Worship at Home Resources

Worship at Home – Easter Sunday!

April 19, 2020

Worship at 10:30 am this morning one of two ways:

(1) Watch our Easter service – Easter Sunday Service
April 12, 2020 @ 10:30am : 

(2) Share worship together through Zoom:

As for the last few Sundays, gather ahead of 10:30am when we will share the service so we all view it together. This will be followed by a time for conversation and sharing wishes for a happy Easter.  Gather 9:45-10am to take part in the half hour children’s program before the service (or use this all ages activity).  Check your email for the Zoom links and phone in numbers.

Feel free to bring your own Easter flowers and plants so they are visible on our screens.  

Potted flowers ready for Easter outside Leaside United Church April 9, 2020, by Margaret Casey. 

Easter Sunday Communion

Bring your own bread and juice or wine for a United Church Livestream Communion Service at 3 pm EDT, led by our Moderator Richard Bott. Just go to the United Church YouTube channel shortly before 3 and look for the Easter Communion service “Live Now.”    Together we celebrate the sacred promise that hope is stronger than fear, love stronger than hate, and life stronger than death. God is with us. Hallelujah! – Emily, Matt, and Natalie (Worship Planning Team)   

WORSHIP AT HOME 

To hear the music, prayers and readings included in this service order please watch our Easter service.    

Photographer: Murray FennerDawn on Kenabi Lake, Haliburton Scout Reserve

 Prelude – Trumpet Tune in D                      Henry Purcell

Call to Worship and Opening Prayer 

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!Christ is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!Consider making a special Easter offering today, using either your credit card or paypal account by following the link at the bottom of this email, or the Donate button on our website.

Choral Introit – Rise Up My Love                 Healy Willan 

Learning Together and Wish for Peace You are invited to take part in the all ages activity with Natalie and Mary if you wish.  

Opening Hymn – This Easter Celebration  

Scripture Reading   John 20:1-16

Anthem  – Who is There on this Easter Morn?    Peter Bull

ReflectionPrayer
If you are using this service on your own, you are invited to add the prayers that arise in your heart on this day. 

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn – Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (VU 155)

Blessing

Postlude – Ave Verum Corpus               Stephanie Martin

Music Notes for Easter 

Prelude – Trumpet Tune in D by H. Purcell

This trumpet tune was written by Henry Purcell. This 17th century English composer incorporated both Italian and French stylistic elements in his Baroque works. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers. This Easter service begins with this prelude to set the triumphant joy of Jesus’ Resurrection. This trumpet tune is generally used in festivities and celebrations. This recording was done on May 18, 2018 at St. Clements Anglican Church, Toronto. 

Choral Introit – Rise Up My Love by Willan

This motet was composed by the dean of Canadian composers, Healey Willan. A Toronto church musician who has left a legacy at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto. The text of this motet derives itself from the Book of Song of Songs in which the “rising up” has often been an allegory to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This motet was recorded on February 9, 2020 (Choral Evensong) by the Leaside Chancel Choir. 

Opening Hymn – This Easter Celebration Hymn

This familiar hymn tune, Aurelia was written by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. Wesley was an English organist and composer born in London, and sang in the choir of the Chapel Royal as a boy. The text is written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette in 2020 to reflect the impact of COVID-19 and how we are celebrating our Easter services. This is a generous offering from Gillette for church communities to explore singing this hymn on Easter morning. This hymn was pre-recorded by soprano, Courtney Dakers specifically for this service. 

Choir Anthem – Who is there on this Easter Morn? By Peter Bull

The text of this anthem is written by Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926). Dudley-Smith has served the Church of England since his ordination in 1950. The choral arrangement of this anthem was composed by our very own bass lead in the Leaside Chancel Choir, Peter Bull. This anthem was pre-recorded by the Leaside Chancel Choir for the Easter service in 2019. 

