February 2, 2021

Announcements

BCUC Annual General Meeting

February 2, 2021

Announcements

The BCUC Annual General Meeting will take place on Zoom on Sunday March 7th at 11:00 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to review and receive the 2020 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements and to approve the 2021 Annual Activity Plan, Budget and Nominations Report, and various other items of importance.

Connie Davidson

January 30, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 31, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 30, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 2

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION SUNDAY

Theme: “Living Our Church Mission Day by Day”

January 31, 2021

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: Ode to Joy Beethoven - arr. VanDyke & Joyce Jones

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning, everyone! It is a pleasure to welcome you to this service of worship on the 4th Sunday after Epiphany and the second Sunday of our Stewardship campaign at Bells Corners United Church. This week our Stewardship Focus is on volunteers, the many people in our church family who enable us to offer the many programs and services that we both need and love. It is a day to both celebrate all of our wonderful volunteers, past and present, and to encourage you to give some thought as to how you can share your gifts in the church. All gifts of time and talent are celebrated today. There is no such thing as a gift too small. Remember that it only takes a candle flame to make a huge difference in the dark, and many small candles can produce a glorious light! In the same way, many small acts add up to a big difference in the life of our faith family. I have heard it said that “volunteers do not necessarily have the time… they have the heart.” I will call on Ellen Boynton now for a message from our Stewardship Committee.

Stewardship Moment Ellen Boynton

Thank you! It’s my job to express appreciation for all that volunteers do to keep BCUC alive and vibrant. It has been so heartwarming to see Stewardship returns coming in with many noting ‘no change’ to their previous commitments of Time & Talent. As the literature says, the church relies heavily on volunteer support to do its work and you are still there.

Over the past year, so many of those opportunities have not been available while dealing with the pandemic. We can only hope that before 2021 is over we can return to our regular activities, safely.

And yet, while onsite activities have been so reduced, many people have been called upon to support our online worship services and to keep basic functions operating smoothly. We still have to maintain the building and property, pay the bills, encourage support for outreach commitments, provide pastoral and spiritual care for members of the congregation who may be grieving, ill or lonely, plan and present Sunday services, look after staffing needs and ensure that the best possible communication is provided.

Someone suggested in a recent Sunday Zoom that once we are back to normal, we need a parade of all those who have worked behind the scenes to keep our church vibrant. It would be amazing to see how many people that would actually include.

Normally during our Stewardship Campaign we have a Sunday morning Committee Fair to provide information about what committees do and opportunities to ask questions and find new interests for members of the congregation. This year it is a virtual presentation and you will need to ask questions via e-mail or a telephone call. Please do!

We always need more volunteers to accept leadership roles, support committees and plan and hold social or fundraising events. If you can review the variety of ways that your time and talent can be shared and add items to your stewardship return, we will do our best to include you in the work of the church.

I have been part of this congregation for more than 50 years (yikes!) and can enthusiastically confirm that the joy of being part of it is in giving of my time and talent, often in ways that I did not even think possible, but others did. If you receive a call asking that you become more involved as we seek helpers for our work, please give it serious consideration. You will not be sorry that you joined the BCUC team in an active way. There is room for all!

Thank you for your support in the past and your continuing support to ensure a vibrant future!

Centering in Worship

As always, there are many announcements this week. They are posted in full on our website and I encourage you to take a look at them all. I will just highlight a few for you now:

- Due to the lockdown, we will not be offering in-person worship services until further notice but we will continue to offer them in other ways. Check our website for worship services in audio, video, and text formats. You can also listen to the service by telephone by dialing 613-820-8104.

- A learning event on the topic of Basic Income with economics professor Dr. Evelyn Forget is being offered via Zoom on Tuesday, February 2 at 7pm. You can find the link to this event on our website at bcuc.org

- Our website is where you will also find notice of meetings, opportunities to gather socially on Zoom and times to gather our hearts in prayer.

And now, as we prepare ourselves for worship, let us remember that Christ is among us with the lighting of the Christ Candle.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Bob & Ellen Boynton

Light is a wonderful gift.
It illuminates the space we are in.
We describe the actions of light in a variety of ways:
Light that clarifies;
Light that warns us of danger;
Light that guides our footsteps;
Light that reveals our future;
Light that calms our fears;
Light that offers insights.
As we gather in worship, we light this Christ candle.
Jesus Christ with us.[1]

Call to Gather Rev. Kim Vidal

Do you notice the voice of the Holy One?
Be open to the gentle nudgings of God’s Spirit!
Are you aware of the hand of the Mysterious One at work?
We are surrounded by hints of the Divine.
May we be open to God’s Presence and answer God’s call.[2]

Prayer of Approach

Holy One,
We aren’t always sure what it means to be part of your kin-dom.
We aren’t always sure that we have in us what you need.
But – you seem to be sure that we are who you want.
Help us to trust you in that, and with all our lives, God of all. Amen.[3]

Hymn: “Christ Has No Body Now But Yours” - More Voices #171 George, Lorrie, Keith

Refrain
Christ has no body now but yours,
no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work,
to serve with the joy of compassion.

1.No hands but yours
to heal the wounded world,
no hands but yours
to soothe all its suffering,
no touch but yours
to bind the broken hope
of the people of God. R

2. No eyes but yours
to see as Christ would see,
to find the lost,
to gaze with compassion;
no eyes but yours
to glimpse the holy joy
of the city of God. R

3.No feet but yours
to journey with the poor,
to walk this world
with mercy and justice.
Yours are the steps
to build a lasting peace
for the children of God. R

4.Through ev’ry gift,
give back to those in need;
as Christ has blessed,
so now be his blessing,
with ev’ry gift
a benediction be,
to the people of God. R

Storytime Rev. Kim Vidal

Good morning! Do you have a favourite plush toy that you’d like to cuddle every minute of the day that even if it becomes dirty or smelly, you don’t want to part with it? What about a favourite blanket that you’d love to use and you get upset when Mommy washes it? I have a favourite green sweater that I love to wear. I wear it at home all throughout the year especially at bedtime. This sweater is like a second skin to me and I have to confess, I rarely wash it even though I know that it is dirty. The truth is, I’m afraid that it will shrink when I wash it and it won’t fit me anymore. I also love its smell even though sometimes it makes me sneeze.

