision of goodness and beauty.
May the wisdom of God,
the compassion of Christ
and the presence of the Spirit
bear us up and fill us with renewed strength
for the journey. Amen.

Departing Music: Spirit, Open My Heart – More Voices #79

Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.

1 God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender. R

2 Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory. R

3 May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another. R

Blackbird - David Barclay & Will Wightman

Connie Davidson

May 9, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 10, 2020

Connie Davidson

May 9, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

5th SUNDAY OF EASTER WORSHIP SERVICE

NURTURING SUNDAY & CELEBRATING MOTHERS

May 10, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering Music: Pachelbel’s Canon – Noah Berard

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Kim

Good morning! The spirit of God calls us from many places; some of us come from busy homes; some of us live alone. Still we are a part of God’s family. Today I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we celebrate and honour mothers. Everyone has mothers in various definitions. We have biological mothers, adopted mothers, surrogate mothers, mothers who have pets instead of children, single mothers and many others. An anonymous writer once said that a mother is “your first home, your first love, your first friend, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!” So let us celebrate mothers as we worship together.

Let us now centre ourselves in the Spirit of Life as we gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Susan, Katrina & Heidi TeGrotenhuis

On this Mothering Sunday, we light this Christ candle to remind us that: “The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and God.” (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes

Sisters, brothers, children, welcome to this place!
Mothers, fathers, sing praises to God.
Grandmas, grandpas, share the story.
Aunts, uncles, dance with joy.
Family by love, Christ’s own body.
Family by Spirit, God calls us as one.
As one family, we gather to worship our God.

Opening Prayer: The Heart of God (by Christine Sine)

God with a mother’s heart, you gather us as your children.
You comfort and hold us in your warm embrace.
When we hurt, your arms enfold us.
When we are afraid, your wings protect us.
When we are hungry, you feed us with the bread of life.

God with a mother’s heart, your love surrounds and supports us.
In good times and in tough, in the midst of joy and pain, always and everywhere.
You will never leave nor abandon us.

God eternal and loving one,
God with a mother’s heart,
We thank you this day.
for being part of your family. Amen.

Opening Hymn: Would You Bless our Homes and Families - Voices United #556

1 Would you bless our homes and families,
Source of life who calls us here,
in our world of stress and tension,
teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles,
love’s expressed in many ways.

2 When our way is un-demanding,
let us use the time that’s ours.
To delight in simple pleasures,
sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking
and a heavy path we plod.
Teach us trust in one another
and in you, our gracious God.

3 From the homes in which we’re nurtured,
with the love that shapes us there,
teach us God, to claim as family
everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer,
may we in your love remain,
may the love we share in families
be alive to praise your name.

4 Let us reach beyond the boundaries
of our daily thought and care
till the family you have chosen,
spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles
love’s expressed in many ways.

Storytime for the Young at Heart

Sit back and listen to a beloved story written by Robert Munsch called “Love You Forever”. The story opens with a young mom singing to her newborn son and follows that little boy as he goes through the stages of childhood and becomes a man.

With permission from Firefly Press, our own Will Wightman will read (and sing) the words as we enjoy the original illustrations by Sheila McGraw.

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
As long as I’m living
My baby you’ll be.”

Children’s Hymn: Jump for Joy! (I Can Feel You Near Me God) More Voices #48

1. I can feel you near me God I can feel you near
Yes I know you’re with me God I feel you here
I can feel you near me God I can feel you near
Yes I know you’re with me God Heaven is here.

Refrain:
And I’ll jump for joy I’m singing Alleluia
Jump for joy for you I will jump for joy
I’m singing Alleluia Jump for joy for you.

2. I can feel you loving me yes I know you care
God I know you’re loving me always everywhere
I can feel you loving me yes I know you care
God I know you’re loving me I know you’re there.

Prayer for Illumination: Reader: Barbara Bole

Mothering God, continue to surprise us and breathe your spirit freshly upon us as your family, that renewed in faith, we may know your wisdom through this story in the Bible. Amen.

OT Reading: “Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God & Hannah’s Prayer”

1 Samuel 1:4-20; 2:1-10 (NRSV)

4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. 11 She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”

Hannah’s Prayer

2 Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God.
My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory.
2 “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail.
10 The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king,
and exalt the power of his anointed.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Celebrate with Hannah!” Rev. Kim Vidal

Today is Mother’s Day! It seems like such a small token to honour those who have nurtured us throughout our lives. There are lots of wonderful mothers: mothers in traditional families, mothers in special circumstances, single mothers, step mothers, pet mothers, religious mothers, mothers who open their homes and hearts to anyone needing a friend. Not every woman is a mother by standard definition - that a mother is a woman who gave birth to a child. But you can call someone your mother if she brings you up as if you were her child. Can someone be a mother without bearing a child? Absolutely! You might consider yourself a surrogate mother, a caregiver, an aunt, a sister or a single woman – you are a mother in your own rights and everyone here has a mother. Mothers deserve our honour today.

And here is a story of a mother. We meet her for the first time in the book of Samuel. She is a woman of prayer and of great faith. Her name is Hannah which means “grace”. Her husband’s name is Elkanah meaning the zeal of God. He is wealthy, well-known in the community, a man who knows his roots. There are some aspects of Hannah’s story that we don’t find easy to relate with. She was in a polygamous marriage and she was barren – for a certain period of time. In those days, polygamy was very much part of the culture. Elkanah had a second wife named Peninnah meaning “fertile” who bore him sons and daughters. Elkanah loved Hannah and he really didn't need children from her - anyway--he had plenty from Penninah. So he couldn't see what the big deal was . . . why it seemed that Hannah was so unhappy, all alone and sad . . . after all, she was his favourite! But the fact of the matter was: while Penninah's tent was filled with little voices, Hannah's tent was silent. While children ran around the camp and climbed onto Elkanah's lap to amuse him, Hannah knew in her heart she had not contributed to the legacy Elkanah was building. Hannah’s life seemed glaringly empty.

And to add to Hannah’s heartbreak, Peninnah would look at Hannah with pity, or sarcasm or even remorse. She would brag about her dozen children and used that privilege to taunt Hannah with words like: “Oh you poor woman – it must have been difficult when God closed your womb!” In that period, women lose their status in the society if they were barren – if they were childless. Remember the story of Sarah or Elizabeth in the Bible. There are many people today who know all about that sort of grief, and even if we aren’t familiar with it, we’ve all had times when we longed for things and our longing was not fulfilled. Hannah seems to understand that if it was indeed God who closed her womb, then only God can open it and allow her to bear children. And she persistently went to God in prayer.

In those days it was customary for people to go on pilgrimage to Shiloh, a significant place in Israel. Shiloh was the sanctuary above all others where the Israelites felt they could meet with God. So on one of those occasions, after they had enjoyed their meal, Hannah pulled herself together, she rose, slipped away from the family group and entered the sanctuary. That part of the story caught my attention. I could not resist saying: “That’s it, Hannah- go for it!” For when we are bullied or rejected or misunderstood, there's no need to spend time simply crying about it, or being depressed about it. Hannah rose and I think that's what we should do as well.

There was an old priest named Eli, who was “the man-in-charge” of that worship centre. He was sitting on a seat beside the door, and he saw Hannah going into the sanctuary. He saw this woman –who was deeply distressed and wept bitterly as she prayed to God. In her prayer, she made a vow to God- if God would give her a son, she would offer him to God as a Nazirite – one who abstains from drinking wine and one who will never cut his hair. I agree that asking for a male baby is somewhat unfair when baby girls are also as valuable as baby boys. But the story was written in a time when patriarchy was the predominant social system and sons in that system were favoured over daughters. Sadly, a lot of cultures today still embrace this system which I think needs to be addressed. Let’s go back to Hannah’s story.

Eli, the priest was watching Hannah with uneasiness. Hannah was doing something unusual; she was praying silently. Most people in those days prayed out loud. In Hannah’s case, though, her lips were moving but she was not sounding out the words. Eli totally misinterpreted the situation; he thought that Hannah was drunk, and so he got upset with her. “Woman, you are drunk! How long will you plan to keep this up? Be sober!” But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been in pain, unhappy and desperately praying to God to give me a son”.

Eli knows his position too well - he knows his responsibilities as a priest and keeping the order would be one of them. You can't just come into the holy place - walking right past the boss of the sanctuary, and be odd, or drunk, or out of order. Sometimes, we, too, would act that way – we have to maintain our decorum! But there is something deeper going on here. Some people find it uneasy going "straight to God" with their prayers, without asking the priest or the minister to represent them. Again, that may ring a bell for us today- if we think we can't speak directly to God, think twice! Prayer is a person’s lifeline to God and we can approach God directly with our deepest concerns. God is always there listening to our prayers if we but open ourselves to God.

Hannah is a model of direct, authentic prayer, “the prayer of the heart”. She shows up, without bringing an offering, without asking directions from the priest, and simply prays, soaring past all the liturgical conventions of her age, boldly presenting her petition before her God without benefit of clergy. She uses her own words, her own voice, without representation. Hannah, this broken-hearted, misunderstood and taunted woman leads us to further reflect on our own prayer life. I am reminded of what Mahatma Gandhi said about praying: “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weaknesses. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart”. What about looking at our lives as prayers in action? Hannah’s life is a prayer of the heart. Hannah’s prayer was answered. She gave birth to a son named Samuel who grew up under the mentorship of the priest Eli and later on became a judge and a prophet. It was Samuel who anointed David as king of Israel.

Hannah walked in as a woman of faith, pressed down but trusting and ready to pour out her heart and expose her need, and she walked out a woman of faith, radiant with confident joy that what she needed would be coming her way. Hannah finds her voice - she does experience a kind of transformation. The song attributed to her celebrates God – the holy one – her rock and refuge. Hannah sings a song that inspires the song of Mary, the Magnificat, which we still love reciting today especially in Advent, perhaps without noticing the kind of radical transformation it expresses, of the mighty brought down and the lowly lifted up. Surely, the lives of Hannah and Mary and many like them on the margins long ago and today as well, have been transformed by God’s enduring love.

In reflecting Hannah’s story, what prayers of the heart do you have in this very moment? Are you weighed down by emptiness because of grief or illness or barrenness of your spirit? Take heart – for God is with us – all we have to do is open ourselves to God with our own truths in prayer. Sometimes our prayers are not answered but there must be reasons behind each unanswered prayer – at times, the answer is “wait and see.. be patient”. And no matter what answers we receive, let us always count our blessings and be grateful for every circumstances life may offer. Because when God sometimes closes a door, God will surely open a window for us. When Hannah poured out her grief and emptiness in the presence of God, she was finally able to see that her life was, indeed, filled with good things. Filled, piled high, overflowing, lavishly supplied . . . with everything she needed.

