Transfiguration Sunday - February 23, 2020 - Northlea United ...
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Northlea United Church
In the community. For the community.
125 Brentcliffe Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 3Y7
www.northleaunited.ca ~ 416-425-5252
David Clode - Unsplash
February 23, 2020
Transfiguration Sunday
At Northlea United Church,
we encourage one another as we:
Love God ~ Connect with others
Nurture the spirit ~ Serve the world
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We want to make everyone feel welcome at Northlea! Our facilities are accessible for
those with mobility assists, such as wheelchairs and scooters. We welcome pets and
invite you to bring your coffee to service! If we can help improve your experience by
providing you with assisted hearing devices, a large print hymn book or large print
order of service, we have them – just ask one of our Welcomers.
Infants, toddlers, and children are welcome as part of our worship in the sanctuary!
Following the first part of the service each Sunday, many of our children and youth go
with their leaders to “Cool Church.” Children who are visiting are invited to join in!
After the service, everyone reconnects in the Community Room over refreshments.
We encourage everyone to wear name tags, so if you don’t have one, and would like
one, please let one of our Welcomers know.
Thank You for Helping with Today’s Service:
Welcoming: Lucy Platt & Jody Kinsey
Reading: Rev. Cynthia Stretton
Sound Technician: Doug Joyce
Kitchen Hospitality: Anne Medlock & Mary Peck
Guest Minister: Cynthia Stretton
Lay Worship Circle
If you are interested in volunteering to help with Sunday Morning Ministries, please
sign up on the sheets posted outside the office on the Welcome Board.
Minister: Lee-Ann Ahlstrom lee-ann@northleaunited.ca
Music Director: David Jafelice david@northleaunited.ca
Office Administrator: Tricia Reid office@northleaunited.ca
Facility Manager: Robert Pringle building@northleaunited.ca
Children & Youth Leader: Jo Dullard jo@northleaunited.ca
Consider Financially supporting Northlea United
● through Canada Helps by going to www.northleaunited.ca
● signing up for PAR (Pre-Authorized Debit) through the church office
● using offering envelopes
Please contact the church office if you would like more information
416 425 5252 or office@northleaunited.ca
** Unless otherwise indicated: Prayers (various) are taken from “The United Church
of Canada - Gathering - resources for worship planners” Advent-Christmas-Epiphany
2019-2020 Year A Worship, Music, and Spirituality ISSN-0823-1869 3.45M 08/19
190020 CH11103
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Northlea United Church
February 23, 2020
(*) Please stand if you are comfortable and able.
Bold letters indicate words to be said by the whole congregation.
Please ask one of our greeters if you would like a large- print bulletin,
a large-print hymn book or an assisted hearing device.
̴ Gathering ̴
Before or during the prelude you are welcome to come to the front and light a candle
and/or enter your prayer requests in the book provided. Your prayers can be included
in the prayers of the people during the service.
Welcome
*Gathering Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty Voices United #315
Announcements, Joys and Concerns
Call to Worship:
Kindness calls with a gentle plea to
bring tenderness into all our encounters.
We have heard the call of LOVE who whispers an
invitation to lay our burdens down.
Patience calls softly, nudging us to respect one another.
We have heard the call of the One
who shows us how to follow and serve.
May the God of many names grant us great humility.
Let us worship God together.
Lighting the Christ Candle:
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Greetings of Peace - The congregation is invited to share the peace of Christ with one
another. The children and youth will leave for their Cool Church listening and learning
time.
Sung Response: I Am Walking a Path of Peace More Voices #221
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Opening Prayer:
God of many names, revealed and hidden, we welcome you in our midst.
Bring to our lives the oil of justice and the lamp of truth. Strengthen us as
we meet in this spiritual community. Guard us with your cherishing
embrace. May we listen and be open to receive inspiration for our journey
together. Amen
̴ Listening ̴
*Hymn: My Faith Looks Up to Thee Voices United #663
Prayer for Understanding
Holy One, we pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit
you will open our hearts and our minds to your mystery and grace.
Guide us to the truth and wisdom we most need to hear,
as we listen for your still small voice in our sacred story. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1-9
John 1: 43-51
Response
In this reading we hear God’s voice.
The Spirit is still speaking, thanks be to God.
Anthem: Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring Voices United #328
Message: Who Am I?