Hymn – Jesus Christ is Risen Today  VU 155

A five stanza Easter carol, which first appeared in German and Bohemian manuscripts of the 14th century was translated in Lyra Davidica, but in John Arnold’s 1749 The Complete Psalmodist only the first stanza was retained and others substituted for the original. In the same meter as Wesley’s “Christ the Lord is risen today,” it is made up of a series of short one-liners which are easy to remember, and with added Alleluias it is a favourite Easter hymn. This hymn was pre-recorded by the Leaside Chancel Choir specifically for this service. In doing so, the choir recorded their parts at home, which were then compiled and mixed together by our bass lead, Peter Bull. 

Postlude – Ave Verum Corpus by Stephanie Martin

This beautiful a cappella motet rose to the top of the Cypress publishing list in 2009. The sweet vocal registers and intuitive voice leading makes this compelling composition accessible for church choirs. The Latin text is a short Eucharistic chant that has been used to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is often sung during the liturgy of Communion. The motet was composed by Toronto composer, educator and church musician, Stephanie Martin (b. 1962). Stephanie Martin was the director of music at Leaside United Church in Toronto. This motet was pre-recorded by the leads of the Leaside Chancel Choir specifically for this service. In doing so, the leads recorded their parts at home, which were then compiled and mixed together by our bass lead, Peter Bull.

Good Friday Livestream and Worship at Home April 10, 2020

April 19, 2020
Worship at 10:30 am this morning:  

Simply follow this link to our YouTube channel, and click on the service “Good Friday Worship” which will appear at 10:15 with “Live Now” in red underneath. 

Check your emails this morning for the phone in links and children’s program links.

Any time after 11:30 you will be able to find the service recording on our YouTube Channel.  Check your emails once again on Easter morning. In the meantime, may today hold space for reflection, emotion, and hope.
  – Emily, Matt, and Natalie (Worship Planning Team)

WORSHIP AT HOME  
These are the hymn texts and scripture readings we will use in today’s service, followed by Matt’s Music Notes.  
Photographer: Murray Fenner
Sunset on the Irrawaddy (taken from a sandbar near Bagan, Miramar) 

Go to dark Gethsemane,you that feel the tempter’s power;
your Redeemer’s conflict see;
watch with him one bitter hour;
turn not from his grief away:
learn from him to watch and pray.
(Go to dark Gethsemane VU133)  

Reading: Matthew 26:36-46, 57-59, 69-75 

Prayer
If you are moving through this worship at home without watching the livestream or recording, take the opportunity each time to add the prayers that arise in your own heart in response to the reading.  

Bitter Was the Night (VU132) 
Bitter was the night, thought the cock would crow forever.
Bitter was the night before the break of day. 
Saw you passing by,  told them all I didn’t know you. 
Bitter was the night before the break of day. 
Told them all a lie, and I told it three times over, 
Bitter was the night before the break of day. 
Bitter was the night, thought there’d never be a morning. 
Bitter was the night before the break of day.  

Reading: Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14, 27-36  

Prayer

When the Son of God was Dying (VU153) 
When the Son of God was dying, long ago,some played dice and some knelt crying lost and low.
Cynics sneered and wagged their tongues,mockers mimicked funeral songs:this, while God’s own Son was dying, long ago.
Crowds which once had cried, “Hosanna!, lost their voice:hell had grinned to hear Barrabas was their choice;
Judas hung himself for blame;
Peter hung his head in shame,while the crowds which cried, “Hosanna!” lost their voice.
Horror, hurt and pain found home in Mary’s breastwatching torture’s toll and hearing soldiers jest:
where was God to hear her cry?
Why should her own Jesus die?
Grief and agony found home in Mary’s breast. 
Reading: Psalm 22:1-2, 9-11, 14-15, 22, 24-27  