Today, as we celebrate and honour all kinds of mothers, nurturers and life-givers, as we honour families in all of its configurations, their presence in our lives, let us rejoice for the many Hannahs in the world. Let us remember those who chose to live - out of love, devotion, faith and prayer. Hannah stands for those mothers whose heart aches with longing, grief, and even bitterness but also those who live with courage, persistence and hope. Wherever life takes us this day and in the days to come, let us approach God with the prayers of our hearts. Follow the simple and powerful example of Hannah and view your life, not through the circumstances that makes life seem empty, but rather through the lens of God's goodness filling your life with blessings and grace. For this reality . . . or for this hope that we cling to, even in the most desperate times, I can only think to say this morning: let us celebrate life! Let us celebrate mothers and life-givers! Let us celebrate with Hannah! Thanks be to God. Amen.

A Litany for Mother’s Day

Mothers come in many different forms,
and today we celebrate them all!
Thank God for mothers!

Everyone here is either a son or a daughter.
Thank God for my mother!

For those women who have passed and
whom we miss dearly here on earth.
Thank God for the mothers of the past.

For every woman who is working day and
night to raise her children right now.
Thank God for the mothers of today.

For all the women who are expecting,
but aren't quite mothers yet!
Thank God for the soon-to-be-mothers.

For the women who took in others' children
through adoption and foster care.
Thank God for the mothers with hearts so big.

For those women who have lost a child to death and must carry on.
Thank God for the mothers who are so strong.

For all the women who have desperately wanted to have children of their own,
but chose instead to mother everyone else.
Thank God for the mothers in spirit.

We also pray for those who lost their mothers in this time of pandemic.
And those who are in the wilderness of illness, loneliness and grief.
We thank you, God, for the women and life-givers
who have helped us, loved us, supported us and influenced our lives in so many ways.
We pray that we will honour them in everything we do.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray.
Please join me as we recite together the inclusive version of the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer (Inclusive Version)

Blessed One, our Father and our Mother
Holy is your name.
May your love be enacted in the world.
May your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us in the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For all that we do in your love,
and all that your love brings to birth,
and the fullness of love that will be
are yours, now and forever. Amen.

The Offering

Offertory Prayer

Giver of life, may these offerings of time, talents and treasures be a “breaking open of your abundant love as we serve others and the world. Amen.

Sending Forth: A Mothering Blessing

May God who brought us to birth by the Holy Spirit,
strengthen us for the Christian life.
May God who provides for all our needs
sustain us day by day.
May God whose steadfast love is constant as a mother's care,
send us out to live and work for others.
And the blessing of God: Creator, Christ and Comforter
be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

Departing Music: Are You a Shepherd? More Voices #126

Are you a shepherd, good shepherd who leads us
safely through danger, while calming our fears?
Are you a father who shelters and feeds us,
shares in our laughter and wipes away tears?

Refrain
Yes, you are shepherd, parent and teacher,
but you are greater than all that we know.
Holy and living, loving and giving,
God, you are with us wherever we go.

Are you a mother, good mother who bears us,
comforts, protects us and helps us to rest?
Are you a teacher who daily prepares us,
challenging students to offer their best?

Great, gentle shepherd, forever beside us,
lead all you children in paths that are right.
Great, loving parent, wise teacher, you guide us.
We want to love you and bring you delight.

Connie Davidson

May 2, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 3, 2020

Connie Davidson

May 2, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

4th SUNDAY OF EASTER / BCUC 169th ANNIVERSARY

May 3, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering slides of BCUC history

Music: How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place (Better is One Day) - More Voices #29
Performed by BCUC band at Homecoming service in October 2016

Words and music (c) Matt Redman 1995 Thank you Music - CCLI lic # 1199365
Abe - piano, Kim & Will - guitars, Erin - flute, Leslie - violin, Dan - Cello, Sue & Wendy - drums

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Kim

Good morning! The psalmist declares: “O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.” I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we worship together on this 4thSunday of Easter. Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad you have joined us in our virtual worship service! Today we are celebrating 169 years of ministry at Bells Corners United Church. We give thanks for the many ways God has blessed and continues to bless this congregation through the years.

Celebrating Lorrie’s Graduation

And here’s some good news. On April 25th, just a week ago, Lorrie has finally completed the Diploma in Diaconal Ministry at Centre for Christian Studies. We offer our joyful congratulations to her in this well-deserved achievement. We are incredibly blessed to have Lorrie continue to share her gifts with us at BCUC. Congratulations Lorrie on your graduation.

Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God’s spirit as we worship together.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Wightman Family

We light this Christ candle to honour and to celebrate who we are as people of faith. We do so by giving thanks of the varieties of gifts that we share and of the love that bind us together.

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes

From before the beginning, and beyond the end,
you are our God, the God who claims us as yours.
We come, as faithful people have come,
for many generations.
We may break our promises and abandon our covenants,
but you meet all our endings with a new beginning.
Stir in us a joyful celebration for what you have done
and continue to do among us;
From before the beginning, and beyond the end,
you are our God. We delight in you.

Prayer of Approach

Let us pray.

Companion God, through the years you have loved us dearly and have nurtured us since the beginning. The abundance that surrounds us is astounding, and all we can do is marvel and give thanks. With joy-filled hearts let us proclaim the Good News that you are among us. Dance with us as we embrace one another in love and in thanksgiving. Walk with us as we celebrate your promises of grace and hope. Pray with us as we journey together as followers of Jesus. Amen.

Opening Hymn: We Are One - Voices United #402

1 We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here, in the praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found; and we come needful of God's grace as we meet, together in this place.

2 We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear, in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed; and we share warmth in God's embrace as we pray together in this place.

3 We are one as we feast, as we feast, peace becomes the sign; in the bread and the wine there's a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come, as we feed, we are fed; and we feel God's refreshing grace as we meet at table in this place.

4 We are one as we hear, as we hear, heart and hand unite; in the word we receive there's a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved; and we seek justice in God's ways as we move together from this place

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie

Happy Birthday!!

I know it’s probably not really your birthday today – but it is OUR birthday! Today Bells Corners United Church is 169 years old! That’s really old! It’s 100 years older than me! Pretty amazing, eh?

When we think about it, that means we can look back in history to 1851 and see that our church family was already here in Bells Corners. We were here even before Canada was born!

That kind of blows my mind!

When we think about our church being here, are we talking about the building where we worship together? No… our beautiful building with its huge roof that stands on the corner of Moodie Drive and Richmond Road wasn’t here when our first members were gathering on Sunday mornings. It was in a small building beside the cemetery down the road near the Anglican Church. It wasn’t even a United Church. Back then even the United Church of Canada hadn’t been born!

So, if we are not talking about our church building, then what is it we are celebrating? Last year when we celebrated our church anniversary, I explained it like this – “Church” is not a noun or a name for a thing, “Church” is a verb. It’s an action word, something we do. And it’s something we’ve been doing in this community for 169 years.

A friend of mine told me that someone asked her, “Where do you church?” That’s what gave me that way of understanding the word “church” – it’s not where you go, it’s what you do.

These days we can’t go to our church building – but that doesn’t mean we can’t still “church”. Think of all the ways we are living our faith while we are all stuck at home. It’s a little harder, but it is happening! Rev. Kim and Abe and I are creating church on the internet… Erin and I are planning Sunday School and Youth activities that you can do at home… meetings are happening on Zoom… people are phoning to check on friends and family…

When we are together at BCUC, we talk a lot about how we need to be followers of Jesus every day, not just on Sunday. These days I think that’s just as important – maybe even more important.

I’m disappointed that we aren’t all together at our church this morning. I know there would have been cake today! But, even without the cake, this is a day to celebrate. We can celebrate the fact that our faith family has been in Bells Corners being church and doing church for 169 years! If we keep the love in our hearts and keep spreading it out in the world, I bet our BCUC family will still be here in another 100 years or more!

Happy Birthday, Bells Corners United Church!

Children’s Hymn: Dance With the Spirit - More Voices #156

Dance/Move/Sing with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Dance/Move/Sing with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’,
listen to the Spirit to show you the way.

Prayer for Illumination: Rev. Kim

Let grace, let love, let hope flow through your Word to us, O God.
Let your Word transform us today and always. Amen.

NT Reading: “Life Among the Believers” Acts 2: 42-47 (NRSV)

Reader: Jan Pound

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Keeping the Faith Alive” Rev. Kim Vidal

A church anniversary celebration without retelling its history is like planting a tree without its roots. “Memories are important to all of us.” These are the words of Bob Ferguson and David Beard in the Book of Memories they put together in January of 2000. And they continue: “When we forget or lose our memories, we lose a great part of our being. It is the same for a church. Our history is an integral part of who we are, where we have been and what we have contributed in the past.” These words affirm the fact that “the church is not a building nor a steeple but a people.” The church is about what we do and who we are as God’s people – past, present and future. We are not defined by the building where we gather or worship together. Certainly, these words ring a bell especially in this time of COVID-19 pandemic when we are not able to gather for worship in our church building. Worship services are being offered online and this for sure has been a “new normal” to many of us. But we are still the church, no matter where we are, whatever distance or how isolated we are from each other, no matter how computerized our meetings and gatherings these days, we are still the church.

One of the vital, more important aspects of being church is the retelling of our stories – the sharing of our lived experience of how God had shaped and is still shaping our lives. I call these stories of faith. Through these stories, we are able to enter into the heart of God. We are able to share our lives to one another, a story of revelation or a story of welcome. One of the pillars of the church who passed away last year was Bob Southern. Bob submitted 8 stories in the Book of Memories, all of which speak of revelation and welcome. They remind us of our life as people of faith. Let me share one of the stories Bob wrote which he titled “The Creaky Pews”.

In the late 1950’s and early 60’s, the little church on Robertson Rd., now a spa, was very full on Sunday morning as the new residents from Lynwood began filling the pews. It was a mistake to be late for church. Not only was space difficult to find but you were thoroughly announced as a late arrival, since the pew seats and backs were not really fastened together except at the end. As a late arrival tried to slip into a seat and sit down quietly, the seat let out a giant squawk as the wooden seat moved and rubbed against the pew back. One such greeting was enough to “get me to the church on time.”

From its humble beginnings in 1851, when the first regular ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Bells Corners came in place; when the congregation called the Drummond Presbyterian Church was part of the Goulbourn-Nepean Circuit; when the first church building was dedicated in 1898; when Drummond Presbyterian Church joined the church union in 1925, changed its name to bells Corners United Church and became part of a three-point charge congregation with Britannia and Fallowfield; when in December 1962, the building where we currently worship on Old Richmond Rd. was dedicated; today marks the 169th anniversary of Bells Corners United Church. Friends, we have come a long way!

