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Rev. Moon’s Message for September 24, 2023

Dear Friends,

This upcoming Sunday, we delve into another profound parable shared by Jesus, specifically the one about the workers in the vineyard, as narrated in Matthew 20:1–16. This parable serves as a powerful reminder that comprehending God’s grace is not always straightforward, and it underscores the boundless nature of God’s love, which transcends our human comprehension. We warmly invite you to join us and partake in the celebration of God’s grace, which defies our human knowledge and exceeds our expectations.

Matthew 20:1–16

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Upcoming Events and Gatherings

Wednesday, Sept 27

Our monthly quiet Prayer and Communion Services resume at 7:30 PM. Currently, our dates are Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 29, 2023, Dec 21 (Longest Night Service), Mar 27, Apr 24, May 29, and Jun 26, 2024. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and engaging in these upcoming opportunities.

Sunday, Oct 1

World Communion Sunday

We will join many Christians around the globe in celebrating our unity in Jesus Christ. We also welcome new members Lorelee Sankarlal (Madisen and Samuel) to our church family.

Congregational Meeting

The congregational meeting to answer questions and receive feedback on the Future Directions Committee report will be held following the worship service

If possible, the Committee would like to receive questions in advance — these can be e-mailed to the Clerk of Session at [email protected], or speak to Bruce Morrison. That same e-mail address can be used to request a copy of the report.

All members and adherents are welcome to attend the meeting on Sunday, October 1.

Sunday, Oct 15

Memorial Service

Memorial Service to remember and celebrate our loved ones no longer with us. This year, we remember those who died this past year. If you have lost loved ones this past year and/or if you would like us to remember the name of your loved ones in the service, please send the name and the picture of your loved ones to Chuck at [email protected].

Virtual Book Club

The Virtual Book Club will take place at 1 PM.

Friday, October 20

Our Prayer and Faith Study Group meets at 1 PM. The group is open to anyone who wishes to deepen their understanding of prayer and faith. We will study and pray through Joan Chittister’s The Breath of the Soul; to learn more, please email Chuck at [email protected].

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and engaging in these upcoming opportunities.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, September 23, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for September 17, 2023

Dear Friends,

This Sunday

We are honoured to have the Rev. Dr. Ian Morrison lead the service.

Our virtual book club starts at 1 PM and meets every third Sunday of the month. We invite those who are interested in sharing their thoughts with each other. For the September 17 video conference link, please see your copy of Tidbits or contact the church office. We are currently studying Devotional Classics by Richard Foster. This month, we focus on the chapter on Thomas Merton’s Ways of Meditation. In each meeting, we will be sharing, “What did I like about the chapter? What was my least favourite? Are there any lingering questions from the chapter you are still thinking about?”

Upcoming Events and Gatherings

Wednesday, September 27

Our monthly quiet Prayer and Communion Services resume at 7:30 PM. Currently, our dates are September 27, Oct 25, Nov 29, 2023, Dec 21 (Longest Night Service), Mar 27, Apr 24, May 29, and Jun 26, 2024. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and engaging in these upcoming opportunities.

Sunday, October 1

Communion will be celebrated (as well as the welcoming of a new member).

Since the Women’s Retreat is on the September 24 weekend, Session has decided to move the Congregational Meeting to October 1.

Congregational Meeting: Following Sunday worship, we will hold a congregational meeting to provide a platform for questions and thoughts to be shared regarding the Future Directions Committee Report and recommendations. This session is intended solely for gathering the insights of our congregation. The questions and comments voiced will be directed to both the Session and the Future Directions Committee. Additionally, please anticipate another congregation meeting likely in November.

Sunday, October 15

We will hold our Memorial Service to remember and celebrate our loved ones who died this past year. If you have lost loved ones this past year and/or if you would like us to remember the name of your loved ones in the service, please send the name and a picture to Chuck at [email protected].

Friday, October 20

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and engaging in these upcoming opportunities.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, September 16, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Village Fair 2023

November 4, 2023 – 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

A long-standing tradition continues: please join us for our 2023 Village Fair with something for everyone. For more details, contact the church office.

Rev. Moon’s Message for September 10, 2023

Dear Friends,

This Sunday

This Sunday we continue looking at the same text from Matthew 16:21–28 as last week. The text helps us to deepen our understanding of the kind of cross we carry, and what it means to live a life according to our faith in Jesus Christ.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24

Join us after the service for the Welcome Back BBQ as we come together to celebrate our shared faith and partnership in Christ.

Helpers and Teachers for Sunday School

We kindly request your prayers and assistance for our Sunday School program, as we are in urgent need of volunteers for the following dates:

Helpers for Oct 1, 8, 22, 29, and November 5, 19, 26.
Teachers for Oct 8, 15, 29, and November 12, 19.

If you feel called to contribute and assist, please reach out to Rev. Helen Smith. Working with the children in Sunday School provides a wonderful opportunity to deepen our understanding and knowledge of faith.

Upcoming Events and Gatherings

Sunday, September 17

We are honoured to have the Rev. Dr. Ian Morrison lead the service.

Virtual Book Club: Our virtual book club starts at 1 PM and meets every third Sunday of the month. We invite those who are interested in sharing their thoughts with each other. For the September 17 video conference link, please see your copy of Tidbits or contact the church office. We are currently studying Devotional Classics by Richard Foster. This month, we focus on the chapter on Thomas Merton’s Ways of Meditation. In each meeting, we will be sharing, “What did I like about the chapter? What was my least favourite? Are there any lingering questions from the chapter you are still thinking about?”

Wednesday, September 27

Sunday, October 1

Communion will be celebrated (as well as welcoming of a new member).