Prayer

O God, Why Are You Silent? (MV73) 
O God, why are you silent? I cannot hear your voice.
The proud and strong and violent
all claim you and rejoice.
You promised you would hold me
with tenderness and care.
Draw near, O Love, enfold me, and ease this pain I bear. 
Now lost within my grieving,
I fall and lose my way,my fragile, faint believing
so swiftly swept away.
O God of pain and sorrow,my compass and my guide,
I cannot face the morrow
without you by my side. 
My hope lies bruised and battered,
my wounded heart is torn;my spirit spent and shattered
by life’s relentless storm.
Will you not bend to hear me,
my cries from deep within?
Have you no word to cheer me
when night is closing in? 
Through endless nights of weeping,
through weary days of grief,
my heart is in your keeping,
my comfort, my relief.
Come, share my tears and sadness,
come, suffer in my pain,
O bring me home to gladness,
restore my hope again. 

Reading:  Matthew 27:45-51  

Prayer Were You There?  (VU144) 
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when the sun refused to shine? 
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble 
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? 

Reading:  Matthew 27:55-61

Music Notes  

Instrumental Prelude: VU 133 Go to Dark GethsemaneThe author actually wrote two different versions of this hymn. Both used vivid language to lead us through the dark painful events of Christ’s suffering – the judgement hall, beatings, climbing Calvary’s mountain, the Crucifixion. But then we are called to hasten to the tomb on Easter to meet the risen Christ who overcame all. We too must learn how to pray, to bear the cross, to die to sin, and to rise from death in Christ. 

Solo VU132 Bitter Was the Night This hymn was written by Sydney Carter in 1964. Carter was a liberal Christian singer-songwriter. Some of his works were a bit too controversial for the Church of England. This song expresses the feelings of Peter after he fulfills Christ’s prophecy that Peter will deny him before the cock crows thrice. 

Solo VU153 When the Son of God was Dying The text of this song was written from the Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian group based on the small island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. The community began in 1938 when the rev. George MacLeaod of the Church of Scotland began a ministry among the unemployed poor who had been neglected by the church. The music is written by renowned song leader John L. Bell. 

Solo MV73 O God, Why Are You Silent? The author of this hymn is Marty Haugen (b.1950), who is a prolific liturgical composer with many songs included in hymnals across the liturgical spectrum of North American hymnals and beyond. The tune Herzlich tut mich verlangen, also known as the Passion Chorale by Hans Leo Hassler, harmonized by Johan Sebastian Bach. Hasler received his early education from his father in Nuremberg, then studied in Venice with Andrea Gabrielli and became friends with Giovanni Gabrielli. As a Lutheran, Hassler composed for both the Roman Catholic liturgy and for the Lutheran churches. 

Solo VU144 Were You There? In The Companion to the Hymnal (Methodist) (1970) Dr. Fred Gealy wrote, “The poignancy of this spiritual is most deeply felt when one remembers that the African-American, having seen lynched bodies on the ‘tree,’ easily identified himself with his crucified Lord. The spirituals generally interpret the biblical stories rather than recount them. The singer stands in the midst of the event and … finds himself at the foot of the cross.” 

Postlude: Innocent from Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella JohnsonThis 17th movement from the major work Considering Matthew Shepard is planted right in the middle of the passion narrative. Remembering a time when life was full of promise and dreaming was an activity filled with hope, a tenor soloist sings this movement wondering where all of these promising times have gone. The phrase that is repeated in the song is “Where, O where?” but an answer doesn’t come.

Palm Sunday – Worship at Home Sunday April 5, 2020

April 19, 2020

PALM SUNDAY   We invite you to worship at 10:30am this morning one of two ways: (1) The “Worship at Home” service check your emails.  (2) Online worship on zoom.

Arrive between 9:45 and 10 if you would like to join Natalie and Mary and make a palm for our virtual palm parade! Arrive any time between 10 and 10:30 for conversation before we begin the Palm Sunday service.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people grabbed anything that was around – cloaks and palm branches – to greet his arrival. We also reach for whatever we have around and, whether or not we join today’s 10am palm making session, ready ourselves for a strange parade. 

We look forward to worshiping together even while we are apart this morning!  – Emily, Matt, and Natalie (Worship Planning Team)

Click here for easy instructions on Zoom (thanks, Michele)

CONNECTIONS

Ways we worship, learn, and connect as Leaside United Church.

