St. Mark's United Church Whitby
201 Centre Street South L1N 4V7 Whitby, ON, Canada

Worship outline for tomorrow January 24th, 2021 St. Mark’s Community of Faith Online Worship Service Disciples of love... Welcome & greeting Introit-Hear our prayer, O God VU 865 Honouring the land Centering prayer Mark 1:14-20 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the seafor they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me and I will make you fish for people. And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. Special Music-Larghetto from Voluntary in D (W. Boyce) Reflection-Disciples of love Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore VU 563 (all four verses) Prayer of Discipleship God of love, source of mercy and compassion, weave your dream for the world into the fabric of our lives. Remove the scales from our eyes and lift the indifference from our hearts, so that we may see your vision a new reign of justice and compassion that will renew the earth. Transform our lives, so that we may accomplish your purpose. Anoint us with your spirit of love that we might bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim release to the captive. Give us a new urgency and a new commitment to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit those who live in isolation. Help us to reach out to those whom no one else will touch, to accept the unacceptable, and to embrace the enemy. Surround us with your love, fill us with your grace, and strengthen us for your service. Empower us to respond to the call of Jesus to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow. Make us your disciples. Amen. 2010 Kurt Struckmeyer Choral Closing-Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing VU 824b x 2 Blessing Organ Postlude-Vivace from Voluntary in D (W. Boyce) See you next week

Happy Thoughts!

Today is National Hug Day! Thank you Dr Auntie Dote for your wisdom! And thank you to Anne Summers for sharing her cousin!

January 21, 2021 - Lectio Divina (Divine reading) Rev Patti Armstrong Lectio Divina is a contemplative way to read short passages of sacred text and discover meaning deeper than the literal layer.... Prepare: Find a comfortable and quiet spot. Light a candle or place some other symbol before you to focus your attention. Have a journal and writing tool. Take off your sandals because the place you are on is holy ground. Remove from your mind and heart whatever hinders you from hearing God reflected through scripture. Vocalize the words of the text so that you not only read with your eyes but hear with your ears. When you are ready, proceed with your reading while doing the following: 1. Read (Lectio). From your heart: With the first reading, listen with your heart’s ear for a phrase or word that stands out for you. 2. Reflect (Meditatio). With your mind: During the second reading, reflect on how the phrase or word touches you, perhaps speaking that response aloud or writing in a journal. 3. Respond (Oratio). Create from your spirit: After reading the passage a third time, respond with a prayer or expression of what you have experienced and what it calls you to. (Be creative in your response and consider various art forms to express yourself through). 4. Rest (Contemplatio). Rest in your body: Finally, rest in silence after a fourth reading. This week’s scripture Mark 1:14-20 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the seafor they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me and I will make you fish for people. And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

TONIGHT... join us if you're between 18-35 and looking for some interesting, open and curious conversation. We welcome all with enthusiasm and love. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81981340712 Meeting ID: 819 8134 0712

November 24, 2020 - Spiritual Snapshot https://youtu.be/F1ZwaEzMtJw

Sunday, November 22, 2020 Transgender Day of Remembrance & Reign of Christ. https://youtu.be/nP8ckT3NknI

Saturday, November 21, 2020 https://youtu.be/uaAZ0xr4r2k Worship Outline for Sunday, November 22, 2020 Transgender Day of Remembrance & Reign of Christ....Continue reading

November 19, 2020 - Read, Reflect and Respond Rev Patti Armstrong Job Chapter 20...Continue reading

November 17, 2020 - Spiritual Snapshot Conserve your energy for those who truly value it! https://youtu.be/-_tFDWAr3aE

Sunday, November 15, 2020 194th Anniversary Celebration https://youtu.be/dLWNtL5bkJ8

In the round. November 18 Rev Patti Armstrong Back to now... Remembering New Brunswick winter morning. Cold nose alerts wood furnace is hungry. Paper and kindling spark to life night-time embers. Sigh. Back to blankets and still dreaming kitties and pups taking up most of the space on my bed. My heart sighs deep in this memory. It carries me. Comforts me. And I feel God here. Imagining where I have been. Living where I am. Seeing the possibilities ahead. Here I find my ground. Everything in my head speaks to my heart and together they are witness to a long life filled with adventure, heart break, miracles, dark night sorrow and love beyond imagining. In this time without an end date, I remember and give thanks. Raw beyond comprehension thanks. I am not freed from my concern or anxiety, but I am accompanied in it. There is something to feeling not entirely alone. And even I, who prefer solitude, appreciate deeply, simply knowing, I am a part of a bigger mystery that continues to unfold before my very eyes. New memory: Soft snow big and whispering, falls between cracks of sun outside my city window.

Saturday, November 14, 2020 https://youtu.be/ihJAJA4ibEs Worship Outline for tomorrow 194th Anniversary Celebration...Continue reading

St. Mark’s Church has its roots in early Ontario Methodism. It started in the days of the Circuit riders, when men rode around the countryside on horseback preaching the Gospel to the early residents of the province. The Whitby Circuit was created out of the Cobourg Circuit. Meetings were held in private homes and various buildings until a Wesleyan Methodist Church was built and dedicated in 1857. That building still stands on the corner of Centre Street North and Mary Stre...et, though it is now an apartment block. The Whitby Methodist Tabernacle, which is our present Church, was built in 1875 on the corner of Centre St. South and Colborne Street. At the time, it was one of the largest churches in the country. It was dedicated in 1876 and the Reverend Dr. Egerton Ryerson (after whom Ryerson University is named) was the guest preacher. In 1925, the pro-union Presbyterians in Whitby voted to join with the Methodist Tabernacle congregation to form the Whitby United Church. In 1962, the congregation voted to change the name and the Church adopted the name of St. Mark’s. The congregation of the tiny Almonds United Church, which was located at Highway 2 and Hall’s Road, became a part of St. Mark’s United Church in 1971. The Almonds plaque dedication in 2016 commemorates the joining of these two church families. 194 years of serving our community with love, from the corner of Colborne and Centre streets in Whitby.