Epiphany Service For July 25, 2021

 

Epiphany Service For July 25, 2021 

Image: A Country Festival Near Antwerp after

David Teniers the Younger 

 

*The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of the Knight Family given by Bruce Jackson

*Calendars: Bob C. has come up with a great fundraiser idea!  Thank you Bob.  Four themed calendars will be available. A kitten, a puppy, a lakes and streams and a majestic sunsets.  Details to follow.  

*Back to Church Sunday!  Sunday September 12.  Details to follow.

*Board Meeting.   Tuesday August 9.  In Church.  7 p.m.  Elevator Available.

*FUNDrive  collection day now moved to November 17.  We are collecting items we normally would have collected for our Spring/Fall yard sale for delivery to Value Village. Value Village will pay us 15 cents a pound for” wearables” (clothing, purses, belts, backpacks, shoes, etc) in green garbage bags and 10 cents a pound for “housewares” in boxes.   (Housewares are things home-related, but NOT furniture).   Thanks Jan for leading in this! Ron (519 472 9142) 

*Please remember to save your cancelled stamps. Gloria Thompson.

*Food Cupboard.     Butch. 519-615-9106. Butch has inventoried our cupboard and come up with a possible list.  But we gladly accept all donations! Uncle Ben’s Rice packets; Canned vegetables, meats, fruit; Juice; Cereal; We still have peanut butter and jam, but it is running low; We have received Soup, pasta, and pasta sauce at this time;  Thank you everyone! 

*Thank you for your generous love of Epiphany.  Our Church does much good, quietly, without fanfare.   Let’s all keep up our Good Work! Even while we are sheltering in our homes.

*If you wish, our regular weekly donations or special donations may be sent to our Envelope Secretary:

 

Barb Smallman

4860 Whiteoak Road

London, Ontario

N6E 3Y8

 

519-680-0649

 

*Thank you Ron for posting our service on our website, Adam for recording our service To Anusha for the music.  Also Stephen.  

Bible Readings for July 25, 2021

Audio for July 25 Service

 

Opening:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

be with you all.

 

And we respond with: And with thy spirit.

 

WE pray:

 

In your compassionate love, O God,
you nourish us with the words of life and bread of blessing.
Grant that Jesus may calm our fears
and move our hearts to praise your goodness
by sharing our bread with others. Amen.

 

6:1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.

6:2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.

6:3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.

6:4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.

6:5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?”

6:6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.

6:7 Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”

6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,

6:9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?”

6:10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.

6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.

6:12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”

6:13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.

6:14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

 ===

Sermon:

What’s your favorite food? The food you could eat once a day for the rest of your life, if you had to? If you Google your favorite food, you can probably find a festival somewhere in the world that celebrates it.

 

The town of Yamagata, Japan, holds a festival every year to celebrate a traditional soup called imoni. Thousands of people come from all over Japan and even other parts of the world to eat imoni and have a good time. So the folks in Yamagata built a massive soup pot, which they fill with six tons of water, 3,500 onions, and lots of other ingredients. The soup cooks for hours.

 

Cooking that much soup would be a real challenge. But how do you serve it? A few years ago, a team in Yamagata found a creative way to solve this problem. They bought two brand-new earth diggers with specially-made buckets. The buckets allowed them to dip out hundreds of servings of soup at once. 

==

When you think about our Bible passage for today, lets picture it through the eyes of Jesus’ disciples. They had traveled to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee hoping to get away for some rest. But crowds of people, followed them to this remote area. They were hungering for a miracle or a message of hope. 

 

Jesus’ disciples needed some rest. They wanted Jesus to send the crowd away. Instead, Jesus asked Philip how they were going to feed this crowd of thousands of men, women and children. For he knew that though we cannot live by bread alone, we cannot live without bread either. Philip was probably flabbergasted that Jesus even asked such a question about something that was so clearly impossible. He answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

 

Fortunately, another disciple named Andrew came to the rescue. “There is a child here willing to give his lunch,  five barley buns and two fish,” he said, “but what are they among so many?” 

Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.”