Lent Prayer Workshops will conclude on Wednesday. Contact Natalie if you would like to take part.  

Drop by Meet You @ Zoom at 1:15-2:30pm on Wednesday. We’ll be alternating Wednesday mornings and afternoons in the coming weeks. Everyone welcome!

The Arts and Crafts group will now be meeting weekly via Zoom 7-8pm on Wednesdays on zoom. Bring any arts or crafts project you’d like to work on.

Short daily podcasts “Listen to the Stillness” have started! Listen or subscribe here. 

Interested in daily readings and reflections during Holy Week? Contact Emily or Alison to be added to the email list. Be sure to read past today’s service for “Celebration Sunday” “A Note from Emily” and Matt’s “Music Notes.”   

What are you doing while you are at home? Send photos of meals, activities, and friendly faces to Alison to share with our Church Family email list!  

Emily: 647-303-6709 or emily@leasideunited.org 

Alison: leaside.admin@bellnet.ca or 416-303-0088 

Jean Marie: 647-896-0241 or jmsuchora@gmail.com 

Natalie: jahnnatalie123@gmail.com

WORSHIP AT HOME 

WORSHIP AT HOME 
This service includes links to listen to all the music and see the readings – click on the parts of the service that are underlined as you reach them. 

Jesus is Coming!  

Jesus was being talked about all over Jerusalem! 
“He is coming!” Someone would shout in the market place. 
“Have you heard? Jesus, the one they call the Messiah is coming here!” 

Another would say to her friend. And it happened, just as they said it would. Jesus and his disciples, his friends that learned from him how to follow the way he was instructing, began walking towards Jerusalem. Many people were expecting Jesus to be like the leaders in the city. Some dreamed of a man who would come in on a white steed and he would save the people from the Roman Empire. Others imagined he would look even more like a God they had heard about from the Chief Priests. 

As Jesus, riding on a donkey, and his disciples were getting closer to the gates they started to see a crowd of people coming out to greet them! People waving palm branches (wave your palms!) and shouting loudly,

“Hosanna! Hosanna! To the Son of David!” (From an Intergenerational Paraphrase by Jeffrey Dale) Palm Parade – Sanna Sannanina          (VU 128) SANNANINA

Sanna, sannanina,
sanna, sanna, sanna.
Sanna, sannanina,
sanna, sanna, sanna.Sanna, sanna, sanna, sannanina,
sanna, sanna, sanna.
Sanna, sanna, sanna, sannanina,
sanna, sanna, sanna.

Reproduced with permission under License #75948 LicenSingOnline  

Jesus caused a real stir that day in Jerusalem. In every corner of the city you could hear people whispering, “Who is this guy that everyone is so excited about?” “Is that who they say is the Messiah? What’s his name? Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee?” (From an Intergenerational Paraphrase by Jeffrey Dale) 

Lighting the Christ Candle  

We light this candle as a reminder of the ways Jesus rides into our lives, just as he rode into Jerusalem.  We have our own hopes and expectations. God is present but appears in ways we don’t expect.  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.    Our wish for peace for one another and our world reaches beyond the distances we keep, and flows from our very hearts out to one another.  You are invited to imagine the light of this candle expanding outward to surround those you love, and then even further as it encompasses our city, our country, and our world. 

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.  

Hymn – Hosanna, Loud Hosanna          

(VU 123) ELLACOMBE 

Hosanna, loud hosanna
the happy children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the joyful anthem rang;
to Jesus, who had blessed them
close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises,
the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed
‘mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving,
and singing clear and loud;
the Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
content that little children
should on his bidding wait.

“Hosanna in the highest!”
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer,
earth let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his humble presence
eternally rejoice.    

Scripture and Reflection 

You are invited either to read today’s scripture, reflection, and discussion questions (below) or do an all ages activity. 

