Barrhead United Church

06/17/2026

Snuggles with a kitty? We get it. We're live-streaming for you too!
Join in person, live on the internet or later on our YouTube channel.
See you Sundays at 10 am.
www.barrheadunited.org/live
❤

06/16/2026

June 14, 2026 – Meditation
By Danny Fontaine

Matthew 9:35-10:8 (NTL)

9 35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), 3 Philip, Bartholomew,
Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, 4 Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.

7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

Why is Jesus asking his disciples to pray? Why should they pray?

Have you ever asked yourself why we pray?

I like to think about prayer as a privileged moment with God, our Source of Life, the Source of Love. Jesus invites the disciples to pray to remind them that they are not alone, that Love is with them, that Life is with them, that God is with them. Then Jesus asks them in their prayer to ask God, identified as the “Lord who is in charge of the harvest”, to send more workers. We need more workers. We need more people to invite, to welcome, to volunteer, to work for the harvest, to work for the Kingdom of Heaven that is near.
Jesus said to his disciples: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

It is still a fact today. More than ever, Jesus would see our society and say it again: people are “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

What would he say to us today? He would say “Pray! Pray to God; the one “who is in charge of the harvest.” Pray and “ask God to send more workers.” Pray and ask that help may be sent into God’s fields.

When I was a kid, prayer was a bunch of words put together to say beautiful things to God.
When I was a teenager, it was words that I would poetically put together to convince God of my humble suffering, victim of life that I was, asking for divine support for my own self and family.

When I was a young adult, I knew God in a different way. I knew that God’s purpose was for us to be free, proud, fertile, joyful, happy, delivered from all evil. God not only wanted our good, but God also dreamed of the best version of us. So, I prayed to become closer and closer to what God’s dream was when God created me.

When I became an adult, God and I became buddies. I realised that there was no moment that I was out of God’s presence. When I was driving to go somewhere, if I was alone in my car, I would imagine Jesus sitting with me and I would sometimes even have conversations with him because he is a great listener. I was closer to Jesus because I had to impersonate him, portray him. I would pray that he would take my whole being to continue his mission and his message through me.

Then life happened; grief, loss, burnout, grief again and again. Then I felt left out. Why did my mom have to die so young? (Silence)
I gave less time to my relationship with God. I prayed less and less.

Have you ever felt like this?

I stopped singing for three years after my grandma died because I was singing to make my family proud. (I’ve heard that Singing is like praying twice. Well, I prayed twice less.) I felt like a lost sheep, confused and helpless, as if I had lost my shepherd, as if my shepherd wasn’t there for me anymore.

God gives us the right to take that distance; God respects our process. God is never far away and always respects us. We are the ones being distant when we think that we have failed, that we are not worth that relationship anymore, that we no longer have value in our own eyes….and we forget that we still have value in God’s eyes.

Can you guess what brought me back to prayer? Therapy. Can you believe that? Therapy has nothing to do with God. Maybe it does. Didn’t Jesus tell us to love our neighbours like ourselves?

The underlying message here, that we often forget, is love yourself and your neighbors. Or love yourself a little bit more and it will help you to also love your neighbors a little bit more. Or the more you allow yourself love, the more you’ll be able to share the love you receive.

So, therapy can sometimes be the way to be able to get out of your confinement and touch base with love.

If you would like to talk about this subject privately with me, I am available by appointment, over the phone and in person, weekly from Wednesday to Sunday.

I now see prayer as a way for me to nourish love in my life. Who is the essence of love? God. God is Love. Every time I pray, I bring more love into my life. I create more room for love in my life.

Prayer is trust. Prayer is love. Prayer is a conversation.
Prayer is a relationship. Prayer is nourishing your spiritual life.
Prayer is faith. Prayer is cocreating. Prayer is peace.
Prayer is allowing God to love us in silence; authorizing ourselves to be loved by God.
Prayer is accepting that we are not in control and that we need help.

