Freelton and Strabane Pastoral Charge

Horseshoe Falls Regional Council.


Pentecost  Sunday

 

Sunday,  June 5  2022

 

 

 

Minister: Rev. Will Wheeler, B.A. M. Div.           

 905-659-3380 E Mail [email protected]

 Administrative Assistance: Linda Young : [email protected]


Worship this week June 12th 10:30 at Strabane 

Boxed Meat Sale. 

(this part could be sung) Shrimp on the barbie, and hot dogs a grilling, fish turning crispy and steaks juicing silly. Sweet tasting salads await on the side These are a few of my favorite things. YES it is bbq season and McGregors box meat is back again. For order forms contact Rev Will or at Church. Orders are due back by June 7th and Pick up will on June 14th starting approximately around 5:45-6pm (depends on the truck) Don't miss out on this grilling extravaganza 


Trunk Sale

It's time to start doing some of that spring cleaning and what better way to get rid of things than a Trunk Sale at Freelton United Church on June 18th from 8am to 1pm. We are offering 20x20 spots for $20 and 15 x20 spots for $15. So book now and don't miss out on this fun day. Hot dogs, muffins coffee and drinks will be for sale. To get your spot contact Rev Will at 905 659 3380 

Friday Euchre will be at Strabane 7pm Friday June 10 

Tech Tuesday Tuesday June 7th  at 1pm at Strabane 

Prayer Shawl June 9th 7:30 at the Manse 

There will be a special joint meeting of the Freelton Council and the Strabane council on June 20th at 7pm at Strabane, to review the Amalgamation Document.   Please Print and bring your copy with you.  If you need it mailed again, please contact Rev Will 

 

  Rev Will is always Available for calls. If you find you need to talk or need something please don’t hesitate to call the Manse. 


Consider PAR as a means to support the Church    


 

Gathering 


 We gather Grateful for the life you give us, thankful for your Risen Son and joyful in our Sprit of your love over all blessed God.

 

 

Call to Worship



 One: When the day of Pentecost had they were all together in one place.               

 

All: Suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind.                             

 

One: All were amazed and perplexed, asking “What Does this mean.”                                 

 

All: It shall be, on that great and manifest day, that whoever calls on God shall be saved.       

 

 

 Prayer of Approach

 

O Holy Spirit that gives grace through God in Christ come into us and this place and fill us with your power. Change us and fill us with your gifts so that we may delight in joy and despise and cast away all that keeps us from knowing your enliven presence. Open our hearts in this time that our comings and goings may be filled with joyful songs which reflect infinite light of your holy love.                         Amen 

One: Here the word of God

All: Our Ears are open


John 14:8-17 (25-27)

Epistle Acts 2:1-21     

   

The Word of God for the People of God

All  Thanks be to God 

Prayer
Lord as we ponder your words open our hearts that we may understand and know you. Amen  
Sermon   
    I have missed not travelling even just around the Provence and with the price of gas I not seeing any monumental road trips. Sometimes I have thought maybe I should take the dog sell up everything and move to hut on a beach in Costa Rica. To leave everything and make that leap of faith and trust ourselves to the trust the journey and to go.  
I know people that have done the “big journey” between school and carrier. There are times I wish perhaps I had been braver when I was young.   
The disciples were braver, They committed to the journey and no they were not drunk for it was only nine in the morning. No they are stone cold sober touched by God.  
That is what the disciples did. Touched by the spirit they began the journey. The journey of faith. The journey that was exciting and freighting. Trusting in the presence of the spirit. A journey that would take them to corners of the known world   
Pentecost is about the Journey. 
  

   Its about the Spirit moving us. Opening our eyes to world around us. 

Moving us forward. 

Moving us towards wholeness 

Moving us closer to God 

Closer to fulfilling our calling 

Closer to understanding God’s Love 

Understanding that it is love of God that saves us. 

Saves us from ourselves at times 

Understanding that it is God’s love that sustains us on the journey. 

Because part of understanding God’s love is understanding that we do not stand still with God but we journey with God. In the action of the Spirit. 


   Pentecost is about the Journey.

The journey is about discovery

Finding our place our role our gifts to share.

The journey is about joy, sorrow.

Its about getting it right but also accepting that at times we get it wrong.

Its about offering forgiveness but also accepting it. 

Its about weighing our expectations against what is real.

Its about accepting our fellow travelers for what they offer rather judging them.

It about being present.

Its about understanding.

Its about celebration.

Its about passages.

In the new proposed Mission statement we state

It is our mission to take forward the vision of a vibrant faith Church Community from the past into the future, 

 It is our mission to provide a safe place of worship for all who call this their spiritual home.

