Freelton and Strabane Pastoral Charge
Horseshoe Falls Regional Council.
Transfiguration
Sunday, February 27th 2022
Minister: Rev. Will Wheeler, B.A. M. Div.
905-659-3380 E Mail [email protected]
Administrative Assistance: Linda Young : [email protected]
Announcements
A sure sign of the pending spring is the lifting of the winter Covid 19 restrictions . In the light of this joyous news we will be returning to in person worship as of February 6th at 10:30 at Strabane Church for the month of February. We will be at the Freelton Church for the month of March with worship being at 10:30. We most heartly pray that this will be the last time we have to announce that we are "reopening"
It is Annual meeting time.
It is at last time for our annual meeting. If you could have your reports (I know report on what?) to Linda by February 16th that would be good.
If you have any agenda items, please let me, or Barb Woodburn or Arlene Gray know by the 16th as well
The Strabane Annual meeting will be on February 27th following the 10:30 worship at Strabane Church
The Freelton Annual meeting will on March 6 following the 10:30 worship at the Freelton Church
It is time to Sock it to me and check that top drawer.
It is time to consider our donations of men’s and women’s New socks, u/wear, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste & brushes, razors etc to donate to the Wesley Centre. Donations can be made at Strabane for February and at Freelton in March. We will collect until March 27 (last day).
Of course, $ donations made directly to Wesley or through the church are always welcome
Please help make a difference in someone’s life.
We Want to hear from you.
The Amalgamation Committee has met and begun it’s work and we want to hear from you.
Our first task is to be able to offer you a name for the New Pastoral Charge. We are asking you to suggest names for our new Charge. You can email your Responses to Rev Will or better come join us on a Sunday and drop it off in our suggestion box. We need submissions by March 20th. Then we will create a short list, and ask you for your final thoughts.
Our next big task is to create a vision statement and naming what our mission shall be.
A vision statement is a sentence or phrase that will capture the essence of who we are. Our Mission statement tells who we are. We want to ask you to share your vision of what our new Congregation will be. How do you see us living out God’s call in our community. We are at the beginning of our new chapter of ministry and we want you to help us write it. Please send your thoughts to Rev Will.
Consider PAR as a means to support the Church Offerings can always be dropped off at the Manse.
This week on the Pastoral Charge.
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. T
Gathering
Come out of the darkness, come out of the shadow
Come out of the endless night
All you who are poor now, All you who are broken all you who are bowed by fight
Come into the light of God’s sacred intention
Come under the shelter of his hand
Here you may find riches here you may find healing
Here now you may rise and stand
Call To worship

One In the breathtaking mountaintop experience, glorious God,
All you transform us.
One in the wonder-full experiences of everyday life, Personal God
All you transform us.
One Through the overcoming of adversity, through quiet endurance, Patient God,
All You transform us
One Through a willingness to take a stand in spite of the fear we may feel.
All You transform us.
Prayer of Approach
How good , O God, to be here, where your glory shines and your bright vision of justice and peace surrounds us. Be with us here , in our worship and in all our days. We know how easily praise and singing give way to fear and silence. Be with us in this moment and send your spirit to once more to transform our lives and show us the road we are called to travel. Amen
The Lessons.
(words by Linnea Good)
All: God we live and move and have our story.
In love God lives in us and makes us whole
O Jesus may we hear the Word that calls us near;
Your story makes a home within our soul.
2nd Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-43
One: The Word of God for the People of God
All Thanks be to God
As a person who likes to hike, I can tell you the climb up is hard but the climb back down is harder. Now this is physically true. Going uphill is easier than actually walking downhill. It actually takes more effort more stabilizing of core of the body. It is more work. Ah let’s just stay at the top and order in “take out.” Hmmm. No.
The inspiration for the work of the Church might come from being on the top but the work of the church is not on the mountain. The work of the church is to be found in the struggles on the way down the mountain.
“Are you sure we just can’t stay on the mountain? After it does have a great view. “
We are called not to view the world but to be in the world.
Really? But then we have to leave the view, leave the mountain. It is going to take effort.
This is right. The work of Christ takes effort. The in breaking of God’s kingdom doesn’t happen it is made in how we reach beyond ourselves.
I am not sure about you, but I am tired of being a part of history and would prefer to study it. The reality is that ours is an ever changing world, faced with significant changes. In this world of ever increasing secularism, we Must grasp hold firmly to our spiritual center which is Christ in God
I believe we are called to the mountain at times to be with Jesus, to see him transfigured so that we may be able to renew our understanding of the full Glory of God and what that really means in our lives.
We are spiritual beings and as we feed the body so must we feed the soul for the soul is our spirit a divine creation
We ever so often need to pause and look at are we being a spiritual center? What are we doing to nurture each other in our understanding of ministry? What are we doing to nurture our own spirituality and empowering those around us?
In the past several weeks we as congregations have had to climb the mountain. It has been a hard climb and the pain has been very real. God in the holy spirit have lead us to this time of transfiguration. The vision forward. We are now beginning the work of moving forward.
We are now called to embrace what it is to be a community of faith and a place of spiritual nurture. The Body of Christ transcends the physical. If we find ourselves saying we don’t have the energy to nurture and grow programing around spirituality, through reflection and study then we have failed in why we are here.
The words of God to Joshua after the death of Moses and they began to move into the promised land speak to us
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
We are called to be the Church. To reflect on all of what that means. To hold to our historic creeds, to hold to the proclamation of God’s love found in Jesus enacted by the Holy Spirit. To come of the mountain we will have to be strong and courageous. We cannot be afraid of what the future may bring, for we move forward with God as our Guide
Today the season changes, we are about to begin a journey towards the center of our being.
May we Come and find our quiet center. Breath deep from the belly let the outside world be the outside world. Come to the mountain and know God. For There is a longing in our heart, O Lord, For you to reveal yourself to us. To hear your words Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” For you are not alone.
Prayers of the people (based on Teach Me , God to Wonder. by Walter Farquharson
O God we Call,
From deep inside we yearn
From deep inside we year for you
Prayer. God of the sacred moments, how good is it that we should find these quiet times of prayer and reflection. In these times we one more known your glory, as the disciples saw your glory in the Christ transfigured. It is this which gives us hope in these trying times. It is this hope that brings us to prayers for all those that are in need. Those that we know and those that we do not. We offer prayers for healing, for courage, for strength. For in your Spirit we find all of this. Lord how Good to be here and yet we may not remain but take your promise and leave the mountain for our work in spreading the hope that comes in knowing you is down on the plain. Walk with us as we strive to be your church in these most trying times. Our comfort is the prayer which binds us as one. Our Father…
Offering & Doxology:
Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow.....
May our offerings provide places where the voice of Jesus may be heard. May they empower those who let down the nets at Christ’s command to bring others into discipleship. Send us and our gifts on your mission, O God, and equip us by your grace to make a difference as apostles of your good news.
Yesterdaywe honour our heritage.
Todaywe know that we are not alone,that we live in God's world.
Tomorrowwith God,we will discoverthe undiscovered country.
Upcoming Events
