A SERVICE OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

Transcription

1 A SERVICE OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH, 4:00 P.M. ST. JOHN S DIXIE - PEACE CHAPEL 737 DUNDAS ST. E, MISSISSAUGA

2 Processional Hymn: #10 WE, THE LORD S PEOPLE Please stand & sing We, the Lord's people, heart and voice uniting, praise him who called us out of sin and darkness into his own light, that he might anoint us a royal priesthood. This is the Lord's house, home of all his people, school for the faithful, refuge for the sinner, rest for the pilgrim, haven for the weary; all find a welcome. This is the Lord's day, day of God's own making, day of creation, day of resurrection, day of the Spirit, sign of heaven's banquet, day for rejoicing. In the Lord's service bread and wine are offered, that Christ may take them, bless them, break, and give them to all his people, his own life imparting, food everlasting. The Gathering of the Community - Rev. Daniel Brereton Leader: Dear Friends in Christ, as we gather together in this service of prayer for unity, we thank God for our Christian dignity and vocation, described in the words of St. Peter: You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. We pray this year with the Christians of Latvia, who have prepared this service in the hope that we may grow in our communion with our Lord Jesus Christ and with all our brothers and sisters aspiring to unity. People: Amen. Prayers for the Holy Spirit - Rev. Neville Smith Leader: Holy Spirit, gift of the Father through his Son Jesus Christ, dwell in us all, open our hearts and help us to listen to our voice. People: Holy Spirit, come upon us. Leader: Holy Spirit, Divine Love source of unity and holiness, show us the love of the Father. People: Holy Spirit, come upon us.

3 Leader: Holy Spirit, Fair of Love, purify us, removing all the divisons in our hearts, in our communities and in the world, and so make us one in Jesus name. People: Holy Spirit, come upon us. Leader: Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith in Jesus, truly divine and truly human, who carried our sins of division to the Cross and brought us to communion in his Resurrection. People: Holy Spirit, come upon us. Leader: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, dwell in us so that we may become a communion of love and holiness. Make us one in you, who live and reign for ever and ever. People: Amen. Hymn: #646 SPIRIT DIVINE, ATTEND OUR PRAYERS Please stand & sing Spirit divine, attend our prayers, and make our hearts your home; descend with all your gracious powers: O come, great Spirit, come! Come as the light: to us reveal our emptiness and woe, and lead us in those paths of life where all the righteous go. Come as the fire and purge our hearts like sacrificial flame; let our whole life an offering be to our Redeemer's name. Come as the dove and spread your wings, the wings of peaceful love; and let your church on earth become blest as the church above. Prayer of Reconcilliation - Rev. Karen Pozios Leader: God invites us to reconciliation and holiness. Let us turn our minds, hearts and bodies to receive the grace of reconciliation on the way to holiness. Leader: Lord, you created us in your own image. Forgive us when we do not respect our nature and the world that you gave us. Lord have mercy. People: Lord have mercy.

4 Leader: Jesus, you invite us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Forgive us we fail to be holy, to be people of integrity and to respect human rights and dignity. Christ have mercy. People: Christ have mercy. Leader: Lord of life, of peace and of justice, forgive us when we transmit the culture of death, of war and of injustice, and fail to build a civilization of love. Lord have mercy. People: Lord have mercy. Leader: Merciful God, fill us with your grace and holiness. Make us apostles of love wherever we go. This we pray through Christ, our Lord. People: Amen. Reader: A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah - Pastor Norman Garcia Please be seated Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Reader: The word of the Lord. Isaiah People: Thanks be to God. A moment of silence is observed Psalm ,15-16,17-18 Rev. Paul J. Walker Please be seated Reader: I will bless your name for ever and ever. People: I will bless your name for ever and ever. Reader: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. People: I will bless your name for ever and ever.

