HARROWSMITH-VERONA PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Worship
Time: 10 am at Trinity, Verona
Office
Phone: 613-372-2525 or 613-374-2777
Voluntary
Assistant Minister: Rev. Dr. Peter Bartlett
Retired
Voluntary Minister: Rev. Ian MacKay
Office
Administrator: Rebecca Peters
Director
of Music: Stan Stinchcombe
Website: www.h-vpastoralcharge.org
e-mail: office@h-vpastoralcharge.org
Trinity United Church acknowledges
the traditional territory upon which we gather. For thousands of years, the
First Peoples sought to walk gently on this land. They offered assistance to
the first European travelers and shared their knowledge for survival. We seek a
new relationship with the First Peoples of this land, one based in honour and
deep respect.
December 28th,
2025 - 1st Sunday After Christmas
Worship
Leader: Rev. Michline
Montreuil
Layreader: Rebecca Peters
WE GATHER
ORGAN PRELUDE
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP: Lighting The
Candles
HYMN: “Hope
Is a Star” (VU #7)
1. Hope is a star that
shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright. When
God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be
afraid.
2. Peace is a ribbon that
circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth. When
God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be
afraid.
3. Joy is a song that
welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. When
God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be
afraid.
4. Love is a flame that
burns in our heart, Jesus has come and will never
depart. When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and the weak shall be
strong, and none shall be afraid.
A Christmas
Creed: (Unison)
I believe in
Jesus Christ and in the power of the gospel which began in Bethlehem.
I believe in
the One whose spirit glorified a small village, of whose coming
the shepherds saw a sign, and for whom there was no room at the inn.
I believe in
the One whose life changed the course of history, for whom the kings of the
earth had no power, and who was not understood by the proud.
I believe in
the One to whom the poor, the oppressed, the discouraged, the afflicted, the
sick, the blind, the leprous gave welcome and accepted as Lord and Saviour.
I believe in
the One who with love changed the hearts of the proud and with his life showed
that it is more important to serve than to be served and that the greatest joy
is giving your life for others. I
believe in peace, which is not the absence of war, but justice among all people
and nations and love among all.
I believe in
reconciliation, forgiveness and the transforming power of the gospel.
I believe
that Christmas is strength and power, and that this world can change if with
humility and faith we kneel before the manger.
I believe that I must be the first one to do so. AMEN.
(This creed
comes to us from Central America)
CHORAL INTROIT: “There’s
a Star in the East” (VU
#70)
PRAYER: (Unison)
Loving God,
Emmanuel, we thank you for being with us, for sending Jesus the Christ to walk
with us and lead us. As Christ was born of Mary, so may Jesus be born in us and
through us revealed to the world. Grant that the hope, peace, joy and love of
which we have heard and sung throughout the Season of Advent may be fully
realized in us as we worship ad serve you, our God, now and forevermore. This
we pray in the name of the One born among us. AMEN.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Ring a Bell
for Peace” (VU
#65)
YOUTH TIME
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 us not into temptation but deliver us from
evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
WE GIVE BACK
OUR OFFERINGS (Offering plates are available at the back of the
church)
INVITATION TO BRING AN OFFERING
DEDICATION OF
THE OFFERING (Standing)
(VU #55)
What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would
bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give
him, give my heart.
OFFERTORY PRAYER (Unison)
Generous and
giving God, we give thanks for Jesus, the One born in a manger in Bethlehem,
the One who brings peace and good news and salvation. Bless these gifts which
we bring today – in response to this breathtaking news. AMEN.
WE LISTEN
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Luke
2:22-40 (Pg. 889-890)
MESSAGE: “The Story of Some of Our Favourite Hymns”
WE GO FORTH
HYMN: “Joy
To The World” (VU #59)
1. Joy to the world! The
Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven
and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth! The
Saviour reigns: let all their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks,
hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the
sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and
sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground: he comes
to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is
found, far as, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the earth with
truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his
love.
BENEDICTION/COMMISSIONING
SENDING
FORTH: (Tune: Edelweiss)
May the Lord, Loving Lord, bless and keep you forever. Grant us
peace, perfect peace, faith in every endeavour. Lift your eyes and you’ll see
God’s face, know God’s grace forever. May the Lord, Loving Lord, bless and keep
your forever.
ORGAN POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MEETINGS
Worship
Leader for Sunday January 4th:
Rev. Micheline Montreuil
Lay
Reader for Sunday January 4th:
Muriel York
Greeter
for Sunday January 4th:
Rob
Tapscott
INCLEMENT
WEATHER: If you have not updated your
contact information with Rebecca, please do so.
This will allow a member from Session to contact you should we need
to cancel a service due to the weather. Thank you.
THANK
YOU: A big thank you is
extended to Rachael and Rebecca for putting on the most festive church
fellowship last Sunday. It was
lovely to have something a bit different, and walk away with full bellies and
spirits full of holiday cheer! Thank you
both so much!
MEETINGS: The Stewards and Session will meet next
Tuesday January 6th. The
Stewards will be meeting at 1:00 pm, and Session will meet at 1:30 pm.
OFFERING
ENVELOPES: The 2026 offering
envelopes are at the back of the church. If you have difficulty
finding your envelopes, please to talk Don Coleman after the service.
BLESSING
BOX: Do you have any spare
change in your pocket or purse? If so, the
Blessing Box is located at the back of the church sanctuary. All funds received go towards sending kids to
Camp Quin Mo Lac.
Thank you for your support.
MISSED
A SUNDAY?: If you were unable to
attend any of our advent services, our annual Christmas choir concert, or
Christmas Eve service, you can view them online from our website.
https://www.h-vpastoralcharge.org/onlineservices.htm
COMMUNITY
WINTER BREAKFASTS: We will be hosting a series of
community breakfasts starting next Saturday January 10th. These breakfasts will take place every
Saturday for the month of January at 8:30 am.
We hope you can plan to attend.
UCW:
The UCW ladies will be meeting on Wednesday January 28th
at 12:30 pm in the church Memorial Room. All women are welcome to join.
TRINITY
CHOIR PRACTICE: A friendly reminder that
our practices will resume next Thursday January 15th in the church
sanctuary at 1:30 pm.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL: Sunday school will resume on Sunday January 11th. Thank you.
CHRISTMAS
FOOD HAMPERS 2025: Our
hampers rolled out on Thursday December 18th, hopefully making the
season a little easier for 24 local families. Your generosity and support of this important
outreach truly makes a difference. This
is what we do as a church! A
major thank you is extended to Verona Foodland for their continuing support,
and to the many volunteers who help make this even possible – not only
for all the food donations, but also for the monetary donations. May God bless all of you!!
ANNUAL
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING:
It’s that time of year once again!
For those who are the chair of the church committees, please
submit your reports to the office no later than Sunday January 18th.
Please plan to attend our next Annual General Meeting which will
take place on Sunday February 22nd following church service in the hall.
The
Gate of the Year
By John Butler
I said to the man
who stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into
the unknown.”
And he replied,
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand
in to the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light
And safer than a known way!”