Scripture Readings

Matthew 21:12-16

Philippians 2:5-8 

Reflection

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to the excitement of crowds filled with expectations of what he would do – how he would save them. Yet he creates disruptions, and is challenged immediately. As the week continues, the crowds diminish. Jesus does not meet the expectations of the people. He does not appear as a divinity offering easy rescue. Instead he is human, vulnerable, humbled. Instead he is brave, loving, holy.  

How are we like the crowds, filled with longing to be saved? What do we bring to the parade? 

How are we like Jesus, humble and hopeful, aware of our human frailty and yet bravely caring about others even when it means hardship for ourselves? 

Offering  

If you usually give via the offering plate, consider making a donation online with paypal (the link is at the bottom of the email), or add your donation to a Leaside envelope to bring when we are worshiping in the building again.  

Offertory Solo – Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Paul Simon

Prayer
You are invited to pray for our congregation, our city, and our world. You might chose to do so using  this prayer, or with whatever words are in your heart today.

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn – There Is a Balm in Gilead  

VU 612 BALM IN GILEAD

Refrain:

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead to save the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
and think my work’s in vain,

but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.   

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead to save the sin-sick soul.

If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot preach like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say, “He died for all.

“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead to save the sin-sick soul.

Reproduced with permission under License #84268 LicenSingOnline 

Blessing

May we move from this moment into every moment, aware of God’s love surrounding us. And may we share that love in our thoughts, words and actions. Amen.

If you missed the service on Zoom you can hear the scripture and reflection here:

April 5, 2020 via Zoom – 8:39: Palm Sunday -Rev. Emily Gordon

Thanks be to God!

Celebration Sunday

We will now be sharing celebrations every Sunday!
Send Alison (leaside.admin@bellnet.ca) any birthdays, anniversaries, births, new accomplishments, or other celebrations that happen this week. 

Matt has completed all of his classes at Emmanuel College!

A Note From Emily

Today is Palm Sunday! It’s hard to believe we are here already. It feels strange not to be struggling with the donkey, and talking about parade choreography. It feels strange knowing that the spaces will feel even greater this year as we toward Good Friday, and that Easter will not have the crowds overflowing from the pews and flowers crowding the chancel steps. And yet…  

Today is Palm Sunday, and Easter is not cancelled. 

When we return to the building we will have our big Easter Celebration! There are plans for flowers, trumpet, and strings. There will be our choir’s glorious singing, and the excitement of hunting for eggs. (We’ll also hear, at another time, the beautiful Requiem the choir has been practicing.) 

And this week, we’ll share Good Friday and Easter in different ways. We’ll be sending more information during the week, but you can expect a reflective Good Friday service with solos by our section leads, and you can expect an Easter Sunday service with a Chancel choir anthem – and a Junior Choir anthem, recorded by everyone in their own homes! 

Yes, it will look different. We won’t know quite what to expect, but Holy Week is at the heart of our faith tradition and we’ll share these stories of suffering and new life together. 

Blessings this Lent,  

Emily  Rev. Emily Gordon Work cell: 647-303-6709 Email: emily@leasideunited.org

Music Notes from Matthew

VU 128 Sanna, Sannanina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv_tnrZRoWI

Reproduced with permission under License #75948 LicenSingOnline  

This song has been popularized for its use on Palm Sunday. Both the words and music is traditional South African. This version is arranged by Nicholas Williams ca. 1993. The word Sanna sannanina is an African version of “Hosanna.” This hymn has a great, and lively melody used for the Palm procession. 

VU 123 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEPSQyVgXhw

Reproduced with permission under License #97922 LicenSingOnline 

Jeannette Threlfall, the author, daughter of a Blackburn, England wine merchant, was disabled early in life by an accident. With much time on her hands, she turned to writing hymns, which she sent anonymously to various periodicals. This hymn, based on Mark 11:1-10 for Palm Sunday, is widely used in church services. 

