Kids & Youth

In the Wild & Love My Enemy? – Sunday February 20, 2022

In the Wild Gathering
Celebrating Snow
9am Sunday on the Church Lawn
Wear masks and dress for the weather!


Then, at 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our weekly Sunday morning worship.

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Black History Month

Love My Enemy?

This week we are pleased to add an in-person worship option once again! Please read further in the email for Covid protocols in-person. If you are worshiping online, join us on Zoom following the service for a time of conversation.

Our music this Sunday includes the anthem “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and the hymn “For the Healing of the Nations.” You will also want to arrive in time for the piano prelude “Hymn to Freedom.”

This week our theme will be “Love my enemy?” as we continue reading Luke’s gospel with Jesus’ words from a level place. The Bible speaks about many forms of love – love of God, of self, of neighbour, of stranger, and of enemy. What does loving our enemy mean in practical terms? Can we really love our enemies?

Looking Ahead
On February 27 we will continue our healing series (the last Sunday of every month). We hear a short opening prayer en français, sing Shall We Gather at the River and I’ve Got Peace Like a River, and light candles for joys and sorrows.

Then, on Wednesday, March 2 we will share a short (15 minute) Ash Wednesday time of worship online only.

On Sunday, March 6 we mark the first Sunday during the season of Lent by welcoming guest preacher the Rev. Dr. John Young, Interim Principal at Emmanuel College.

See you in church! In-Person Worship starts this Sunday

Photo by Murray Fenner

Our monthly In the Wild gathering will be at 9am on February 20th on the church lawn. Wear a mask and come dressed and ready to Celebrate Snow!

On February 20th at 10:30am our theme is “Love my enemy?” Our music will include the anthem “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and our piano prelude will be Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom.

We look forward to worshiping with you, in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube starting this Sunday.

Important COVID Team NEWS:

Many restrictions are being lifted in Ontario. The Covid-19 team has met this week to review these as they apply to our Church.The decision was made to commence In-person worship on Sunday, February 20th.Please note the following:

  • Proof of vaccination is required
  • Masking is required (Please note that the use of N95 masks is encouraged)
  • Socially distanced at all times

More details about In-Person Worship:

It’s been a couple of months since we had an in-person worship option, so here is a more detailed reminder of our guidelines.

Please follow these guidelines for in-person worship in order to keep the experience as COVID safe as possible:

· If you are attending in-person worship and 12-years-old or older, you must show proof of vaccination at the door every time or have a medical exemption (you must speak to Emily Gordon in advance about a medical exemption).

· If you have any COVID symptoms, have had contact with a known COVID case, or are waiting for the results of a COVID test you must stay and worship at home. If you are not well for any reason, please stay and join us virtually.

· Wear a mask at all times while in the church.

· Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the service to show proof of vaccination, complete Sign-in/Wellness form and find your seat.

· Use provided hand sanitizer.

· If needed, pick up a headset at the Sign-in table.

· Maintain social distancing from those not in your bubble, whenever possible. You may use coats placed on the pews to help maintain distancing. Please do not sit in the front rows, since there must be at least 2 metres from our choir leads.

· To provide one-way directional movement everyone: Use Main Millwood Rd ramp/entrance to enter, then exit pew by pew via the McRae Dr doors (unless an elevator is required located at the Millwood Rd Entrance).

· During in-person worship, please remain seated during hymns and do not sing, but if you would like please hum.

· If you wish to speak to other attendees, you are invited to exit the building first, and do so on the lawn.

· Children and youth are welcome to attend and stay with their family during the service. Children may borrow books or colouring materials to use during the service from the children’s area, and one family may choose to use the children’s area rather than being seated in the pews. We encourage full vaccination for all children ages 5-11.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Black History Month – Sunday February 6, 2022

Today our worship will be livestreamed to YouTube and shared on Zoom, starting shortly before 10:30am. Following the service, join (or stay on) Zoom for a time of conversation.

Get ready to sing this morning by watching Matt and our leads teach our Introit and Blessing for this month:

Today we mark the beginning of Black History Month with a music celebration including two anthems – “How can I keep from singing?” sung live with by leads and the wonderful virtual choir project “Hymn to Freedom.”

Today we hear about Jesus calling his first disciples, we continue with our Small Spiritual Practices, and watch a short video about the new United Church mission statement.

Today’s service draws on a service shared by the United Church for Black History Month created by Charmain Bailey. You might like to hear the sermon she recorded that accompanies the Call to Worship and prayers we share today, “Fishing so others may share a meal” (10 minutes):

Next Sunday
On February 13 our service “Words from a Level Place” will reflect on Luke 6:17-26. Our closing hymn will be the energetic “I’m gonna live so God can use me.”

Then, on February 20th we will share another service shared by the larger United Church: Black Experiences in Canadian Churches, created by 6 Millenials and Gen Zs.


YouTube Playlists
We have updated our Small Spiritual Practices playlist with all of our small spiritual practices this month: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5eCVktVqxmrnx1E_jmeTLc
I invite you to see if you can think of one person who might appreciate one of these practices, and share it with them. Our most popular so far was shared Jan. 16: Intention and Attention.

Other Playlists include…
Music Highlights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC7_E9riqoJ9Bl_G5DGEy3vO
Worship Services: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC6BMZjDwoF1cBV9W2s1Nov1
The Stories and Makers Nest: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5nx6z8eLSsJSn8qkphfxsw

Healing Series: Love – January 30, 2022

You may have noticed last week that the livestream was not as smooth as usual. It seems we are in the midst of a new round of tech challenges, and to try to have the best worship experience possible we are shifting the timing slightly this week in order to record the service and then share it rather than livestream.

For those on Zoom, we expect that the service will begin 10 minutes or so later than the usual 10:30am. You are invited to come at the same time, and begin our post-worship conversation time before worship.

For those on YouTube, we estimate that the video processing will be done by 11:30am. You might consider joining Zoom if you’d like to be as close to 10:30am as possible, or consider planning an intentional afternoon worship time this week.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to negotiate the new A/V system for this renovation. It has certainly been a bumpy road with highs and lows over the fall and winter.


Today we begin a Healing Series, which will fall on the last Sundays of each month. We begin by hearing the words of 1 Corinthians 13, and reflecting on the relationship between love and healing.

Our music includes a beautiful new hymn “When the wind of winter blows” and the anthem “Irish Blessing” by Bob Chilcott. Our final hymn “Love is the touch” will be followed by the sung blessing “May God’s Sheltering wings.” We hope you will find moments of healing and renewal in this week’s words and music.

Next Sunday
Then, on February 6 we will mark the beginning of Black History Month, including with two anthems “How Can I keep from singing?” live and the virtual choir recording of “Hymn to Freedom.”

YouTube Playlists
We have updated our Small Spiritual Practices playlist with all of our small spiritual practices this month: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5eCVktVqxmrnx1E_jmeTLc
I invite you to see if you can think of one person who might appreciate one of these practices, and share it with them.

Other Playlists include…
Music Highlights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC7_E9riqoJ9Bl_G5DGEy3vO
Worship Services: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC6BMZjDwoF1cBV9W2s1Nov1
Stories and Makers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5nx6z8eLSsJSn8qkphfxsw