Epiphany Service For May 9, 2021

 

 

Image: Against All Odds by Keith Haring 

 

The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of a dear husband and father Vic Thompson given by Gloria and sons.

*Next week is Synod and we are asked to watch the Synod Service online featuring Bishop Todd Townshend. So we won’t be doing our own service. Instead we are asked to watch the Synod Service with the whole diocese. Rev Teresa will forward a link in her weekly email.

*We are in a Stay At Home Order.  But we are encouraged by the number of our folks who are qualifying for their vaccine.  

*FUNDrive  Breaking News!!! This just in!!! FUNDrive collection day now moved to November 17. Due to the shut down and after consulting Value Village our FUNDrive collection date has been 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!
If you are running out of space and/or just want to get rid of the stuff you have put aside for this fundraiser please get in touch with Ron (519 472 9142) (churchofepiphany.london@gmail.com).

*Please remember to save your cancelled stamps.

*Food Cupboard.     Butch. 519-615-9106. 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.

Audio for May 09 Service:

Bible Readings for week of May 09 – May 16

• Acts 10:44-48   

• Psalm 98  

• 1 John 5:1-6  

• John 15:9-17

 

Opening:

 

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

May his grace and peace be with you.

May he fill our hearts with joy.

 

WE pray:

 

Faithful God,

make our hearts bold with love for one another.

Pour out your Spirit upon all people,

that we may live your justice

and sing in praise

the new song of your marvelous victory. Amen..

===
John 15:9-17

15:9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

15:15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

15:16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

15:17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

 

Sermon:

Joy Full Stop John 15:9-17

 

Jesus told his followers, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” 

Jesus’ words are the guide for us all: .  

Because God loves us, we love one another. 

Because God forgives us, we forgive one another.  

At the center of the Gospel is the self-giving love of God.

 

Notice from our text the link between love and Joy.

Joy which is deeper than  mere happiness.

 

Jesus says to his disciples, 

“These things have I spoken unto you, 

that my joy might remain in you, 

and that your joy might be complete.”

 

  Notice that love is essential to joy.

So, what does it take to be full of  Joy? 

 

We  can’t give you a precise answer because it will vary according to our individual needs.  

We can say this, however:  .  It’s hard to really be full of true Joy when you live only for yourself.

==

In 1938, a group of researchers at Harvard began the Harvard Study of Adult Development. The study, which has included interviews with over 700 men, began in 1938; it’s been going on for more than eight decades. The goal of the study, which was begun during the Great Depression, is to discover what factors throughout a person’s life are the “best predictors of joy in later life.”

 

Every two years, the people are asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning their physical and mental health, their work and relationships, and their plans for retirement. 

Every five years, the researchers gather health information on the people. And every five years or so, people are chosen randomly for in-depth interviews on the state of their lives.

 

So, what did they discover about the secret to joyousness?

 

The director of the Harvard study summed it up in two sentences: “Joy is love. Full stop.”

 

 The quality of the people’s close relationships with others was the greatest predictor of joyousness in later life. 

Let us hear that again: The quality of the person’s close relationships with others was the greatest predictor of joyousness in later life. 

Everything else was a distant second to their interpersonal relationships. 

Notice this:  We have these close relationships at church.  We miss this most about Church–Our relationships. Oddly the things that dazzeled like zoom meetings we now know to be woefully inadequate as in person relationships.

 

Jesus served as an example of this truth more than 2,000 years ago. Even when he knew we would misunderstand him and reject him and fail him, he still chose to love us to death  and ever after. 

In this Bible passage, Jesus is trying to share a life-changing truth with us: love is essential for true joy. 

But Christ had another point to make about love:  Love requires sacrifice.  He explained it like this, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

 

Few of us will ever be asked to die for those we love. But to love in the same manner that God loves, we’ve got to lay down our selfishness .

==

Love takes our all.  Like:

In 2019, a young man was nearly arrested for climbing up the outside of a 19-story Philadelphia apartment building. 