̴ Responding ̴
Invitation to the Offering:
Northlea’s mission is to Love God, Nurture the Spirit, Connect with Others and
Serve the World. This mission is enabled through offerings of time, talent and
treasure. We share what we can as we are able to support the mission and
affirm our hope in Christ.
Offertory Music
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Offertory Response: Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands
Voices United #537
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
*Offertory Prayer:
Many hands have worked to offer these gifts and many hands are offered
for your work. Let our hands be Christ’s hands inviting, sharing, teaching
and comforting.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer Voices United #959
*Closing Hymn: God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness Voices United #260
*Commissioning
*Amen: Jim Strathdee Voices United 974
Postlude: Processional March (played by Helen Yap) Édouard Batiste
We acknowledge with respect the history, spirituality, and culture of the
Mississauga peoples who came to this place long before us, and our
responsibility for the territory wherein our church resides.
Reading Next Week: Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 32
Rev. Cynthia Stretton Biography
Cynthia received her Master of Divinity from Queens
University and was ordained in 1986 at Hamilton
Conference. She was settled east of Orillia on a 3-point
pastoral charge. From there Cynthia served churches in
Niagara Falls, Mississauga (twice) and Toronto (twice).
Cynthia retired in 2015 from full-time ministry but
continues to serve the church officiating at weddings,
funerals and filling in for colleagues as the need arises.
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Currently, she is a Voluntary Associate Minister at Beach United Church.
Cynthia has a partner and a dog...loves to garden, walk, golf – she works at it
with enthusiasm, and since retirement has learned to knit which has become
an obsession!
What’s Happening?
Robert Pringle - 35 years at Northlea Church!
We are delighted to congratulate and give our thanks to
Facility Manager, Robert Pringle, who, as of March 1, 2020,
will have worked with our Northlea United Church
congregation for 35 years - a wonderful milestone to
celebrate!
Robert is a highly regarded and valuable member of our staff at Northlea Church.
Robert continues to take diligent and conscientious care of every detail
imaginable (and sometimes unimaginable!) on our premises while working in a
collaborative, respectful and kind manner with members, staff, tenants, and
visitors.
We feel so fortunate to have you here, Robert, and we thank you sincerely for
all your hard work and your dedication!
We invite members to sign the card available in the office. You may also pass
along your own congratulations and appreciation directly to Robert when you
see him at the church. Thank you, Robert for a wonderful 35 years!
Lenten Journey Sermon Series: Lee-Ann will be offering another
sermon series for the Season of Lent. This series will focus on
practices that increase faith and resilience from the perspective of
body, mind and spirit. The series is inspired by Ken Wilber’s book,
Integral Practice. Join us for an “integrated” approach to our
Lenten journey.
Northlea Family News:
Please keep Rosalind and John Dekker in your thoughts and prayers as they deal
with the loss of Rosalind’s sister, Nanette. The family will hold a private service
at Humphrey’s Funeral Home on February 28, 2020. Rosalind wishes to thank
everyone for their warmth and support at this difficult time.
6Today::
• Youth Without Shelter Dinner – 5:40 pm
This Week:
• Tuesday, February 25, 2020 – Pancake Supper/Ashes Service – 6:00 &
7:15 pm
• Friday, February 28, 2020 – 7:00 pm Youth Night – moved due to
school strike days.
Coming up:
• Sunday, March 1, 2020 - First Sunday of Lent - Communion 10:30 am –
Loonies for Lent starts!! Send a kid to camp.
• Tuesday, March 3, 2020 – 10:00 – 2:00 – FPM Excursion to Allen’s
Gardens – if you want to help – contact Bev Vanstone.
• Souper Lunch Wednesdays – every Wednesday in March (4, 11, 18, 25)
at noon
• Thursday, March 5, 2020 – All Staff Meeting – 10:30
• Sunday, March 8, 2020 - Daylight Savings - Clocks spring forward
o Capes for Kids – Lee-Ann wears a Cape to church!
o After Service - Lay Worship Circle meeting
• Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - Taizé - 7:45 pm
• Thursday, March 12, 2020 - World Day of Prayer Celebrations at St.
