In conversation this week – ‘I ordered flowers this week and it was the most hopeful thing for me – it reminded me that spring is coming!’
Hope is not just a word for the Advent, the season before Christmas. Hope is what sees us through a long winter. Hope is what sees us through a pandemic. Hope is what carries us, when our strength is lost.
Emily Dickenson wrote:
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
So we wonder, what is hopeful for you these days? Or what is the tune – without the words – echoing in your heart? We would love to hear from you!
And, as always, there is news to share:
TMUC’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday March 6 at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be held online. We are invited to join in worship prior to the meeting. We will worship online at 10 a.m. Communion will be celebrated during the worship time. The Annual Report and the proposed Environmental Policy are available on the website at www.tmuc.ca.
TMUC’s Glenlea Greenhouse plant sale fundraiser is available for online shopping until April 15, 2022. Get growing with us by supporting the online plant sale by clicking on the link and selecting Transcona Memorial United Church in the drop down menu at check out.
There are bedding plants, hanging baskets, hanging bags, vegetables, and herbs for sale with 20-25% of profits being returned to TMUC. The more we sell, the more we get back. Please see the link for more information.
The plants will be delivered to TMUC on Friday May 13 and pick up usually starts around 4pm. If you require delivery, please contact tmucflowers@gmail.com and we can make arrangements with you.
We are thankful for the grace and blessing of everyone 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.
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.
Donations on PAR (note: the PAR program now accepts monthly credit card donations as well as automatic monthly bank withdrawals), Canada Helps, 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. 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, February 27, 2022
Introit: “Joy is now in Every Place”:
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 “When Morning Gilds the Skies”:
Esther and Emmett talk about Transfiguration!
Printable Version:
Esther and Emmett – Feb 27
Scripture reading:
Luke 9:28-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he said.
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Carol offers a reflection:
Printable Version:
Carol Reflection – Feb 27
Anthem: Shine on Us
Prayer:
On this Transfiguration Sunday, we use the prayer offered by Alydia Smith of the General Council of The United Church of Canada.
We begin by thinking of our experiences of the past days and weeks.
We think about those things for which we are thankful, and those things which are our worries and concerns. We think about the needs and hurts of our world.
Let us pray:
We turn to embrace the rising Sun.
The fire that burns brilliantly in the morning sky.
Its glow gleams in the growing earth and glistens in sea and sky.
[turn east with hands outstretched for silent reflection]
We turn to embrace the dazzling Son.
May his fire burn in our hearts.
May his glow gleam through our actions and glisten in our love for others.
[turn west with hands outstretched for silent reflection]
Amen.
—a prayer for Transfiguration Sunday by Alydia Smith
Our closing hymn is “How Good, Lord, to Be Here”
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