MINISTER’S MESSAGE
Greetings, everyone!
It’s Hosanna Day! That’s right, our Lenten journey is coming to an end, and it’s time for Palm Sunday. My guess (after years of listening and talking with others) is that this Sunday is one of the more difficult ones for people. It’s an upbeat day of celebration. We’re having a parade! We wave our palms and we shout our hosannas. (The word “hosanna”, btw, comes from the Hebrew meaning “save us”. It is an expression of praise recognizing Jesus as saviour.) However, we know the story. It is the beginning of a week that will take us to Good Friday. So, a celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, knowing what is to come, is filled with mixed emotions. How many sermons have we heard about the cries of the same crowd of people turning from “hosanna” to “crucify him”? And many churches read the Passion Narrative (up to and including the crucifixion and burial) on Palm Sunday, knowing that many people won’t come to church on Good Friday, and we need to hear the story for Easter to make sense.
A tough day.
For me, Palm Sunday is a day of declaration. A make-a-choice day. I’ve always liked Moses’ message to the people who are about to move forward into the promised land. He tells them, you don’t get to choose what will happen, but you can choose who you will be. Choose the side of life and blessing, not the side of death and curse. And I think that’s what we get to do on Palm Sunday. There are two parades. Through the main gates of Jerusalem, Pilate the Roman governor rides-in with all the power and pomp of the empire’s army. It’s a religious holiday (Passover) in the little occupied land: the presence of the Roman Empire must be felt and known. Power, oppression, force. And then, at the other end of the holy city, a parade of rabble and misfits following a teacher-healer riding a humble donkey. Love, salvation, hope.
We wave our palms and cry our hosannas because we’ve chosen the parade of which we will be a part. We’ve chosen love, salvation, and hope over oppressive power and force. Joining this parade is a faith statement, it is a commitment to a way of life, it is who we are and will be.
So, I hope to see you Sunday. We are blessed to have a group of youth and young adults who will help lead us in worship this week. Bring your hosannas! (We’ll provide the palms!)
Peace.
Rev. Steve
SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2022
11:00AM
PALM SUNDAY
We welcome the leadership of our young people in the service this morning.
Our thanks to: Emma and Nolan McRobbie, Bethan Wardrop, Amanda and Sean Watson
Prelude: Prière en do Majeur -G. Tritant
Call to Worship & Lighting of Christ Candle
Sung Response: VU#807 “Psalm 91”
Disciples Invite us to the Parade
Hymn: VU#122 “All Glory, Laud and Honour”
Wonderings of a Disciple
Opening Prayer
Wonderings from the Crowd
Prayer of Confession
Solo: “Let Us Love One Another “ -A. Sherman Bethan Wardrop
Scripture: Luke 19:28 – 40
Wonderings from the Priests
Scripture: John 13:1 – 17, 34 – 35
Hymn: VU#124 “He Came Riding on a Donkey”
Wonderings of a Soldier
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer (VU#959)
Offering, Sung Dedication: VU#537 “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Our Statement of Faith: VU#918
Hymn: VU#127 “Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!”
Commissioning and Benediction
Choral Amen: VU#966 “Dresden”
Postlude: Voluntary on “St. Theodulph” J. H. Schaffner
You may also join the service via Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
Meeting ID: 719 779 7321 Passcode: 442730
Or by phone at: 438-809-7799
UPCOMING EASTER SERVICES
April 10: Palm Sunday, 11:00AM- featuring our young people.
April 15: Good Friday, 7:00PM service. There will not be a Passion Play this year.
April 17: Easter Sunday, 11:00AM communion service
On Easter Sunday, April 17, 7:00AM there will be a West Island sunrise service at the Pointe Claire windmill/St. Joachim point. Please bring store-bought bread or other non-perishable foods to share with local foodbanks.
EASTER MESSAGE FROM OUR MODERATOR
In his Easter video message, Moderator Richard Bott asks: Who are the messengers of the resurrected Christ today? What, if anything, is making it hard for us believe them―and to act on those beliefs? Click the following link to watch the full message:
https://united-church.ca/news/moderators-easter-message-2022
PALM SUNDAY BENEFIT CONCERT FOR UKRAINE
This Sunday, April 10 at 4:30 PM Lakeshore Trinity United
featuring:
Ukrainian-Canadian soprano, Maryna Krejcarova
Polish-Canadian violinist, Mariusz Monczak
Canadian pianist, Steven Massicotte,
Tickets are $25 and are available at the door.
All proceeds to benefit the people of Ukraine
WEDNESDAY MORNING COFFEE CONTINUES ON ZOOM
Join the coffee gang, Wednesday mornings, 10:00AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
Meeting ID: 719 779 7321
Passcode: 442730
or by phone at: 438-809-7799
EASTER FLOWERS
If you would like to remember loved ones with a donation for flowers this Easter, please fill out the form at church on Sunday or email Lisa at the church office at lakeshoretrinityunited@gmail.com.
LENTEN OFFERINGS
Lenten offering envelopes are available in church on Sunday for donations to Saint Columba House, Montreal City Mission and for food baskets.
REGIONAL COUNCIL SPRING MEETING AT LAKESHORE TRINITY
Lakeshore Trinity will be hosting the spring meeting of our Nakonha:ka Regional Council on June 4, 2022.
The meeting, which will also be broadcast on zoom, will be the first in-person meeting of the Regional Council in two years.
WE GIVE THANKS
The email address for e-transfer is: ltuc98givings@gmail.com. There is no need for a security question. Please include your envelope number and indicate how you wish to have your offering divided. If not indicated, it will be designated as local offering.
Cheques should be made payable to Lakeshore Trinity United Church. They may be dropped in the mail slot at the church or sent by regular mail if you are not attending church in person.
Rev. Steve Gillam can be reached by phone or text at 514-235-9383 or by email at macduffsdad@hotmail.com.
Lakeshore Trinity United Church
98 Aurora Ave.
Pointe-Claire, QC, H9R 3G7
514-697-6459
Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9:00AM to NOON
email: lakeshoretrinityunited@gmail.com
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeshore-Trinity-United-Church-101331995747334