The reading in Acts gives us a glimpse of life as people in the faith. It describes the beginning stages of the early Christian community in the first century. The activities of the faith community described in this text are not extraordinary or controversial. No talks about what colour of the floor must be installed. No squabbles about financial deficits. No disagreements regarding which minister to hire. These 5 verses define the life of an ideal church since time immemorial. The members of the early Christian church are doing theology and having faith-talk, they are living together, having meals together, praying together-- they look after one another, support each other and attend to each other’s needs. This is a kind of community that most churches today would embrace without any doubt. And while this part of the story is not as noisy as the gathering from the first Pentecost, it has its own unique utopian character. The early Christians literally shared their wealth and resources in a common pot so that no one will be hungry or homeless or in need. And they do it all in awe and with gladness and with joy--and the community just keeps growing every single day. This story of the beginning of the church is inspiring. This is the Easter Church that the Jesus’ movement has envisioned.

And while many agree that the early church has not stayed the same, the church described in this Acts passage reminds me in some ways of our life at BCUC! Today, we celebrate and honour the women and men, ministers, youth, young adults and children whose faith has encouraged them to persist in making BCUC an active presence in the community. This church stands as a witness to the faith of those who built it and those who come to find spiritual nourishment in this sacred space and for those who worked over the years to keep BCUC open and alive and active. This church is a haven of friendship– where people pray and where kindred souls meet. We live our faith by the many outreach programs that we support far and wide. We offer a safe space for learning, nurturing and growing- where friends and strangers, young and old alike, no matter what race, creed, colour, sexual orientation or social status are welcome. We gather for potlucks and fellowships and we celebrate the many joys and achievements of each one. We are indeed the body of Christ!

Friends, we have come a long way in keeping our mission statement alive and in progress. We have anchored our faith building in these 4 evocative words: rejoice, renew, respond, reach out. But these words will remain futile if we don’t do our part. We know that the world out there needs healing and hope. From the four corners of the church building, we move out to a world where God’s message of love and hope will be fully tested. Our mission statement acclaims both passion and compassion; theology and praxis; silence and evocations. Indeed, we have drawn our strengths not only from noble ideas but also from the strength of ordinary people like you and I called to make a difference in the world. We proclaim that Jesus Christ is the light of the world and we follow his way of life.

How do we keep our faith alive? As a faithful congregation, we have a responsibility to care for our children and young people, to nurture them and prepare them for life. We have a responsibility to our seniors and elderly, to help meet their needs in a changing world. We have a responsibility to the community around us, to proclaim the good news of love by word and by our actions. Let the stories of faith, commitment, and service strengthen us, prepare us, and propel us into the countless years of ministry in this place. Do your part even in small ways. That is how our church vision is accomplished.

May we continue to think freely and talk openly about who we are, whose we are and how we are called to be. May we continue building a community that has love as its highest aim above personal gratification and self-congratulation. May we follow in the steps of those who have given us a great beginning; the founders and foreparents, the movers and shakers of this congregation, who believed there was an exciting ministry to be had in this time and in this place. Let us be blessed by the words of Ahsha Williams, when at a young age of 7 years old, wrote this blessing in the Book of Memories: “I bless this church and this church blesses me. I care for this church and this church cares for me. I love this church.” Thanks be to God for Bells Corners United Church! Amen.

Prayer of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Let us gather our hearts in prayer. Holy God, on this Anniversary Sunday, we reflect on your past help, your indwelling Spirit in the present and the courage to seek hope for the future. Through the years O God, you have blessed and continue to bless your people in this congregation – a community of faithful believers, a heritage of mission and service, a haven of creativity, vibrant worship services with amazing music and loving fellowship. Continue to bless us with your presence, as you come to us in Word and sacraments, and make of us a community of love and care, a light that cannot be hidden, that others may know of your great love.

Holy God, we remember all those who help this church grow in wisdom and in faith. And so we pray for our leaders, the board and committee members, our music director and the choirs, Sunday School teachers, and many others who provide leadership and support to this faith community. We give thanks for all of the members and adherents, young and old alike, who fulfill each day the vision of being an active Christian presence in the community. May we be a church where the good news of Jesus Christ for all people is made real amongst us. May we be a church which manifests unity through diversity. May we be a church where the gift of friendship flourishes and nourishes us as we make friends in many different ways. Today we are grateful for the graduation of Lorrie. We ask for your blessings upon her as she continues to serve BCUC as a diaconal minister committed to her call.

God of Healing, we pray for people for whom the world is dark especially in this time of pandemic. We pray for those dealing with pain and suffering, loneliness, homelessness, poverty, disability, hunger, addictions, and broken relationships. We ask your guidance and blessings for those who make our lives easier as we live through the challenges brought about by COVID-19. We ask for your blessing upon the community where we live and the world.

God who journeys with us, hold our lives together in the thread of your rainbow grace. We rejoice with hope and great joy, remembering Jesus Christ, the mover and shaker of our faith as we abide in his love now and in the years to come. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ who taught his disciples this prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering

Offertory Prayer

Loving God, on this our Anniversary Sunday, may these gifts of time, talent and treasures be bright threads shining in the tapestry you weave for your people. Bless these gifts as we use them to bless others. Amen.

Sending Forth

Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be strong and of good courage,
for the God of yesterday, today
and tomorrow walks with you.
Be filled with the peace of Christ
now and always. Amen!

Departing Music: Let Us Build A House (All Are Welcome) - More Voices #1

1 Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

2 Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

3 Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat;
a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

4 Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

5 Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace;
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Connie Davidson

April 24, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - April 26, 2020

Connie Davidson

April 24, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER / CELEBRATING EARTH DAY
WORSHIP SERVICE

April 26, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Gathering: Grieg Water Birds – Morgenstimmung – Grieg – performed by Abe including nature sounds and photos by Abe

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Kim

Good morning! This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we worship together on this 3rd Sunday of Easter. Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad you have joined us in our virtual worship service!

Today we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day which began in April 22, 1970.

We join with all people around the world to honour Mother Earth, to recognize how deeply we are interrelated with all of creation and to do our part in being good stewards in caring for the earth.

I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of God’s spirit as we worship together.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Berard Family

We light this Christ candle to celebrate who we are as resurrected people and to remind us that “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it…”

(Psalm 24:1a)

Call to Gather: Erin Berard

Come, friends of the Risen Christ, let us give thanks for creation.
We gather to praise God for the miracle of the earth.
Come, believers of Jesus, Wisdom of God, who delights in creation’s goodness,
and open your hearts to wonder.
We gather to praise God for the miracle of our lives.
Come, co-creators with God, who is in all and through all, who is above all
and below all and open your hearts to mystery.
Let us gather and give thanks to God, the Heart of all creation.

Prayer of Approach

Let us pray.
Holy God, You are like a mother, teaching and
challenging us to be the best we can be.
You are like a father, delighting in us and offering us all that you have.
Help us to open our minds that we may hear what Jesus is telling us;
open our hearts to hear what the Spirit is saying.
Help us discover the new possibilities that you lay before us.
Help us be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth,
that we may do your work, as Christ’s Body, here on earth.
Help us to be like Christ, that we may experience holiness
in your creation and in each other. Amen.

Opening Hymn: Called by Earth and Sky MV 135 (English & French)

Refrain:
Called by earth and sky, promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust, treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky.

1 Precious these waters, endless seas,
deep ocean’s dream, waters of healing,
rivers of rain, the wash of love again.

Refrain: (French)
Du-ciel et de la terre,
Nous entendons l’appel’
Nous de-vons ché-rir l’univers,
é-crin de vie, pré-cieuse et belle;
du-ciel et de la terre.

Verse 2 (French)
Pré-cieux est l’air que l’on respire,
libre est le vent; Es-prit qui souffle,
viens nous in-struire, de grâ-ce
nous com-blant.

Refrain: (French)
Du-ciel et de la terre,
Nous entendons l’appel’
Nous de-vons ché-rir l’univers,
é-crin de vie, pré-cieuse et belle;
du-ciel et de la terre.

3 Precious these mountains, ancient sands;
vast fragile land.
Seeds of our wakening, rooted and strong,
Creation’s faithful song.

Refrain:
Called by earth and sky, promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust, treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky.

4 - Precious the fire that lights our way,
bright dawning day. Fire of passion,
sorrows undone, our faith and justice one.

Refrain:
Called by earth and sky, promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust, treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky

Words & Music: 2005 Pat Mayberry, Arranged: 2005 Marg Stubington Song#119776
Words and Music © 2005 Pat Mayberry www.patmayberry.com
Translation: 2006 David Fines arrangement © 2005 Margaret Stubington
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Erin

We celebrated Earth Day this Wednesday, so I thought it would be fun to take our Time for the Young at Heart outside into the garden.

One of my favourite jobs to do in the Spring is to rake off all the old leaves that have been acting like a blanket for the gardens. I love to rake and find those little shoots of daffodils and tulips just poking up out of the cold ground. It's so exciting!

In our Bible passage today, we're going to hear about God breathing life into the creatures as the world is created. Every Spring we have this new life being created; new daffodils, new buds and leaves on the trees, and baby birds in nests. And now this Spring we humans are learning to do new things. Some of you are learning how to use Google Classroom to submit your assignments to your teachers, grown-ups are working from home, and we're learning how to get by without going to the stores as often as we used to. And this is having amazing results for our Earth, isn't it? Some places are seeing less air pollution, some waterways are becoming clearer and cleaner.

God is breathing life into our Earth and into us. Let's help take care of this beautiful creation!

Children’s Hymn: Like A Rock MV 92

Like a rock, like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky, God is over our head.
Like the sun on the horizon, God is ever before.
Like the river runs to ocean, our home is in God evermore.

Words: 1998 Keri Wehlander, Adapted to Music: 1999 Linnea Good Song #97534
Words and Music © Borealis Music www.LinneaGood.com
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Prayer for Illumination: Kim

Holy God, with your life-giving Word, transform our hearts and minds as we follow the Risen Christ, making the earth a place of your reign of love and peace. Amen.

OT Reading: “Another Account of Creation” Genesis 2: 4- 9, 15-22 (NRSV)

4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man[c] there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “The Breath of Life” Rev. Kim Vidal

Once upon a time, there was only the sky, the sea, and a black bird. The bird grew tired and could not find a place to rest. In his frustration, the bird agitated the sea until its waters touched the sky. The sky was so upset that it showered the sea with big rocks and boulders in order to calm it down. The bird picked one of the islands to be its home. One day, the bird was struck by a bamboo tree, believed to be the child of the land and sea breezes. Upset, the bird pecked at the nodes of the bamboo until it split into two. Half of the bamboo came the first man named Malakas, meaning strong and from the other half the first woman called Maganda, meaning beautiful. Then the earthquake gathered all the birds and fish to see what should be done with these two beautiful creatures, and it was decided that they should marry. They did and had a great number of children.

