Welcome to Westminster United Church

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Warren Mervyn Hampton
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Welcome to Westminster United Church March 27, 2016 101 6 th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1G7 T: 403-526-5247 / F: 403-526-5983 E: reception@westminsteruc.com W: westminsteruc.

We honour also the heritage and gifts of Metis and Cree peoples. May we, as Treaty people, be wise stewards of these lands.

1 Welcome to Westminster United Church March 27, th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1G7 T: / F: E: reception@westminsteruc.com W: westminsteruc.com Easter Sunday, Communion We acknowledge with respect the history, spirituality and culture of the peoples of the Blackfoot Confederacy in whose traditional territory we worship. We honour also the heritage and gifts of Metis and Cree peoples. May we, as Treaty people, be wise stewards of these lands. Akwe Nia'Tetewá:neren [aw gway-- nyah day day waw-- nay renh] which means All my relations. Prelude: LIFE AND WORK: We are a faith community building relationships with God, all people, and our world. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS: One:Christ is Risen! ALL: Risen Indeed! (When you see this symbol, please rise in body or spirit, as you are able) REMOVAL OF FIRST ROCK Today we remove the stones from the tomb. As Jesus brings new life to the world, we leave behind the stones that weigh us down and open our lives to receive light and love of that first Easter morning. (A rock is removed.) We remove the stone that seals our hearts from experiencing life. All sing: Halle, halle, halle (VU 958) CALL TO WORSHIP: One: Christ is Risen! Alleluia! All: We are Easter people, filled with hope and joy! One: Hear the good news! Mary came to the empty tomb, and found the risen Christ. All: Jesus died and rose again God has had the final victory over death! One: We are in God s presence and bear witness to God s love and the holy mystery of Christ s resurrection. All: We experience God s love and power. We are part of the new thing that God is doing in the world around us. One: Christ is Risen! Alleluia! All: Alleluia! HYMN: Jesus Christ is Risen Today VU Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah! our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!

2 who did once, upon the cross, hallelujah! suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah! 2 Hymns of praise then let us sing hallelujah! unto Christ, our heavenly King, hallelujah! who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah! sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah! 3 But the pains which he endured, hallelujah! our salvation have procured; hallelujah! now above the sky he's King, hallelujah! where the angels ever sing. Hallelujah! 4 Sing we to our God above, hallelujah! praise eternal as God's love; hallelujah! praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah! praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah! OPENING PRAYER: (unison) God of the empty tomb, we come into your presence looking for Jesus after his death on the cross. We find the risen Christ and are delighted and transformed. As the stone was rolled away from the tomb on the first Easter morning, may we move any obstacle in our hearts and minds to encountering you in the holy mystery we remember today. Amen. CHILDREN S TIME: Removal of Second Rock After the questions and testing of Lent and Holy Week, after finality of death, we find faith renewed. ( A rock is removed.) We remove the rock from the tomb that shall not be moved and we stand strong. All sing: Halle, halle, halle (VU 958) Hallelujah! Hallelujah PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION: God of mystery, we recognize the hopes and limitations in our lives and confess to you the times when we have not followed your will. We are Easter people, living the mystery of the resurrection and transformation in our own lives. We know that all things are possible with God and look for moments of grace to make up for our own shortcomings. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE: God opens loving arms and invites us to come in and know God s love and forgiveness. HYMN: Christ is Risen from the Dead Glory Hallelujah x2 VU 167 Christ is risen from the dead, glory, hallelujah! Jesus Christ is risen, glory, hallelujah! RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS: Linda Kisell REMOVAL OF THIRD ROCK In the face of pain and death, God s love strengthens and holds us. ( A rock is removed.) We remove the rock of strength from the tomb and discover it is light as we carry it wherever it is needed.

