Prayer of Henri Nouwen

Here is a prayer of Henri J. M. Nouwen, to reflect on, to meditate on, to pray, and make it your own this week. See some reflection questions at the bottom of this post.

A Prayer of Henri J.M. Nouwen:

Listen, O Lord, to my prayers. Listen to my desire to be with you, to dwell in your house, and to let my whole being be filled with your presence. But none of this is possible without you. When you are not the one who fills me, I am soon filled with endless thoughts and concerns that divide me and tear me away from you. Even thoughts about you, good spiritual thoughts, can be little more than distractions when you are not their author.

O Lord, thinking about you, being fascinated with theological ideas and discussions, being excited about histories of Christian spirituality and stimulated by thoughts and ideas about prayer and meditation, all of this can be as much an expression of greed as the unruly desire for food, possessions, or power.

Every day I see again that only you can teach me to pray, only you can set my heart at rest, only you can let me dwell in your presence. No book, no idea, no concept or theory will ever bring me close to you unless you yourself are the one who lets these instruments become the way to you.

But Lord, let me at least remain open to your initiative; let me wait patiently and attentively for that hour when you will come and break through all the walls I have erected. Teach me, O Lord, to pray. Amen.
— From A Cry for Mercy, by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Reflection:

  • Behold — Where are the eyes of your heart drawn into this prayer?
  • Believe — How is your faith strengthened in this prayer?
  • Belong — Who are you recalling as you pray this prayer?
  • Become — What is God inviting you to receive and thereby become as you pray this prayer?

Reading the Sermon on the Mount

On Sunday mornings we are looking at the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12).
This is the first part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) which is Jesus’ first major teaching in the gospels.

We are encouraging you to read and meditate on the Beatitudes each week.

We are also encouraging you to read the entire Sermon on the Mount, and at least once to read it out loud. You can have the text read to you here.

Why read the text out loud?

  • The text of Scripture was originally read aloud, in the synagogue and in the early church gatherings.
  • In reading the Bible out loud, we slow down.
  • And in slowing down, we hear the whole text. We don’t skip over sections that we are familiar with.
  • When we read things out loud, we emphasize what we say. When we process the pronunciation of words and the articulation of sentences in spoken form, we consider not only what we say, but how we say it.

Let me encourage you to read the Sermon on the Mount out loud, ideally in one session. While there is great value in looking at individual words and phrases and verses, it is also important to see the flow of the entire passage.

July 25 | Blessed are the meek

welcome

Ontario is now in Step 3 of re-opening, which means we are allowed more people in our auditorium, as long as we maintain physical distancing. As more people receive both vaccination shots, more people will be gathering for worship in our building.

A reminder of a few details

  • You still need to register… the link is available each week on the home page.
  • We need to maintain distancing in our building.
  • We need to still wear a face-covering in our building.
  • At this point, we cannot serve refreshments, but you are welcome to bring your own coffee/tea/water. For the comfort of others, please do not remove your face-covering and drink until you are in your seat.

We will continue to offer our service on-line.

As opportunities increase for us to meet: at OCC, in backyards, and on patios, let’s remember that not everyone feels comfortable with that (often because of some underlying health reasons).

Even more importantly, let’s remember that…

  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to be different and live differently in our world;
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to live lives that are filled with and empowered by God’s Spirit;
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to be signposts and movie trailers, pointing to what the Jesus life is like.
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to live in Christ, free to love, free to be kingdom people.

As you prepare to watch our service video, we encourage you to take a few moments…

  • get your coffee or tea, settle in, be still…
  • take 2 or 3 deep breaths… in and out… breathe,
  • invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that often we are not aware that he is,
  • Read Matthew 5:1-12 as come to the service together.

teaching

Here is the service for Sunday, 25 July.
We are in a series on The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12.
Today pastor Brent looks at the third beatitude: blessed are the meek.

A reminder you can send your questions to mike@occweb.org. We will be having some Q & A during this series

 

 

 

 

OCCkids is meeting in person this week

prayer

Join us tonight from 6:30pm – 7:30pm as we pray together for one another, our city, our world.
  • We need to pray for Uganda – on a 42 day lockdown.
  • We also want to pray for Canada – there are important decisions being made

zoom prayer link
https://zoom.us/j/99544541247?pwd=cU9idG1RNzB3bjdZS3RUdThOalQydz09
Meeting ID: 995 4454 1247
Passcode: 4LKzLR

Baptism

OCCKids & Youth

giving

In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.

Prayer of St Patrick

Here is a prayer of Patrick, to reflect on, to meditate on, to pray, and make it your own this week. See some reflection questions at the bottom of this post.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on the cross for my salvation.
His bursting from the spiced tomb;
His riding up the heav’nly way;
His coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet “Well done” in judgment hour;
The service of the seraphim:
Confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
The patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heav’n,
The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heav’nly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Amen.

— St. Patrick

Reflection:

  • Behold — Where are the eyes of your heart drawn into this prayer?
  • Believe — How is your faith strengthened in this prayer?
  • Belong — Who are you recalling as you pray this prayer?
  • Become — What is God inviting you to receive and thereby become as you pray this prayer?

July 18 | Blessed are those who mourn

welcome

Ontario is now in Step 3 of re-opening, which means we are allowed more people in our auditorium, as long as we maintain physical distancing. As more people receive both vaccination shots, more people will be gathering for worship in our building.