This reminds me of a story called “Smelly Socks” by Robert Munsch. I’m sure many of you have read this funny story. It’s about a girl named Tina who wanted to have new socks. So, she went to this “big sock store” with her grandpa and found a yellow, green and red pair. She loved them so much that she vowed never to take them off ever. Tina wore them forever! The socks soon became so dirty and smelly that when she walked by, birds and other animals dropped to the ground. Even her friends in school could not stand the smell of her stinky, dirty socks. One day, her friends got fed up and couldn’t take it anymore. They carried Tina straight to a river, held her tight, took off her socks and washed them. Now the socks became clean and the stinky smell was gone. In the end, Tina was pleased with her clean socks and promised that from now on she would always wear clean socks.

What would happen if we never washed our dirty and smelly favourite plush toy or blanket or sweater or socks? I’m sure, we would live in filth and become miserable and maybe even get sick. Do you agree with me then that we need to wash our favourite stuff from time to time so that they will be sparkly clean and smell nice?

Not only toys or blankets or socks get dirty. We too get dirty and stinky from time to time. We need to take a shower or take a bath regularly to make us clean, smell nice, feel refreshed and yes – to be healthy. But there’s another meaning of dirt and stink that I’d like you to think about. You know sometimes, we do things that are not nice or not pleasant to others like being a bully, or not sharing something, or saying bad words when we’re angry or not telling the truth. These too, are dirt or stink that we need to get rid of.

In today’s gospel story, Jesus went to a synagogue, which is like our church building to teach people. I think the people who went to the synagogue that day had dirt and stink that they needed to get rid of. Some may have had worries or fear or anxiety and other health problems that needed healing They needed to hear a word of inspiration or a blessing that may help them remove those dirt and stink from their lives. They would have liked to change, get healed and become a better, healthy person.

The story says that a man with an “unclean spirit” shouted at Jesus in the middle of his teaching. What kind of illness or condition do you think this man had? Maybe he was mentally ill or perhaps he was very confused and needed help. The story says that Jesus scolded the man with these words: “Be quiet and come out of him!” Strange words indeed. But what happened next was unbelievable. The man squirmed on the floor and then he became silent. Everyone in the synagogue was amazed at Jesus. They saw Jesus as someone who has authority to teach and to help people. What do you think happened to the man after Jesus helped him become well? I think the man made a promise that he would do his best to change. Soon – he would feel all the dirt and stink that he had been carrying all his life had vanished and he was healed and had become a better person.

What do you think of this story? I think it is a good story to tell, don’t you? Did you know that many people today have dirt and stink that they carry around? Jesus wants everyone to be clean, smell nice and be changed to a better person. Jesus is asking each one of us to be his hand, his heart, his feet, his presence to help others. Jesus calls us to offer a kind word, or an act of love or a prayer of blessing. Will you be Jesus’ helper?

Let me close with a prayer: Dear God, thank you for the story about Jesus and how he taught about your love and helped those in need. Make us listen to his word and to follow his teachings. Use us as instruments of your blessing, healing, and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Hymn: Kumbaya (Traditional) CGS/Bell Canto – Director & Flute: Erin Berard

Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Someone’s crying Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Someone’s hurting Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Someone’s praying Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Words & Music: Traditional
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Monica Peck

God of Epiphany, open our ears to the call of your voice.
Open our eyes to see the wonders of your love.
Bless us as we hear your holy Word in fresh ways. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 1: 21-28 (NRSV)

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Authority?” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

I wonder what it was that Jesus said when he was teaching that day in the synagogue. What scripture was he reading? What were the words he used to inspire his listeners? Whatever he said, Mark tells us it left the people “astounded”! Apparently, it was delivered “as one with authority”. People were impressed! What an amazing sermon that must have been! Just the kind of sermon we’d all like to hear on a Sunday morning. Just the kind of sermon we, ministers, all wish we could deliver.

“He spoke as one with authority…” What does that word, authority, mean to you? We discussed it quite a bit in our Lectionary study this week. It was hard to come up with a clear and concise definition. It depends on where the authority comes from, and who is giving that authority, and how that person uses that authority, and how it is received by others… It seems to be related to power, and that adds a whole new dimension… power over who or what?... power to do what?... It’s a bit of an illusive concept, depending so much on the context.

According to the dictionary definition, authority is the power to make decisions that guide the actions of others – I don’t think Jesus had any decision-making power in the synagogue that day… but it is also defined as the ability to exert influence that has the ability to change the attitudes or behaviour of individuals or groups. This one makes more sense in this context… and the very fact that, for more than 2000 years and still today, Jesus still has that ability to change our attitudes and behaviours, speaks to the strength of that authority… but what gave him this influence, this perceived authority? What is it about him, throughout all those centuries and even now, that makes that authority relevant to so many?

Well, once again, there are several different kinds of authority and they all stem from different things. There is Legal Authority laid down in laws or rules. We might think here of judges, or police. There is Competence Authority that comes from training in a special skill or knowledge – a doctor perhaps or an electrician. There is Tradition Authority that comes from long-established customs, habits, or social structures, think parents, religious leaders, or scripture. These are all examples of authority that are familiar to us, and probably the first ones that come to mind when we think of this word. None of them seem to fit with Jesus’ position in the synagogue in Capernaum that day, though. He was a visitor to Capernaum, the people there didn’t know him as one of their local rabbis. It was at the beginning of his ministry and so it was unlikely that many had heard about him.

