General

Words from a Level Place – Sunday February 13, 2022

February 13, 2022

WORSHIP WITH LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH
February 13, 2022

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Black History Month

Words from a Level Place

Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus teaches his disciples and the crowds gathered about him from a level place – and his words that we hear in this service are also about a kind of leveling. How might we work towards level places in our own lives and in our wider world? Where is leveling needed?

As we look ahead to Valentine’s Day on Monday – and this year to Broken Hearts Day on Tuesday, we remember that we respond to the words of Jesus from our hearts first rather than our minds. Our small spiritual practice this week is also about paying attention to our hearts.

Our service music this week include the anthem Abendfeier in Venedig by Clara Schumann and the closing hymn “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me.”

Whether you worship on Zoom or YouTube, join us on Zoom following the service for a time of conversation.

Next Sunday
On February 20 we will share another service from the larger United Church: Black Experiences in Canadian Churches, created by 6 Millenials and Gen Zs.

Also, our monthly In the Wild gathering will be at 9am on February 20th on the church lawn. Wear a mask and come dressed and ready to Celebrate Snow!

Guaranteed Livable Income Speaker Event with Hal & Karen Llewellyn

February 16, 2022

Meet U @ The Zoom Room – Speaker Series

All welcome to join us on Wednesday February 16th at 10:30am on Zoom for a special Meet U @ The Zoom Room speaker event with Hal & Karen Llewellyn talking about Guaranteed Livable Income.

What is Guaranteed Livable Income?

Guaranteed Livable Income….an idea whose time has come.

“The time has come to stop blaming the mirror for not being a window, for presenting us with things we would rather not see. The time has come for a little common honesty. The poor, after all, are not, as some still pretend, poor of their own accord. The poor have no uncommon moral flaw that sets them apart, let alone condemns them. They are casualties of the way we manage our economy and our society – and that fact is increasingly obvious to the poor themselves.”   p. 142  From Bootstraps Need Boots: One Tory’s Lonely Fight to end Poverty in Canada  ..Hugh Segal

We welcome the opportunity to consider with you the need for income security for the most vulnerable of our society.

Come and find out more! All welcome and invite a friend!

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88398757927?pwd=RUtiMm9GVzVpK1pEVmgvM3BGUUdRQT09
Meeting ID: 883 9875 7927
Passcode: 666497

Phone In:

For those phoning please:

Dial either phone number: 647-558-0588 or 647-374-4685
Put in the Meeting ID number: 883 9875 7927
Put in the Password number: 666497
If asked for a participant ID, just press #
Unmute your phone by pressing *6

Spirit Alive – Saturday February 12th at 10:30am via Zoom

February 8, 2022
silhouette photo of a person standing on rock
Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

Stargazing

What do we think about when we look at the stars in the sky? Do we experience wonder? Awe? Does observing the heavens lift our spirits? Or is the vast expanse of space with its billions of stars disturbing in some ways? When we scan the stars, we are engaged in an ancient activity. Humans have been studying the sky from time immemorial – discerning patterns in the stars and telling stories about these star patterns. Spirit Alive on February 12 (10:30 am on Zoom) will consider the familiar activity of “stargazing”. David Phillips will lead the discussion, starting with a brief presentation about some famous stargazers. We will then discuss our various experiences with stargazing and the emotions we feel when looking up at the stars. 

For further information, please contact Ross or Bea Lawford.

Black History Month – Sunday February 6, 2022

February 8, 2022

Today our worship will be livestreamed to YouTube and shared on Zoom, starting shortly before 10:30am. Following the service, join (or stay on) Zoom for a time of conversation.

Get ready to sing this morning by watching Matt and our leads teach our Introit and Blessing for this month:

Today we mark the beginning of Black History Month with a music celebration including two anthems – “How can I keep from singing?” sung live with by leads and the wonderful virtual choir project “Hymn to Freedom.”

Today we hear about Jesus calling his first disciples, we continue with our Small Spiritual Practices, and watch a short video about the new United Church mission statement.

Today’s service draws on a service shared by the United Church for Black History Month created by Charmain Bailey. You might like to hear the sermon she recorded that accompanies the Call to Worship and prayers we share today, “Fishing so others may share a meal” (10 minutes):

Next Sunday
On February 13 our service “Words from a Level Place” will reflect on Luke 6:17-26. Our closing hymn will be the energetic “I’m gonna live so God can use me.”

Then, on February 20th we will share another service shared by the larger United Church: Black Experiences in Canadian Churches, created by 6 Millenials and Gen Zs.


YouTube Playlists
We have updated our Small Spiritual Practices playlist with all of our small spiritual practices this month: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5eCVktVqxmrnx1E_jmeTLc
I invite you to see if you can think of one person who might appreciate one of these practices, and share it with them. Our most popular so far was shared Jan. 16: Intention and Attention.

Other Playlists include…
Music Highlights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC7_E9riqoJ9Bl_G5DGEy3vO
Worship Services: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC6BMZjDwoF1cBV9W2s1Nov1
The Stories and Makers Nest: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5nx6z8eLSsJSn8qkphfxsw