The story I just shared is a pre-colonial creation myth in the Philippines which is part of my cultural upbringing. I’m sure that every culture and every place, every group of people have its own creation story. Some of the ancient writings particularly those in Ancient Near East – Mesopotamia, Babylon, Sumer, Egypt – have creation stories that were very much part of the people’s way of understanding how the world and human beings came about. Some biblical scholars believed that these ancient myths have shaped and influenced the creation stories that we read in the book of Genesis. And because these myths are stories of sacred importance to a particular culture and group of people, we need to read the creation stories in Genesis metaphorically not literally It is important to note here that there are two versions of the creation story in Genesis.

Genesis 1, written by priestly tradition, presents God creating the world out of chaos in a cosmic, poetic form. From day one to day six, in a very orderly manner, with an affirmation that “it was good!”, there came light and darkness, sky, land and seas, all kinds of vegetation, the sun, moon and the stars, all sorts of living things and then finally, human beings. In this particular version, human beings were created in the image of God, the Creator, and were given “dominion” over the other living things. From an ecological perspective, the word dominion has become problematic. Over the centuries, this word has been interpreted by many as “power over all creation” which sounds like- we, humans can subdue the earth without restraint, that we can do whatever we want without regard for the earth’s health. But dominion is not the same as domination. The word “dominion” means to exercise responsible caring for the earth and the whole creation which I think is what God intended from the very beginning.

The creation narrative in Genesis 2, written by the Yahwist tradition, portrays a different tale. God, according to the Yahwist mindset is anthropomorphic – very much like a human being. God is imaged here as talking, walking, thinking, feeling - like one of us. In this version, the first thing God created was Adam – a male being, named as such because he came from “adamah” which is Hebrew word for “dust” or “dirt”. Adam was of the earth. In this story, Adam received life through the very breath of God - the breath of life. God breathed ruach – a Hebrew word meaning wind or spirit into the nostrils of Adam and made him alive. Then God planted a garden in Eden filled with all kinds of vegetation. And God’s ruach breathed into all these plants and trees and give them life. This garden is –like heaven –we call it paradise. And God put Adam in the garden with a responsibility - to be its tiller, caretaker and steward. Adam was to care for and safeguard the garden – not to plunder, rape and abuse its resources.

With vegetation surrounding him, God senses that Adam was still lonely - so God formed animals from the dust of the earth to be Adam’s helpers and companions. God breathed ruach, the breath of life upon these animals and gave them life. God entrusted Adam to name every animal, every bird and cattle – every insect - which for me indicates that humans are gifted not only with intellect but also with creativity and imagination. In the Hebrew tradition, naming implies taking responsibility. When God asked Adam to name the animals, God is entrusting Adam to care for them. But despite the fact that animals and plants are there to give Adam company, God in this story knew that none of the animals were found to be suitable companion for Adam. He needs someone who can understand his nature – his emotions, his physical needs, his intellectual capacity.

So the woman was created. And we know how she was created in this story. God formed woman right out of Adam’s rib. Later on, she will be called Eve taken from the Hebrew word chavah meaning life. The name Eve means “mother of the living”. To the ancient Hebrew mindset, both Adam and Eve were actually parts of one another. Eve would be an integral part of Adam’s life and his very foundation. Without her, he will not be complete. Interpreted this way, this whole thing about the equality between women and men should not be an issue today. Ancient Hebrews who wrote this creation story have in their minds that all human beings are created equal. It is sad to note that this original intention has not been put to practice by many people over the course of time until today. Domestic abuse and violence are still present in all sectors of our society. Women continue to find their voices in a patriarchal-driven world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live together recognizing this truth of being part of one another? Not just between women and men but also people of varied colours, or creed, or ethnicity, or sexual orientation or social status. Unless we realize that all of us are recipients of the breath of life from one source of life we call God, we can never heal the earth. We need to acknowledge that we are all part of the whole- that one will not be complete without the other. We call this interdependence. As we care for creation, we care for humankind. If we desecrate the earth, we destroy our present world and the future of the generations to come. Sadly, we are still far from reaching this perfect dream for humanity and for all creation. To dream of a healed earth, is that even possible?

An English philosopher and statesman Thomas More said – it is possible. All we have to do is to re-create the earth where we live. Thomas More wrote a book in 1516 called “Utopia” – also known as a “perfect society” based on the story of a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing a seemingly perfect social-political-legal system. In this book, More acclaims that on Utopia Island, there is no private property , with goods being stored in warehouses and people requesting what they need. It is very similar to living in commune. Everyone is fed, everyone has a place to rest, everyone has access to education and health care. In Greek, “utopia” has double meanings – one that denotes “a good place” and the other, “a place that could never be.”

Perhaps, for us too, we often dream of such place or hope that utopia could happen. Sadly, today we are less connected to the earth. We have lost touch with the rhythms of the earth. Thousands of species are going extinct as they are being hunted or their habitats are being destroyed. The earth’s water, air, forests and soils are suffering from pollution and wild fires. We are facing global warming and climate change and we bear a significant moral responsibility to heal the earth’s wounds. When we look at what’s happening in the human world, where there is famine and disasters, where there is poverty, unjust wars, injustices, alienation, or moral decline, and add to the list – the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we tend to lean more on the other meaning of utopia which is – “a place that could never be.” It will remain as a dream and will never happen in reality.

But there is hope. If we look closely at the intent of the writers of Genesis, their words continue to challenge and to disturb us- that no matter how ugly or sad or imperfect the earth seemed to be, this earth is our home. This is where we encounter life. This is where we experience love. This is where we acknowledge God’s presence through human beings and all of creation journeying together here and now. Do your part. Plant a tree. Tend a garden. Be informed about climate change. Recycle. Reuse. Reduce. Be an advocate for human and animal rights. There is a lot yet to be done. And it’s never too late to do your part. There is hope.

The Creation story in Genesis 2 is profoundly ecological in the sense of declaring God’s commitment to human beings, and human beings’ commitment to all creation in healing the earth and making it a better place. We need to profess with our words and with our actions that we are indeed stewards and co-creators with God. As we celebrate Earth Day, let us remind ourselves of the breath of life that causes us to live with dignity, imagination and creativity. Let this breath of life nudge us to care for the earth responsibly and for all that lives in it, humans included. I leave you with the words of Fyodor Dostoevsky when he writes: “Love all God’s creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.” Love the earth. May this be so. Amen.

Sources: The BCUC Lectionary Group, Thomas More’s Utopia, Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dosteoevsky, Encyclopedia Mythica (pantheon.org).

Prayer of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Creator God, we give you thanks for the care that we can give and receive as your creatures.
We thank you for the land upon which we dwell, land that nourishes body, mind and soul.
O God, as the land cares for us, may we care for the land.
We thank you for fresh water to drink and water that flows in rivers and lakes.
O God, as the water cares for us, may we care for the water.
We thank you for the air which gives life to all.
O God, as the air cares for us, may we care for the earth.
We thank you for seeds and crops, plants and trees, for birds and animals.
O God, as earth’s vegetation and creatures care for us, may we care for them in return.
Loving God, we acknowledge the fragility of all life and pray for ourselves as your people.
Free us from harmful attitudes towards the land, crops, animals and human beings.
Free us from despair in times of calamities, famine, drought or flood.
Free us from wastefulness and greed in times of plenty.
May our lives reflect awareness of our bonds with the earth and with all of creation.

We pause at this time to remember the people in Portapique and its neighbouring communities in Nova Scotia, especially the grieving families and loved ones of the victims who died in the recent mass killing. We ask your blessings and love to heal their broken hearts and spirits as they mourn their loss.

We also remember those whose loved ones who died due to COVID-19 especially those in retirement and nursing homes. We pray particularly for Connie Davidson and family in the passing of her parents due to this virus. Give them the comfort they need in this time of sorrow.

We pray for our loved ones and friends, those who have been diagnosed, those undergoing treatments and those who are recovering from this virus and other ailments. May they find healing, comfort and full recovery knowing that we are praying for them in this time of need.

We continue to pray for the frontliners, the healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, personal support worker, the grocers, the postal workers, the essential services employees and our leaders. Keep them safe and give them good health, wisdom and courage as they serve others in this time of pandemic.

This is our prayer in Jesus’ name who taught us this prayer we now recite in the language of our choice:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering

This is now the time to offer our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

From our joyful hearts that give, take our offering and turn it into acts of love.
Let us give thanks to God who moves us to share, bringing hope to a world in need of healing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sending Forth

May the blessing of God, who causes the land to put forth plants and trees;
of Jesus Christ who calls all creation to new life;
and of the Holy Spirit whose breath energizes all of the earth
be with you all, now and always. Amen!

Departing Music: Now the Green Blade Rises VU 186 - soloist Vernon Sulway

1 Now the green blade rises,
from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again,
that with the dead has been:
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

2 In the grave they laid him,
love by hatred slain,
Thinking that he would never awake again,
Laid in the earth
like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

3 Forth He came at Easter,
like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Raised from the dead,
my living Lord is seen:
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

4 When our hearts are wintry,
grieving, or in pain,
Your touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts
that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat arising green.

Words: 1928 John MC Crum, harmony: 1928 Martin Fallas Shaw Song#59341
Music: traditional French carol Words and harmony © Oxford University Press
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Connie Davidson

April 17, 2020

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - April 19, 2020

Connie Davidson

April 17, 2020

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER
WORSHIP SERVICE

April 19, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Verse to Ponder: ‘He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.’ (John 21: 6)

Gathering: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth – Handel - Messiah

Words of Welcome & Announcements – Kim

Good morning! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on behalf of Bells Corners United Church on this second Sunday of Easter!! Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad you have joined us in our virtual worship[ service!

Thanks again for being part of this Easter celebration!

Welcome to our worship service.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Lorrie

We light this Christ candle to remind us that God’s love is with us. May this flame bring warmth into our hearts, hope for others and peace for the world.

*Call to Gather[1]: Lorrie

We come to this place bringing many things:
burdens and joys, weariness as well as celebration.
We come to this place seeking many things:
comfort and strength, answers as well as questions.
We come to this place hoping many things:
peace for the world, hope for the future, life for all creation.
Gather all of our gifts, our prayers and our hopes,
and let them be our worship this day.

[1] Kate Crawford, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2015.

Prayer of Approach[2]: Lorrie

Let us pray.

