Welcome to Westminster United Church 101 6 Street SE Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 1G7 Phone: 403-526-5247 Fax: 403-526-5983 Email: reception@westminsteruc.com Pentecost 5, Aboriginal Sunday June 19 2016 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. 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) Prelude LIFE AND WORK: SHARING THE PEACE: PROCESSION OF CHRIST CANDLE: O Great Spirit VU 239 1 O Great Spirit, how I long to hear your name. How I long to see your face. A way hi ho a way hi ho a way hi hi ho. 2 O Great Spirit, how I long to touch your hands. How I long to see your face. A way hi ho a way hi ho a way hi hi ho. CALL TO WORSHIP: 1 Let us give thanks to our Creator, for the Creator is always with us. God is with us in the call of a loon and in the flight of an eagle. Our Creator is with us in the changing of the seasons. God is with us when we gather together and when we are alone. Our Creator is with us in our giftedness and in our search for new understandings of ourselves, new visions of our communities. Let us give thanks to our Creator. OPENING HYMN: Hamba Nathi 1. Hamba Nathi, Mkhu-lu-li-we-thu, (4x) (Ham-bah-nah-tee, koo-loo-lee weh-too) Mkhu-lu-li, Mkhu-lu-li, Mkhu-lu-li we-thu (4X) (Koo-loo-lee, Koo-loo-lee, Koo-loo-lee weh-too) 2. You are holy, you show us the way, (4X) MV45 1 The Dancing Sun VII, p. 20. Cited in Circle and Cross: Dialogue Planning Tool, 2008, p. 44.
You show us, you show us, you show us the way, (4X) OPENING PRAYER: (Unison) 2 Creator God, we gather today to share in Your vision of abundant life for all, to praise You, to seek transformation, and to celebrate the power of the Spirit who is always moving. Please help us to know Your presence here with us as we seek to both give and receive gifts of deep emotion, deep wisdom, and deep love. Amen. HYMN: As the Deer Pants for the Water VU p 766 1 As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart's desire You alone are my strength, my shield to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart's desire, 2 Day and night I cry, my heart is breaking, tears my only food; while my enemies jeer and taunt me saying: Where is now your God? You alone are my strength, my shield to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart's desire, 3 Why am I so sad, so troubled, Why must suffering be so long? I will hope in you, my God and saviour, Praise you with a song! You alone are my strength, my shield to you alone may my spirit yield; you alone are my heart's desire, PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION: 3 The drum does not beat alone, nor does the heart, in the circle of life. How difficult it has been, Creator, for us to be humble and caring. We so easily forget your teachings of the just and right relationship that we are to have with each other, as siblings, in this land. We so easily forget that our responsibility carries from generation to generation for all those who are hurt and oppressed and denied their place in the circle of life those who still need our support, who need justice and peace. How difficult it is for us to remain humble as we walk the road of life. May we find peace so that we might share peace that is genuine and real, and help others to know peace within. Spirit of life, help us to walk the road of integrity back to the circle of life, where we will be truly joined by all our siblings. Thank you Great Spirit. PRAYER OF ASSURANCE: 2 Adapted from http://www.united-church.ca/sites/default/files/aboriginal-sunday-celebration-thanksgiving.pdf 3 Confession and Assurance by Alf Dumon (Mandate, May 2005, p. 30). Cited in Circle and Cross, p. 44. Note: brothers and sisters changed to siblings.
