worship for sept. 20, 2020 avondale united church 10:00...
TRANSCRIPT
Worship for Sept. 20, 2020 Avondale United Church
10:00 a.m.
Listen Live Link on website
www.avondaleunitedstratford.com
Today’s sponsors:
Donna & Bill Dinsmore in celebration of the 25th wedding anniversary
of their youngest daughter
Denyse & husband Scott Griffin
Joanne & Earl Ehgoetz in celebration of their
45th wedding anniversary.
Worship led by Rev. Keith Reynolds,
Rev. Kathi Urbasik-Hindley, Music Director Dan Van Winden,
Terri Sparling,
Tech Heather Herman &
David MacLennan
WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCE
As people of faith, we walk with intention. May our intention be toward right relationship with our Creator, the land and with the traditional peoples of this land. May our journey be one of courage and healing as we long for a deeper unity among all people. Help us Creator, we pray.
Welcome and Announcements Lighting of Christ Candle
Prelude: Confidence by F. Mendelssohn
Opening Hymn: Joyful, Joyful We Adore You VU 232
1 Joyful, joyful we adore you, God of glory, life and love; hearts unfold like flowers before you, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. 2 All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays, stars and angels sing around you, centre of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, sound their praise eternally.
3 You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Source of grace and fount of blessing, let your light upon us shine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine. 4 Mortals join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began; God's own love is reigning o'er us, joining people hand in hand. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife; joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.
Opening Prayer (in unison) God of the way, You bring us together with hope, God of the world, You create us for relationship and community, God of the promise, You remind us of faith and from where we come, God of the wilderness, You give us what we need in difficult times, May we trust in Your presence here this morning as we begin again in this space together. You also give room for healing and hope, When we are broken, bruised and feeling alone, In times we are impatient, irritable or controlling, As we stumble or fall in our spiritual life, Show us Your love and kindness that we might extend that to others and ourselves…(Silence)
Words of Hope and Healing (adapt. Psalm 105) One: We give thanks O God, that You feed us, nourishing our lives with Your mercy and compassion. All: Help us to trust in faith. Give us eyes to see all of Your abundance. Amen.
Theme Time
WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD
Scripture Readings: Psalm 105 (VU, 9.828-9, Parts 1,4)
Exodus 16:2-15
Message: Bread in the Wilderness
WE RESPOND TO GOD IN LOVE
Music: Nocturne in E Minor by F. Chopin
Moment for Mission: Unique Teachers - Unique Students Anna Meusel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWJhDh2ZoDM
Offertory Offertory Prayer (in unison)
Loving God, we make this offering because we can. You inspire us to a life of abundance.
You move us to give so that hope may become a reality for someone else. Use this generosity
to spread love through this community and around the world, Amen.
Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Hymn: Lead On O Cloud of Presence VU 421
1 Lead on, O cloud of Presence, the exodus is come. In wilderness and desert our tribe shall make its home. Our slavery left behind us, new hopes within us grow. We seek the land of promise where milk and honey flow. 2 Lead on, O fiery Pillar, we follow yet with fears, but we shall come rejoicing though joy be born of tears. We are not lost, though wandering, for by your light we come, and we are still God's people. The journey is our home. 3 Lead on, O God of freedom, and guide us on our way, and help us trust the promise through struggle and delay. We pray our sons and daughters may journey to that land where justice dwells with mercy, and love is law's demand.
Sending Forth and Blessing Choral Benediction: Go Now In Peace
Postlude: Theme from Concerto No.1 by P. Tchaikovsky, arr by B.Berlin
Announcements Welcome to Avondale – this is an important Sunday in our journey of healing and recovery from the global
pandemic. Today we welcome back all those who felt comfortable to be able to return to In Person
Worship and hope that the changes in process make sense and allow you to feel a sense of safety. Our
Kathi Urbasik Hindley and a team of “Sewers” have created colourful masks in an array of “rainbow”
colours to use in worship if desired. It is uplifting to see the bursts of colour and appreciation for our
diversity. The Return to Worship Guide provided to our members and friends provides you with a written
copy of our changes. Please take a few of our colourful bookmarks to help remind you of the new practices
we are asking you to follow. The key to our collective protection against the Coronavirus rests with each
one of us. We also want to assure all those of you who join us via Listen Live that this option is always
available. We are indebted to our Tech team for their efforts to ensure this means enables those who
cannot or choose not to attend in person, can still be with us in spirit.
