Wesley United Church– Year A
March 15, 2026, Fourth Sunday in Len

Worship Leader:  Bev Bragg &Linda Farrell

 

 

Reader: Lucy Bragg
Music:  Evelyn MacDonald
Greeter: Myrtle Button
Bell Ringer: Ross Cooper

 

 

Gathering in the Spirit

 

 

Welcome to our worship service either online or in printed form.  

 

Life and Work of the Church may be found at the end of the service.

 

Our Blessings & Birthdays for this week are:

 

Lighting of the Christ Candle  

Today, we light the Christ Candle, remembering that even in the shadow of the cross, the light of Christ cannot be overcome.
In this season of Lent, we journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem, carrying with us our hopes, our burdens, and our longing for new life.

 

Introit:  VU # 114  Forty Days and Forty Nights vs 1 & 5

1 Forty days and forty nights
you were fasting in the wild;
forty days and forty nights
tempted, and yet undefiled.

 

2 Keep, oh keep us, Saviour dear,
ever constant by your side;
that with you we may appearat the eternal Eastertide.

 

Call to Worship 

 

L: Come, beloved of God, for the Light of Christ has broken through our darkness.

 

P: We come to see with new eyes and to walk in God’s truth.

 

L: Once we stumbled in shadows, unsure of the way.

 

P: Now we are children of light, called to live in God’s love.

 

L: The Lord is our Shepherd; we shall not want.

 

P: God restores our souls and leads us in paths of righteousness.

 

All: Let us worship the One who opens our eyes, heals our hearts, and makes all things new!

 

*Opening Hymn:  VU # 389  God Is Here Vs 1,2 & 4  

 

1  God is here!  As we your people 
meet to offer praise and prayer,
may we find in fuller measure
what it is in Christ we share.
Here, as in the world around us,
all our varied skills and arts
wait the coming of the Spirit
into open minds and hearts.

 

2  Here are symbols to remind us
of our lifelong need of grace;
here are table, font, and pulpit;
here the cross has central place.
Here in honesty of preaching,
here in silence, as in speech,
here, in newness and renewal,
God the Spirit comes to each.

 

4 God of all, of church and kingdom,
in an age of change and doubt
keep us faithful to the gospel;
help us work your purpose out.
Here, in this day’s dedication,
all we have to give, receive;
we, who cannot live without you,
we adore you! We believe!

Opening Prayer 

 

God of light and mercy, on this Lenten journey,
You call us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Open our eyes to see as You see, our hearts to love as You love, and our lives to reflect the hope of Christ.
As we gather in Your presence, heal our blind-ness, renew our faith, and guide our steps toward the joy of Easter.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Invitation to Confession  

In this season of Lent, God calls us to step out of the darkness of self-reliance and into the radiance of grace. Let us lay down the burdens we carry, the sins we hide, and the hurts we have caused, trusting that the One who heals the blind
can also open our hearts.
Come, let us confess our sins, first silently and then together, to God, who is merciful and abounding in steadfast love.

 

Silent Prayer

 

Prayer of Confession  

Merciful God, You call us from darkness into Your marvelous light, yet we confess that we of-ten choose to remain in the shadows. We close our eyes to Your truth, turn away from Your guidance, and cling to what is comfortable rather than what is right.
Forgive us for the times we have failed to see our neighbors in need, for the moments we have judged rather than shown compassion, and for the ways we have resisted Your transforming grace. Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see as You see. Shine Your light into the hidden places of our hearts, and lead us in the way of love,
so that our lives may reflect the hope and healing of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

 

Words of Assurance 

 

L. The good news is that once we were blind, stumbling in the shadows, but in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, our eyes are opened and our hearts are made new.
In Him, mercy overflows, grace abounds,
and forgiveness is complete.

 

P. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Listening for the Spirit

*Hymn: VU # 593  Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love

 

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.

 

1  Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.

 

2 Neighbours are rich and poor,
varied in colour and race,
neighbours are near and far away.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.

 

3  These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love,
all are neighbours to us and you.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.

 

4  Kneel at the feet of our friends,
silently washing their feet,
this is the way we should live with you.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.

