Worship Blog
Welcome to Advent Unwrapped 2020
Celebrate Advent with Advent Unwrapped resources for individuals, families, and communities of faith.
Moderator's Online Worship - Sunday, May 3, 2020
In his online worship service, Moderator Richard Bott shares a reflection about the followers of the risen Christ finding power and joy in the breaking of bread together - even when it's shared virtually during hard times.
Moderator's Online Worship - Sunday, April 26, 2020
Moderator Richard Bott reflects on the road to Emmaus story, and asks who are you walking with in this time of shock and tragedy?
Moderator's Online Worship - Sunday, April 19, 2020
Moderator Richard Bott shares a worship service for Sunday, April 19, 2020 and reflects on the role of doubt in our faith and how it can lead us to experience the good news for ourselves.
Moderator's Online Worship - Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
During these difficult days of pandemic, Moderator Richard Bott shares that the Resurrection happens in every moment, and calls us to be people of new life even in when we're locked down in our virtual spaces.
Moderator's Online Worship - April 5, 2020
For Sunday, April 5, 2020, Moderator Richard Bott shares reflection on Matthew 21:1-11, the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and urges us to keep our eyes on hope as we begin Holy Week.
Note from Nora: What Are You Doing for Lent?
General Secretary Nora Sanders writes about the vast array of Lenten practices available and hopes we each found something to deepen our connection to God.
Kendrick Lamar as Prophet
Wendy Gichuru reflects on how the negotiation of sacred and profane in Kendrick Lamar’s music contributes to the making of Black meaning.
Where Were You?
In this excerpt from the new Lenten devotional "Faithfully Yours: Letters for the Wondering," Bri-anne Swan reflects on the perennial question, “God, where were you?”
Confronting “Misleading Theologies”
Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall reflects on the "Misleading Theologies" symposium he attended in Kenya and why the North American church could use a similar discussion.
Note from Nora: A Different Kind of Ministry
General Secretary Nora Sanders shares the inspiration she discovered in Fred Rogers and the faithful ministry and witness he offered as "Mr. Rogers."
What Will Resurrection Be Like?
Rev. Stephen Fetter reflects on the nature of resurrection and our life after death—questions which faithful people have been pondering since biblical times.
Baptism in the St. Lawrence
Sunday, September 8, 2019 wasn’t the warmest early fall day and the St. Lawrence River had already begun to cool. Nevertheless, seven people from our faith community elected to be baptized (or renew their baptismal vows) through full immersion in the river. It’s powerful to witness members of… Read more
What Freedom Really Means
Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that, "Forgiveness is about being set free of whatever binds us, so we can become whom God wants us to be."
Good News Refreshes the Body
Working with deaf children, author Susan Lukey discovers that we lost something important in worship when the focus became words, spoken and written.
Wonder and Awe
Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that, "In the midst of asking the hard social questions, it would be a real shame if we lost sight of wonder."
Passing the Torch
The Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that the Ascension is about how the disciples, and the church, came to know Jesus differently.
Called: Vocation Sunday 2019
Rev. Bronwyn Corlett writes on being called to serve: "There are disciples answering God’s call across this country—and that is what vocation is all about."
Peter's Fish Story
Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that the resurrection doesn’t just mean that Jesus has escaped death. It means that the whole mission starts over again.
Sacred Landscape
Jane Dawson writes that the tragic fire at Notre Dame cathedral can remind us to look at what can be born when the defining symbols of our lives are changed.
Love Sustains when Hopes Crash and Burn
Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that Good Friday is a time when gathering with others to pray brings hope - even in the face of tragedy.
Finding Common Ground in Love
Global Guest Leonard Mtaita attended the Parliament of the World’s Religions and found faith leaders build common ground in peace and love.
Drawn toward New Life
In this Palm Sunday reflection, Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that, while the road to freedom offered by Jesus is hardly easy, it's worth working for.
The Prodigal's Brother
About this week's story of the Prodigal Son, Rev. Stephen Fetter writes, "Loving skillfully is hard. It's not enough simply to be warm and fuzzy."
Practicing Faith
In the blog post Rev. David Sherwin writes that being a Christian isn’t something we are, it is something we aspire to be. When we practice our faith we set ourselves free.
What Is the Cost of Discipleship?
A reflection on Luke 13:31-35.
Feeling Tempted?
A reflection on the temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13).
I seldom imagine Jesus as vulnerable to temptation. For me, Jesus is confident, outspoken, insightful, inspiring – even unshakable in his conviction that the world can and must be better, and that love is the way. But… Read more
Note from Nora: Where Pain, Joy, Fear, and Hope Intersect
Lent is a time for contemplation, for going a bit deeper, for finding the places where pain and joy and fear and hope intersect.
Praying the Way Jesus Prayed
A reflection on "Transfiguration," (Luke 9:28-43a).
Love Your Enemies
Most of Canada celebrated a long weekend recently, and in several provinces, the February holiday is called Family Day. The holiday’s name is a good reminder for all of us about the importance of appreciating our families and spending time together with those we love. I appreciated that my son (and… Read more
Embracing the Inward Journey
There was a time, within the memory of many of us in The United Church of Canada, when a congregation could count on the culture around it to assist in the spiritual formation of its members.
Everyday Skeptics Show Us Prophetic Risk
Everyday Skeptics: Devotions for Spiritual Growth is the new United Church Lenten devotional for 2019. It features reflections from United Church partners who do local and global ministry, often in challenging situations of "prophetic risk." We spoke with the editor of the book,… Read more
Freezies, Games, Prayer, (and More Freezies)
In the summer of 2018, our church decided to try Vacation Bible School camp (VBS).
The last time the United Church had organized a Vacations Bible School in the Gatineau Hills was circa 1955. Unsure of whether we could do this alone, Église Grace United Church asked our Anglican… Read more
How Are You Getting Ready for Christ(mas)?
How are you getting ready for Christ(mas) this year?
If you are celebrating the Advent season as a family—or as an individual or an all-ages group of any kind—Advent Unwrapped offers an alternative to the advertisements, shopping lists, and hype that we are bombarded with at this time of… Read more
Being Formed
The word “formation” makes me think of fashioning something out of raw material — perhaps with the hands, like a piece of wood or a lump of clay or a garment.
I love to sing and I’ve learned that, aside from breathing, the most important factor in singing well is how you form … Read more
Experiencing the Sacred in Summer
When I was growing up, our family did not have a summer cottage, but we spent part of many summers at the cottage of our good friends, the Fosters. That cottage was on a beautiful lake in Muskoka, and although I haven’t been there for years, I have many clear images in my mind of the times there… Read more
Festival of Faith to "Turn the Church Inside Out"
The United Church of Canada is kicking off the 43rd General Council with the Festival of Faith. This celebration of our work and witness through the arts takes place July 21-22, 2018 in… Read more
Solstice Baby
Indigenous Day of Prayer reminds us that if we are to heal broken relationships, we must talk with one another. Let us begin today and never stop.
A Gathering of Nations
Author Adam Kilner was one of the United Church participants in the World Council of Churches' Conference on World… Read more
Far Better Things Lie Ahead
There used to be an angel who walked, or rather seemed to float, about my west-end Toronto neighbour. His name was Michael Stone. With a clean-shaven head and an exquisitely calm and gentle demeanour, I always thought Michael exuded a majestic sense of inner peace.
Michael was—and… Read more
