UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA MELFORT ETHELTON PASTORAL CHARGE Office: (306) 752-2288 Email: melfortuc@sasktel.net Website: www.melfortunitedchurch.com Worship Time: 10:30 AM Ministers: All of us Lead Minister: Emmanuel Menyereye Music: Jodi Allen Music Director: Mavis Peters Office Administrator: Denise Todosichuk Caretaker: Faye Greier Today s Greeter: Lorne Anderson Scripture Readers: Robin Miazga, Stacey Kleiboer ORDER OF WORSHIP November 25, 2018 Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost Year B REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY WE GATHER AS A COMMUNITY OF GOD S PEOPLE As we gather for worship today we acknowledge that the land on which we gather is Treaty 6 Territory. We honour the Cree and Métis people for whom this place has been a homeland for thousands of years. We respect the sacredness of our home and the ground on which we walk and we are grateful to gather here in peace and hope. ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNIVERSARIES & CONCERNS: CALL TO WORSHIP: God reigns: let the earth be glad. God s word is truth; let all people rejoice. We bow before God s strength and majesty; we come in awe before God most high. Grace to you and peace from the One who is and was and is to come. God s rule is from everlasting and forevermore; all creation bows before God s holiness. Be gathered, then, by God s love and truth,
-2- to worship and make faithful witness. God is our righteousness and our peace. We come to be renewed in God s truth. HYMN (VU 334) All hail the power of Jesus name OPENING PRAYER: (in unison) God of life, thank you for leading us to your way of justice, peace, love, and truth. You have given us examples of how we can live. You have taught us about truth. You have given us a glimpse of your reign, of your possibilities, and your promise. Help us to follow your example and to follow your way. Amen. HYMN (MV 135) Called by Earth and Sky PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE: (in unison) Alpha and Omega, God of the beginning and of the end: you have delivered us from evil through your beloved child, Jesus, yet, we stray from your ways when we speak hurtful words and know that we should not. Forgive us. When we act out of selfishness and act in ways that are contrary to your ways. Forgive us. When we do not show respect for your creation as you intend. We pray through the One who is the Lamb that rules our lives. The Lamb who bestows mercy upon mercy! WORDS OF ASSURANCE: Though we may run away from God, God never abandons us; though we may be unclear about our needs, God is waiting to meet those needs. Be confident in your faith, and hopeful about your future, as you accept the Living One into your life, now and always. Amen.
-3- PRAYER RESPONSE (MV 99) Stand firm, O stand firm CHOIR ANTHEM: Shine on Me R. Dilworth WE LISTEN FOR GOD S WORD TO US ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN: HYMN (VU 345) Come, children, join to sing A NEW CREED (VU p.918): MINUTE FOR MISSION: SCRIPTURE READINGS: RESPONSIVE READING: PSALM 132 (VU pp.854-855 Parts One and Two). God will bless with abundance. HEBREW READING: 2 SAMUEL 23:1-7: David s last words glorify God. READING FROM REVELATION: REVELATION 1:4b-8: I am the Alpha and the Omega. GOSPEL READING: JOHN 18:33-37: Pilate asks Jesus, Are You King of the Jews? SERMON: OUR RESPONSE OFFERING INVITATION: Friends, through our offering we are now offered the privilege of sharing in God s ministry. Let our hearts and spirits overflow with generosity as we give, for the ministries both of this church and of the whole United Church through Mission & Service.