 

Scripture Readings

 

1 Samuel 16:1-13

This scripture reading takes place in the town of Bethlehem.  Samuel, a prophet of God, has been sent by the Lord to anoint the next king of Israel from among the sons of Jesse, a very humble man.  The atmosphere is tense as each son is presented before the prophet, with the hopes of being chosen as the next king.  It is in this unassuming setting that God’s divine choice is revealed, showing that His ways are not always what we expect.

 

1 Samuel 16:1-13

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peacea-bly?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and in-vited them to the sacrifice.
When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appear-ance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
The Word of the Lord                          Thanks be to God

 

Psalm 23 

Psalm 23 is a beloved passage of Scripture. In this short psalm filled with rich agricultural imagery, we learn about how God is like a Shepherd. He takes care of His sheep, guides them, and protects them from enemies. We find comfort, hope, and peace in the image of God, leading us like a shepherd through the various “landscapes” of life. From the gentle pasturelands to the darkest valley, the Lord is with us.

Psalm 23

L.  The Lord’s my Sheperd, I’ll not want

 

P.  he makes me down to lie

L.  in pastures green he leadeth me,

 

P.  the quiet waters by.

 

L.  My soul he doth restore again;

 

P.  and me to walk doth make

 

L. within the paths of righteousness,

 

P.  even for his own name’s sake.

 

L.  Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,

 

P.  yet will I fear no ill;

L.  for thou art with me; and thy rod

 

P.  and staff me comfort still.

 

L.  My table thou has furnished

 

P.  in presence of my foes;

 

L.  my head thou dost with oil anoint,

 

P.  and my cup overflows.

 

L.  Goodness and mercy all my life

 

P.  shall surely follow me,

 

L.  and in God’s house for evermore

 

P.  my dwelling place shall be.

Response to Psalm

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Gospel Reading:  John 9:1-41  

Today, in our Gospel Reading, we find Jesus and his disciples walking along the streets of Jerusalem.  As they pass by, they come across a man who has been blind from birth, sitting by the roadside begging for alms.  The man’s name is not mentioned in the passage, but his condition is a focal point of the story.
This verse is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ ability to heal not only physical ailments but also spiritual blindness.  Jesus demonstrates his divine power to bring light into the darkest corners of our lives by curing a man born blind.  This miracle serves as a metaphor for the transformative work that Jesus can do in our hearts and minds, opening our eyes to the truth and helping us see things in a new light.

 

 

Gospel Reading:  John 9:1-41  

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus an-swered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had for-merly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Je-sus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not ob-serve the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His par-ents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who con-fessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He an-swered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man an-swered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do noth-ing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.
Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
The Word of the Lord     Thanks be to God

Message:  Now We See

By James Lawrence

For the third Sunday in a row, our assigned gospel reading features a rather lengthy account of someone who is transformed by their encounter with Jesus.  First, there was the Pharisee name Nicodemus. Then there was the Samaritan woman at the well.  And now, there is the man born blind, the story told in John 9:1-41.  This man is transformed from a humble blind beggar to a fearless evangelist.  How?  By his encounter with Jesus. By his coming to see the one thing that Jesus wants for all of us to see.  Let’s take a look and find out what that is.
This man, once again, has been blind from birth.  In those days, that meant that he didn’t have many opportunities to get anywhere in life.  He became one more beggar filling up the streets of Jerusalem.  To make it worse, most of the people he encountered would have assumed that he did something wrong to earn this blindness.  He or his parents.  Someone must have sinned.  He would have endured many a whisper and innuendo through the years. Even Jesus’ disciples openly wondered what this man did wrong, or what his parents did wrong, that caused him to be born blind.
I wonder, sometimes, if things have really changed, at least in that respect.  At our worst, it seems to me, we still assume that those who succeed in life are somehow more blessed by God, and those who suffer do because of their sin.  At our worst, we still judge other people based on these assumptions or, just as bad, we often judge ourselves in the same way.  But Jesus sees things differently.  He tells his disciples that there is more to life than meets the eye.  This particular man was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.  God had a plan and purpose for his life that no one could see until Jesus came along.  Is that true for you? For me?

