We are midway through November, the ninth month of the year…
…or it used to be the ninth month of the year!
The word ‘November’ derives from the Latin word ‘novem’ which means ‘nine.’
The ancient Roman calendar was comprised of 10 months, the ninth one being November.
So what was once the ninth is now the eleventh.
The name – November – stayed the same, but the name moved to designate a different month of the year.
All of which may simply serve to remind us that things change. Words change meanings or add new meanings. ‘Cool’ went from describing the temperature to defining a person’s perceived charisma.
The word ‘church’ has remained the same for 2,000 years, but has come to designate many different ways of being a community of Christ followers.
In the first century, ‘church’ referred to small groups of people gathering in homes or in the backrooms of stores. Later, ‘church’ referred to cathedrals and buildings with spires and pews.
During recent history, ‘church’ has referred to people who gather via ZOOM to worship in the name of Jesus the Christ.
Things change, but throughout the ‘church’ has never been just a building. Church has always been the community of people whose faith and lives are shaped and nurtured by God’s presence experienced in Jesus.
So whether you are worshipping this weekend with TMUC either in-person or via these online resources, remember that you are/we are the church…you/we are companions of Jesus the Christ – every month of the year.
We have resumed in-person worship and Sunday School at 10 a.m. Sundays. Everyone attending TMUC’s in-person worship (unless under 12 years of age) must show proof of full vaccination or proof from the Government of Manitoba that there is a medical reason for the person not to receive a vaccine for COVID-19.
Masks are mandatory and everyone needs to enter the church building via the glass doors of the ‘Community Extension’ entrance. Thanks!
Returning to in-person worship means that greeters are needed for Sunday morning. If you would like more info or to volunteer as a Sunday morning greeter, please contact Shelley Schau, Chair of TMUC’s Worship and Welcome Team. Shelley’s phone is 431-275-9169. Thank you.
This week, the TMUC Council approved the following policy: that full COVID-19 vaccination is required for any person entering TMUC for any purpose which requires access to TMUC’s office, Sanctuary, basement, or multi-purpose room. This includes those accessing TMUC programs, Community Programs, Private rentals or providing services. Exemptions to this are for those under the age eligible for vaccination and those who have Government of Manitoba issued medical exemptions.
While we have returned to in-person worship, we are continuing with our weekly email of worship resources.
The Prayer List is distributed separately and allows us to remember specific people with our prayers. If you want to receive the Prayer List, or add a name (with their permission), please be in touch.
Thanks again to everyone for engaging with us on this COVID-19 journey. We are grateful to share ministry with you and really appreciate your efforts to stay in touch and to continue to care about TMUC with your prayers and your financial support. Donations on PAR (note: the PAR program now accepts monthly credit card donations as well as automatic monthly bank withdrawals), CanadaHelps through www.canadahelps.org, e-transfers to the church’s email address: tmuc@shaw.ca, and cheques mailed to the church are making a difference. Thank you.
Even though we cannot be together in one place, let’s continue to be a community at prayer together. If you are not in the Sanctuary with us on Sunday at 10, please think about the gifts we have in our lives, and needs of our world, and then pray the Lord’s prayer (you can pray silently, or out loud).
And, sometime, when you want to have a longer worship time, we are including some words and videos for your use.
As we share this week’s TMUC worship service, we are called again to listen to our faith community’s words of reconciliation:
We are gathered for worship and work in Treaty One territory, which is the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dené peoples and the homeland of the Metis Nation. For thousands of years Indigenous Peoples walked this land and knew it to be the centre of their lives and their spirituality. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Worship for Sunday, November 14, 2021
Cheryl and Crystal sing the Introit: “Lord, Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary”
Come, Holy Spirit!
Come to awaken our faith,
to inspire our hope
to embolden our love
and to let Christ live in us!
Come, Holy Spirit!
Today’s opening hymn is “Bathe Me in Your Light”:
Esther and Emmett talk about “God’s Towering Love”:
Printable Version:
Esther and Emmett – Nov 14
Scripture readings:
Psalm 16
Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
in whom is all my delight.
Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Mark 13:1-8
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?”
Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Jeff offers a reflection:
Printable Version:
Jeff Reflection – Nov 14
Let us pray:
God, we live in a world of Your creation.
We live as thankful people,
thankful for Life, thankful for our senses
that allow us to hear, see, taste, smell and feel this world
and then to marvel, to wonder, to appreciate the amazing mystery and beauty and awe of all that You have made.
God, we live in a world of Your creation,
but we have not learned how to live at peace and in harmony with Your world.
So we pray, God, give vision and courage to world leaders to make the decisions and implement the actions needed to address climate change and limit temperature increases. Give vision and courage to all of us to live responsibly and respectfully with all creation.
We pray for also for the human family as COVID continues to claim lives. We pray that vaccinations be available and accessed throughout the world.
We pray for all who live in places of conflict and war. We pray for the people of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Ethiopia. We pray for the migrants gathered along the border of Belarus and Poland.
We pray for all who live with cancer and with other diseases of the body and mind. We pray for healing, we pray for supportive communities, we pray for them to know Your love with them.
We pray for all who feel anxious; for all who are lonely; for all who struggle to love themselves. We are all Your children, God. May Your Spirit create loving hearts and practices in our living and our relationships.
We pray for a world in which people are welcomed and resources are shared; in which all have food, shelter, friendships, access to clean water and medical aid and education.
We pray that we who are companions of Christ might be sources of healing and hope in our communities and in Your world.
We pray in the name and Spirit of the one we call our Saviour, Jesus the Christ. AMEN
Our closing hymn is “Three Things I Promise”
May God bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you.
May God grant you peace and joy.
Be in the peace of Christ, this day and always. Amen
We keep you in our prayers,
Jeff and Carol