Announcements  

    Art for the Soul/Tech Tuesday 1pm in the Hall. April 18.

April 21  Euchre 7pm in the Hall

April 16 Studio and Studies at Freelton Strabane are pleased to offer you “ It’s a Small world the art of the Miniature” with Will Wheeler A look how miniatures are built, inspiration and photographing join us at the Church a 2p with light refreshments included.  This is a free will offering event with proceeds being divided between Mission and Service and the former Freelton Church Window installation fund.   

April 30 Concert (Joan has the details)

   Studies and Studies is pleased to present on May 7 2023 at 2pm at Freelton Strabane United Church 1565 Brock Road Strabane.   (how to register at bottom)

SoulCollage®    Rise Up!

with

The Rev.Allison Playfair

Spring is here – finally! All around us there is new birth and rebirth in creation. If you are like me, you may be rediscovering where those bulbs were planted (or moved by squirrels) in your garden. After sleeping underground over winter, our friends, the perennials emerge. Birds return and begin building nests. Everywhere are signs of new life rising up. So too, in our lives, there may be parts of our inner life ready to rise up.

In our time together, we will open ourselves to the spirit within. Using meditative reflection, poetry and creation of a SoulCollage® card, we will explore and give expression to an aspect of ourselves that may be ready to Rise Up in our lives. 

What is SoulCollage®?

SoulCollage® is an expressive arts practice done individually or in community. Founded by Seena B. Frost, the method develops creativity and intuition, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance.
SoulCollage® meets you wherever you are on this journey called life. You don’t have to be an artist to make SoulCollage® cards. Anyone can create and enjoy this powerful practice. In this practice, we cut out images that speak to us and create a collage that will give expression to an aspect of your inner life and bring inner wisdom and discovery to the surface.

Cost: $10. To cover the cost of materials. Allison is donating her time and expertise 

What we will provide

We will provide a blank card, a frame, glue stick and many illustrations and images to choose the pieces to create your own card as well as light refreshments. 

What you need to bring

A pair of sharp scissors and/or a fine point exacto knife, a journal (any kind will do) and a pen/pencil for writing.

Who is the facilitator?

Allison Playfair is a United Church Minister who is a certified SoulCollage®   facilitator, Labyrinth facilitator and experienced workshop leader who is open to the Spirit. She worked as a server and bartender in the first half of her working life and brings all her life experience, compassion and sense of humour to her leadership. Allison is on a journey of reclamation and creative restoration of her body, mind and Spirit. In her workshops, she holds inclusive and affirming space for safe and creative exploration. 

To Register please call the Manse at 905 659 3380 Payment can be made through E Transfer, or cash the day of. 

One: Peace be with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, who has conquered death and shown us how to live.                                     

All: We need the gift of peace for our harried days and we need it for our troubled world.                                         

One: In hope and confidence we come to praise God for the heritage and opportunity given to us.                               

All: We are full of gladness in the presence of Christ, whose ways we seek to follow.           

Prayer of Approach

 Almighty God, in overcoming death and rising from the dead, your only Son overcame death and opened to us the gates of life everlasting. Moreover, in returning to his disheartened disciples, he blessed us and empowered us to be his people in the world. Grant us again a fresh sense of the risen Christ among us, a new wonder that he has so generously given us such grace, a new dedication to be about his work in the world in his name.

    Thomas poor poor Thomas gaping grief surrounded by broken faith.    In that moment cursed to wonder the labyrinth of the Street’s of Jerusalem, the tomb of his whole being sealed with the stone of his grief as dark as the tomb Jesus was shut in.   

Thomas is not doubting,   he is not doubting he is grieving.

Thomas Lost it all, he can’t conceive going through it again. 

Blessed we who have not seen.   

We are entitled to our grief and we each move it in our own way.  There is some grief which never goes away, it becomes a sad corner of our hearts.  It is not a pain to be gotten over, it is one which is learned to live with.   

 What we are shown here is  not to be afraid to face life in the presence of our grief.   

Thomas doubted life, not God.  He let his grief dictate his life.  His eyes blinded to what was.    He is there and is at a point where his grief is raw and bleeding. A grief which cannot see beyond the moment.   To think on what the others have said even to ponder it a little would only hurt so it is better to deny then rip the fragile scab off his soul 

    Oh Thomas poor Thomas, sitting by himself behind those tomb like doors. The small group of followers those women and men who had gathered. The  others chatting like birds in the bazar, foolish talk.  Recalling that moment when they saw Jesus .  foolish stupid talk,  for the dead are dead and the pain is real. 

A quiet sorrowful sob cut short with Jesus standing there. Standing there in that moment He stands there.

Touch the wounds in my hands Thomas, in this moment touch the wound in my side Thomas.  In this moment. 

A gasp,  tears, disbelief belief awe, fear   “My Lord my God.”       

In that moment Thomas was blessed,  we do not know if he touched the wounds or not, but we to will become the blessed.

  Then there is the  moment   when beyond words Thomas sees Jesus. 

    Jesus comes to Thomas and he wakes from the sleep of his grief, he rises from the deadness of his soul he takes in the first breath of coming up from the waters of sorrow. 

