The United Church of Canada Bathurst Pastoral Charge First United Church, Bathurst THE COMMUNITY GATHERS

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1 The United Church of Canada Bathurst Pastoral Charge First United Church, Bathurst November 08, 2015 Remembrance Sunday Clergy Rev. Blair Lewis Organists Martha Vickers Office Adm. Isabel Clouston Greeters Dorothy Ann McCallum Custodian Alan Wilcox Beth Sullivan All musical selections reprinted under licence #606499, LicenSing for Churches. *Last Post: *Silence: *Act of Remembrance: One: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor do the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. All: We will remember them. Lectionary for today Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 Lectionary for next Sunday I Samuel 1:4-20 Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11-14, Mark 13:1-8 *Reveille: *Depositing the Colours: Lighting of the Christ Candle: We welcome this morning the Members and Auxiliary Members of the Herman J. Good (V.C.) Branch #18 Royal Canadian Legion who join with us in this time of remembrance. THE COMMUNITY REMEMBERS The asterisk * identifies those times in the service where the congregation is invited to stand as able. Organ Prelude: *Procession of Flags by the Colour Party: The Maple Leaf Forever In Flanders Fields: Cleveland Jagoe THE COMMUNITY GATHERS Welcoming One Another: (in unison) This morning as we welcome one another to worship let us take a moment to share a prayer for peace in our world. With the rising of the sun we sing praise to you, O God, you give us our breath. Keep us mindful of the ways that you call us to be at work in our world, we pray that you will use us for your purposes, with your help may we work together for peace and right relationships with our brothers and sisters around the world. May our goal be to work in solidarity with one another for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcoming Friends Worshipping by CD: Announcements: *O Canada: (#524 VU) O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons 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. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

2 Call To Worship: One: Grace to you and peace from God, our source of life. All: Grace and peace also to you. One: As we gather this day, we seek the refreshing touch of God's healing Spirit. All: May our time of worship be filled with the Spirit of gentleness and hope. One: Let us worship God. Prayer of Approach: (in unison) O God, where hearts are fearful and confined, grant freedom and daring; where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance; where impossibilities close every door and window, grant imagination and resistance; where distrust reshapes every understanding, grant healing and transformation; where spirits are daunted and dimmed, grant soaring wings and strengthened dreams. *Opening Hymn: For the Healing of the Nations Children of All Ages: #678 VU *Hymn: Put Peace into Each Other s Hands #173 MV 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 unto each other s hands; the Peace that sought and found you The Lord s Prayer: Meditation: The Essence of Hope THE SERVICE OF THE WORD Prayer for Understanding: (in unison) In our struggle to hear your Word, O God, bless even our doubts, our wonderings, our wanderings, our soul-struggles, life s deep questions, and deeper mysteries. Teach us to love our questions as well as our answers. Amen Scripture Readings: New Testament Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28 Responsive Psalm: Psalm 127 #851 VU Gospel Lesson: Mark 12 : Anthem: As the Deer Pants for Water THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS Presentation of Gifts and Self to God: Choral Response: We bring our gifts to share, and lift our grateful prayer That with our faithful care, Our world will grow. Through work of minds and hands in gestures small or grand, Let willing hearts expand the love You sow. -4-

3 *Prayer of Dedication: (in unison) O God, you give us life; you are the source of every blessing. Our offering is but a token of our gratitude to you. Use our offering, and us, to work your will in the world you love, and let all we say and do be to your glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen Prayer Of Confession: One: Let us confess together. All: forgive us, Lord, when we think too highly of ourselves and clamor after privilege and honour. Forgive us, Lord, when we cannot lift our gaze because we do not believe we have anything to give. You have given us the best gift of all: freedom from all that harms us and the way to abundant life. Have mercy on our foolishness and heal our lovesick hearts, that we may live faithfully for you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen Choral Response: How Deep the Peace #95 MV How deep the peace, the confidence, Of those whose wrongs are forgiven. How deep the peace, the confidence Of those whose hearts are healed. Assurance of Pardon: Hear the vision of the prophets: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Trust the God who longs for peace. We are forgiven, strengthened, empowered to be peacemakers in our world. Thanks be to God. -5- Reflective Music/Silent Prayer: Pastoral Prayer: One: God, whose will is love and whose desire is peace, be near us as we remember and pray. All: The scarlet colour of the poppy reminds us of the blood that is shed in war, of the white crosses which remain on distant battlefields, and the young men that are remembered in a local Cemetary, and of the life blood that flowed from your own Son. One: O God, turn us away from the ways of war and violence. The delicate petals of the poppy speak to us of the beauty and of the fragility of peace. O God, lead us in new pathways of justice and love. All: May the seeds of peace take root in us and blossom in a world where flowers may grow unharmed, and poppies of remembrance and gratitude flourish. In the name of your Son, we pray it. One: Today, O God, we remember and we are thankful that we live in a peaceful country. We remember all who gave their lives so that their children and grandchildren could live in peace. All: We pray that all people on earth will learn to live peacefully together to share, that none will be hungry or homeless; to solve our problems by talking not fighting; to respect all forms of life, and to use our knowledge to save life and not to destroy it. Amen. *Closing Hymn: THE COMMUNITY GOES FORTH Make Me a Channel of Your Peace 684 VU An Act of Commitment One: Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service. Will you strive for all that makes for peace? -6-

