Sermons

Open Hearts – Mother’s Day – Christian Family Sunday May 8th, 2022

May 22, 2022

This Sunday Morning we have two different opportunities to gather:

9:30 – All Ages Story Time (church lawn)
10:30 – Worship (in-person, Zoom, and YouTube)

This Sunday our Junior Choir will be singing the anthem “Listen to the Music” and our Chancel choir will sing “In Time of Silver Rain.” Our hymns include “In the Bulb There is a Flower.”

Our scripture and reflection turn to one of the women in scripture: Lydia, who appears in the Acts of the Apostles and is considered the first Christian convert in Europe. Lydia responds with hospitality – open hearts lead to open doors.

The story offers us a touchstone for our Mother’s Day and Christian Family Sunday worship.

Remember that you are invited for Story Time on the church lawn at 9:30am – picture books often have values, themes, art, and spiritual practices that can speak to old and young alike.

Looking Ahead

Sunday, May 15 is our next In the Wild gathering at 9:15am, followed by our weekly worship service at 10:30am: “The Beginning and the End.” We will hear some verses from Revelation, as well as some of Jesus’ words about love.

Come and Have Breakfast – Sunday May 1st, 2022

May 5, 2022

Join us this Morning for some or all of our Community Breakfast, Worship, and Annual General Meeting!

10:00 – Community Breakfast (church lawn and Zoom)
10:45 – Worship (in-person, Zoom, and YouTube)
11:30 – Congregational Meeting (in-person and Zoom)
11:45 – Desserts and Conversation (church lawn)

10am Community Breakfast – In addition to breakfast, we will have cards for the congregation to sign, chalk to decorate our church sidewalks, and an opportunity to discuss and offer feedback on church priorities and a Leaside Community Prayer (more information below). All ages very welcome – come to the church lawn or Zoom, even if you cannot stay for worship.

10:45am Worship – We’ll hear a story of Jesus sharing a meal with the disciples, as we think about what our Mission is as a church. Our music includes the beautiful anthem “For the Beauty of the Earth” and the hymn “Now the Green Blade Rises.” We will also mark Mental Health Sunday with a Litany of Naming and another Small Spiritual Practice.


AGM – Directly following worship we will hold our AGM. Those participating on Zoom will be able to relay questions or comments. You are also welcome to send us any ahead of time (emily@leasideuc.com)


Dessert – Following the Meeting join us on the Church lawn once again for continued conversation and a sweet end to the morning!

Looking Ahead
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 our 10:30am Mother’s Day service, featuring our Junior Choir as well as our Chancel Choir!

Community Breakfast, Worship and Annual General Meeting – Sunday May 1st at 10am

May 5, 2022
bacon sandwich on plate

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST, WORSHIP AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

On Sunday, May 1st we will be having a short annual meeting for the congregation, but before the service starts we will have a Community Breakfast outside on the lawn for all ages. Whether or not you plan to attend the service, you are invited to come for 10am have your (likely second) breakfast and take part in activities that will range from signing cards for people in the congregation to drawing all over the sidewalks with sidewalk chalk (the more artists of all ages the better!) We’ll also invite those who are interested to share thoughts (with stickies) about our faith (creating a community prayer together) and where we are going as a church. For those who decide to stay for the worship service and short meeting, there will be a second opportunity to share food together outside at the end.

For more information contact Rev. Emily.

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.