Happy Friday!  This week John-Peter Smit will lead our service and has titled the sermon “I Hate Happy Endings.”  Here is what JP has to say:
This week’s Old Testament passage is the story of the people of Nineveh repenting as a result of Jonah’s prophecy. To say Jonah was not pleased is an understatement! This week we get to wrestle with the question of what it means to serve a God who loves and forgives the people we hate and want to see punished. I can’t promise answers, but, there will be lots of questions.

This week’s readings are:

• Jonah 3:1-5, 10
• Psalm 62:5-12
• Readings

You can click on the readings above to read them online.

Also, two new items have been added to the church website to aid in communication:

• District Fellowship Schedule
• Worship Leaders (Jan-Mar 2015)

Peace,
Lauren Matheson.

Greetings!

Megan Shin joins us again this Sunday to lead us in worship at 10:30 am, and she will preach from the psalm on the topic “Seeing beyond what is seen.”

This week’s psalm is number 139. As I read over it just now it stopped me like it sometimes has in the past when I’m feeling a bit busy and tired.  In the middle of harried day to day Toronto life it is easy to feel a little bit detached.  Then Psalm 139 hits:  “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.”  Regardless of the world around I am never isolated because I am known by God.

This week’s readings are:

• Romans 8:35-39
• Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

You can click on the readings above to read them online.

This Sunday is also the target date to have congregational surveys submitted.  A precursor to looking for a new minister is to prepare a “congregational profile,” and these surveys are an important part of that process.  I’ve attached a PDF of the survey in case you did not receive a paper copy or are not sure where yours is.

Peace,
Lauren Matheson.

• Congregational Priority Survey (PDF)

Greetings!

This Sunday Rev. Katherine McCloskey from Evangel Hall will lead us in worship at 10:30 am.

If you would like to peek ahead, the readings follow the lectionary calendar and are Psalm 29, Acts 19:1-7 and Mark 1:4-11.  If you have a few minutes now at your computer or on your phone, you can read these online all in one place at http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=60.  In the Church calendar, the Sunday after Epiphany celebrates the Baptism of Jesus, and Rev. McCloskey sermon is titled “Something About the Water.”

Remember to bring your skates to church this week to join in skating to celebrate the new year together just down the road at Rennie park right after coffee hour (about 1pm).

This Sunday is also the deadline for Annual General Meeting reports, so if you are responsible for one please aim to have it done by then.

Peace,
Lauren Matheson.

Happy New Year!

On Sunday Rev. Jan Hieminga will lead our service at 10:30 am.
This week is Epiphany, and that will form the theme of the sermon. The scriptures are Psalm 72:1-7,10-14, Isaiah 60:1-6, and Matthew 2:1-12.

The January Messenger newsletter is being assembled, so if you have anything to submit please send it to Tristan Gerrie (tristan.gerrie@gmail.com) by next Friday, January 9. Reports for the Annual General Meeting are due by next Sunday, January 11.

See you soon,
Lauren Matheson.

Hello everyone!

So close to Christmas I can almost taste it! Okay, maybe I’ve been doing too much tasting. Love those Christmas cookies!

Thanks once again to our associate ministers here at MHP Reverend John Peter Smit and his wife Tori for leading us in worship during this time of advent. The sermon is titled “Emmanuel: God with us.” Scripture Luke 2:1-20.

Blue Christmas service will be Sunday evening (Dec. 21) at 7:00 pm. We gather as the darkness arrives and the day closes. This is a service of prayer, candle lighting and communion, remembering together and with God, the loneliness, loss and pain that can be felt so acutely at Christmas.

DECEMBER 24 – 7:00 P.M. CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS. The offering will be evenly divided amongst Armagh, Evangel Hall and P.W.S. & D. (PCC)

Merry Christmas and may the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ be with you all!

Blessings,
Marc

Hello MHPer’s! Happy Saturday to you all!

This coming Sunday, the second week of Advent, service will be led by one of our Ministers in Association, the Reverend John-Peter Smit. This week, the theme is “the Voice Crying in the Wilderness, Prepare the Way of the Lord.” Scriptures: Isaiah 40:3-5, Luke 1 5-25, John 1:6-8, 19-28.

Keep in mind the January Messenger is being assembled. If you have anything to submit, please send it in to Tristan Gerrie by January 9. Speaking of deadlines, AGM reports are due January 11.

Although the snow’s not here yet, I’m getting excited about the Christmas season! Time to bring out the decorations, and don’t forget to bring your hats, mittens and scarves for the Mitten Tree.

Looking forward to see everyone on Sunday.

Blessings,
Marc Dunn

Hello and happy Friday to all!

Morningside-High Park session met on Wednesday and thought it would be a good idea to continue to send out the Friday emails to give you a brief description on the upcoming Sunday.

As you know, our minister Karen Dimock has moved to St. Andrew’s in Ottawa and is preaching there this Sunday. We wish her all the best. In the meantime, our pulpit is “vacant” and will be filled under the direction of our interim moderator Reverend Thomas Kim from University church  He will be preaching on Acts 1:10-14 this Sunday, “HOPE is in your prayer”. Reverend Kim moderated our session meeting this past Wednesday and will continue to do so until we have a new minister. Calling a new minister is an involved process and will be outlined this Sunday and throughout the next few weeks.

Please feel free to ask questions of our session members and ministers in association (Rev. John-Peter Smit and Tori Smit) during this time of transition.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday,

In Christ,
Marc Dunn, Elder.