This calls to mind for me a story about another beggar, who was sitting across the street from an artist’s studio.  The artist saw him and thought he would make an interesting portrait study.  So, from a distance he painted this man, sitting by the road with a discouraged look, downcast eyes, a sad almost defeated look on his face.  When he was finished, he took the portrait over to the beggar so he could look at it.  “Who is that?” the beggar questioned.  The portrait faintly resembled him, but it showed a person of dignity, sitting upright, bright eyes, a determined look on his face.  The beggar said to the artist, “Is that me?  I don’t look like that.”  But the artist replied, “but that is the person I see in you.”
And that is true for the artist called Jesus, too.  He sees something in us that we don’t always see in ourselves.  And he wants to restore our dignity, to forgive our sin, to reconcile us to God.  He came, in other words, so that we might truly see:  See who we are, and see who others are, as God sees them.
Today’s gospel reading is about much more than physical sight.  In this story, the healing of this man’s physical sight is told in two verses.  Just two verses of a 41-verse story.  Helping this man to physically see, in other words, was arguably the easy part.  After this man’s physical sight is restored, the neighbours argue about whether this man really was born blind or not.  They refuse to see that a miracle has occurred.  They’d rather blind themselves to it than have to re-think the world and their place in it.  So, they can’t see this miracle because they are unwilling to believe it.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, are less concerned with whether the miracle really happened or not.  Their concern is that it happened on the Sabbath.  They, too, are unable to see this miracle because they are blinded by their rules and regulations.
And then there are the blind man’s parents.  They are so afraid of being kicked out of the synagogue for being followers of Jesus that they refuse to say what happened to their son.  Let him speak for himself, they tell the Pharisees.  Their fear has blinded them from seeing and celebrating the miracle they no doubt had been praying for.
All of this leads us to wonder, is there anyone in this story who is NOT blind is some way?  By the end of the story, there will be one, and that is the man born blind.  He is a remarkable man.  But even he must grow in his faith before he can see and believe who Jesus truly is.  After his physical sight is restored, he is brought before the Pharisees, who badger him with questions.  He shares, openly and honestly, what happened.  And when they ask him what he thinks about Jesus, he says to them, “He is a prophet.”  You see?  He is beginning to see, but he’s not there yet.  Later, after his own parents have abandoned him, he is brought before the Pharisees again.  They demand that he tell them that Jesus is a sinner.  His answer? “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”  The Pharisees do not like his answer, of course.  They kick him out of the synagogue, just as they threatened to do to his parents.  And perhaps this suffering was part of the process toward his seeing who Jesus truly is.  God can use even our most difficult experiences to help us see and believe in him.
This blind man, who has been physically healed by Jesus, has now been rejected by his family, friends and community.  Who is left?  Only Jesus.  When Jesus heard that the Pharisees had driven this man out of the synagogue, he returned.  We don’t know why Jesus left.  But we do know why he returned.  To help him see.  “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  Jesus asked this man upon his return.  “And who is he, sir?  Tell me so that I may believe in him.”  By his very question, we can see that this man is ready to see and believe. 
Sometimes our questions reveal more than our answers.  This man’s question reveals a humility, an openness, and a faith that we don’t see in anyone else in this story.  Who is He?  Jesus answers, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” And this man believes what Jesus says.  “Lord, I believe,” he says.  And he worshipped Jesus.  And now this man born blind can see it all.  He can see it all, because he believes it all.  He believes Jesus.  What else can he do, then, but worship him?  What else can he do but worship the one who has helped him to see?