3 PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: Holy God, you design an infinitely complex Creation, you nudge us into attentiveness, and you astonish us with the resurrection of Jesus. May the words we hear now humble our conceit, shake our complacency and open us to wonder. Amen God Says (Verse 1) MV 172 (Tune VU 372) 1 God says, Be still so you may hear the words I whisper in your ear. If you will listen, you will know I m with you always where you go. BIBLICAL NOTES SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 65: See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, for plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord. REMOVAL OF FOURTH ROCK In the midst of wonder and awe, we let go of the fear that stops our journey. (A rock is removed.) We remove the rock from the tomb that causes us to stumble and set it aside from our path. SCRIPTURE: Luke 24: On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and

4 went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. CHORAL RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE: God Says (Verse 2) MV 172 (Tune VU 372) 2 God says, Look up and see the prize I ve placed here right before your eyes. Find beauty in the things of earth, a cause for wonder and rebirth. REMOVAL OF FIFTH ROCK The resurrection requires us to trust not in our culture or our institutions but in God and God s ability to change the reality of the world. (A rock is removed.) We remove the rock of trust from the tomb and give it its proper place in our lives. MEDITATION: Shock and Awe HYMN: The Strife is Over VU The strife is o'er, the battle done; the victory of life is won; the song of triumph has begun, hallelujah! 2 The powers of death have done their worst, but Christ their legions has dispersed; let shouts of holy joy outburst, hallelujah! 3 He closed the ancient gates of hell, the bars from heaven's high portals fell; let songs of praise his triumph tell, hallelujah! 4 On the third morn he rose again, glorious in majesty to reign; O let us swell the joyful strain, hallelujah!

5 REMOVAL OF SIXTH ROCK If we are open to the radicalness of the story, the events of Easter morning unsettle us. The events of Jesus life unsettle us. (A rock is removed.) We remove the rock of discomfort from the tomb so that discomfort confronts and transforms our lives and the world. OFFERING/ DOXOLOGY God Says (Verse 3) MV 172 (Tune VU 372) 3 God says, Come here! I need your voice, Please teach my people to rejoice. In who you are, in what you do, your life will show my love for you. DEDICATION: God, we thank you for our new life in the risen Christ. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. You have built a foundation for our church, our community of faith. We offer our gifts to you today. Take them and make them opportunities for new life to grow in you. INVITATION TO PRAYER: O God, We Call VU 411 O God we call, O God we call, from deep inside we yearn, from deep inside we yearn, from deep inside we yearn for you. PRAYERS OF GOD S PEOPLE: One: God of Love All: Hear our Prayer 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 them that 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. Sacrament of Our Lord s Supper We take this simple bread, and as it is broken we think of Jesus words: Take and eat; this is my body broken for you. All: It is broken that we may live in fullness and wholeness. We take this simple cup, and as it is lifted up we think of Jesus words: Take and drink; this is my blood, poured out for you and many for the forgiveness of sin. All: It is poured out that we may know ourselves forgiven Prayer for after Communion Loving God, you have gathered us here out of love for you, and reminded us at this table

6 that we are one people. Send us out, now, into a hurting world to share the good news that Christ is alive for all people. Amen. CLOSING HYMN: Thine is the Glory VU Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son: endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes where the body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son: endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. 2 Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb! Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom. Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord now liveth: death hath lost its sting. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son: endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. 3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love; bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son: endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. REMOVAL OF SEVENTH ROCK Jesus life and death carry transformative power for the world. When we are tempted to carry on with life as usual, may the wonder of the story call us to faithful discipleship. (A rock is removed.) Having walked through death, we remove the rock of temptation from the tomb as we turn our lives toward God and new life. COMMISSIONING/BENEDICTION: CHORAL AMEN: Amen, Amen, It Shall Be So MV 112 Amen, amen, it shall be so! Amen, alleluia! SENDING FORTH: God Says (Verse 4) MV 172 (Tune VU 372) 4 God says, Reach out! The world s in need and wants a word, a song, a deed. I send you forth to speak, to sing, to act for Christ in everything. POSTLUDE:

