Every other year, Rev. Emily shares daily emails during Lent. Each short email has poetry, readings, art, a small spiritual practices or something else to begin another day in the season of Lent. Members of Leaside United Church, family, friends, participants at other churches and the wider community are all very welcome to sign up! Email Emily if you would like to be added to the list.
Our Lent emails will engage with this year’s Lent worship theme: Jesus said what?! (They will also be meaningful on their own, for those not participating in weekly worship.) This Lent our Jesus said what?! theme will explore some of the things that Jesus says in the gospels, and how they might challenge, confuse, encourage, or inspire us today.
Two years ago 96 emails were on our daily Lent emails list, reaching at least 100 people. How many will it be this year? Be sure to sign up before Ash Wednesday – February 22, so that you don’t miss any of the 40 days of Lent.
NOTE: At 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our weekly Sunday morning worship. For those attending in person, please note these two Covid updates from the Worship Team: Given the rising case counts, we are increasing the distancing section in the sanctuary so that anyone who wants to distance will be able to do so. Half the sanctuary will have every other pew roped off and sitting there will signal that you would like to continue distancing. We will wear masks for all indoor worship and singing until at leastApril 27. Closer to that time we will evaluate the situation, consult with the choir and others, and make a decision about any future masking requirement.
Today is Palm Sunday and our service will have the theme, “The Voices of Hope.” We will take time to be the crowd as Jesus enters Jerusalem.
If you are worshiping in person, pick up a palm as you arrive, so that you are ready to wave it during our stationary palm “parade.” If you are worshiping online, considering bringing plants into your Zoom frame, or take time to make your own palm frond (see the instruction video below).
We will have the opportunity to be part of the crowd, shouting and singing with hope. Where are you seeking hope right now? Who are you turning to? Where will this song lead us?
This marks the beginning of Holy Week, so please also note the other services coming up (Maundy Thursday communion online, Good Friday, and Easter). Each day is just one part of the story, and I invite you to travel with us through this whole story of Holy Week.
How to make a Palm Frond
Looking Ahead
On Maundy Thursday, April 14 we will share a short Communion service over Zoom at 7:30pm, as we remember Jesus’ final meal with the disciples.
On Good Friday, April 15 at 10:30am our service “A Voice of Grief” will move through the story with music, scripture, and reflection. We will be hearing two beautiful new anthems for the first time, along with “Were You There?” arranged by Bob Chilcott.
Then on Easter Sunday, April 17 at 10:30am our service “The Voice of Love” will include Easter music recorded by the joint Leaside and Northlea choirs, along with an anthem by the Junior Choir, and a trumpeter live Sunday morning. For those who are young or young at heart, we will have special Easter stickers and colouring bulletins for the service, along with all of the usual books, colouring materials, and other items in our children’s area in the sanctuary.
At 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our weekly Sunday morning worship.
We are pleased to be joined by Cheryl Stenson this morning as our worship leader, as Emily completes a week of study leave. Cheryl has been a member of Glebe Road United Church since getting married there in 1996. She began at Glebe serving coffee and tea in fellowship hour, became secretary of the board, then Clerk of Session, and then Chair of the Board for many years. Her greatest joy at Glebe has been singing in the choir and the yearly musical events. Cheryl took the Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL) course with the United Church of Canada, receiving her license in December 2021.
Today’s theme is “Saying YES to God” and our music will include the anthem “You Do Not Walk Alone” and solo “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” We will also sing What Does the Lord Require of You? and I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I Am Lord).
Looking Ahead
Next Sunday at 10:30am, April 10 is Palm Sunday, and our service will have the theme “The Voices of Hope.” We will take time to be the crowd as Jesus enters Jerusalem.
On Maundy Thursday, April 14 we will share a short Communion service over Zoom at 7:30pm, as we remember Jesus’ final meal with the disciples.
On Good Friday at 10:30am, April 15 our service “A Voice of Grief” will move through the story with music, scripture, and reflection. We will be hearing two beautiful new anthems for the first time, along with “Were You There?” arranged by Bob Chilcott.
Then on Easter Sunday at 10:30am, April 17 our service “The Voice of Love” will include Easter music recorded by the joint Leaside and Northlea choirs, along with an anthem by the Junior Choir, and a trumpeter live Sunday morning. For those who are young or young at heart, we will have special Easter stickers and colouring bulletins for the service, along with all of the usual books, colouring materials, and other items in our children’s area in the sanctuary.
At 10:30am join us in-person, on Zoom, or on YouTube for our weekly Sunday morning worship.
This Sunday we continue our monthly Healing Series, with the theme Forgiveness. We will hear scripture about the importance of forgiveness, and take time to share a Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance. As we think about forgiveness, we’ll also take several moments – including the Call to Worship and the Words of Assurance to engage our bodies and our breath.
Our music will include the hymn If I Have Been the Source of Pain, as well as the well-loved Spirit, Open My Heart. We also look forward to our solo Great Is Thy Faithfulness and anthem Lead Us Home. We will also hear the recently written Litany for Ukraine sung as a prayer response after lighting candles.
Looking Ahead On Sunday, April 3 we welcome Cheryl Stenson as our worship leader, while Emily is away on study leave. Cheryl has been a member of Glebe Road United Church since getting married there in 1996. She began at Glebe serving coffee and tea in fellowship hour, became secretary of the board, then Clerk of Session, and then Chair of the Board for many years. Her greatest joy at Glebe has been singing in the choir and the yearly musical events. Cheryl took the Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL) course with the United Church of Canada, receiving her license in December 2021. Cheryl’s service theme is “Saying YES to God.”
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