Grace-Westminster United Church
505 10th St East S7N 0E3 Saskatoon, SK, Canada

As the moon rose high in the sky last night, God of All Creation, I was reminded that we have come to that trinity of days - All Hallows, All Saints, and All So...uls - a trilogy of calls to remember. And so, on this All Hallows Eve, I remember the sacred moments, the holy moments, the moments of tears and laughter from this past year, when your Presence has been felt, deep in my bones. I remember the treats and the tricks that the days have presented, and celebrate the sacred, in the physical distancing, but social connection, in our virtual spaces. On All Saints, I will celebrate with you, the church - the body of Christ - that great communion of his followers, of every age and place, each of whom - like me - have been a mess of contradictions, of days bad and good, of hopes and wonders and mistakes, but one in their desire to live Jesus's Way. For all those who have gone before - Alleluia! For all those living now - Alleluia! For all those yet to come - Alleluia! May we live the commandment to love you, and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, with all that we are. And then comes All Souls. This year, I pray for all those who have died, people of every land and nation, people of every faith and worldview, remembering, especially, the million and more who have died from a name we didn't know a year ago - SARS-COV-2, the virus of COVID-19. This night I sit with all who are grieving the loss in their lives, because of these people's deaths, even as I am certain that all - living and dead - are embedded in your love - surrounded and held, forever and forever. They are remembered, and in that memory, live. I pray for All the Souls, All the Saints, All the Hallows, in the name of Jesus, carried by the wings of the Holy Spirit, and in the Creator's love - Amen and Amen.

Advent Celebration! Joy-filled Community! All proceeds go to Communities of Faith and Ministries! Please share the invitation with friends and family!

Join us for worship on All Saints at 10:30.

Join us once again tomorrow . . .

In wartime, in peacetime, in our own borders, around the world, those who are serving, those who have served,... those who come home, those who do and did not... we remember them. And we will work to support them, them and their comrades, and we will work for peace. Peace in our time, peace in the world. We remember them.

Check this #10x10ArtCelebration Facebook page for regular updates and our weekly art piece showcase. Click on each picture for Artist notes. Don’t forget that bidding will take place online Nov. 2nd-19th.

Join us at 10:30 on Sunday.

Sometimes, what we need to hear, are just a few words of truth. So, these ones are for you.... You are wonderful, child of God. You are an amazing conglomeration of hopes and fears, of memories and dreams and possibilities. You are loved, by a Love that is so overwhelming I don't have words for it, a forever Love that reaches back before there was a beginning, and will continue long past the end. You are beloved. Never give up on that... because That will never, ever, give up on you. Alleluia!

[Image: Night sky with stars. Text: What am I thankful for? That you are part of God's creation and, in some wonderful way, we are connected! Alleluia, Amen!]

Join us for worship at 10:30 as we reflect on love and riddles.

Not a good idea--not even on the Sunday before Halloween! (Cartoon by Inherit the Mirth)

Praying with Region 15 (with words shared by them) "Creator God, Holy Mystery, Source of Life and Love Thank you for the gift of life, all life.... Thank you for the endless ways we are reminded that we are connectedall peoples, all the creatures, all plants, all lands, all waters, and the air around us. When one part suffers, the pain ripples out. Our hearts ache today with the pain felt by our Mi’kmaq relatives, who have suffered violence, vandalism, threats, racial discrimination, and broken trusts as they try peacefully to exercise their right to fish. May they be surrounded with healing and strength. May they feel solidarity and support. May they be kept safe from further harm. We pray for our non-Mi’kmaq relatives. May there be healing for the pain, fear, or anger that has driven some to harmful words and actions, and others to silence. We pray for openness to the righting of relationships. We pray for our leaders at every level. May they be guided by wisdom and humility. May they use their voices and their power to build systems that uphold safety, dignity, and respect for all. Finally, we pray for ourselves, that our hearts and our minds remain open to understanding our responsibilities toward living into Peace and Friendship, knowing that we are all still Treaty people. Knowing that you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God.* Amen" (Image: "Fly Home" by Angelo Juan Ramos (CC-by))

Join us for Thanksgiving at 10:30 on Sunday. (Thanks to Lea Pennock for decorating the sanctuary.)

A bit of bread, a taste from the cup, connects me, again, to the disciples at that table, listening to him teach.... The flavour - sometimes sweet, sometimes salty, sometimes flat, sometimes full of yeast - joins me to every one of his followers, that was, or is, or will be; the communion of saints, the cloud of witnesses, wandering his Way. Wheat or rice, or spelt or maize; concord or muscat, or the water that became wine at his touch, fermented or fresh - we taste again the story that brings us to who we are. We eat. We drink. We remember. (Image: rb - from 2018!)

Join us for worship at 10:30 on Sunday.

Join us tomorrow at 10:30 for worship.