Memes are life! (Not really, but sometimes they help us make sense of life or at least find a giggle in the midst of the tough times in life.) So here we go: some thinkers and some gigglers for your day!

Let’s start with a message about the simple things we should always remember:

You. KNOW. It’s. TRUE:

Judgy, judy cat!:

2020 rolls on on – and yeah, sometimes it just feels this way:

Or this way:

Or this way:

But this reminds me of hope and of the power of a single person to impact the world:

Ok, I promise I’m not this conceited, but it totally made me snort when I read it:

Y’all know I enjoy my wine. These both cracked me up:

And finally this blessing for your day:

Until tomorrow, dear friends, trust Him to handle it!

Today in worship we welcome my Dad – The Rev. Dr. Morley Mitchell. I’m going to apologize in advance that this one is a bit long. I forgot to set my timer and Dad and I just enjoy talking to each other waaaaaay too much. I hope you enjoy!

Let’s begin with Eric’s prelude, “Let Us Break Together” (with apologies to the arranger John Carter for some additional improvised content!).

An opening prayer:

Our scripture today is John 3:16 & 17:

Here is our Zoom conversational sermon:

And our hymn of response is #274 Crown Him with many crowns:

Until tomorrow, dear friends, please know that Jesus saves and that the end is oceans and oceans of love and love again!

Larry Norman is generally recognized to be the grandfather of Christian Rock. Back in the 70’s he came to faith and wanted to sing music that was dedicated to Jesus, but sounded like what was on the radio those days. (Quite like how Luther would write hymns and set them to the tunes that he learned at his local pub!)

When I was a kid we had a cassette of a bootlegged Larry Norman album and it was just about all my brother and I would allow our folks to play whenever we went anywhere in the car. One of my favourites from that album was entitled “The Outlaw.” In it, Norman imagines all the different rumors about who Jesus was, and then ends by declaring his own faith in Christ as the Son of God, his Saviour.

So that’s what Dad and I are sharing with you this Singin’ Saturday on the blog:

And because I find the lyrics so meaningful, I wanted to share those with you as well (I’ve always appreciated well-written lyrics…):

Until tomorrow, dear friends, keep on singing His praise!

I’m always obsessed with the sky. It doesn’t matter if it’s noticing the texture and pattern of clouds, smiling at the clear blue, noticing all the colours of a sunset (you know that’s my fave!), or enjoying a sky full of stars. I just like to look up and see the glory of God in the heavens above.

So it should come as no surprise that today’s Farmhouse Friday is all about the skies. So many varieties of blue, grey and sunset glow to enjoy! Look up, the heavens declare His glory!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Until tomorrow dear friends, look up and remember the One who set the heavens in place by the words of His mouth!

Time to get our think-on!

John Ortberg is one of my heroes. His kind, compassionate, clear and clever way of writing (and preaching) has blessed me since the early days of my life in full-time ministry. Plus, he’s Presbyterian. 😀

Ortberg writes:

Some questions for thoughtful consideration:

1. Why are we so afraid to confess things to God, even though we believe He already knows everything?
2. Were you surprised at Ortberg’s statement, “There is more intimacy in one deep confession than in a thousand résumés of achievement”? Why or why not?
3. What fears do you think are behind your sins?

Until tomorrow, dear friends, keep on thinking it through – this too, is worship!

MSC is the in-house worship band for the church where Erwin McManus is lead pastor – Mosaic, LA (which, incidentally, is where I’ve been worshiping online during the pandemic). This year they released a full length album entitled “Human.”

Here is what Erwin McManus says about MSC: “Everything we do is about connecting people to Jesus. We know that worship opens the hearts of those who have closed their hearts to God.  We also know that worship causes our hearts to burn brighter and our love for God to grow deeper.  We hope that the music of Mosaic MSC will be a gift to the Church and a light to the world.”

For your edification, here are two of their songs, “Everlasting Light” and “Close to You.” You can subscribe to their Youtube channel here.

Until tomorrow, dear friends, keep singing His praises!

Sometimes you just need to remember that Jesus knows what it is to suffer, and calls us to be healers with him.

Until tomorrow, dear friends, trust that God is reconciling all things through Christ.

Let’s get this meme party started!

These thoughts on distancing measures:

These thoughts on worrying:

This tough, but important truth:

This cracked me up:

And finally, a blessing for your day:

Until tomorrow, dear friends, trust in the one who is always making a way in the desert.

As we continue in our summer worship series, today we welcome my dear friend, The Janet (as she is affectionately known at Graceview!). The Rev. Janet Ryu-Chan is the minister at Morningside High Park Presbyterian Church. Since I came to the Presbytery of West Toronto in 2017, The Janet and I have planned Advent and Lent together, and found it a joy to support each other in ministry.

Let’s begin with Eric’s prelude,  “Andante cantabile” by S. Surzynski:

Let’s pray, and lift up those who are in need:

Our passage for this day is Matthew 13:24-43:

Here are The Janet and I discussing this passage together:

Our hymn of response is #499 Tell me the old, old story:

Until tomorrow, dear friends, remember that even though you may think your actions are small – God is huge and abundant and able to grow even the smallest things into something big, and beautiful!

Another favourite from the Amberlea Chorus Book is “Our God Reigns.” In the chorus book it’s only one verse, but there are actually about 6 verses to the whole song. We selected a few, and share this with you:

Until tomorrow, dear friends, know that our God reigns!