This wasn’t an extreme sport enthusiast. 

The apartment building was on fire, and the young man’s mother was trapped inside.

 

The young man, Jermaine, didn’t think twice when he began scaling the outer wall of the burning apartment building to rescue his mother. He had wire cutters to get through the screened porch.

Jermaine’s mother, who is bed-ridden, lived on the 15th floor, but police and firefighters were blocking the apartment doors, not letting anyone enter the burning building.

 

Jermaine reached his mother’s balcony, where he was able to speak to her. In the youtube video, it is hilarious.  She says she is doing okay.  So he says good and climbs back down.  

He works in construction is says, presumably in heights construction?? 

– 

An officer told Jermaine that he could have been arrested for his actions, but he would let him go with a warning not to climb buildings. 

As Jermaine said about his mother, “She’s not surprised by the things that I do for her. She knows I’ll go above and beyond. That is Love.”

==

 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for another.” 

Love requires sacrifice. 

We can’t continue to define love superficially once we’ve seen Jesus’ example of loving sacrificially. 

And he commands us to love others in the same way that he loves us.

==

Throughout history, the one driving force that has moved humanity forward has been the willingness of parents to make almost any sacrifice to ensure that their children would have a better life.  

One of the most inspiring people is a Czechoslovakian woman named Alice Herz-Sommer. 

Alice was a hugely talented pianist and the oldest known survivor of the Holocaust. 

During World War II, Alice,  her husband, and her young son were imprisoned in a concentration camp. 

Her husband died in the camp, along with most of Alice’s extended family and friends.

 

When the Nazi commanders over the camp discovered Alice’s musical talents, they demanded she give piano concerts. 

Alice knew that her life and the life of her young son depended on her giving concerts for her Nazi captors.

 

Alice and her son did survive the camps and went on to live productive lives. Alice lived to 110 years old. 

All those who knew her said that she radiated joy. 

She never developed the bitter hatred you might expect after loosing everyone to such unspeakable horror . 

She spoke often of the beauty of life.  

She shares how she was so grateful for every moment she had.

 

The amazing thing about a woman like Alice Herz-Sommer is that her time in the concentration camp with her son did not leave her emotionally devastated.

There is a film It is called The Lady in number 6.  The director of the film says some wonder if the film is okay for children.  He says it is. One ten year old boy has taken up the piano afer seeing this film.  

He says if you watch it with your family you will learn a couple of things.  You will learn how to be happier.  It will open conversation in a family.  Also, she said it is the atmosphere in the home that is most important for children.  Education is one thing, but it is the home.

It seems it was her sacrificial love for her son that gave her hope and strength in the worst possible circumstances.  

==

We too are to love sacrificially.

Sharing Love with all those around us.  

Even in our sharing food.

A society in which everyone is looking out for Number 1 is a society in trouble.

 

Finally, I think Jesus is telling us in this passage: Love is the very essence of our faith. 

In verse 17 of our text Jesus says: “This is my command: Love each other.”  

Paul would later write: “Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.” 

That pretty well sums the matter up.  If we cannot love others, our faith is a sham.

 

Love is the very essence of Christian faith.  If we are not able to love, then there is something very superficial about our faith. 

Yes, love and Joy are inseparable.  But love requires sacrifice. Therefore, we must sacrifice in order to have Joy, which is deeper than happiness.  

Love does not come easy in this imperfect world.  But love is the central commandment that Christ gives to those who would be his followers. 

It is what God made us for, and how God plans for us to operate in this world. 

 

Hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious measure,
sung by flaming tongues above;
O the vast, the boundless treasure
of my God’s unchanging love.

 

Here I make faith’s affirmation:
thus far by thy help I’ve come,
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.

 

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
take my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.

 

A prayer:

Creator of the universe,

you made the world in beauty,

and restore all things in glory

through the victory of Jesus Christ.