It is our mission to  greet people where they are in their spiritual journey and promote spiritual growth.

This is the Pentecost Journey

 

 Pentecost is about a journey

Its about patience. For the Spirit is Patient with us. Nudging us nurturing us knocking on our door. Waiting for us. Always encouraging us to continue the journey

Sometimes we are committed to the journey

Sometimes we are not

Sometimes we are even resentful

And Sometimes we can only stand in awe and say thank you.

Sometimes the spirit speaks quietly in our ear and says trust in me together we will get through this.

Sometimes the Spirit screams your name from across the room and you have to stop and look around you and suddenly you see where you are on the journey.

Sometimes it is the Spirit that gives you all the right words.

 

 

Pentecost is about the journey. 

 

What have you discovered on the journey. What have you learned what wisdom have you gained? Where do you need to grow? What have you to offer, what to you need to know? Do you even know the question? Do you want to know the question? Are you prepared to hear the question?

You see the journey is full of questions and doubt. At times anger and frustration. 

Yet in time we find answers and assurances. In time we find reconciliation and resolution

In this moment, In this time in Journey  we are reminded that the promised Great comforter and guide. The Holy Spirit of God is here.  



May the lively dancing of the spirit take you by the hand and spin you around the floor.

May the comfort of the spirit lift you up so that you may smile at the sun once more

May the wisdom of the spirit gift you with discernment.

May the spirit whisper in your ear the right words to say at the right time to the right person

May the spirit challenge your growing edges

May the spirit tickle your laughter so that you can laugh at what life at times offer.

May the Spirit grant you courage to go where you don’t know.

But most of all may the Spirit embrace you in love like a warm blanket

Love that will protect the soul

Love that will never leave you even beyond the time when your days are no more

May you find strength in knowing that in the spirit we are not alone. Thanks be to God. 

Prayers of the people

 

Slow me Down  Slow me Down

Still my restless mind Still my restless mind

Quell my fears Quell my Fears

Quench my Thirsty soul Quench my thirsty Soul

Fill me with your love Fill me with your love

God of Truth God of Truth

God of love   God of love


God of the Journey, we come to you on this day of Pentecost and once more open ourselves to your Spirit.   You have shown us again and again that when we journey in faith, we will come to the other side of the wilderness strengthen. As we honour this day of Pentecost may your Holy Spirit descend upon us to inspire us to be your Church where we are. That we open ourselves to all the possibility of what we can proclaim in your name. As the warm spring breeze rustle the new life of the leaves in the tree so may we be moved by the new life of your Spirit.  It is in that Spirit that we have hope. Hope that it’s healing presence rest on those that need healing. That It’s strength be present for those that need strength and guidance. Today we give special thanks and ask your blessing on Her Majesty our Queen Elizabeth II. We are thankful for her example of service and devotion to her people.  May your blessings continue to be upon Her Majesty and the whole of the Royal House Hold.   . We also prayer for our United Church of Canada as it celebrates is 97th anniversary. We thank you for the action of your spirit that has guided our Church through the years and pray for the Spirits wisdom as we move forward To you Oh God we lift our prayers and give thanks for the flame of faith that burns with in us. United where we are we say Our Father…. 


   

Offering


We give thee but thy own.   The work of the Church continues and there are three ways you can continue to support that work.   Consider using PAR, use the donate button on our Web Site or drop your gift at the Manse.   Let us make our offering and give thanks.       

  One: Praise God who from all Blessing flow

 

All: May these gifts carry forward the ministry you intend here in our church and community and wherever people are scattered on the face of the earth. May our open hands share your gifts and our open hearts reach out in love and peace. Show us how to use this offering to accomplish your purposes.                                                    Amen     

Commissioning and Blessing
  
One: The holiness of God shines upon you and empowers your witness and service.                            

All: We will meet God in prayer and walk with god in places of human need. We will call upon the Power of the Holy Spirit and receive the Pentecost Fire.                            

One: In all times and places God blesses us. We go now to be channels of God’s blessing    

 
One May God the one who brings us comfort surround you, May Christ our Joy walk with you. May the Continued presence of The Holy Spirit illuminate our path and keep us safe until we can gather again in community. Amen   
Join me now for coffee/tea and of course visiting.   Now that you have finished reading the service I encourage  you to call someone and wish them well for the day.   

Yesterday
we honour our heritage.

Today
we know that we are not alone,
that we live in God's world.

Tomorrow
with God,
we will discover
the undiscovered country.

Upcoming Events

   After much prayer it has been decided that in light of the increasing numbers of Covid cases and the increased presence of Covid variants that we will not return to in person worship until possibly the middle of May. We feel that this is the most responsible road to take for the safety of our faith community and the community at large.