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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,
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.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Blessed and blessing, loving and loved, God’s people, Wetaskiwin First United Church, come to this place!
We’re ready!
From times of work, from times of play, from times of busy-ness, from times away, God’s people of Wetaskiwin First United Church, come!
We’re set!
To speak and to receive, to sing and to pray, God’s people of Wetaskiwin First United Church, come!
We’re here! We’re here! We’re here to worship God!
OPENING PRAYER
God of smooth road, God of the rough places,
God of the wilderness paths, thank you.
Thank you for calling us out when we want to wrap ourselves up and hide.
Thank you for giving us safe space when everything is just too much.
Thank you for blessing all creation with your presence, and with your love.
Open our hearts, we pray-open our minds-open our souls and, by your grace,
Fill them with your abundant love, not only so that we would be changed,
Not only so that we would be blessed, but so that we can be blessing
And people of transformation, in your world.
In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen
HYMN #12 More Voices “Come Touch Our Hearts (Come Touch and Bless)” Verse 1
Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion, from failing embers build a blazing fire;
Love strong enough to overturn injustice, to seek a world more gracious, come touch and bless our hearts.
LENTEN PRACTICE
HYMN #634 Voices United “To Abraham and Sarah” in the tune of Hymn #331 Voices United
To Abraham and Sarah the call of God was clear:
“Go forth and I will show you a country rich and fair.
You need not fear the journey for I have pledged my word:
That you shall be my people and I will be your God.”
From Abraham and Sarah arose a pilgrim race,
Dependent for their journey on God’s abundant grace;
And in their heart was written by God this saving word:
“That you shall be my people and I will be your God.”
We of this generation on whom God’s hand is laid,
Can journey to the future secure and unafraid,
Rejoicing in God’s goodness and trusting in this word:
“That you shall be my people and I will be your God.”
DISCOVERY CIRCLE
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 12:1-4a
REFLECTION “Bless You!”
HYMN #699 Voices United “Live Into Hope”
Live into hope of captives freed, of sight regained, the end of greed.
The oppressed shall be the first to see the year of God’s own jubilee!
Live into hope the blind shall see with insight and with clarity,
Removing shades of pride and fear, a vision of our God brought near.
Live into hope of liberty, the right to speak, the right to be,
The right to have one’s daily bread, to hear God’s word and thus be fed.
Live into hope of captives freed from chains of fear or want or greed.
God now proclaims our full release to faith and hope and joy and peace.
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Building Climate Resiliency”
THE OFFERING
PRAYER
God of all creation, we know that all that we have, all that we are, is blessed and blessing.
In this sharing, we add our blessing to yours.
May all of these blessings bring hope and healing to your world.
Amen.
HYMN #372 Voices United “Though I May Speak”
Though I may speak with bravest fire, and have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain, as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess, and striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within, the profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come Spirit, come, our hearts control, our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed; by this we worship and are freed.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kindom 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 kindom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
HYMN #169 More Voices “When Hands Reach Out Beyond Divides”
When hands reach out beyond divides and hope is truly found,
each chain of hate will fall away and bells of peace shall sound,
and bells of peace, of peace shall sound, and bells of peace shall sound,
each chain of hate will fall away and bells of peace shall sound.
When fear no longer guides our steps and days of war are done,
God’s dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one,
our hearts will heal, will heal as one, our hearts will heal as one,
God’s dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one.
When race and creed blind us no more, a neighbour’s face we’ll see,
and we shall dance the whole world round, for love will set us free,
for love, yes love will set us free, for love will set us free,
and we shall dance the whole world round, for love will set us free.
BENEDICTION AND COMMISSIONING
Blessed and blessing, loving and loved, God’s people, Wetaskiwin First United Church, go from this place!
We’re ready!
To times of work, to times of play, to times of busy-ness, to times away, God’s people of Wetaskiwin First United Church, go to the world!
We’re set!
To speak and to listen, to sing and to pray, to be a blessing, each and every day.
God’s people of Wetaskiwin First United Church, go and be stewards of the faith, Jesus’ people on the Way.
