THE 1ST SUNDAY IN LENT

Services by Zoom – We have been holding our Sunday services live, by Zoom, at 10:30 a.m., for the past three weeks now, with approximately 15 people joining in each week, so far.  We thank Raymond Reichelt for hosting the services, Margaret McNutt-Reichelt for playing the hymns, and Debbi Miles for typing the hymn texts that Raymond shows on the screen.  Due to copyright laws, we can use only hymns that are in the public domain; so, for the time being, we’re singing the “oldies” only.  John sends out the Zoom link by e-mail each Saturday evening.  The link is the same every week, by the way, so you can copy and paste it into a Word document, if you wish, so that you always have it handy.

Beginning today, a recording of the service by Zoom will be uploaded to YouTube each week, for those who are not able to join the service in real time.  Unfortunately, though, it won’t be available for viewing until the afternoon, since it takes a good two hours to upload.  Once uploaded, it can be viewed at any time during the week.  John will continue e-mailing out the YouTube link and a written service script each Sunday.

The readers today are Philip and Margaret Dunn.

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

– Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. – Presbytery meeting, by Zoom

– Thursday, 7:00 p.m. – Session meeting, by Zoom

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 28 February – Deadline for submissions for the March Newsletter

– Sunday, 21 March – Annual Meeting (rescheduled – see below)

Rescheduled – The Session has postponed our Annual Meeting to Sunday, 21 March, in the hope that conditions will have improved enough by then that we will be able to meet in person.  The Annual Report is now complete, and will be distributed in time for Sunday, 14 March, a week prior to the meeting.  If you would like a copy sooner than that, please speak to John.

Full announcements here

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

THE FINAL SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

14 February 2021

Services by Zoom – We have been holding our Sunday services live, by Zoom, at 10:30 a.m., for the past two weeks, and last week, we added hymns!  We thank Raymond Reichelt for hosting the services, and Margaret McNutt-Reichelt for playing the hymns.  Thanks also to Debbi Miles for typing the hymn texts that Raymond shows on the screen.  Due to copyright laws, we can use only hymns that are in the public domain, so, for the time being, we’re singing the “oldies”.  John sends out the Zoom link each week by e-mail.  We are able to record the Zoom service, so, beginning next week, John will upload that service to YouTube — which means that it won’t be available for viewing until the afternoon, since it takes approximately two hours to upload.  Once uploaded, it can be viewed at any time.

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 21 February – The First Sunday in Lent

– Sunday, 28 February – Deadline for submissions for the March Newsletter

– Sunday, 21 March – Annual Meeting (rescheduled – see below)

Rescheduled – The Session has postponed our Annual Meeting to Sunday, 21 March, in the hope that conditions will have improved enough by then that we will be able to meet in person.  The Annual Report is now complete, and will be distributed in time for Sunday, 14 March, a week prior to the meeting.  If you would like a copy sooner than that, please speak to John.

Full announcements here

Services by Zoom – We began holding our Sunday services live, by Zoom, at 10:30 a.m., last Sunday.  Fifteen people took part in the service.  This week, we are adding hymns.  We thank Raymond and Margaret Reichelt for hosting the services.  John will send out the link each week by e-mail.  In addition, John will continue to record a service and upload it to YouTube for the next couple of weeks, at least, in case there are some who prefer that format.  John sends out the link to each YouTube service on Sunday mornings, and those services can be viewed at any time.

Scripture Readings – The readings for today’s service are

– Ruth 1.1-18, 22 – Ruth accompanies Naomi to Israel

– Psalm 91 – “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High”

– Romans 12.9-16 – Various exhortations

– Mark 1.29-39 – Healings in Capernaum

The reader today is Terry Rempel.

This Week in First Church:

– Today – Deadline for reports for the Annual Report

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

– Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. – F&M Committee meeting, by Zoom

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 21 March – Annual Meeting (rescheduled – see below)

– Sunday, 28 March – Deadline for submissions for the March Newsletter

Full announcements here

Services by Zoom – The Session decided this past week to start holding our Sunday services live, by Zoom, at 10:30 a.m., beginning this Sunday.  To begin with, the service format will be the same as it has been for the past couple of months, but we plan to add music soon.  This way, we will be able to see each other, and have more of a sense of coming together for worship.  Also, John will continue to record a service and upload it to YouTube for the next couple of weeks at least, in case there are some who prefer that format.

To join the Zoom meeting, click on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737316742?pwd=ZjZWYTgyTzBWR2RkZ1BOUy9nVlVuUT09

Or open Zoom, and enter these credentials:  Meeting ID: 847 3731 6742;  Passcode: 381330

Or call in using these credentials:
One tap mobile:
+15873281099,,84737316742#,,,,*381330# Canada
+16473744685,,84737316742#,,,,*381330# Canada

Or Dial in using this number:  +1 204 272 7920 Canada;  Meeting ID: 847 3731 6742;  Passcode: 381330

Full announcements here

Our in-person Sunday services continue to be suspended for now, and virtual services continue to be made available on YouTube.  John sends out the link by e-mail as soon as the service has been uploaded each week, hopefully in time for our usual 10:30 service time.  Along with the link, he sends out a full script of the service, which can be printed for anyone who doesn’t have internet access.  Printed copies of the script can be mailed out from the church office as well, although after the Sunday in question.  Please call John at the church office if you would like to receive them.