We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured

by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,

the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,

to the glory of your name. 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:

God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbors.
As his disciples in this age,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe
in which we are privileged to live
and our neighbors with whom we share it.

 

Prayers Joan’s mom Winnifred. (Joan and Mike); Connie and Henry (Katherine and Harold K); Sari (Betty G); 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.) ; Larry R.; Brian; Marcel De C and family; Tara; Jeff B.; Doug T.; Alex,  Gord, (Sandra);  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);  Peter T.;  Mark Mc; Dan B.; Alanna R. (Garfield & Diane);  Lynda D . (Mary Beth & Paul); Dean; Linda; Allan; Aunt Frankie; (Brian G.); Diane (Garfield);  Jean (Bruce J.); Ola and Roman; Mildred Mc. (Jan & Ron); Brian (Jeanne); Lisa G.;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 pray for the people of St. Vincent due to ongoing volcano eruptions and neighboring Caribbean Islands as they offer shelter to evaccuees. (Maya)

Open our hearts to your power moving

around us and between us and within us,

until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,

in communities transformed by justice and compassion,

and in the healing of all that is broken. 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.

 

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.

Service for May 02 – The Church of the Epiphany

 

Image: The Delaware Water Gap by George Inness

 

The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of a dear husband and father Vic Thompson given by Gloria and sons.

 

*We are in a Stay At Home Order.  But we are encouraged by the number of our folks who are qualifying for their vaccine.  

*FUNDrive  Breaking News!!! This just in!!! FUNDrive collection day now moved to November 17. Due to the shut down and after consulting Value Village our FUNDrive collection date has been 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!
If you are running out of space and/or just want to get rid of the stuff you have put aside for this fundraiser please get in touch with Ron (519 472 9142) (churchofepiphany.london@gmail.com) or if you have a key to the church take your stuff there and put it in the Hall Basement. (you will see the signs down there).

*Please remember to save your cancelled stamps.

*Food Cupboard.     Butch. 519-615-9106. 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.

 

Audio for May 02 Service

Bible Readings for week of May 02 – May 09

• Acts 8:26-40   

• Psalm 22:25-31  

• 1 John 4:7-21 

• John 15:1-8

•  

Opening:

 

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

May his grace and peace be with you.

May he fill our hearts with joy.

 

WE pray:

 

Faithful God,

make our hearts bold with love for one another.

Pour out your Spirit upon all people,

that we may live your justice

and sing in praise

the new song of your marvelous victory. Amen..

===
Acts 8:26-40

8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.)

 

8:27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

 

8:28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

 

8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.”

 

8:30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

 

8:31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.

 

8:32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.

 

8:33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

 

8:34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

 

8:35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.

 

8:36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”

 

8:38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

 

8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

 

8:40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

 

Sermon:

Our Helper Acts 8:26-40

A beautiful old story tells of how Jesus, 

after his Ascension into Heaven, 

was surrounded by the Holy Angels 

who began to enquire about his work on earth.

 

Jesus told them about His birth, life, preaching, 

His death and resurrection.

 

The angel Gabriel asked,

 “Well, now that you are back in Heaven,

 who will continue your work on earth?” 

 

 Jesus said, 

“While I was on earth,

 I gathered a group of people around me 

who believed in me and loved me.   

They will continue to carry on the work Love in the world.” 

Gabriel was perplexed. 

 

And what will you do if this plan doesn’t work? 

What is plan B?   ”

 

  Jesus said, 

“I have no other plan — it must work.” 

 

So that is the plan – 

its a plan that depends on you and me 

working for good.

 

Following Christ is a call from God 

to each of us to live our baptism –

 

 There is no plan B  – 

we are plan A.

==

What today’s story of Phillip and this man

 shows us is that we are not alone, 

 

God’s Spirit allows  things to happen…

We are not alone in our mission for Love,

 help comes from the Spirit, 

amazing help,

 so unexpected…

the unexpected coincidence,

the success by trying what seems impossible; 

being in the right place 

at the right time to help…

 

When we say I will try to help, 

I will try to change a life…. 

