Music

Peace – Sunday May 22, 2022

June 5, 2022

This Sunday, we welcome Sharon Beckstead as organist and choir director while Matt is away. Our theme today is Peace, and we will hear Makiko’s anthem Kamome (Seagulls) as we mark Asian Heritage Month (the translation is later in the email).

Last week, we turned to the poetry of T.S. Eliot as we reflected on the language of Revelation. This week, we will turn to the poetry of Korean poet Ko Un as we think about Jesus’ gift of peace.

Looking Ahead:

On May 29 we continue our Healing Series by reflecting on the healing power of Music. We are also planning for a small role reversal, as Matt leads our prayers and Emily plays for our sung prayer response!

The Beginning and The End – Sunday May 15, 2022

May 22, 2022

The apocalyptic language of the book of Revelation is full of images and poetry that convey both a deep-rooted sense that things in the present are wrong and also (unlike apocalyptic or dystopian books and films of the present) a firm belief in God’s transformative love.
Alongside Revelation, we’ll hear words Jesus spoke about the centrality of love, and lines from the poetry of T.S.Eliot. Do these words speak worries, fears, and hopes that are on our hearts?
What hope do we find in a new heaven and a new earth, and in God’s words “I am the beginning and the end”?
Our music includes the hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You” as well as the anthem “Heaven’s Gonna Be My Home.”

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COVID Update – May 8, 2022

May 22, 2022

The Ontario government announced that the masking requirement for vulnerable settings would be extended to June 11th. Listening to many concerns in our congregation as well as this extension of the masking requirements, we want to assure you that we are extending our own masking requirement for worship and singing as well.

Please note that our expanded distancing section is also still in place. We encourage you to sit in the part of the sanctuary where every other pew is roped off if you wish to distance – and not to sit near anyone else who is seated in this section.

Thank You!

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COVID Update – May 8, 2022Read More »

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.