Zion United Church
106 Pine Street K7K 1W7 Kingston, ON, Canada

So this Sunday we had our Remembrance Day service where we honored our military and then we honored 4 members of our congregation who passed away during this pandemic. From left to right Jean Lappan, Mac Freeman, Dorothy Machin and Margaret Hogan. Was a lovely tribute.

Well Sunday November 1st came and went. We celebrated Halloween in some way, there was a full moon and the clocks went back an hour. Rev. Don Misener spoke "A Love That Empowers" Scripture Luke 18: 18-27. This week Rev. Misener and Rev. Price will lead us in a Remembrance Sunday. We will honor 4 of our members who passed away during this pandemic and also the many fallen soldiers. Stay safe all and remember if you need pastoral care you can call the office at 548-3389 to be connected with one of our team. "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe" (Psalm 119:117)

Hi all. Feeling a little more like fall. This week's sermon was entitled "Love" provided by Rev. Lynda Price. Scripture was taken from 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8. Lynda quoted from a resource for preachers called "Aha!" magazine. No longer in publish but a favorite resource. "Catch the vision of what the world would be like if we all loved one another"; "Love of God, love of neighbor - if you don't have that then you have nothing"; "Love is not a concept. Love is a decision". Next Sunday Rev. Don Misener will lead us in worship. Remember the # to call for pastoral care is 613-548-3389 to be connected to our team. Have a great week.

Hi, This week Ellen Bater led us in a great service about World and Local Food needs. Still following the rules and hopefully the numbers won't change enough to require us to shut down again. Will keep all informed. Next week Rev. Lynda Price will lead the service. The following week, November 8th we will be having our Remembrance Day service at which time we will also pay tribute to 4 members of our congregation that we lost during the pandemic. Margaret Hogan, Mac Freema...n, Dorothy Machin and Jean Lappan. Remember if you need pastoral care call 613-548 3389 to be connected. "So whenever you count your blessings, chances are you'll be surprised to find how many more you have than you ever realized"

So lovely sunny Thanksgiving Sunday. Lovely service provided by Rev. Lynda Price. Next Sunday will be a lay led service. Carol continues to provide us with wonderful music with familiar tunes to which we can all hum behind our masks. Lynda shared a prayer which she came across while preparing her sermon. "We Keep Forgetting. We keep forgetting all those who lived before us, We keep forgetting those who lived and worked in our communities, We keep forgetting those wh...o prayed and sang hymns in our churches even before we were born, We keep forgetting all that our fathers and mothers have done for us, We are guilty, God, of assuming that everything begins with us. Help us to remember that: We drink from wells we did not find or drill, We eat from farmlands that we did not develop, We enjoy freedoms that we have not earned. We worship in churches we did not build. We live in communities we did not establish. This day make us grateful for our heritage. Amen" Remember the number to call for pastoral care is 613-548-3389 to be connected with our team.

This Sunday, October 4th is World Wide Communion Sunday. We have come up with what we feel will be a safe way to share together. Rev. Don Misener will be giving the message this week. We continue to follow carefully the proper safety measures recommended. Once again a reminder that if you have need of pastoral care the number to call to be connected to our team is 613-548-3389.

Another Sunday to look forward to. Rev. Lynda Price will be giving our message. Carol Hegadorn has been choosing familiar tunes to play so there is lots of humming behind those masks. Nice to be together. Worship at 10:00 a.m. For pastoral care you can call 613-548-3389.

So we opened on Sunday. All went quite well. It sure looks different with chairs spaced 6 feet apart, and no touching, although there was a lot of smiling behind those masks. Lovely solo by Gary Stokes, great music by Carol Hegadorn and a wonderful sermon to start us off with Rev. Lynda Price. Thanks to everyone for coming out and for complying with the regulations to keep everyone safe. Hoping we will be able to continue. Service is at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday. We will still be providing some messages by mail and e-mail for those who are not comfortable or able to come in person. Remember for pastoral care call 613-548-3389 to be connected with our team.

Well the sun is shining and it's a little cooler. We are getting closer to opening up on the 13th. We will be taking the appropriate precautions and will still be providing weekly reflections by mail or e-mail to those not comfortable returning as yet. We are rearranging the seating and will be screening before entry and taking attendance. There will be no social hour following the service for now. Let us know if you are not comfortable returning just yet and would like ...to receive the weekly mailing. The office # is 613-548-3389 to be connected to one of our pastoral care team. On a sad note we lost Jean Lappan this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Here is this week's prayer from Rev. Don Misener. Reading is from Ephesians 1: 3-6. "Thank you for the gift of life and the opportunity this week to remind someone else of their precious inheritance. As children of God we have what it takes to transcend the negative messages we sometimes receive from others, messages we also sometimes give ourselves. As your precious child we are included in a family that has strength, resilience and grace. Help us to claim it this week and pass on the good news. Amen" See more

Well we have lift off. We will be reopening our doors on September 13th at 10:00 a.m. There will be the usual COVID restrictions in place. We will be limited numbers so if you are not a regular at Zion please call the office at 613-548-3389 with your name and phone # so we would be sure we would have space for you. Sanitizing, masks, screening and social distancing will be the main issues. No singing but there will be music. Our weekly reflection was prepared this wee...k by Rev. Lynda Price. Here is our prayer. "...they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you.." Jeremiah 15:20 "..for your steadfast love is before my eyes and I walk in faithfulness with you." Psalm 26:3 "Holy One, we are going through difficult times. Some days we cope well, but on other days, we sink into ourselves with worry and discouragement. We know you are with us, but there are times when we don't feel your presence so keenly. Help us to move through and beyond these times. Draw us close and hold us in your love and care. With you, we know we will emerge from our small bubbles and once again be free. We will always walk in faithfulness to you as you walk with us. Amen" See more