I don’t always use words when I pray. Sometimes I take a deep breath and remind myself that I am in the presence of God and that I am surrounded by Love. Sometimes I ask the Holy Spirit to come upon me to inspire my thoughts, to inspire my words, to inspire my understanding of the Scripture when I do Lectio Divina (a way to meditate on Scripture). And sometimes, I imagine Jesus walking or standing beside me, and I talk to him in my heart or, even sometimes, out loud. These are all different ways of praying.

Today, I invite you to pray with me but also to choose who you would like to pray for and who in our Triune God you feel more comfortable to address your prayer to:
• God, our mother-creator-father-provider
• Jesus, our brother-friend-mentor-guide-the Son of God
• The Holy Ghost, our Breathing Life-wind of our souls-empowerer-comforter-strengthener-bolsterer-emboldener-the Holy Spirit

Let’s Pray for our families who are not going to church anymore but may have found a different way to live out their faith and their relationship to Jesus.
We Pray for the people giving time volunteering to bring the Kingdom of God in our world, here and now.
We Pray for those who are teaching all our generations through action and living out the love we are called to live out.
We Pray to God that more workers of the fields may be sent to us, to our church, to our wider church, to our ministries, to our mission, to God’s mission here and now.

06/16/2026

Our bible studies are on hold for Summer, watch this fall for an announcement for the start of the next round!
Zoom Bible Study is held on Tuesdays at 7pm.

06/15/2026

Find the latest service on our YouTube page here:

Guided by the Spirit, we envision a community of love capable of growth as our church, our community and our world continues to change. By keeping the example of Jesus’ love at the centre of our intentions, we work to foster an environment that is safe, welcoming and inclusive for people of all fa...

06/14/2026

New stream up here:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/14/2026

Join in on our service, now live and online from downtown Barrhead!

Welcome back to Barrhead United as we resume our regularly schedule...

06/12/2026

Barrhead United
July 14, 2026
Third Sunday After Pentecost

Worship Leader: Danny Fontaine

Greeter: Florette Measures
Reader: Sally Littke

Welcome
Good morning! And welcome back to those here in person today! Good morning to those joining us on the live stream!

My name is Danny Fontaine. Welcome to the Barrhead United Church worship service. Thank you for joining us, whether you’re here in person or at home.

Today we come to worship and praise our Creator. All are invited to this time of worship and learning, teaching and praising. Let our praises ring! Let the nations sing! We are all God’s creations and we are all welcomed with open hearts and joy.

Call to worship
What can separate us from the love of Christ?
For God is with us in the sunshine and in our joy,
encouraging our energy, inspiring our delight.
For God is with us in the storms and distress,
holding us close, keeping us strong.
For God is with us now,
receiving our prayers, accepting our praise, loving us always.
For God is with us, as we unite in worship and proclaim the love of Christ.
Gill Le Fevre, Walton Memorial U.C., Oakville, Ont.

Hymn: Spirit of the Living God VU 376
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OBMQ-txAg4&list=RD3OBMQ-txAg4&start_radio=1

Land Acknowledgement
We are a treaty and covenant people. We acknowledge, with respect, the
Neihyaw, Stoney-Nakoda, Sioux and Anishinabee First Nations, their history,
spirituality, culture and ways of knowing. We recognize our responsibility as
signatories to Treaty Six to live with respect on this land and in peace and
friendship with its people.
We acknowledge the continuing injustice and commit ourselves to seeking right relations with all the First Peoples of Canada.
May the Creator’s wisdom work within us toward mending the torn tapestry of this land.

Lighting of the Christ Candle
We light this candle as a visible reminder that we are committed to working toward creative change in the world.
We turn to the Christ light as we worship with a spirit of love.
Christine LeBlanc, East End United Regional Ministry, Toronto, Ont.

Opening Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit,
break into our world, for we need you.
Come, O Holy Spirit,
dance your way into the corners of our lives where we are overwhelmed and angered by the tragedy, injustice, and horrors unfolding in this world, where we are grieving, questioning, wondering, and waiting.
Caress us with your comfort.
Mend our broken spirits.
Tickle us with your joy.
Inspire us with God’s vision.
Come, O Holy Spirit.
We need you. The world needs you. Amen.
Susan Lukey, High River, Alta.

