Life Changes

National Indigenous Day of Prayer | Father’s Day – Sunday June 20, 2021

This Sunday is the second of our services with music and sermon shared with Northlea United Church. This Sunday, both congregations will be hearing Emily preach, along with music from both Leaside and Northlea.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers, and those who offer fathering to others.

Today our service includes words written for use by non-Indigenous churches in the United Church to mark Indigenous Day of Prayer. The United Church has also shared a longer video “Apology to Action: Reflections on the 35th Anniversary.” Although not part of our service, we encourage you to watch it sometime over the coming week.

This week also marks the first of a four week series listening to and reflecting on stories about David. Today’s story is David and Goliath, and I share three takes on the story and how it might speak to us.

On Zoom, our service will also include a Learning Moment as well as Pastoral Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer. If you view the service on YouTube, you can join Zoom at 11:30am for conversation.

Next Sunday
We mark Pride Sunday with a service lighting a rainbow of candles. The service includes a video created by our Affirming Team, and the story of David and Jonathon.

Leaside United COVID Response Team Update – Reopening Plan “Going Forward”

June 15, 2021

This pandemic has changed our lives and the life of our church. With the initiation of the Ontario government’s “Roadmap to Reopening” Step 1 the team met on Thursday, June 10th to discuss “Going Forward”. It is our sincere hope that by Thanksgiving we can enjoy an in-person service and also a livestreaming service, for those unable to attend in-person.

The team has been asked how do we get there from where we are today? What will our music program look like? Will we be able to hold committee meetings in the church? Why are there renters in the church and yet we are not holding in-person services? We all have questions as we enthusiastically and patiently wait for a time when the Church and the Building are Open!

Reflections & Connections Communion Sunday – June 6, 2021

This Sunday our Reflections and Connections service has two different possibilities.

On Zoom, we will be sharing Communion with one another, wish one another the Peace of Christ, and light candles for joys and sorrows. Rather than listening to a sermon, we will have four opportunities for personal reflection. Bring bread and juice, or something else to eat and drink for communion. If you are someone who likes to journal, also bring your journal to worship this morning.

On YouTube we are sharing several different worship options from the larger church. Just follow the links to a worship service that will connect with you this week.

Stories and Makers Nest – June 6, 2021:

This week hear the story of Samuel and make magic reveal drawings! Watch at 9:55 on Zoom, or any time on YouTube.


Next Sunday, June 13 is our Church Birthday! We celebrate 4 years since the coming together of Leaside United Church and Presteign-Woodbine United Church with a service that includes a world premiere by our virtual choir, as well as our Stewardship celebration slideshow.

Following the service will be a congregational meeting on Zoom, including a proposed addition to our mission statement and Council and Committee nominations for the coming year.

Pentecost Sunday – May 23, 2021

Today we welcome Lee-Ann Ahlstrom, Minister at Northlea United Church, in the first of two sermon and music exchanges with Northlea. Both Leaside and Northlea will hear Lee-Ann’s sermon as well as music from both congregations. The second part of our sermon and music exchange will be in June. It is a blessing to share in worship once again with our sister congregation.

This Sunday our service will be the same on Zoom and YouTube. You are invited to watch either way, but join Zoom at 11:10am for a time of conversation following the service.

If you would like to take part in a breakout room discussion before the service, join Zoom by 10:15am – or come even earlier and watch the Stories and Makers Nest at 9:55am. The program will also be about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, and the activity will be a scavenger hunt that you can do sometime during the week.

Next Sunday

On May 30th our service will celebrate music, including some hymn favourites and reflections about how hymns and music speak to our spirits.