However, there are a couple of other types of authority that make more sense. Charismatic authority is one that we discussed in our Lectionary group. It’s the kind of authority that draws people in. It might be due to intelligence or integrity, or it might be in their ability to speak well or even their appearance. We can all think of charismatic people who fit that definition – John F. Kennedy, or Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps. Another characteristic of this kind of authority figure is that what they say and do aligns with the needs of the people they address. A person with charismatic authority tells you what you need to hear. And the last type of authority my research mentions is Acceptance Authority, where what the person is directing you to do is consistent with your own goals and personal views. What they are saying makes sense to you… it feels right.

Our reading today tells us that the people were “astounded at his teaching for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”. Well, scribes certainly had authority in those days from what we’ve read. They were scholars who had studied the laws deeply – so they knew them better than most - and they were the ones who passed them on to the people along with instructions about how to keep those laws. They were academics, experts in their field. They had “Competence Authority”. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and they were rightly respected by the people, but I wonder how that was reflected in their teaching…

This contrast between the way the scribes taught and the way Jesus taught brings back memories of my school days. What makes a “great” teacher stand out from others? Teachers are all well trained. They all have expertise in the subjects they are teaching, and yet not all teachers have that same effect on a class. I am thinking about high school when this became really evident to me. I always struggled with Math – right from the beginning - but I managed to squeak by. When I was faced with calculus and trigonometry in Grade 12, though, I was in a bit of a panic. It was a foreign language to me. A new teacher arrived at the school that year and confessed on the first day. “I have lots of university credits in Math, but I’ve always been an English teacher. I’ve never taught this content before and so we will learn together.” He knew the math but he hadn’t had to teach it till now. He was confident that he could though. And, he was a great guy. His classes were fun – imagine! A fun Math class! And, in the end, we did learn, and we learned it well! Even I did! He wouldn’t let us use a formula until we could explain why it worked – in regular English. What a concept! It blew my mind to hear that it wasn’t about memorizing magic equations but that there was actually a reason behind each part! You might laugh – particularly if you were one of those who excelled at Math – but I was “astounded”. The best marks I have ever had in Math, were the marks I got in Grade 12. I began to think I might be good at Math after all. And then came Grade 13… That year, I found myself in the class taught by the Math Department Head. His major at university was Mathematics. He had taught Math for his whole career. He was an expert. I started the year full of confidence and I worked hard – but I couldn’t understand what we were doing and he couldn’t understand my questions. It was all perfectly clear to him and he was frustrated with me because I couldn’t follow what he was showing me. Just use the formula was his best advice in the end.

Both men were good teachers and well-respected. My Grade 13 teacher had Competence Authority. He was a smart man who really knew his stuff. Mathematics was exciting to him and he wanted us to be excited too – but what he was saying wasn’t getting through to me. I had trouble connecting it to the knowledge I had. Heaven knows, he tried to help, but he just couldn’t seem to figure out what I needed and I didn’t know what to ask. So, I did my best to memorize the formulas and got a slim pass. What had made the difference for me in Grade 12? The teacher had Charismatic Authority. He was someone we liked to spend time with. He made what we were learning relevant (well as relevant as calculus can be to an 18-year-old!). He connected the new information to the Math experience and learning we had up to that point. He told us what we needed to hear. Now it wasn’t all about personality and teaching style. He also had expertise in the subject – maybe not as much expertise as the Department Head, but enough study and training to know the subject well. He looked at it from a different perspective – one that was, perhaps more aligned with where we were. I think I will amend my statement that both men were good teachers and say that this man was a great teacher. More than 50 years have passed since my high school days and I remember him vividly.

I think it makes sense that the people in the sabbath congregation on that day were drawn to Jesus by his charisma. We certainly hear throughout the gospels that people felt drawn to him and were eager to hear what he had to say. I also believe it was the fact that he “got” them, he knew what their lives were like. He could connect with them on a real level, as one of them rather than the expert with all the academic answers – the “sage on the stage”. He not only understood them, he also connected their lived experience with the words of scripture. We know that he had a very thorough knowledge of the Bible. Throughout the gospel we hear him quote from scripture and use phrases or references that echo the words of the prophets or the wisdom found in Psalms and Proverbs. He may not have studied the ancient writings in the same depth as the scribes, but he had a lot of expertise. He never said that the words in the Bible were wrong; he made those same words relevant to his listeners personally. He didn’t tell them to disobey the laws or the commandments; he showed them how to interpret them in a way that made sense for their lives, for the times and the realities that they were facing. In a world where those scriptures contained literally hundreds of rules, he gave those rules a context for them. No one likes to follow a law that makes no sense. It’s hard to even remember a law if you don’t understand why it is there. That’s as true today as it was in Jesus’ time. Jesus changed the idea of how to be in right relationship with God from following a complicated list of tasks, to doing the kinds of things that make the world safer, more caring, and more sustainable. He told the people the kind of things they needed to hear. It was different. It made sense. It was fresh. It was, well, astounding!

There was at least one person in the congregation who wasn’t so impressed. We hear that he was a man with an unclean spirit. “You’ve come to destroy us! I know who you are!” he shouted. And Jesus answered by rebuking him and commanding the unclean spirit to come out of him. It worked! The unclean spirit did leave the man. It wasn’t pretty by any means. We hear of convulsions and loud voices crying out. But that unclean spirit left. And the people were amazed. Even unclean spirits bowed to the authority of Jesus!

