Service Sunday June 9, 2024
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All are Welcome!
To protect the identity of our guest speakers, there is no video recording of the service this Sunday.
The Gathering
Welcome and Announcements.
Focusing Moment.
Acknowledgement of Land
For thousands of years, First Nations people have walked on this land; their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives and spirituality. We are gathered on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg and acknowledge their stewardship of this land throughout the ages.
Call to Worship:
One: It has been 99 years of purpose, of witness, of worship, of study of service. A blessed anniversary to all of us in this United Church family of faith.
ALL: It has been 99 years of being welcomed in baptism, sharing at table, laughing, singing, praying, and weeping together.
One: We come to worship so that we can go—go to make a difference, go to comfort strangers, go to tell of the good news, go to heal hurts, go to be with the wounded, go to live the Way of Jesus.
ALL: So, you’re saying we come just to turn around and leave again, that our purpose is to gather, that we may strengthen our going forth, that our mission is not within a building but rather going into the world?
One: Yes! I think that is more than enough reason to celebrate on this Union Sunday. We come and we gather to be strengthened and to be encouraged, to know that we are not alone so that we can let others know they are not alone.
ALL: We come, then, to breathe deeply of the Spirit’s breath, to find our identity as disciples because we are sent out into the world.
Written by Gord Dunbar, Kindcardine P.C., Kindcardine, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.40. Used with permission.
HYMN: “Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New” MV #115 repeat twice
Behold, (behold,) behold, (behold,)
I make all things new,
beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, (behold,) behold, (behold,)
I make all things new, my promises true, for I am Christ the way.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Spoken in Unison
Loving God, as we celebrate the 99th anniversary of Church Union, we also acknowledge that often, we, as your church, have failed. We regret the ways in which we have erred, through our mistreatment of others, through the assumptions we have made and the judgements we have passed, for those times we have excluded rather than welcomed, and the occasions where we have taken a posture of superiority instead of being the humble servant as modelled by Christ. We acknowledge the hurt we have caused and the pain, when we have caused division rather than unity. May healing and reconciliation touch us, as an institution and as individuals, so that we may become what you would have us be in this world. We give thanks for the ongoing renewal and mercy poured out upon us by your gracious spirit. Amen.
Written by Elise Feltrin, Chemainus U.C., Chemainus, B.C..
Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.40. Used with permission.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
One: Beloved and faithful people of God’s church—we belong to a tradition based on forgiveness and compassion. Be assured that as God’s Spirit birthed the church at Pentecost, God’s Spirit continues to breathe life and hope into the church. We are blessed to carry on in the faith of our forebears, planting seeds for future generations, learning and growing in the Spirit. We are God’s people! We are Christ’s church! We are forgiven, and we are loved.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
Written by Elise Feltrin, Chemainus U.C., Chemainus, B.C.
Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.41. Used with permission.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC
Scripture: Psalm 91
HYMN: “On Eagle’s Wings”
Page #808
1 You who dwell in the shelter of our God,
who abide in this shadow for life,
say to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
my Rock in whom I trust.’
Refrain And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of my hand.’
2 The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear:
under God’s wings your refuge,
God’s faithfulness your shield. Refrain
3 You need not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day;
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come. Refrain
4 For to God’s angels is given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone. Refrain
THE WORD
Scripture: Isaiah 43:2
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
“Hope in Challenge”
~ Guest Speakers ~
There is no audio recording this morning.
OUR RESPONSE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER:
(spoken VU #921)
HYMN: “Be Still, My Soul” VU #652
1 Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Trust in your God, your saviour and your guide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend
through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.
2 Be still, my soul, your God will undertake
to guide the future surely as the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul, life's tempests still obey
the voice that once the waves' wild fury stayed.
3 Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever in God's peace;
when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
love's joys restored, our strivings all shall cease.
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
Offertory Prayer
One: Loving God, we thank you for the leaders of this faith community.
ALL: Our gifts support their planning and their spiritual support.
One: We thank you for our administrators.
ALL: Our gifts support their skills of welcome and communication.
One: We thank you for those who are passionate about pastoral care.
ALL: Our gifts support their listening and empathetic gifts.
One: We thank you for those who receive this offering, take care of the accounts, and put the money of the faith community to work.
ALL: Week by week, our gifts sustain the financial health of this congregation.
One: We thank you for those who promote the work of Jesus Christ beyond the local congregation through M&S and the many local initiatives.
ALL: Justice is not just a “nice idea” but work that we need to be about. Our gifts encourage those who undertake this work.
One: Bless these gifts, Loving God.
ALL: Bless those in our faith community for whom they are vital. Amen.
Written by David Sparks, Summerland, B.C.
Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.41. Used with permission.
SUNG BLESSING: VU# 646
1 We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
(the light of God.)
We are marching, (marching, we are marching,)
oo-oo, (marching,)
we are marching in the light of God.
(the light of God.)
We are marching, (marching, we are marching,)
oo-oo, (marching,)
we are marching in the light of God.
2 Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',
siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.
Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',
siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',
(khanyen' kwenkhos'.)
Siyahamba, (hamba siyahamba,)
oo-oo, (hamba,)
siyahamb', ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.
(khanyen' kwenkhos'.)
Siyahamba, (hamba siyahamba,)
oo-oo, (hamba,)
siyahamb', ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'. ©
Sending Forth:
One: Those whom the world scorns, God loves.
Those whom society casts away, God gathers up.
Those whom our culture ignores, God gives places of honour.
Go from this time gathered in the spirit of the risen Christ
and go about God’s work with humility, joy, and good humour, knowing that you, too, are loved, gathered in, and honoured.
ALL: By the power of the Spirit, we will go to the world God loves. Amen!
Written by Robin Wardlaw, Toronto ON
Gathering, Pentecost I 2021, page 35. Used with permission.
A Time of Fellowship
© Music Reproduced with permission under License number A-605748, Valid for: 26/10/2023 - 25/10/2024; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches.
