June 4th 2023 – “Learning Together”

2023-06-04 "Learning together" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday Edythe Arnott will be leading us in worship. 

Last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost as we commemorated the Holy Spirit descending upon the Apostles and followers of Jesus Christ.  With the Holy Spirit indwelling each believer of Jesus Christ, they were now equipped and ready to spread the gospel far and wide in the great commission (Matthew 28: 16-20).  It isn’t easy being Jesus’ disciples – or making disciples!  Jesus – and the apostle Paul – offer us words of encouragement in their farewell addresses to their disciples and faith community.  

The image above is by JESUS MAFA.  The mission to the world, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 436: “God, we praise you for the morning”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 299: “Holy, holy, holy” (vs 2 & 4 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 8
Gloria Patri
Matthew 28: 16-20 (en français – English on the screen)
2 Corinthians 13: 11-14
Sermon: “Learning together”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 764: “There’s a spirit in the air” (To tune Monkland #96)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 769: “Lord of light, whose name and splendour”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

May 28th 2023 – “Come Holy Spirit!”

2023-05-28 "Come Holy Spirit!" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

Thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to the congregational workday on Friday, we got a lot done, your contributions are sincerely appreciated! 

This Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost, which takes place on the 50th day after Easter Sunday.  In the Israelite calendar of Biblical feasts, Pentecost (Shavuot) is also known as Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, and the Latter Firstfruits.  During this time the Israelites would present an offering of new grain of the summer wheat harvest to the Lord and show thankfulness for the Lord’s blessing of harvest.  This feast also celebrates the giving of the Law from Mount Sinai, and the revelation of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) to Moses.  

On the day of Pentecost, the apostles and fellow believers were all gathered together, when the sound of a mighty rushing wind came down from heaven, and tongues of fire rested on them (Acts 2: 1-21).  Just as God appeared on Mount Sinai in thunder, wind, and fire, so God’s glory and Holy Spirit also filled the apostles’ room and shook Jerusalem.  


Order Of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 386: “Come down, O Love divine”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Psalm 104 (paraphrase) Hymn #70 (Sung to tune St. Fulbert)
Gloria Patri
Acts 2: 1-21
Blessing of the Children
Hymn 400: “Spirit of the living God”
Numbers 11: 24-30 (en français – English on the screen)
John 7: 37-39
Sermon: “Come Holy Spirit!”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 399: “Spirit, Spirit of gentleness” (vs 2 & 3 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn: “O glorious day when God’s love overflowed” (Sung to tune #135)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

May 21, 2023 -“When questions don’t matter!”

2023-05-21 "Waiting" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

Our gospel lesson is taken from Luke 24: 44-53, the ascension of Jesus Christ.  Before leaving His disciples, He gave them some instructions and some promises.  How they spent their time as they waited for those promises to be fulfilled can be instructive to us as we live between the ‘already’ and ‘not yet’ of God’s kingdom.  The late Presbyterian pastor and theologian, Timothy Keller, had this to say about Christ’s ascension: “He controls all things for the church, and therefore you can face the world with peace in your heart… He’s at the right hand of God as the executive director of history, directing everything for the benefit of the church. If you belong to him, then everything that happens ultimately happens for you.”  What comfort we have in our Good Shepherd! 


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 327: “Sing praise to God who reigns above”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 442: “Speak Lord in the stillness”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 47
Gloria Patri
Acts 1: 1-11
Ephesians 1: 15-23
Luke 24: 44-53
Sermon: “When questions don’t matter!”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 273: “Jesus, our mighty Lord”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 274: “Crown him with many crowns” (vs 3 & 4 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

May 14th 2023 – “Bringing it all together”

2023-05-14 "Bringing it all together" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday ​the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

Our Scripture reading is taken from John 14: 14-21.  Before Christ’s ascension into heaven, He promises His disciples that He would send a “Helper”, the Holy Spirit, to be with them and to indwell within them.  Some English translations also use the word Advocate, Comforter or Counselor.  The original Greek word for helper is paraclete: one who advocates for or intercedes on behalf of another; one who comforts, consoles, helps or comes alongside to give aid.

The Holy Spirit lives in all believers, this is God’s promise to us.  Knowing this, the Apostle Paul writes, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39) Amen!


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 248: “At the dawning of salvation”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn: “In Christ alone” (vs 2 & 3 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 66: 8-13, 16-20
Gloria Patri
Acts 17: 22-31
1 Peter 3: 13-22 (en français; English on the screen)
John 14: 14-21
Sermon: “Bringing it all together”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 358: “There is a redeemer” (vs 2 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn: “We have a gospel to proclaim”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

May 7th 2023 – “Seeking God”

2023-04-30 "Seeking God" 11 AM

Dear Friends,

This Sunday Edythe Arnott will be leading us in worship.

Our Gospel lesson takes place in Romans 8: 35-39, “God’s everlasting love.” 

Sometimes it seems God is far away.  It seems like we’re living in a spiritual desert.  The psalmist experienced those kinds of feelings, too.  On Sunday, we’ll reflect on the kinds of things he did when he was in those times – and think about what we might do as well.

We look forward to worshipping together on this Lord’s Day, and hearing Edythe’s message, “Seeking God”!


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 321: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 461: “Be thou my vision”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 63: 1-9
Gloria Patri
First Lesson: Lamentations 3: 21-26, 31-33 (en français; English on screen)
Second Lesson: Romans 8: 35-39
Sermon: “Seeking God”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 314: “God is love: come heaven, adoring”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 685: “How firm a foundation”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

April 30th 2023 -“Finding Life”

2023-04-30 "Finding Life" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday Edythe Arnott will be leading us in worship. 

We often think of Psalm 23 as a rather idyllic picture of pastoral life.  But, as one commentator writes, danger lurks at the margins.  This is true of both Psalm 23 and John 10: 1-10.  On Sunday we’ll reflect on some of the dangers and the joys of being Jesus’ sheep.  

Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”  We look forward to hearing Edythe Arnott’s sermon, “Finding Life.”  


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 258: “Thine be the glory” (vs 3 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 11: “The Lord’s my shepherd” (vs 2 & 4 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 23
Gloria Patri
First Lesson: Acts 2: 42-47 (en français; English on the screen)
Second Lesson: John 10: 1-10
Sermon: “Finding Life”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 485: “Saviour, like a shepherd lead us”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 666: “Living God, your joyful Spirit” (Sung to tune 534)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

April 23rd 2023 -“Do We Have Something to Eat?”

2023-04-23 "Do we have something to eat?" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Susan Brasier will be leading us in worship and Communion. 

This Sunday, we will be celebrating Communion – a holy meal symbolizing unity, gratitude, and remembrance – as we explore the story of Jesus serving the meal to his companions from his walk to Emmaus.  Our gospel lesson is found in Luke 24: 13-35 “on the road to Emmaus.”  

Let us, as the Apostle Paul instructs the church in 1 Corinthians 11: 17-33, prepare and examine ourselves before we partake in this blessed sacrament that the Lord has appointed for us. 


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 262: “Come to us beloved stranger”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
Anthem: “Come, share this feast of love”
The time for children of all ages
Hymn: “Day of arising”
Responsive reading: Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19
The first lesson: 1 Peter 1: 17-23
The second lesson: Luke 24: 13-35
Sermon: “Do we have something to eat?”
Offering and Offertory
Invitation to the table
Hymn 548: “Let us break bread together”
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer
Communion
Hymn 263: “They set out on their homeward road”
Benediction

April 16th 2023 – “Shut The Door Please!”

2023-04-16 "Shut the door please!" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

This Sunday marks the Second Sunday of Easter.  Our gospel lesson is taken from John 20: 19-31.  After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, on the evening of the first day of the week (Sunday), the disciples silently gathered in a locked room, afraid that the Jewish authorities would come and kill them, just as Jesus was killed a few days before.  During this time, as the disciples were huddled together behind locked doors in fear and confusion, Jesus suddenly and miraculously appeared before them, and greeted them, “Peace be with you.”

There was a moment of shock and trepidation from His disciples as Luke 24: 37 records, “But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.”  They couldn’t believe their eyes!  Jesus spoke to them again, and comforted them saying, “Peace be with you” for the second time (John 20: 21), and showed them His pierced hands, feet, and side.  He is truly risen!  As believers in Jesus, we too are recipients of the peace that He extends to His disciples.  Praise be to God! 


Order Of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 258: “Thine be the glory” (vs 2 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 249: “Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord”
Responsive reading: Psalm 16
Gloria Patri
First Lesson: Acts 2: 22-32 (en français; English on the screen)
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
The Gospel: John 20: 19-31
Sermon: “Shut the door please!”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 626: “Lord of all power” Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 746: “What a friend we have in Jesus” (vs 2 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

April 9th 2023 -“It’s Easter – what else needs to break?”

2023-04-09 "It’s Easter – what else needs to break?" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

Our Special Easter offering (the yellow envelope in your envelope box) has been designated toward the work of Camp d’Action Biblique (CAB), our Presbyterian summer camp in Richmond, QC – a roughly 90 minute drive from the South Shore.  It is a camp where children and youth can spend a week in the summer and live in Christian community while having a great time.  For more information, visit: www.cabqc.ca

This Sunday is Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, where we celebrate and proclaim our Lord’s victory over death by His rising from the grave on the third day (Luke 24:46, 1 Corinthians 15:4).  

What does the resurrection of Christ mean to us?  Living Faith, a statement of Christian belief prepared under the direction of the Committee on Church Doctrine of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (the green booklet in the church pews), has this to say in chapter 3.5:  

  “Jesus suffered, died and was buried, but God raised him from the dead.  Risen and ascended, he is alive now, the living Lord.  His resurrection means that our faith is not empty, that final victory is assured over all evil powers which destroy and deform life, and that death, the last enemy, is conquered.  The forces of the evil one still wage war against us.  The destructive powers are still present.  But their end is not in doubt.  We await the full revelation of our Lord’s triumph.  We worship our ascended Lord.  Reigning in glory and power he is our High Priest and Advocate interceding before the Father on our behalf.  Through him we offer our sacrifice of praise, with prayer for all to the Father.  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

The Lord is risen indeed! Hallelujah! 


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 243: “Jesus Christ is risen today” (vs 2&3 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
Sung response Hymn 523: “Christ has died, Christ is risen” (vs 2 en français)
The Lord’s Prayer
Choir Anthem: Christ Is Risen, Alleluia!
Children’s Time
Hymn 249: “The day of resurrection”
Responsive reading: Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
Gloria Patri
First Lesson: Acts 10: 34-43 (en français; English on the screen)
Second Lesson: Colossians 3: 1-4
The Gospel: John 20: 1-18
Sermon: “It’s Easter – what else needs to break?”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 252: “He is Lord” (vs 2 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 257: “The strife is o’er, the battle done”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

April 2nd 2023 – “Following Jesus”

2023-04-02 "Following Jesus" 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday Edythe Arnott will be leading us in worship. 

Our Special Easter offering (the yellow envelope in your envelope box) has been designated toward the work of Camp d’Action Biblique (CAB), our Presbyterian summer camp in Richmond, QC – a roughly 90 minute drive from the South Shore.  It is a camp where children and youth can spend a week in the summer and live in Christian community while having a great time.  For more information, visit: www.cabqc.ca

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, where we commemorate our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Our Gospel reading is taken from Matthew 21: 1-11, “The Triumphal Entry”.  Everywhere Jesus went, he seemed to gather crowds and followers.   As Jesus came closer to Jerusalem, he knew what lay ahead of Him, but probably most of those following didn’t.  Even the twelve disciples didn’t fully understand.  As we follow Jesus on our journey through life, maybe Palm Sunday and Holy Week are good times to reflect on what following Jesus means for us today.   


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Waving of the Palms Processional; Hymn 214: “All glory laud & honour”
Lenten Liturgy
Hymn 78: “This is the day”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 416: “Blessed Jesus, at your word”
Responsive reading: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
Gloria Patri
New Testament reading Matthew 21: 1-11 (en français, English on the screen)
Sermon: “Following Jesus”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 379: “The servant king”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 218: “Hosanna, loud hosanna”
Benediction