This part of the story has always been a hard one for me – maybe because I find it hard to believe in evil spirits. I’ve certainly encountered some evil-spirited people, but I guess I have never considered that that the spirit was a separate entity, disconnected from the person. Perhaps I need to rethink that…

I have to admit that the reading this week brought up images of the political unrest in the United States with its loud voices and scenes of violence. It also made me think of people here and all over the world who are protesting loudly against the health protocols being put in place by government leaders, and the anti-vaxxers who shout that the vaccine is just a way for the government to get control of us or that it is dangerous to our health. “I know who you are! You’ve come to destroy us!” Sound familiar? To many of us, most I would hope, these are the cries of evil spirits in the world. But, just as certain as we are of what is true, they are certain of their truth. Are they evil people? Some of them are our friends and family! We know that isn’t the case. Are they possessed by an unclean spirit that makes them think and act out of character? If that is the case, how do we exorcise those beasts? Can we just command them to leave? Where is Jesus when we need him?

Well, folks, he is right here. He is among us as we worship. He accompanies us everywhere we go. He may not be able to stand in the pulpit and preach. He may not be able to shout commands to evil spirits personally… but he is our example and our guide. We need to be that voice and that wisdom that turns people’s thinking from conspiracy theories and self-comfort to what is right and good for the world. We have many authorities in our midst – Scientists and doctors with Competence Authority, many levels of people with Legal Authority in our justice system and in our government, and many with Tradition Authority such as cultural and faith leaders. They may not all be charismatic but certainly there is Charismatic Authority among them – in young people like Amanda Gorman and Malala, in government leaders past and present, people like Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand and Barak Obama, even in our media people like Rick Mercer and I’m sure you can name many, many more. Not everyone loves them. Not everyone wants to hear what they have to say… but perhaps more need to hear their words. Perhaps we need to have all the laws and directives and unpacked as to why we need to follow them… perhaps we need to be given a clearer sense of the “big picture”. Perhaps we need to encourage our charismatic authorities to speak a little louder, to stop being “nice”, to speak truth to power, even when it sounds harsh, even when it’s not pretty, to make it all make sense in the big picture. Perhaps that is what it takes to exorcise the unclean spirits. Locking them up or ignoring them doesn’t seem to work, after all.

Changing people’s opinions and thinking is hard. We talked about that last week. Not only is it difficult, it’s often not pretty. It’s often much like the convulsions and loud cries we read about today.

We need to remember that, for the most part, people can’t just give themselves authority – or if they do, the results are not often peaceful. We grant authority to others – by our votes, by our words, and by our actions. Who do you give authority to? How do you make that choice? Where do you place your confidence – in legality, in tradition, in competence, in charisma? When it comes to leading our country or stopping a pandemic, who do you listen to and why? Are the unclean spirits who haunt you frightening because they threaten your comfort or because they threaten the life of humanity and all of creation? Whose authority do you follow?

I wonder what astounding message the world needs to hear today. I wonder what it will take to get the world to listen.

Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

This week, I was honoured to be one of the faith leaders taking part in an Interfaith Dua-Prayer for World-wide Relief from Covid-19. This was a wonderful initiative from the Seniors Group at the Jami Omar mosque. I would like to offer the prayer I shared as today’s Prayers of the People. Let us pray:

Holy One,

We thank you for this time to gather as your people and to share in prayer together.

We confess that the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic cause us fear and anxiety. We worry about our own health and the health of our families and friends. We listen to the recommendations of our leaders and are sometimes frozen by fear of infection, isolating ourselves in our homes. We are growing tired.

Help us to look beyond our fear.

Help us find hope and optimism in the knowledge that you are with us and that you are there to protect us and guide us through this difficult time. In connecting with you, help us gain the strength and stamina we need to continue the battle against this disease.

Help us to turn our thoughts from our own suffering to the suffering of others – in our family, in our community, in this country, and throughout the world.

We pray for all those who are sick.
We pray for those who live in fear.
We pray for those in parts of the world where war is still raging and violence is a daily occurrence.
We pray for those whose sense of peace is shattered by political unrest.
We pray for those who lack the security of income and the necessities of life – food, shelter, and love.
We pray for those who are grieving and those who are lonely.
We pray for all those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and mental illness.

Holy One, source of our hope and strength, we ask that you be with all those who are struggling in these dark times, to offer them strength, courage, and assurance that better days are possible.

We thank you, God, for all those who are working to keep us safe and healthy.

We pray for the medical personnel, doctors, nurses and support workers who face the reality of this virus every day, risking their own health to ensure the health of others.

We pray for the scientists and pharmaceutical companies who are working to find ways to both protect us now and to find an end to the spread of this disease.

We pray for all those who keep our economy going and help us safely get the supplies and services we need. – store workers, restaurant personnel, truck drivers, farmers, food processors, manufacturers, delivery people.

We pray for our children and for the teachers and caregivers who work to provide some sense of normalcy in their young lives.

We pray for those who keep us informed – journalists, newscasters, social media writers

We pray for our government leaders and our faith leaders who are doing their best to navigate us through this difficult and constantly changing situation.

Help us, loving God, to find ways to be your hands and feet and heart in the world, that we can alleviate the suffering of others. Give us opportunities to help, each in our own way and according to our own abilities. Help us see the comfort that helping others – in big ways and small - can bring to them and to ourselves. Help us to be examples of your love in the world.

All these things we ask in the name of the Jesus, our example and our companion on the journey and in the words he taught his disiples…

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 Rev. Kim Vidal

God has given so much to us: life, love, grace, and hope. Now let’s do something in return. Let us offer our gifts to help our church do God’s work in this congregation, in our community, and around the world.

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

Holy One,

Please bless our offerings of time, talents, and treasure. Be with us in the midst of all our opportunities for giving, that we may learn to give fearlessly, boldly – ever more confident of your generous presence and grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.[4]

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As we journey into this new week, let us be determined to fill our hearts with the kind of love for the world and love for our neighbour that will drive unclean spirits away. And as you go, be assured that the love of God and the example of Jesus accompanies us, blessing us on each step of the journey. Amen.

