Welcome to Westminster United Church

Transcription

1 October 4, 2015 Welcome to Westminster United Church th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1G7 T: / F: E: reception@westminsteruc.com W: westminsteruc.com Season of Creation Day 5, World Wide 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: Sharing the Peace: We are a faith community building relationships with God, all people, and our world. (When you see this symbol, please rise in body or spirit, as you are able) One: You are invited to greet one another with the peace of Christ today, as we open ourselves to give and receive the spirit and peace which connects us all. One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. Call to Worship/Procession of Christ Candle: All the Ends of the Earth One: All who are righteous, shout joyfully to God! All: Sing a new song to our Creator! 1. Break into song at the deeds of the Lord, The wonders God has done in every age. One: God loves righteousness and justice. All: Sing a new song to our Creator! 2. Heaven and earth shall rejoice in his might; every heart, every nation call him Lord.

2 One: When God speaks, things happen. At the sound of God s voice, creation came into being. All: Sing a new song to our Creator! 3 The Lord has made salvation known, faithful to the promises of old. Let the ends of the earth, let the sea and all it holds make music before our King! One: Come, let us worship God. Opening Prayer (Unison): How deeply you must love us, O God. You love all Creation the birds, the insects, the fish and beasts in the sea, but we are able to know and share your love. You take us, especially the little ones, the vulnerable ones, into your gracious arms. Like a shepherd you enfold us. May your embrace find expression in our love and respect for one another and for all Creation. Amen. HYMN: God of the Sparrow VU God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the swirling stars How does the creature say Awe How does the creature say Praise 2 God of the earthquake God of the storm God of the trumpet blast How does the creature cry Woe How does the creature cry Save 3 God of the rainbow God of the cross God of the empty grave How does the creature say Grace How does the creature say Thanks 4 God of the hungry God of the sick God of the prodigal How does the creature say Care How does the creature say Life 5 God of the neighbour God of the foe God of the pruning hook How does the creature say Love How does the creature say Peace 6 God of the ages God near at hand God of the loving heart How do your children say Joy How do your children say Home Children s Time: Meet Ichy ( Bopping, World Wide Communion) Children s Hymn: O Great Earth

3 O Great Earth, so green and so blue This is the promise that I ll make to you To care for your birds and fish, for birds and fish can hear The rhythm of your heartbeat The rhythm of your heartbeat Prayer of Confession : One: Sometimes, loving God, we judge one another. We look down our noses at other people, thinking we are better. When we do that, All: God, forgive us. One: Sometimes we imagine that the ways you intended for humanity to live, in one time and place, must stand for all people. When we do that, All: God, forgive us. One: Sometimes we think that, if we do not live up to your hopes and dreams for us we are failures, and that you look down on us. When we do that All: God, forgive us. One: When we are eager to condemn others or ourselves, remind us of your grace and love. Overwhelm us with your extravagant mercy, that we might share that with others. All: Amen Words of Affirmation : What a racket! Fish bopping, snails slurping, sea monsters breaching., birds tweeting and squawking and honking and in the middle of it, the ones who should have known better arguing about human behaviour. Jesus silenced them by welcoming the noise of playful children as the delight of God s realm. So also as we let go of the furor around us to embrace our own inner child, we discover God s forgiveness. Prayer of Illumination(Unison): Holy one, may your word bring life to our spirits, abundance to our growth and transform us in service to you. ~ Amen. Biblical Notes Hebrew: Genesis 1: And God said, Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky. 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. Response to Word: One: God s word to God s People All: Thanks be to God. Amen. Anthem : How Great Thou Art/Majesty Gospel: Mark 10: Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 3 He answered them, What did Moses command you? 4 They said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.

4 5 But Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. 10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. 13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Response to Word: One: In this is the gospel of the Christ All: Praise be to God Sermon: Fish, Birds, and Marriage HYMN: The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended 1 The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended; the darkness falls at thy behest; to thee our morning hymns ascended, thy praise shall sanctify our rest. 2 We thank thee that thy church unsleeping, while earth rolls onward into light, through all the world her watch is keeping, and rests not now by day or night. 3 As o'er each continent and island the dawn leads on another day, the voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away. 4 The sun that bids us rest is waking our brethren 'neath the western sky, and hour by hour fresh lips are making thy wondrous doings heard on high. 5 So be it, Lord! Thy throne shall never, like earth's proud empires, pass away; thy kingdom stands and grows for ever, till all thy creatures own thy sway. VU438 Minute for Mission: Historic Partnership In 1884, a young woman missionary appointed by the Woman s Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, Canada, travelled from Hamilton, Ontario, to Japan. In Tokyo, Martha Cartmell founded a school for young girls called Toyo Eiwa (toh-yo eh-wah). That school has now grown to consist of an elementary school, a high school, a university, and a graduate school, all continuing to provide a Christian education for Japanese students. Toyo Eiwa