We will soon be singing a beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace,” which has a line from this gospel reading: “I once was blind, now I see.”  It is worth remembering the story behind this hymn and its author, John Newton.  Newton was born in London in 1725, the son of a shipmaster.  He himself became a merchant seaman, and eventually became the captain of slave ships and even an investor in the slave trade. During a storm at sea, Newton had a spiritual conversion.  He began reading the Bible and living a devout Christian life.  He was in his early twenties at the time.  But it is important to note that even after Newton became a devout Christian, he was still involved in the slave trade.  He continued serving as the captain of slave ships.  Newton had begun to see, in other words, but still had blind spots, just like us all.  He suffered a stroke when he was just 31 years old, gave up seafaring, and after he recovered from his stroke, he studied and became a priest in the Church of England.
It was not until some years later, when Newton was in his sixties, that he began to publicly campaign for the end of slavery.  He wrote and published a widely read pamphlet against slavery.  And in that pamphlet, he wrote that: “It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders.”  Newton observed later that his conversion to Christianity had several steps.  In the end, he recognized that slavery was wrong, and that it was important that he work toward its end.  Newton began writing hymns during this period, with a famous poet, William Cowper.  He wrote a hymn that he called “Faith’s Review and Expectation” that eventually came to be known by its opening line, “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound.”  Shortly before Newton’s death, he is quoted as saying, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things:  That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour!” God’s amazing grace had opened Newton’s eyes, and his life was changed forever.
So, what about us?  What does Jesus want us to see and to believe this day?  What do we need to remember this day?  Where are our blind spots?  Where do we need to work for change in our world?  What is God’s amazing grace doing in our lives right now?  Asking these questions takes us into the heart of today’s gospel reading.  An encounter with Jesus that helps this man to see who he is, and who Jesus is.  A man born blind, a beggar, who is now a fearless evangelist and a model for us all.  He now sees who he is, he sees who Jesus is, and he is helping those around him to see with new eyes.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, and how great the gift.  May we see ourselves through the grace-filled eyes of Jesus.  And may we help others to see themselves through those same loving eyes.  To the glory of God.  Amen 

 

Responding to the Spirit

 

*Hymn VU # 266 Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound

 

1  Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

2  ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

 

3  Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

 

4  The Lord has promised good to me,
this word my hope secures;
God will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

 

5  When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
than, when we’d first begun.

Prayers of the People

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the light of truth revealed through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Just as You opened the eyes of the man born blind, open the eyes of our hearts to see You more clearly and follow You more faithfully. Remove the blindness of pride, doubt, and fear, and fill us with the courage to testify to Your goodness, even when the world does not understand.
As we go into this week, O God, help us to have a focus  a purpose  that is beyond that of just getting by; beyond that of just trying to make it through another week; show us we pray what you would have us do; reveal to us our own personal and unique ministry and help us to do it.  
Bless O God those in our midst and those around the world. We especially ask for those who are poor this day; for those who are poor in the basic needs of daily living; and for those who are poor in love; hear too the prayers we ask for those who need healing or hope in their lives, those who need justice, and those who
require mercy.  Lord, hear our prayers for these and for all those whom we and our brothers and sisters now hold before you in their hearts and with
the words of their lips________________

We thank you God for hearing us and for answering us. 
We pray to you, most loving one, in the name of your most beloved Son Christ Jesus our Lord, who taught us when we pray, to say:  “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

 

M & S Story

A Steady Flow of Care

For most of us, a shower is routine. 
For someone without stable housing, it can be trans-formative. 
In St. Catharines, Ontario, Silver Spire United Church offers more than access to water. Their shower pro-gram offers dignity, relief, and a fresh start to the day—sometimes all in the same hour. 
While guests take a private shower, their laundry is washed and dried in the next room. Clean clothes are ready when they step out. Toiletries like soap, sham-poo, deodorant are generously donated by the community and is available to all guests. Devices can be charged in the room, and guests are welcome to keep their belongings in the room with them to keep them secure. 
It may sound simple, but being able to wash your body and your clothing at the same time changes a day. In the extreme heat of summertime, a cool shower can prevent illness and save lives. In the winter, warm wa-ter restores circulation and comfort. Beyond physical relief, something deeper happens: people are reminded they matter. 
But programs like this require steady support. Costs for utilities, supplies, coordination, volunteers, and care can mount quickly.
Through Mission and Service, we’re helping Silver Spire United Church keep the water running and the program staffed. We’re helping ensure that dignity is not an afterthought, but a priority. 
A shower should not be a luxury, and clean clothes should not be out of reach. 
When we give, dignity flows.

Offering Invitation 

According to the Apostle Paul, the fruit of the Spirit includes kindness and generosity, gifts of God that we enjoy. As we present our offering, may the Spirit fill us with generosity, and multiply our kindness for the sake of Christ our Lord.

 

Offertory Hymn MV # 191 What Can I Do?