Getting closer to hopefully reopening on September 13th. There will be strict rules and restrictions in place when this happens. Will keep you informed of these as we go. We will of course continue to provide weekly reflections to those who are not ready or able to return to our small gathering. Remember for pastoral care you may call 613-548-3389 to be connected to our team. This week's prayer provided by Rev. Don Misener. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkne...ss did not overcome it." John 1:5 "Thank you for those occasions in our journey where the presence of caring others has helped us weather tough times. Remind us that we can be one of those caring others and alert us to someone we can telephone today to provide some light in their darkness. This we pray in the name of Jesus who is a source of light in our lives. Amen". See more

Hi all. Another week has passed. We have submitted a request to reopen with all the safety measures intact for September 13th. Will keep you posted as to whether we are approved and how exactly that will look. Masks, distancing, no singing (although there will be music). Phone # to call if you would like pastoral care is 613-548-3389 and they will connect you with our team. Our prayer this week is provided by Rev. Lynda Price. "And the streets of the city shall be full o...f boys and girls playing in its streets. Zechariah 8, v 5" "God we long for the day when children once more play in the streets, unafraid to be together, free to be with friends, free to hug, free to just be. We know that the day is coming. You promised and you do not forget your promise. While we await the passing of this virus, help us to also remember and to keep our faith strong. Amen." See more

Welcome again. Looking ahead to perhaps reopening mid September with restrictions of course. Will keep you in the loop. Remember if you wish some pastoral care you can call the office at 613-548-3389 and someone will be contacted for you. Here is our weekly prayer provided by Rev. Don Misener. "Thank you for the good fortune of living in Canada. As we observe the improvements that can be made in our community help us to see the important role we can play in putting our words of thanksgiving into action. Remind us of the power we have to make a difference. Help us to identify how we can encourage and support those we meet today. Inspire us to dare to follow the way Jesus preached and lived so that our life can be a light in the lives of others. Amen."

Welcome again. Looking ahead to what I expect will be a whole new normal. Personally feeling grateful to be living in Canada right now. Reminder that we are meeting next week to look at worshipping together in September. Will keep you informed. Number to call if you would like some pastoral care, or have any needs we could help with is 613-548-3389 to be connected with our team. Prayer for the week is provided by Rev. Lynda Price. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not ...want" - Psalm 23, v 1 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" Psalm 23, v 6 O God, the days go by slowly and we are weary of this virus and what it has done to our lives. If not for you we could easily become discouraged. When we find ourselves slipping into despair, we remember all you have done for us and we feel your love and your care. We know that with you by our side we will get through and past this present time. Day by day we are coming closer to the time when hugs will again become the norm, when shared laughter and conversation over coffee will once again fill our lives with the joy of being with friends and loved ones. Until then, we give you thanks that you walk with us always and that will sustain us once more. Amen.

Well the sun is shining. Pretty muggy outside. Hope everyone is doing well. Meeting first week of August to talk about reopening in September. Will keep you posted. Once again the # to call for pastoral care is 613-548-3389 to be connected to our team. Here is our weekly prayer, provided this week by Rev. Don Misener. "Jesus said to her "Mary". She turned and said to him in Hebrew 'Rabbouni - which means teacher.. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I... have seen the Lord' (John 20:16,18). "Thank you O God for your generous love that meets us where we are and reminds us of how valued we are. Awaken us today to how it is you are seeking to encounter us and assure us that we do not walk alone. As you met Mary Magdalene where she was and liberated her from what it was that oppressed her, help us to trust your liberating love today. Amen"

Well another week gone by. Never know whether to leave the house with or without an umbrella. We will be holding a Council meeting early August to discuss the feasibility of reopening in September. Clearly things would look different with social distancing and wearing masks etc. Will keep you informed. Once again a reminder if you have any needs we could help with you can call the Zion Foundation Office at 613-548-3389 and you will be connected with our pastoral care tea...m. Our prayer this week is provided by Rev. Lynda Price. Enjoy. "That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea." Matthew 13:1." "Gracious and loving One, it is your Creation surrounding us that lifts us through times like these. We are especially blessed by the waters that are all around us. Water brings a feeling of peace and renewal. It calms and soothes our souls. Thank you for this gift - a reminder that you are never far away. Amen" See more

Hi folks, Hope you are all coping with the humidity and able to stay cool. Was happy to see the rain today, hoping for a bit more. Remember if you would like some pastoral care, or just to speak to someone you can call the office at 613-548-3389 and our pastoral care people will be contacted for you. Our prayer for this week is provided by Rev. Don Misener. "Thank you O God that we do not have to face the day alone. You provide a companionship that can inspire rejoicing, awaken us afresh to your Presence and help us to find ways to be an encouragement to others. Amid all the challenges of this day help us to discover a peace that can inspire new discoveries and security. Amen."

Hi folks. Hope you are all staying safe and cool (if that's possible!!) Our strawberry social was a success, having delivered 45 helpings of cake, strawberries and vanilla ice cream to residents in the building and to some of our congregation. Thanks to all who helped. Our prayer this week is provided by Rev. Lynda Price. "Gracious and gentle God, our ever-present source of love, we reflect on the world around us and the world within us and we are so grateful that you are a part of everything. Carry us through this unsettling time and show us a better way forward - a better way to live, a better way to respect and relate to others, a better way to treat our world and all its inhabitants. We commit ourselves to you knowing that we will find relief from the heavy burdens of today in your loving heart. Amen."