You come amongst us in surprising ways,
feeding us with joy and gladness.
Come today, we pray:
to feast our minds with wonder,
to feast our eyes with renewed sight,
to feast our hands with your embrace,
to feast our hearts with renewal,
to feast our tongues with praise. Amen.

[2] Gord Dunbar, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2015.

Opening Hymn: In the Bulb There is A Flower VU 703

1 In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
Butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
There's a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

2 There's a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody;
There's a dawn in every darkness
Bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
What it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

3 In our end is our beginning;
In our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing;
In our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
At the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie:

Good morning everybody!

This is the first Sunday after Easter. Last week we heard about the empty tomb and how the women were told that Jesus was not dead but was alive in the world. Well, this week, our scripture is a story about the disciples experiencing that!

After Jesus died, I think the disciples really weren’t sure what they were supposed to do. Do you remember that some of them were fishermen when they first met Jesus? Well, in this story, those men have gone back to fishing.

Have you ever gone fishing? It’s something my family really enjoys. We like being out on the water in a boat – especially on a nice summer day. we take our fishing rods and lures or bait, sometimes we take some snacks… We’re happy out there – even if we don’t catch any fish. If we meet other boats, we might wave or call out to each other, “Any luck?”

The kind of fishing the disciples were doing was very different from the kind of fishing my family does though. It wasn’t a leisure activity; it was their work. They needed to catch a lot of fish to sell to make their living this way. So, they didn’t use fishing rods, they used big nets that they threw over the side of the boat in hopes that they could trap a school of fish as they swam by.

In today’s story, those men had been out on the water for hours and they hadn’t caught any fish. They saw someone on the shore waving to them. “Any luck?” the man shouted. “Not a single fish!” was their answer.

“Throw your net over the other side of the boat!” the man on the shore called to them.

Now, these men had been out on the water for hours and hadn’t seen any fish at all. They may have thought this guy was a bit crazy to suggest such a thing. If that was me in the boat, I probably would have just said, “Sure, thanks!” and then just ignored his advice. I would have thought he was joking with me… but the disciples didn’t react that way. They did pull up their empty net – a big, heavy, wet net - and toss it over the other side of the boat…

And, guess what? There were so many fish caught in the net that they couldn’t even pull it in! They had to drag it to shore!

Some of them realized that this stranger on the beach must be Jesus! Peter was so excited that he jumped in the water and started swimming to shore. When they got to the beach, there was a nice fire going with breakfast cooking. Can you imagine it?

But imagine if they hadn’t listened to him and didn’t bother throwing the net over the other side of the boat… They would have gone home with no fish to sell – and they would have missed this picnic on the beach with Jesus!

Sometimes we’re asked to do things that aren’t normal for us – like right now during this pandemic. You have to go to school in a way that isn’t what you are used to. Your teacher isn’t there with you nor any of your friends. It’s hard when you don’t understand what to do and you can’t ask the teacher to explain it a different way. But, you are doing it – even though it’s uncomfortable sometimes – and we’re all really proud of you for that! Hopefully you are learning some new things about yourself too – that you can figure things out if you try… that you can work independently… that your teacher is pretty great at finding new and interesting ways for you to learn… I hope there are lots of other good surprises coming out of this time too. I think sometimes we have to look carefully for those good things, but I know they are there.

Maybe we are being asked to fish on the other side of our boat these days. It’s hard work and it might even make us grumble sometimes – but I think it will all be worth it in the end when this virus goes away. Maybe then we can even have a picnic on the beach!

Children’s Hymn: Hey Now! Singing Hallelujah! MV 121 vs. 1, 3, 5

Refrain

Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
Hey now! The morning has come!
Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
The tomb was empty at the rising sun.

1. Jesus loved people and he made them friends, Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He called to the children and the women and men. Hey now, the tomb was empty.

3. Jesus loved people and they said he was a king. Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He turned all the tables on everything.
Hey now, the tomb was empty.

5. Jesus loves people and he lives again!
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
Calls us disciples and he calls us his friends.
Hey now, the tomb was empty.

Prayer for Illumination:

Holy God, fill us with openness, faith and hope. Fill our hearts with love, laughter and peace. Fill our hearts with your Word and your wisdom. Amen.

Gospel Reading: “Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples” John 21: 1-19 (NRSV)

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

May we find ourselves renewed in this story of hope. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Back to Square One!” Rev. Kim Vidal

Things have calmed down quite a bit from those holy moments of Easter Sunday. Things have settled way down from the exalted cries of “Alleluia, we are made alive in Christ” to the more practical “let’s get back to life as usual”. Back to square one. Back to normal like a pair of old slippers waiting to be used under the bed. But in this life we call normal, there are still moments of sadness and grief. Just in the last few days, Canada’s official death toll from COVID-19 passed 1,000, of which the centre of attention is on the long-term care facilities and nursing homes that are being ravaged by the virus. While government officials claim the epidemic is slowing down, there are still outbreaks in many parts of the country particularly here in Ottawa. How do we deal with this alarming news after we have just celebrated a joyful Easter? How do we proclaim life when our community continues to be in the midst of Good Friday? The experience of emotional overload comes in many forms and these are at times overwhelming. Theology professor Craig Dykstra gave a very good description of what it feels like to be overwhelmed with grief. He said: "Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the sheer hugeness or complexity of something. We can't get our arms around it. We can't get it figured out. We are unable to organize it or to bring it under control. We are overwhelmed in a way that makes us feel small, weak and inadequate".

That’s what happened to Peter and the six disciples. With Jesus, their leader dead, without their friend and rabbi on their side, life gets difficult and uncertain. They were overwhelmed with grief and fear. They felt lost, confused, and scared of what might happen to them. The changes of life are not what they expected and they went back to the way it was before – back to square one - to something safe, something familiar. They reverted to old patterns of behaviour and thinking. It seems easier for them to go backwards than moving forward.

Peter and the other six disciples have returned to the sea. They have come home to the Sea of Tiberias, the place where it all began. It was the place where Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were called by Jesus. It was there where brothers John and James left their father and their big boat and followed Jesus - the beginning of discipleship. Back to square one. Back to the sea of Tiberias.

Now that Jesus is gone, apparently, they went right back to doing what is comfortable, normal, and usual. They got back in the boat and did what they do best. To fish. Peter, leading the way, decides to go fishing at night. Perhaps it takes him back to life before Jesus. The others are quick to join him. They fished all night, but nothing comes close to the surface or into the net. The fishermen come up empty on all counts—no fish, no food, no future. Back to square one!

My hunch, however, is that Peter is not really trying to catch fish as much as he is fishing for answers. Peter may have left Jerusalem but he cannot get away from those years of discipleship, those years of following Jesus, the last supper, the arrest, the denials. He cannot leave behind the cross, the empty tomb, the house with locked doors, the echoes of “Peace be with you.” So Peter fishes. Peter fishes for answers. What have I done? What will I do now? Where will I go? What will happen to me? Where is Jesus now? Peter is searching for meaning, a way forward, a place in life. Peter, bereft with grief, went fishing in the dark night. Some of us have spent time fishing in the dark; asking the same questions as Peter did, looking for our place in life, seeking peace, and some sense of understanding and meaning. We have all been there, fishing for answers in the dark.

According to John’s story, just after the daybreak when the fog is dense along the lakeshore and the water shines bright and blue, someone stood on the beach. Nobody knew at first that it was the Risen Christ. “Children, you did not catch any fish, did you?” This is more a statement of fact than a question. Jesus is not asking for a fishing report. He is commenting on the reality and emptiness of Peter’s and the other disciples’ lives. They were living the pain - fishing on the Good Friday side of the boat and the net is empty. There are no fish, no answers, no way forward. Nothing to feed or nourish life. Jesus tells the disciples to drop their nets to the right side of the boat. Instantly those tired old nets are filled with fish jumping out of the water to get into them. A hundred fifty-three of them! Feast! Fullness! Abundance! New life! The movement of the net from the left side of the boat to the right is symbolic of the disciples’ moments of Easter: from weeping to moments of joy; from fear to hope; from emptiness to wholeness; from feelings of guilt to being forgiven. “It is the Lord,” cries John, the beloved disciple, always first to recognize his best buddy, Jesus. Peter flops out of the boat, put on some clothes over his nakedness – puts on a new perspective, a new mindset over his old self, ready to be challenged and to be inspired again by his leader, Jesus.

The smell of fish being broiled and the wondrous sight of bread caught the disciples’ attention. If you have been up fishing all night, you are grateful for fire and food and the hands that prepared and cooked it. A warm welcome for the hungry souls. “Come and have breakfast,” was the invitation. The Christ of the table not the Christ of the tomb was the host. We get the message, whenever Jesus is involved, chances are - you are going to be fed. In that morning of resurrected hope, there is plenty for everyone - there is more than enough to go around. With the presence of Jesus, there is always food for the journey. A meal of bread and fish is provided by the Christ of the table, telling us that Good Friday of scarcity and death is over. New life has come!

After a hearty breakfast, Jesus pulled Simon Peter on the side and the question and answer come. “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Three times Jesus asked the same question. Frustrated, but earnest, bewildered, but trusting, Peter’s story is unfolding from beginning to end. How confusing life was for him as he tried to follow, tried to do the right thing. Peter denied Jesus three times and three times Jesus redeems him. Peter answers yes, all three times. The meaning of the relationship between Jesus and Peter shifted from philios or brotherly love to agape – unconditional, truth-seeking love. A love that blesses Peter to shift his vocation from fishing to shepherding. Peter left his old self and became a new being. Everything that Peter and the disciples need to make this shift has been provided: new perspectives, new mind set, a new heart; a warm hearty breakfast for the journey; a new life. From Good Friday people they became Easter people. Thomas Troeger writes: “The epilogue awakens memories of the darkness—the darkness of our hunger, the darkness of our failure to recognize Christ, the darkness of our denial—but at the same time it reminds us that none of this darkness has overcome the light. For the risen Christ still calls, still feeds, still empowers, even doubters and deniers for the ministry.” And Jesus closes with a resounding “Follow me.” A preacher once said: "Follow me, is more about the future than the past. With Jesus, it's not where you've been that matters, but where you will go, not whether you have made mistakes, but whether you are ready to try again, not about whether you have been wounded in the past, but about how you will help create a future."

Easter was never meant to go back to square one but to move on with intentions to make things new. Still, there is no special immunity, no vaccine to protect us from the COVID-19. Jim Wallis, Sojourners writer commented that “this pandemic has become very revealing of the inequities in our society, the gaping holes in our safety net, and the disparities in our health care and other systems, and the reality of our relationships across racial and economic lines.” We ask over and over again when we will go back to normal. But we won’t and we really can’t. This historical crisis will change us forever. How we act now, and with whom, and for whom, will shape and even determine what that new normal will look like or will be when this current pandemic begins to pass. But in this COVID-19 moment, we are still Easter people. We continue to love our neighbours by social distancing – by not putting their health and safety at risk. We continue to show kindness, to act with integrity, to pray for others, to offer support in many ways.

