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God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle to remind us that Christ is present,
shining on our hearts and brightening the world. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 8)
How majestic is your name, O God of all!
Your splendour is greater than the universe.
What is human life, that in our smallness you care for us?
You have given us tremendous gifts.
You entrust to us the earth and all its inhabitants.
How majestic is the Holy name! Amen.
OPENING PRAYER (inspired by John 16:12-15)
HYMN #376 Voices United “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all. Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION (inspired by Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31)
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Evelyn Margaret Proctor
Statement of Purpose
Reading excerpt from “A Song of Faith”
Before conscious thought or action our part,
we are born into the brokenness of this world.
Before conscious thought or action on our part,
we are surrounded by God’s redeeming love.
Baptism by water in the name of the Holy Trinity
is the means by which we are received, at any age,
into the covenanted community of the church.
It is the ritual that signifies our rebirth in faith
and cleansing by the power of God.
Baptism signifies the nurturing, sustaining,
and transforming power of God’s love
and our grateful response to that grace.
Presentation of Candidates
Profession of Faith and Commitment
Commitment of Sponsors
Commitment of Godparents
Congregational Commitment
Will the congregation please rise and pledge your support and continued care to all those received into the body of Christ today.
As your family of faith, part of the great communion of saints, we welcome you. We rejoice in the gift that you are to this world. We promise to support and uphold you. We do not presume to tell you what you must believe, for ours is a community of free inquiry and searching. We promise to share our experience of the sacred with you and ask that you share your experiences with us. With God’s help, may we journey together in loving community.
God grant us the grace to fulfil our promises.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith p. 918 Voices United “A New Creed”
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are you O God, giver of all life. Wellspring of hope, you are with us from generation to generation: brooding over the waters of creation, leading your people Israel through the water to freedom, providing water from the rock
in the wilderness. ..
Blessed are you, O God.
In the fullness of time, you sent Jesus Christ, who was nurtured in the water of Mary’s womb. Jesus was baptized by John in the water of the Jordan, became living water to a woman at the Samaritan well, washed the feet of his disciples, and called them into service. We thank you for the
gift of eternal life.
Blessed are you, O God.
We pray that those who are baptized, knowing the death and resurrection of Jesus, may drink deeply of your living water, and discover you as a sustaining source of grace.
Blessed are you, O God.
Pouring of the Water
Act of Baptism
Congregational Blessing “In God’s Circle of Love”
In God’s circle of love, we hold on to each other;
I can see God’s love through you.
In God’s circle of love, we learn to love each other;
Each of us is special, in God’s circle of love.
Oh, Evelyn, did you know that you are very special
You’re so special to us all.
Oh, come, if you will, to our circle of love;
Each of us is special, in God’s circle of love.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
John 3:1-17 (Common English Bible)
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON – Reverend Dr. Karen Medland
HYMN #716 Voices United “My Life Flows On” verses 1, 2, & 4
My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the sweet, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear the music ringing:
It finds an echo in my soul – how can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die? My Saviour still is living.
What though the shadows gather ‘round? A new song Christ is giving.
No storm can shake my in-most calm, while to that Rock I’m clinging:
since Love commands both heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin; I see the blue above it;
and day by day this pathway smooths, since first I learned to love it.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing:
all things are mine since I am Christ’s – how can I keep from singing?
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Still Called. Still Committed. Still Together.”
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #537 Voices United “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (inspired by Romans 5:1-5)
…we pray in Jesus’ name and in Jesus’ way, saying together, each in the language of our hearts:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
Holy One, we are your church, your people gathered.
Since before the beginning, you have been with us,
In the dry and desert-like times
When decline and discouragement surround us
You have shown us where to find joy and even hope
And have been our trusted guide.
We have gathered as The United Church of Canada for 100 years.
On this historic occasion we remember yet again
That we live and move and have our being in you.
Encourage us loving God
To live in your Spirit
With courage to follow where she leads.
Grant us deep faith,
Help us to see where you are moving among us.
Give us bravery, peace in heart, creativity in imagination, and a spirit for justice and healing.
Lead on, Holy One, we are ready to follow.
