South Stormont Pastoral Charge

Today is Remembrance Sunday. We gather to honour and remember all those who have served, made sacrifices, and worked for peace. Since Confederation in 1867, more than 2.3 million Canadians have served in the military. The largest numbers served during the First and Second World Wars. Many Canadians also served in the Korean War, in Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping missions around the world over the years. More than 120,000 Canadians have died in service. But we remember not only those who died in war. We also remember those who returned home. Many carried wounds that stayed with them for many years. A war may end on a certain day. The fighting stops, soldiers return home, and people begin to rebuild their lives. But the end of a war does not mean the end of suffering. Some live with physical injuries for the rest of their lives. Others carry memories that are difficult to put into words, even with those closest to them. Trauma can result from deeply distressing experiences, such as war...

# Gathering Hymn For the Healing of the Nations (VU #678) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: On Remembrance Day, we give thanks for those who have made sacrifices in pursuit of justice. All: Soldiers, pilots, sailors, marines. One: We honour the sacrifices made in pursuit of peace.   All: Nurses, ambulance drivers, doctors, chaplains. One: We affirm the sacrifices made in pursuit of freedom. All: Parents, spouses, partners, children. One: We lament that these sacrifices were necessary.   All: We renew our calling to strive for peace and justice, freedom and truth. One: We celebrate life reclaimed from war. All: We proclaim life abundant, in Jesus Christ. One: Let us worship together and remember together,   All: knowing that, in God’s heart, their sacrifice is never forgotten. *Gill Le Fevre. Gathering Pentecost 2 2026. Page 48. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn O God, Our Help In Ages Past (#806 VU) Prayer of C...

Today is All Saints’ Sunday. It is a day to remember those who have walked the journey of faith before us. In The United Church of Canada, this day is not just about honouring a few great or famous people. It is a day to remember all those who showed us love, taught us about faith, and served the church and their neighbours. The saints in the Bible were not perfect people. They were people who experienced God’s love and responded to it through their lives. They made mistakes, felt afraid, and sometimes lost their way. Yet, throughout their lives, they tried to share God’s love with others. They served in different ministries of the church and helped pass on the faith they had received to the next generation. Today, we continue to build on the foundation of faith they have left us. Our first Scripture reading today is about the story of one generation reaching the end of its journey and another continuing along the way. After a long journey, the Hebrew people finally stood at the Jordan...

  # Gathering Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory (#686 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: Today we remember the saints who have gone before us, those who lived faithfully and shared God’s love in the world.   All: We give thanks for their witness and for the ways their lives still speak to us. One: We also remember that God calls us saints: ordinary people, not perfect, but called to follow Christ and to live as witnesses to God’s love.   All: We are called to grow, to change, and to share God’s grace here and now. One: Let us worship God, remembering those who came before us and trusting the Spirit who continues to shape us. *Adapted from Judy Sears. Gathering Pentecost 2 2026. Page 47. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn For All the Saints (#705 VU | vs. 1,2,5) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, the world is in need of saints. Those who came before us and gave so much are being remembered toda...

 In today’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Those who heard him questioned what he said because they believed they were not slaves to anyone. But Jesus pointed to a deeper problem. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” The freedom Jesus speaks about is more than freedom from outside control or oppression. When sin rules our lives, we are held captive by its power. Even today, there are things within us that can hold us back. Often, fear and anxiety lie beneath them. Anxiety itself is not a sin. We all experience it. But fear of the future and the constant pressure to prove our worth can damage our sense of self-worth and even lead us to hate ourselves. When fear controls us, we may begin to see others as competitors and ignore their suffering to protect ourselves. In this way, fear can lead us into sin, and we may become trapped by its power....

  # Gathering Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory (#686 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: God is our refuge, a stronghold to keep us safe.   All: God is indeed our rock and fortress. God leads us and guides us for righteousness’ sake. One: Into God’s hands, we commend our spirits, for God has redeemed us, our God of truth.   All: Our times are in God’s hands, and so we pray to be delivered from the hands of our enemies, from those who pursue us. One: God is our refuge and rock. Let us worship. *Wanda Winfield. Gathering Pentecost 2 2026. Page 46. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (#262 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) God of grace, our world is changing quickly. Sometimes we hold on to familiar ways because we are afraid. Sometimes we welcome change without asking who might be hurt or left behind. We protect our own comfort and fail to hear those who need help. Forgive u...