It’s important to remember: church doesn’t close. Ever. We may need to temporarily stop our face-to-face, full-on-peace-passing, communion-by-intinction, and offering-of-the-plates, but the church – the body of Christ – is a 24/7/365 reality. It’s lived, around the world, and in our homes; it acts, when our hearts reach out; it keeps going, wherever there is one disciple of Jesus, or two, or three – living the Way we’ve been taught. And, with Paul, I’d like to remind you there is nothing – there is NOTHING – not a single thing – not in the sky above, or the earth below, not powers, nor principalities, not things seen, or unseen – nothing in all creation that can separate that creation from God’s love in Christ.
We are the church. Always. And all ways. (Posted on Friday, March 13, 2020 to the Moderator Richard Bott Facebook page. Used with permission)
Scripture for this Sunday: John 4:5-42
A bit of reflection from my sermon: Gosh! what a week it’s been! perhaps we might be feeling like we would like to take a long walk in the warm sun and wander off to the well to do something ordinary as fill our bucket with water at this important place – as the woman from Samaria did in the reading. When Jesus found her there, they engaged in an edgy kind of conversation – back and forth – discussing such a variety of topics. What would you talk to Jesus about if you were to meet him at the place you do your ordinary things? What questions would you like to ask him? In this time when many of us are confined to our homes and most activities are cancelled, there are still ways for us to be followers of Jesus. Think for a minute about how you might connect and care for others. What would you like to hear from someone from the church? What message of hope would you offer to someone else? Maybe you might call someone or email or text? Perhaps you might write a card or letter and take a walk to the mailbox to send it on its way? After their discussion, the woman went back to her home and told everyone what had happened. The people of her town invited Jesus to come and stay with them – and he stayed 2 days. After that many more believed in his message. In his kind act of conversation, Jesus was able to remind this woman of God’s love. In our acts of kindness, we too will show others what God’s love is all about. May God’s love, peace and comfort be with us and guide us in these days ahead. We are not alone. Amen.
Prayers of the People as offered by Moderator Richard Bott:
In this time of Covid-19 – we pray. When we aren’t sure, God, help us be calm; when information comes from all sides, correct and not, help us to discern; when fear makes it hard to breathe, and anxiety seems to be the portion of the day, slow us down, God; help us to reach out with our hearts, when we can’t touch with our hands; help us to be socially connected, when we have to be socially distant; help us to love as perfectly as we can, knowing that “perfect love casts out all fear.” For the doctors, we pray, for the nurses, we pray, for the technicians and the janitors and the aides and the caregivers, we pray, for the researchers and theorists, the epidemiologists and investigators, for those who are sick, and those who are grieving, we pray, for all who are affected, all around the world… we pray for safety, for health, for wholeness. May we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and house those without homes; may we walk with those who feel they are alone, and may we do all that we can to heal the sick – in spite of the epidemic, in spite of the fear. Help us, O God, that we might help each other. In the love of the Creator, in the name of the Healer, in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all, we pray.
(Written by Moderator Richard Bott, Friday, March 13, 2020, on his FB Page, used with permission.)
The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing hymn: O God, our help in ages past
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
On Tuesday March 17th, at 6pm Winnipeg time, The Moderator of the United Church is offering an online worship service through Zoom. If you’d like to be part of this service and have a camera on your computer or phone, you can click on this link: https://zoom.us/j/430370956 and if you’d like to listen in you can call 1 647 558 0588 (this maybe long distance unless you have Canada wide calling).
The Moderator will broadcast worship every Tuesday evening at 6pm Winnipeg time for the next few weeks.
Trinity United hopes to record and post a weekly scripture, reflection and prayer.
please be in touch with Elizabeth (204 275 0014home or email: eliz.tuc@mymts.net ) or call the church (204 269 1632) if you need anything.
God’s peace be with everyone.
Executive of the Board,
Susan Delaney, Leah Hes, Barb Poustie, Karen Wall, Lori Clunie-Powell, Elaine Johnson, Gerta DeJong and Elizabeth Brown
Trinity United Church 