Hymn: “Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit” - Voices United #620 Solo: Keith Bailey

1."Silence! Frenzied, unclean spirit, "
cried God's healing, Holy One.
"Cease your ranting! Flesh can't bear it.
Flee as night before the sun."
At Christ's words the demon trembled,
from its victim madly rushed,
while the crowd that was assembled
stood in wonder, stunned and hushed.

2.Lord, the demons still are thriving
in the gray cells of the mind:
Tyrant voices shrill and driving,
twisted thoughts that grip and bind,
Doubts that stir the heart to panic,
fears distorting reason's sight,
Guilt that makes our loving frantic,
dreams that cloud the soul with fright.

3.Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit,
in our mind and in our heart.
Speak your word that,
when we hear it,
all our demons shall depart.
Clear our thought and calm our feeling,
still the fractured, warring soul.
By the power of your healing
make us faithful, true, and whole.

Departing Music: Voices United #620 – actual tune

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

[1] Bill Perry, Gathering A/C/E 2018/19, p45. Used with permission.

[2] Laura Turnbull, Gathering A/C/E 2020/21, p45. Used with permission.

[3] Richard Bott, Gathering A/C/E 2013/14, p42. Used with permission.

[4] From a prayer by Sheila McLeod, Gathering A/C/E 2011/12, p 46. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

January 29, 2021

Sunday School

Sunday school activities - January 31, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 29, 2021

Sunday School

Theme Discussion: “Jesus Heals A Man with Unclean Spirit” (Mark 1: 21-28)

Talk about a favourite plush toy or a blanket - Do you carry it around with you all the time? Or maybe you have a pair of socks that you wear over and over again?

In today’s worship service, Rev. Kim talked about the story “Smelly Socks” by Robert Munsch during the storytime. If you haven’t read it, and want to know the whole story, a read-aloud of the book is available:

What would you do if your favourite “stuff” gets dirty or stinky? Would you wash it? Or would you continue using it? What would happen if we never wash our dirty and smelly favourite plush toy or blanket or sweater or socks?

What about those times that we played outside and came home with mud on our hands and feet, or we smelled terrible? How will you remove the dirt and stink? Why do we need to clean our bodies? Talk about how you feel afterwards.

Read or listen to the gospel reading by watching the YouTube Video in this link:

What does the story say about Jesus? His actions? His way of dealing with people?

In this story, we can find another meaning of dirt and stink. Can you figure out what it is? Sometimes, we do things that are not nice like saying bad words when we’re angry or bullying others or being selfish. These, too, are ‘dirt and stink’ that we need to get rid of.

The gospel story says that a man with an “unclean spirit” approached Jesus with harsh words. What kind of illness or condition do you think this man had?

Jesus scolded the man with these words: “Be quiet and come out of him!” Do you find Jesus’ words strange? But what happened next was unbelievable. The man squirmed on the floor and he became silent. Everyone in the synagogue were amazed at Jesus. They saw Jesus as someone who has authority to teach and to help people. What do you think happened to the man after Jesus helped him become well?

What do you think of this story? What kind of ‘dirt and stink’ do you think people carry around? How could we help others so that the world would be a better place? Will you listen to Jesus and be his helper? What act of love or kindness will you offer?

Response Activity Ideas

Responding to Unkindness

Cut out a large paper heart. Brainstorm some unkind things that have been said or done to you or your friends and family. Each time you think of something negative, crumple up the heart a little bit. After a while, the heart will just be scrunched up ball! Meanness hurts our hearts!

Print and cut out the bandaid templates. On each, write a kind action or words that could help ‘heal’ the wrinkled heart. Smooth out the heart as best you can and glue the bandaids onto it. Which of these ideas can you do for others who are hurting this week?

Mental Health Awareness

This week was Bell Let’s Talk Day raising awareness about mental health. Many people struggle with mental health issues. Perhaps this was the challenge faced by the man with the “unclean spirit”. We can become more comfortable and knowledgeable about these issues, so we, like Jesus, and support others (or ourselves) in a time of need.

Here are some activities from the Bell Let’s Talk website to explore:

“Chatterbox” - If you don’t know the answers, take some time as a family to look them up!

Click to print PDF (best printed on 11x17 paper)

“Kindness Box” – make an origami box and fill it with uplifting thoughts for yourself or others

Colouring Page

As you colour the words of the scripture, think about these questions:

Think of a time you felt astounded by a new perspective. What or who was it who changed your view?
What do you think it means to have authority?
How do you decide on whose authority to trust in your life?

Connie Davidson

January 23, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 24, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 23, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

3rd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 1

January 24, 2021

Theme: “Grateful for our Many Gifts – The Life of the Steward”

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: Come With Me Abe

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this 3rd Sunday after Epiphany. It’s our annual stewardship campaign starting this Sunday until Feb 7th. Bill McGee will tell us more about it shortly. I offer to you my sincerest thanks and appreciation for your continued support in many ways to the life and ministry of BCUC.

Due to the provincial lockdown, we will not be offering in-person worship service until further notice but we will continue to offer 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. Please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

There are a couple of learning events offered by several organizations and faith communities. I’d like to mention a couple here:

A presentation on Racism with social activist Howard J. Ross this afternoon at 2:30 pm
A presentation on Basic Income with economics professor Dr. Evelyn Forget on Feb 2nd at 7 pm.

For Zoom links to these events and other announcements, please check your email or the BCUC website.

