We have reached the last Sunday of the year!
Not the last Sunday of the year 2021, but the last Sunday of the ‘Christian Year’.
The Christian Year is also referred to as the ‘liturgical year.’
The Christian Year begins with Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas. Next Sunday, November 28, is the first Sunday of Advent.
The last Sunday of the year is referred to as ‘The Reign of Christ’ Sunday. If you want to know more about the Reign of Christ, watch this week’s installment of Esther and Emmett (see below in the worship service) as Emmett also learns more about the last Sunday 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.
In addition to all the additional gifts of food, toys, and money that is so generously given to the Transcona Food Bank, this Christmas season, TMUC is supporting the Holiday Hamper program of the Plessis Resource Centre. The Centre will provide Christmas hampers to every family in the Plessis, Robson, Kernighan Manitoba Housing community.
The staff of the Centre, Melissa, Debra, Erin and Rick are looking for gifts of:
- Canned vegetables (corn, peas, mixed vegetables)
- Canned soups (vegetable, chicken noodle, tomato)
- Stove Top stuffing
- Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni)
- Pasta Sauce
- Cereal
- Peanut Butter
- Jam
- Granola bars
- Cookies
Grocery Gift Cards or cash for purchasing perishable items like chickens, potatoes, carrots, onions just before delivery!
And…
They are also hoping for new unwrapped gifts for children aged 4-12 years. Please donate toys, books, or games that are not gender specific.
Any donations may be dropped off at the Plessis Resource Centre (1190 Plessis Road – you can call 204.777.1215 to confirm a drop-off time)
or
at TMUC on Sunday mornings before church (9:30 – 10:00 a.m.) on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 or Dec. 12; or at the church office between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursdays – Dec 9 or 14.
Thank you for helping us share in this community act of gift-giving.
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 21, 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 I Love to Tell the Story:
Esther and Emmett talk about “Rain and Reign”:
Printable Version:
Esther and Emmett – Nov 21
Scripture readings:
Revelation 1:4b-8
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”
Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Carol offers a reflection:
Printable Version:
Carol Reflection – Nov 21
Let us pray:
God, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Your grace reign in this world,
The Spirit of the resurrected Christ shape our living and our loving.
God, we pray for guidance so that humans may learn to live as respectful and peace-making partners with all of Your creation.
We pray for wisdom to change our life-styles and give this world a chance to heal from the climate change we have caused.
We pray for all throughout the world who are experiencing severe weather. We pray for the people of British Columbia recovering from the rain, flooding and mudslides that caused so much damage this past week.
We pray for the human family as we continue to confront COVID-19. We pray for all who are hospitalized and who are ill. We pray for all healthcare workers providing support and care. We pray for vaccines to be available throughout the world.
We pray for peace in this world.
We pray that those who are hungry receive food.
We pray that all who are sick have access to medical care.
We pray that all who have fled places of threat be welcomed into safety.
We pray that all who struggle with personal challenges are accompanied by supportive communities of family and friends and caregivers.
We pray that those who are lonely be befriended.
We pray that we live as compassionate people.
We pray that Christ reign in our hearts and our imaginations so that we be people of courageous love, generous gratitude, healing presence and faithful living.
We pray in the name and Spirit of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Our closing hymn is Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above:
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