Our first podcast episode is here! Emily is working with Cam (Rev. Cameron Watts, Forest Grove United Church) to bring our congregations short daily podcasts, Monday to Friday. Listen now to our introduction episode, and return Monday, March 30 for our first episode. You can also subscribe to continue to receive episodes automatically. The episodes will be up by 6:30am each morning so that you can listen at any point during your day – washing dishes? walking the dog? over a cup of coffee or tea?
As we look ahead to another couple of months worshiping at home, I invite you to take a few minutes in the next couple of days to create a space for worship. God is always present with us, but we all have places and things that remind us more clearly of the sacred. You are welcome to do this any way you wish, but here is one possibility:
First, think about where in your home you feel most aware of the sacred. If you will be using something portable, like a laptop, tablet, or phone, then you can choose anywhere in your home. Does the warmth of the kitchen connect you to God’s Table? Does a view of a garden, or a place you can hear birds remind you of the divine in creation? Does a corner of your bedroom bring you a feeling of peace?
If you have a desktop your location is already decided, but you can still think about how to create a worshipful space around the desktop – could you bring in an item that connects you to the divine – a teapot, a flower, a knit blanket, or anything else that reminds you of your favourite place at home.
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT OUR SACRED WORLD: SACRED DIVERSITY
Leaside United Church made the decision yesterday to close, including suspending Sunday worship, until further notice. Many other churches in Toronto are making the same decision as we work together to slow the spread of the coronavirus and in doing so care for our congregation as well as the wider community. As we respond together with compassion, prevention, and prayer, we invite you to take part in worship on Sunday morning from home.
Our worship planning team (Matthew Boutda, Director of Music, Natalie Jahn, Young Families and Youth Leader, and myself Rev. Emily Gordon), have adapted the service to be meaningful at home. We invite you this about the “Worship at Home” service at 10:30, so that we are worshiping at the same time (or another time if that isn’t possible). This service also includes children’s worship.
Our church is not about a place but about our care for one another. Right now we do this by staying apart, but also by connecting by phone and email. We invite you to reach out to someone today – not just close family and friends but someone you do not know as well, as part of our wider network of care.
The pastoral care team has a virtual meeting scheduled to discuss ways to care for our congregation during this time. Our worship planning team is already discussing worship and spiritual nurture, and there will be three opportunities this week:
Email reflections – watch your inbox Tuesday and Friday for short email reflections this week. (if you are not on an email list, you can sign up with your email address in the side bar).
Prayer workshop – Wednesday’s prayer workshop at 4pm is moving online. Email Natalie or Emily to sign up.
Worship and Nurturing Spirituality Committee meeting – everyone is warmly invited to join Wednesday at 7pm as we discuss what worship and spiritual nurture looks like online, over email, and by phone.
To sign up or to share thoughts about what we can do in the coming weeks, send me, Natalie, or Janet an email or sign up and share thoughts here.
Blessings this Lent, Rev. Emily Gordon
Work cell: 647-303-6709 Email: emily@leasideunited.org _________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP AT HOME You are invited to find a quiet space and, if you have one, to set up a candle to light at the service start.
Lighting the Christ Candle Our sacred world shines with holy light. Peace in this moment, for every moment. You are invited to light your candle or to close your eyes and imagine the glow of a lit candle.
Learning Together
Yesterday was PIE Day, Canada’s National Affirming Day! On PIE Day, different communities celebrate and honor the Public, Intentional and Explicit affirmation of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. This might be a nice opportunity for you to not only celebrate PIE Day and to think about what it means to be an affirming congregation, but also to enjoy some pie! If you like to know more, please watch the video.
John 4:5-42 In today’s reading, Jesus is asked to confront his own assumptions. Rather than insisting on his views, he changes them. What is a time when you have assumed something and then been forced to change your view? Where do you continue to be challenged by diversity? How can we celebrate our differences as sacred?
A New Creed We are not alone, we live in God’s world We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
Offering
If you give by PAR, take a moment to reflect on what it means for you to offer your gifts. If you usually give via the offering plate, consider making a donation online (the link is in the sidebar), write a note to yourself to adjust your givings the next time we worship in the building, or think of another way you will extend caring, such as donating to a charity, mailing unexpected thinking of you cards to friends or family, or something else.
Prayer You are invited to pray for our congregation, our city, and our world.
The news is filled with COVID-19, and as it continues to
spread it is good to remind ourselves that as a church we are called to respond
with calm compassion. At Leaside United Church, discussions of COVID-19 are
occurring with Pastoral Care, Worship, Council, and staff. We know that in an
urban setting and with a vulnerable elderly population, we must acknowledge the
risks and take preventative measures, while also recognizing and responding to
the need for connection and spiritual care.
The United Church of Canada encourages all of us to respond to COVID-19 with compassion, prevention, and prayer. We are invited to respond with compassion, remembering the people behind the statistics and celebrating the work of professionals caring for the sick. This is a time for thought rather than fear, and compassion rather than panic. We are invited to respond with prevention, recognizing risks and reducing them. Finally, we are invited to respond with prayer, so that our compassion and prevention are “guided by our continued prayer for the well-being of all people.”
Here are some of the ways we are responding, and can respond, together:
The Church Building
Increased cleaning of washrooms and kitchen,
including light switches, doorknobs, and handles
Soap and hand sanitizer readily available
(Narthex entrance, office hall, nursery area)
Tissues available around the church
Our newly renovated upstairs kitchen has a
sterilizing dishwasher used every Conversation Time
Worship
Using alternate ways of Passing of the Peace to limit hand-to-hand contact since January
We are adjusting Communion (on Palm Sunday) and Conversation Time practices
We will be sharing Mini Services by email for the remainder of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, for those who are unable (or choose not) to attend Sunday worship
You are invited to space yourselves during worship (1 meter is WHO’s recommendation for public events), if you wish to do so
Please contact Rev. Emily Gordon by email or phone (416) 425-1253 ext. 25, if you wish for prayers
Personal Prevention
Wash hands regularly, and thoroughly, with soap and water (or hand sanitizer where soap and water are not available) including when you enter the church and as soon as you return home
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
Avoid touching faces or skin of those who are most vulnerable with unwashed hands (including the elderly and, as a general best practice, children and infants)
Avoid close contact with people who are ill
Stay home when you are ill
Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, and wash your hands after using tissues
Toronto Public Health stated today “Individuals who attend events and large gatherings are reminded to monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 which includes: fever (greater than 38 degrees Celsius), new onset of cough and difficulty breathing.” For the most up-to-date public health advice, please see the Toronto Public Health website.
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