South Stormont Pastoral Charge

 About a week ago, I was driving home from the Regional Council Annual Meeting in Smiths Falls. The rain had stopped, but the clouds were still hanging in the sky. Then, suddenly, a rainbow appeared. Its bright colours arched across the sky like a beautiful bridge.  It had been a long time since I had seen a rainbow so clearly. For a moment, my tiredness seemed to fade away, and the drive home no longer felt long or boring. The rainbow changed not only the landscape before me, but also the landscape within my heart. As I looked at it, I remembered a poem by the English poet William Wordsworth:     My heart leaps up when I behold     A rainbow in the sky:     So was it when my life began;     So is it now I am a man;     So be it when I shall grow old,     Or let me die!     The Child is father of the Man;     And I could wish my days to be     Bound each to each by natural piety. For Word...

  # Gathering Hymn Come In come In and Sit Down (#395 VU | vs. 1,2,4) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: We believe that our relationships with the Creator, the land, the people, the plants, and the animals are sacred. Let us honour these sacred relationships as we gather together to worship God.   All: This service is one we share with churches across our denomination this day. We are one in the Spirit. One: From deep soil comes bold and daring growth. From the seeds of our past will come fresh new growth. All: We come today to marvel at what has been harvested and prepare for what will come. We come to celebrate where we are and where we have been. One: We come rejoicing with our ancestors and partners in faith across generations: The Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians, The Evangelical United Brethren, and Local Union Churches, The Indigenous Church, The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, The Uni...

Today is Trinity Sunday. We confess the Holy Mystery beyond our understanding as one yet triune: God, Christ, and Holy Spirit. This reminds us that Christian faith is not rooted in an abstract idea. Our faith in the Triune God is grounded in our experience of God's work in the world. Throughout the history of the church, Christians have encountered God as Creator, Saviour, and Sustainer. Therefore, the Trinity is not a mathematical problem that we need to solve. It is the language of faith through which we confess how God comes to us. Today’s first reading shows that the Apostle Paul also used trinitarian language in his letter to the congregation in Corinth. In fact, the Corinthian church was not a peaceful community. There were conflicts and tensions. Paul had a difficult relationship with the community. Some people publicly criticized him and questioned his authority as an apostle. They said that he appeared weak and his speaking was unimpressive. However, Paul did not end his l...

  # Gathering Hymn Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (vs. 1&4 |#315 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: Our Creator God made the universe and all that is in it, from beyond the skies to the land and the sea. God calls us to worship.    All: So we gather together, aware of Creation around us and preparing to worship God. One: Teacher Jesus shows us an example of living in peace and harmony with all. Jesus calls us to worship. All: We gather to be reminded again of how we should live in order to seek peace and harmony with everyone with whom we have contact. One: The energizing Spirit breathes life into our very being so that we will live as we are intended to live as followers of Jesus. The Spirit calls us to worship.    All: So we gather to experience the Spirit’s energy and warmth building within and among us as we worship. *Mary Grant. Gathering Pentecost 1 2026. Page 30. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn ...

 About 2,500 years ago, the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A great country is like an estuary, the gathering place of the world, the mother of the world.” He saw something remarkable in the lowest part of a river, a place where many living beings gather and new life is born. An estuary is where a river meets the sea. It is one of the richest ecosystems on earth. Because fresh water and salt water come together there, many forms of life can live and grow. Estuaries provide food, shelter, and habitat for many living creatures, becoming an important foundation for a great city or nation. This insight is supported by modern research. In his 1995 book Introduction to Oceanography , David Ross notes that 22 of the world’s 32 largest cities are located on estuaries. Places rich in resources tend to attract people who are seeking new opportunities and a better future. Biodiversity leads to cultural diversity. Just as fresh water and salt water meet in an estuary, different ways...

 # Gathering Hymn Make a Joyful Noise (#820 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: The Spirit of the Lord is upon us,    All: and in the shelter of the Spirit, we will rejoice and be glad. One: The heavens are telling of the glory of God, All: and beneath those very stars, we raise our spirits and proclaim that God is good. One: The gifts of the Spirit are offered to us,    All: and, when we put them to use, we discover that our gifts blend with the gifts of others into a wonderful song filled with hope, energy, life, and love. One: In this house of prayer, may we find shelter, lift our hearts in prayer, and sing songs of praise: All: May we find strength in knowing we are the Body of Christ, enlivened by the Spirit, engaging the work of God in this world. One: Come, let us worship our God! *Nora Vedress. Gathering Pentecost 2026. Page 27. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Be Still, My Soul (#652 VU) Prayer of Confe...