Open to Spirit, Open to You!
Order of Worship
March 16th 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
2nd Sunday in Lent
We welcome you to our Sunday Worship. Help yourself to a cup of coffee
and a name tag, at the back of the sanctuary, prior to the service starting.
Following the service, everyone is invited for an informal time of
conversation and refreshments in the parlour. Our members will be happy
to assist you with any questions or needs you may have.
If you are visiting with us with your infant or toddler, we would welcome
them in our well-equipped and supervised infant and toddler room. If you
need direction to the room, please feel free to ask an usher at any time
during the service.
Taize at 10 am
Chant:
The Kingdom of God
MV# 146
The kingdom of God is justice and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Come, God, and open in us
the gates of your kingdom.
Lighting Christ Candle
Silence
Scripture Reading: John 3:1-7
Silence
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Chant:
Jesus, Your Spirit in Us
MV# 102
Jesus, your Spirit in us
is a well-spring of life everlasting.
Prelude
Gathering at 10:30
Words of Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship:
One: As did the poet of Israel, some cry out this day;
All: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?”
One: Along with Nicodemus,
many find ourselves awake at midnight;
All: reliving the mistakes we have made
and wishing we could begin again.
One: Like Sarah and Abraham
All: we have found the courage
to step out in faith.
We are here. God is here.
Let us Celebrate.
*Hymn:
As Comes the Breath of Spring
VU #373
Opening Prayer and Confession
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Kyrie Eleison
MV#68
Kyrie eleison (sung 4x)
O God have mercy (sung 3x),
have mercy on us.
Kyrie eleison (sung 4x)
Words of Assurance: Be Still and Know
Choir
The Word of God Proclaimed
First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm: 121
VU# 844
Children’s Hymn:
God of All the World
MV#22
God of all the world,
we have come to give you thank
and become more like you. (repeat)
In worship we long to be
one with each other and you.
Young At Heart Time
Good News Candle
Our Lord’s Prayer
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(sung) VU #959
¶Taking
the Light to Sunday School:
Choir: I am light
All: I am light
Choir: You are light
All: You are light
Choir: Light the way of Jesus
All: Light the way of Jesus
Second Lesson: John 3 :1-17
Sermon Hymn: Bless Now, O God, the Journey VU#633
Sermon
Our Response to God
*The Offertory Hymn:
Praise God from
Whom All Blessings Flow VU# 541
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creature high and low;
give thanks to God in love made known:
Creator, Word and Spirit, One.
Prayers of the People
Jesus, your Spirit in us
is a well-spring of life everlasting.
*Closing Hymn:
Faith of Our Fathers
MV# 102
VU#580
*Commissioning and Benediction
*Sung Benediction:
Walk With Me
VU#649
Walk with me, I will walk with you
and build the land that God has planned
where love shines through. 2x
(with instrumental interlude)
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********
* Indicates to please stand if you are able.
¶ Reprinted with permission (Licensing # 621272, One License # A-721640)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Warming up with Coffee!! – There’s nothing like a warm
cup of coffee to welcome you. Through the season of
Epiphany, we’ll be serving coffee, before worship, at the back
of the sanctuary from 10-10:30 am.
Sunday Sermons Available – if you would like a copy of the
Sunday sermon, please call the office or email Rev. Alexa at
[email protected] and we will be happy to send
you a copy.
Hymn Sing-A-Long at 10:10 am in the Sanctuary - on the
first Sunday of the month. Join us and sing new and familiar
hymns to our congregation.
Council Meeting – the next Council Meeting will be held on
Tuesday, March 25th at 7 - 9 pm in the Parlour.
Lay Readers and Fellowship Time Volunteers – We are
always looking for lay readers and fellowship time ministers. If
you can help with lay reading and fellowship time, please sign
up on the sheets in the Parlour.
Lectio Devina – is a meditative or contemplative approach to
scripture reading. It is traditionally done in groups although its
method and the experience of it can and will be applied to
scripture reading done privately as well as to many other
aspects of daily life. Windermere United Church will begin
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Lectio Devina every Friday from 10am – 12noon, starting on
Friday, February 7th, in the parlour. Please join us for a time of
meditative reflection on scripture followed by a light soup
lunch. Everyone welcome
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lenten Spiritual Study –
“I will wax romantic about spring and its splendors in a moment, but
first there is a hard truth to be told: before spring becomes beautiful, it is
plug ugly, nothing but mud and muck.” Parker Palmer
You are invited to experience Lent as a spiritual pilgrimage
exploring the themes of Spring through the practice of
meditation, art, music, and a labyrinth walk.
A different Spiritual practice each week at 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20th – Lectio meditation on the Theme of
Spring
Wednesday, March 26th – Art and Spirituality
Thursday, April 3rd – Jazz Vespers
Wednesday, April 9th – Labyrinth walk (Meet at the High
Park Labyrinth)
Thursday, April 17th – Maundy Thursday service and
culmination of the practices
Please sign up in the parlour or via email at
[email protected]
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Taize at Ten: Jennifer, Jeff, and Rev. Alexa will be
leading a 15 minute intimate Taize style service for 5 of
the Sundays during Lent (March 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6).
Join us in the choir loft at the front of the church
Sundays at 10 am for sung and silent meditation, before
the regular service begins.