The disciples are thinking this will never work.  People are thinking this will never work.  But they sat down.

 

The feeding of the five thousand is about God’s providing for  need. The focus is on bread, but the lesson is about all of life. 

 

Let’s begin here.

 

We experience the blessings of God, first of all, when we take time to sit down. Does that sound too simple? Most of us say we’re too busy to tend to our selves, pray, exercise….

We pray in our cars as we rush to and from …

 

How many of us are so busy with lesser priorities that forget our connection with God? 

Time with God. It’s what we were made for. We find our identity, our purpose, our strength and wisdom in spending time with God.

 

It may be that the reason many of us live such barren lives is that we rarely set aside time to connect with God. 

We are so busy doing, so pressed for time, that we have cut out the vwery thing which gives us the strength, the courage and the wisdom we need.

 

We need to stop for a moment and sit down in the presence of Jesus.

 

Then we need to receive what Christ has to offer us, just as the crowd received the loaves and fish.

 

For you see, God’s greatest desire is to provide us with the good things of life. Do we understand how wonderful that is? 

That is God’s character. His very nature is to give. God is love. Love is always giving. Indeed, God gives extravagantly, for our God is a giving God.

===

 “Make the people sit down,” Jesus commanded his disciples. Then he took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed these loaves and these fish to all who were seated, as much as they wanted. So, also, do we receive God’s blessings when we sit and wait and when we receive what He has to offer.

Of course none of this could have happened without the child’s perhaps foolish generosity.  They did not ask how many would do the same for them.  They simple shared what they had.  

 

Notice, finally, how John concludes this story: “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So, they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” Why so much food left over? Because that, too, is God’s nature. Generosity.

 

When we take what God holds out to us, we find God provides.

 

One of the lessons Christ tried to teach us was the extravagance of God. 

Our God is the God who provides in abundance—who sets before us a table in the midst of our enemies—who fills our cup to overflowing. 

Our God when wine is needed for the wedding feast tells us to fill the water pots, and fill them to the brim—

It is our God when the Prodigal child returns home has the wisdom to throw a big party.

 

Sometimes we become fearful. We don’t really trust God’s goodness. We don’t trust that God knows our needs. And so we live with a constant sense of anxiety and weariness. Most of the worries that beset us would disappear in a moment if we could lean back and rest ourselves in the arms of God’s provisions for His children’s needs.

==

A group of children was asked to describe what abundance means to them. 

Alison, age 7, said, “Abundance is an extra bowl of ice cream and getting to stay up late and laughing a lot.” 

Emily, age 9, said, “Abundance means I have as many books as I want to read and lots of warm clothes for the wintertime. And it means there’s always lots of love.” 

Brian, age 10, said, “Abundance means we have everything we need even though we don’t have everything we want . It makes me feel safe.” 

 

Think about Brian’s answer for a second: “Abundance means we have everything we need even though we don’t have everything we want. It makes me feel safe.” 

=

Every miracle Jesus ever performed, including this one, was meant to show us the priorities of our God. 

The healings, 

turning water into wine, 

feeding the multitudes, 

calming the storms. 

 

All the miracles in the New Testament emphasize the ways of God. 

God has so many blessings to pour out to all of us. 

God asks us to sit down,

to receive what our God has for us. 

 

 

Hymn:  

We have a very special hymn today- a brand new song that is very popular on both the country and contemporary Christian charts at the moment. It was just released at the beginning of July and we thank our vocalist Victoria Piovesan for sharing her talent with us. By the way the organ you hear was recorded in the Memorial Hall at the Church of Epiphany – it is the organ that was donated by Fred Rice, and it sounds wonderful.

 

Here is our hymn” Good to Be Loved By You” written by Chris Tomlin.

