Freelton Strabane United Church

Burn’s Supper

January 21st 2023

Heritage Hall

1565 Brock Road Strabane

Gathering 5:30pm  Dinner at 6pm

$25 a person

To order tickets please call

905 659 5435

 Join us at Freelton Strabane United Church for a Studies and Studios event on February 18th at 1p - 4pm  in the Church Hall to 

Learn the art of needle felting by creating this beautiful Winter scene. Fibre artist and instructor, Cathy Disbrow, will teach you how to needle felt a Winter landscape into a 4” x 6” wool painting, using a special needle to stab sheep wool onto a felt sheet. Students will learn a variety of needle felt painting techniques. Needles, wool, and wool felt sheet to create your painting are included in the cost. Foam felting pads are provided for students to use during class and can be purchased separately.

Cost: $60.00 Register at:

https://woollydoodles.square.site/product/workshop-ticket-needle-felt-a-winter-scene-painting/68

Refreshments are also included. 

Call To Worship

Take this moment sign and space

Take my friends around

Here among us make the place

Where your love is found me

(Iona Abbey Music book pg 122)

Call To worship



One: Drip

All :Drop

One: Drip, Drip

All: Drop

One: Drip, Drip

All: Drop

One So began the rhythm of creation

All: God’s Song begins simple within us as beat of our heart.

One God’s song grows with our voice

All God’s song is to be song brightly

One God’s song breaks into our lives like the rays of light of the bright morning sun cresting the day.

All We will sing God’s song 

     At that time there were three sisters, women of great knowledge and they saw this rising and quickly checked the ancient prophesy’s for they had them all neatly catalogue and realized what this star meant.  Being people that felt knowledge should be shared quickly set off down the hall to share with three other noted Astrologers.  Coming into the room, they proclaimed we have seen a star.  To which the three wise men said, so have we and now we are searching these endless piles of rather un organized prophesy to see what it might mean.  The sisters frowning at the literal piles of paper precariously placed in palisades around the room, offered some help.  The sister said we should journey to this place and pay homage to this great king, the prince of peace.  All agreed a road trip would be fun.  It was at this point that there would appear a difference of opinion which would change the course of history.  The three Wise Sisters, announced we have a map, and have already looked at places to stay. To this Wise men said why do you need a map

  Needless to say the decision was that they would travel in two parties.  So it came to pass that the Three wise men, set out with a great retinue and followed the star.  At that same time it came to pass that the three Wise sisters left following the same star.  After a month of travel staying at four five star hotels and one spa, the Sister came and beheld the child.  Two years later the wise men made their appearance bearing costly gifts, of Gold and Frankincense and Myhre.  Yes The wise sisters also brought gifts but perhaps of a more worldly offering for before the feet of the saviour The three sister placed, diapers, a casserole and wine. Alas history does not record this or the three sisters. 

  We each come to the journey of faith in our own way, we each bring our own gifts to offer, truly no way can be wrong, or any gift to insignificant. 

Epiphany is about the beginning of the journey of faith once more. The in breaking of the light of God. It marks a time of enlightenment.   We once more commit ourselves to being pilgrims together on the journey of faith and service.  Are we pilgrims?    A pilgrim has an end destination in mind, they know where they are going.  Well we maybe not quite pilgrims but We are explorers once more setting out to follow the stars to discover that undiscovered country. The journey changes us The one who returns will not be the same person as the one who set out. We as explorers of what faith is today.  The encounter with spiritual changes us. We are explores of what the church is to become.   We each come to the journey and move in the journey differently. The three wise men vs the Three wise sisters. 

We are moved to discover. We are moved to understanding, we are moved towards enlightenment.

Will we question and doubt our faith journey. 

John did. Jesus comes to him and he questions.

Here is John a rather confident, take charge kind of guy speak you mind person, If you don’t like what I am saying don’t let the door hit your kind of prophet.  Has his own followers and he is suddenly full of doubt

Who am I.  I am not worthy to carry his sandals.

Who am I I am no one you should be baptizing me

Who am I I am not worthy this is not proper

Who am I to play such a role in this story.

We could sing the same song. 

Who are we. 

Who are we to play such a role in this story of God’s great plan .

Who are we? we are not Jesus or even Jesus like.

Who are we,? we are not people of great means .

Who are we? we are not people of celebrity or political sway

Who are we? we are not great activists or voices for change

Who are we? We are not even worthy to untie or even carry the sandals of God.  There on the banks of the Jordan river, its muddy water meandering buy feet sinking in the mud Jesus, taking his cousin by the shoulders leaning in speaks quietly. John, it is you. You are worthy, and it is right and proper and it will fulfill all righteousness.  We all have our part to play and this is yours. 

Together they wade out just a ways from the shore.  John speaking ritual words of repentance, and devotion to God takes Jesus under the water.   

Then enlightenment  depending on what gospel you read, either just Jesus or everyone hears the voice of God   This is my son with whom I am well pleased.

Here on the banks of our lives Jesus takes us by the shoulders leaning in speaks quietly,  I know you are not me, I don’t expect you to be me,   You won’t do what I did. But I tell you this you will do great things in your own right.  You will make a difference because you said yes when my Father spoke your name.   I am with you always.    We these words of love we are taken into the waters of baptism and then enlightenment and our journey of faith begins again. 

Who are We?  Called by God   God has said again and again I want to be your God. I am here for you always. Even when you walk through the valley of the shadows of your darkest fears, when all light is gone, all hope appears to be lost. I am still your God and I am with you. 

The stars they still twinkle above us. We know they really are, how they move in their course and still they hold a mystical beauty and wonder for those that will stop long enough to see it. To move away from the artificial light that we surround ourselves with and embrace the fastness of the night sky, light in the darkness. There is a Line from a song “you still need the darkness to see the stars” 

 May we learn from the Magi Wonder Curiosity Daringness Courage Faith and Perseverance. Although possibly fictious , we learn from the three sisters, to embrace the gift of being practical, ordered and detailed and being in the world. All are needed for the journey

May we as we commit ourselves the life and work of the Church for this coming year, reflect on where we have been, to rejoice in our successes, to forgive what has not worked but most of all allow the Spirit of God to take us forward. Knowing that at times there will be hardships but also knowing that we are United under the banner of Christ our Lord and Saviour.  May we each day find the wonder of God, to find moments to look at the stars knowing that they so many century ago guided those that would honour God in the world. May we in our own time follow the light of Christ and be guided to honour God in our world. May we be open to that leading and together be the body of Christ so as we strive to live out our faith we may know that we are not alone.

Thanks be to God   

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

   Prayer     

The amazing gift of One who fully embodied your intention for humanity prompts us to make a grateful response. In Christ we have known a love that will not let us go. Through our offerings we would share this love in our community and to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Sending Forth and Blessing.



One:  Go out to the world with a new outlook; God is ruling in our midst.

All:   We will take the promises of God to a needy world; share good news with friends and co-workers.

One:  God will direct your paths during the week ahead and provide all that you need to face its choices.

VU 4

God of all places present unseen

Voice in our silence song in our mist

Send us your people knowing and sure

Called to spread the word.

amen amen amen