Northlea United Church In the community. For the community. 125 Brentcliffe Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 3Y7 www.northleaunited.ca 416-425-5252 Welcome to Northlea! Northlea is proud to be a safe space and 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: Roy and Diana Bennett Reading: Jackie Morris Sound Technician: Bev Vanstone Kitchen Hospitality: Rosalind and John Dekker If you are interested in volunteering to help with Sunday Morning Ministries, please contact Marnie Phoenix through the church office or sign up on the sheets posted outside 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 Cool Church Coordinator: Daniel Stefan danielstefanmusic@gmail.com Youth Leader: Jo Dullard jo@northleaunited.ca Consider financially supporting Northlea through Canada Helps by going to www.northleaunited.ca signing up for PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) using offering envelope Please contact the church office if you would like more information 416-425-5252 or office@northleaunited.ca
Northlea United Church Sunday, April 1, 2018 Minister - Lee-Ann Ahlstrom Music Director - David Jafelice Accompanist Perri Lo Flute Marica Camaraire Brass Quartet Trumpets: I Kyle Pogline, II Paul Callander Trombones: I Nate Jenkins, II Zack Everett (*) 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. Prelude Welcome: Announcements, Joys and Concerns *Gathering Hymn: Three Days (words and music on page 2) 1
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Call to Worship: Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Hope is alive A new age is dawning. Joy is alive. Redemption is here. Love is alive. Death is not the end. We are alive.. New life is within us. The church is alive... God s Spirit is among us. Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! *Sung Response: Celtic Alleluia - verse sung by Ian Backstrom 3
Christ Candle Litany for Easter Let us be wrapped in the glow of resurrection. Let the light of Christ enter us and live through us. May the light of Christ s liberation be ours. May it empower us to liberate others too. May the light and peace of Christ be with you all! And also with you! Greetings of Peace Sung Response: Put Peace into Each Other s Hands Verse 5 Only - More Voices #173 Opening Prayer: God, give us eyes to see the beauty of the Spring, And to behold Your majesty in every living thing - And may we see in lacy leaves and every budding flower The Hand that rules the universe with gentleness and power - And may this Easter grandeur that Spring lavishly imparts Awaken faded flowers of faith lying dormant in our hearts, And give us ears to hear, dear God, the Springtime song of birds With messages more meaningful than man's often empty words Telling harried human beings who are lost in dark despair - 'Be like us and do not worry for God has you in His care. by Helen Steiner Rice The Lord s Prayer: 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 away from temptation, and deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. 4
Confirmation Celebration Minister: At various moments on the journey of our life in Christ, we have opportunity to reaffirm and renew the faith proclaimed in baptism. As those who have been baptized profess for themselves the faith of the Christian community in which they have been nurtured, we gather to reaffirm the power of the Holy Spirit and to celebrate the place of Erin, Will and Ashlin, in the people of God. We give thanks for their gifts, and promise to continue to walk with them. With joy and thanksgiving we celebrate the faith we all share, and rededicate ourselves to the life and work of the body of Christ. Reading: John 14:15-21 Youth Leader: On behalf of the congregation of Northlea United Church, I present the following persons who seek to renew the faith proclaimed in their baptism. William Steeves Erin Peirce Ashlin Elwood Minister: Do you believe in God, who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, and who works in us and others by the Spirit? I do, by the grace of God. Desiring the freedom of new life in Christ, do you seek to resist evil, and to live in love and justice? I will, God being my helper. Will you follow the way of Jesus Christ? I will, God being my helper. 5
Will you join with your brothers and sisters in this community of faith to celebrate God s presence, live with respect in creation, and love and serve others? I will, God being my helper. Let us pledge to Erin, Will and Ashlin our continued support and care We will continue to support you, walk with you, and grow with you. With God s help, we will live out our baptism as a loving community in Jesus Christ: nurturing one another in faith, upholding one another in prayer, encouraging one another in God s work. Affirmation of Faith: The New Creed Voices United #918 Confirmation Blessing Confirmation Prayer Gracious God, giver of life, you have called us by name, and pledge to each of us your faithful love. We pray today for your blessing on Erin, Will and Ashlin, watch over them and guide them as they continue to grow in faith. Remind us of the promises of our own baptism, and renew our trust in you. Strengthen us to do your will, and to serve you with joy, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen Listening Hymn: Sing to God a Joyful Song - Hymn for congregation and choir (words and music on page 7) (During the singing of the hymn, the children and youth will leave for their Cool Church listening and learning time.) 6
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. Reading: Mark 16:1-8 Response: In this reading we hear God s voice. The Spirit is still speaking, thanks be to God. Message: Where d he go? Anthem: Rejoice in the Risen Christ for choir, organ and brass Allen Pote 7
