This is a shortened version of our in-person Sunday Service. We also offer this service on Zoom, for access please call our office at 519-432-8075 and leave a message. Laura will endeavor to reply as soon as possible.
Please note – Our recordings for this day were unusable – the readings are printed and the Reflection and Prayers of the People clips are from Dundas St. with thanks.
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Acknowledging the Territory
Jesus calls us into the world to love one another as we are loved by God. As we came to this land, First Nations peoples welcomed us, sustained us and taught us. We did not hear them when they shared their vision.
In our zeal to tell them the good news of Jesus Christ, we were closed to the value of their spirituality. We confused Western ways and culture with the depth, breadth, length and height of the gospel of Christ. We imposed our civilization as a condition of accepting the gospel. As a result, the image of the Creator in us is twisted, blurred, and we are not what we are meant by God to be. In our journey toward reconciliation, we acknowledge, this day, that we gather for worship on the traditional territories of:
- the Anishinaabe (the Ojibwe or Chippewa Nation)
- the Haudenosaunee (the Iroquois, and the Oneida Nation)
- the Lenape (the Delaware People)
- the Attawandaron (the Neutral Nation or Algonquin People
- and the Wendat (Huron People) as well as the other indigenous peoples who preceded them.
We acknowledge, with respect, their history, their spirituality, and their culture and seek to live into right relationship with all.
We read God’s Words; First Testament Reading is from Daniel 7: 9-10 & 13 & 14
9-“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed
The Gospel Reading: John 18: 33-37 (NIV)
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Reflection: My Kingdom is Not of This World – Mr Mark Richardson
Prayers of the People with Mark Richardson
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Do you wish to share a prayer ? Please call the church phone line at 519 432 8075 to leave your prayers. If there is no one in the office at that time- please leave your prayers on our voice mail.
Remember….
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh.
We still have a building and staff and are still running a community meal program on Tuesday evenings. We are thankful for your donation- see main page – click on Canada Helps link.