Today’s service will be offered in 2 formats – video and text.
• View the video below
• download and print the service from this document – link
For the latest news and updates from Walton, please check our Facebook page, Instagram and website. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for videos of service, the choirs and more!
Please contact office@waltonmemorial.com if you would like to be added to our email list.
• Virtual Annual General Meeting – Walton’s Annual General Meeting will take place virtually via Zoom on Sunday, February 27th at 12:15 pm. Please watch your inbox on Friday, Feb 11 for an important email containing the meeting agenda, step-by-step instructions for joining the meeting, a link to the 2021 Annual Report, and instructions for those requiring a printed copy of the Annual Report.
• Looking for accessibility equipment? – We have had quite a few gently-used items dropped off at the church, which have been cleaned and disinfected, and are ready to be used again. We have walkers, toilet extenders, a bedrail, shower chair, and more, and would love to lend them to you if needed. Please contact the church office.
• Sam’s Lady Rose Relish and Sam’s Bread & Butter Pickles (a very limited quantity) are available for purchase at $5.00 each from the church office.
• Mike’s award winning marmalade is now available for purchase at $5.00 each from the church office.
• Walton’s 2022 givings envelopes are available for pickup. You are invited to drop by the church and ring the doorbell and we will bring your box out to you during the week.
• Children and youth are invited to view this week’s virtual Sunday School lesson online. We continue our study of things in the Bible that make you go “Ewwwwww!.”
• Walton’s prayer chain is open. Confidential prayers requests can be sent to office@waltonmemorial.com
• If you need Rev. Jim for a pastoral emergency, please email him directly at jamescgillwuc@gmail.com.
Halton Region, as we know it today, is rich in the history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the Métis. From the lands of the Anishinabe to the Attawandaron, the Haudenosaunee, and the Métis, these lands surrounding the Great Lakes are steeped in Indigenous history. As we gather today on these treaty lands, we are in solidarity with Indigenous brothers and sisters to honour and respect the four directions, lands, waters, plants, animals and ancestors that walked before us, and all of the wonderful elements of creation that exist. We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for being stewards of this traditional territory.
Welcome to Walton United Church’s virtual service today. Here we are on Bronte Creek, a little frozen over this time of the year. It is just gorgeous, this beautiful sunny day. I’m surprised I don’t see anyone out here fishing today?
Well there have been people out here fishing, they actually have parked in the church parking lot and walked over to fish.
That’s cool, and are they fishing for fish? (And being very careful to go out only when it is frozen solid!)
Yes they are fishing for fish through holes in the ice, but our message today is about another type of fishing.
Yes, fishing for people, boys and girls, men and women. Fishing for everyone!
Today, we welcome everyone to this virtual service. Let us join together in the Call to Worship.
One:We come electronically, virtually today, but are gathered, yearning, seeking, anticipating.
All:We come yearning for teaching. We come seeking wholeness in our brokenness.We come anticipating connection by Spirit weaving.
One:We come with confidence and courage by following the Way of Jesus.
All:We come like a tossed salad of variety – different histories, different geographies, different ages, different abilities, different perspectives – but we come together as one.
One:In our unity and in our wonder, we come in worship and in prayer.
(adapted Gord Dunbar, The Gathering A/C/E2021/22)
One:Loving God, we yearn to be your faithful disciples.
All: We lift our hearts to you, O God.
One:We come with our fears, our secret thoughts, our longings, our hidden selves.
All:We lift our hearts to you, O God.
One:We ask for courage and strength to embrace new beginnings in our lives.
All:We lift our hearts to you, O God.
One:Keep us close in your sacred covenant of love and grace.
All:We lift our hearts to you, O God.
One:Help us share our gospel message of love and hope,
All:As fishers of people who have answered Jesus’ call.
Amen.
(adapted Barbara Johns, The Gathering A/C/E2021/22)
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, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Caution: Do not go on the ice in Bronte Marsh without first checking the thickness of the ice for safety.
