Another week of church … at … HOME!
HOME???
Where is HOME?
For some, home is a house.
For some, an apartment.
For others, a condo, a trailer, a cottage, a care facility.
For some, home is not a building or a room or perhaps even a place. As the weather here turns colder we are holding all of our ‘outdoor friends’ in our prayers.
For some, ‘home is where the heart is.’ Home may be the household they remember from their childhood. Or home may be not a place, but relationships. Being at home is being with those you love.
Every Messy Church gathering concludes with the singing of the hymn ‘Like a Rock’. That hymn concludes with the words “Our home is in God evermore.”
Jesus said that in God’s house – God’s home – there are many rooms – there is room for all.
As we continue to ‘stay at home’, let us remember that our home is in God; that our home is in the heart of God; that ‘being at home’ is being loved as part of God’s creation.
Whatever ‘home’ we inhabit this week, let us see it as a home inhabited by God. Let us be at home in the love of God.
We will continue to worship God ‘at home’ during this pandemic. We continue both to create online resources and to share resources from other sources.
Here is a link to worship resources related to Isaiah 40;21-31, provided by ‘Illustrated Ministry’. Included are the scripture reading, questions for reflection, a colouring page and instructions for making an ’empowerment collage’.
While winter continues, Spring will inevitably arrive, which means it is time to start preparing the season of gardening!
This year we will again be partnering with Glenlea Greenhouses for a spring fundraiser. Due to pandemic restrictions, this will again be one of the few fundraisers we can hold this year. Last year, despite all its challenges we were able to raise $1700 for the General Fund!
This year, Glenlea has made a few modifications to help make ordering more socially distant. Everything you need to order is available online here:
You can order anytime from now until April 15. Please order early to get your favourites!
The delivery date for TMUC is May 14. If there is a large volume of orders, we may be in contact with you to set a pick-up time on that date, depending on the provincial health orders in May.
If you have any questions, please email tmucflowers@gmail.com
Thank you and we hope to see you on May 14.
TMUC will be holding its 2020 Annual Meeting via Zoom on Sunday March 7, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Further details will be available in future emails.
We continue to be so grateful for those who continue to financially support the ministry of TMUC, through your donations on PAR, through www.canadahelps.org
and in cheques mailed to the church. You 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 10:00, let’s think about the gifts we have in our lives, and needs of our world, and then let’s all 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.
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.
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 7, 2021.
Introit: Prepare the Way of the Lord, sung by Cheryl and Crystal:
We come to worship to hear Good News,
We come to worship to know God’s love,
We are united in heart and in community,
And everywhere we are God’s people.
Our opening hymn is “How Great Thou Art”
Jeff shares a story about a dog, it’s owner and the faithful love of God!
Printable Version:
Faithful Love
Mark 1:29-34
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons, and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Jeff offers a reflection on this week’s gospel reading:
Printable Version:
REFLECTION- Jesus the Healer
Let us pray:
In the deep silences…
…You are there, God.
In the roars and horns of city traffic…
…You are there, God.
In the brilliance of sun reflected from snow…
…You are there, God.
In the shadows that emerge as dusk arrived…
…You are there, God.
Wherever we are…You are there, God.
Let us live in Your presence.
Let the breath that enters and leaves our bodies, assure us that we are alive in You, and that You are around, amongst and within us.
Open our senses, our imaginations, our hearts and our souls to Your love opening throughout creation.
We open ourselves to Your Spirit, God, in prayer.
We pray for all those developing and distributing Covid-19 immunization vaccines. We pray for a time when people can again gather, visit, travel, worship and be together as family and friends.
We pray for peace in places of conflict. We pray for the people of Mynamar, the people of Afghanistan and Syria. We pray for peace throughout the world.
We pray for refugees. We pray for all who live without a country or a home to welcome them. We pray for a world in which everyone has a place to call home.
We pray for healing – healing of the attitudes that separate and segregate those perceived as different, or less worthy or unfamiliar.
We pray for healing and reconciliation in a world of unjust practices and dehumanizing prejudices.
We pray for spirits of compassion and practices of blessing.
We pray for all who live with the challenges of disease, of physical limitations and pains. We pray for all who struggle daily with sorrows and discouragements.
God, awaken the spirit of Christ in ourselves and in this world, that we might be people of life-enhancing faith, sustaining hope and courageous love, and that your love might shine in and through our living.
In Christ’s name we pray. AMEN
Our closing hymn is “God, Whose Almighty Word”:
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,
Carol and Jeff