Beyond the loss of someone dear to our hearts, there will be other things that we will grieve even if we don’t name it for what it is.    The changing world around us, the changing nature of church,  pain of betrayal,  what we once could do, dreams lost places we will not see, events we have missed , traditions that have passed into the past, changes in our life circumstances  Do not to be afraid to face life in the presence of our grief.    Wake, wake form your sleep, rise up from the dead rise from the deep waters. Christ is in your heart and head.   

We come to know that we are living in the morning light.  We are the blessed because we believe without seeing. Like Thomas we are saved by the risen Christ.  Saved in everyway that we can be saved. 

We are allowed our grief, we must at times cry till there are no more tears, We are even allowed our own pity parties, but we must face life in all that it has given us both good and bad and most of all live that life. 

 Look at what you do have, not at what you don’t and live joy into that.   

 We have each in our own way have experienced the risen Christ. 

In each other we see Christ, in ourselves we can see Christ.   He is reflected in our faith and where our faith meets the world we find, compassion, understanding, love and hope. 

We are an Easter people we cannot languish in the dark of grief but are called to step out of the tomb into life, to live life in faith.  To meet life head on.  To not say poor me, but to say I am a child of God and I will find the strength to do what is set in front of me.   

Wake, wake form your sleep, rise up from the dead rise from the waters deep Christ is in your heart and head. Christ is there for you are the blessed who believe and have not seen, for Christ stays with us through the pain.

Stay with us gentle Saviour until the night is broken by the morning light and we see that in life in death in life beyond death we are not alone     

Prayers of the people 

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God. 

God of the empty tomb we come to you in the morning light knowing that you are our God that walks with us in all that life holds. We know that we are blessed for we believe without seeing, however, we see you surround us in all aspects of our lives.  Help us to still our souls each day to see how you are with us.   We are living in the morning light. 

We know that not all of your creation is able to live in the light.  Many live in the twilight between this world and next. There are many who live in the shadow of war, hunger and abuse.  Send your light O God to break into the darkness of those who are in need that they may know your strength and courage. 

We pray for those who we are called to walk with. Send your courage and strength not only on them but upon us so that we may be that true presence in their lives.  We name them before you.

As we move beyond Easter send your Spirit upon our community of faith and inspire us to continue to be your church and proclaim the good news of Christ risen. We deep gratitude we thank you for all that you have done for us. We come to you with our own prayers of petition and thanks giving knowing that in your way and time they shall be answered.  We offer you the great prayer which binds us as one. Saying Our Father….

Offering

 In gratitude and humble trust

We bring our best today

To serve your cause and share your love

With all along life’s way

O God, who gave yourself to us

In Jesus Christ, your Son,

Teach us to give ourselves each day

Until life’s work is done.

This offering is our most significant statement of faith, O God. We hive because we believe this congregation is important, our ministry changes lives for the better, and we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Ultimately, we believe the church is our firmest link to your reality. Use our time, talent and treasure in ways that exceed our grandest design. Amen

After some prayerful thought we have decided to combine Art for the Soul and Tech Tuesday for seniors on the same day.   Starting at 1pm on April 18th



Prepare ye the way to Sing

We are planning a Spring Concert for Sunday, April 30, at 7 PM.

There will be a variety of musical spots including the choir presenting selections from Godspell.

Anyone interested can join us for practices at Freelton Strabane Wednesday afternoons, starting at 1:30 PM.

Studies and Studies is pleased to present on May 7 2023 at 2pm at Freelton Strabane United Church 1565 Brock Road Strabane.   (how to register at bottom)

SoulCollage®    Rise Up!

with

The Rev.Allison Playfair

Spring is here – finally! All around us there is new birth and rebirth in creation. If you are like me, you may be rediscovering where those bulbs were planted (or moved by squirrels) in your garden. After sleeping underground over winter, our friends, the perennials emerge. Birds return and begin building nests. Everywhere are signs of new life rising up. So too, in our lives, there may be parts of our inner life ready to rise up.

In our time together, we will open ourselves to the spirit within. Using meditative reflection, poetry and creation of a SoulCollage® card, we will explore and give expression to an aspect of ourselves that may be ready to Rise Up in our lives. 

What is SoulCollage®?

SoulCollage® is an expressive arts practice done individually or in community. Founded by Seena B. Frost, the method develops creativity and intuition, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance.
SoulCollage® meets you wherever you are on this journey called life. You don’t have to be an artist to make SoulCollage® cards. Anyone can create and enjoy this powerful practice. In this practice, we cut out images that speak to us and create a collage that will give expression to an aspect of your inner life and bring inner wisdom and discovery to the surface.

Cost: $10. To cover the cost of materials. Allison is donating her time and expertise 

What we will provide

We will provide a blank card, a frame, glue stick and many illustrations and images to choose the pieces to create your own card as well as light refreshments. 

What you need to bring

A pair of sharp scissors and/or a fine point exacto knife, a journal (any kind will do) and a pen/pencil for writing.

Who is the facilitator?

Allison Playfair is a United Church Minister who is a certified SoulCollage®   facilitator, Labyrinth facilitator and experienced workshop leader who is open to the Spirit. She worked as a server and bartender in the first half of her working life and brings all her life experience, compassion and sense of humour to her leadership. Allison is on a journey of reclamation and creative restoration of her body, mind and Spirit. In her workshops, she holds inclusive and affirming space for safe and creative exploration. 

To Register please call the Manse at 905 659 3380 Payment can be made through E Transfer, or cash the day of.