Augustine’s on Broadway at 1:00 pm
• Sunday, March 15, 2020 - March Break – 10:30 am Bedford Park Band
• Thursday, March 19, 2020 – Lay Visitor’s Circle Meeting
• Wednesday, March 25, 2020 – Council Meeting 7:00 pm
• Friday, March 27, 2020 – 7:00 pm – Youth Night – special night with
parent involvement
• Sunday, March 29, 2020 – 10:30 am Service and Easter Flower
campaign kick off
Ongoing programs:
• Tuesdays at 10:30 am: Bible Study
• Wednesdays at 2:00 pm: Flemingdon Park Conversation Group
• Wednesdays at 3:00 & 6:00 pm: Prayer & Meditation - contact Lee-
Ann if you plan to attend.
• Thursdays at 1:30 pm: Art Circle
• Thursdays at 7:30 pm: Choir Rehearsal
• 3rd Fridays at 7:00 pm: Youth Night - every 3rd Friday of the month.
7Join me, Lee-Ann, in supporting
Capes for Kids for Holland Bloorview
Capes for Kids is a fundraising program that helps kids with
disabilities laugh, learn, grow and just be kids. This year, I
want to go above and beyond to make a huge impact for
some awesome kids. The best part? If I reach my Capes for
Kids fundraising goal, I'll wear a cape everywhere I go from
March 2nd – 8th, 2020. That's right - everywhere I go!
Together, we can make a huge difference
for kids with disabilities.
To register and join my team, visit
https://secure1.hollandbloorview.ca/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?te
amID=892343&langPref=en-CA.
The more money we raise, the more kids and
families we can help. With your support, we can
help kids at Holland Bloorview meet new friends,
build confidence in teens through life skills
programs, and advance innovative therapies that
will transform the lives of kids living with disabilities
and medical complexities. If you can’t join, you can
still help by sponsoring my participation in Capes for
Kids. You can make a secure donation online at:
https://secure1.hollandbloorview.ca/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registra
tionID=4666190&langPref=en-CA
For more information on Capes for Kids, please visit www.capesforkids.ca.
Souper Wednesdays are here!!
Wednesday's are going to be SOUPER in March! Join Lee-
Ann and Jo each Wednesday in March (4, 11, 18, 25) from
12:00 -1:00 pm for Souper Wednesday. Enjoy good
company, light-hearted conversation and best of all, good soup!
Prayer and Meditation Group – Let us know if your coming!
Feeling the weight of the current global problems? Me too! So let’s
get together for some prayer and meditation. Join me Wednesdays at
3:00 pm or 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Let me know if you plan to
attend, just email me at lee-ann@northleaunited.ca.
8Muffin Month – We did it!!!
Your donations to the Muffin Month campaign raised
$613.95 for the Special Assistance Program offered through
Leaside Presbyterian Church (LPC). We raised enough
money to cover the program costs for one whole month
plus a little bit!! Thank you to everyone who participated.
With Toronto’s every increasing cost of living, and with more
people than ever before either out of work or struggling with
disabilities or illness, more and more community members are struggling to
make ends meet. For a few years now LPC has been providing much needed
outreach: on the third Wednesday of each month, one $10 food voucher and
two single TTC fares are distributed to each of the approximately 24 grateful
individuals who drop in for help.
Since September 2019, Northlea United has partnered with LPC enabling the
program to expand to provide more in the way of hospitality. We now offer tea,
coffee, juice, a variety of cookies and muffins in the church’s parlour. Most
guests welcome the chance to sit and chat with church hosts and with each
other; we are all enjoying conversations about a wide variety of topics and
sharing stories from our lives. For more information about the program, please
talk to Northlea volunteer hosts, Lucy Platt or Anne Saunders.
World Day of Prayer
This year, the World Day of Prayer
2020 program is based on Jesus’
encounter with a person who,
although positioned for healing, had
not acted upon the opportunities given
(John 5:2-9a). Jesus asked –“Do you
want to be made well?” “Rise! Take
Your Mat and Walk,” said Jesus. Our
sisters from conflict worn Zimbabwe are taking Jesus’ encounter to be a call to
act in love for peace and reconciliation. “The action verbs suggest that we should
not be afraid to act on the word of God. God is offering us the steps for personal
and social transformation.” This is the time for change! We are faced with this
life-changing question. What are we going to do? Prayer and action are what
links us together around the globe. The day will focus on the opportunities that
face us. Join the ladies of the UCW and others at St. Augustine of Canterbury
Anglican Church, 1847 Bayview at Broadway on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at
91:30 pm. Refreshments will be served afterward. Anyone wanting a ride to the
event, may contact June Cavers.
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