Easter

In the Wild and The Wounded Christ

June 19, 2022

There will be two times of worship this Sunday:

At 9:15am on the church lawn join us for our April In the Wild gathering, as we plant seeds together, and then take them home. All ages and levels of gardening interest welcome!

At 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube as we continue our Healing Series during the Season of Easter.

Today we continue our last Sunday of the month Healing Series with the theme “Wounded Christ” as we hear the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples staying in a locked room after his death. The story draws attention to Jesus’ wounds as a part of his resurrection. How might this story change how we think about our wounds and scars? Could this story bring new insight to the idea of healing?

We will be lighting candles for joys and sorrows as we have been doing throughout this Healing Series. If you have any candles you would like lit, please email Emily at emily@leasideuc.com (and include any words you would like spoken) by Saturday evening, or write them down as you arrive if attending in-person.

Our music includes the beautiful anthem “I Choose Love,” which will be sung live during the service, as well as the sung blessing “A Celtic Prayer.”

Once again, we will have colouring pages that connect to the story, for anyone who is young, young at heart, and/or finds colouring and movement a meaningful part of your spirituality.

Looking Ahead

On Sunday, May 1 will be our Annual General Meeting Sunday. We will begin with a Community Breakfast on the church lawn at 10am, with the opportunity to share in conversation and activities from reflecting on future directions, to signing cards, to create some sidewalk chalk art. The service will begin at 10:45am and will be followed by a short meeting. The morning will conclude with desserts.

Sunday, May 8 will be our first Story Time at 9:30am on the church lawn. There are some beautiful picture books that can be enjoyed for both their art and their message by all ages. Come for this all ages gathering before out 10:30am Mother’s Day service.

Easter Sunday – The Voice of Love

April 21, 2022

Sunday April 17th at 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our Easter Sunday worship.

Our Easter Sunday service features the Junior Choir singing live, and our joint Leaside and Northlea Easter Choir with our Introit, two beautiful anthems, and the Hallelujah Chorus to complete our service. The joint choir has been busy rehearsing and recording this music in preparation for this Sunday. We will open with the hymn “Who is there on this Easter Morning” and close with a new hymn text “Jesus is risen! Radiant as the sun” written to the familiar tune of “Thine is the glory.”

(note: this video starts at about 6 minutes into the service while we were rebooting the cameras, sorry for the inconvenience)

On Palm Sunday our service was “Voices of Hope” and on Good Friday “A Voice of Grief.” Today our service is “The Voice of Love.” Where do you hear the voice of love? How do you listen?

Following the service, if you are worshiping in person you are invited onto the church lawn for coffee and tea outside (and pick up some treats from the bake sale). If you are watching on YouTube, join in on Zoom for Easter conversation time following the service.

The children’s area is ready with colouring bulletins, stickers, tables and chairs big and small for Easter Sunday. If a little one is coming with you, don’t worry about the noise – it doesn’t get picked up by the microphones and won’t be heard online.

Thank you to everyone who spent time after the Good Friday service to set up and everyone who will be arranging flowers Saturday morning so that we are ready for Easter!

Looking Ahead

On Sunday, April 24 we continue our monthly healing series with the theme “Wounded Christ.”

We will also have our April In the Wild gathering (a time for spirituality in nature for all ages) on the church lawn at 9:15am. We will be planting and taking home seeds.

Then, on Sunday, May 1 will be our Annual General Meeting Sunday. We will begin with a Community Breakfast on the church lawn at 10am, with the opportunity to share in conversation and activities from reflecting on future directions, to signing cards, to create some sidewalk chalk art. The service will begin at 10:45am and will be followed by a short meeting. The morning will conclude with desserts.

Sunday, May 8 will be our first Story Time at 9:30am on the church lawn. There are some beautiful picture books that can be enjoyed for both their art and their message by all ages. Come for this all ages gathering before out 10:30am Mother’s Day service.

Today after the service:

Good Friday

April 21, 2022

April 15 at 10:30 am
Good Friday – A Voice of Grief
At 10:30am, join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our Good Friday worship.

We will move through the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, listening to many of his words on the cross, along with our own voice of grief. Our service is inspired by a Lessons and Carols service, as we move between scripture, hymns, anthems, and prayer.

To join the service online, please use the Zoom information above, or visit our YouTube channel for the livestream.

Looking Ahead:

Easter Sunday, April 17 at 10:30 am
“The Voice of Love”
10:30 am Service with Leaside and Northlea
Joint choir recordings and the junior choir live!

Save the date for In the Wild on Sunday, April 24 at 9:15am.

Our Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, May 1.
The day will include food, conversation time, and shared activities as well as worship and the meeting.

Palm Sunday – Voices of Hope April 10, 2022

April 12, 2022

NOTE: At 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our weekly Sunday morning worship.
For those attending in person, please note these two Covid updates from the Worship Team:
Given the rising case counts, we are increasing the distancing section in the sanctuary so that anyone who wants to distance will be able to do so. Half the sanctuary will have every other pew roped off and sitting there will signal that you would like to continue distancing.
We will wear masks for all indoor worship and singing until at least April 27. Closer to that time we will evaluate the situation, consult with the choir and others, and make a decision about any future masking requirement.

Today is Palm Sunday and our service will have the theme, “The Voices of Hope.” We will take time to be the crowd as Jesus enters Jerusalem.

If you are worshiping in person, pick up a palm as you arrive, so that you are ready to wave it during our stationary palm “parade.” If you are worshiping online, considering bringing plants into your Zoom frame, or take time to make your own palm frond (see the instruction video below).

We will have the opportunity to be part of the crowd, shouting and singing with hope. Where are you seeking hope right now? Who are you turning to? Where will this song lead us?

This marks the beginning of Holy Week, so please also note the other services coming up (Maundy Thursday communion online, Good Friday, and Easter). Each day is just one part of the story, and I invite you to travel with us through this whole story of Holy Week.

How to make a Palm Frond

Looking Ahead

On Maundy Thursday, April 14 we will share a short Communion service over Zoom at 7:30pm, as we remember Jesus’ final meal with the disciples.

On Good Friday, April 15 at 10:30am our service “A Voice of Grief” will move through the story with music, scripture, and reflection. We will be hearing two beautiful new anthems for the first time, along with “Were You There?” arranged by Bob Chilcott.

Then on Easter Sunday, April 17 at 10:30am our service “The Voice of Love” will include Easter music recorded by the joint Leaside and Northlea choirs, along with an anthem by the Junior Choir, and a trumpeter live Sunday morning. For those who are young or young at heart, we will have special Easter stickers and colouring bulletins for the service, along with all of the usual books, colouring materials, and other items in our children’s area in the sanctuary.