7 Elder-in-Charge: Scripture Reader Greeters & Ushers: Sound System Operator: Counters: Assisting with the Service This Morning BJ Maddaford Sharon Clay Al Piotrowski, Lynn Graff, Linda Kisell, John Leask Pat Evans Stan Bohnet and Clare White Announcements/Upcoming Events Please think before you spray! Many people are severely allergic to perfumes, colognes, scented hairspray, etc. Your cooperation in refraining from using these products is greatly appreciated. Food Bank Donations: The first Sunday of each Month, all Communion Services, Thanksgiving Sunday, and World Food Sunday non-perishable food items are collected in the wooden box located in the Narthex, for distribution to our local food bank. If you wish, cash or cheque (made payable to M.H. & District Food Bank) donations are also accepted. There will be no coffee after worship today, as there were no volunteers to prepare the coffee.. Sign up list is on bulletin board on the way to Memoria Hall. To save energy and to respect our congregation s commitment to environmental responsibility we are planning a Lug-a-Mug Ministry. Bring your favourite travel mug with you on Sunday morning and take it home after. Get into the habit save clean up after church. The funds that are contributed at coffee time this month are donated to Westminster United Church UCW. St. John's Presbyterian Church is again assisting Lisa Waites, the Chaplain for the Medicine Hat Ecumenical College Chaplaincy, with the collecting of a nutritional healthy snack bar for exam time. Examples of these are: Fruit Source, Protein Bars, Nature Valley Bars (Trail Mix Bars, Crunchy Oats &Honey, Sweet & Salty), Granola Bars, Fruit and Nut Bars or SunRype Fruit to Go Bars. Please have your items delivered to St John's no later than NOON on Monday, April 11th. If you have any questions, please call Leann Webb at , who is co-ordinating this project on behalf of St. John's. Rev. David Ewart writes "What is the meaning of life? Find your gifts; use them for the purposes to which God has given them to you; and questions of meaning, purpose and identity will resolve themselves as you discern, use and deepen your gifts." For an opportunity to explore your own Spirit Given Gifts, please join us for a Spirit Given Gifts workshop modelled on Ewart's work. Workshop will be held in the Westminster United Church Lounge on Saturday April 9 from 1:00-3:30 pm. Participants from all congregations are welcome. Please register by calling the WUC office at or ing reception@westminsteruc.com. On Thursday, March 31, watch as The United Church of Canada officially adopts the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Moderator Jordan Cantwell and representatives from the Aboriginal Ministries Council will deliver a statement starting at 3:30 p.m. (Eastern), with the event live-streamed on the United Church YouTube channel. Everyone is invited to join for a moment of witness and commitment to guide the church toward a transformed relationship with Indigenous Canadians. This is being done in response to Call to Action #48 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Upcoming Meetings and Events: Sunday, April 3, 12:30 pm Music & Worship Committee meeting in the Lounge. Monday April 4, 5:00 pm--live streaming of The Walrus Talks: Spirituality : Seven leading thinkers examine the role of religion in our secular society. See and the article on pg. 26 and 27 of the March Observer.

8 Monday, April 4, 7:00 pm Property Meeting in Westminster Room Tuesday, April 5, 10:00 am Worship Service at Teeoda Lodge. Volunteers are welcome to assist with music and portering residents. Thursday, April 7, 1:00 pm Worship Service at MasterPiece Retirement Centre.. Volunteers are welcome to assist with music and portering residents. Tuesday, April 12, 4:00 pm Finance & Stewardship Meeting in the Lounge. Sunday, April 17, 11:30 am UCW Chili Luncheon, and presentation on Legacy Giving by Kathryn Hofley, Financial Development Officer with the United Church of Canada, in the Lounge at 12:30 pm. Sunday, April 17, 4:00 pm Covenanting Service for the Reverend David Pollard at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church. Sunday, April 17 Spring Supper at Peace United Church. Two sittings (4:00 and 6:00 pm). Details to follow. Tuesday, April 19, 7:00 pm Board of Elders Meeting in the Lounge. Sunday, April 24, 10:25 am Camp Sunday. Hot dog lunch in Memorial Hall following Worship Service.

Welcome to Westminster United Church

Welcome to Westminster United Church 101 6 th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1G7 T: 403-526-5247 / F: 403-526-5983 E: reception@westminsteruc.com W: westminsteruc.com Easter 4 April 17, 2016 We acknowledge