VU 612 There Is a Balm in Gilead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fcMxI_6xsk

Reproduced with permission under License #84268 LicenSingOnline  

It is probable that this spiritual grew out of the experience of hymns by Charles Wesley and John Newton, for both used the phrase “sin-sick soul.” In Jeremiah 8:22 the question is asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” and the expected answer is “No.” But the spiritual turns the negative into affirmation, and hopelessness into hope. The balm in Gilead may have been from a local tree or bought from Eastern Caravans passing through, but the balm of the spiritual is Christ.

Matthew Boutda, Director of Music

Worship at Home and Zoom Worship – Sunday March 29, 2020

April 19, 2020

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT OUR SACRED WORLD: SACRED TECHNOLOGY 

  We invite you to worship at 10:30am this morning one of two ways: (1) The “Worship at Home” service here.  (2) Online worship on zoom – you are welcome to arrive any time between 9:45 and 10:30 for conversation before we begin check your email for the Zoom Room link. 

Click here for easy instructions on Zoom (thanks, Michele)

CONNECTIONS

Ways we worship, learn, and connect as Leaside United Church.

Lent Prayer Workshops continue. Contact Natalie if you would like to take part.  The Faith Exploration group will be meeting this Sunday on zoom. The topic will be “Social Justice and Inclusion.” I’m looking forward to seeing you there! – Natalie  

COVID-19 updates and resources is a new webpage with church updates, public health links, and resources on wellness and spiritual practices all in one place. Drop by Meet You @ Zoom at 9:45-11am Wednesday morning, starting this Wednesday. Everyone welcome!   

The Arts and Crafts group will now be meeting weekly 7-8pm on Wednesdays on zoom. Bring any arts or crafts project you’d like to work on.  Short daily podcasts are launching on Monday! 

Listen to the introduction here.  Coming Soon (see our website as we share details):   

Keep in Touch! 

The LUC Contact Team is working to connect with everyone in our congregation through a friendly phone call or email every week or two. Help us be sure we aren’t missing anyone by letting Alison know if you are not in our directory, or know someone else who is not. Please contact Jean Marie, Pastoral Care minister, or Rev. Emily any time to talk.    What are you doing while you are at home? Send photos of meals, activities, and friendly faces to Alison to share with our Church Family email list!  Emily: 647-303-6709 or emily@leasideunited.org Alison: leaside.admin@bellnet.ca or 416-303-0088 Jean Marie: 647-896-0241 or jmsuchora@gmail.com Natalie: jahnnatalie123@gmail.com    

WORSHIP AT HOME 
This service includes links to listen to all the music and see the readings – click on the parts of the service that are underlined as you reach them. 

“Water Tulip” – Watercolour by Bonnie Mills

Call to Worship Now, for something completely different: in this place, at this time, we seek God,whose ways are not our ways,whose thoughts are not our thoughts.I invite you to be in God’s presence,to be open to God’s Spirit.We will be open; we will be. (Written by John Moses. Gathering Lent/Easter 2016, page 28. Used with permission.)  Music for Centering

Nothing Can Trouble (Nada te turbe) (VU 290)  

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdJKEmlZmns)(Reproduced with permission under License #00128 LicenSingOnline) 

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.Those who seek God shall never go wanting.Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. God alone fills us.Nada te turbe, nada te espante.Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta.Nada te turbe, nada te espante. Solo Dios basta.

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.    Our wish for peace for one another and our world reaches beyond the distances we keep, and flows from our very hearts out to one another.  You are invited to imagine the light of this candle expanding outward to surround those you love, and then even further as it encompasses our city,
our country, and our world. 

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.  

Hymn – Atoms Spinning Sparking Life                                                       

WINCHESTER NEW Text by Emily Gordon From atoms spinning sparking lifeBurst stars and earth in joyful day Then, humans formed of dust and love Creative minds for work and play.   As sacred image we create And celebrate technology First wooden wheels, then gears and cogs, Then virtual reality.   Our aching world spins once again Our lives are changed and touched by fear. Remind us we are not alone O Holy Spirit, hold us near.   Now online words extend our care In new ways to fulfil your call: Apart we care, apart we love, And find you in the midst of all.  

