Worship at Home Resources

Christian Family Sunday – May 9th, 2021

June 11, 2021

Today our service is a musical celebration, with a Virtual Choir Anthem and a Junior Virtual Choir Hymn, a flute duet, Ave Maria, and and Opening Hymn by the Uniting Voices Collective.

Our Prayer for Mother’s Day has been shared by the United Church, and the sermon reflects on being pushed by God’s expansive love.

If you are joining on Zoom, there will be an opportunity for conversation groups before the service for anyone who joins by 10:15am.

You can also come earlier for the Stories and Makers Nest, which will be shown at 9:55am on Zoom (or any time on YouTube). Today’s story will be about Ruth and Naomi, and we’ll share a flower craft.

Thank you to everyone who worked to make this service possible. Every week there are many people involved who make worship possible – and on a week like this it is especially true!

Next Sunday

Our service will be “Singing Joy?” Do you know that the word “joy” comes up several times in the gospel according to John, during the Farewell discourse – Jesus’ final words to the disciples on the night before his death? How do we talk, and sing, about joy during difficult times?

Spirit Alive – Saturday May 8th at 10:30am

June 11, 2021

Spirit Alive session is scheduled for this coming Saturday morning May 8th starting at 10:30 am

David P. will be leading the discussion this Saturday on the subject of “Pilgrimages”. Our session will build on our April session led by Margaret F. on the subject of “Journeys”.

In this case, our attention will shift from the “journey” to the “destination”.

Amongst the questions to explore are:

1. what does it mean to go on a pilgrimage?

2. what are the different kinds of pilgrimage?

3. how has the idea of “pilgrimage” changed over time?

4. have you ever been on a pilgrimage – of any kind? and

5. if you were to go on a pilgrimage, where would you go?

If you are interested in attending contact David P. for the Zoom link. 

Mental Health Sunday and Communion – May 2, 2021

June 11, 2021
Photo by Murray Fenner April 2021 at Leaside United
Today we will be celebrating communion live on Zoom at 10:30am. Bring bread, or something similar, and juice, wine or something else to drink when you join the service. We will share in communion together.
The YouTube service will include a poem “A Single Grape.”

On both Zoom and YouTube, our service will reflect on words from John’s gospel, “I am the True Vine.” We will hear the Leaside Virtual Choir anthem “For the Beauty of the Earth,” as well as sing a new hymn text for “Abide with Me” that connects with today’s scripture (see below). We will also hear another small spiritual practice, and say A New Creed together.

During the reflection, I will also be mentioning that this is Mental Health Sunday, the start of Mental Health Awareness week. The United Church is sharing an online series for everyone May 3-7, including “Mental Health, Wellness, and the Medicine Wheel Teachings” on Monday, and “Trauma Fatigue” on Friday. You can learn more HERE.
Next Sunday is Christian Family Sunday, and we have another fully recorded service perfect for sharing with family and friends. Music will include a Junior Virtual Choir Hymn, a new Leaside Virtual Choir Project, a solo, and a flute duet. The service will celebrate the radical openness of God’s love.

May 16th our service “Singing Joy?” will have a few jokes, some lighthearted hymns accompanied by guitar, music from the Uniting Voices Collective, time for reflection and our final Easter Small Spiritual Practice will be a part of this service on what joy means during these difficult times.

Celebrating 5 years as an Affirming Congregation! April 25, 2021

June 11, 2021
Artist: Graham Lute

Today we celebrate 5 years as an Affirming Congregation! As an affirming congregation, we celebrate the richness of our community when we have diversity in age, gender identity, racial/cultural backgrounds, sexual orientation, ability and family configurations. Being affirming is an ongoing process of learning and unlearning. Let’s celebrate together and commit to continue this important work of love.

Our service includes an Opening Prayer written by Leaside’s Affirming Team, which invites us to repeat “All are welcome here!” We hear scripture, including “I am the Good Shepherd” and Psalm 23, and sing “Draw the Circle Wide.” The service begins with “There is Room for All” sung by the Uniting Voices Collective formed by five Toronto United Church Music Directors including Matt Boutda.

On Zoom at 10:30am this morning, we will also share the Junior Choir hymn “My Love Colours Outside the Lines” and will have a time to discuss being an affirming congregation in breakout rooms during the service.

Either way, join Zoom at 11:30am for conversation time.

The Stories and Makers Nest will hear about Moses and the Burning Bush. Join Zoom at 9:55am this morning, or watch any time on YouTube!

Next Sunday

May 2 we will be sharing Communion Live on Zoom, so remember to bring bread, or something bread-like, and juice, wine or another beverage. Our service on YouTube will explore another of Jesus’ I am statements: “I am the True Vine.”

Then, May 9 is Christian Family Sunday, and we look forward to our next Virtual Choir project!