5 continues to treasure its link to Martha Cartmell; to Martha s home church, Centenary United in Hamilton, Ontario; and to The United Church of Canada. For many years the Mothers Association of the Toyo Eiwa Kindergarten sent an annual donation to The United Church of Canada so that our church could continue to help others as Toyo Eiwa had been helped. The donation began as a portion of proceeds from the gingko tree harvest. Money to plant those trees had been contributed by The United Church of Canada to Toyo Eiwa to help provide an ongoing and sustainable source of funding. Many United Church missionaries have served at Toyo Eiwa as teachers. Their names continue to be honoured and revered as living models of Christian faith. Many students came to Christianity because of Toyo Eiwa School and the missionaries sent by The United Church of Canada. In 2014, to honour the great contribution made by Martha Cartmell, the Toyo Eiwa school donated cherry trees to be planted in Hamilton, Ontario, and Thorold, Ontario (Martha s birthplace). From small beginnings come great things. Today The United Church of Canada continues to plant seeds of faith that will bear rich fruit in the future. Our generous gifts make this possible. Thanks be to God. Offering/Doxology Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving MV 185 Ev ry day is a day of thanksgiving, God, you ve been so good to me. Ev ry day you re blessing me. Ev ry day is a day of thanksgiving. I will glorify you, O my Lord, today! Dedication: (Unison) We offer bread of many cultures, cup of many tastes, gifts of many hands, talents of many givers. Take us and what we offer as signs of our thanks, O God. May they nurture us to serve you in joyously in our place and time. Amen The Sacrament of Our Lord s Supper Words of welcome As some tucked themselves into their beds last night, settling down for an evening s rest, in another corner of the world the sun was rising and the Christians were making their way to church. As some woke this morning, priests and pastors were saying their prayers and mulling over the words they would say to their people gathered for evening prayer. As we arrived at church this morning, our brothers and sisters in other lands were raising songs of praise in a multitude of languages. As we gather at table to break the bread and share the cup we are joined together with each and every one of them in the mystery of Christ who makes us one. From many different lands and many different languages we come to encounter a common story to worship a common God to follow a common path in many different ways. Presentation of the breads 1 These breads are symbols of the many different peoples within the family of God Spicy bread in honour of the men and women in Ethiopia. May we remember Africa s first Christian people who struggle with poverty, drought, famine, locusts, and civil war; as people in many African countries do the same. Pita bread in honour of the people of the Middle East. May we remember the people of Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel who have been working through many decades for peace, yet are often haunted and divided by conflict 1 Prayers inspired by Katherine Hawker. Self, Liturgy Outside the Box, Used by permission.

6 Naan bread in honour of the people of the Pakistan. May we remember these people, whose land has been devastated by flood and disease. May the hearts of the nations open in generosity to bring hope and healing to a land and its peoples. Sweet bread in honour of the people of the Iraq and Iran, whose internal politics frustrate other nations in the form of war and war-like talk. Banana bread in honour of the people of Jamaica. May we remember that beyond the tourism ads there are hundreds of thousands of sisters and brothers facing incredible challenges with violence and poverty. Rice cake in honour of the peoples of Asia who struggle with changing political roles and, like the rest of the world, the effects of global warming. Invitation At this table we are shaped and formed by the mystery that makes us one; invited to taste bread that nourishes our souls because it reminds us no matter how broken and divided we may be, love can make us whole; welcomed to receive drink that quenches our thirst for life made new because it connects us with one whose quest to honour the last and the least was so great it led to his death. Here we become what we were made to be, one family blessed and bonded, fed and nurtured to be a blessing to the world. Thanksgiving One: Let us join hands to make a vine. Grounded in the vine that is our source of existence, we give thanks for the gift of life that connects us to all creation. All: We are one with Earth and its creatures. One: Grounded in the body that is the life of Christ, we give thanks for our brothers and sisters who follow the way of Jesus. All: We are one with those who share our story. One: Grounded in our passion for justice, we give thanks for all who work for the common good. All: We are one with all who seek to be community of compassion. One: Grounded in the bread we break and the cup we share, we give thanks for what we receive at this table: wholeness and unifying peace, courage to break boundaries and strength to self-give. All: We are one with love itself in the path that we follow and the life we are called to lead. Invitation to Prayer: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying VU 400 Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us power, send us grace! Prayers of God s People: God of Love, 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. Words of Institution Anamnesis---Consecration Take, eat Bread broken with all God s people. Take, drink the cup poured out for all God s people Distribution Prayer after Communion: Grain and fruit: your strength that feeds us and your love that we that imbibe. We thank you, God of all Creation, that these common elements are for us a clear witness to your presence among us. May we be

