Service Sunday November 10, 2024

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Remembrance Sunday

All are Welcome!

Watch a video recording of the whole service using Youtube below.

The Gathering

Welcome and Announcements.
Focusing Moment.

Acknowledgement of Land

For thousands of years, Indigenous people have walked this land.

We acknowledge the traditional territory of the Mississauga and the Ojibwe Anishnabek peoples and their stewardship of this land throughout the ages. May we also walk here with respect

THE APPROACH

NATIONAL ANTHEM: “O Canada” VU #524

O Canada! Our home and native land!

True patriot love in all of us command.

With glowing hearts, we see thee rise,

the True North strong and free!

From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Call to Worship:

armed conflict, those who have died answering the call to defend freedom, to defend the vulnerable,

ALL: when our country answered the sacred call of “friend.”

One: Today we honour those who have sacrificed their own lives to help others who were in distress, or oppressed by tyranny,

ALL: and give thanks for the lives of peace we enjoy today.

One: Jesus has instructed us to pray not only for our loved ones and allies, but also for our enemies. May our worship this day guide us to remembrance, to gratitude, and to reconciliation.

ALL: Come, let us worship Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Written by Taylor Croissant, Southminster U.C., Lethbridge, Alta..

Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.51. Used with permission.

Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” VU #288

1 Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;

there is no shadow of turning with thee;

thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided -

great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

join with all nature in manifold witness

to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Refrain

Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided -

great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow -

wondrous the portion thy blessings provide. Refrain

OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison

Prayerfully, O God, we bring ourselves before you with praise and thanksgiving for the love you have given us. We pray, dear God, for those who do not feel your love. We pray that you will draw them close to you because you remain steadfast in your love for all. We pray for all who are living in war zones and unsafe living conditions, and all who are homeless. Provide for their needs by bringing to the table the right people who can make a difference and who can negotiate a peaceful end to war, conflict, and lack of housing. Provide safe passage to all who are escaping the terror of war. Show us how we can help. We also pray for all who have no one to pray for them. Show us how to be their blessing. We join our hearts together with all our Christian siblings who are praying this morning. Amen.

Written by Sandi Irving, St. David’s U.C., Port Hastings, N.S.

Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.51. Used with permission.

Hymn: “We Are One” VU#402

1 We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here,

in the praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near.

We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found;

and we come needful of God's grace as we meet, together in this place.

2 We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear,

in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here.

We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed;

and we share warmth in God's embrace as we pray together in this place.

3 We are one as we feast, as we feast, peace becomes the sign;

in the bread and the wine there's a sense of love divine.

We are one as we come, as we feed, we are fed;

and we feel God's refreshing grace as we meet at table in this place.

4 We are one as we hear, as we hear, heart and hand unite;

in the word we receive there's a sense that God is light.

We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved;

and we seek justice in God's ways as we move together from this place.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC:

SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE:

‘In Flanders Fields’

(Lt Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army)

- Last Post

- Two Minutes Silence

- Reveille

Act of Remembrance:

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

we will remember them.”

ALL: We will remember them.

Presentation of Remembrance wreath

THE WORD

Scripture: Mark 12: 38 - 44

Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE

“PEACE: How Can I Do My Part?”

Listen to an audio recording of the whole service below or read it at the bottom of this page.

**PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER: (spoken VU #921**)

HYMN: “God! As With Silent Hearts” VU #527

1 God! As with silent hearts we bring to mind

how hate and war diminish humankind,

we pause, and seek in worship to increase

our knowledge of the things that make for peace.

2 Hallow our will as humbly we recall

the lives of those who gave and give their all.

We thank you, God, for women, children, men

who seek to serve in love, today as then.

3 Give us deep faith to comfort those who mourn,

high hope to share with all the newly born,

strong love in our pursuit of human worth:

'lest we forget' the future of this earth.

4 So, Prince of Peace, disarm our trust in power,

teach us to coax the plant of peace to flower.

May we, impassioned by your living Word,

remember forward to a world restored.

