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. 

Country Music and Coffee Bar 

Enjoy some country warmth on a winter’s afternoon

Freelton Strabane United Church

Studies and Studios

presents

A fireside time featuring

Jamie Warren

Award winning country music artist

and

A variety of coffees

with sandwiches and sweets

Sunday, March 5, 2023

1565 Brock Road, Strabane

Tickets $20

Call 905 869 7936

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)

  One: Come together, people of God, out of the gloom and shadow of a troubled world.         

All: We come with joy to the great light that God has given us in Jesus Christ.                         

One: Come to worship, people of God leaving behind the burdens of this world.             

All: We come to renew our spirits and to now our God once more. 

   There is this boat called the “Jesus Boat”. It is a first century boat that has been recovered and restored from the Sea of Galilee. There were many types of wood used in the boat and what one can surmise is that the bulk of the different woods where wood that was used in repair. This boat. The boat the boys owned was a significant investment. Not to mention the nets, the business relations they must have cultivated and all the other fishing stuff they had. And their homes, families, friends. 

We are talking life altering stuff.

 Can you imagine just walking away from everything?

It is just mind boggling. I can’t go away for a weekend without major preparation. 

They are not given time to think on if they should follow. They act. They make that yes no decision right there and then. They accept the decision and all that it would mean. They follow. They see what is beyond and trust it enough to move with it. 

  I wonder how many times in three years they followed Jesus and in the years following The Easter event they wondered if they had made the right choice that day on the beach.

This is somewhat upsetting, and yes a little frightening

 It scares us because we may have to learn something new or worse we may have to get religious. As one theologian says. “Jesus doesn’t ask them to go out and preach. He doesn’t tell them “Come follow me and I Will teach you to have intelligent religious discussion“ . Rather his expectation for his disciples are much more active earthly, and mundane. He says to them Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” No big challenge here they were already fishermen. 

Have you ever gone fishing? For the most part you sit there for hours, and nothing happens and then bang something takes your line, five minutes of excitement and it’s over.

 You’re back to sitting in the boat or standing on the shore. Usually glad you came with someone who cares for you enough to take the fish off the hook. 

But you are committed to what you are doing.  

Jesus builds on what is already a God given gift. As the old hymn says Just as I am. No special training needed. Just Faith.

   We are like Peter James and Andrew, we are ordinary people call to do extra-ordinary work. We are called each in our lives to Teach, lead, love, plant and grow, heal and guide, and create. God calls us to be where we are. 

Theologian Karl Barth thus said that the main difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is a noetic difference.  That is, Christians are not necessarily better people than Non-Christians nor smarter. We are simply those who have heard something whereas non-Christians have not yet heard. 

As Isaiah says light has come into our darkness light not of our own devising and that makes us see differently.

We are called to see things in that new light. It is in that new light that we are to approach the world. To respond.

We have not heard the call until we respond. For the call compels us to act in response. 

  We all have our favorite poems or writings.  This is one of mine and speaks to where we are .  We need to get to know Jesus We need to hear what he says We need to act on it We need to follow his call.

We are called!

Not to be fearful but to love

We are not called to perfect we are called to be faithful

We are not called to be fearless we are called to be obedient

We are not called to be all knowing we are called to believe

We are not called to claim we are called to give.

We are not called to be victims we are called to be courageous

We are not called to Lord over others for it is in serving that we shall reign

It is though courage that we shall find victory

It is in giving all that we shall gain all

It is in believing that we will find certainty

It is in obedience that we shall overcome.

It is in loving that we shall dispel fear

It is in faithfulness that we shall find perfection.

It is in serving and responding to Christ and his justice that we shall find freedom now and forever for ourselves and the world.

Each morning God greets us with a sunrise to say “ I am here with you it is a new day what will you make of it. “ (remember the Lord will provide)  

Each morning we need to decide how I will live out that call to follow Jesus today.

Each day we need to look at what God has given us and see beyond what is there to what can be there and then allow the creative action of the spirit to move towards what we have imagined.

Don’t be afraid to act, Nothing is more surprising than the rise of the new within ourselves". Tillich
God really wants you. Values you, calls by name for the gifts you have to share, to be one in Christ empowered by the Spirit acting on his words and following his lead. God asks “will you come and follow me if I but call your name. Will you see that I am with you and you in me”,  that we are together, that we, that you are not alone. 

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     

 O God with the daring of the early disciples, we present our offerings in direct response to Christ’s appeal to leave all and follow. We would not with hold ourselves our devotion, our time our talents , our commitment to faithful service. May our actions and these gifts bring the gospel realm to all people Amen 

Sending Forth and Blessing.

One: In humility and with confidence go out to witness to your faith                                 

All: We depart with joy in our hearts and the intent to live by the best we know.             

One: You are supported and strengthened by God’s love and by the family of faith of which you are a part.

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