 

Jesus Said, 

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come; 

and you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” 

 

Jesus never intended that we should undertake

 such a mission without the Holy Spirit. 

 

From the beginning,

 he promised his followers

 that he would give them a Helper. 

 

In truth, 

we experience God’s Holy Spirit

 helping us help others 

all the time, if we notice…

 

Lets look at the Bible Story today:

1.  

Philip finds himself on the road 

because God asked him to go. 

 

The early Christians resisted the temptation 

to gather hidden away behind closed doors 

where they could meditate

 on the goodness of God in their lives. 

 

Instead, they listen to God

who says go out into the world 

with their life-changing message 

of Christ and his love.  

 

They were not so heavenly minded

 as to be no earthly good.  

 

David J. Bosch in his book,

A Spirituality For The Road, 

distinguishes between what he calls 

the Pilgrim’s Progress Model 

and the Jonah Model of Christian discipleship. 

 

The Pilgrim’s Progress model 

views the world as a threat from which

Christians must keep themselves untainted.

 

The Jonah Model, 

on the other hand, 

suggests that our calling is not escape from the world.

 

Rather we are being sent by God 

into the heart of the city of Nineveh. 

 

Jesus lived by the Jonah Model.

Jesus comes among us all to help.

 

God asks Phillip,

Us, everyone to go, to do good.

 

2.  

It is also the work of the Helper,

the Holy Spirit, 

to communicate God’s truth through us. 

 

This Ethiopian Man in the story

was likely seeking a sense 

of purpose and meaning in his life.

 

He had been to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship.

Maybe he had been attracted 

to the moral law he found in the Ten Commandments 

of Judaism. 

 

So even as he rode in his chariot, 

he was reading from the prophet Isaiah.

 

Now let us look more closely at how Philip 

is used by God’s Spirit. 

 

Philip does not begin his conversation 

with this Man from Ethiopia, riding in his Chariot,

by delivering some set speech or sermon.

 

Rather he begins right where the Man

is in his understanding of God. 

 

Phillip shows us 

ours is the task of letting

the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 

shine through us, 

so that God can communicate 

with the dear  heart that longs to hear. 

==

Beatrice Cleland has expressed in a poetic way

this aspect of the work of God’s Spirit: 

She writes:

Not merely by the words you say,

Not only in your deeds,

But in the most unconscious way Is Christ expressed.  

 

Is it a radiant smile? 

A holy light upon his brow?

 

Oh, no – 

I felt His presence 

while You laughed just now. 

 

For me ’twas not the truth you taught, 

To you so clear, to me still dim, 

But when you came to see me, 

you brought A sense of God.

 

And from your eyes

the holy beckons me, 

And from your heart

Christ’s love is shed,  

‘Til I lose sight of you.

Till I  see The Christ instead.

 

The Spirit, our Helper, 

is the one who shines through.  

 

Even when we least suspect it, 

the light of Christ’s Love shines. 

4.  

The third aspect of the Helper’s work 

is to draw us into community.

 

When Philip baptized the Ethiopian, 

that man became part

of the community of God’s people 

throughout the world.  

=

That is so.  

No matter where you go, 

you can go to a church

find help hope and home.  

 

That is really something!

=

The Christian life was never meant

 to be a private affair

 “between me and the Lord.” 

 

God calls us into companionship

with one another,

in that community of faith 

we experience 

forgiveness, love. 

 

We are called into Church,

Into being with each other 

Following Christ.

 

Suddenly, 

people begin to care for one another.

 

We share what we have together. 

 

Ours is truly a Church of the Spirit. 

We are transformed it from 

a group of frightened individuals

into a community of faith. 

 

From this community, 

we receive the inspiration

that makes  life possible.

 

It seems to be a literal in-breathing of the Holy Spirit 

that enables us to live nobler lives.

To live kinder, more just lives.

