Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
-Matthew 22:9-10
Kindred in Christ,
Have you gotten your Lenten stone yet? At worship this past Sunday, small stones were available for attendees to pick up and take home with them. We invite you to carry this small stone with you through the season of Lent. When you feel anger, frustration, sadness, grief-any emotions that draw darkness over the light in our lives-squeeze the stone. Remember you are not alone. We also ask that on Good Friday, you bring your stone with you to the 10:30 am worship service.
Since we are getting closer and closer to Holy Week, below is a list of all the opportunities to worship that we have going on leading up to Easter morning:
Services of Healing & Release:
Lent is a great time to lift up to God that which is holding us bound and holding us back. This year we will be hosting 3 special services of healing and release in April, they will be held on the evenings of:
Wednesday April 3, 2019
Wednesday April 10, 2019
Wednesday April 17th, 2019
These service start at 7:30 PM. All are welcome
Holy Week Services:
Wave palms, sing praises, and come before the cross in prayer throughout Holy Week. Experience the triumph and the tragedy, and ultimately the glory of God revealed. Below are a list of the services happening through Holy Week.
Palm Sunday: Sunday, April 14th@10:30 AM
Maundy Thursday (Wilmot): Thursday, April 18th @6:00 PM
Good Friday: Friday, April 19th@10:30 AM
Sunrise Service (Pedway): Sunday, April 21st @ 6:30 AM with breakfast to follow @ Wilmot United Church
Easter Communion: Sunday, April 21st @ 10:30 AM
Along with these special services happening throughout the Lenten season, we also have other activities to deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with God and with one another. Have a look at what is happening at St. Paul’s over the next few weeks.
Lenten Lunch Recitals: Wednesdays from 12:10 – 12:50 Free Will Offering will be received.
April 10th: Featuring a Love themed vocal and piano duet by Dianne Roxborough Brown and Kathrin Welte.
April 17th: Spirituals by the Vocal Collective, Organ works by Dr. Sharon Pond and featuring a Pedal Extravaganza by Leo Sowerby.
Bring a Friend to Church Sunday: Every week we hope you are reaching out to friends and neighbours, inviting them to join you at worship in this place, but especially when it comes to the last Sunday of the month! On Sunday, March 31st, we encourage all those who attend to bring a friend along for the fun. Before worship we will have a Sing-a-long time starting at 10:10 a.m. and following worship we are holding a Potluck Fellowship Time. If you can, bring some food to share, but if you can’t, come and share anyway! There is always enough to go around!
Streaming Sunday Worship: We want you to feel like you can worship with us even when you can’t be in the sanctuary. If you can’t be with us for some reason – maybe you’re travelling, maybe you’re sick, or maybe you get a little anxious in a new place and want to see what we are about – we hope that you tune in by following this link (which is different for the month of March) https://zoom.us/j/549001732. You should be able to hear the worship service and see what is on the screens. If you have feedback on your experience email: rev.bowley@outlook.com
Reflective Bible study: Spend time with the word of God, think about what it is saying to you today and what God may be saying through the scripture. No bible experience needed. Join Eric Hotte at 9:15 am until 10am in the church office. Each week the focus on the scriptures for that day, participants say the service takes on a new meaning. This Sunday the reading will be Matthew 25:1-13. Following the study, there will be a prayer group until 10:20am. Absolutely everyone welcome! Come to one or both of these exciting and faith building opportunities
Lenten online Bible Study: Winter makes it hard to get out even on a good day. So, join Rev. Richard online and share the Good News as we engage with and experience the Word together. Don’t miss this week Monday at 7:30 p.m. as we reflect on Matthew 25:1-13. The link to the study is https://zoom.us/j/280179122 and you can check any time before the meeting to make sure your computer/phone/tablet works. Just make sure the sound is turned on. May we walk with Christ on this journey through Lent.
Lenten Film Series: During this season of reflection, we are showing a variety of films for exploring our faith and themes of Lent. Join us this Sunday afternoon as we have a showing of Wall-E at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary. Small concession on site includes popcorn, chocolate bars, juice boxes, water and pop. The proceeds from these sales fund Christian Education opportunities for all ages. Our next family friendly movie will be on April 7th (Inside Out). We also have movies for adult/mature audiences showing at 7pm, March 31st (Arrival) and on April 14th (Calvary). Each film will be followed by short discussion on the film.
Support the youth: Looking to buy bulbs or seeds through Vesey’s the youth group will be raising funds to support their programing and the wider work of the church again this Spring. Catalogues will be here coming soon! Despite the rough start to the growing season that hurt many flowers, your support last year helped grow our youth program to bloom.
Scouting Sunday has been set! We are excited to have the Scouts be a part of our worship and fellowship on April 7th. We look forward to celebrating our Cubs/Beavers/Scouts and program leaders.
The verse at the beginning of this week’s eNews is from a wider passage about a King inviting people to a banquet in honour of his son’s wedding. In the verses above, we see that the King goes to great lengths to fill the guest list, bringing in people from all walks of life – good and bad – to sit at his table. This parable is very much about God’s invitation to us to be a part of building the kingdom of peace and love, but it is also about the boundlessness of God’s grace.
As we seek to bear God’s Grace to others, let us pray:
God of the banquet,
You call us to the table:
your chosen, your loved, your people.
You call us to the table:
to be fed, to be empowered, to be blessed.
You send us from the table:
to carry light, to bring love, to build hope.
You send us from the table:
changed, but still chosen;
liberated and loved;
your people. AMEN
Yours in Christ
Rev. Richard & Rev. Michelle
The bulletin for this week is also available for download from here.