Val:What a great day to be out fishing.
Alison: You know I don’t like winter activities and being outside in the winter, but this is nice. Hey, guess what? I caught a fish! Have you caught anything yet Val?
Val:I think I have a nibble…. What? I caught something, but this isn’t a fish. I think it’s a person! Hey, this is like the scripture in the Bible that talks about fishing for people.
Alison: Val, show our friends at home. You caught a person? Like the Bible tells us, many of the disciples Jesus called were fishermen. He told them to become fishers of men instead. Jesus wanted them to catch people. He wanted them to become followers of Jesus, to become Christians. Don’t you feel special that you caught a person? You know, we can all be fishers of people because we can share the good news about Jesus.
Val:Yeah, I caught a person. We are called to catch people; maybe that could be by sharing the service with someone, or asking someone to come to a service, or asking Jesus to live in your heart. Sharing God’s love with one another.
Alison: I know you are all so good at that, sharing God’s love to one another everyday.
Val: Shall we say a word of prayer?
Loving God, help me to be a fisher of people, and help my friends be fishers of people too. Let us help build your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus’ name we pray. A……..men.
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore.Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Have you ever realized that everyone can teach you something? I mean everyone. You may need to be patient, to listen, to observe and to reflect, but everyone knows something that can teach us an important lesson for living.
One of my mentors uses the expression, “Here’s what I know.” When I actually listen,, I often learn an important life lesson. Often it is our friends who can teach us the most in life. They know us and can offer lessons that are so critical for us to learn, if we just open our ears and hearts.
However, the danger is wanting to impress others with what we know rather than being open to hearing what others know. I don’t know about you but, I find it so frustrating watching a serious news show where the person being interviewed can never get a word in, for the interviewer keeps interrupting the special guest with what they know.
Today I continue my series of messages entitled, “Here’s what I know” about life lessons for us in these early days of 2022.
Have you ever gone ice fishing? For many fishers today it is no longer done from a cold wooden hut over a hole in the ice. There are fishing huts with La-Z-Boys, wi-fi, fridges, microwaves, Netflix and generators to power it all. While there was no ice fishing in the Holy Land, back in Jesus’ day fishing was no pleasure, but was instead gruelling manual labour done out in the hot sun or dark overnights on the Sea of Galilee.
Did you know part of Bronte’s roots are as a fishing village? I am standing here in Bronte Harbour at the Fishermen’s Memorial. This is the place where, in living memory of many locals, there were fishing huts all along this side of Bronte Harbour. Now we see people and dogs taking a stroll on lovely days. walking up and down where wooden huts full of nets and equipment were once stored.
Here’s what I know: Many members of Walton Church, both past and present, have roots as Bronte fishing families working hard to make a living long before Bronte became a tourist village. In earlier days Walton Church literally had fishers in the pews.
Let me ask, have you ever hired anyone for a job? You know that going through resumes and interviews is one of the most important tasks any organization can ever do. The right hire can be a blessing. The wrong hire can be a nightmare. Today our reading is focused on what is known as the call of the disciples.
Jesus did not go through any formal hiring process. Jesus went to those he wanted and called them to be his disciples. You know Jesus still does that, calling you and me. Even when we do not expect it, and may not even be interested, Jesus calls us. Being a fisher was a common denominator among many of Jesus’ first 12 disciples. They went from fishing for seafood to fishing for men, women, boys and girls to walk in the steps of Jesus.
This biblical call story tells of fishing all night with no catch. Jesus compels the fishers to try letting down their nets again. Jesus says that with you and me too. “Try again. Put out your nets again and again. Give it another go. They listened to Jesus and the catch was so huge their nets nearly broke. This story reminds us to try again. Give it another shot.
Here’s what I know: There is a blessing in perseverance. Stick-to-it-ness changes the catches of our lives. These fishers then responded to the call of Jesus. They became part of the original 12 disciples, charter members, if you will, of the first church. But how are these simple fishers a mere three years later after the ascension of Jesus and the day of Pentecost going to be the ones to go out as Jesus told them to do and change the world?