Prayer of Confession (Psalm 116)
I love you, God, because you heard my voice when I made supplication,
because you turned your ear to me,
when I called upon your name.
Then cords of death entangled me,
and the pangs of the Grave laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called upon the name of God:
“O God, I pray, save my life.”

How can I repay you, God,
for all the good things you have done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
and call upon the name of God.
I will pay my vows in the presence of all God’s people.

Precious in the sight of God is the death of the saints.
O God, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your maidservant.
You have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call upon the name of God.
And will pay my vows to God in the presence of all God’s people,
in the courts of the house of God, in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Words of Assurance
Listen! I have something to say! Our past is behind us. We are free to live new lives, be new people, to try again to be who God intends us to be. Rejoice! I say again, rejoice!
Thanks be to God

Passing of the Peace
As the early disciples learned from Jesus, let us join together in the ancient ritual of the passing of the peace saying to each other:
The peace of Christ be with you
And also, with you

As we gather ourselves together once again, let us prepare to continue our worship as we join our hearts together and pray.

Hymn: Love Divine, all loves excelling VU 333

Prayer of illumination
O God, open our hearts and minds, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that as the scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear what you are saying to us today. Amen.

Scripture
Matthew 9:35-10:8 (NTL)

The Need for Workers
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil[a] spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles:
first, Simon (also called Peter),
then Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James (son of Zebedee),
John (James’s brother),
3 Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew (the tax collector),
James (son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,[b]
4 Simon (the zealot[c]),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[d] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

This is the word of God’s people for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.

Meditation
Video to play after introduction:
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxEDi-ygAdU&t=7s

Hymn: Christ as no body now but yours MV 171

Minute for Mission: Making Joyful Noise
Throughout scripture, music is part of how people express joy, hope, grief, and praise. From the Psalms to songs of celebration and courage, music has long helped people connect with God, one another, and themselves.
At First-St. Andrew’s United Church in London, Ontario, two music programs, the “Treblemakers” and “Reverberations” programs, help children and youth discover that same gift today.
For many young people, music is more than something to listen to. It can build confidence, reduce stress, strengthen learning skills, and create a sense of belonging. But as the cost of living continues to rise, many families are finding it harder to afford opportunities like music lessons, instruments, or arts programs for their children.
First-St. Andrew’s music programs help to ensure young people do not miss out.
Open to children and youth aged 3 to 17, the weekly programs offer a welcoming space where participants can explore music, creativity, and community together for a low fee. Each gathering begins with a shared meal, providing nourishment before children move into activities like singing, handbells, chimes, and drama.
The impact goes far beyond learning notes or rhythms.
Programs like Treblemakers and Reverberations help young people develop confidence by trying new things and performing together. They encourage teamwork, creativity, and self-expression while offering a safe place and a reliable meal. Music also supports cognitive development, memory, focus, and emotional well-being—benefits that can shape a child’s growth.
For some families, programs like this may be among the few accessible extracurricular opportunities available to their children. By lowering financial barriers and creating an inclusive environment, First-St. Andrew’s aims to ensure every child has the chance to grow and shine.
In a world where many young people are carrying stress, isolation, or uncertainty, spaces of creativity and belonging matter deeply. Through music, meals, laughter, and shared experiences, children and youth are discovering not only new skills, but also confidence, friendship, and joy.
Through Mission and Service, we support communities and ministries that nurture young people in body, mind, and spirit. Together, we are helping create spaces where children and youth can discover their gifts, build confidence, and know they belong. Make your gift to Mission and Service today.

Invitation to offering
We are always looking for volunteer help with our church community. For those who are technologically-inclined, we need someone to run the PowerPoint each Sunday. You can speak with Steve Lyster about helping out with that.
For those who don’t mind public speaking, you can sign up for weekly scripture and Minute for Mission readings on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary. You can contact the office if you’d like to be added to the roster for our weekly greeters; all you need is a warm smile.

