Worship at Home Resources

Advent III Joy – Sunday December 12, 2021

December 12, 2021

Our weekly service will be shared as a livestream on YouTube and Zoom as well as in-person. Registration is no longer required for in-person worship, but proof of vaccination must be shown each time, masks must be worn at all times, and we encourage you to distance from anyone you do not consider part of your bubble.

Long, long, ago, before any of us knew the word “COVID” or thought much about the word “pandemic,” three youth began a year long exploration of faith group at Leaside, going on field trips to different places (in-person!) and having many discussions on God, Jesus, living faithfully, and the church. Then the pandemic happened…

And now, finally, we are able to hold the first of two reaffirmation of baptismal faith services (or Confirmation for short) this Sunday. For me, this is a true moment of joy. Join us this Sunday as we welcome two new members into our congregation, and as we continue to hear about John the Baptist during our Advent journey.

Rev. Emily

Stories and Makers Nest

Watch the Stories and Makers Nest at 9:55am on Zoom, or any time on YouTube.

Then, join us for our Carols by Candlelight service online Sunday at 7pm, Quiet Christmas on Thursday at 7pm, and many more opportunities to worship together inside, outside, and online this Advent and Christmas!

Advent II Peace – Sunday December 5th, 2021

December 5, 2021

Advent II Peace

Our weekly service will be shared as a livestream on YouTube and Zoom as well as in-person. Registration is no longer required for in-person worship, but proof of vaccination must be shown each time, masks must be worn at all times, and we encourage you to distance from anyone you do not consider part of your bubble.

This Sunday we move from hope to peace. We plan for our service to include the Junior Choir Anthem originally planned to be shared in November – “Child of God” by Mark Miller. We will also hear the leads sing the anthem “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” by Poston.

Our scripture reading will be the first of two weeks when we hear about John the Baptist, and we will have the chance to sing “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness” as well. We will also continue praying with our bodies as well as our words, as we did last Sunday.

Watch the Stories and Makers Nest at 9:55am on Zoom, or any time on YouTube.

Please note that despite last week’s internet challenges, we were able to record the Nov. 28 service, and post it on YouTube later that afternoon. You are welcome to watch it any time here.

Then, this week we look forward to the Christmas Tea on December 8th, our Third Sunday of Advent Service (Joy) the morning of December 12th and our joint Carols by Candlelight service that evening!

Carols by Candlelight – Sunday December 12th at 7pm

December 14, 2021

Leaside and Northlea United Church Choirs collaborate on a Carols by Candlelight concert on Sunday, December 12th at 7pm via Zoom and YouTube. Donations in support of Out of the Cold.

All are welcome, watch your email for the Zoom links.

Watch the service in full here:

Flourishing Ways – Healing Ourselves and the World – Spirit Alive

December 3, 2021
Photo by Lucy Burke

Saturday, December 11th at 10:30 a.m via Zoom

Walks through neighbourhood areas have become increasingly valuable to many of us in these pandemic times. Toronto’s network of ravine landscapes, and the various little brooks, creeks, streams, tributaries of the Don River which run through them, are easily found through parts of Leaside, East York, North York and beyond.

This view is from the forest trail running along the compassion-rich Glenvale institutional lands, looking North across the steep gulf of BurkeBrook Ravine, with its densely treed slopes, and gently flowing stream at the bottom, over to Sunnybrook Health Sciences.

A Climate Crisis/Solutions book discussed last week by the North Toronto Cluster included this observation: “Regeneration creates, builds, and heals. Regeneration is what life has always done; we are life, and that is our focus. It includes how we live and what we do – everywhere.”

There are so many little and big things contributing to regeneration and flourishing – to the flourishing of each of our lives, to the flourishing of the life of the forest and ravine, to the flourishing of compassionate health care systems.

Lucy Burke will lead us on an illustrated (zoom) ramble through nearby areas, and invite you to consider – What are some of the things you love, that quicken your heart, that enliven your spirit, that help you flourish, thrive, and heal? What are some of the things you notice which do this for others in the world? How well do you allow yourself to connect with, take in, and support, all the goodness around and about in our shared landscapes – natural and built?