4 All: One: All: One: All: One: All: We will! Will you seek to heal the wounds of war? We will! Will you work for a just future for all humanity? We will! Merciful God, we offer to you the fears in us that have not yet been cast out by love. May we accept the hope you have placed in the hearts of all people and live lives of justice, courage and mercy, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen! *Commissioning: One: As we go forth, let us give thanks and glory to God. All: Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the church, and in Christ Jesus, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20 *Blessing: (in unison) May God bless you and keep you. May God s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God look upon you with kindness and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 *Color Party Receives Flags *God Save the Queen God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen: Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us; God save the Queen. *Recessional Organ Postlude: -7- The Poppy Crosses in our sanctuary are placed in loving memory of: by: Arthur Bond Dot, Cora and Helen Burns Branch Sharon, Beverley, Catherine and families Tracy Branch & Thomas Scott Lester and Shirley Robert Carmichael Joyce and family Sanford Cormier Wayne, Phyllis and family Fenton Daley John & Isabel Vernon Daley Peter and Thelma Astle Keith Dobson The family Clarence (Nib) & Betty Gammon Frank & Vera Cameron The family Clinton C. L. Gammon The family Lloyd D. Gammon Carole, Tom & Connie Chesley Harris Hazel and family Guy and Winifred Hierlihy Blake, Kathy & family Vivian Howatt The family Hubert and Donald Jagoe The family Thomas Jamieson The family Robert Keswick Norma, Lynn and family Charles Knowles Wendy, Stanley and families James C. (Jim) Knowles Joyce, Bill and Family Robert L. (Bob) Knowles Helen and family Richard, Charles, James, Robert and Winston Knowles; Viva Hinton Elmer, John and Leslie Hinton Harold A. MacKay Jack and Emma Walter MacKay His Wife, Anita Jim MacLaggan Isabel and family John Earnest McKinney His Wife, Mae McKinney Ernest William O Donnell Jessie Horsley and family Hugh & Laura Parrott The family Howard Pettigrew Ina and family C. Norman Scott Emma & Jack Tom Sullivan Sullivan family Ian Tower Lois & family S. Keith Wilcox The family Ralph Willis Dot, Cora & Helen -8-