Those who would like to share their musical talents with us can contact Lisa
Gehring for more information or join the choir that meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM starting in the fall. Anyone willing to volunteer their time in other ways can speak with Margaret Osbourne or Florette Measures.

For monetary donations, methods available to you for this type of gift include the offering plate in the entryway. For those who find it easier to give electronically, pre-authorized remittance is available; contact Kristin at the office for more information on how to set that up.

For those of you joining us from home, please select the “Help Us” button at the top right of our website for more information on how to help us with your gifts after the service has concluded.

Prayer of Invitation

Our offering today, and every day, is an act of love. We give from what we have and as we are able; but always, we give in hope and faith and love.
- Gill Le Fevre, Walton Memorial U.C., Oakville ON

Offertory Hymn: For the Gift of Creation VU 538

Prayers of the People
Let us offer our prayers of intercession and concern
for all those in need:
Let us remember those who suffer from illness,
from the pain of memory,
from torture, from victimization,
especially for those hurt by the church or its members.
Let us pray for those who are outcast,
or in prison, or oppressed,
Let us pray for those who are hungry, or homeless, or poor,
and those who are unemployed or exploited.
Let us pray for the coming of justice in the world,
offering what we have and receiving what we need
of the earth’s beauty.
Let us pray for peace that is a just reconciliation.
Let us pray for the earth on which we walk
and to which we will one day return.
And let us offer our own petitions,
trusting in God’s wisdom and compassion.
God hears the prayers of the faithful,
and in their arms we find safe harbour and understanding.
Amen.
-Silence-

Lord’s Prayer
Our Breathing Life, who art in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil
for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
Now and forever. Amen.

Upcoming Worship
June 21 – Roger Manuel
June 28 – Lisa Gehring

General Givings Income
2026 Goal ~ $100,000.00
YTD ~ $40,006
Last week’s General Givings ~ $450
M&S YTD ~ $6,030

Refreshments will be served after worship.
All are welcome!

Announcements
« Int. Minister Danny Fontaine’s contact information, Email: [email protected] Phone: 780-284-5906
(for Pastoral Care Emergencies, please continue to contact Roger @ 780-305-6114)
« June 14 – UCW is hosting a Strawberry Tea/Cake Celebration after service. Free-will donations to benefit the continued efforts of our UCW; upon which our church community relies greatly.
« June 17 – BUC Board Meeting @ 7:00
« Thank you, Jan Pype, for folding our bulletins

Praise and Prayer List
Thanks be to God for prayers answered.

Please Keep in Your Prayers:

Leslie Penny Margaret Krikke
Elaine Toma Adrien & Sue Dupuis
Family of Anne McLoed Jeanne Bozak

Continue to pray for:
-Those affected by Mental Health Concerns
-Residents of Long-Term Care and Lodges
-Grieving Families in our Community
-All Victims of Violence
-Survivors of Residential Schools
-For all Churches, Local, National and Worldwide

World Council of Churches-Ecumenical Prayer Cycle:
Botswana & Zimbabwe

Closing Hymn One More Step Along the World I Go VU 639

Commissioning
Beloved people of God, may we leave this place filled with courage and integrity.
May we know God’s abiding presence with us.
May we reflect the Spirit of love to whomever we meet.
May we persevere even in challenging situations, knowing that Jesus travels with us.
We are blessed in the name of the Creator, Son, and Spirit. Amen.
Susan Girard, Riverview U.C., Atikokan, Ont.

Blessing
May the grace of God,
deeper than our imagination;
the strength of Christ,
stronger than our need;
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
richer than our togetherness;
guide and sustain us today
and in all our tomorrows.

Hymn: Peace Be with You MV 215

Two by two, the disciples carry out Jesus’ mission to heal, cast ou...