Let your breath, O God, fill us with life anew, that we might love as you love and do what you would do. Let us know the peace that comes from good relations with each other and with you. Amen. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: Open us up, Holy One, so that your Word can penetrate the depths of our being; transform us into new persons and inspire us to act according to your will. Amen BIBLICAL NOTES: SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Kings 19:1-15 1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them. 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. I have had enough, Lord, he said. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors. 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, Get up and eat. 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.and the word of the Lord came to him: What are you doing here, Elijah? 10 He replied, I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too. 11 The Lord said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He replied, I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too. 15 The Lord said to him, Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ANTHEM: Come to the Water SCRIPTURE READING: Galatians 3:25-29 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise. RESPONSE TO WORD: Lead me, God Lead me, God, lead me in your righteousness; make your way plain before my face. For it is you, and you, God only, who makes me to dwell in safety. SERMON: Raymond Many Bears VU 662 HYMN: In Christ There is No East or West VU 606 1 In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, but one great family of love throughout the whole wide earth. 2 In him shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find; his service is the golden cord close binding humankind. 3 Join hands, then, people of the faith, whate'er your race may be; all children of the living God are surely kin to me. 4 In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north; all Christ-like souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth. MINUTES FOR MISSION: Whole Life Ministry (Video) OFFERING: DOXOLOGY Spirit God (vs 3) MV 150 3 Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer. Reaching out, joining hands as we share, we seek your guidance through friendship and care. Loving God, be our prayer. DEDICATION: 4 Gracious God, we know we are blessed. We know we are part of all creation and entwined not only with all matter here on earth but also with the cosmos. Bless what we present this day and throughout the week. Transform and use it to reveal Your presence in the troubled places of this realm. Amen. INVITATION TO PRAYER: Holy Sacred Spirit MV 15 4 Adapted from Susan Ivany. Gathering, Pentecost 1 2016, page 41. Used with permission.
Holy sacred Spirit, breathe your breath on us. Holy sacred Spirit, breathe your life in us. Holy sacred Spirit, breathe your breath on us. Holy sacred Spirit, breathe your life in us. PRAYERS OF GOD S PEOPLE: (Worshippers are invited to light a candle and share a prayer request with the congregation.) 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. HYMN: Hey Ney Yana Hey ney yana, hey ney yana, Hey ney yana, hey ya hey yo, hey ha hey yo. 1. I walk in beauty, ye, I do, yes I do, I talk in beauty, yes I do, yes I do, I sing of beauty, hey ha hey yo, hey ha hey yo. Hey ney yana, hey ney yana, Hey ney yana, hey ya hey yo, hey ha hey yo. 2 I leave in beauty, yes I do, yes I do. I sleep in beauty, yes I do, yes I do, I dream of beauty, hey ya hey yo, hey ya hey yo. Hey ney yana, hey ney yana, Hey ney yana, hey ya hey yo, hey ha hey yo. COMMISSIONING/BENEDICTION: : 5 Let us go now, as the Spirit of life has called us: to be a people of grace to be a people of truth to be a people who pursue peace to be a people who forgive to be a people who remember to be a people who love to be a people who honour others in the pursuit of right relations. Siblings in Christ, as we go God is with us, Christ is calling us, The Spirit will guide us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. CHORAL AMEN: Ameni Ameni, ameni, MV 217 MV 651 5 Adapted from a Benediction by Alf Dumont (Mandate, May 2005, p. 31) and Blessing from the Moderator s Day of Justice, Healing and Reconciliation (2001). Both cited in Circle and Cross, pp. 52-53.
Amen, amen, amen, ameni. SENDING FORTH God the Spirit ( vs 1) 1 God the Spirit, guide and guardian, windsped flame and hovering dove, breath of life and voice of prophets, sign of blessing, power of love: give to those who lead your people fresh anointing of your grace; send them forth as bold apostles to your Church in every place. Postlude VU 514 Assisting with the Service This Morning Elder-in-Charge: Bob McCaig Scripture Reader Margaret Laing Greeters & Ushers: Joan Jantze, Anna Marie Hancock, Barb Grozell, Clare Crews Coffee Hosts & Stair Glide Operators Gary & Launa Watson Sound System Operator: Melanie Rattai PowerPoint Operator: Faye Moria and Charlene Andreas STAFF Ministers: All the People Clergy: Rev Jan Stevenson and Rev. Chelsea Masterman Book Keeper: Sara Stickel Jr. Choir Leader: Anna Marie Hancock Nursery: Vacant Director of Music: Chris White Secretary: Cheryl Finnie Custodian: Chris White Security: Kelly Grozell 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. Vacation Bible School will be held July 25 29, 2016 at Fifth Avenue Memorial Church. A group from St. Andrew s Regional Ministry (Camp Caravan 2016) has been contracted to present Cave Quest Following Jesus, The Light of the World. The cost for this full day, week long program is $100/1 st child, $75/each additional child and $20 for pre/post care per child for the week. