• April 7th 2024 -“When Fear seems greater than our faith”

    Dear friends,

    THIS SUNDAY the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship.

    HE IS RISEN INDEED!  What a wonderful worship service we had last week, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour.  We extend our gratitude to our director of music, Henry Cobb Howes, special trumpeter Daniel Howells, and our choir for their outstanding musical performances during the Easter service.  As we journey through this week, may we always keep our eyes fixed on the risen and living Christ.

    OUR GOSPEL READING is John 20: 19-31, “Jesus Appears to the Disciples”.  The passage recounts Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection.  Initially, Thomas, one of the disciples, doubts that Jesus has truly risen until he sees him and touches his wounds.  This event emphasizes the importance of faith and serves as a testament to Jesus’ bodily resurrection.  One commentator notes, “Jesus responded to Thomas with a blessing on those who would believe in his resurrection without seeing Jesus’ physical, resurrected body (verse 29).  This was probably not a rebuke of Thomas for needing evidence to believe.  More likely, Jesus was signaling that those who believe in him without seeing his physical, resurrected body are just as blessed as Thomas and the other disciples who did see it.  We who believe in Jesus based on the apostolic testimony are not lesser disciples than those who saw him in the flesh.”

    EVERYONE IS INVITED to join us downstairs after the service on Sunday to enjoy coffee, cookies and conversation.


    Order of Service

    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 260: “Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the living Lord”
    Psalm 133
    Gloria Patri
    First Lesson: Acts 4: 32-36 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
    Second Lesson: 1 John 1:1 – 2:2
    The Gospel – John 20: 19-31
    Sermon: “When fear seems greater than our faith!”
    Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
    Hymn: “Be still for the presence of the Lord” (vs 2 en français)
    Offering and Offertory
    Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
    Hymn 250: “Lord of the dance”
    Benediction
    Go now in peace
    Postlude


  • March 24th 2024 – “What is good for us is hidden”

    Dear friends,

    THERE WILL BE PALM BRANCHES available to everyone upon entering the sanctuary.  Please be sure to receive yours from one of the ushers.  Everyone is invited to process around the sanctuary, waving their palms, at the time of The Procession, right after the reading from Mark’s gospel.

    OUR GOSPEL READING is taken from Mark 11: 1-11, “The Triumphal Entry”.  In his account, Mark describes Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, where he rides on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9: 9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  The crowds welcome him with enthusiasm, laying down their cloaks and palm branches while chanting “Hosanna!” (“Save us!”).  This event signifies the beginning of Holy Week and is commemorated by fellow Christians all around the world as Palm Sunday, symbolizing Jesus’ role as the promised Messiah and King.

    OUR CLOSING HYMN this Sunday will be sung after the benediction, and we ask that everyone leave from the sanctuary in silence….

    GOOD FRIDAY:  We will be holding a solemn service of prayer and song in the sanctuary, to which all are invited, at 11 am on Good Friday.  Please join us for this special service.  This service will not appear on our YouTube channel.

    EASTER FLOWERS:  Anyone wishing to contribute to the purchase of Easter flowers for our sanctuary may place their name and donation on the offering plate – or send an e-transfer.  Should you wish these to be memorial flowers, please include the name(s) of the person(s) you would like to remember.  The last day for contributing is Wednesday March 27.


    Order of Service

    Prelude
    Welcome
    Call to Worship
    Prayer of Adoration
    Prayer of Confession
    Declaration of Grace
    Praying together, followed by The Lord’s Prayer
    The Gospel according to Mark 11: 1-11
    The Procession: Hymn 218: “Hosanna, loud hosanna”
    Children’s Time
    Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 50: 4-9a
    Responsive Psalm 31: 9-16
    Gloria Patri
    New Testament Lesson: Philippians 2: 5-11 (en français BFC)
    Hymn 379: “From heaven you came, helpless babe” (vs 2&3 en français)
    The Passion according to Mark; Mark 15: 1-39 – Dramatic reading
    Anthem – Response to the Gospel – “When the Son of God was dying”
    The Sermon: “What is good for us is hidden”
    Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
    Hymn 231: “When I survey the wonderous cross (vs 2 en français)
    Offering and Offertory
    Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
    Benediction
    Hymn: “How deep the Father’s love for us” (vs 2 en français)
    (The Congregation shall depart in silence)


  • March 17th 2024 – “Is God a ‘closet’ Universalist?”

    Dear friends,

    THIS SUNDAY the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship.

    OUR GOSPEL READING is taken from John 12: 20-33.  In this account, a group of Greeks seek Jesus, prompting Him to speak about his upcoming death and glorification.  Jesus metaphorically likens himself to a grain of wheat dying to produce abundant fruit, indicating that his own death will lead to a greater spiritual harvest.  In Eugene Peterson’s translation, The Message, he writes: “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat.  But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.  In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life.  But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.”

    EASTER FLOWERS:  Anyone wishing to contribute to the purchase of Easter flowers for our sanctuary may place their name and donation on the offering plate – or send an e-transfer.  Should you wish these to be memorial flowers, please include the name(s) of the person(s) you would like to remember.  The last day for contributing is Wednesday March 27.


    Order of Service

    Prelude
    Welcome
    Call to Worship – PWS&D Lenten Liturgy
    Hymn 423: “Sing your praise to God eternal”
    Prayer of Adoration
    Prayer of Confession
    Declaration of Grace
    The Lord’s Prayer
    Children’s Time
    Hymn 747: “There is a balm in Gilead”
    Psalm 51: 1-12
    Gloria Patri
    Jeremiah 31: 31-34 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
    Hebrews 5: 5-10
    John 12: 20-33
    Sermon: “Is God a ‘closet’ universalist?”
    Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
    Hymn 496: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet”
    Offering and Offertory
    Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
    Hymn 353: “Hail, our once-rejected Jesus”
    Benediction
    Go now in peace
    Postlude