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Incarnation

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

This fifth Sunday of Lent, we heard the Shema from Deuteronomy, and the Great Commandment from Luke, both for the 5th time in a ros, and Bill spoke on the 'Dream. Think. Be. Do.' study theme of 'Incarnation'. Notes are posted at www.billbrucewords.com, and you can hear audio by clicking the icon below.

Creative Transformation

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On this 4th Sunday of Lent, Bill spoke on the study theme of 'Creative Transformation', as we heard again the 'Shema' from Deuteronomy 6 and the 'Great Commandment' from Luke 10. Bill posts notes at www.billbrucewords.com, or you can press the button below to hear an audio version.

My Jesus and Yours

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On this second Sunday of Lent, continuing our series on 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind', Bill spoke on 'My Jesus and Yours'. Notes are posted at www.billbrucewords.com. The lessons are attached below if you click on 'read more'.

Deuteronomy 6:1-12
Lessons in Lent

Now this is the commandment
the statutes and the ordinances
that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe
in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy,

so that you
and your children
and your children's children
may fear the Lord your God
all the days of your life,
and keep all his decrees
and his commandments
that I am commanding you,
so that your days may be long.

Hear therefore, O Israel,
and observe them diligently,
so that it may go well with you,
and so that you may multiply greatly
in a land flowing with milk and honey,
as the Lord,
the God of your ancestors,
has promised you.

Hear, O Israel:
The Lord is our God,
the Lord alone.

You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:1-12
Lessons in Lent

Keep these words
that I am commanding you today
in your heart.

Recite them to your children
and talk about them
when you are at home
and when you are away,
when you lie down
and when you rise.

Bind them as a sign on your hand,
fix them as an emblem on your forehead,
and write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates.
When the Lord your God
has brought you into the land
that he swore to your ancestors,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,
to give you
a land with fine, large cities
that you did not build,
houses filled with all sorts of goods
that you did not fill,
hewn cisterns
that you did not hew,
vineyards and olive groves
that you did not plant
and when you have eaten your fill,

take care that you do not forget the Lord,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery.
Luke 10:25-28
Lessons in Lent

Just then a lawyer
stood up to test Jesus.

'Teacher,'

he said,

'what must I do
to inherit eternal life?'

He said to him,

'What is written in the law?
What do you read there?'

He answered,

'You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbour as yourself.'

And he said to him,

'You have given the right answer;
do this,
and you will live.'

Scary Stuff

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On Transfiguration Sunday, March 6, we shared communion, then heard Matthew's version of the Transfiguration, before Bill spoke about 'Scary Stuff'. Notes are posted at www.billbrucewords.com, and you can listen by pressing the speaker icon below, or read the gospel lesson by clicking on 'read more'
Matthew 17:1-8
Sunday, March 6, 2011 page 1 of 2

Six days later,
Jesus took with him
Peter
and James
and his brother John

and led them up a high mountain,
by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them,
and his face shone like the sun,
and his clothes became dazzling white.

Suddenly there appeared to them
Moses
and Elijah,
talking with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus,

'Lord, it is good for us to be here;
if you wish,
I will make three dwellings here,

one for you,
one for Moses,
and one for Elijah.'

Matthew 17:1-8
Sunday, March 6, 2011 page 2 of 2

While he was still speaking,
suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and from the cloud a voice said,

'This is my Son,
the Beloved;
with him I am well pleased;
listen to him!'

When the disciples heard this,
they fell to the ground
and were overcome by fear.

But Jesus came
and touched them,
saying,

'Get up
and do not be afraid.'

And when they looked up,
they saw no one
except Jesus
himself
alone.

Horn Trio

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

February 27, and we enjoyed Duncan Andrews, Barbara Kamienski, and Cathy Redsell playing a French Horn Trio during worship - click on the speaker arrow below to hear their offertory, Minuetto Grazioso by A. Rejcha!

Forgiveness-Grant Webster-Baden-Powell-Service

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

February 20, we celebrated Baden Powell Day with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers from 1st Thornhill Group. Grant Webster, a Venturer and member of the congregation, spoke on Forgiveness, based on the text in Matthew 5:38-48 about turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. You can read the whole lesson by clicking on 'Read More' below. You can hear Grant speak by clicking on the speaker icon and arrow!
Matthew 5:38-48
Baden Powell Sunday February 27 2011

'You have heard
that it was said,

...An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth.o

But I say to you,
Do not resist an evildoer.

But if anyone strikes you
on the right cheek,
turn the other also;

and if anyone wants to sue you
and take your coat,
give your cloak as well;

and if anyone forces you
to go one mile,
go also the second mile.

Give to everyone
who begs from you,
and do not refuse anyone
who wants to borrow from you.

[page 1 of 21/2]
Matthew 5:38-48
Baden Powell Sunday February 27 2011

'You have heard that it was said,
...You shall love your neighbour
and hate your enemy.o

But I say to you,
Love your enemies
and pray for those
who persecute you,
so that you may be children
of your Father in heaven;

for God makes the sun rise
on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain
on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you,
what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax-collectors do the same?