We are grateful for the work of our Re-Entry Team. Details on other activities that occur within our building
are in various stages of return. Other written materials to support leaders of various groups have been
developed and are being used as we work to support a gradual return of other activities. We will continue
to provide you with updates through the announcement section of the weekly bulletin.
Statement to Congregation
As part of the legal settlement relating to the termination of employment of the former Music
Director, Lori Millian, the Executive Council of Avondale United Church is providing the within
statement at the request of Lori Millian to clarify certain details.
The Executive Committee determined to terminate Lori’s employment on a without cause basis
effective July 31, 2019. Lori was provided with written notice of termination on June 19, 2019.
Lori did not wish to leave Avondale.
We apologize to any congregation member who may have inferred from the previous
communications from Executive Council relating to Lori’s departure that Lori left of her own
volition or resigned in order to pursue her legal career. That was not the case.
The Special News Edition ended as of September 7th. If you information you wish to include in the bulletin
– please email Yvonne Casey at [email protected] or call her at 519-271-7946 no later than
Wednesday at noon.
Fall Fundraisers – a small “team” of fundraising enthusiasts have been quietly working away at a number of
ways to raise funds and FUN!
ELMIRA CHICKEN ORDERS – due today
CAR RALLY – Saturday September 26
FUND SCRIP – next order due Wednesday October 7 @ noon
STAINED GLASS – if you are interested in ordering any items or wish to join the “Classy Glass Lassies
and Laddies – please email [email protected]
And we are working on plans for a virtual music series and an on-line auction! If you are interested in
helping with either of these efforts call the office. We hope to have more details available on dates and
ways in which you can help. Please consider supporting some or all of these as they offer us ways to
generate resources for our work and vital fellowship that comes with working with others on shared
projects.
“As the return to in-person worship at Avondale approaches, why not consider wearing a mask designed and created by Avondale folk? These comfortable masks come in 6 colours. They are available at the church office as well as outside the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. Free will donations accepted.”
Walk for Autism Autism Awareness. The 13th annual Walk for Autism is being held virtually this year. Ryan and family will
walk around the river September 27. All funds raised help support individuals and families affected by
autism in our area. Ryan Barkley has directly benefitted from funds raised in the past. Avondale is part of
Ryan’s family since moving here at the age of 6 in 2003. You have helped him mature into the caring
affectionate person he is today. He looks forward to seeing everyone again at church (the hugs and
handshakes will have to wait). Thank you for being accepting and for your ongoing support. Ryan and Doris
will accept donations outside the Narthex on Sunday September 20 and 27. Please put your donation in an
envelope with your full address on the envelope if you wish a tax receipt (for donations of $20 and over).
Cheques can be made to Autism Ontario-Huron Perth Chapter. Thank you in advance. For more
information, you can call Doris Barkley at 519-271-9969
Upcoming Events
Lunch & Learn– Tuesday, Sept. 22nd @ 11:00 a.m.
This group will be meeting via zoom. Everyone welcome. If you wish to join this group,
contact Rev. Keith [email protected] for zoom details. The readings for Sunday Sept
27th are Psalm 19 & Exodus 17:1-7
Avondale’s First Car Rally!
Saturday, September 26th
Starting at 3:00 PM
Outdoor Dinner to Follow:
Enjoy our prize winning chili,
including bun, coleslaw, juice and slice
of cake.
Only $25.00 per person
Get Your Covid 19 Social Group Together!
To register contact David MacLennan by email:
United Church Women -Save The Date
Western Ontario Waterways UCW (“WOW UCW”) along with Horseshoe Falls UCW and Antler
River Watershed UCW have extended an invitation to all to come together in a virtual gathering at
10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3rd. More details will follow as we get them. But save the date
for this exciting adventure into virtual gatherings using ZOOM.