A Week of Apples and Oranges!
Save the Date!
Next Sunday (November 29) Advent begins, and we will gather for a brief online worship at 10, followed by the (on ZOOM) Annual Meeting at 10:30. The link will be sent next week but we hope that this is a convenient time for you to attend a ZOOM!
We are not yet in Advent, but more and more Christmas decorations are appearing in our neighbourhoods. It seems people are especially eager for some good news and happy times in the midst of stricter lockdown requirements. This week’s scripture is all about caring for one another — and certainly that is the key message for us this day — you’ll hear it from Esther and Emmett and Apples and Oranges, in Jeff’s reflection, as well as from our political and health leaders. Being part of a caring community is living out our faith – community united while apart.
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.
For those who receive the Prayer List, you will notice a change this week. We are adding the names of those we know in our community who are working in Health Care and Education. We are doing this in response to requests from those who gather on the Thursday Morning Zoom. 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, November 22, 2020
We come to worship with the first verse of ‘Come Touch Our Hearts’
We gather together although we are apart.
We gather in community although we are alone.
We gather asking for God’s blessing on our lives, and on our world.
We gather knowing God is with us.
Our opening hymn is “O Worship the King”
Esther and Emmett are reflecting on apples and oranges, sheep and goats.
Printable Version:
Esther & Emmett_November 22
Matthew 25:31-46
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?”
And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.”
Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?”
Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
Jeff offers a reflection:
Printable Version:
Jeff’s Reflection_November 22
Let us pray:
God…
There is so much mystery, so much wonder, so much awe in that word…
God…
A name we give to the Source of all life,
the heart of all creation
the Love that encompasses all
and that dwells in all.
God…
…the one to Whom we offer thanks,
Thanks for a rainbow-coloured world,
thanks for northern lights and prairie vastness,
thanks for majesty of mountains and for light sparkling at play across a watery surface,
thanks for the depths of our humanity:
for courage in times of turmoil;
for compassion in times of pain;
for wisdom in times of division;
for friendship in times of despair.
God…
in prayer we listen,
and we express through word, through thought, through feeling,
through yearning,
our hopes, our hurts, our hungering for healing.
We pray God for all who grieve… grieve the death of loved ones;
grieve loss of dreams, of relationships, of abilities, of possessions.
We pray for all whose lives and homes have been displaced by fires, floods, typhoons, tornadoes, drought or other destructive forces.
We pray for those living with cancer, dementia, MS, Parkinson’s…
for those living with any physical, mental or emotional challenges or illness.
We pray for all who live in situations of violence – in places of war, of conflict, in relationships that are abusive or domineering.
We pray for all who feel lonely, neglected, betrayed, or unappreciated.
We pray for all who carry responsibilities of leadership, guidance or support.
God, life can be so complex,
so unpredictable, so filled with both blessing and brokenness.
So we pray…pray for healing;
pray for right relations;
pray for friendship, for compassion, for generosity, for a just and equitable sharing of resources.
We pray for this world to reflect Your presence.
We pray for our lives to be grounded in Your love.
We pray for peace that is deep and promising;
and we pray that the love embodied in Christ be the love we give to one another and to all creation.
In Christ’s name we pray. AMEN
Our closing hymn is “We Meet You O Christ”
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