Scripture and Reflection You are invited to read today’s scripture and reflection (below) or the all ages version with story and activity.  

Scripture Reading  Ezekiel 37:1-14  Today’s scripture reading is one vision of Ezekiel, a book from the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures. The prophets spoke at times of political uncertainty and exile, and they both criticised injustice and the misuse of power, warning of the consequences, and also offered visions of hope and transformation. Luke Powery notes in his commentary that Ezekiel’s vision responds to a crisis for the “whole house of Israel” rather than individuals: “the city of Jerusalem, the cultural, religious, and economic center of Jewish life, fell to King Nebuchadnezzar. … it is no surprise that they say “our hope is lost” (v. 11). Yet, Ezekiel, the priest and prophet, is called upon to “prophesy to these bones” (v. 4), proclaiming a life-giving word to this community.” The crisis that we are experiencing now is not just individual but shared by all of us, even as each of us experiences it differently. Ezekiel, surrounded by signs of loss, of a suffering community, is invited to speak words that bring about life. It starts by recognizing, acknowledging, what is happening.

How can you allow yourself to acknowledge your fears and loss?  Ezekiel’s first words are uncertain. Yet in the midst of uncertainty, he speaks at God’s prompting and – slowly – new life comes about. Not all once, maybe not very quickly, but beyond what he could have expected. It’s hard to say what God’s life-giving breath might look like, and we’re not there yet. Instead, we’re sitting beside the dry bones of stories on the news. The dry bones of stories from family, friends, church family, and our own lives. We are in the valley, beside loss and uncertainty. In this vision, God’s breath does not simply appear in the valley making everything right on its own. Instead, Ezekiel is told to speak, to call new life into being, to be a co-worker in bringing hope. We are given the same invitation, the same purpose: to utter the words of hope and love that strengthen, encourage, and care. We are doing this – you are doing this – in how we are keeping apart, in how we are checking in on family, friends, and neighbours with phones, emails, and video calls. In how we are finding routines and activities that allow us to care for ourselves. How are you being a co-creator of hope? You already are.  God does not leave us in the valley, but is here with us in our loss, in our uncertainty, and in our work for the good of all despite that loss and uncertainty. God works through us, through each of you. God is with us. We are not alone. Amen. 

Offering

If you usually give via the offering plate, consider making a donation online (the link is at the bottom of the email), or add your donation to a Leaside envelope to bring when we are worshiping in the building again. If you give by PAR, take a moment to reflect on what it means for you to offer your gifts. Everyone is invited to think of a way you will extend caring this week, 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. You might chose to do so using this prayer, or with whatever words are in your heart today.

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (VU 333)HYFRYDOL(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GenHMi5B7L4) (Reproduced with permission under License #84255 LicenSingOnline) 

Love divine, all loves excelling,Joy of heav’n to earth come down:  fix in us thy humble dwelling,all thy faithful mercies crown:Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;visit us with thy salvation,enter ev’ry trembling heart.Come, Almighty to deliver,let us all thy life receive;  suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.Thee we would be always blessing,  serve thee as thy hosts above, pray and praise thee without ceasing,  glory in thy perfect love. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be:  let us see thy great salvation  perfectly restored in thee;Changed from glory into glory,  ’til in heav’n we take our place,  ’til we cast our crowns before thee,lost in wonder, love, and praise. 

Blessing
May we move from this moment into every moment, aware of God’s love surrounding us. And may we share that love in our thoughts, words and actions. Amen. 

Choral Blessing – Go Now in Peace (VU 902)    Hal Hopson (recording of choir) Reproduced with permission under License #80718 LicenSingOnline  Go now in peace. Now, God, you have kept your word: let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen the salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of every people; a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel. Amen. 

Listen here to the recorded reading and reflection:

March 29, 2020 via Zoom (9:37) – Rev. Emily Gordon