 

Good to Be Loved by You

Chris Tomlin, Tyler Hubbard

No I won’t fear, no I won’t worry
I know You’re here, so who can bring me down?
You never leave, You don’t forget me
You’re listening, even when I don’t make a sound
Oh, heaven knows that I’ve never been perfect
Oh, there’s nothing I can do to deserve it

Chorus 

It’s good to be loved by You
It’s good to be loved by You
Though my brokenness has seen some days
Your mercy’s still brand new
It’s good to be loved by You
So good to be loved by You

It don’t run out, it’s never ending
It goes as far as the east is from the west
Oh, no I’ve never found the words to explain it
Oh, cause there’s nothing in the world so amazing

Repeat Chorus

How deep, how wide
How long, how high
All day, all night
It’s good to be loved by You ( repeat 3X)

Final Chorus

It’s good to be loved by You
It’s good to be loved by You
Though my brokenness has seen some days
Your mercy’s still brand new
It’s good to be loved by You
It’s good to be loved by You

No, Your faithfulness will never fail
You’ll always see me through
It’s good to be loved by You

A prayer:

Sustainer of the hungry,
like a mother you long to feed your children
until each is satisfied.
Turn our eyes to you alone,
that, aware of our own deepest longings,
we will reach out with Christ
to feed others with the miracle of your love. Amen.

 

Our Creed: All together.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified

under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.

With the Father and the Son

he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic

and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

 

Prayers:

We praise your abiding guidance, O God,

for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah,

to model for us the way of love for the whole universe.

We offer these prayers of love

on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors,

on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.

 

Prayers:

 Zac; Peter T.;  Mark Mc; Dan B.;. (Garfield & Diane); Linda; Dean; Allan; Aunt Frankie; (Brian G.); Linda (Joan C.); Larry R.; Brian; Marcel De C and family; Tara; Jeff B.; Doug T.; Alex,  Gord, (Sandra);Connie C.;  Jim P. Jack B.; Jack and Julie.  Jim M; Mary B.;  Keanna,  Ella D.; Evelyn Mc; Marion R.; (Church)  Jade (Carol R.); Dori;  Belinda,;  Kim; Edie K., Ross B., Francis & Bill W.; Jeff G. (Dori & Jack); Michelle P.;(Jim P.)  Pat P; Grant K; Kathy W. (Jack & Julie); Hope (Marilyn B.) ;  Valerie (Carol F.); Helen, Debrah G.,and Regina G (Pat M.); Lori (Maya) Pat and Tony  (Marilyn B.); Melanie; Marlene H. Pam B. (Barb & George); Zaden; Kendra; (Gloria);  Bill, Sheila, Jessica, Sonya, Jamie (Peter);    Lynda D . (Mary Beth & Paul); Jean (Bruce J.); Ola and Roman; Mildred Mc. (Jan & Ron); Brian (Jeanne); Diana, Ian, Edna, Matthew & Annika;   David & Lyla & Joanna Mac;   Janice L & Darrin R;  Roland & Pansy V;  Rob P;  Pat B & her family;)Clark & Helene (Suzie D)

We remember and pray for Henry and for all who mourn his passing, his wife Connie, and Connie’s sister Katherine and brother- in- law Harold.

 

Loving God,

open our ears to hear your word

and draw us closer to you,

that the whole world may be one with you

as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

As our Savior taught us, let us pray,

 

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Blessing from the Book of Common Prayer:

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

 

Our Parting Blessing Song:

May God’s blessing surround you each day

As you trust Him and walk in His way

May His presence within guard and keep you from sin,

Go in peace, go in joy, go in love

Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.

, May 8, 2021. Category: Uncategorized.

Suspension of Services

In person Service Suspension

In Person Services Suspended

As COVID-19 infections continue to decrease within the province of Ontario, we look forward to being able to once again gather together in our church buildings. The guidelines in this document come into effect at the time the province moves into Step 3. (See link to document below). Please destroy past documents and follow these guidelines. As science learns more about COVID-19, its means of transmission and infection and as more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, there is a greater understanding about what it is necessary to focus on as we seek to keep one another well. Masking, physical distancing, staying home if unwell and vigilant hand hygiene are still of utmost importance.