Since the Women’s Retreat is on the September 24 weekend, Session has decided to move the Congregational Meeting to October 1.

Sunday, October 15

Friday, October 20

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and engaging in these upcoming opportunities.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, September 9, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for September 3, 2023

Dear Friends,

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your prayers and blessings that have allowed me to step away from the pulpit over the past four weeks. This invaluable time away has granted me the chance to rest, reflect, and renew.

This Sunday, September 3, I plan to share a brief account of the insights garnered from this period of vacation. Moreover, I am excited to delve into the teachings of the gospel according to Matthew, specifically focusing on the passage from Matthew 16:21–28. In this passage, we look at the lessons about the essence of our Christian identity and ways in which we can enrich our journey of faith alongside Jesus.

Once again, I express my gratitude for your unwavering support and encouragement. I look forward to our faith gathering.

Matthew 16:21–28

21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Upcoming events and gatherings

Sunday, September 10: Join us after the service as we come together to celebrate our shared faith and partnership in Christ with a BBQ.
Sunday, September 17: We are honoured to have Rev Dr. Ian Morrison lead the service. After the worship session, our virtual book study will be held at 1 p.m. (link will be available later)
Sunday, September 24* (will be confirmed at the upcoming Session meeting): Following the Sunday worship, we plan to hold a congregation meeting. This meeting will provide a platform for questions and thoughts to be shared regarding the Future Directions report and recommendations. This session is intended solely for gathering the insights of our congregation. The questions and comments voiced will be directed to both Session and the Future Directions Committee. Additionally, please anticipate another congregational meeting later in the year (November).
Wednesday, September 27: Our tranquil prayer and communion service resumes at 7:30 PM, offering a serene moment for reflection and communion.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and engaging in these upcoming opportunities.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, September 2, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for July 30, 2023

An etching by Dutch poet, illustrator, and engraver Jan Luyken (1649–1712) illustrating the Parable of the Seed in the version of the Bible by British miniature painter and publisher Robert Bowyer (1758–1834); from a collection in Bolton, England; taken from the Wikimedia Commons.

Dear friends,

He put before them another parable:

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31–32

This Sunday, we delve into the Parable of the Mustard Seed. The last two Sundays were dedicated to exploring the parable of the sowers and the parable of the weeds, which now leads us to this new parable. Through the story of the mustard seed, we can gain insight into experiencing God’s grace in our own lives. We warmly invite you to join us and together, let’s deepen our understanding of God’s grace flourishing in the fields of our existence.

As I mentioned last week, we noticed an audio issue in the video of the July 16 worship service. Interestingly, we also noticed three individuals pressing the “thumbs up” button below the video. It’s quite unusual for our worship service to receive such positive reactions. That led me to ponder why those three people chose to ‘like’ the video when there was no audio. Are they telling us something?

I hope this brings a smile to your face. I am sure some people accidentally pressed the button but hope this brought the joy of laughter to you. It certainly did for me. After all, we could all use some good laughter in our lives since our life often becomes too serious.

I humbly request your prayers as I go on a vacation to revitalize my mind and emotions from August 1–29.

Upcoming Worship Leaders

August 6: Rev. Harry Bradley
August 13: Rev. Smith
August 20: Rev. Dr. Laurence DeWolfe
August 27: Rev. Smith

— Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, July 29, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for July 23, 2023

Dear friends,

This Sunday we will meditate on the parable of the weeds found in the gospel of Matthew.

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Matthew 13:24–30

I love the way Jesus teaches about faith, God, and life. His parable of the weeds encourages deep contemplation about the complexities and challenges we face as human beings. Jesus through the parable of the weeds asks, “What insights can we gain from our human struggles, and what valuable lessons do they hold for us?”

May the Holy Spirit deepen our understanding of God’s teaching.

We regret that there was an issue with the audio in the video last week. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this audio problem.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Friday, July 21, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for July 16, 2023

Dear friends,

This coming Sunday, we are meditating on the parable of the sowers found in the gospel of Matthew.

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 If you have ears, hear!”
Matthew 13: 1–9

Jesus recognized the divine hand of God at work in the labor of farmers, the growth of seeds, and the fertility of the soil. Using this parable, Jesus encourages us to reflect on our faith and our personal journeys. He asks faith questions such as “Where do you witness the grace of God in your life today?”, and “Where do you witness God’s presence in your surroundings?”

I look forward to our gathering this Sunday. May the Holy Spirit deepen our faith conversation!

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Friday, July 14, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for July 9, 2023

Dear friends,

This Sunday, we are exploring the profound teachings of the gospel of Matthew, chapter 11. Our focus will be on the life and teaching of Jesus and the invaluable lessons we can derive from His life and teachings.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

As we delve into the final verses of this chapter, we are encouraged to reflect upon the inner peace and tranquility we long for. Jesus presents us with an opportunity to contemplate the nature of true peace and healing in our lives. In the midst of this bustling summer season, let us take a moment to ponder the profound peace that Christ extends to us.

I look forward to our gathering this Sunday. May the Holy Spirit provide us through our worship together with valuable insights that will guide us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and the peace that can be found in Christ.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, July 8, 2023 edition of Tidbits.

Rev. Moon’s Message for July 2, 2023

Dear friends,

What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind
William Wordsworth’s “Splendor in the Grass”

I believe faith is what empowers us to find strength in what remains behind. Faith is what allows us to move forward without looking back. Faith is what allows us to go on despite all our challenges. May God give us strength during this week.

—Rev. Chuck Moon

A version of this message appeared in the Friday, June 30, 2023 edition of Tidbits.