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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!

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.

Healing Series: Love – January 30, 2022

January 30, 2022

You may have noticed last week that the livestream was not as smooth as usual. It seems we are in the midst of a new round of tech challenges, and to try to have the best worship experience possible we are shifting the timing slightly this week in order to record the service and then share it rather than livestream.

For those on Zoom, we expect that the service will begin 10 minutes or so later than the usual 10:30am. You are invited to come at the same time, and begin our post-worship conversation time before worship.

For those on YouTube, we estimate that the video processing will be done by 11:30am. You might consider joining Zoom if you’d like to be as close to 10:30am as possible, or consider planning an intentional afternoon worship time this week.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to negotiate the new A/V system for this renovation. It has certainly been a bumpy road with highs and lows over the fall and winter.

Today we begin a Healing Series, which will fall on the last Sundays of each month. We begin by hearing the words of 1 Corinthians 13, and reflecting on the relationship between love and healing.

Our music includes a beautiful new hymn “When the wind of winter blows” and the anthem “Irish Blessing” by Bob Chilcott. Our final hymn “Love is the touch” will be followed by the sung blessing “May God’s Sheltering wings.” We hope you will find moments of healing and renewal in this week’s words and music.

Next Sunday
Then, on February 6 we will mark the beginning of Black History Month, including with two anthems “How Can I keep from singing?” live and the virtual choir recording of “Hymn to Freedom.”

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.

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

Leaside United on YouTube

Fred Fox – Special Guest Speaker at Meet U @ The Zoom Room

February 9, 2022

Join us on Wednesday February 9th at 10:30am on Zoom for a special Meet U @ The Zoom Room speaker event with renowned speaker Fred Fox on behalf of his brother and the Terry Fox Foundation.

More about Fred Fox:
Fred Fox never imagined that he would take part in one of the most inspiring stories in Canadian history when he watched his brother Terry set out on his Marathon of Hope in April of 1980. He had the opportunity to join Terry a couple of times on the road that summer and watch as Canadians embraced his brother in a remarkable way. Fred’s commitment to Terry’s cancer research legacy never wavered, leading the Terry Fox Foundation’s BC Office from 1994 to 2001 and then moving to the National Office in 2009 to serve as Manager of Supporter Relations.

All welcome to hear how Fred supports cancer research and continued dedication to his brother’s legacy. Please share the Zoom link with 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:

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