I am indebted for this succinct overview of the 12 disciples by Paul Tautges in his writing “Common Flawed Vessels.” Here’s what Tautges knows:
“So, whom did Jesus build His entire church upon? Were they men with powerful speaking skills? Were they highly-educated? No. They were just common, ordinary men; men with many flaws.
•Simon, whom He also named Peter, was a fisherman. He was a man of extremes with strong emotions, who “swayed from one position to its opposite” (Hendricksen). At times he trusted Jesus, while other times he doubted. He boldly confessed Jesus as the Christ, but when filled with great fear, denied Him three times. Nevertheless, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit transformed this man into a powerful leader and preacher.
•Andrew followed Jesus first. Then he brought his brother Peter to Jesus. Andrew was also a fisherman.
•James and John were also fishermen. These two were men of fiery personality and nature. Therefore, Jesus called them “Sons of Thunder.” You could probably hear them before they entered a room.
•Philip lived in the same town as Peter and Andrew. He introduced Nathaniel to Jesus. When faced with 5,000 hungry men, Philip lacked trust in the Lord and informed Jesus that there was no way they could find enough money to buy enough bread.
•Bartholomew was also named Nathaniel. He was a bold man who spoke his mind. When he first heard of Jesus, Bartholomew asked Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
•Matthew was a tax collector, the type of person who was hated by most. When Jesus called him, he immediately left his lucrative business to follow Him.
Tautges gives us a sense of these first disciples called by Jesus. They were not the “best and brightest,” but when Jesus acts, lives are changed. Faith and following Jesus can make us all more than we were. Deciding to follow Jesus is not the end but, rather just a beginning. Tautges continues his overview of the 12:
•“Thomas will be forever known as “Doubting Thomas” because he did not immediately believe in Jesus’ resurrection. He was a man of great devotion, but also deep despondency. He experienced a roller-coaster of emotions.
•James, the son of Alphaeus, was also known as “James the Less,” which some interpret as meaning “James small in stature.”
•Simon, who was called the Zealot, was a former member of a terrorist group that spread rebellion against the Roman government.
•Judas, the son of James, was also called Thaddeus. This Judas wanted Jesus to be more public, more in the limelight. He did not appreciate how content Jesus was to fly under the radar.
•Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. This is the infamous Judas, the false disciple who betrayed Jesus. He was a wicked, selfish, and self-serving man. Judas was a lover of money who mocked the gracious gift of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with her perfume. Having surrendered his heart and will to the devil, Judas fulfilled the prophecies of the betrayer who would sell the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver.
Here’s what I know: Jesus is still calling us. You and me. Will we respond and drop our nets and follow?
“In memory of the Bronte Commercial Fishermen who ventured onto the lake in good weather and bad to set and lift their nets to earn a living catching fish. Ciscoes, Herring, Whitefish, Lake Trout. Cleaned at the dockside shanties. Packed in ice and shipped to markets in Toronto, Hamilton and New York City. Twenty-two boats travelled from the harbour at the peak fishing season. As the fish dwindled, so did the boats fishing from Bronte. The last boat left the lake circa early 1950s.”
God’s love frees me to be the person I am without needing to be more attractive, more intelligent, more popular.
God’s love frees me to live in confidence not self-absorbed, but ready to listen and to hear the stories of others.
God’s love frees me to take risks, to surprise even myself with courage, sometimes to fall flat on my face – but always to move on, encouraged by the Spirit.
God’s love frees me to view the world not from the standpoint of wealth gained, or ambition achieved, but from the perspective of relationships lived and human love shared.
God’s love frees me to put my sins behind me, to know that no sin is too great or too small to be left open and healed by the gentle touch of Christ. Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Today we remember and give thanks for Jesus and the seasons of his life
– when he was full of life and hope and possibilities
– when life took him into unknown territory
– when life tested him to the limit
– when, in the depths of his winter, he believed spring would come.