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY PRAYER:

So often, loving God, we feel inadequate to the need, yet you call us to give of what we have to share. We ask for your blessing on these gifts, knowing that each one counts, especially when they are collected together. May what we offer become justice and peace in the world all around. Amen.

Written by Gord Dunbar, Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, Ont.

Gathering, Pentecost 2 2021, page 52. Used with permission.

SUNG BLESSING: (MV #173 vs 5)

Reach out in friendship,

stay with faith in touch with those around you.

Put peace into each other’s hands;

the Peace that sought and found you. ©

Sending Forth:

One: Go out from here, knowing that Jesus is among us, that he is with us wherever we go, and that the Holy Spirit is within us. Let us forsake our fear and rejoice in God’s peace, a peace we are called to share in the world.

ALL: Amen!

Written by Fern Gibbard, Pentiction, B.C.

Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2021, p.52. Used with permission.

A Time of Fellowship

Sermon 10th November 2024

“PEACE: How Can I Do My Part?”

Mark 12: 38 - 44

Gracious God, be with us today in this place, in the Scriptures and in our words.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts praise your Holy name. Amen.

Recall last Sunday, our scripture was about Jesus being challenged by the Religion Scholars.

They were trying to trick him into picking a single favourite Commandment.

This week is a continuation of the story.

First Jesus warns his listeners about the Religion Scholars.

Then he speaks about the poor woman and her offering.

Other people gave generously but it was out of their wealth.

They gave only a fraction and really only what they wouldn’t miss.

The poor woman gave her all!

It may have been all she had for her next meal.

It may have been the difference between making the next month’s rent or not.

Ultimately, she was giving her life and trusting that God would provide.

On Remembrance Day, we remember all of those who gave all they had.

But wait one moment…If you think that this message or this service today is about honoring and glorifying fighting or war, you have come to the wrong place.

I can’t begin to say enough about the pain & loss of hate & war.

We have come here today to celebrate peace – even at its terrible costs.

We have come here today to honour peace-keepers – even as we mourn our fallen soldiers killed in war time and peace time.

We have come to give our all in the pursuit of peace.

How can I do my part?

First, remember and never forget.

If we forget, history may have the chance to repeat itself.

Secondly, Speak Up!

Use your right to vote to elect peace-minded leaders.

Thirdly, Love your God and your neighbour.

We live in a global village that seems to get smaller every day.

I’d like to share with you a story of how we can all do small actions to work toward peace.

It is entitled, “The Sack Lunches”

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.

It was going to be a long flight.

‘I’m glad I have a good book to read.

Perhaps I will get a short nap,’ I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.

I decided to start a conversation.

‘Where are you headed? ‘ I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

“Petawawa”. We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for ten dollars.

It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.

‘No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.

Probably wouldn’t be worth ten bucks.

I’ll wait till we get to base.’

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.

None were buying lunch.

I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a hundred dollar bill.

‘Please take a lunch to all those soldiers.’

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.

Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.

‘My son was a soldier in Afghanistan; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.’

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated.

She stopped at my seat and asked, ‘Which do you like best - beef or chicken?’

‘Chicken,’ I replied, wondering why she asked.

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

‘This is your thanks.’

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me.

‘I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.’

He handed me fifty dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked.

I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.

When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, ‘I want to shake your hand.’

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand.

With a booming voice he said, ‘I was a soldier and I was a military pilot.

Once, someone bought me a lunch.

It was an act of kindness I never forgot.’

I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs, a man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.

He left another fifty dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.

Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.

Another fifty dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them one hundred and fifty dollars.

‘It will take you some time to reach the base.

It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.’

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.

These soldiers were giving their all for our country.

I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank cheque made payable to Canada for an amount of, ‘up to and including my life.’

As we leave this time of worship today, let us remember the woman who gave all she could.

Let us remember the peace keepers who gave all they could in the pursuit of peace.

Finally, let us remember that we all have the gifts and ability to give of ourselves, our time and talents, toward making peace a reality.

Thanks be to God. Amen.