7 vehicles of your strength and love as we leave this place to transform our world into the reality that you intended. Amen HYMN: Each Blade of Grass 1 Each blade of grass, ev ry wing that soars, the waves that sweep across a distant shore, Each laughing child, ev ry gentle eye, a forest lit beneath a moon-bright sky, 2 Each silent paw, ev ry rounded stone, the buzz that echoes from a honey d comb, Each fire-brimmed star, ev ry out-stretched hand, the wind that leaps and sails across the land, 3 Each icy peak, ev ry patterned shell, the joyous chorus that the dawn foretells, Each cosmic hue, ev ry creature s way, all form the beauty of this vast array, making full the circle of God. Commissioning/Benediction: MV37 Choral Amen: VU 967 Amen,Amen,amen. Sending Forth: This Pretty Planet Postlude This pretty planet Spinning through space You're a garden, you're a harbor, You're a holy place. Golden sun going down, Gentle blue giant Spin us around. All through the night Safe till the morning light. This pretty planet Spinning through space You're a garden, you're a harbor, You're a holy place. Please join us for refreshments and fellowship in Memorial Hall directly following the Worship service!

8 The Peace Candle is lit as a reminder for Christians to pray for and work for world peace. South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for All churches celebrating World Communion Sunday & The World Council of Churches. Elder-in-Charge: Scripture Reader: Minutes for Mission Reader: Communion Servers Greeters & Ushers: Coffee Hosts & Stair Glide Operators: Sound System Operator: Counters: Assisting with the Service This Morning Al Olson Don Reid Melanie Rattai Al Olson, Barb Grozell, Faye & Lorenz Fedrau Wally & Vivian Bergstreser, Stan and Pat Bohnet Melanie Rattai, Maureen Oster, Sharon Clay Pat Evans Joyce Shannon and Val Fedorwick Announcements/Upcoming Events The office will be closed Monday, October 12, 2015 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The September/October issue of the Upper Room is available for purchase on the ramp, or during church office hours. Cost is $2.00. Would you like to be part of the Sunday School Advent Pageant? They are looking for four older people to play different parts in their pageant, which will be part of the December 13, 2015 worship service. One or two rehearsals will be all that is needed. Please contact Lynnette Burry ( ) if you can help out United Church Calendars have arrived! Cost is yet to be determined, but let the office know if you would like one, and we ll reserve for you.they go quickly! Should you or a member of your family be admitted to hospital or an assisted living facility, please ensure that your name is on the spiritual care list and/or notify the church office. Current privacy laws mean that your lay visitors and clergy can no longer find you, nor can hospital personnel tell us where you are without your permission. We visit in hospital every week and assisted living facilities every other month, so please keep us in the loop so we can drop by. This year s Project Connect, hosted by St. John's Presbyterian Church is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21st 10 AM to 3 PM. This is a one day resource fair for those on the economic edge in Medicine Hat. Held each October it is a gathering together of resource people and service providers so that folks can find the services they need in one place at one time. A free lunch is offered and some items to take away to help people face the onset of winter. Mission and Outreach is asking folks at Westminster to donate Men s personal hygiene items - razors, shaving cream, deodorant, soap, shampoo. Bring them to the church by October 18 and they will be delivered in time for Project Connect. We Remember. If you or anyone that you knew participated in any of the wars and you have pictures or photographs that you would like to share with the congregation on Sunday, November 8, please bring them to the office for scanning or a digital copy to reception@westminsteruc.com. The stories behind the photo are also welcomed. Photos that were provided last year will also be included in the presentation for this year. Upcoming Meetings and Events: Sunday, October 4, 7:00 pm: Forum on Physician Assisted Suicide at Holy Family Church (1451 Strachan Road SE) Monday, October 5, 7:00 pm: Property Meeting in Westminster Room.

9 Tuesday, October 6, 10:00 am Worship service at Teeoda Lodge. Volunteers are welcome to assist with portering residents and hymn singing. Sunday, October 11, 10:25 am Thanksgiving Sunday Worship Service Tuesday, October 13, 4:00 pm: Finance Committee Meeting in the Lounge. Thursday, October 15, 6:00 pm: Sunday School Teacher Meeting in the Lounge. Sunday, October 18 10:25 am: Chelsea leads special meditative worship in the style of the Taize community. Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 pm Board of Elders Meeting in the Lounge. Sunday, October 25 10:25 am: Marijana Agricic from Saamis Immigration, will be our guest at worship exploring how we can assist in current refugee crisis. Retiring offering to support United Church Emergency Appeal and Saamis will be received. Friday, October 30 th, 5:30 7:30 pm: Messy Church Halloween Celebration in Memorial Hall reflection, crafts and supper for young families and anybody else who likes to have fun. Call to register by October 23. Sunday, November 1, 9:00 am Music & Worship Committee Meeting in the Lounge. Monday, November 2, 7:00 pm Property Meeting in Westminster Room. Saturday, November 7 Board of Elders will be hosting the Annual Fall Turkey Dinner. Details to follow in the next few weeks.