THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA St. Paul s Pastoral Charge February 4, 2018

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1 PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS WELCOME THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA St. Paul s Pastoral Charge February 4, 2018 INTROIT: VU # 385 Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers (vs. 1) Spirit divine, attend our prayers, and make this house your home; descend with all your gracious powers; oh come, great Spirit, come. GOD GATHERS US TOGETHER CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively) One: Do you really not know All: that he is God of all in the heavens and on the earth? One: Have you really not heard All: how he has brought princes to naught and oppressors to their knees? One: Haven t you already been told All: that you re counted among the stars, and that you matter? One: Do you not know, have you not heard? All: We come to learn, we come for our strength to be renewed, we come in hope. OPENING HYMN VU # 79 Arise, Your Light Is Come The Spirit's call obey; Show forth the glory of your God, Which shines on you today. Fling wide the prison door; Proclaim the captives' liberty, Good tidings to the poor. All you in sorrow born, Bind up the broken-hearted ones And comfort those who mourn. The mountains burst in song! Rise up like eagles on the wing; God's power will make us strong. PRAYER OF APPROACH 1

2 CHILDREN S HYMN Jesus Loves the Little Children Jesus loves the little children All the children of the world Red and yellow, black and white They are precious in His sight Jesus loves the little children of the world Time with the Children Prayer The Lord s Prayer CHILDREN S HYMN: Jesus Loves the Little Children Jesus cares for all the children All the children of the world Red and yellow, black and white They are precious in His sight Jesus cares for the children of the world PRAYER OF CONFESSION All: Holy God, we know how easy it is for us to forget who you are. It is easy for us to claim ignorance of your power and your love. It is so easy for us point fingers at others and forget our own roles in contributing to an unfair and unjust world. It is easy for us to block the images of oppression on television and on social media. Forgive our disregard, O God. Open all the closed corners of our minds that they may be opened to the reality of injustice all around us. Re-sensitize us unto our human selves so that we can be appropriately appalled and pained at violence and oppression. Reconcile us to each other as one. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: Know this and receive this: The Lord gives strength to the weary, and mercy to the sorrowful. If you hope in the Lord you shall not stumble or faint, but be lifted up on eagle s wings. All: Amen. Praise be to God! PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION WE HEAR GOD S WORD SCRIPTURES: Old Testament: Isaiah 40: pg. 668 Psalm 103 Pg. 825 VU Bless God, my soul, and all my being, bless God's holy name. Bless God, my soul, and forget not all God has done for you. Bless God, who forgives all your sin, who heals you in all your infirmities, who redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with mercy and love, 2

3 who fills your life with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's, who works righteousness and justice for all who are wronged. R O God, you showed your ways to Moses, your deeds to the children of Israel. You are compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and extravagant in love. You will not always accuse nor do you keep your anger forever. You have not dealt with us according to our sins nor punished us according to our wickedness. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is your steadfast love toward those who fear you. As far as the east is from the west, so far have you put away our sins from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so you have compassion for those who fear you. As a mother comforts her child, so you comfort us, O God. For you know how we were made. You remember that we are dust. Bless God, O my soul. R Epistle: Ephesians 3:14-21 pg. 193 N.T. Reader: We Give thanks for God s Word. All: Amen. MINISTRY OF SONG THE CHOIR MESSAGE: Celebrating Black History Hymn: VU# 670 Precious Lord, Take My Hand (vs. 1 & 2) Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me on, let me stand I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn Through the storm, through the night Lead me on to the light Refrain: 3

4 When my way grows drear, precious Lord linger near When my light is almost gone Hear my cry, hear my call Hold my hand lest I fall Refrain: OFFERTORY SENTENCE Offering WE RESPOND TO GOD S WORD Dedication of Offering: VU 382 Breathe On Me Breath of God (vs. 1) Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the way you love, and do what you would do. OFFERTORY PRAYER (Unison) In the name and in the spirit of Jesus, we bring our gifts to you, O God. Help us to give with them a ready mind, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE One: God of Our Lives, we come as a broken and confused people before your throne. We come as a people who have all somewhere along the line, been victims of wicked and greedy earthly powers. We have been fooled to think that we are superior to one another, and we have acted upon that belief in one way or another. Grant us wisdom and clarity as we find ways to enter into or maintain relationships with our Black siblings and cousins this month. All: Give us the opportunity to get to know each other through service and dialogue. Soothe us from the awkward conversations that we will pursue in the name of togetherness and understanding. One: God of the World, be with all peoples throughout the nations as they struggle with concepts that are both familiar and unfamiliar to us. We raise to you our migrant siblings and cousins in Libya who have been exploited and sold into slavery. We raise to you their loved ones spouses, parents, and children who wait for them to return, but who may wait in vain. We raise those who are weary from war, starving from famine, broken from sexual exploitation and violence. All: May they know you as the One who will renew their strength. God of the World, whisper our love to them, and grant us ways to aid them in their difficult time. One: God of the Universe, we bring ourselves to your feet. We are facing different hardships at the moment, but just as you know the makeup of each starry host, so too are you aware of who we are, and what we are facing. 4

5 All: Activate your hope within us so that we may rely on the strength and comfort you offer. We ask all this in Jesus name. Amen. IN JESUS NAME WE GO TO SERVE Closing Hymn: VU # 651 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (3 vs.) Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more; Feed me till I want no more. Open now the crystal fountain, Whence the healing stream doth flow; Let the fire and cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield; Be Thou still my Strength and Shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death and hell s Destruction, Land me safe on Canaan s side. Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee; I will ever give to Thee. COMISSIONING & BENEDICTION POSTLUDE (The main part of this Liturgy was prepared by Charmain Bailey Foutner a student diaconal minister serving in solo ministry at Bedford United Church, Windsor, ON) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 5