When children at camp or in church sing ‘Hey, Hey, Anybody Listening?’, the chorus goes:
I’ve got Good News, Good News, Good News, Good News…
And so if there was a musical introduction to today’s worship, it might be that! In the coming weeks, TMUC will provide an opportunity for people to return to in person worship.
Audrey Lumsden, Chair of Council, has the details in a letter to the congregation which will be sent under a separate email, posted on our website and mailed to those in our congregation without email.
As we move into this transition time, we are deeply grateful for your prayer, care and 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.
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. 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, September 12, 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!
Our opening hymn is played by Lynne and sung by Crystal and Cheryl, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”:
Esther and Emmett talk about all creation praising God!
Printable Version:
Esther & Emmett _Sept 12
Scripture readings:
Psalm 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Our second hymn follows the reading of the Gospel. “Open My Eyes, That I May See is shared by Crystal and Cheryl:
Carol offers a reflection:
Printable Version:
Carol Reflection_Sept 12
Let us pray:
God, open our eyes, our hearts, our imaginations, our souls
So that we may see the world as Your creation,
So that we may hear the heavens proclaim Your glory
So that we may trust Your love enfolding all creation
So that we may be companions of the resurrected Christ
Offering hope and healing in this world.
We pray for this world, God.
We pray for the healing of this planet;
We confess that we have too often taken this world for granted and that human beings have created climate changes that now affect us globally.
We pray that all humanity seek the healing of this planet; that we adopt new practices of sustainable and environmentally-respectful living.
We pray today for the people of Newfoundland and for all who continue to cope with the effects of wildfires, hurricanes, drought and other devastating and threatening conditions.
We pray, God, for peace in this world. We pray for those who live in places of war, conflict, abuse and violence.
We pray for the people of Afghanistan. We pray for the people of Yemen, Sudan and Ethiopia.
We pray for all people as we continue to live in a world of COVID-19. We pray for global access to vaccinations. We pray for health care workers as they continue compassionately and courageously working and serve during this pandemic.
We pray for all who are living and coping with illness, with disease, with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenges and struggles. We pray for healing, we pray for communities of support and love.
We pray for students, teachers, instructors and staff of schools, universities and colleges. We pray for a year of learning, of personal growth, of friendships and of studying in safe and nurturing communities.
We pray for faith communities as we continue to worship online and as many again gather in-person to worship.
We pray, God, that we who follow the way of Christ will grow in love and in faith, and that we will embody Christ’s compassion in this world.
We pray in the name and spirit of Jesus the Christ. AMEN
Our closing hymn is “Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands” shared by Cheryl Jackson and Stephen McKendry-Smith:
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