If you are looking for Sunday services we are offering them online and in-person at 10:30 a.m. Crescent Fort Rouge offers an inclusive, welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, sexual orientation, gender identities, and economic situations. Streaming info:
To watch via Twitch
https://twitch.tv/crescentfortrougelive
To watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY_yu6hzsG1yoisFBHvGm5A?view_as=subscriber
To watch on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/cfruc/
“THE SPIRIT INSPIRES”
Leonardo Boff, Brazilian liberation theologian, witnesses the presence of Spirit in the creativity of the arts.
[The Spirit] is present wherever people live by love, witness to the truth, act in solidarity, and practice compassion. Wherever such realities are manifest in human beings, anywhere in the world, it is a sign that the Spirit has come upon them and is active within them. It is by the inspiration of the Spirit that poets and writers redraw life with all its lights and shadows, its dramas and achievements. They are seized by an inner light, and by energies that prompt unexpected connections; they bring something new into the world. Many writers confess … that they feel possessed by an inner energy (a daimon, a good spirit) that seizes them and makes them think and write. By the inspiration of the Spirit, artists and artisans elicit from their material—wood, stone, marble, granite—an image that only they can see in it. The material is spiritualized, and the spirit is materialized.… The Spirit is especially intense in music. Sounds are invisible, unconstrained by space and time, just as no one can limit the action of the Spirit. And the melodies they project lift up and penetrate the soul; in them we find comfort, beauty to cry over, soaring joy. The great evangelical theologian Karl Barth used to say that Mozart took his wonderful melodies from heaven and the Breath (the Holy Spirit). The arts are very much like the Spirit. They are intangible. They are ends in themselves. They have an intrinsic value…. Art, music, and poetry in themselves are priceless. They are unique creations, not serial productions. They are like a gift we give to a loved one, valuable for its own sake. Somehow they escape the limits of time and bring us a foretaste of eternity. Inspiration is in the air and settles on people without regard for their skin color, their social background, or their educational level. How many illiterate artists have emerged in [Brazil], in marginal communities, and were never noticed: poets, artisans, painters, singers, musicians, mystics? Boasting is not the Spirit’s way; it is like water that quietly runs along the ground, fills the vessels it is poured into, and always chooses to run downhill.  That is why the Spirit does not have its own figure, as the Father and the Son do. It is portrayed as a dove, but what is important is the radiant light it gives off. It is the Breath (Spiritus in Latin) that reveals life, sustains life, and renews life in every way. The universe and all beings are saturated with Spirit. To recognize its presence in every corner of the cosmos is the work of spirituality, of life in the Spirit.
What else happens weekly?
• “Explorations” (formerly our Drop In Prayer Group)—continues on Wednesday, September 27. We meet at 10:30 am via Zoom; Contact Marc for the link. • Choir Rehearsal — is every Friday at 10 am. New members are welcome. If you are interested in singing with our choir, even occasionally, and Friday morning rehearsals present a barrier, other arrangements are possible. Contact Michael Cutler at organmike@gmail.com for more information.
What is Spirituality?
“Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than [one]self, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature.
“Spirituality means knowing that our lives have significance in a context beyond a mundane everyday existence at the level of biological needs that drive selfishness and aggression. It means knowing that we are a significant part of a purposeful unfolding of Life in our universe.
“Spirituality involves exploring certain universal themes – love, compassion, altruism, life after death, wisdom and truth, with the knowledge that some people such as saints or enlightened individuals have achieved and manifested higher levels of development than the ordinary person. Aspiring to manifest the attributes of such inspirational examples often becomes an important part of the journey through life for spiritually inclined people.”
Dr.Maya Spencer
What happens at Sunday morning Worship? Lots!
Sunday morning worship at Crescent Fort Rouge generally follows a predictable pattern of gathering in God’s name; hearing and reflecting on the intersection between the ancient faith story and the story of our own lives and time; responding to what has been heard; and going out with a commission to be actively engaged in the world.