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 yourself.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Stewardship Moment Bill McGee, Chair – Stewardship Team

Centering for Worship

Friends, as we gather today wherever we are, remember these words from Thomas Merton as we reflect on our call to stewardship: “To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything that we receive…. Every breath we draw is a gift of God’s love; every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from God.” Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Marion & Pierre Dugas

Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world;
those who follow me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12)

Call to Gather (David Sparks, Gathering, ACE 2020-21) Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Discipleship can be tiring,
God will give us tenacity for the rough days.
Discipleship can show us where we should place our trust.
God will enable us to sort out our faithful priorities.
Discipleship can be life-changing.
We will find authentic experience in the Christian life.
We gather today to find support and wisdom for our life as disciples.
Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach (Helen Reed, Gathering, ACE 2020-21)

God of all people, you call our name, and we don’t listen.
You call our name, and we run in opposite direction.
You call our name, and we are afraid that we will be asked to change our plans.
Call us again, Gracious God.
Push and pull us out of our complacency.
Open our hearts to know your way.
Make us bold, make us strong, make us yours.
Call our name, once again, O God. Amen.

Hymn: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky – Voices United #509 - BCUC Choir, Leslie-violin

1. I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest 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? R

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.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send? R

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,
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good morning! Have you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up? I’m sure people ask you that all the time. You might have dreams of cool things you’d like to be… maybe an astronaut, or a doctor, or a famous movie star, or a star athlete.

You might have even changed your mind about what you want to be as you grew – maybe even more than once – and that’s ok. In fact, you will probably change your mind lots of times throughout your life.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher… I also wanted to be a famous writer… and a stewardess…and I wanted to be a mom. As I grew older and learned more things, I had some different ideas too. I knew I really wanted to help people and so, when I started looking at going to university, I decided to study Social Work… but also French because I thought being a French teacher would be awesome too. I was really lucky that the adults around me gave me the freedom to explore all kinds of things and that I had the opportunity to study at university. I was also lucky that nobody told me that I had to do one thing in particular just because it was expected of me.

When you find something that you really care about – something you are so passionate about that you are willing to do anything to make it happen - people might say you are “being called” to follow that path.

Our Bible story today is one that most of you will be familiar with, I think. It is the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John – all fishermen – to drop everything and follow him. He tells them he will make them “fishers of men”. In this story, Jesus actually called to these men from the shore. He told them to stop what they were doing and follow him.

Can you imagine having Jesus walk into whatever you are doing – working, going to school, helping out around the house – and telling you to just leave and follow him? Now, you might be tempted if a friend came by and asked you to drop what you were working on to go play for the rest of the day, but Jesus wasn’t asking these men to come with him for a couple of hours. He was asking them to leave everything behind… their jobs, their homes, their families and friends… just drop everything and start a whole new life, completely different from anything they had ever known. And they did! James and John left their father to finish mending the nets and just left! (I wonder what their father thought about that!)

Somehow, these four men knew that this was the right thing to do. Somehow, they were so sure of it that they were willing to give up everything and start on a whole new path in life. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision. It sure would have had a huge impact on their lives and the lives of those around them. They didn’t know exactly what Jesus was planning and they had to do a lot of learning along the way – but they felt so strongly about his message that they were ready to try. When we read the rest of the stories about Jesus and his disciples, we don’t hear about them giving up when things got hard. We don’t hear about them changing their minds and heading back home to the life they knew before. They were sure that this is what they needed to be doing and they didn’t look back. Even after Jesus died, they kept right on doing that work.

They were certainly called to the life of a disciple of Jesus – not just by his voice from the shore that day, but by the voice in their heads and their hearts that wouldn’t let them go because it was so important.

I did become a social worker… and a mom… and then a teacher… and all of those things felt like what I was being called to do. I was willing to put my whole heart and soul into them. I was willing to do the hard work to learn and become the best I could be in each of those careers. Then, just when I thought I had done everything I set out to do in my life and was ready for a rest… well, I heard another call, and here I am as a United Church Minister and it feels like the exactly right place for me to be.

Now, that doesn’t mean that those other things weren’t as important or that they were mistakes. It just means that I still have things I am so passionate about that I can’t help but follow through to make them happen.

Jesus told those fishermen that he would make them fishers of men. Jesus knew that the experience and skills they had developed to be good at catching fish would also be useful in their new calling. They had learned to work hard, to be patient, to watch for signs of good times and good places to cast their nets. They had learned to work as a team with others. They had learned that if you share with others on the days when you catch lots of fish, others will probably share with you on the days when you aren’t so lucky. These are all important things to be able to do if you are going to be a follower of Jesus.

I wonder what passions you will follow in your lifetime. What is your heart telling you need to do? I pray that you will have the opportunity to follow all of your dreams and passions in a way that gives you a fulfilling life – and in a way that makes the world a better place just because you are in it.

Hymn: Jesus Saw them Fishing - More Voices #113 – Erin & CGS/Bell Canto

1.Jesus saw them fishing by the shore of Galilee,
casting out their nets into the sea.
Simon Peter, Andrew and the sons of Zebedee,
waiting in their boats so patiently. R

Refrain
And Jesus said, “Oh, come and follow me.
Oh, leave behind your nets, I call you.
Oh, come and fish with me,
and your life will never be the same again.”

2.A rich young person came to Jesus looking for advice,
“How can I obtain eternal life?” Jesus told him,
“Honour the commandments of the Lord.
Then sell off all your riches for the poor.” R

3.“If you want to follow me, deny your very self.
Take up your cross and walk the walk with me.
This might seem a hardship, an impossibility,
but nothing is impossible with God.” R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Chris Brown

God of Epiphany, open our ears to the call of your voice.
Open our eyes to see the wonders of your love.
Bless us as we hear your holy Word in fresh ways. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 1: 14-20 (NRSV) Jesus Calls the First Disciples

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Calling?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Stewardship is our main topic for the next three Sundays. When it comes to defining stewardship, many of us think it is all about giving money or financial support to the church. That is why sometimes, ministers are scared to preach about this topic. Some of us understand, however, that stewardship is more than the offering of money or material resources. It is also the sharing of time, talents and intangible gifts like love, justice, peace, presence, to name a few. Stewardship stems from the basic biblical principle that all gifts come from God and that we are merely stewards or caretakers of the earth’s resources – not pillagers or abusers but as good managers. And because we are given such responsibility of being good stewards, we are challenged to take care of the resources to the best of our ability and to share what gifts we have or use our time and talents in ways that celebrate life. That is good stewardship.