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

– Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. – Soup Kitchen Committee meeting

– Thursday, 7:00 p.m. – Session meeting, by Zoom

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 7 February – Deadline for reports for the Annual Report

– Sunday, 21 February – Annual Meeting

Annual Report – If you are preparing a report for the 2020 Annual Report, please send it to Lisa Sneesby (bsneesby@mymts.net) by Sunday, 7 February.  The Annual Meeting is currently scheduled for Sunday, 21 February, and we hope to have the Annual Report ready for distribution a week in advance.  Of course, it remains to be seen when and how we will actually be able to hold the Annual Meeting, but for now, we’re aiming for 21 February.

Full announcements here

THE 2ND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

17 January 2021

Our in-person Sunday services continue to be suspended for now, and virtual services continue to be made available on YouTube.  John sends out the link by e-mail as soon as the service has been uploaded each week, hopefully in time for our usual 10:30 service time.  Along with the link, he sends out a full script of the service, which can be printed for anyone who doesn’t have internet access.  Printed copies of the script can be mailed out from the church office as well, although after the Sunday in question.  Please call John at the church office if you would like to receive them.

Today’s sermon will be preached by Raymond Reichelt, one of our lay preachers.  We thank Raymond for this contribution to today’s service!

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

Full announcements here

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

THE 1ST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

10 January 2021

Our in-person Sunday services continue to be suspended for now, and virtual services continue to be made available on YouTube.  John sends out the link by e-mail as soon as the service has been uploaded each week, hopefully in time for our usual 10:30 service time.  Along with the link, he sends out a full script of the service, which can be printed for anyone who doesn’t have internet access.  Printed copies of the script can be mailed out from the church office as well, although after the Sunday in question.  Please call John at the church office if you would like to receive them.

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

– Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. – F&M Committee meeting, by Zoom

Full announcements here

Our in-person Sunday services continue to be suspended, up to and including the 3rd of January, at least.  A “virtual” service will continue to be made available on YouTube each Sunday, however.  John will send out the link as soon as the service has been uploaded each week, hopefully in time for our usual 10:30 service time.  Along with the link, he will send out a full script of the service.  Our Christmas Eve service also will be virtual, and will be made available in the same way.  It should be available by 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, the 24th.  We will have to wait until the first week of January to find out what the new public health orders will be.

This Week in First Church:

– Thursday, 7:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service, on YouTube

New Beginnings – We are currently working with Ian Fraser, our New Beginnings coach, on plans for “Phase 4” of the process, the “Introduction to Transformational Ministry” weekend.  It will include a) a workshop for the entire congregation, b) two training sessions for the people who will be leading the small-group meetings, and c) the Sunday service, at which Ian would be the preacher.  Because of the pandemic restrictions, all this will likely have to be done online, unfortunately.  Under ordinary conditions, Ian would come here for the weekend, and meet with us in person.  The dates still have to be determined; the Session has decided that we will need to wait until our Health Region’s status has gone back to “Orange” before we proceed with this phase.

     The small-group meetings (Phase 5) will take place as soon as possible following the Introduction to Transformational Ministry weekend.  Each group will meet four times, possibly once per week.

Bible Study – The Bible study group is taking a two-week break, and will resume on Tuesday,  5 January (the 12th day of Christmas!), with “Week 7” of the study on Ruth and Esther, beginning on page 49 of the study book.

Full announcements here

Due to the most recent public health order, our in-person Sunday services continue to be suspended, up to the 3rd of January, at least.  This means that there will be no Hanging-of-the-Greens service this year.  A “virtual” service will continue to be made available on YouTube each Sunday, however.  John will send out the link as soon as the service has been uploaded each week, hopefully in time for our usual 10:30 service time.  Along with the link, he will send out a full script of the service.  Our Christmas Eve service also will be virtual, and will be made available in the same way.

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

– Thursday, 8:00 p.m. – Service of Remembrance and Hope, by Zoom

Full announcements here

Due to current pandemic restrictions, our in-person Sunday services are suspended until the status of our Health Region returns to Orange.  An abbreviated service will continue to be available on YouTube each Sunday, however.  John will send out the link as soon as the service has been uploaded each week, hopefully in time for our usual 10:30 service time.  Along with the link, he will continue sending out a full script of the service.

Scripture Readings – The readings for today’s service are

– Isaiah 40.1-11 – “Prepare the way of the LORD!”

– Psalm 85 – “You, LORD, showed favor to your land”

– 1 Corinthians 1.3-9 – “Blameless on the day of our Lord”

– Mark 1.1-8 – The ministry of John the Baptist

If we’re unable to have the Hanging-of-the-Greens service next Sunday, the readings for that service will be

– Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11 – “Good news to the poor”

– Psalm 126 – “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion …”

– 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24 – “Blameless at the coming of our Lord”

– John 1.6-8, 19-28 – “Are you the Messiah?”

This Week in First Church:

– Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – Bible study, by Zoom

– Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. – F&M Committee meeting, by Zoom

Coming Up:

– Sunday, 13 December (tentative) – Hanging-of-the-Greens service (see below)

– Thursday, 17 December – Service of Remembrance and Hope, by Zoom

Advent and Christmas – The current pandemic restrictions are leaving our worship plans for Advent and Christmas up in the air:

– The Hanging-of-the-Greens service was originally scheduled for today.  If we are able to resume in-person services in time for either next Sunday or the 20th, we’ll have the Hanging-of-the-Greens service on the first possible Sunday.  Otherwise, we’ll have to forego it altogether this year, since it doesn’t lend itself to the recorded service format.

– There will not be a Communion service this month; it was originally scheduled for next Sunday (the 13th), so we will have a non-Communion service that day instead.

– Christmas Eve (Thursday, 24 December) – If we are still not able to resume in-person services by then, a recorded Christmas Eve service will be offered via YouTube, as we do for our Sunday services.

Full announcements here