This Epiphany season, we rejoice that his life and all that he lived for all that he believed and taught leads us to see beyond death and darkness and to believe in transformation beyond our imagining.
In his memory, we gather once more around bread and wine – symbols of nourishment, of hospitality, of friendship, and of commitment.
We share this bread and wine today, committing ourselves to be Easter people, people who see beyond the barriers, the pain, the darkness and hard times, people who live in faith, hope and love
in all the seasons of our lives whatever the ups and downs.
We open our eyes, we open our ears, we open our hands, we open our minds, we open our hearts.
We pray for one another: May you love the life within you. May you love the life around you and may you know that a part of everything is here in you.
We pray for ourselves:
May I love the life within me, may I love the life around me and may I know that a part of everything is here in me.
(Source: Michael Morwood)
Lord Jesus Christ, you have invited us to come to this table.
We have come from many places and experiences; we have come with all our differences;
We have come to the place where journeys meet.
You have called us into the heart of God.
The Lord be with you and also with you.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed he told us to prepare a place for him. And then he offered us a sign. A sign of how he would give himself to us to give us new life. He had always loved us, and now he showed us how perfect his love was.
While his disciples were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread in his hands, like this, and he blessed it:
Blessed are you Lord God of all creation; through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
And then he said to them:
This is my body broken for you, do this in remembrance of me.
[Silence.]
And then Jesus took a cup of wine, like this, and gave you thanks:
Blessed are you Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.
And then he said to them: Drink this, all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.
[Silence.]
His disciples did not understand these words; how could they understand? But later they would see Christ’s body broken, his love poured out – his death for us so that we might share his risen life. The life he gave then, he shares with us now.
Lord Jesus Christ, as we do in this place what you did once and for all, breathe your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and wine that they may be heaven’s food, renewing, transforming, sustaining and making us whole, so that we may be your body on earth, loving and caring for your creation, where all are welcome and the poorest are fed.
Bless the earth, heal the sick, let the oppressed go free, and fill each one of us with your love from on high. Gather your people from the ends of the earth to feast at your table with all your saints.
Look, Jesus Christ, the Bread of Heaven, is broken for the life of the world.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Jesus, Bread of life, Bread on the edge, Bread for the world.
(St Martin-in-the-fields)
God of hope, in bread and wine, you have restored us to relationship with you. Show us how to be a people that live your reconciling love in the world, so that we may recognise your presence in those we meet, and our hearts like those first disciples may burn within us upon the road.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Word for us to speak;
You are the Truth for us to tell;
You are the Light for us to light in the darkness.
You are the Bread of Life for us to share.
Now all of us must go out into the world and live God’s love there.
Look for Jesus in the oppressed and burdened.
Look for Jesus in those who have lost hope.
Look for him among the poor in heart.
Among the merciful. Among the peacemakers.
Among the persecuted for the sake of right.
Look for Jesus on the edge. Amen.
(Source: Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral and Attractional Worship, by Samuel Wells)
Life is a blessing from the Divine Creator. As disciples, we are encouraged to be words and actions of the Divine. So, let us come to offer our talents, our skills, and our very being as an offering to do God’s work in the world. Your offering will now be received.
(Jim McKean, The Gathering A/C/E2021/22)
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O God, you have richly blessed us and our nets are filled to overflowing. From our abundance, with thanks we give back to you these offerings we give today. May these gifts bring comfort, hope, healing and forgiveness in these challenging days and times. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Go simply, lightly, gently.
Go with obedience. Go with love.
And the blessing of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever. Amen.
(Source: Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral and Attractional Worship, by Samuel Wells )
This morning on Facebook and on YouTube, we’re sharing a video where Linda shares with us several of our favourite hymns! Sing along!
• Listen God is Calling
• Speak O Lord
• Lord We Hear Your Word with Gladness
• Will You Come and Follow Me
• We are Called
Here is Rev. Jim’s mid-week update for Wednesday, February 2, 2022