Our worship respects the rich heritage and traditions of the Christian faith, while holding up a progressive and contemporary theology. Our worship is designed to actively engage all of the senses, and welcome the participation of all. We come together around the Lord’s Table through the sacrament of communion six or seven times a year.
Music is an integral part of our worship life, and we offer music in a wide range of styles and genres. Worship allows us to enact through ritual, story-telling, music and prayer our core belief in a God of peace, justice, compassion, healing and hope who invites us to practice the same things.
Why Worship? Worship reminds us of who we are and whose we are. Worship helps reinforce a rhythm for our lives. Worship offers a chance to connect with others and to feel that connection and engagement. Friendships are formed!
Occasional Services
In addition to regular Sunday morning worship, we also offer worship experiences at other times to mark special days or occasions. These include such things as Pet Blessings, Blue Christmas services, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Services for Life Transitions
CFRUC provides opportunities to recognize significant life passages with ritual and celebration such as Baptism, Confirmation, Weddings and Funerals.
Services to Recognize Other Life Transitions
We also work with individuals to create meaningful rituals to mark significant life passages such as moving to a new home, divorce, miscarriage, adopting a child, or seeking healing after trauma or violence.
Please contact our minister if you would like to explore some of the possibilities. cfruc@mymts.net
Daily Prayer Resources
In many faith traditions, it is customary to pray at specific times of day. The discipline of morning prayer allows one to start a day grounded in God, and the intention to be mindful of God’s presence in all that unfolds.
Prayer of Examen
The prayer of examen, is a traditional form of “end of day prayer” which invites reflection on the day that is past, an expression of gratitude for what has been experienced, and an opportunity to explore in greater depth God’s presence in our lives. Our friends at The Work of The People https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/ have created a contemporary expression of this ancient form of prayer. For a version of the Examen, please click here.
Frederick Buechner
www.frederickbuechner.com
The Center for Contemplation and Action
cac.org
Sacredise
Sacredise.com
One time tested way of nurturing the spirit is to maintain the disciple of keeping a journal. During this time of self-isolation we invite you to join others in a 28 day journaling challenge. Click here for a list of daily prompts. Self-Isolation Challenge
Looking for more intentional study?
A variety of online programs and webinars are available through:
The Abbey of the Arts
https://abbeyofthearts.com/
The United Church of Canada
https://www.united-church.ca/
We encourage you to contact Crescent Fort Rouge and receive our weekly newsletter which offers many opportunities. cfruc@mymts.net
Looking for an experience on Sunday for children (ages 3 to 12)?
Children are encouraged to begin their Sunday morning church experience with the gathered community in worship. This time with adults includes a theme conversation with one of the ministers and introduces children to the concept of worship.
Following this time, the children participate in age appropriate activities designed to introduce them to faithful living. We make use of a variety of teaching activities: drama, music, cooking, art, science, games and more. Parents and guardians of very young children are welcome to attend this program with their young ones until the children feel comfortable enough to attend the class on their own.
Looking for a few resources for children?
25 Easy Sunday School Crafts
https://www.signupgenius.com/church/sunday-school-crafts.cfm
49 Outstanding Christian Craft Ideas for Kids
https://wehavekids.com/education/all-christian-crafts
BUBBLES
The Bubble Who Would Not Pop by Shelly Roark
A while ago, at Messy Church, we read a book “The Bubble Who Would Not Pop” by Shelly Roark. In the story a little girl sends her prayer up to God in a bubble. After we read the story, we had fun making bubbles out in our Churchyard. We used hoops of wire, pipe cleaners, water bottles with the bottoms cut out and lots of other things that the grownups hadn’t even thought of, trying to make the biggest, strongest bubbles that we could.
Super Duper Giant Bubble recipe
- 6 cups of water
- ½ cup Blue Dawn dish soap
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon glycerine
Stir it gently with a whisk and keep the whisk handy because you’ll need to stir it again as the cornstarch settles.
Can you make a square bubble? Take a picture of you sending a prayer to God in a bubble and post it on FaceBook.