I’ve had some stewardship moments this week as I turned to some inspiring stories. An article caught my attention posted by earthjustice.org, about ways we can help our community amid the COVID-19 crisis. These are not earth-shattering acts but small deeds of love and kindness – simple ways to show we care. The story urges us to be there for each other even when we are socially distanced. One woman said that every time she shops for grocery, she makes a $5 donation that goes to food banks. Another woman said that while walking in the neighbourhood, she makes sure she waves and says hello to the dogs and the dog-walkers. Still another woman is doing a mask drive by asking donations of N95 masks and delivering them to places and people in need of masks. Outside this article, I was inspired by Rev. Lorrie’s sharing about her son Petya of how he connects with the people in Carleton Place. He takes his job as a retail clerk seriously and makes sure he gives the best customer service to people inside or outside the store. He takes time listening to people, learning what’s happening in the community, and reaches out to help whenever he could. One day, Petya brought a homeless man to shopping for clothes and felt very happy when the homeless chap wore the clothes that he gave. Like the “earth justice” women and Petya’s stories, I’m sure there are many ways of doing good stewardship if we are willing to do so. The world in its beauty and pain, is calling us to be good stewards and the opportunities are never-ending. As theologian Frederick Buechner reminds us: “The place God calls you to/ is the place where your deep gladness /and the world's deep hunger meet.”

In today’s gospel story, we are given the opportunity to learn a different meaning of stewardship when Jesus calls the first disciples. Come and join me along the shores of Galilee where we meet Jesus and the four fishermen. I imagine the air smelled of salt, seaweed and fish as Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee that day. Jesus’ invitation to Simon, Andrew, James and John sounds like a spur-of-the-moment. “Follow me. Drop whatever else is occupying your time and come with me to a life full of adventure. Listen to what I have to say. Follow me and experience life in a different way. I will make you fishers not of fish but of men and women– you will become fishers of people.”

Immediately, (a favourite word of Mark) the four dropped everything and follow. There is a big gap in this story when Mark did not write about why the fishermen abandoned their fishing nets and followed Jesus right away. Had the fishing been really bad that day because their nets kept coming up empty? Was the net-mending especially tedious and boring? Or maybe the heat and humidity were all but unbearable? Were James and John desperate to get away from their family business? So that when Jesus invited them, they jumped at the chance to leave their monotonous life? Were they looking for a good excuse to stop being fishermen? Maybe they figured fishing was a dead-end job with little chance for advancement or extra income and Jesus came along at just the right time? Had they heard rumors or reports about Jesus, about his parables and healing power? Maybe they had met him themselves, even grew up with him and the thought of knowing him as a Rabbi, becoming one of his disciples, was irresistible? Or perhaps they were intrigued with the words, "I will make you fish for people!” A more popular translation of this line is “I will make you fishers of men!” Certainly – these words to some are problematic but they are quite intriguing to some extent!

"I will make you fish for people or fishers of men!” In our lectionary group this past Tuesday, several ideas were put forth as to what this verse means. Some agrees that the line –implies reeling in or catching people to join a church – like an altar call - a conversion tactic to introduce people to Jesus Christ and become a member or an adherent of the church. Another possible meaning suggests being in right relationships or transforming lives by serving others. There’s also the notion that Jesus was asking them to be “fish for people” as in food for the journey. The disciples are called to be instruments in giving abundant life for others like the symbolic miracle of feeding people with five loaves and two fish. Perhaps Jesus calls them to move and shake people especially when they are under a foreign occupation that exploits their resources and make them second class citizens. You might add a new perspective to these explanations.

Why should Simon, Andrew, James and John follow someone who uses such difficult metaphors? This immediate invitation and immediate response seem unlikely. They dropped what they were doing and headed off to God-knows-where; to lives they didn’t even have a clue. So the questions we might ask ourselves are these: why did the disciples follow Jesus on a whim? What kind of calling did Jesus offer? Some biblical scholars insist that Jesus had actually been living in Capernaum for a while and had known the four fishermen for some time. They could have been drinking buddies or hang out friends or maybe they have attended community events and sat at meals together. Perhaps this call was neither sudden nor abrupt but was the natural outcome of their friendship or moments of acquaintance. What is it about Jesus that hooked the four men?

Jesus’ leadership emulates both transformation and servanthood. No wonder Simon, Andrew, James and John dropped their fishing nets and followed him. Jesus as a leader begins with a vision of God’s dream for the world. He not only communicates the vision, but models it for others. He walked the talk. He came and announced this vision, which was the arrival and coming of a new reign of God that was unlike the Roman Empire. In the new reign, leaders and kings were servants and not lords; the poor were blessed and not cursed; women, children and slaves were included in the community and it operated from a platform of love, justice and compassion. Jesus sought to invest himself in the lives of the people so that, as a whole, the community is challenged to grow as welcoming and inclusive. The disciples followed Jesus' footsteps and were literally baptized into his life, death and resurrection. They became salt of the earth and light to the world.