===

The New Testament makes it clear 

that the identifying mark of the Church 

is not doctrinal correctness, 

or liturgical excellence,

but rather the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit. 

==

It is the Helper that calls us 

to our involvement

with a broken and needy world.

==

It is the Helper who enables us  to respond with commitment.

 

It is the Helper that draws us into a community of faith.

 

Then the helper sends us forth

to be Christ’s witnesses 

to the ends of the earth.

 

Hymn: 

God who touches earth with beauty,

make my heart anew.

With your Spirit recreate me

pure and strong and true.

Like your springs and running water,

make me crystal pure.

Like your rocks of tow’ring grandeur,

make me strong and sure.

Like your dancing waves in sunlight,

make me glad and free.

Like the straightness of the pine trees,

let me upright be.

Like the arching of the heavens,

lift my thoughts above.

Turn my dreams to noble action,

ministries of love.

God who touches earth with beauty,

make my heart anew.

Keep me ever, by your Spirit,

pure and strong and true. 

 

A prayer:

Creator of the universe,

you made the world in beauty,

and restore all things in glory

through the victory of Jesus Christ.

We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured

by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,

the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,

to the glory of your name. 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:

O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,

teaching them to love all people as neighbors.

As his disciples in this age,

we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe

in which we are privileged to live

and our neighbors with whom we share it.

 

Prayers Connie and Henry (Katherine and Harold K); Adam P. (Joan and Mike); Sari (Betty G); 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.) ; Larry R.; Brian; Marcel De C and family; Tara; Jeff B.; Doug T.; Alex,  Gord, (Sandra);  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);  Peter T.;  Mark Mc; Dan B.; Alanna R. (Garfield & Diane);  Lynda D . (Mary Beth & Paul); Dean; Linda; Allan; Aunt Frankie; (Brian G.); Diane (Garfield);  Jean (Bruce J.); Ola and Roman; Mildred Mc. (Jan & Ron); Brian (Jeanne); Lisa G.;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 pray for the people of St. Vincent due to ongoing volcano eruptions and neighboring Caribbean Islands as they offer shelter to evaccuees. (Maya)

Open our hearts to your power moving

around us and between us and within us,

until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,

in communities transformed by justice and compassion,

and in the healing of all that is broken. 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.

 

 

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.

 

Suspension of Services

In person Service Suspension

In Person Services Suspended

We are very sorry to have to convey this bad news, but as London moves into grey level restrictions, and based on the advice of Bishop Todd, The Church of the Epiphany is suspending in person services effective immediately. We invite everyone to join us for our online audio services, and continue to reach out to Rev. Teresa throughout the week.

In person services will remain suspended until London moves back to code orange restrictions and advice is received from the Bishop’s office to resume in person services.

On Friday Feb 12 we received the following notice from the diocese.

Reopening our Churches

Dear friends,
With the lifting of the State of Emergency in Ontario, the area covered by the Diocese of Huron will be transitioned into the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework—or colour zones—on February 16th.  We expect to hear within a few days which zone each of the health units in our diocese will enter.  

Churches in the Diocese of Huron will remain closed for public worship until the 2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28th. At that time, parishes in the Orange, Yellow or Green zones may reopen for in-person worship according to the AMBER Stage guidelines.  Bishop Townshend recommends that parishes in the red zone suspend in-person worship.  Any parish in the red zone that wishes to hold in-person worship must receive permission from the bishop.  (Permission given previously remains valid.) Parishes in the Gray zone may not hold in-person worship and are to follow the RED Stage guidelines.  Please see the information and links below for more details.

No parish is required to hold in-person worship.  It is up to the leadership of each parish to determine if they feel comfortable doing so. You know best your people and your context.   

As always, please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns.

blessings,
Tanya+
The Ven. Tanya Phibbs
Archdeacon of Huron

The Colour Zone Chart may be found here
The AMBER Stage Guidelines may be found here
The RED Stage Guidelines may be found here

 

Cans for Keanna

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