 

 

 

 

 

REOPENING OF CHURCH BUILDINGS – STEP 3

https://diohuron.org/df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjEvMDYvMDgvMTMvMzcvMDQvMGM5NDBjYjEtMTE2Zi00Y2ZiLWEwZTUtMGY1MTQwZDQyZmQ3L1Jlb3BlbmluZyBPdXIgQ2h1cmNoZXMgU3RlcCAxLnBkZiJdXQ/Reopening%20Our%20Churches%20Step%201.pdf?sha=8e3a3a0ffd8df153

 

, March 5, 2021. Category: Uncategorized.

Cans for Keanna

Don’t throw out that aluminum. Save it and bring it to Epiphany. Crush it down first if you are able.

 

, September 7, 2018. Category: Uncategorized.

Our Prayers go out to our Muslim Brothers and Sisters

 

 

The Church of the Epiphany the Little Church that Cares has lowered the flag in our Cenotaph in honour of our Muslim brothers and sisters who were so senselessly attacked recently in our great city.

Our Prayers go out for you

 

 

Our prayers

Our prayers are for the young and the innocent.

Our prayers are for the souls leaving us too soon

                                                way to early.

Our prayers are for the lonely

                                    for the souls left behind.

Our prayers are for the grief, for the tears

                                    for the sadness.

Our prayers are for time

                                    time to heal

                                    time to love

                                    time to remember all that is good.

Our prayers are for you

                                    for the laughter

                                    for the happiness

                                    for the joy yet to come.

Our prayers are for you.

 

, June 7, 2021. Category: Uncategorized.

Epiphany Service For July 18, 2021

Image: Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Casper David Friedrich

 

The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving for the memory of my wife Deborah, and in celebration of my daughters Michelle & Mary-Ann, and are given by Rev. Peter Leonard.

*Calendars: Bob C. has come up with a great fundraiser idea!  Thank you Bob.  Four themed calendars will be available. A kitten, a puppy, a lakes and streams and a majestic sunsets.  Details to follow.  

*Back to Church Sunday!  Sunday September 12.  Details to follow.

*Board Meeting.   Tuesday August 9.  In Church.  7 p.m.  Elevator Available.

*FUNDrive  collection day now moved to November 17.  We are collecting items we normally would have collected for our Spring/Fall yard sale for delivery to Value Village. Value Village will pay us 15 cents a pound for” wearables” (clothing, purses, belts, backpacks, shoes, etc) in green garbage bags and 10 cents a pound for “housewares” in boxes.   (Housewares are things home-related, but NOT furniture).   Thanks Jan for leading in this! Ron (519 472 9142) 

*Please remember to save your cancelled stamps. Gloria Thompson.

*Food Cupboard.     Butch. 519-615-9106. Butch has inventoried our cupboard and come up with a possible list.  But we gladly accept all donations! Uncle Ben’s Rice packets; Canned vegetables, meats, fruit; Juice; Cereal; We still have peanut butter and jam, but it is running low; We have received Soup, pasta, and pasta sauce at this time;  Thank you everyone! 

*Thank you for your generous love of Epiphany.  Our Church does much good, quietly, without fanfare.   Let’s all keep up our Good Work! Even while we are sheltering in our homes.

*If you wish, our regular weekly donations or special donations may be sent to our Envelope Secretary:

 

Barb Smallman

4860 Whiteoak Road

London, Ontario

N6E 3Y8

 

519-680-0649

 

*Thank you Ron for posting our service on our website, Adam for recording our service To Anusha for the music.  Also Stephen.  

Bible reading for July 18

 

Audio for July 18 Service

 

Opening:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

be with you all.

 

And we respond with: And with thy spirit.

 

WE pray:

 

Holy God of Israel,

ever present and moving among your people,

draw us near to you,

that in place of hostility there may be peace;

in place of loneliness, compassion;

in place of aimlessness, direction;

and in place of sickness, healing;

through Christ Jesus, in whom you draw near to us. Amen.

===

Psalm 23

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me.

23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

 

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.

6:31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

6:32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

6:33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.

6:34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.

6:54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,

6:55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

6:56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

 

Sermon:

Mark 6:30-44, 53-56

Everywhere Jesus went, people flocked to him. 