~ Responding ~ Invitation to the Offering Offertory Music: Gavotte Samuel Wesley Offertory Response: Christ Has No Body Now But Yours More Voices #171 Through ev ry gift give back to those in need: as Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing, with ev ry gift a benediction, be to the people of God. Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours. Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion. Words: Adapted by Stephen C. Warner, 2003, from St. Teresa of Avila. Words copyright 2003 World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net # A-724837 *Offertory Prayer: God, whose giving knows no ending, we offer up the treasure that you have entrusted to us; we offer up the skills and time that you have graciously given to us; we offer up ourselves in loving service. Receive these gifts by your grace. Multiply and use them through the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish Christ s work of love in the world. Amen. Prayers of the People Closing Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today Voices United #155 *Commissioning and Benediction *Sung Amen: Amen (words and music on page 9) Ken Canedo, Bob Hurd 8
Postlude: Canzon a 4 Giovanni Gabrieli 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. Message from Barb I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is part of our church - and to express my deep gratitude in knowing you all. I also want to thank you for the lovely send-off last Sunday and the very thoughtful gift which I can use to spoil myself! Thank you! Funny thing is, I will continue to see you - but no longer a staff member, but as a congregant! That makes me happy. So, I bid you a fond farewell as I take a break from everything and look forward to seeing you all in the neighbourhood or at church in the future. To tie up a few things... The email for barb@northleaunited.ca will be disconnected soon. IF you'd like to reach me, my personal email is: barbferguson@rogers.com. And lastly, please give a very warm welcome to our new Office Administrator, Tricia Reid, who can be reached at office@northleaunited.ca. Blessings to you all, with love, Barb. 9
Donor: In Celebration of: Anne Medlock & Bob Brown Loved ones Rick Coombs Spring and New Growth Susan Nelson My mom, Lillian Rance, turning 96! Marnie Phoenix New Life/New Beginnings at NUC Margaret and Heinz Rieger Helen Roberts Mom, Dad and Henry William Steeves Confirmation Donor: Lois Andrews Arrey/Symington Family Barbara Osborne Lucy Platt Sharyn Varty Donor: Lee-Ann Ahlstrom Lois Andrews Roy and Diana Bennett Dale Blayney Harold and Vera Bratten Marcia Camaraire June Cavers Norma and Al Crawford Rosalind and John Dekker Remembering: Lois and Family Loved ones David and Billy Bill and Maddie Hunter and Elizabeth Finlay Glen In Loving Memory: Tim Crew Bill Andrews Richard Bennett Alice Way Dear family and friends Robert James Wilson Loved ones Our dear son Brian Family and friends 10
Donor: Glen and Sue Earl John Earle Jim Hartley Stephen and Laura Jarvis Anne and Stan Murray Orlowski Policicchio Family Marnie Phoenix Ron & Nancy Plunkett Michele, Stephen and Nick Margaret and Heinz Rieger The Saunders Ron and Lois Scott In Loving Memory: Tom and Edna Earl and Charles Leonard Dianne My wife Karen, parents Bill and Vicky and brother Doug Ardath and Fred Hedgcock Cherished grandparents and friends Margaret and Ernst Orlowski and Ottarina, Carmela and Joe Policicchio Milly and Jack Skinner; John Phoenix Brenda Zimmerman, daughter of Ron and Nancy Plunkett and sister of Jody Kinsey Mary Mae Popiel and Edith Taylor, our mother and grandmother Anne Levay Loved ones Loved family members In remembrance of Kitty Blair. A light who shone on many. Stashew, be a good boy, thanks for watching over the kids. Until we meet again. Your ever loving Kiffy Kat. Sincere thanks are extended to all who made contributions towards the beautiful flowers in the Chancel, to those who purchased and arranged them, and to other volunteers for delivering them to those who are unable to come to church. 11
Spring Chair Exercise Classes Spring Chair class starting Wed. April 4th for 6 weeks Time: 11:00-12:00 Come out and enjoy some gentle exercise and bring a friend. For further info: contact Anne Medlock 416-429-1895 Coming Up! Staff Meeting - Tuesday, April 3, 11:30 am Chair Exercise Class Wednesday, April 4, 11:00 am Blood Donor Clinic - Northlea School-Wednesday, April 4, 2-7pm Youth Without Shelter Dinner Sunday April 8 Ministry & Personnel Monday April 9 11:00 Council Meeting Wednesday, April 11, 7 pm Retreat in the Pines April 13-15 (See insert) Trustees Meeting Wednesday, April 18, 8:00 pm World Day of Prayer Friday, April 20, 1:30 pm at Northlea Community Clean Up Day Saturday, April 21, 10 am Love Jazz Join Us! Sunday, April 29, 4:30-5:30 pm Art Circle - Thursdays at 1:30 pm Choir Practice - Thursdays at 7:30 pm The church office will be closed on Monday, April 2. Daniel, Jo and the children shared their poster Palm Sunday, summarizing their Lenten Environment Challenge last Sunday 12
Jazz? Join Us! Sunday, April 29 th 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Featuring: Pianist Rob Rowe & Friends & Juno Nominee Vocalist Heather Bambrick Refreshments served at 4:00 pm. Free will offering Youth Without Shelter Dinner Sunday, April 8 - Northlea is providing a home-cooked Sunday dinner for the 50 residents and guests of Youth Without Shelter on April 8th. Rick Coombs is coordinating the event and asking for participants to prepare the food and also for helpers to serve the meal. There is a sign-up list of required tasks posted on the bulletin board. Most ingredients for a roast turkey supper will be bulk-purchased and costs paid by the church. Thanks for your support for this first of a recurring involvement in this worthy institution. Community Cleanup Day On Saturday April 21, 2018 Northlea United Church will be participating in the annual City of Toronto Community Cleanup Day. The cleanup takes place in Serena Gundy Park, starting at the Rykert Cres. entrance. Our cleanup starts at 10:00 am and lasts 2 hours. If you are interested there is a signup sheet with more details in the Narthex. Thank You. Blood Donor Clinic Will be held on Wednesday April 4, 2018-2-7 p.m. At Northlea School, 305 Rumsey Rd Call 1-888-2-Donate / (1-888-236-6283) 13