Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for March 20

Dear Fellowship:

Today’s “Elbow Bump” is lighter in tone, because IT’S SPRING!  Yes, spring blew in overnight, catching some of us off guard because it was a day early this year. Ignoring the short-term weather forecast, we can look forward to flowers and warmer temperature soon.  As I write this, however, the rain is coming down in sheets, and I think of these beautiful words from Zechariah 10:1,

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;
    it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of rain to all people,
    and plants of the field to everyone.

In context, this verse speaks to us of God’s constant care, contrasted with the deceitfulness of idols and the failings of leaders. But God’s goodness continues nonetheless, and the spring rains remind us that “God sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” We look forward to the plants growing and regreening our land, unfazed by this virus pandemic!

Our song for today is “Every Season” by Nicole Nordman, which you can find online.

Let’s pray together:

Lord,  we worship you as our good God and Creator. We bless you for the springtime in which you renew life around us.  We thank you for renewal in ourselves, and we pray that our fellow Canadians would sense and experience renewal as well.  We pray that your hope would spring up in their hearts, and they would turn to you. We celebrate with you as you make all things new, and pray that even through this pandemic you would do so. Thank you for your gifts of showers, flowers, green grass, budding trees, and new crops.  Help us to care for one another as you care for us.

In closing, let’s pray together as our Lord taught us to pray,

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

There will be no “Elbow Bump” tomorrow (Saturday) or Sunday; I plan to be out enjoying the springtime tomorrow (with appropriate social distancing, of course).  So I’m giving you some homework: take a picture of the first spring blossoms that you can find, send them to me, and I will make them available in Monday’s “Elbow Bump.”

Finally, we are excited to tell you that we will be posting our very first audio worship service (the entire service, along with worship resources) which we recorded last night!  On Sunday, you will find it on the “Sermons” page of the church website at https://www.fellowshipetobicoke.com/podcasts/media.  Because it’s pre-recorded, you can listen to it—and worship along—whenever you choose.

Go with this blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Pastor Mark

PS - thank you Bethany, Mathea, Evelyn and Teresa for sharing your pics!