From our Director of Music, Matthew Boutda, and The Leaside United Virtual Choir perform O Love. Today officially marks the 1-year anniversary that Toronto declared COVID-19 a pandemic! Fittingly, this gorgeous song has the hopeful promise “that morn shall tearless be.” – George Matheson.
This morning we welcome the Rev. Dr. Rob Oliphant as our guest preacher live on Zoom with his sermon “When the Stars Begin to Fall.”
Over Zoom and in our YouTube service we will be hearing Lenten organ improvisations on favourite hymns “Lord of the Dance,” “Amazing Grace” and “Here I am Lord.” We will also share a prayer using our bodies, as well as the Lord’s Prayer.
Then, after the service, stay for our short Annual General Meeting on Zoom at 11:30am.
Our Stories and Crafts program explores the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water. Watch at 9:55am on Zoom, or any time on YouTube.
Next Sunday
We look forward to celebrating P.I.E. Sunday along with Affirm United. We will hear guest preacher Jordan Sullivan with his sermon “The Stranger Who Dwells Among Us” as well as two different virtual choirs! Be sure to mark your calendar for this recognition of our commitment to be Public, Intentional, and Explicit in our commitment to being an Affirming congregation.
You may also want to wear rainbow colours while watching the service, and maybe even enjoy a slice of pie!
World Day of Prayer (WDP) has been happening in Canada for 99 years! The 2021 service was written by the WDP committee of Vanuatu inspired by the Biblical theme “Build on a Strong Foundation” (Matthew 7; 24-27).
World Day of Prayer has been an important ministry for women as they lead services within their communities for their own denominations and ecumenically year after year. In 2021, COVID-19 encouraged the production of a full-length World Day of Prayer video service by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada, featuring participants from across Canada.
This one-hour video can be viewed here:
Jordan Sullivan is a trans man who worked at the United Church of Canada’s General Council Office from 2000 to 2020, where his work included the work of LGBTQIA2S+ Justice. In a previous life Jordan was a teacher in Seventh-day Adventist schools (his faith roots), and he worked for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Durham Region for 10 years. In 1999 he received an MA in Religious Studies. Jordan transitioned in his early 50’s and blogs intermittently at On Becoming Jordan, from his home in Toronto.
Rob Oliphant was elected as the Member of Parliament for Don Valley West in 2015 and again in 2019. He previously served in that role from 2008 to 2011. He is currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has also served as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
An ordained minister in the United Church of Canada, Rob has served congregations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, and Yukon, and was the Senior Minister at Eglinton St. George’s United Church in North Toronto.
He has been actively engaged in social and economic justice issues, housing for vulnerable Canadians, welcoming of refugees and newcomers, gender justice, the inclusion of people with disabilities, LGBTQ2S and other human rights issues. From 2011 to 2015, Rob served as President and CEO of the Asthma Society of Canada.
He earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, a Master of Divinity from the Vancouver School of Theology, and a Doctorate from the Chicago Theological Seminary located at the University of Chicago.
You must be logged in to post a comment.