06/11/2026

Our bible studies are on hold for the Summer, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement when they restart this fall!
In - Person bible study happens Tuesday at 9:30am.
❤

06/10/2026

Different kind of stream, but similar in the fact that we're here every Sunday.
Join in person, live on the internet or later on our YouTube channel.
See you Sundays at 10 am.
www.barrheadunited.org/live
❤

06/10/2026

Rejoice in Hope!
June 7, 2026
Meditation by Reverend Kimberly Roy

TAH-nih-see. NEE-yah, "She Who Threads Light"
My Spirit name is “She who threads light.” Thank you for having me here today.
I’m Reverend Kimberly Roy and it is an honor and privilege to be with you folks today.
I live on the historic Metis Settlement of Marlboro, half way between Jasper and Edmonton in Alberta.
I serve the lovely people of Goodfish United Church on Whitefish Lake Reserve in Northern Alberta.
We gather on Treaty 6 Territory and within the Métis District of Athabasca Landing, District 20. These are the traditional and ancestral lands of many Indigenous Peoples, including the Cree, Dene, Nakota, Sioux, Saulteaux, and Métis peoples whose relationships with this land continue today.
Across the regions of Hazel Bluff, Westlock, Jarvie, Barrhead, Athabasca, Whitecourt, and Fort McMurray, the land stretches through the transition between prairie, parkland, and boreal forest. Aspen groves shimmer in the wind beside open pasture and grain fields where many of my people’s relics and treasures have been found.
Muskeg, wetlands, and peatbogs hold water beneath the moss and willow. Long northern rivers carve through the land, carrying stories and life across generations.
These communities are connected through the watersheds of the Athabasca, Pembina, Paddle, and Lesser Slave river systems—waters that flow through coulees, creeks, lakes, and river valleys, sustaining fish, wildlife, migration routes, medicines, and human communities since time immemorial.
The Athabasca River itself has long been a corridor of travel, trade, gathering, and cultural connection for Indigenous Peoples throughout the region.
The cry of Sandhill cranes overhead, the movement of elk through the tree line, the northern lights over winter fields, and the sound of spring runoff through poplar-lined creeks remind us that this land is alive with relationship and responsibility.
We acknowledge with gratitude the deep care, knowledge, and stewardship Indigenous Peoples have cared for these territories and waters across countless generations.
As members of The United Church of Canada, we recognize that acknowledgement alone is not enough. We are called to live into right relationship with Indigenous Peoples, to honour the Calls to the Church, the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. If you have not yet read these three documents, I strongly encourage you to do so.
We are called to listen deeply, learn continuously, act with humility, and work toward justice, healing, and reconciliation.
May this acknowledgement move beyond words toward meaningful action, respectful relationships, shared responsibility, and ongoing care for the lands, waters, and peoples who sustain life now and for generations yet to come.
Meegwetch, thank you.

Teachable moment -
There are 2 different land acknowledgements churches make-
1. can be done by an indigenous person - blue - its like a welcome to our land and area.
2. should be done by a settler person. Indigenous people should not be talking about the responsibility of UCC people to them. - what is the community of faith, church etc going to do to support reconciliation.
Please call or email me if you or your church would like more information. [email protected]