We go, knowing we are never alone! Carried by the wings of the Holy Spirit,
moving forward with Christ’s peace, enfolded in the Creator’s love, we go!
Amen. Amen! AMEN!
HYMN #216 More Voices “Wherever You May Go I Will Follow” Verse 1
Refrain Wherever you may go, I will follow, and your people shall be my people too.
Wherever you may go, I will follow, for I would be faithful, loyal and true.
Say the word and I will stay, I will never go away.
We will travel side by said, and God’s love will be our guide. Refrain
This worship liturgy was initially prepared by The Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Richard Bott, with reflections by the Rev. Dave Jagger, a member of the Philanthropy Unit Team, and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. © 2020 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.
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.
CANDLE LITURGY ~ Deuteronomy 26:1-11
…God of Promise,
We pray today in celebration of your grace-filled action in our lives. We celebrate the gift that is Jesus, and through Jesus, your covenant of promise. Focus us so we may be forever present on this journey of faith we take with Jesus to Jerusalem. Open us to your light of wisdom. Open us to a faith restored and renewed by the symbols that present themselves to us along this faith-filled journey. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
As we travel this Lenten pathway,
we journey together, a community of faith.
As we travel this Way of Jesus,
we journey together, but also alone.
Practising our faith:
living Christ’s call
to love God with all that we are, to love our neighbour
as we love ourselves.
Practising our faith:
as stewards on the Way.
OPENING PRAYER
God of the hungry times,
God of the difficult times,
God of all the times of our lives,
we need to talk.
Sometimes it’s difficult to understand
the direction we need to go.
With all the choices we have in our lives,
sometimes we’re not sure
when to say “Yes,” or when to say “No.”
So we ask for your guidance.
We ask for wisdom.
We ask for Spirit.
In our worship, in our work,
in our choices, in our lives.
May it be so, loving God!
Amen.
HYMN #12 More Voices “Come Touch Our Hearts (Come Touch and Bless)”
Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion, from failing embers build a blazing fire;
Love strong enough to overturn injustice, to seek a world more gracious, come touch and bless our hearts.
Come touch our souls that we may know and love you, your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
Create a space for Spirit to grow in us, let life and beauty fill us, come touch and bless our souls.
Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason, set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
Help us to o-pen doors of understanding, to welcome truth and wisdom, come touch and bless our minds.
Come touch us in the moments we are fragile, and in our weakness your great strength reveal;
That we may rise to follow and to serve, steady now our nerve, come touch and bless our wills.
Come touch us now, this people who are gathered, to break the bread and share the cup of peace.
That we may love you with our heart, our soul, our mind, our strength, our all, come touch us with your grace.
DISCOVERY CIRCLE
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 4:1-11
REFLECTION “How to Say No!”
HYMN #113 Voices United “To the Desert Jesus Came” verses 1, 2, & 4
To the desert Jesus came, to wrestle and to seek God’s way.
Sun and moon rose high above to watch him as he’d fast and pray.
Together through the valley, the tempter led him around.
Together through the valley, so Jesus answers found.
Like the Hebrews long ago who ventured through the desert sand,
Did he find a rock of faith, where streams of living waters ran?
Together through the valley, so shall we make our way.
Together through the valley, we’ll walk for forty days.
From the ashes to the hill, we’ll travel on our Lenten road.
Hand in hand we’ll cross the sand, and share each other’s heavy load.
Together through the valley, we’ll watch the changing sky.
Together through the valley, as Easter’s dawn draws nigh.
INVITATION
MINUTE FOR MISSION “PIE – Public, Intentional, Explicit Inclusion”
THE OFFERING
PRAYER
We do not live on bread alone,
but by your Word, loving God.
May that Word fill our hearts and our hands,
all that we have, and all that we are,
that it may be a blessing in your world.
In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.
HYMN #422 Voices United “God Be with You till We Meet Again” verses 1-3
God be with you till we meet again; loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again; unseen wings protecting hide you,
daily manna still provide you; God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again; when life’s perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you; God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…sharing the words that Jesus gave all his disciples,
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, forever and ever.
Amen.
BENEDICTION AND COMMISSIONING
As we travel this Lenten pathway,
we journey together, a community of faith.
