How to begin this week, when so many in Canada and around the world are reeling from the shock of the shooting in Nova Scotia?

The Moderator of The United Church of Canada, the Right Rev. Richard Bott, shares his prayer:

For the people of Portapique,
neighbours and community,
grieving today,
I pray.
 
For the victims of the shooting,
though I don’t know name or number,
I pray.
 
For their pain and their loss,
for their shock and confusion,
for all that has happened because of
this violence,
I pray your grace,
your compassion,
your strong presence,
your overwhelming love,
God of all creation.
 
In Jesus’ name…  Amen.

A number of years ago, Walter Farquharson and Ron Klusmeier wrote “As Children of Your Love”.
It is a hymn for a time of grief – with Ron and Walter’s permission, Cheryl Jackson has recorded it for us to share today:

We face no grief alone…

As we think about all that is happening in our world, it is important to stay in touch with one another.  We are inviting you to our weekly ZOOM check in.  Please click this link on Thursday at 9:00 am to join others from the TMUC community in a time of conversation.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7538449219

This is Volunteer Appreciation Week, and even though we cannot gather and express our thanks to all those who serve the church and the community as volunteers, we can use our ZOOM time to offer thanks.

And, please remember that today is Earth Day.  This time of physical distancing is giving us an occasion to pause.  We have seen the images of less global pollution, and that is a good thing.  And we can make a difference in this time.   Let’s do our part in picking up litter, in following the mantra of ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’.  Let’s care for our gardens and green space.

Let’s remember the words from A New Creed:

We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.
We keep you in our prayers and look forward to seeing you on ZOOM tomorrow!

Carol and Jeff