Rejoice in Hope based on Romans 12:9–17
Let us take a few moments to settle our hearts. First, take a deep breath...
Let us take another deep breath to leave behind the stresses we brought with us, even if its just for one hour.
And finally, let us take a final, slow, deep breathe to prepare to hear God’s whispers to our heart.
Friends, relatives, all my relations, thank you for gathering today.
From farms, small towns, river valleys, and gravel roads, we come together as one circle. The fact that we gather at all is already an act of hope.
We know the realities of rural Alberta:
Communities of faith getting smaller. Finances tighter.
Young people moving away. Communities grieving losses.
Leaders exhausted.
And many wondering, “What will become of us?”
Into this very real struggle comes today’s teaching:
Rejoice in hope.
Not “rejoice after things get better,”
Not “rejoice when the church is full,” but right now—in the middle of this beautiful uncertainty.
Paul writes in Romans 12:9–17:
Let love be genuine. Hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with mutual affection.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Live in harmony… Do not repay evil for evil…
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
These words are not just instructions—they are medicine for the heart and soul. And they echo deeply with Indigenous teachings.
In many Indigenous cultures, hope is not a feeling—it is a relationship.
Hope comes from the land, our ancestors, the community, and Creator.
It’s something we live, not something we wait for.
Elders often say, “Hope is a circle.”
Because hope is carried by many hands.
No one person can hold it alone, no matter how hard many of us try.
Paul says, “Love one another… outdo one another in showing honor.”
This is exactly what Indigenous communities have practiced for generations, a way of life where each person’s strength supports the whole circle.
Hope grows faster and stronger when relationships are tended to.
In our small rural communities of faith, hope will not come from a strategic plan alone or a new program although, those help if created together; community not corporately.
Hope comes from how you treat one another, how you show up for each other, how you keep walking together even when the long dusty path, down the dark windy road gets tough.
I have sat in church sanctuaries and basements where there were many more empty chairs than people.
I have attended meetings where long-time faithful volunteers wondered whether there was enough energy left for just one more year.
Yet, I have also watched those same communities show up with casseroles, prayer shawls, and quiet acts of kindness that never make the news. And every time I see it, I think “Hope is still alive and well here, with these people, in this place.”
Indigenous teachings don’t shy away from hard truths.
Communities face loss, colonization, trauma, lateral violence and change with courage because they name things honestly.
Paul says, “Be patient in suffering.”
He does not say, “Pretend everything is okay and put those rose-coloured glasses on for all of eternity.”
To rejoice in hope, does not mean forcing ourselves to be cheerful.
It means honouring the truth of what we feel and believing our story is not over yet. And miraculously, many stories have yet to be written.
Hope is not a denial of suffering; it is a refusal to be defined by it.
Think of the teachings of the Buffalo.
For many Indigenous nations, the buffalo represents strength, endurance, and providence.
When a storm comes, buffalo turn toward it and walk straight into the howling winds, rain and snow.
Because moving into the storm gets you through it faster.
Hope faces reality. It doesn’t run away. It walks straight into the wind with tenacity and hope.

Rural communities of faith across Canada are doing exactly that… showing up, holding worship, maintaining relationships, praying for one another, helping neighbours, even when numbers are small and energy is low, with great care and perseverance.
This determination is itself a testimony, a true picture of who you want to be in the world.
Hope is still alive in each one of our communities. Hope will grow bigger and brighter than we could imagine if we continue to show up for each other and know that hope is not a denial of suffering, it is a refusal to be defined by it.
Paul tells the early church:
“Contribute to the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.”
Indigenous communities have always understood hospitality as a spiritual act, their way of being in the world in a good way.
Visitors are welcomed with food, a seat at the fire, a place in the circle.
Not because there is extra but because sharing keeps the community alive and well.
Hope grows when generosity grows.
In a world that tells us to protect what little we have left, Paul and Indigenous teachings both tell us:
Share. Give. Open our doors. Welcome the stranger.
Because hope multiplies when it is given away.
Sometimes rural churches think, “We don’t have much to offer” but each of you are so rich. Your communities of faith have so much to offer the world:
A warm welcome. A loving community.
A place where someone can be known by name.
A prayer that can hold tenderly someone who is grieving.
A meal served with kindness and compassion.
A place where a lonely person feels seen and safe.
These are seeds of hope my friends, and they are powerful.
Paul writes, “Live in harmony with one another… do not be haughty… if it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

