Erindale United Church

A Prayer for Emancipation Day

God of all people,
we come before you with our joy, our pain, our hope, and our gratitude.
We come before you to celebrate the gift of our beauty as Black people,
a beauty not only reflected in our skin but even more so in our hearts.
Thank you, Creator
for reminding us of your love for all people.

We commit to living in love in the face of aggression, oppression, prejudice, and hate.
We pray for our kindred all over the world for whom emancipation
is not reflected in their reality but remains a distant dream.

— From "Emancipation Day Service August 1" by Marie Claude Manga, Rev. Sadekie Lyttle-Forbes, Rev. Christopher St. G. Davis.

Emancipation Day is marked on August 1 across many of the countries of the former British Empire. Emancipation Day commemorates the date in 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect for most British colonies, freeing enslaved children under the age of six and their descendants.

The first Sunday in August (this year, Sunday, August 4, 2024) is celebrated as Emancipation Sunday in The United Church of Canada. Lift up this day in your worship service! For more worship resources for Emancipation Sunday: https://united-church.ca/worship-special-days/emancipation-sunday

[Photo: Pixabay]

Happy Canada Day! We give thanks for this land and nation and pray that we may become the people that God has called us to be — doing what is right, showing mercy, and walking humbly with God.

[Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay]

Indigenous Day of Prayer | The United Church of Canada Indigenous Day of Prayer, the Sunday before National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), is an opportunity to celebrate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples’ values, customs, languages, and culture.

We have now entered the 100th year of the existence of the United Church of Canada!

Make sure you attend the service tomorrow to wish Rev. Ken a very big thank you and farewell! Rev. Ken has done a great job as our supply minister for the last nine months and we wish him all the best as he moves on to new things.

It's a busy day this Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost with communion and also a baptism! Join us in person or on Zoom at 10:30 am.

Join us today for our celebration of Christian Family Sunday. We celebrate families of all kinds with a special recognition of mother figures.

Additionally, in recognition of Asian Heritage Month, there will be some east Asian music in today's service. Listen for it during the prelude, introit, and the sung response at the end of the service.

This Sunday is the annual Mississauga Marathon. Be aware of road closures and plan your route to church accordingly!

Burnamthorpe Rd. will be closed between Hurontario and Erin Mills; north-south traffic will not be permitted to cross Burnamthorpe between these two streets.

Mississauga Rd. will be closed from Burnamthorpe to Lakeshore.

Congregants arriving from the west should take the QEW to Hurontario, then travel north to Dundas and west to Erindale. Alternatively, take the 403 to Hurontario, travel south to Dundas and west to Erindale.

Congregants arriving from the east, if coming from north of Burnamthorpe, should make sure to travel south to Dundas before crossing Hurontario.

Mississauga Marathon The Beneva Mississauga Marathon event weekend has taken on a new and enhanced look and feel, and in 2024 the runner experience will be second to none. With the Beneva Mississauga Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and Novo Nordisk 5K we offer a race for every age and ability. Join us on April 28, 2024.

Chag Pesach Sameach! As Passover begins, we wish our Jewish friends a joyous celebration filled with peace, prosperity, and the love of family.

[Photo: A Passover table with wine and a plate of matzah, nuts, herbs, egg, and lamb. Credit: Photovs / iStock]

Moderator’s Earth Week Message 2024 During Earth Week, April 21-28, Moderator Carmen Lansdowne reminds us that change takes all of us. Each action brings hope. Let’s make hope visible across th...

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!

Moderator’s Easter Message 2024 In her Easter message, Moderator Carmen Lansdowne’s hope for the church is that we will know that even in our deepest grief the risen Christ will show up, call us by name, and remind us that this is not the end of our story.

Join us at 10:30 am for a service of music, scripture, and reflection. Rev. Ken will reflect on the seven last sayings of Jesus and the choir will provide special music.

Jesus announced the coming of God’s reign—
a commonwealth not of domination
but of peace, justice, and reconciliation.
He healed the sick and fed the hungry.
He forgave sins and freed those held captive
by all manner of demonic powers.
He crossed barriers of race, class, culture, and gender.
He preached and practised unconditional love—
love of God, love of neighbour,
love of friend, love of enemy—
and he commanded his followers to love one another
as he had loved them.
Because his witness to love was threatening,
those exercising power sought to silence Jesus.
He suffered abandonment and betrayal,
state-sanctioned torture and ex*****on.
He was crucified.