"Turn Around Take
Off!" An online
Lenten devotions with
Moderator Gary
Paterson, Rev. Alexa,
and other innovative
leaders. Beginning on
March 9, the first
Sunday in Lent, and
running through
Easter Sunday, April
20. Join here, using your Facebook account,
https://www.facebook.com/events/218984711640526/
40acts emails for Lent – receive 40acts emails
beginning March 5th and receive a daily dose of
generosity during Lent. 40 days, 40 reflections, 40 simple
acts this Lent. Join up and create a movement of
generosity. To sign up, please go to
http://www.40acts.org.uk/
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Join us for “A Spirited Conversation,” a small- group
discussion in one of our local pubs happening on the 3rd
Wednesday of every month. What we discuss will be up
to you! Send your conversation topics questions to
[email protected]. Please note, the next
‘Spirited Conversation’ will be on Wednesday,
March 19th, at 7:30 pm, at THE DARK HORSE.
This week’s topic: Emily Dickenson’s poem:
Some keep the Sabbath going to church
I keep it staying at home
with a bobolink for a chorister
and an orchard for a dome.
Some keep the Sabbath in surplice
I just wear my wings
And instead of tolling the bell for church
Our little sexton sings.
God preaches – a noted clergyman –
and the sermon is never long
so instead of getting to heaven at last
I’m going all along.
Parenting Children Course at Runnymede Community
Church. "Children do not arrive with an instruction manual. No role
we undertake is more important than parenting."
Might this be the time to enjoy and benefit
from the Parenting Children Course? This five-week
course is tailored for parents, step-parents, grandparents,
care-givers of children in the age range of 0-10.
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Topics include:
 Building strong foundations
 Meeting our children's needs
 Setting boundaries
 Teaching healthy relationships
 Our long-term aim in parenting this age group
The five weeks provides many opportunities to explore
together, to learn, and to share parenting tips and wisdom,
over decaf coffee and delectable desserts. Friends, relatives,
neighbours welcome, so spread the word! Starts Thursday,
March 27, 7 PM (through Thursday April 24)


only $30 per family covers the cost of materials for the
whole five weeks
For more information or to register, speak to Donna
McIldoon by calling 416 767-1401 or emailing the
church at runnymedechurch.org.
Holler for Health Care! March 31st at 8 pm marks the end
of federal leadership in Health Care. As part of a National
Day of Action, join a star studded line up of performing
artists including Brent Carver, John Alcorn, Ted Dykstra and
Nancy White with special guests Shirley Douglas and Bob Rae
(on piano) to celebrate our National Health Care System and
demand a renewal of the federal-provincial accord.
Place: Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor St. West.
Tickets: $25 reserved. $20 general admission. $12
seniors/students/arts workers. At the door (cash), soon to be
available on line. For group tickets or information contact:
[email protected]. To learn more about this
important issue go to www.healthcoalition.ca
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Images And Words For Holy Week
Holy Week: the events of this one week, from Palm Sunday through the
Saturday Easter Vigil culminate in Easter, the centre and turning point
of the whole Church Year.
Palm Branches: an ancient symbol of victory.
Branches of the palm tree were regarded as
sacred. Palm branches were waved triumphantly
as Jesus entered Jerusalem
Loaf and cup; Jesus shared bread and wine with
his disciples during the Last Supper.
Crown of Thorns; made by soldiers and placed
on Jesus’ head as a cruel joke on the "King of the
Jews" while he was in Pilate's charge.
Hosanna A Hebrew expression meaning, "Lord, save us!”
In the ancient Jewish festival of Tabernacles, it is a
shout of jubilation with thoughts that the Lord
will appear to save us. So it was that in Jesus,
God came to save us.
Holy Week and Easter Service
Palm and Passion Sunday – April 13th, at
10:30am
Join in a Parade of Palms and dance to the
rhythm of the drums! Communion will be
served. Hear yourself in the story of Jesus’ last week in
Jerusalem. Communion service will not be on Palm Sunday
this year. Communion will be served on Easter Sunday.
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Maundy Thursday – April 17th, 7:00-7:45pm
An experiential contemplative service that takes
us from the Upper room to the Garden of
Gethsemane; come and walk with Jesus and the
disciples.
Ecumenical Good Friday Service at St. Olaves Anglican
Church – April 18th, at 10:30am
A traditional telling of Jesus’ last day through lessons and
carols. 360 Windermere Ave.
Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service – April 20 at 7:00am
Listen to the birds welcoming in the new day as we rediscover
the empty tomb with Mary. Please gather by the cross visible
to the S-E of the Grenadier Restaurant, just prior to 7:00am.
Ecumenical Breakfast at the Grenadier, following the
service.
Easter Sunday Service – April 20 at
10:30am
Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with
flowers, trumpets, and song. Let the joy of
this season fill your heart with hope.
Easter Communion will be served.
WELCOME
Windermere United Church (1912-)
356 Windermere Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M6S 3L3 416-769-5611
Minister: Reverend Alexa Gilmour
Family and Children Ministries: Brian Stevens
Honorary Associate Ministers:
The Reverend David Allen & The Reverend Sylvia Hamilton
Musical Director: Jennifer Wakefield
Accompanist: Jeff McLeod
Sunday School Coordinator: Michiko Bown-Kai
Building Manager: Karel Blechta
Office Administrator: Katie Mior
Office Hours: Mon. to Fri. from 9:00am - 2:00pm
[email protected]
Look for Windermere United on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @wind_uc
www.windermerechurch.ca
www.OpenToSpirit.org