The disciples followed Jesus. Peter was transformed. A movement began and continues to proclaim that all things can be made new. It will not be the same. But it is a new beginning. “Follow me,” Jesus says, “and live as Easter people.” "Follow me." Whatever doubts or questions come to mind, whatever troubles our conscience, whatever pain, worry and fear that bind us up, whatever walls we have put up or doors we have locked securely to isolate us from others, whatever pandemic halts us in our normal, comfortable living, whatever hunger and need we feel deep in our souls, Jesus says, “follow me”. May your life be a witness to your answer to Jesus’ call. Amen.

Sources:
BCUC Lectionary Group, Karyn Wiseman, Craig Dykstra, Thomas Troeger, Jim Wallis.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer:

I invite you to listen and reflect on a prayer entitled Lockdown written by Capuchin Franciscan brother Richard Hendrick in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

Let us now recite the prayer that Jesus taught his followers:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering:

This is now the time to offer our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer or canadahelps.org. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer:

Here is the work of our hands.
Here is the love of our hearts.
Here is our prayer to make a better world.
Bless our offering so that it may be used to further your reign on earth. Amen.

Sending Forth:

Go out into the world as bearers of a holy life that knows no barriers;
mindful of how demanding this call can be;
yet alive to its vision of goodness and beauty.
May the wisdom of God,
the compassion of Christ
and the friendship of the Spirit
bear us up and fill us with renewed strength for the journey. Amen.

Departing Music: Jesus You Have Come to the Lakeshore VU 563

1 Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore;
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
you only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain:

O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling have spoken my name; now the boat’s left on the shoreline behind me, by your side,
I will seek other seas.

2 You---know so well my possessions;
my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
you will find there my nets and labour.

Refrain

3 You---need my hands full of caring
through my labours to give others rest,
and constant love that keeps on loving.

Refrain

4 You, who have fished other oceans,
ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
my loving friend, as thus you call me.

Refrain

Words & Music : 1979 Cesáreo Gabaráin, harmony: 1987 Skinner Chávez-Melo
translate: 1987 Gertrude C. Suppe, George Lockwood, Raquel Gutierrez Achón

Connie Davidson

April 10, 2020

Worship services, Podcasts

Easter Sunday Service - April 12, 2020

Connie Davidson

April 10, 2020

Worship services, Podcasts

Bells Corners United Church

EASTER SUNDAY
WORSHIP SERVICE & AGAPE MEAL

April 12, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Verse to Ponder: “But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)

Gathering: Risen Today – string trio: Leslie Wade, Daniel Parker, Sarah Parker

Words of Welcome & Announcements

Good morning! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on behalf of Bells Corners United Church as we celebrate Easter!! I hope that today is a day filled with joy, celebration, and excitement as we celebrate together as the risen body of Jesus Christ.

Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad you have joined us!

In place of a communion, I invite you to join in an agape meal with your family and friends or by yourself. So bring out some bread or crackers and whatever beverage that you have – juice, water, wine or milk and join in the agape meal at a later part of the service.

Beyond worship service, there are other weekly activities and meetings offered online. And everyone is encouraged to make a difference by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Thanks again for being part of this Easter celebration!

Welcome to our worship service.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Lorrie

(light a candle if you wish or turn on a battery-operated flashlight or a lamp)

We are here on this Easter morning, surrounded by the promises of faith. We light this Christ candle knowing that it is Christ who draws us together as one body. We are risen in Christ! Hallelujah!

Call to Gather[1]: (inspired by Colossians 1: 19-22) Lorrie

In the face of a culture of death
a world of killing fields
a world of the walking dead
Jesus Christ is at the head of the resurrection parade
transforming our tears of betrayal into tears of joy
giving us dancing shoes for the resurrection party
This is the dance of the new creation
this is the dance of life out of death
and in this dance all that was broken
all that was estranged
all that was alienated
all that was dislocated and disconnected
-is reconciled
-comes home
-is healed
-and is made whole
We are risen with Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

[1] excerpted from targum 2: subversive poetry in a postmodern world col 1:15-20, published in Colossians Remixed: Subverting The Empire by Sylvia C. Keesmaat and Brian J. Walsh.

Prayer of Approach: “God Within Us” written by David Stafford

God moves within us –
Feel the stirring and whirring inside.
God moves within us,
In God’s love we abide.

God moves within me -
I feel God every day.
Guiding, teaching, moulding,
Leading me on the way.

God stirs within me.
God’s peace is in my heart,
God’s courage, strength, conviction,
Help me to do my part.
And while God is within me,
I share God’s love with you.
Because God is in all of us,
Yes – even you! Amen.

Opening Hymn: This is the Day MV 122 Eng/Fr/Eng

This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad!
This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad!

Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.

Dance Movement: “Alleluia Meditation” with Wendy Morrell

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie

HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!

It feels good to be able to say that again after this long time of Lent – and maybe it’s even better today when we have something to celebrate amidst all this change around Covid-19.

I hope you and your family are finding fun ways to celebrate Easter this year – and I hope the Easter Bunny was able to get to your house last night!

I’ve been thinking this week that Easter just isn’t the same when we’re practising social distancing. It would be so much better if we could get dressed up and go to church to sing all the hallelujahs with the choir and the congregation. It would be better if we could have a big family gathering for dinner tonight…

But then, I thought about what it must have been like on that first Easter morning. There sure wasn’t any celebrating happening when the women were walking to Jesus’ tomb with their spices. They were mourning his death. They were going to pay respect to his body. Imagine how sad they were feeling…

And then, when they got to where Jesus had been buried, they found that the stone had been rolled away and his body was gone! I don’t think their first reaction would have been one of joy, do you? I imagine they thought someone had stolen his body – and that would make them really upset…

When they looked inside the tomb, what did they see? Someone all dressed in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been! I bet they were scared!

But, it wasn’t a robber, it was an angel, and the angel said, “Don’t be afraid”

Wow! That reminds me of the time that an angel appeared to Mary and to Joseph way back during Advent… Remember what the angel said to them? “Don’t be afraid”

And then, when Jesus was born and the angels came to the shepherds in the field, the first thing they said was…. Right! They said “Don’t be afraid!”

It seems to me that whenever an angel shows up that’s the first thing we hear – and then there is good news. For Mary and Joseph, it was that they were going to be the parents of a very special baby… for the shepherds, it was the birth of a saviour.

For the women that day it was that death didn’t win! Jesus was still alive in the world! Now that’s a reason to celebrate for sure! It’s such good news that we are still celebrating it today – 2000 years later!

On that first Easter morning, Jesus’ friends and followers weren’t getting together to celebrate. They were hiding because they were worried about what might happen to them if the Roman soldiers knew they were Jesus’ friends. Even when the women came to tell them that Jesus was alive, they had to stay hidden away.

That’s a little bit like what’s happening in our world right now, isn’t it? We are all staying home because of the bad news of the Corona Virus. The news is getting better though – Don’t be afraid! - and not as many people are getting sick… but we still need to stay at home and practise social distancing because that’s what is going to make this threat go away for good. So, we can celebrate – and we should celebrate today! – but we will do it safely at home.

Maybe our celebrations this Easter are more like the celebrations of that first Easter so long ago… But, lucky for us we have modern technology to help us stay in touch with those we love. I hope you will spend lots of time today talking to your friends and family – by phone, or facetime, or however you are making this happen these days…

So, even though things are different and sometimes a bit uncomfortable these days, there is still lots to celebrate! Family, technology, better news about the virus …

And, through us, Jesus is still alive in the world!

HALLELUJAH!!
HALLELUJAH!!
HALLELUJAH!!

Children’s Hymn: Joy (Amy Grant)

1. I've got the joy (joy), joy (joy), joy (joy)!
I've got the joy (joy), joy (joy), joy (joy)!
I've got the joy (joy), joy (joy), joy....! Hallelujah!
Down in my heart (clap, clap)
Down in my heart (clap, clap)
Down in my heart to stay,
Down in my heart to stay.

2. I've got the love...

3. I've got the light...

arrangement Amy Grant
CCLI Song# 1263591 CCLI lic# 11199365

Prayer for Illumination

Let us gather our hearts in this prayer for illumination

God of joy and delight, open our hearts to receive your Word anew and give us hope as Easter people. Amen.

Gospel Reading: The Resurrection of Jesus Mark 16: 1-8 with the Shorter Ending of Mark (NRSV)

16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Shorter Ending of Mark:

And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

May we find ourselves renewed in this story of hope. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “He Has Been Raised! He Is Not Here!” by Rev. Kim Vidal

Dawn is breaking in Jerusalem. The sun is about to spill its golden rays over the horizon. Maybe there was fog in the air that day - that hung over the city and countryside like a shroud. There wasn’t much conversation on the way to the tomb. Hearts were too heavy. Jesus had been crucified and now buried in a tomb somewhere. Three women went to visit the tomb that early morning. Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome. They brought with them spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body as was the custom in those days to control the smell of decomposition and help minimize unpleasant odors. They went to deliver the fragrance of life to the place of death. This for me is an astounding act of love. When they set out that morning, the women I’m sure did not know what to expect besides the eerie tomb and the foul smell of death. And their first worry came out in the open: “Who will roll away the stone for us so we can enter the tomb?”. They know particularly well that stones sealing tombs in those days were very heavy that needs few people altogether to move them. But the women still show up for each other, in an act of love that goes beyond fear and hopelessness, a love that denies the end of a relationship. Jesus was a big part of their transformation. And so they went and add a new episode of their sad story even when that episode is filled with uncertainty.

But as the women approach the tomb, they could not hide the surprise in their faces. “Look! Look at the stone! It’s been moved…” They run up to get a closer look: “Who could have done this?” The women silently exchanged glances, and then, one at a time, they crouched down and entered the tomb. But as they scan the cold darkness they realize their worst fears- Jesus is gone… the tomb is empty - a metaphor telling us that death had been defeated and the spirit of Jesus Christ is on the loose! Jesus and what he stood for is free of the grave and roaming at large in the world. Jesus cannot be held down, defined or controlled. Jesus’ spirit is on the loose!

In the cold, dark, empty tomb, the women saw a young man dressed in white robe, interpreted to be an angel, who greeted them with some news. “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.” An alarming news descended upon their hearts. Jesus’ body is gone. Someone must has stolen, not just his body, but the last moment they would share with their friend and rabbi. They have taken him away. There was nothing to do but hold each other, and weep. They have taken Jesus away!