5 Reader: The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. People: I will bless your name for ever and ever. Reader: The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. People: I will bless your name for ever and ever. Reader: A Reading from the First Letter of Peter. - Rev. Susan Climo Please be seated But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Reader: The word of the Lord. 1 Peter People: Thanks be to God. A moment of silence is observed Hymn: #428 GOD WHO GIVES TO LIFE IT S GOODNESS Please stand & sing God who gives to life its goodness, God creator of all joy, giver of all human freedom, God who blesses tool and toy: teach us now to laugh and praise you, deep within your praises sing, till the whole creation dances for the goodness of its king. God who fills the earth with beauty, God who binds each friend to friend, giver of all human talent, God who wills that chaos end: grant us now creative spirits, minds responsive to your mind, hearts and wills your rule extending, all our acts by love refined.

6 Please stand Reader: A Reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.- Rev. Neville Smith When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Reader: The word of the Lord. Matthew People: Thanks be to God. A moment of silence is observed Sermon: Rev. James Craig Please be seated Commitment to be Salt and Light The Leader then makes the following invitation to the congregation. Please stand Leader: We have listened to the Scriptures which we honour and treasure,and we have been nourished together at one table of the Word. We will carry this holy Word out into the world with us, for we are joined in one mission, to be Salt of the Earth, to be Light to the World, and to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord. As a sign of this mission in which we share, we invite those who wish to come forward, and take a small pinch of this salt and to light an individual candle from this one flame. Both salt and candle will be placed in the box at the front of the chapel. People come forward to take a pinch of salt, light a candle, and place both in the sandbox.

7 The Offering Today s offering will be go to East Mississauga Community Centre for their work in this community.. Offering Hymn: #500 SISTER LET ME BE YOUR SERVANT All sing Sister, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow travellers on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ light for you in the night time of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony, born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony. Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. Prayers of Hope - Rev. Paul J. Walker Please be seated Leader: As God s children, aware of our dignity and mission, let us raise our prayers and affirm our desire to be a holy people of God. Leader: Loving Father, transform our hearts, our families, our communities and our society. People: Make all your people holy and one in Christ. Leader: Water of life, quench the thirst that exists in our society, the thirst for dignity, for love, for communion and holiness. People: Make all your people holy and one in Christ.

8 Leader: Holy Spirit, Spirit of joy and peace, heal the divisions caused by our misuse of power and money, and reconcile us across different cultures and languages. Unite us as God s children. People: Make all your people holy and one in Christ. Leader: Trinity of love, lead us out of darkness into your marvellous light. People: Make all your people holy and one in Christ. Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, we are made one with you in baptism and therefore we unite our prayers to yours in the words you taught us. People: 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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Sharing of the Peace - Rev. Karen Pozios Please stand Leader: Jesus says: You are the salt of the earth. You are the lights of the world. Let your light shine before tothers, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Be salt of the earth. Be light to the world. The peace of the Lord be with your always. People: And with your Spirit. Leader: Let us offer one another a sign of peace. The worshippers greet one another with an embrace, bow, handshake, or kiss.

9 Blessing & Dismissal - Rev.Susan Climo Leader: Blest be the poor in spirit. Blest be those who mourn. Blest be the meek. Blest be the merciful. Blest be the pure in heart. Blest be the peace-makers. Blest be the persecuted. Blest be you by God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People: Amen. Leader: Go in the peace of Christ. People: Amen. Recessional Hymn: #502 YOUR ARE THE SALT FOR THE EARTH All sing You are salt for the earth, O people: salt for the kingdom of God! Share the flavour of life, O people: life in the kingdom of God! Refrain: Bring forth the kingdom of mercy, bring forth the kingdom of peace; bring forth the kingdom of justice, bring forth the city of God! You are a light on the hill, O people: light for the city of God! Shine so holy and bright, O people: shine for the kingdom of God! Refrain: You are a seed of the Word, O people: bring forth the kingdom of God! Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice grow in the kingdom of God! Refrain: We are a blest and a pilgrim people bound for the kingdom of God! Love our journey and love our homeland: love is the kingdom of God! Refrain: All music is reproduced under OneLicense.net A and CCLI #

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