They wanted what he was offering. 

They wanted inspiration. 

They wanted wholeness. 

They wanted God. 

Mark’s gospel tells us that “so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat” (Mark 6:31). 

That coming and going provided a chaotic atmosphere for Jesus’ ministry. 

That chaos meant that even before Jesus got to a town, the mass of admirers rushed ahead of him and waited for his arrival (Mark 6:33).

 Mark points out that people “ran throughout that whole region of the Gennesaret and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was” (Mark 6:55).

 

In dramatic contrast to all this chaos, Mark simultaneously reports that Jesus said to his apostles, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31b-32).

 

Chaos came to Jesus because people are attracted to him.

 The people who are looking for an authentic relationship with God come to him. 

The people who want  to hear the truth about life come to him.. That causes a mob atmosphere much of the time.

 That caused chaos. 

Nobody could protect Jesus from the crowds. 

Everyone wanted a piece of him. 

The poor and downtrodden wanted him to help them. 

The sick and suffering wanted healing from him.

 That made for one chaotic incident after another as our Lord moved from place to place. 

In short, People were fascinated by him.

People were  attracted to Jesus.

 

People were attracted to Jesus’ integrity. J

esus was a man who said what he would do, then did what he said. 

There are so many hypocrites around, people who say one thing and do something else, that Jesus stands out like light in the darkness. 

Many of the religious leaders fell into this unhappy category. They told the people what to do, but didn’t do what they told others to do. 

They majored in minors, emphasizing man-made rules 

while neglecting God’s laws and God’s kingdom values.

 

Jesus confronted them and faced them down on many occasions. 

People marveled that Jesus stood up to the political and religious establishment.

 

People were attracted to Jesus’ authority. 

“No one speaks like this man,” people reported.

 “He speaks with authority.” 

No one was like him, before or since. 

There was a powerful aura around him. 

People sensed it and saw it. 

When Jesus spoke, people heard truth spoken with authority.

 

People were attracted to Jesus’ message of love,

To his message of  hope, 

They are attracted to his compassion. 

 

He not only taught that we should love God above everything else 

He not only taught that we should love our neighbors as ourselves; 

Jesus lived what he taught. 

 

Someone has said

You could warm your hands at the love he showed.

For instance, Jesus fed the multitude like a caring parent feeds their beloved children. 

Jesus showed that same kind of love to hundreds of other people. 

You can see the love in his eyes as he moves among people.

 

You could also see hope in his eyes.

 He was the most hopeful man that anyone had ever seen. 

Hope radiated from his words,  from his being.

 

He helped people overcome problems by holding out hope in front of them. 

 

“Be not afraid,” he often said. 

He saw the future that people could have 

if they would just turn back to God, 

if he held that future up in front of their eyes 

so they too could see it.

 

Jesus lifted up hope for one and all everywhere he goes..

 

In the eyes of Jesus you can also see something else — compassion. 

 

Where many others looked down at people,

                               thinking themselves superior, 

 

Jesus always seems to look across at people, 

                                           from their level. 

 

Even the children were treated as valuable people by Jesus. 

               Children, as well as adults, 

                    flocked to Jesus because of the compassion they felt in him.

 

With integrity and authority like he had,

            Jesus could have commanded governments and armies.

 

 Instead, 

            he commanded peoples’ respect and love. 

                                   He still does. 

                                           That’s why people flock to him yet today.

 

With a message of love, hope, and compassion, 

                         Jesus was so unique

                               that multitudes wanted to be where he was. 

 

 They still do. 

            “We would see Jesus,” Greek seekers said (John 12:21 KJV).

 

Today people want to see Jesus too. 

 

                  Some people are attracted to Jesus 

                          because of what they hear about him 

                                    or what they see in him. 

 

According to Mark 6:34,

              the people around Jesus were like sheep 

                      without a shepherd. 

 

Matthew 9:36 reports the same thing in a slightly different way. 

 

There we read that the crowd was harassed and helpless. 

 

In other words,

      many people there were frightened, 

                          anxious, confused.