A reminder of a few details

  • You still need to register… the link is available each week on the home page.
  • We need to maintain distancing in our building.
  • We need to still wear a face-covering in our building.
  • At this point, we cannot serve refreshments, but you are welcome to bring your own coffee/tea/water. For the comfort of others, please do not remove your face-covering and drink until you are in your seat.

We will continue to offer our service on-line.

As opportunities increase for us to meet: at OCC, in backyards, and on patios, let’s remember that not everyone feels comfortable with that (often because of some underlying health reasons).

Even more importantly, let’s remember that…

  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to be different and live differently in our world;
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to live lives that are filled with and empowered by God’s Spirit;
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to be signposts and movie trailers, pointing to what the Jesus life is like.
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to live in Christ, free to love, free to be kingdom people.

As you prepare to watch our service video, we encourage you to take a few moments…

  • get your coffee or tea, settle in, be still…
  • take 2 or 3 deep breaths… in and out… breathe,
  • invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that often we are not aware that he is,
  • Read Matthew 5:1-12 as come to the service together.

teaching

Here is the service for Sunday, 18 July.
We are in a series on The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12.
Today we look at the second beatitude: blessed are those who mourn.

.

OCCkids is meeting in person this week

prayer

Join us tonight from 6:30pm – 7:30pm as we pray together for one another, our city, our world.
  • We need to pray for Uganda – on a 42 day lockdown.
  • We also want to pray for Canada – there are important decisions being made

zoom prayer link
https://zoom.us/j/99544541247?pwd=cU9idG1RNzB3bjdZS3RUdThOalQydz09
Meeting ID: 995 4454 1247
Passcode: 4LKzLR

Baptism

OCCKids & Youth

giving

In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.

Step 3 of Re-Opening

As of today – 16 July 2021 – Ontario enters Step 3 of its re-opening plan.

Here is some of what this means for OCC:

  • we still need contact tracing – that’s why you still need to register
  • we still need to wear a face covering indoors
  • we are allowed more people, as long as we maintain physical distancing between groups
  • outdoor gatherings can now be up to 100 people

 

 

Prayer of Charles de Foucauld

Here is a prayer of Charles de Foucauld, to reflect on, to meditate on, to pray, and make it your own this week. See some reflection questions at the bottom of this post.

A Prayer of Charles de Foucauld

Father, I abandon myself into your hands.
Do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me
And in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart
For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
To surrender myself into your hands, without reserve
And with boundless confidence,
For you are my Father.

— Charles de Foucauld

Reflection:

  • Behold — Where are the eyes of your heart drawn into this prayer?
  • Believe — How is your faith strengthened in this prayer?
  • Belong — Who are you recalling as you pray this prayer?
  • Become — What is God inviting you to receive and thereby become as you pray this prayer?

Family Nights

This summer we are hosting Family Nights that we invite you to join in on.
These Family Nights are open to all of our OCCKids and OCCYouth families.
We will have a couple of different soccer games happening where we will separate the kids and the youth.

These Family Nights will take place at Lions Oval Public School and will begin at 6:30pm.

  • Our first one will take place on Tuesday, July 13th.
  • The other dates are July 27, August 10 and August 24.

July 11 | Beatitudes | Poor in Spirit

welcome

We are now meeting in-person at 25% capacity as well as on-line (we will continue to offer our service on-line).

As opportunities increase for us to meet: at OCC, in backyards, and on patios, let’s remember that not everyone feels comfortable with that (often because of some underlying health reasons).

Even more importantly, let’s remember that…

  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to be different and live differently in our world;
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to live lives that are filled with and empowered by God’s Spirit;
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to be signposts and movie trailers, pointing to what the Jesus life is like.
  • as followers of Jesus,
    we are called and equipped to live in Christ, free to love, free to be kingdom people.

As you prepare to watch our service video, we encourage you to take a few moments…

  • get your coffee or tea, settle in, be still…
  • take 2 or 3 deep breaths… in and out… breathe,
  • invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that often we are not aware that he is,
  • Read Matthew 5:1-12 as come to the service together.

teaching

Here is the service for Sunday, 11 July.
We are beginning a series on The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12.
Today we look at the first beatitude: blessed are the poor in spirit.


.

OCCkids is meeting in person this week

prayer

Join us tonight from 6:30pm – 7:30pm as we pray together for one another, our city, our world.
  • We need to pray for Uganda – on a 42 day lockdown.
  • We also want to pray for Canada – there are important decisions being made

zoom prayer link
https://zoom.us/j/99544541247?pwd=cU9idG1RNzB3bjdZS3RUdThOalQydz09
Meeting ID: 995 4454 1247
Passcode: 4LKzLR

Partnership

Baptism

OCCKids & Youth

giving

In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.

  • Many give online – etransfer or paypal
  • Others mail or drop off cheques

You can find all the ways you can give here.

prayer of John Wesley

Here is a prayer of John Wesley, to reflect on, to meditate on, to pray, and make it your own this week. See some reflection questions at the bottom of this post.

A Covenant Prayer

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven.  Amen.

— John Wesley

Reflection:

  • Behold — Where are the eyes of your heart drawn into this prayer?
    Believe — How is your faith strengthened in this prayer?
    Belong — Who are you recalling as you pray this prayer?
    Become — What is God inviting you to receive and thereby become as you pray this prayer?