The preacher Anna Carter Florence interprets this text today to note that Jesus was literally taken away from people in so many ways. She says: “I’ve heard it from the seminary students who said: Oh, they’ve deconstructed my Bible; they’ve taken away my Jesus, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him. I’ve heard it in youth groups, too, when the teenagers start losing what little idealism they had, and coming to terms with the world we’ve left them: Oh, they’ve ruined my planet with violence and hypocrisy; they’ve taken away my Jesus, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him. And I hear it in the church, whenever a group of people gets scared that things are going to change if we do this or that, and what if we don’t like it? … Oh, they’ve desecrated my church with heresies; they’ve taken away my Jesus, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him. I think the church is weeping not for the crucified Jesus but for a stolen body, and a desecrated tomb. Do you hear that weeping and wailing? It breaks your heart, even as it makes you crazy.”

Could it be true what the angel had said? He has been raised! He is not here! Who raised him up? Where is he now? Could Jesus have really come back from the dead? Could he really be alive again? We certainly can give several propositions here. NT scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, co-authors of the book, The Last Week contend that “Jesus who was crucified by the political authorities has been raised by God. This means that God has said “yes” to Jesus and “no” to the powers who killed him. God has vindicated Jesus…Easter is God’s “yes” to Jesus against the powers who killed him. Another possible interpretation that Jesus has been raised is grounded in the experience of Jesus’ followers. It was this body of the believers who raised him up. They declared that Jesus lives forever in their hearts and in their minds. They make Jesus, to this present day, a living reality in their daily lives.

Another explanation connected somehow to the body of the believers proclaiming that Jesus lives forever is found in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. Writing in 40 common era, ahead of the gospel writers, Paul is the first writer who attempted to define what resurrection is. Another NT scholar, Bernard Brandon Scott in his book The Trouble with Resurrection asserts that Paul doesn't describe or debate the "how" of resurrection. Paul doesn't even know the story of the empty tomb nor the details around it. This is not important to Paul: not the empty tomb, or the nitty-gritty facts of the Easter stories in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

According to Scott, Paul understands the word resurrection in simple Greek word, “anastasis” which means “standing up” and “egeiro” meaning “to get up”. These are common everyday words, like getting up in bed or standing up from a chair, that do not carry any theological meanings at all. Paul believed and taught his congregation that Jesus was raised not with a physical body but with a spiritual body. The faith community, both past and present, is Christ’s spiritual body. The faith community is resurrected with Christ. And through this resurrected body of the believers, Paul says God has made a statement about where the Risen Christ lives: it lives in this body of believers through love -- and love is victorious over all, even over death itself. This is Paul's answer to the Messengers at the tomb who asked "Why seek the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5). Paul says, “You don't! You seek and find the Risen Christ in your own living, for this is where life is found.” Can we really trust in Paul’s teaching? Or, like those who have heard the news on the first Easter simply think that it's an idle tale? We can only answer this question for ourselves. I do know this, however, that Jesus is found when we, the body of Christ, continues to make Jesus Christ alive in the world through our acts of love, justice and peace.

In that bewilderment and moment of agonizing fear, the women ran out of the tomb, carrying the spices that were meant to anoint a dead body. Too often, we, like the women, choose to run away from the empty tomb bewildered by the absence of the body and paralyzed by our own emptiness. We still live, as if - it is always a Good Friday world; a world where violence, suffering, greed, and death reign with stubborn propensity. Our world is still stuck in the despair of Good Friday. Even this morning, I know that some of you are still grieving for lost loved ones or anxious because of illness or broken relationships; the world is still mourning the death of thousands of people due to COVID-19; fear looms large as we hear news of the pandemic in many parts of the world; people are still put down or killed because of their racial ethnicity or religious beliefs; poverty and famine continue to affect third world countries. For many of us, it seems that everyday is endlessly Good Friday, with no hope in sight. But take heart. In every sadness, there is joy. In every Good Friday, there is Easter Sunday.

At the Tuesday’s lectionary group, a consensus was put in place. The mission of the three women who brought the spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body was totally changed and redirected to something more remarkable. The women whose original intent was to spice up the dead body of Jesus, were commissioned instead by the angel, a messenger of God, to go and tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee. And there they will see him. The women the first human messengers of Easter. Yes, Mark indicates that the women left in trembling in fear and didn’t say a word at first. And yet, after fear and anxiety had left their hearts, I’m sure they went and told the disciples about their experience. They went out to spice up the world with good news!

Have you been there? traveling toward the tomb- like the women ready to anoint a dead body… and the spices you carry with you are scented with your own expectation- and then redirected to share the good news of the empty tomb? Or are you like the disciples and Peter? Sitting in a dark room… defeated… sad… alone… grieving for something you lost… and not seeing God’s presence in the midst of your sorrow? Or are you like Paul who taught the people in Corinth what to make of this doctrine of resurrection? Scratching your heads as to how you make sense of this archaic belief about a bodily resurrection?

My friends, we know these people, don’t we? In fact, they are so much a part of our Christian upbringing. We know them so well that we can tell their story by heart- because each of their stories is also our story! This is the Galilee where Jesus had gone to meet us. And hearing it gives all of our life stories… hope.

So we stand here this morning, a human community in the midst of a broken world with a renewed sense of hope. On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the power of life over death, the strength of love over hatred, but also immense beauty in our brokenness and pain. We experience the life-giving Christ in the breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup. We declare with the women, the disciples and Paul these powerful Easter words: “We are made alive in Christ!” and “Christ is made alive through us!” “Alleluia! Amen!”

Prayers of the People

Let us gather our hearts in prayer.

Easter God, we look around expecting death, but instead we see new life. Like a seed planted in the cold dark earth that sprouted with leaves, flowers and fruits, your gift of hope is within us and in your whole creation! The sick and despairing discover healing; the vulnerable discover boldness; the troubled and distressed discover peace; the depressed and downhearted discover joy; the church discovers a new vision of community and service. Each of us discovers that we can truly be followers of Jesus.

In the common sharing of our faith as Easter people, the Risen Christ who lives in our hearts leads us into new life where forgiveness and love abounds. You make us witnesses to the peace that is your work in the world. You send us into broken hearts and relationships as agents of reconciliation. You move us to live in the power of your healing love as we remember those among us who are troubled in body, mind or spirit. Help us to be your voice, your enfolding arms, your listening ear to those who are discouraged, dissatisfied, disheartened. Grant forgiveness, peace and joy to all who call upon you. And in this spirit, we lift up our brothers and sisters in our prayer and those among us who need your healing love. In silence, listen to the longings and celebrations of our hearts.

Risen Christ, we remember the many parts of the world where you walk on wounded feet and reach out with scarred hands. We pray for your body in the world, wounded and scarred, not only by violence or hatred, but also by our own actions that have wounded others. And as we break bread and share the cup of grace, may we all proclaim that we are made alive in Christ and that Christ is made alive through us! May it be so. Amen.

The Agape Meal

“Agape” is the New Testament Greek word for “self-giving love”. The kind of love that comes from God and models God’s loving choice for our well-being and all of Creation. In the Christian tradition, agape is also the name for informal meals and times of togetherness and mutual sharing which remind us of all those meals Jesus shared with his friends and the unity that his Spirit continues to give us even today.

Proclamation (inspired by 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

We enter the story when a meal has been shared,
when prayers of thanksgiving have been spoken, when fellowship shared.
This is the place and this is the time. Here and now,
God waits to break into our experience.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he took a loaf of bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
“This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance
of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim Jesus who gives us Easter hope.

Let us pray.

Loving friend and companion, we welcome your presence with us. May these gifts of bread and cup, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds. And may our spirits be refreshed as we live in the light of your presence, with us now, and at all times and places. Amen.

Prayer of Consecration & the Lord’s Prayer

Send now your Holy Spirit upon this bread and this cup, O God that they might be our remembrance and our proclamation of the presence of Jesus Christ with us, through us and in us. Let us now recite the prayer that Jesus taught his followers:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup

Let us now share and partake the bread and the cup reminding us of God’s unconditional love.
This is the bread – food for the journey. Take, eat and be nourished by God’s love.
This is the cup – drink for the journey. Take, drink and be sustained by God’s grace.

Prayer after the Meal

For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we thank you, loving God. Empower us to live as Jesus has lived, to bring new life to others and to give light to the world. Amen.

The Offering

This is now the time to offer our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer or canadahelps.org. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Rejoicing! Celebrating! Giving thanks! Gracious God, hope and new life are your amazing gifts to us. As we offer our gifts back to you, remind us that we are Easter people and you call us to sow seeds of love and justice in the world. Amen.

Sending Forth

Go forth this day filled with faith, hope and love.
May the blessing of God, sustainer and creator,
of Christ who is known in the breaking of the bread,
and of the Spirit who gives us new life,
be with us all this Easter Sunday
and in the days to come. Amen.

Closign Hymn: Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks VU 179

Refrain: Hallelujah, Hallelujah, give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, give praise to God’s name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
First born of all creation. Refrain.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth.
Jesus has died and is risen. Refrain.

We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live forever. Refrain.

Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour. Refrain.

Departing Music: Thine is the Glory – String trio: Leslie Wade, Daniel Parker, Sarah Parker

Connie Davidson

April 9, 2020

Worship services, Podcasts

Good Friday Service - April 10, 2020

Connie Davidson

April 9, 2020

Worship services, Podcasts

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
Good Friday Service

April 10, 2020

Moment of Silent Reflection: Bach Cello Suite V – Sarabande – soloist: Daniel Parker

Words of Welcome

Dear friends and companions in the faith, good morning.
We gather again on this day, at the foot of the cross, which calls us on, not in shame, not in fear, not in violence, but more deeply into the costly journey of truth-telling and risk-taking.
We gather here
In Sabbath preparation
and to grieve
with his disciples and friends
We are all grieving something
Or have been
Or will be
Loss of family member…
Spouse…child…parent…pet
Friend…broken trust…betrayal
Mobility…stability…
Or…even … God
There is wounding, there is weeping, there is pain. But in Jesus as the promised one,
life is found. God is there.
Today I invite you to listen with your heart. Through these words and music, may we find our hearts warmed by a love that is stronger than our fear,
and stronger even than the finality of death.
Welcome to Good Friday.

Invitation to Gather and Opening Prayer

I now invite you to gather in worship:

This is a day of grief, a lonely day, forlorn.
This is a moment of mourning, a hurting, tear-stained moment.
A time to remember that Jesus died – crucified, abandoned, mocked and rejected.
May the painful death, the sadness and the intense horror of this day touch our hard-heartedness
and disturb our indifferent shallowness.
May it remind us of the brokenness around us and within and convict us in faith and action.

