It’s the August Long Weekend! Happy Terry Fox Day!

And — Greetings for another week of ‘Church at home’!

Jaina is sharing a gift of music with us this week.

It follows the lesson from the Gospel – ‘I Don’t have Loaves and Fishes’

It is our goal each week this summer to offer a treat like this – a story being read, or a song being sung.  If you would like to help with this, please send us a note at tmuc@shaw.ca and we can make the arrangements with you.

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.

Once each week, the Prayer List will arrive in the ‘Inbox’ of those who want to read the names of those we know need and want our prayers.  If you want to add a name to the weekly Prayer List, please do – ask for a person’s permission if you are adding their last name – and let us know by sending a note to tmuc@shaw.ca  And, if you want to receive the list, please be in touch with that request as well.

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, August 2, 2020

We come to worship with ‘Spirit God, Be Our Breath’ (which is 150 in More Voices if you have a hymn book and want to sing along):

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 “Break Now the Bread of Life”

Story for All

Esther and Emmett know the story of Jesus and the disciples feeding the crowd with just a few loaves and fish.

Here’s what happens when Emmett wants to see if it can work at home:

Printable Version:
Story for All_Aug 2

Scripture

Matthew 14:13-21

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.”

Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Reflection

Jeff and Carol offer a reflection:

Printable Version:
SERMON Aug 2

Let us pray:

Holy and heavenly God,

We thank you for the time that we have to live our lives as your disciples.  We thank you for the opportunity to learn and to love.  We thank you for the miracles that fill our lives – the awareness that we are made in your image, that we are loved and beloved from our very beginning, that nothing ever separates us from your love or your presence.

As we offer our prayers this day, we begin to think of the needs of this world.

We think about the many parts of this earth that are abused by human arrogance or neglect.  We think about plants and animals that are endangered.  We think about our own preferences for convenience over care, and our own responsibilities in this world with so many disposable things.  Help us to hear your call to be faith filled stewards of creation.  Help us to care and to live knowing that the fragility of this planet depends on our actions.

We think about the many people of this earth that are in need.  We think about people who are separated from those they love by the restrictions of this pandemic.  We think about those who are sick and who need the touch of healing and compassion.  We think about those who are isolated, those in prison, those who are refugees, those who are exiled.

We think about the people whose names and faces we do not know but who are known to You, O God.

Bring healing and hope.  Help us to be instruments of your love.  Hear our thoughts and our words for we pray to you this day and always in Christ’ name.  Amen.

Our closing hymn is “Wherever You May Go”

God bless you and keep you.
God’s face shine upon you.
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