5 Church News This Week at First United Nov 9 Nov. 14 Monday 6:15 Beavers Rms 1.2&3 Tuesday 2pm Bible Study 6:pm Choir Practice 6:15 Cubs & Scouts DEMH GYM Wednesday Office Closed Remembrance Day The bulletin today has been placed in loving memory of Robert M., Robert H, Arthur & Earnest Young by the Family **** Thomas, Earl, Gerald, Huelett Knowles by the Family **** Jim MacLaggan by Isabel and family Peanut Butter for Volunteer Centre Commitment December 31, Total to Date 706 To meet our obligation, we will need to collect jars of peanut butter per week. Turkey Harvest Supper Thursday, November 26, 2015 Donald Eddy Memorial Hall Adults $ 15 Children (12 and under) $ 6 5:00 6:30 p.m. Takeouts available 4:00 5:30 p.m. All tickets sold in advance. For information call The Upper Room for Nov. and Dec. are in the Narthex. Please feel free to take one. A container for donations is located with the publication. -9- Christmas Luncheon, Craft and Bake Sale: November 28, 2015, Donald Eddy Memorial Hall, 10am-1pm Admission $10, Christmas crafts & outdoors decorations Baking, Pies, Fudge, Preserves etc. (Lunch of Sandwiches and Small Cakes will be provided.) Sponsored by Friends of First & Team Esperanza (Anyone wishing to donate baking for the sale table is asked to bring it to the DEMH on Friday Nov. 27 between 8 & 4.) Universal Portrait Studios. Photos taken by Universal Portrait studios in September are available in the Narthex this morning. Announcement will be made when the Directories are in. Community Events John Sands Concert On November 17 th, 2015, a John Sands Concert will be held at Bethel United Church, Nash Creek, NB hosted by Chaleur United Church Congregation. Tickets and information are available from Ruth at or Diane at John Sands is a master of the key boards. His style shows hints of contemporary, classical, Latin and original rhythms. Expertise at his Yamaha Concert Organ combined with his distinctive styling allows him to create moods in music that have delighted his audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. He has a great love and enthusiasm for what he does. For more information go to: Anglican Parish of New Bandon Christmas Craft & Bake Sale Christ Church Hall, Clifton Saturday, November 21 9:30 AM - 12 PM ITEMS: Fruit cakes, Scotch cakes, Variety squares, Tea rings, Rolls, Bread, Fudge, Baskets homemade preserves, Knitted items, Crocheted items and a Variety of crafts Coffee, tea, muffins and biscuits will be provided. Admission: $5.00 ea Family & Community Breakfast, Saturday, November 14, :00 10:30 am, Saint George s Church Hall, 432 King Ave. -10-

6 Bathurst Christian Women invite you to their Harvest Time Silent Auction Luncheon Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Danny s Inn and Conference Center $15.00, 11:30 to 1:00 pm. Bushels of goodies, with home baked goods, gifts for the highest bidders, and bargains galore. Packed with a peck of music, soloist Karen Chamberlain is accompanied by Helen Hachey. Sold with a measure of joy, with Raya Duggan, resident of Bedford, NS and guest speaker, whose message is Living Happily After. Reservations are necessary. Call Connie or Joanne ejgodin@rogers.com Thank you! On behalf of the Lesotho Initiative Committee of the Anglophone North School District, a special thank you is extended to the congregation of First United Church for your support of the Help Lesotho 2016 calendar drive. A total of 192 calendars were sold, and this will raise $2880. for the work of Help Lesotho with Grandmothers and vulnerable children in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Africa. Saint George s Anglican Church will be holding a FUN TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE AUCTION on Friday, November 13th. Viewing begins at 6:30 pm and the Auction will start at 7:00 pm. A Very Special Holiday Musical Celebration in support of the Spirit of Christmas and the S. P. C. A. will feature the talents of Rosalind Kennedy-Townsend and Dorothy Roy Nini along with: Anick Carruthers, Alysa Collins, Bathurst High School Choir, Bathurst Community Band, Craig Caldwell, Eddy Edwards, Gabrielle Carruthers, Jasmine LaPointe, Jason Nicol, Jody Smith, Larissa Godin, Derek Knowles, Linda Knowles-MacPherson, Parkwood Heights Elementary School Choir, Stacy Hickey-Buraglia, Suzanne Cyr, and Take Note. There will be two performances with one on Saturday, November 28, and the other on Sunday, November 29. Performances begin at 7:00 P. M. in the Gwendolyn Kent Auditorium, Bathurst High School. Tickets cost $15.00 and are available at: Captain s Cabin, Parkwood Heights Elementary School, S. P. C. A. and from the participants.

7 Hebrews 9:24-28 New International Version (NIV) The Best on Earth: A Remembrance Day Tribute If someone has done military service, They earn the title "veteran," and more; They earn our deep respect and admiration; That they are special no one can ignore. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. They sacrificed the comforts we enjoy; The list is long of all the things they gave. Our veterans are extraordinary people; They re loyal, dedicated, true and brave. When terror and invasion were real threats, They showed us they could handle any storm. We owe our freedoms and our very lives To our veterans, who served in uniform. Our veterans should be celebrities; They re exceptional; no other group compares. We re grateful for the many things they ve done; They re always in our hearts and in our prayers. We owe our veterans support and friendship; Let no one ever question what they re worth. These men and women served us and our country, Our veterans--the very best on earth. By Joanna Fuchs

8 Mark 12:38-44 New International Version (NIV) Warning Against the Teachers of the Law 38 As he taught, Jesus said, Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely. The Widow s Offering 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on.