Let us pray. Into the shadows of chaos, the light of the world stops. From the silence of death, the word of God breaks free. For the emptiness of our souls, the Bread of Life is broken. O God, I stand in the sunshine of this spring day, smelling the earth and the growing grass. I feel as green as life, but a shadow falls across my path: a cross stretching over centuries, making holy all sorrows, sanctifying all tears, ennobling every scar, transforming every wound, healing the broken heart of the world. In the shadow of the cross, draw me into life. Help me to grow as green as grass. Amen.

Ministry of Music

Gospel Reading: “Pilate Questions Jesus” John 18: 33-38

A reading from the Gospel according to John chapter 18 verses 33-38 and I’m reading from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.

May these words renew us and give us assurance of hope in this time and in this place. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Quid Est Veritas - What is Truth?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Quid est veritas? “What is truth?” It is a question that we ask almost all the time. Here we are on Good Friday and this Gospel reading in John throws us right into the middle of a trial that we are not prepared for in any way. Jesus has been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, condemned by Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, was denied by Peter, and was brought before Pontius Pilate to be put to death. Quid est veritas? “What is truth?” This is the question that Pilate asked Jesus. It is a good question. The truth is, Jesus was both political and religious threat to Rome. The truth is, the religious leaders lied to execute Jesus. The truth is, Pilate didn't find Jesus guilty of any crime, yet he sentenced him to die anyway because the truth didn't matter to him.

The Good Friday truth is that Jesus was put to death by crucifixion. For what reason? What was his crime? Jesus was killed not because the whole crucifixion stuff was God’s plan. Not because Jesus was pre-destined to die on the cross. Not because we are all guilt-ridden people and we need a scapegoat to absolve our sins. Jesus died because he had angered the religious authorities for chasing the money changers out of the temple. Because Jesus had disobeyed the purity laws by healing people on the Sabbath. Because he broke barriers and taboos of his time by mingling with the ritually unclean and ate with sinners and prostitutes. Because he upheld women and children as important members of the society. Because he challenged those in power who took advantage of widows, the poor, and the outcasts. Because he mobilized a movement that threatens those in power. This is the Good Friday truth and we better believe it.

Jesus came to testify to the 'truth' - a kin-dom of truth', which is the exact opposite of what the Roman Empire is all about. The empire is about oppression, marginalization, hunger, poverty, violence and depraved morality. That is not what the kin-dom of Truth is all about. That is not the kin-dom Jesus lived and preached. Jesus knew from his heart that Truth resides in God’s reign. He lived and preached the truth of love, peace, hope and justice that transforms the world.

Quid est veritas? What is truth? Truth is not just an idea or a mystery that needs to be solved. Truth is not simply a collection of facts proven to be true, like the fact that the earth is round or that the sun shines even on cloudy days. Truth is not just based on fact-finding or scientific proof of things. Truth starts from a small seed of faith. Truth is why Jesus did what he had done. Jesus wants to open the people’s mind, their heart and their eyes to the social, political and religious realities of their time. Truth cannot be left alone to rot and spoil – someone has to stand, protest and speak against evil realities. It was time for Jesus to speak the truth. Jesus wants the people to experience the true meaning of shalom – food on the table, roof over their heads, to walk on the streets without being threatened, to live an abundant life. He wants people from all walks of life – sinners or saints alike to be included in the kin-dom of God. Yet, truth demands a choice – a choice to follow God or to follow Caesar.

Did Pilate acknowledge what Jesus was trying to convey? Is Pilate aware of what Jesus was trying to say when Jesus said “my Kin-dom is not from this world”? Jesus here is telling the truth – his world is not the Roman empire – his world is about love and justice and peace and all what God stands for. I think Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent man, yet he could not bring himself to act with honour, or with courage and integrity. And the truth is, we too can be just like Pilate. We can be aware of God's truth, but sometimes we choose instead to live by the easy lies and deceptions of this world. A quote from the Desiderata reminds us this: “The world is full of trickery but this let not blind you to what virtue there is.” I love what theologian Nancy Rockwell has to say about truth: Truth, like God, escapes definition, as, like God, truth also escapes our control. Job learns that truth is beyond human understanding. Jacob learns truth is a blessing that hurts. Mary learns truth emerges from the grave when her broken heart weeps. The disciples in Emmaus learn the power of truth when they have walked to the end of their despair.

There are times when we are blinded by a culture of indifference, greed and pride, and consequently we neglect that which would nourish our souls. Sometimes we compromise truth and integrity for high-paying jobs or settle for lies or whatever will work for us… what we think gets us ahead, what will pay the bills, what will delight the eye, whatever feels like success and allows us to achieve what we want. But truth is not always the road to comfort, success or popularity. Truth doesn't always win the promotion or advancement or get all the things and pleasure that this world values most. And sometimes, truth gets you beaten, mocked, laughed at, or worse, be hanged on a cross. Good Friday is about truth-telling.

On this day, Jesus has been betrayed and abandoned by his friends. He is mocked, and stripped and tortured and crucified. The Good Friday truth is that life hurts. All of us have experienced that truth at some point in our lives. We, like Jesus, know how it feels to have someone we love disappoint us, perhaps even betray and abandon us. There may even be times when life hurts so much that we, like Jesus, have thought that God has abandoned us, and cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Life sometimes hurts. We know what it means to be hurt and to suffer. We know the pain when our bodies betray us; when our bodies no longer work like they used to – the loss of our body's ability to walk or to remember; the cancer, the failing of eyes and ears. We, like Jesus, experience the truth of death. The agony and emptiness when someone we love dies, or when we face our very own death.

Jesus said to Pilate: "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate did not listen. John's gospel tells us that after Pilate asked the question, he left Jesus, walked away, and confronted the temple leaders. Pilate knows that Jesus was a victim of life’s unfairness and was sentenced to be crucified. But those of us who listen to Jesus know something more. Jesus stood for God’s truth. That even in death, Jesus will never again be a victim of injustice. Jesus died fighting for truth and he did not die in vain. Those of us who listen to Jesus have heard the good news of Easter and can hold it close to our hearts on every Good Friday of our lives. We cling to it when life hurts and when we face death. Good Friday is truth-telling. And then there’s the truth about Easter. Good Friday doesn’t end in death. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the life of those who follow Jesus’ way.

And finally, Jesus invites us to listen to his truth. Where love is, God is there even in the darkest moment of life. That is the truth. Let us this day live by that Truth. Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Dismissal

And now receive God’s blessings:
As we go into the growing shadows of this Good Friday into the silent unknowing of Holy Saturday, may we carry in our hearts, the crucified Christ.
May our hearts open like a waiting tomb, a tender womb,
and in the sheltered silence, may we cradle all that is wounded, all that is broken.
We go embracing all that is touched by pain and fear until we feel the pulse of new life begin to stir. For God is not done with us yet.
Go in peace and in love. Amen.

11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

Gathering Music: “Who Comes From God” Voices United #892

Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Hazel Smith

Call to Gather: Jack and Katie Kelly

Prayer of Approach[2]: Katie Kelly

Hymn: “Long Before My Journey’s Start” More Voices #63

Storytime for the Young at Heart Erin Berard

Hymn: “I Am Walking a Path of Peace” More Voices #221

Prayer for Illumination[3] Reader: Barbara Bole Stafford

The Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6 (The Message) “Lady Wisdom Gives a Dinner Party”

Sermon: “Come, Join Me at the Table” Lorrie Lowes DM

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

Invitation to Offer:

Offertory Prayer[4]:

Sending Forth[5]:

Hymn: “Open Your Ears, O Faithful People” Voices United #272

Departing: Beer with Jesus - Huckaby/Miller/Akins Performer: Rory Gardiner

10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

Gathering: Precious Lord – Voices United #670 Duet: Ellen & Bernice

Acknowledgement of Territory

Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Victoria Ogden

Call to Gather: (inspired by the prayer of Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, 2017) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Prayer of Approach: Walking with Wisdom (from If Darwin Prayed by Bruce Sanguin)

Hymn: Oh a Song Must Rise More Voices #142

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes, DM

A Poem: God’s Garden (by Dorothy Frances Gurney) Vernon Sulway

Hymn: O Beautiful Gaia More Voices #41

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Nicole Beaudry

The Reading: “Lady Wisdom Calls Out” Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-36 (The Message)

Sermon: “In the Beginning was Wisdom” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Invitation to Offer: Lorrie Lowes, DM

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth: (based on the words of Bob Root, Gathering 2020) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Hymn: Teach Me, God, to Wonder - Voices United #299

Departing: Fairest Lord Jesus – Voices United #341 Arranged: Stewart Landon Duet: Ellen & Bernice

9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

Gathering: Fur Elise – Beethoven Abe: piano

Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Marion & Pierre Dugas

Call to Gather: (posted on Literature & Liturgy) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Prayer of Approach: Sophia’s Delight (by Bruce Sanguin)

Hymn: Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom - More Voices #10

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes, DM

Hymn: And On This Path - More Voices #8

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Susan Young

The Reading: “Wisdom Calls” Proverbs 1: 20-33 (NRSV)

Sermon: “Wisdom Cries Out!” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Lorrie Lowes, DM

Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim Vidal

Offertory Prayer:

Sending Forth: Rev. Kim Vidal

Hymn: Forth in Your Name, O Christ - Voices United #416

Departing: Early One Morning/Happy Anniversary/Birthday! Abe: piano

8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

Gathering: Agnus Dei M.W. Smith Soloist-Angela Starchuk

Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Angela Starchuk

Call to Gather: (inspired by Jim Mckean, Gathering 2016) Lorrie Lowes, DM

Prayer of Praise: (by Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Gathering 2016)

Hymn: Make A Joyful Noise Voices United #820

Storytime for the Young at Heart Lorrie Lowes DM

Hymn: Bless the Lord, O My Soul – More Voices #46

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Jordan Berard

Psalm Reading: Psalm 150 (Inclusive Liturgical Psalter)

Sermon: “How Can We Keep from Praising?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Invitation to Offer: Lorrie Lowes, DM

Offertory Hymn: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Voices United #541

Offertory Prayer:

Sending Forth: Rev. Kim Vidal

Hymn: Sleepers, Wake (verse 3 only) VU 711 (Wachet Auf)

Departing Music: Praise the Mother, Praise the Father Too

7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

Gathering: Arioso – Bach Cello: Daniel Parker

Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Leslie Wade, Dan and Sarah Parker

Call to Gather: Lorrie Lowes, DM

11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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6TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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5TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE / CELEBRATING CANADA DAY

4TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE

Prayer of Praise: (inspired by Psalm 1)
(written by Bruce Prewer, www.bruceprewer.com)