This echoes the Indigenous teaching of Walking Softly — treating others, the land, and ourselves with, care, humility and respect.
Hope is not loud. Hope is not aggressive.
Hope walks softly, listens deeply, and acts with kindness always.
This will be hard for some of us to hear….
Peace in our hearts, minds and communities of faith begins with small things: the way we greet one another on Sunday, how we speak and treat each other in meetings both inside and outside the church, how we listen deeply, EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE, how we let go of old resentments and make space for new relationships and new possibilities.
If we want our communities and congregations to thrive, we must choose harmony not because it’s easy but because it is the soil where hope and community grow.
Indigenous communities think in generations…, seven generations behind us & seven generations ahead.
Hope is never just about us. It is about those who will walk here long after we are gone.
The small rural congregations carry sacred responsibilities: to pass on faith, wisdom, reconciliation, and radical love.
When our communities keep gathering, when we keep praying, when we teach children the stories of Jesus and the stories of the land, we are planting seeds that will bear fruit for many years.
Hope is not always immediate but it is always generational.
There is another teaching from the land that speaks to this passage from Romans.
Every spring, after a long Alberta winter, something remarkable happens. The ground that appeared frozen and lifeless begins to awaken. Tiny shoots emerge from the earth. Trees begin to bud. Birds return. The rivers begin to move again.
If we looked only at the winter landscape, we might assume life was gone.
But beneath the snow, Creator is still always at work.
The roots were still alive. The seeds were still waiting. The promise of spring was already hidden beneath the surface.
Hope often works the same way. Sometimes we cannot see what God is doing. Sometimes we look around our congregations and wonder if anything is growing.
We see empty pews where beloved friends and family once sat.
We see aging buildings that require more care than we can afford.
We see fewer volunteers and more responsibilities.
Yet beneath the surface, Creator is still working.
A conversation that changes someone's life.
A child who learns that they are loved where they are at on life’s journey.
A neighbour who receives kindness during a difficult season.
A prayer offered quietly that strengthens a weary heart.
These things may seem small, but they are signs of spring.
Creator has always been able to bring new life from places that seem barren.
The resurrection itself teaches us this truth.
The disciples believed the story was ending on Good Friday.
Instead, Creator was preparing Easter morning.
Whenever we think something is ending, Creator may be preparing a new beginning that we cannot yet see.
That is why Paul tells us to hold fast to what is good.
Not because life is easy.
Certainly Not because the future is certain.
But because Creator remains faithful.
Many Indigenous teachings remind us that beauty and struggle often travel together. The sweetest berries grow after the harshest winters. The strongest trees survive powerful storms. The most experienced Elders carry stories of hardship and resilience. The deepest wisdom often comes from people who have walked through the most difficult valleys.
This is why hope is sacred. Hope is not naïve optimism. Hope is wisdom born from experience. Hope remembers every challenge Creator has already carried us through. Hope remembers that our ancestors survived things that seemed impossible. Hope remembers that Christ walked through suffering and emerged Easter Morning and hope whispers to us today:
"If Creator was faithful before, Creator will be faithful again."
As rural communities of faith, we know something about faithfulness. We know what it means to clear snow before worship, what it means to drive long distances to visit a neighbour or the next clergy far down the road. And we know what it means to keep showing up year after year because community matters to each one of us.
These acts may seem ordinary but they are sacred.
Every time we gather, every time we pray, every time we care for one another, we are becoming living witnesses to hope, we are showing the world that faithfulness still matters, we are teaching future generations that community is worth showing up for and we are proclaiming through your actions that Creator's story is still unfolding.
That, friends, is something worth rejoicing in
So, what does it mean today to “Rejoice in Hope”?
It means: look honestly at what is hard and believe with every fiber of our being, that God is not finished with us. Care for one another because hope is carried in community. Keep practicing generosity and hospitality for they are the heartbeat of hope. Walk softly and live peaceably because hope thrives where peace is planted. Think of the next generations and trust that your faithfulness today shapes their tomorrow.
My friends, hope is not something we wait for, it is something we practice.
And when we practice it, we rejoice in it.
Because hope is not an emotion.
It is a way of walking softly together……a way of living harmoniously.
Always remember, Hope is something we live, not something we wait for.
Let us Rejoice in Hope together! Meegwetch, Thank you.

Reverend Kimberly Roy