OFFERING TIME: -4- OFFERTORY HYMN (MV 182) Grateful PRAYER OF DEDICATION: (in unison) Gracious and Loving God, you are indeed the beginning and the end of all things. May these gifts and those already given through PAR be a part of your abundant vision for all creation. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Let us sing (VU 400) Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying, after each prayer and petition. Let us pray together: Eagerly we praise you, God Most High. Deeply we long for the day when your sovereign rule will conquer every earthly power with your gentle victory of peace and grace. We pray in silence. We sing, Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying. With haste we turn to you, Eternal One. We turn and seek from you the birth of hope. Be with those whose hope is crushed: the unemployed, the dispossessed and displaced, victims of war, natural disasters and tragedies, the refugees or homeless. We pray in silence. We sing Lord, Listen to Your children Praying. With confidence we turn to you, O God of health and wholeness. We turn and seek from you: healing for the sick, renewal of spirit for those with emotional or mental illness, easing of heart for those in long-term care and sheltered homes, comfort for those bereaved. We pray in silence. We sing Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying. With trust we turn to you, O God of life. We turn to you with pressing needs upon our hearts, with prayers and longings for ourselves and those we love. We pray in silence. You are the first and last, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning of our existence and the end towards which we move: to you be glory and honour, power and dominion over our lives, forever and ever. We join these prayers together in the prayer that Jesus taught saying, THE LORD S PRAYER:
-5- SENDING FORTH HYMN (VU 639) One more step along the world I go COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION: Friends, as we go into the world, let us work towards God s reign. May we speak God s truth, may we be inspired by Jesus way, and may the Spirit grant us courage to lead, to follow, and to serve. And may the grace of God, the love of Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always. Amen. CHORAL BLESSING (MV 209) Go make a difference PRAYER RESOURCES: Seasons of the Spirit SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 2018;Whispers of God, Liturgical Resources for Year B;The Abingdon Worship Annual 2006; The United Church of Canada Worship for All Seasons II, Selections from Gathering Year B, and Pentecost.2 2018 Year B Gathering Resources for Worship Planners. Used with permission. NEXT WEEK S (DECEMBER 2, 2018 ADVENT 1C) READINGS: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36. ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome: Welcome to worship here today. Whether you are worshipping with us today for the first time or you have been here before or longer than you can remember, you are welcome to be here and to participate however you feel comfortable. Sometimes you may be invited to stand and you want to stay sitting, or you might feel comfortable standing but no one else is. Do what feels right and comfortable for you. We each bring something of ourselves to worship, and it enhances the experience for each of us.
-6- Regardless of your age, stage, gender, sexual identity, or how great or small you feel your faith is, God, through us, welcomes you to worship. Please remember to sign our quest book at the entrance of the church, and stay back for a cup of coffee and conversation at the CE Centre immediately following the service. THIS WEEK AT MELFORT UNITED CHURCH Monday, November 26 th @ 2 pm Naomi Unit Wednesday, November 28 th @ 7 pm Choir Thursday, November 29 th @ 10:30 am Bible Study @ 4:15 pm Bell Choir Rev. Emmanuel s Office Hours & Contact Information Office Hours: Tuesday Friday 10:00 am 4:00 pm Office Number: 306.752.4312 Cell Number: 306.930.4093 For emergency pastoral care call 306.930.4093 MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC you won t want to miss a Sunday! December 2 nd - Starry Skies Williams /Dengler December 9 th Christmas Peace J. Raney December 16 th Calypso Lullaby J. Raney December 23 rd Joseph s Lullaby MercyMe - Soloist Chris Corbett. Aging Well Conference SK Health Authority is holding this conference on Tuesday, November 27 th here in the CE Centre. 9:30 am 1pm Morning Snack and Lunch Provided. Topics include nutrition, men s health, women's health, fraud, medications and grief. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Senior s Centre, Melfort Hospital Gift Shop and Parkland Gift Shop. St. Peter s Chorus Lest We Forget St. Peter's Chorus presents A Concert of Remembrance with special guests 7:30 pm, Friday, November 30, Kerry Vickar Centre, Melfort 2:30 pm, Sunday, December 2, St. Augustine Church, Humboldt Tickets: $12 advance, $15 at door, 12 and under free
-7- Humboldt tickets available at Shopper's Drug Mart and from choir members; Melfort tickets available at Bird of Paradise, Dress Well by Giselle and Kerry Vickar Centre. Winter Newsletter Please submit your report/submission for the winter newsletter by November 27 th ; either to the office or by email to melfortuc@sasktel.net. Thank you. Christmas Tea & Bazaar December 1st Christian Education Centre, 2 4 pm There is a box on the CE stage for your donations to the New To You Table. A volunteer signup sheet is on the easel in the CE foyer. Blue Christmas Service by Candlelight Tuesday, December 4 th @ 7 pm Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium invites you to their 21 st Annual Blue Christmas Service. For complimentary shuttle service call 306-752-3838. Renewal time for your subscription for the Observer Stop by the office by November 27 th to pay the $25 annual subscription fee. Offering Envelopes The offering envelope packages for 2019 are on the table in the CE foyer. Hey knitters out there! The Naomi Unit of the UCW are planning a mitten tree for Christmas Giving this year. If you are an avid knitter, hand knit mittens would be wonderful, but any size children's mittens would be gratefully accepted. The tree will be set up in the foyer to display the mittens. Close to Christmas these items will be donated to a worthy cause. FundScrip The next FundScrip order date will be Thursday, November 29 th. The order will be available for pick up on Thursday, December 6 th. This will be the last FundScrip order before Christmas. Stewardship Seconds Generosity does not ask What have you done for me lately? Generosity is giving without counting the cost.