Messiah has been seeking God and serving this neighborhood of Toronto for more than 125 years. We are fresh, informal, and highly engaged. Messiah is the kind of place where the weekly Bible readings are followed by discussion time during services – but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying beautiful music and the fullness of Anglican-style worship.
A VERY SPECIAL WELCOME TO REV. ELIVERED MULONGO!
As you may know, since Rev. Tay Moss left our Church in 2022 to administer CHURCHx, we have been without a permanent priest. We had Rev Bob Bettson as interim for most of that time, supported by Canon Donald Butler and Canon John Hill. The Bishop recently appointed Rev Molungo to be our rector. She comes to us from Kenya, by way of St Chad’s at Dufferin and St Clair. She has been in Canada for many years, is highly educated (PhD from U of T and a translator of the Bible), thoughtful, and kind. I hope she is as excited to be here as we are to have her!
MESSIAH PREPARES FOR LENT
LENTEN STUDY SERIES – ALL WELCOME
Theme for week 5: COURAGE
When we know that we can trust God and put our hope in him, this can give us the courage to seek change where it is needed. Rooted in the hopeful future God offers us, we dare to re-imagine the present
Here are the readings we will be looking at, and the challenges we will be discussing:
Prepared
Ephesians 6.10-17
Look again at how Paul describes each part of the armour. Try imagining putting each piece on. Is there one that stands out for you?
Daring to pray
Ephesians 6.18-20
Do you find it easier to pray for others or to ask others to pray for you? Could you try doing the one that feels more challenging?
Hungry and Thirsty
Matthew 5.1-12
Read Jesus’ words again slowly, asking God to show you how these might relate to your everyday experiences. What opportunities do you have in your everyday life to be merciful or promote peace.
Changing Direction
Luke 19.1-10
Is there a situation where you could play a more active role to bring justice? How could your words or actions help others flourish?
Taking Up Our Cross
Luke 9.23-27
Think of a situation where you long for change. Can you express your honest feelings to God without tidying them up first? It might help to write them down, or say them aloud.
Please feel free to join us, whether you attend our church or not.
SUNDAY EVENINGS AT 7:30PM
ZOOM
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Why was this perfume not sold … and the money given to the poor?
April 6, 2025 Sunday 10:30 AM
The readings are not included in the leaflet to encourage active listening, but you can get a head start on them by following these links:
Babylonian armies captured Jerusalem in 587 BC; many residents were deported to Babylon. Chapters 40 to 55 of Isaiah were written there in the final years of the Exile. The author had great faith in God as intervening in human affairs when needed throughout history. He sustains the theme of a new Exodus throughout Second Isaiah: God will surely restore the Israelites to Judea
Isaiah 43:16-21
Paul has warned his readers about those who try to convince them that being a Christian requires acceptance of Jewish law, including circumcision. True circumcision is of the heart – and not of the “flesh”, i.e. following legal precepts, as in Judaism. Inner circumcision is what is required of us.
Philippians 3:4b-14
Jesus has raised Martha’s and Mary’s brother, “Lazarus”, “from the dead”, because Martha trusts that Jesus is the Messiah. Many people are making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover. The religious authorities, aware that Jesus has performed “many signs” ( 11:47), and afraid that the Romans will destroy the Temple and the nation because of him, ask that anyone knowing where he is tell them so they can arrest him.
John 12:1-8
ZOOM Sunday School
From 12:15 for about 45 minutes
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