 

 There is no doubt that there is chaos in the world we live today..

 

There was chaos all around him. 

            But there was a serenity within Jesus 

                                         that people could sense. 

 

Jesus was and is 

               the still point in a chaotic and churning world.

 

Jesus says, 

           “Come away to a deserted place 

                                          all by yourselves 

                                                    rest a while” (Mark 6:31). 

 

Jesus knew that life includes heavy demands and hard work 

That’s why Jesus took his disciples 

         to a deserted place, 

                 a place of solitude.

 

That place of solitude can be inner,

       It can be leaving our devices in another place,

               And just being with Our Lord.

 

. We need time to refresh ourselves in the presence of God. 

 

Daily devotions can be that kind of break away. 

 

Prayer is as important to life as breathing.

 

 Retreat can lead to a more meaningful re-entry.

 

 When that retreat is more than just a rest, 

               when it is intentionally centered in God, 

                                                            it is called solitude.

 

To meet life’s various heart wrenching demands, 

                  we need some kind of retreat,

                         a time of solitude with God. 

Christ is saying to you and I

         Leave your phones, 

                Come away, rest a while.

Hymn:  

On Eagles Wings.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord

Who abide in His shadow for life

Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”

 

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand

 

The snare of the fowler will never capture you

And famine will bring you no fear

Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield

 

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand

 

You need not fear the terror of the night

Nor the arrow that flies by day

Though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come

 

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand

 

A prayer:

Shepherd God,

you call us into a rhythm of work and rest

that our lives may be the better for it.

So shape our leisure and our labor,

that the world will recognize us

as Jesus’ disciples

and our ministry

as what you would have us do. Amen.

 

Our Creed: All together.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified

under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.

With the Father and the Son

he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic

and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen

 

Prayers:

Creator God,

you call us to love and serve you

with body, mind, and spirit

through loving your creation

and our sisters and brothers.

Open our hearts in compassion

and receive these petitions

on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

 

Prayers Zac; Peter T.;  Mark Mc; Dan B.;. (Garfield & Diane); Linda; Dean; Allan; Aunt Frankie; (Brian G.); Linda (Joan C.); Larry R.; Brian; Marcel De C and family; Tara; Jeff B.; Doug T.; Alex,  Gord, (Sandra); Connie and Henry (Katherine and Harold K);Connie C.;  Jim P. Jack B.; Jack and Julie.  Jim M; Mary B.;  Keanna,  Ella D.; Evelyn Mc; Marion R.; (Church)  Jade (Carol R.); Dori;  Belinda,;  Kim; Edie K., Ross B., Francis & Bill W.; Jeff G. (Dori & Jack); Michelle P.;(Jim P.)  Pat P; Grant K; Kathy W. (Jack & Julie); Hope (Marilyn B.) ;  Valerie (Carol F.); Helen, Debrah G.,and Regina G (Pat M.); Lori (Maya) Pat and Tony  (Marilyn B.); Melanie; Marlene H. Pam B. (Barb & George); Zaden; Kendra; (Gloria);  Bill, Sheila, Jessica, Sonya, Jamie (Peter);    Lynda D . (Mary Beth & Paul); Jean (Bruce J.); Ola and Roman; Mildred Mc. (Jan & Ron); Brian (Jeanne); Diana, Ian, Edna, Matthew & Annika;   David & Lyla & Joanna Mac;   Janice L & Darrin R;  Roland & Pansy V;  Rob P;  Pat B & her family;)Clark & Helene (Suzie D)

 

Holy One,

hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards

of the fragile bounty of this earth

so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.

 

As our Savior taught us, let us pray,

 

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Glory to God,

 whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Blessing from the Book of Common Prayer:

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

 

Our Parting Blessing Song:

May God’s blessing surround you each day

As you trust Him and walk in His way

May His presence within guard and keep you from sin,

Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.

Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.

, May 15, 2021. Category: Uncategorized.