Amen
HYMN 174 More Voices “Soil of God, You and I”
Soil of God, you and I, stand ready to bear seeds of faith nourished by God’s tender care.
Growing in everyone for here God is found. All stand together, we are… Holy ground.
Soil of God, you and I, now ready to be part of God’s promise, for others to see.
Open to everyone for here God is found. All stand together, we are … Holy ground.
Soil of God, you and I, now called to re-birth, joining as partners with all of the earth.
Living in harmony for here God is found. All stand together, this is… Holy ground.
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
THE LIGHT CHANGES
SENDING FORTH
Holy Wisdom calls us gently onward.
Let us listen for God’s whispered word.
Holy Redeemer leads us toward justice.
Let us transform our pain into blessings for all.
Holy Creator offers us abundant life.
Let us spread life wherever we go. Amen.
BLESSING (based on Romans 15:13, 33)
HYMN #586 Voices United “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”
We shall go out with hope of resurrection; we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly; tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted; we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united within the vision of a new life in Christ.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken; we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer, expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping, raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story, including all in circles of our love.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Karen Medland (Chinook Region) for the sermon, and Rev. Murray Speer, Calgary, for the Liturgy.
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Once there was a man spoke so wisely and acted so lovingly that hope spread wherever he went, and people asked him
Who are you?
And he answered in many ways, but one time he said
I am the Light.
On another occasion he said to the people
You are the Light
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.
May the Light shine in this time of worship and may our light shine beyond!
CALL TO WORSHIP (slightly adapted from the Centennial Worship Service of The United Church of Canada)
When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were all together in one place…
Today, we gather here at First United Church in Wetaskiwin and in homes and other places online.
Even though we are in several places, we are one in heart. Touched by the Spirit the disciples were livened
By the Spirit we live and thrive!
On the day of Pentecost, the Church was born.
Today, we celebrate 100 years of being the United Church of Canada.
In their gathering that day, people were changed by the Spirit.
In our gathering today, we seek the Spirit’s direction for tomorrow
With open hearts, let us worship God and pray that we become aware of the Spirit’s presence amongst us.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
OPENING PRAYER (slightly adapted from the inaugural service of The United Church of Canada)
O God Eternal, whose name is great and whose goodness is inexhaustible, who is adored by the hosts of heaven and accepts offerings blessed by the Holy Spirit: sanctify us, bless us we ask you, in body, mind and spirit; touch our understandings, search our consciences and cast out every unbecoming thought and base desire, all falsehood and vainglory and indifference, every motion of the flesh and spirit not in accordance with Your holy will. And grant us, O Lord, with freedom, with a pure heart and contrite soul, without confusion of face and with sanctified lips, boldly to call on You, our holy God in heaven. Amen.
HYMN #376 Voices United “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all. Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
THEME TIME
HYMN #375 Voices United “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”
Refrain Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to each thing:
– wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings. Refrain
You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
And you goaded your people with a law and land;
And when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
Then you spoke thro’ your prophets to open their eyes Refrain
You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill.
Then you whispered in silence when the whole was still;
And down in the city, you called once again,
When you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. Refrain
You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes;
From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
with bold new decisions your people arise. Refrain
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:1-6
Psalm 104 (Parts 1 and 2 with Refrain 1 p. 826 VU)
Refrain Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation.
Praise God, O my soul.
Eternal God, you are great indeed.
You clothe yourself with light like a garment.
You spread the heavens like a tent;
you lay out the beams of your dwelling on the waters above.
You make the clouds your chariot,
and ride on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flames of fire your servants.
You fix the earth on its foundations,
so that it can never tremble.
You cover the earth with the ocean as with a cloak. Refrain
When the waters covered the mountains,
they fled at your rebuke;
at the sound of your thunder, they took flight.
They flowed over the mountains, ran down the valleys
to the place you had appointed for them.
There you set limits not to be passed,
that they might not again cover the earth. Refrain
O God, how manifold are your works!
With Wisdom at your side you made them all,
the earth is full of your creatures. Refrain
There lies the great and might Sea,
teeming with living things both great and small.
Upon it sail the ships,
and there is Leviathan, the monster you made to play in it.
All these look to you,
to give them their food in due season.
What you give them they gather up.