And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,
what more are you doing than others?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Be perfect, therefore,
as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Deb Hopper - Planned Giving at TUC

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

February 27, and our guest speaker was Deb Hopper, Regional Gift Planner for the United Church of Canada, speaking on "Who Will Sanctify Themselves Today?", with bible texts 1 Chronicles 29:1-5 and Acts 7:45-50 - to read those bible texts, click on 'Read More'. Deb will be offering more information sessions on Planned Giving on Tuesday and Thursday evenings this week, then after worhsip again on March 6, and at our Pancake Supper on March 8!

I Chronicles 29:1-5
Sunday February 27, 2011 page 1 of 4

King David said to the whole assembly,

'My son Solomon,
the one whom God has chosen,
is young and inexperienced.
The task is great;
Because this palatial structure
Is not for man,
but for the Lord God.

With all my resources
I have provided for the temple of my God,
gold for the gold work,
the silver for the silver,
and the bronze for the bronze,
the iron for the iron,
and wood for the wood,

as well as onyx
for the settings,
turquoise,
stones of various colours,
and all kinds of fine stone and marble
all of these in large quantities.
I Chronicles 29:1-5
Sunday February 27, 2011 page 2 of 4

Besides,
in my devotion
for the temple of my God,
I now give my personal treasures
of gold and silver,
and because of my devotion
for the temple of my God
over and above all that I have provided
for this holy temple:

three thousand talents of gold,
(gold of Ophir),
and seven thousand talents
of refined silver,
for overlaying the walls of the buildings,
for the gold work and for the silver work,
and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen.

Now,
Who is willing
to consecrating themselves
to the Lord today?'

Acts 7:45-50
Sunday February 27, 2011 page 3 of 4

After receiving the tabernacle,

our ancestors
under Joshua
brought it with them

when they took the land
from the nations
that God drove out
before them.

It remained in the land
until the time of David,

who enjoyed God's favour
and asked

that he might provide
a dwelling-place
for the God of Jacob.

But it was Solomon
who built a house
for him.
Acts 7:45-50
Sunday February 27, 2011 page 4 of 4

However,
the Most High
does not dwell
in houses
made by human hands.

As the prophet says,

...Heaven
is my throne,
and the earth
is my footstool.

What kind of house
will you build for me?o

says the Lord.

...Or where
Will my resting place be?

Has not my hand
made all these things?o

Is That All?

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On January 30, we celebrated our denomination's Mission & Service (M&S) Fund, and heard lessons from Micah and Matthew about justice and blessedness. Bill asked 'what's enough' and echoed the sarcastic 'is that all?' he heard in the lessons, posting notes at www.billbrucewords.com. You can press the little speaker icon below to listen, and click on 'read more' to read the bible lessons as you hear the speaking.
Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.

Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend with Israel.

'O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.

O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.'
'With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?'

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain;
and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

'Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
'Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

'Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.

'Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
'Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

'Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Here in Galilee

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On January 23, we recognized the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and heard lessons from Isaiah and Matthew. Bill spoke about being "Here in Galilee", and posted notes at www.billbrucewords.com. Click on play to hear what he said, and click on 'more' to read along with the lessons as you listen!
Isaiah 9:1-4
But there will be no gloom
for those who were in anguish.
In the former time
he brought into contempt
the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali,
but in the latter time
he will make glorious
the way of the sea,
the land beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness'
on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken
as on the day of Midian.

Matthew 4:12-23

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake,
in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

'Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles'
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.'

From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the lake'for they were fishermen.
And he said to them,
'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.'
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

As he went from there, he saw two other brothers,
James son of Zebedee and his brother John,
in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,
and he called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues
and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Named

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Sunday, January 16, we heard from Isaiah 49, another 'suffering servant song' and John 1, the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and Bill spoke about being 'Named'. Full notes are posted at www.billbrucewords.com and an audio clip is posted here - click on 'more' to read the bible lessons as you listen!
Isaiah 49:1-7
Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother's womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, 'You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.'
But I said, 'I have laboured in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
and my reward with my God.'
And now the Lord says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength'
he says,
'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'
Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
the slave of rulers,
'Kings shall see and stand up,
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.'
John 1:29-42

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared,
'Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
This is he of whom I said,
...After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me
because he was before me.o
I myself did not know him;
but I came baptizing with water for this reason,
that he might be revealed to Israel.'
And John testified,
'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove,
and it remained on him.
I myself did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me,
...He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain
is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.o
And I myself have seen and have testified
that this is the Son of God.'
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed,
'Look, here is the Lamb of God!'
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them,
'What are you looking for?'
They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher),
'where are you staying?'
He said to them, 'Come and see.'
They came and saw where he was staying,
and they remained with him that day.
It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother.
He first found his brother Simon and said to him,
'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated Anointed).
He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said,
'You are Simon son of John.
You are to be called Cephas' (which is translated Peter).