What can I do?  What can I bring?
What can I say?  What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy.  I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love.  I’ll do my share.

 

*Offertory Prayer 

 

O God, we know you to be kind and generous, so we bring our gifts in gratitude and joy. Pour out your Spirit on these gifts and on our lives, so that we may bear the fruit of your Spirit in every situation and relationship, through Christ, our Living Lord. Amen

 

*Closing Hymn:   VU # 424 May the God of Hope Go With Us

 

1  May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.

Praying, let us work for peace,
singing, share our joy with all,
working for world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

 

2  May the God of healing free the earth from fear,
freeing us for peace, both treasured and pursued.
May the God of love keep our commitment clear
to a world restored, to human life renewed.

 

Praying, let us work for peace,
singing, share our joy with all,
working for world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

 

*Benediction & Commissioning 

May the blessing of God’s mercy go before you, be-hind you, and all around you as we journey in grace, reflecting the Light of new life wherever we go. Amen. 

 

*Sung Benediction: MV # 215 “Peace Be With You” 

 

Peace be with you, peace forever,
Peace be with you, my friends.
Till we meet again, may God be with you.
Peace, peace, peace. 

 

Life and Work of the Church

Donation to our Digital Hymnal in memory of Hilda Pike by Joan, Tony & Andrew Chaisson

 

Today, on our Memory Board, we remember Alfred Anderson, Chesley Dale and Charlott Dale

Thank you to everyone who attended the World Day of Prayer service on March 6.

 

Country Music Evening will be held on Friday, March 20 at the St. James’ Memorial Hall beginning at 7:00pm

 

Installation of Board Members will take place after our church service on Sunday, March 22.

 

Digital Memorial Fund- Our digital has arrived.  Plans on for us to be using it next Sunday. If you would like to donate towards this project, please mark the word “Digital” and the person you are remembering on your envelope.

 

Bible Discussion Group- Please let Evelyn or Joan know if you would like to be a part of a group to discuss the scripture readings of the previous Sunday.  

 

Recovery Is Possible Support Group meetings are held in our church hall on Sunday nights at 7:00 pm.  The coordinator for this group is Andrea Feaver. 

 

Wesley United Library- in our former Choir Room. Please take time before or after our services to borrow, exchange or donate books.

Columbarium Niches: There is one niche left that can be reserved.  Each niche, which can hold two urns, cost $2500.00.  Please contact Mable Spencer if you are interested in purchasing a niche. 

 

Walking Group meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 am.  Dinah Carter is the coordinator for this group.  

Darts – The group meets at 1:00pm on Tuesdays.  The Coordinators are David Davis and Debbie Moss.

 

AIM’s Empower Rangers Group meet each Tuesday 4:00-6:00 in our church hall.  This is a social club aimed toward empowering neurodivergent youth in everyday life here in town. It is open to youth from grade 6 onwards. Coordinator is Reed Bartlett.

 

Quilting, Sewing, Knitting, Crafts and Social get-togethers are held on Thursdays, at 1:00 pm.  Evelyn MacDonald and Ruth Deveaux are coordinators for these groups.

 

Previous bulletins have been placed on the Information Table in case anyone would like one.  These are nice to give out to people who are unable to attend.  

 

New Copies of “Our Daily Bread” are available on the Information Table.

 

Food Bank –The Food Bank needs sugar, can milk, tea bags, butter or any nonperishable item. You may bring your items to church or drop them off at the Thrift Store. 

 

Recycling Depot Thank you to those who have been donating their recyclables to our account. Our account total is now $12.40. You may donate by using the pin number 6953434 when you drop off your recyclables. 

 

Sunday Morning services on our web site. You are able to read our worship service by clicking on the following link: www.wesleyunitedchurch.sitew.ca Once you are on the site, click Sunday Worship which will take you to the service.

           

         Offerings Needed to Meet 2026 Budget
Local: $5000.00 Monthly
M & S: $200.00 Monthly

 

Date                             Local Account             M & S
January                          3739.00                      127.00

February                         2513.00                     258.00

March 1                            884.13                         30.00

March 8                            301.50                         33.00

Many blessing for this new week and let us open our eyes to see the goodness in each person that we meet.