When you open your hand,
you fill them with good things.
But when you hide your face they despair.
When you take away their breath, they die, and return to dust.
But when you send out your spirit, they live again,
and you renew the face of the earth. Refrain
May your glory, O God, endure forever.
May you rejoice, O God, in your works.
When you look at the earth it trembles,
when you touch the mountains they smoke.
I will sing to God as long as I live.
I will praise my God while I have being. Refrain
John 14:8-17, 25-27
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON “Around the United Church in 100 Years”
HYMN #156 More Voices “Dance with the Spirit”
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Sing with the Spirit sitting down at mid day
Share with the Spirit wherever you go
Serve and laugh while you’re shaping a new way
Learn from the Spirit to go with the flow
Search for the Spirit later in the evening
Rest with the Spirit, it’s calling your name
Pause and grow there’s a mystery of meaning
Play with the Spirit it’s rarely the same.
Wait for the Spirit whispering at midnight
Trust in the Spirit to comfort your fear
Watch and hope in the silence of starlight
Love with the spirit till heaven draws near.
Dance with the Spirit early in the morning
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day
Work and pray for a new day a dawning.
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
Holy One, we are your church, your people gathered.
Since before the beginning, you have been with us,
In the dry and desert-like times
When decline and discouragement surround us
You have shown us where to find joy and even hope
And have been our trusted guide.
We have gathered as The United Church of Canada for 100 years.
On this historic occasion we remember yet again
That we live and move and have our being in you.
Encourage us loving God
To live in your Spirit
With courage to follow where she leads.
Grant us deep faith,
Help us to see where you are moving among us.
Give us bravery, peace in heart, creativity in imagination, and a spirit for justice and healing.
Lead on, Holy One, we are ready to follow.
Amen
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Still Called. Still Committed. Still Together.”
CHOIR ANTHEM “We Are the Church”
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #537 Voices United “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
…and so together we say, each in the language of their heart…
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
HYMN #161 More Voices “I Have Called You by Your Name”
I have called you by your name, you are mine; I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true. You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.
I will help you learn my name as you go; read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim, offer Jesus’ body given long ago.
I know you will need my touch as you go; feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt, hold the hem of Jesus’ robe,
Then let it go.
I have given you a name, it is mine; I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
Go and tell my precious people they are mine.
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH:
Voice One:
Holy One, We are your church, your people gathered.
Since before the beginning, you have been with us,
In the dry and desert-like times
When decline and discouragement surround us
You have shown us where to find joy and even hope
And have been our trusted guide.
Voice two:
We have gathered as The United Church of Canada for 100 years.
On this historic occasion we remember yet again
That we live and move and have our being in you.
Voice Three:
Encourage us loving God
To live in your Spirit
With courage to follow where she leads.
Grant us deep faith,
Help us to see where you are moving among us.
Give us bravery, peace in heart, creativity in imagination, and a spirit for justice and healing.
Lead on, Holy One, we are ready to follow.
Amen
THE LIGHT CHANGES
BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
Beloved, as you go out into the world, hold this blessing in your heart:
God who created you has chosen you for hope.
May the power of the Spirit awaken your heart with awe
Just as those who gaze upward to the northern lights feel awed by the mystery.
May your kind words and good works awaken others to sacred love.
Praise be to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine!
Glory to God from generation to generation.
Amen
A DELIGHTFUL SONG TO PASS FROM ONE GENERATION TO THIS GENERATION
United Church Centennial Song (Sung to the tune of the Expo 67 Centennial Song by Bobby Gimby)
The United Church
-a loving faith community
Welcomes you
-affirming all who gather
The United Church
-we honour truth and justice
Called to be
Love, Joy, Hope, Peace
Bold Discipleship
Church bells will ring, ring, ring
It’s the 100th Anniversary of Amalgamation
Everybody sing together…
The United Church
-a loving faith community
Welcomes you
-affirming all who gather
The United Church
-we honour truth and justice
Called to be
Love, Joy, Hope, Peace
Bold Discipleship
Voices will sing, sing, sing
-Jesus loves me this I know…
-We’ll jump for joy, singing hallelujah…
-What a friend we have in Jesus…
It’s the 100th Anniversary of Amalgamation
Let us worship altogether…
RECOGNITION OF THE LAND AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land, and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP (reflects Psalm 68:4)
Lift your voices to the God of all Creation!
