Affirming

Pride Sunday – June 27, 2021

Our worship this morning will include lighting rainbow of candles as we reflect on our call as an Affirming congregation. We will hear passages from scripture, including the story of David and Jonathan. We will also see a video created by our Affirming Team especially for this service!

Our Stories and Makers Nest will be the final one before the summer! We look forward to a return of Rebecca and Roberta’s program in the fall.

Today’s story is about David and Goliath.

The program can be seen at 9:55am on Zoom, or any time on YouTube. You are invited to continue to share these with other people who are young or young at heart in your life.

If you know families that would like a way to engage without screens, our monthly Church at Home packages will be continuing during the summer. Please email Rebecca or Emily to be added to the list, and share the information with extended family and friends!

Next Sunday
We mark Canada Sunday, with an opportunity for lamenting, celebrating, and committing to the future.

Then we begin our summer worship, taking a simplified approach to our worship as we all enjoy the summer weather and as our staff start getting ready for the fall. Here are a few highlights:

  • Robbie will be making an appearance in both July and August.
  • August 1 we will share a communion service live over Zoom.
  • We will hear a couple of guest preachers, as well as share more services with Northlea United Church
  • Themes include: Sacred Space, It’s Okay Not to be Okay, Live in Love, Wisdom and Deception, and more
  • We will have Zoom and YouTube options every week, which will range from shorter Worship Moments to full services.

We look forward to worshiping with you this morning, and throughout the summer.

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.

Happy Birthday Leaside United! June 13, 2021

Happy Birthday!
This Sunday we celebrate four years since the coming together of Presteign-Woodbine and Leaside.

The service will be the same on Zoom and on YouTube, so you are invited to take part either way this morning – and consider watching or re-watching on YouTube with headphones for the best sound quality.

Join us for a congregational meeting on Zoom after the service, at 11:15am, when we will approve council and committee nominations for the coming year, and consider a small update to our mission statement.

Here are a few highlights:

Our virtual choir is sharing a world premiere of “We Now United Our Voices” an anthem by Canadian musician, music educator and composer Gordon Adnams. He was so impressed with our virtual choir projects that he reached out to Matt about creating this recording.

The Stewardship Action Committee once again shares its wonderful annual Celebration Slideshow as a part of our service.

Our prayers blend last year’s Church Birthday prayers with some updated words and images that reflect the past year.

Those who gathered at our end of year choir party wish you peace with spoken words and in American Sign Language (ASL).

Our welcome and blessing share a few more glimpses of our newly renovated church building.

Our reflection on Mark 4:26-34 reflects on the past year and the unexpected nature of God’s Kingdom.

Plus much more wonderful music and spoken leadership from many in our congregation!

We are very pleased with how this service came together, and hope you will share it with family and friends.

Stories and Makers Nest:

Next Sunday is National Indigenous Day of Prayer as well as Father’s Day. It will be the second of our shared sermon and music services with Northlea United Church this spring, with Emily sharing the reflection with both congregations.

June 27 we will celebrate Pride Sunday.

July 4 we will celebrate Canada Sunday.