—a reflection for Good Friday from A Song of Faith: A Statement of Faith of The United Church of Canada

[Image: An illustration of the crown of thorns. Credit: Joyce Crosby / The United Church of Canada]

Join us this evening at 7:30 pm for a Maundy Thursday service of communion and hand-washing as we remember the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples.

Holy God, we come to worship
in the gathering shadows of Jesus’ suffering and death.
We come with his friends,
those who have followed him
in every place and generation,
to live once again this story of service and betrayal,
of weakness and courage.
We come to witness your love in action.
Be with us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— adapted from Celebrate God's Presence [6G001]

[Image: Dramatic, colourful illustration showing a Communion cup and crosses on the hill of Calvary. Credit: Joyce Crosby/The United Church of Canada]

We, too, long to join the triumphal procession,
only to find ourselves burdened by the past, fearful of the future,
reluctant to accept the way of the cross.

Yet this Palm Sunday, we receive palm branches,
a reminder of the welcome offered to Jesus
as he travelled toward the cross.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!
Hosanna in the highest!

-adapted from Celebrating God's Presence, The United Church of Canada

With an early Easter this year, it's hard to believe but Holy Week is almost upon us! This Sunday, join us in waving palm branches to celebrate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. Our Maundy Thursday service will include communion and handwashing. On Good Friday, Rev. Ken will provide reflections on each of the last seven sayings of Jesus. And you don't want to miss Easter morning!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Listen for some Celtic music during today's service in recognition of the day.

Turn your clocks forward tonight! You don't want to miss tomorrow's service!

Tomorrow at 2 pm, Erindale United Church hosts this year's UCW service, written by Christian women of Palestine.

Lift every voice and sing! Join us this Sunday for our annual Gospel Sing to close out our celebration of Black History Month. In place of the message there will be a series of poems and book excerpts read by members of the congregation, and special music provided by the Proclamation Quartet.

As we begin Lent today, join us at 7 pm in person or online for our service.

Are you eating pancakes today for ? Share your pictures with us!

Tomorrow we continue our celebration of with a focus on the late great Canadian musician (and Mississauga local) Oscar Peterson. The choir will sing his "Hymn to Freedom" and we'll learn more about his life in the Message for All Ages.

We'll be celebrating Black History Month in a variety of ways this February. Join us this Sunday, February 4 to learn about "Why we continue to celebrate Black History Month" in the Message for All Ages. Rev. Ken is away so the Worship Committee will lead a special service prepared by Rev. Charmain Bailey. Stay tuned for more info about upcoming weeks!

This Sunday, January 21, we welcome Rev. Debra McGill, who will lead our service as part of the Mississauga Pulpit Exchange. Rev. Debra is minister at St. Stephen's-on-the-Hill, volunteer Chaplain at The Compass, Chair of the Staff Support Committee of the Tri-Regional Councils and part of a small ecumenical group of local churches looking at homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. We look forward to hearing her insights on the theme of "Living Water".

Welcome Rev. Debra!

Today is Epiphany: we remember the visit of the magi and officially mark the end of the Christmas season for the western church.

Don't forget that tomorrow is Christmas for Orthodox Christians!

This Sunday is both Advent 4 and Christmas Eve! Join us for a traditional Lessons and Carols service at 10:30 am as we light the candle of love.

Then join us in the evening at 5 pm (family service with reflections on "The Animals of the Manger Scene" and music led by Psalm 98) and/or 8 pm (communion service including a reprise of The Chancel Players' drama "The Christmas Bazaar" and music led by the Senior Choir).

Join us for a "Colours of Christmas" service this Sunday, December 17 as we reflect on the emotions experienced during the Christmas season. Rev. Ken will provide reflections on the theme of each of three emotions: joy, grief, and hope. The third Sunday of Advent also provides an opportunity to reflect on the experience of Mary, mother of Jesus.

This Sunday, December 10, is our annual Frosty Fayre! Several vendors from the congregation will have tables with baked goods and crafts.

Pictured below: Mini cookies made by Barbara Manchur (3 for $5 or 10 for $15)

Stay after the service and find out what else is on offer!