Sing wonderful praises to the Holy One.
We shall sing a song to the One who rides upon the clouds,
and journey through deserts.
We worship a God of Compassion and Justice.
Let us open our hearts and let Love be our song.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN #79 More Voices “Spirit, Open My Heart” Verse 1 and refrain
Refrain Spirit, Open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.
God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender. Refrain
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
THEME TIME “Waiting”
HYMN #30 More Voices “It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker”
It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the gray whale sings in the sea,
Refrain And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.
It’s a call of life to the Giver when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver when high tides break on the shore, Refrain
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the summer breeze joins the song, Refrain
It’s the chorus of all creation; it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation; a song the universe sings, Refrain
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
John 5:1-9 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON – Reverend Hilde Seal
HYMN #135 More Voices “Called by Earth and Sky” verses 1 & 2
Refrain Called by earth and sky, promise of hope held high. This is our sacred living trust,
Treasure of life, sanctified, called by earth and sky.
Precious these waters, endless seas, deep ocean’s dream,
Waters of healing, rivers of rain, the wash of love again. Refrain
Precious this gift, the air we breathe; wind born and free.
Breath of the Spirit, blow through this place, our gathering and our grace. Refrain
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Advocating for Sexual and Gender Minorities in Other Countries”
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #122 More Voices “This is the Day”
This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad!
This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallellu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu! We will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallellu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu! We will rejoice and be glad!
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
…and so together we say, each in the language of their heart…
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
THE LIGHT CHANGES
SENDING FORTH
HYMN #156 More Voices “Dance with the Spirit” x2
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. Thanks to Rev. Hilde Seal, Sydney, BC.
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land, and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
COMING CLOSE TO THE LIGHT
As we gather today we bring the Light of Christ to this place of worship.
This is Christ’s light before us, behind us and all around us. We are heartened by its light and promise to be bearers of the hope this flame brings into our lives.
CALL TO WORSHIP
God who has created and is creating calls us –
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist evil.
The Holy Spirit calls us to be the church
To celebrate God’s presence;
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
And so, we commit ourselves to the way of Jesus –
Who has come to reconcile and make new.
We trust in God
We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
OPENING PRAYER
Holy One,
Under the sky, under this roof,
In this house, this room, this time
Through your grace, your love, your peace
With this company, these friends, these souls
Hold us with your Spirit, bring us close, and bless our day.
Amen.
HYMN #79 More Voices “Spirit, Open My Heart” Verse 1 and refrain
Refrain Spirit, Open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.
God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender. Refrain
DISCOVERY CIRCLE
HYMN #226 Voices United “For the Beauty of the Earth” Verses 1-3, to the tune of Voices United #81
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
God of all, to you we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light,
God of all to you we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild.
God of all to you we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
John 5:1-9
SERMON
HYMN #713 Voices United “I See a New Heaven” Verses 1 & 4
Refrain I see a new heaven. I see a new earth as the old one will pass away,
where the fountain of life flows and without price goes to all people who abide in the land.
There, there on the banks of a river bright and free,
yielding her fruit, firm in her root, the Tree of Life will be. Refrain
There, there where we work with the love of healing hands.
Labour we must, true to our trust to build a promised new land. Refrain
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift our hearts in prayer.
Let us give thanks to God
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
HYMN AS THE BREAD AND CUP ARE SHARED
HYMN #466 Voices United “Eat This Bread”
Eat this bread, drink this cup
Come to me and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Trust in me and you will not thirst.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Life giving God,
May we who share Christ’s body, live his risen life.
We, to whom the living Spirit gives light, offer light to the world and the people around us.
Keep us firm in the hope that you have set before us.
We pray as a community gathered in the faith we share. Amen.
THE LIGHT CHANGES
As we pray to go from this time of worship, we snuff the candle.
The smoke rises, taking the light of Christ out to our hearts.
We will carry this light and share it with all whom we meet.
BLESSING
HYMN #156 More Voices “Dance with the Spirit” x2
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.