Jeanne Heighway

HEIGHWAY, Jeanne


With deep sadness the family of Jeanne L. Heighway (nee Hunt) announce her passing on Thursday, April 1, 2021, due to complications from a stroke, in her 92nd year. Beloved mother of Catherine (Wally MacKinnon) and Steve (Kim) Heighway. Devoted Nana of Mitchell (Meg) Heighway, Brent Heighway and Emily MacKinnon. Survived by her sister Betty (Bud) Bathgate, brothers-in-law Bob (Midge) Heighway and Don Winterton, sister-in-law Kit Hunt as well as many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her loving husband Bruce (2016), brother George Hunt, sister-in-law Mary Jane Winterton and brother-in-law Don Heighway. Jeanne was born and raised in London, Ontario. She attended Central High School, and it was at a school dance where she met Bruce who would become her beloved husband. The couple married in 1951, built their home and raised their family in London. At 16 years of age, she began working at “The Bell” telephone company as a switchboard operator. Jeanne stayed at home to care for her young family and in 1968 joined Canada Trust – University Branch as a teller. Over the span of her 25 year career with the bank, she also worked at head office accounting and real estate administration. Jeanne poured her heart and soul into all aspects of her family. Among her many passions she was a superb gardener, a fantastic cook, an excellent seamstress and an avid birdwatcher. Jeanne and Bruce shared a love of travel that took them on many world-wide adventures. Closer to home, they both enjoyed activities with the Ilderton Curling Club, Huff n’ Puff biking group and the London Centre Branch YMCA. They owned a cottage near St Joseph on Lake Huron for several years, which was the hub of family get-togethers. It was here that Jeanne nurtured her spectacular gardens and opened the wonders of nature to her young grandchildren. She adored her grandchildren and always felt so blessed to have been able to take an active role in their lives. Jeanne was a resilient, determined, creative, generous, and loving woman and we will miss her terribly. We would like to thank the staff at Fox Hollow Assisted Living for their care and compassion over the past several months. Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held when Covid restrictions are lifted. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, PO Box 601, Mt Brydges, ON N0L 1W0, Wellspring London and Region Cancer Support Centre, 382 Waterloo Street (Inside the YMCA), London, ON N6B 2N8 or the London Centre Branch YMCA – Strong Kids campaign, 382 Waterloo Street, London, ON N6B 2N8 in memory of Jeanne. A. Millard George Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com”The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth.
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.”

Published on April 10, 2021
, April 10, 2021. Category: Gone but not forgotten.

Barb turns 80

, March 22, 2021. Category: Epiphany Photos.

Junne Boucher

BOUCHER, Junne

At University Hospital, London on Monday, March 15, 2021, Junne (Winslow) Boucher in her 98th year. Beloved wife of the late Bill Boucher (1981). Dear mother-in-law of Wayne Parker (Connie). Cherished grandmother of Janice Wiersma (Jim), Bob Parker (Sue), and great-grandmother of Laryssa Parker and Michelle Wiersma. Dearly missed by Allan Cross (Barbara). Predeceased by her stepdaughter Dorothy Parker, her parents William and Clara Winslow, her sisters Clara, Audrey and Phyllis. A private graveside service was held at Woodland Cemetery, London. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to the Humane Society of London & Middlesex, 624 Clarke Road, London, ON N5V 3K5. A. Millard George Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

, March 20, 2021. Category: Uncategorized.

Esther Holowitz

Mrs. Esther Holowitz

(nee Sylvester) passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020. Born in Fort William, ON on July 3, 1924, she was a lifelong resident attending local schools and retiring from the National Film Board in 1989. Predeceased by her father and mother Beniamino and Giovanna Silvestri, sisters and brothers-in-law Mella and Tony Zanni (Thunder Bay), Ada and Joseph Dlhoucky (Thunder Bay), Joseph and Elsa Sylvester (Sudbury), Bruno and Lena Sylvester (Thunder Bay), sister Mary Sylvester (Toronto and Thunder Bay), brother John Sylvester (Ottawa), sister-in-law Gina Sylvester (Toronto). She is survived by Fred, her husband of 67 years, son Stephen (Teresa), London, ON, daughter Cathy (Doug) Thornbury, ON, grandchildren Adam (London, ON), Elena (New Westminster, BC), brother Leonard Sylvester (Toronto), sister-in-law Evelyn Sylvester, (Ottawa), special walking partner and niece Jean Makiw, and numerous nieces and nephews in Ottawa, Toronto and Thunder Bay. A member of the St. Agnes’ CWL and a charter member of TOPS ON 502. A private graveside service will be held at a later date at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. If friends desire donations in memoriam may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Toys for Tots, Thunder Bay.