As we travel this Way of Jesus,
we journey together, but also alone.
Let us go into God’s world,
practising our faith,
living Christ’s call
to love God with all that we are,
to love our neighbour
as we love ourselves.
Let us go into God’s world
knowing we are never alone.
Christ’s peace, the Creator’s love,
and the breath of the Holy Spirit go with us.
Amen!
HYMN #216 More Voices “Wherever You May Go I Will Follow”
Refrain Wherever you may go, I will follow, and your people shall be my people too.
Wherever you may go, I will follow, for I would be faithful, loyal and true.
Say the word and I will stay, I will never go away.
We will travel side by said, and God’s love will be our guide. Refrain
From beginning to the end, I will always be your friend,
When you need me I’ll be there, you can trust my faithful care. Refrain
This worship liturgy was initially prepared by The Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Richard Bott, with reflections by the Rev. Dave Jagger, a member of the Philanthropy Unit Team, and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. © 2020 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.
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
When the going is uphill…Jesus leads us.
When the going is downhill…Jesus leads us.
Whenever we follow Jesus…God’s presence abides.
May this candle be our reminder of God’s ever present love.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come to worship!
We come to worship our Creator.
Come to worship!
We come following Jesus who is transforming our lives.
Come to worship!
The Spirit is calling and we will not lose heart.
OPENING PRAYER
Creating God, your apostle Paul tells us to not lose heart.
He writes that you have generously let us in on what you are doing.
He writes that in your great mercy we are not only forgiven but called to be apart of the Spirit’s transformation of the whole world!
Where there are hungry ones, we are called to feed.
Where there are lonely ones we are called to sit with them.
Come and encourage us, allow us to not give up even when following Jesus feels like an uphill climb.
For at the top of this mountain is your new reign, the fulfilment of all your promises, the making of all things new!
We will not lose heart.
We shall not give up.
We will need you every step of the way as we follow Jesus in whose name we pray, Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
HYMN #13 More Voices “O Let the Power Fall on Me” (x3)
O let the power fall on me/you/us, O God, let the power fall on me/you/us;
O let the power from heaven fall on me/you/us, let the power fall on me/you/us.
For we want justice and truth and love, O God, we want justice and truth and love;
For we and justice and truth and love, O God, we want justice and truth and love.
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
SUNDAY SINGERS “Live, Jesus, In Us” (Please join in for verse 4):
Jesus came to show God’s face, live God’s love, and be God’s grace.
God lives now in me, in you, God’s at work in what we do.
Refrain Live, Jesus, near us, Live Jesus with us, Live, Jesus, in us, Come, live in us today.
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 READING
Exodus 34:29-35 (Common English Bible)
We are part of this story. Hear what the Spirit is speaking to you today.
SERMON ~ Keith Murray
HYMN #104 Voices United “We have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding”
We have come at Christ’s own bidding to this high and holy place,
Where we wait with hope and longing for some token of God’s grace.
Here we pray for new assurance that our faith is not in vain,
Searching like those first disciples for a sign both clear and plain.
Light breaks in upon our darkness, splendour bathes the flesh joined Word;
Moses and Elijah marvel as the heavenly voice is heard.
Eyes and hearts behold with wonder how the Law and Prophets meet;
Christ, with garments drenched in brightness stands transfigured and complete.
Strengthened by this glimpse of glory, fearful lest our faith decline,
We like Peter find it tempting to remain and build a shrine.
But true worship gives us courage to proclaim what we profess,
That our daily lives may prove us people of the God we bless.
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MINUTE FOR MISSION ~ “Hope for Mothers, Strength for Families”
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #541 Voices United “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God from whom all blessing flow,
Praise God, all creatures high and low,
Give thanks to God in love made know:
Creator, Word and Spirit, One.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, allow these gifts, those given through PAR, and those we give throughout the week.
Use them as you will, for your work, in transforming the world with love. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
COMMUNION
INVITATION ~ “Friends of God” (reading from A Song of Faith)
Invited to the table where none shall go hungry, we gather as Christ’s guests and friends.
In Holy Communion, we are commissioned to feed as we have been fed, to forgive as we have been forgiven, to love as we have been loved.
