Welcome to another week of ‘Church at Home’!

Have you ever said, ‘Please, tell me a story?’  Or has someone said to you – ever – ‘Please, read me a story.’

Stories give us glimpses of life.  They engage our imaginations and can offer time for reflection on things very serious, or very frivolous.  They can remind us of life and invite us to be transformed.

Storybooks can have a special place in our hearts.  Today, Devan Ostapyk has reached onto her bookshelf and found a story to read to us.  It is ‘The Party’ by Barbara Reid.

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.  (People who subscribed to the Prayer List before the pandemic will continue to receive it.)

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, July 19, 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 “Like a River of Tears”

Story for All

Esther and Emmett talk about Delivering God’s Love

Printable Version:
Esther and Emmett Deliver God_July 19

Romans 8:18-25

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Jeff offers a reflection:

Printable Version: 
Sermon for July 19

Let us pray:

Holy God,

What joy there is to hear good news.
We thank you for the good news of love lived out,
Of righteousness celebrated,
Of peace attained.

We give thanks for recognition of work well done,
And the care and diligence of those who serve others.

We give thanks for your gifts of laughter and hope.

As we thank you for the beauty of the earth, and the glory of the skies,
Help us to know that your love around us lies.

Hear our prayers, O God, for we place our trust in You.
We live in a world in crisis.
We know that the planet is hurting, and that people are hurting.

We know that you are present with us and we need your love and your healing.

Hear us as we pray for this planet.  For ecosystems that are polluted, for animals that face extinction, for resources that are misused.

Hear us as we pray for people.  For those who are refugees in a closed border world; for those who are oppressed and cannot find justice; for those who are sick and cannot afford care.

We pray for people whose names and faces we do know, and we pray for those who are strangers to us, but beloved children to you O God.

Help us to deliver your love and grace to others.  Help us to be our faith-filled disciples.

In Christ’s name we pray. AMEN

Our closing hymn is “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

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