The family would like to thank the staff of Birch Wing-Hogarth Riverview Manor for their compassionate care of Esther, particularly in her final days.

Online condolences may
be made through
www.nwfainc.com

 

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Published in The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on Dec. 16, 2020.

, December 16, 2020. Category: Uncategorized.

Sonia O’Donnell

With loving family and supportive friends holding hands together, and in the comfort of her own home, Sonia Florence O’Donnell ( nee Abuchan ) slipped away from this beautiful earth and quietly entered into God’s care on Monday November 16th, 2020.

As per Sonia’s wishes cremation will be taking place.

Sonia was predeceased by her first husband, Sigmund Pfaffinger of Kitchener, ON. And, also by her second husband, Hugh Joseph O’Donnell of London, ON. Her beloved younger sister, Sandy Thompson, passed away in 2013 and was profoundly missed. Sandy was survived by her wonderful husband H. Alan Thompson of Vancouver, B. C. Al remains an excellent uncle and mentor to both of Sonia’s sons.

Sonia was an understanding, loving and caring mother to both Nic Pfaffinger of Kitchener and to Eric Pfaffinger and his partner Donna White of Waterloo.

She was the proud and devoted Nanny to her grandson Joe Pfaffinger and his partner Samantha Newman of Kitchener. And, to grandson Tyler Pfaffinger, currently studying at Fanshawe College in London, and to grandson Benjamin Pfaffinger, currently studying at York University in Toronto.

Sonia was a Christian, a Registered Nurse, a friendly, reliable and engaged neighbour, a committed volunteer, a Master Gardener, an opera lover, an animal lover, a prolific reader and was well known as a generous friend to many. She was reluctant to liken her
obituary to her resume, and so her various milestones and many accomplishments will not be mentioned here. Perhaps those stories and memories can be best shared at a small memorial service to be held at ” The Church of the Epiphany “, 11 Briscoe Street in London on Thursday Dec 10th, 2020 at 12 noon.
The Reverend Teresa Corrigan will conduct the service and if you wish to attend or to say a few words at that time, please contact her at 519-671-0577 or teresacorrigan1@gmail.com.

As Sonia has planned, there will be a reception after church at “The Idlewyld Inn” at 36 Grand Ave., in London. Maps and directions are available for those who require them. And all Health Unit Covid-19 guidelines will be in effect.

When you speak of Sonia, speak not with tears, for thoughts of her should not be sad. Let memories of the times you shared give you comfort, for Sonia’s life was richer because of YOU whom she loved so deeply and so dearly.

, November 18, 2020. Category: Gone but not forgotten.

Remembrance Day 2020

The 103rd version of the service of Remembrance at the cenotaph was a little different this year. We were restricted to a maximum of 25 people all properly distanced. We wound up with precisely 25. To start the ceremony we were treated by a flyby by a C130 Hercules (the aircraft Ron flew in the RCAF). Rev. Teresa read In Flanders Fields. Ron did the Act of Remembrance. Dan lowered the flag during the Last Post. Altogether the service lasted about 15 minutes. Here are some pictures of the event.

 

Before the Service, Ron and Jan visited the Orange Owls for a brief ceremony. The London Free Press was present and took the following picture. The Orange Owls have been visiting our Cenotaph for approximately 15 years on each November 11. In the past several years Ron and Jan have hosted the little ones and their teachers for a brief child friendly ceremony at the Cenotaph. This year due to the pandemic the Orange Owls were not able to leave their school.

, November 11, 2020. Category: Epiphany Photos.
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