This open table speaks of shining promises: barriers broken and creation healed.
In the communion meal, wine poured out and bread broken, we remember Jesus. We remember not only the promise but also the price that he paid for who he was, for what he did and said, and for the world’s brokenness.
We taste the mystery of God’s great love for us, and are renewed in faith and hope. We place our hope in God.
We gather at this table…
…opportunities to change and discover.
KINGSFOLD COMMUNION SET #203 More Voices “Holy, Holy, Holy”
O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space
All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heaven, creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!
Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here, that we and these gifts may be signs of life and love. Open our hearts to shape and form your world with the joy you promise.
KINGSFOLD COMMUNION SET #204 More Voices “Memorial Acclamation”
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Pour your grace upon us, so that we might always see your glory, transform us at this table we pray.
KINGSFOLD COMMUNION SET #205 More Voices “Great Amen”
Amen, amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen!
Amen, amen, O Holy One, Hosanna and Amen!
…Come, for all is ready at this welcome table.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
HYMN #602 Voices United “Blest Be the Tie that Binds”
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The unity of heart and mind is like to that above.
Before our Maker’s throne we pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear;
And often for each other flows a sympathizing tear.
This glorious hope revives our courage on the way;
That we shall live in perfect love in God’s eternal day.
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
Go from this place into your community.
We go to serve our Creator by serving our community.
Go from this place into your community.
We go following Jesus who is transforming our community – with our help.
Go from this place into your community.
We will not lose heart. We shall not give up. We will follow Jesus!
ON THE WAY HYMN #964 Voices United “Go Now In Peace”
Go now in peace, go now in peace; May the love of God surround you,
Everywhere, everywhere, you may go.
Go now in peace, go now in peace; May the love of God surround you,
Everywhere, everywhere, you may go.
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 Keith Murray, Knox United, Calgary for the sermon and Rev. Leigh Sinclair, St. Davids United, Leduc, AB 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,
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
Deep inside us all – old and young alike –
There is a place of faith
A place of trust and hope and love
Without which there can be no peace.
We come this morning to worship and to learn
That our faith may be strengthened, and trust and hope may speak to power with love.
Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship
HYMN #79 More Voices “Spirit, Open My Heart”
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
Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word and deed, may my living bring you glory. Refrain
May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another. Refrain
DISCOVERY CIRCLE “Maybe”
HYMN #345 Voices United “Come, Children, Join to Sing”
Come, children, join to sing: Hallelujah! Praise to our Servant-King: Hallelujah!
Let all with heart and voice, saved by God’s gracious choice, now in this place rejoice: Hallelujah!
Come, lift your hearts on high: Hallelujah! Let praises fill the sky: Hallelujah!
Christ calls his people friends, the helpless he defends, a love that never ends: Hallelujah!
Praise yet our Christ again: Hallelujah! Raise high the joyous strain: Hallelujah!
The whole creation o’er let all God’s love adore, singing for evermore: Hallelujah!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 40:28-31
Hebrews 11:1-11
SERMON – “It’s About Faith”
HYMN #288 VU “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator; There is not 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!
Summer and winter and spring time 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
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
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
ANTHEM “Psalm of Quietness”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Gracious Creator, Mother and Father and Love.
May your name be known to all
May your love be felt throughout the universe.
We humbly ask for only what we need this day.
We seek forgiveness for any harm we have done,
in the same measure as we forgive those who have hurt us.
Light our way when the path is unclear,
that we may choose wisely.
For you are the power that hides our lives everyday.
Amen.
HYMN #173 More Voices APut Peace into Each Other’s Hands@
Put peace into each other’s hands and like a treasure hold it,
Protect it like a candle flame, with tenderness enfold it.
Put peace into each other’s hands with loving expectation;
Be gentle in your words and ways, in touch with God=s creation.
Put peace into each other’s hands like bread we break for sharing;
Look people warmly in the eye: our life is meant for caring.
Give thanks for strong yet tender hands, held out in trust and blessing.
Where words fall short, let hands speak out, the heights of love expressing.
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.
THE LIGHT CHANGES
As we prepare 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
AMEN #974 Voices United
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!