Like the four fishermen, we too sometimes are faced with questions and speculations of our own calling and sense of direction. How is Jesus calling you? "Now hold it," you may say, “I’ve been a member of the Christian church for a long time - in fact I was baptized in this very same sanctuary. What do you mean, is Jesus calling me? I come to church regularly and take part in the sacraments. I volunteer my time and share my talents and treasures – is that not the same call coming from Jesus?” It sounds onerous at times, but Jesus’ call comes not just once but calls each of us over and over again. The calling comes in many forms. There are calls to a vocation, or change of careers. There are calls to a particular place, to a specific community. There are calls to a task, and there are calls to stop what you are doing and find renewal for your tired spirit. There are calls into and out of relationships. There are calls to healing and calls to let go of your worries. There are calls to regret what you have done, to repent and make amends for your wrongdoings. And there are calls to stop regretting, to accept the fact that you are forgiven, that you are healed, and get on with your life.

As the 46th US president was sworn into office on January 20th, the world watched and listened in awe as President Joe Biden calls for the American people to embrace the true meaning of democracy. In a symbolic ceremony attended by a mix of past US presidents and vice presidents, religious leaders from diverse faiths, dignitaries, common folks and celebrities from various backgrounds and ethnicity, President Biden reminds them that Americans are good people, but there is still a lot to be done. He calls everyone to share in the rebuilding of the nation because, and I quote: “there is still much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.” And these words were echoed by the inaugural poet, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, when she wowed the audience with her heartfelt and moving poem, “The Hill We Climb.” In response to the President’s call for unity and healing, Gorman acknowledged the reasons why this call can be challenging. "Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?" she asked. And she continued: "And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it. Somehow we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken but simply unfinished."

Broken but simply unfinished. These are words we need to hear as good stewards as we respond to Jesus’ call to rebuild and transform the world. Do you ever wonder why some of us say “yes” to agreeing sitting on boards or committees, teaching Sunday School, greeting people by the door, singing in the choir, doing fund-raising or being a circuit messenger, to name a few? What could be our reason for stepping forward? I’m sure we did not literally hear Jesus calling us to be his follower. But I am certain that we have been inspired by the stories of his leadership – his parables of faith that might have impacted our lives and have been encouraged us in doing something worthwhile. Some of us might have felt compelled in sharing our time, our talents and our treasures because doing something for others becomes our living creed or a mantra in making our faith alive. Others recognize that this is part of our mandate as Christians, that we must walk in the steps of Jesus and emulate his way of life. And maybe the best reason for responding to Jesus’ call is because we believe in the power of love.

Jesus calls us to a world where opportunities are vast, where there are relationships to be mended, where people hungry and lonely are waiting for us to step up. On this first Sunday of our Stewardship Campaign, if you are pledging your time, your talents your resources, your intangibles gifts to achieve the visions and mission statement of this faith community, thank you! No amount given is too outrageous or too small; for surely our dreams and visions in this congregation and beyond are made possible by our faith in God through Jesus Christ who lavishly gives and blesses in return. To follow Jesus as our leader also means that we cannot predict what that decision will lead us to. We call it a “leap of faith”. The famous writer Joseph Campbell has pointed out that every great story, every great quest begins with a call to adventure. The hero is called to follow a path, meet a challenge or begin a quest that will forever change their identity. And for Jesus, all great adventures start with a call - for Simon, Andrew, James and John, for you and I. Jesus calls us to: “follow me, and let the adventure begin!” Let us confidently respond in the same manner as what the lyrics of the hymn we sang earlier: “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. Amen.

Sources I used for this sermon:

BCUC Lectionary Group
Melissa Bane Sevier, Left Behind, https://melissabanesevier.wordpress.com
McShane, S.L., Von Glinow, M.A. (2005). Organizational behavior 3d ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York, NY.
Fritz Wendt, Politics of Inauguration and Surrender.
Linda Yates, Answering the Call of Duty”, Observer Jan 2017.
Inaugural Speech of Joe Biden and the Poem of Amanda Gorman, January 20, 2021.
Hymn, “Here I Am Lord”, Words and Music by Daniel Schutte.

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

Holy One, source of love and compassion, like the first four disciples called by Jesus to be fishers of people, you call us where we are as your followers. You call us to be good stewards entrusted with gifts of your abundance so we can share these gifts with others. You have given us the ability to make incredible things happen. Remind us again to listen to your call, to experience your holy presence in our lives. Help us to see You in the moment-by-moment possibilities - to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from the wisdom of our hearts.

Strengthen us in our calling. Where there is injustice, help us to offer healing and reconciliation. Where there is poverty, help us to reach out. Where there is grief, help us to give comfort. Where there is hopelessness, help us to bring hope. Where there is hunger, help us to provide. Where there is violence, help us to be advocates of truth and peace.

God of healing and comfort, you have called us to give a word of encouragement to those overcome with illness and grief and to those who face diverse trials in life. Through us, touch them with your healing love. Through our prayers, embrace them in your gentle love. May your blessings and healing touch be upon them and all those who have opened their hearts to pray for them. We continue to pray for our essential and health workers, for our leaders, as they continue to work hard in this pandemic time. We also pray for those families and individuals affected by COVID-19, particularly those grieving the death of loved ones.

Compassionate God, we pray that you might speak to the hearts of people in many places. We continue to pray for the American people under a new leadership as they work together for peace and healing in the land. May your light shine for those who are full of fear; for those who experience conflict, prejudice, hatred, persecution, and poverty. Through the warmth of your light may they sense justice, feel your love, and know peace.

May we follow Jesus as our leader. Speak to us, Spirit of Grace: of that hope which is our anchor; of that peace which is our rock; of that grace which is our refuge. Remind us to touch the lives of others by offering a kind word, a helping hand, a listening heart and a welcoming touch. All these we ask in Jesus’ name who calls us from where we are and taught us this prayer we now recite together in the language of your choice…

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Jesus calls us from the margins into a great feast; he calls us out of a crowd, to healing;

he calls us from our old self to new life. Each day, we are called to minister to others in warm hospitality, healing mercies, and the promise of new beginnings. We respond to these calls through our giving this day. 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.