Returning Restored

Welcome to your online Sunday worship from St. George’s, Georgetown for Sunday, June 27, 2021.

With stories of the terrible and tragic legacy of Canada’s residential school system rising in the focus of all Canadians, I would remind all of us who would like to help bring about reconciliation of the important steps laid out by the Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The TRC produced a “Calls To Action” document in 2015 that consisted of 94 items, of which number 73 was “we call upon the federal government to work with churches, Aboriginal communities, and former residential school students to establish and maintain an online registry of residential school cemeteries, including, where possible, plot maps showing the location of deceased residential school children.” I encourage you, and all Canadians, to become more knowledgeable about the steps we can take to further the process of reconciliation. Find out more at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. 

This Sunday is my last Sunday before I take a month long holiday. I will be off during the month of July. These posts will continue through July, but the link to online worship will be to the diocesan service.

While I am off, The Rev’s Aaron Orear, rector of St. Alban’s Church, Glen Williams, will be covering pastoral emergencies. He can be contacted at his home at 905-965-1442.  

Family Ministry

Our family ministry resources this week focuses on our reading from Mark’s Gospel, chapter 5, verses 21 to 43, which tells the story of Jesus healing two people. In our weekly Sunday email, there are links to helpful family pages that help explain all the Sunday readings and a fun comic page about this week’s lesson that can be coloured.

This week’s resources also has this wonderful prayer that families can pray together:

Dear God, you are with us in times of sickness and wellness. Bring us healing we need in mind, body, and spirit. Thank you for all those who help others to heal. Amen.

Please sign up for our weekly emails to get those links to these great resources to use together with your family.  

Opening Music

To begin our worship this Sunday with a song, I suggest “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds.”

Reading

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 1

Prayers and Message

Here is this Sunday’s prayers and message: 

Prayers of the People

Today we pray, for this town of Halton Hills, for all medical staff, all essential frontline workers and their families, for those working with the vulnerable, and for those that are helping to distribute the vaccine, for our neighbours and our friends. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For indigenous people seeking justice for the suffering, loss, and grief caused by residential schools and other systemic forms of racism, for the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, for the sick and suffering, for all in any need. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the dying, for those who mourn, for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope, as we look forward to the day when we share the fullness of the resurrection. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

(To find the list of those we are praying for in our parish please sign up for our Parish email. To add a name to our prayers please contact me.)

Closing Music

For a traditional hymn to close with this week,  I would recommend “Just As I Am.” 

My recommendation for this week’s closing contemporary song is “Your Grace is Enough”

I wish you all a blessed and safe Sunday and week.

Thank you for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. George’s.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

  1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.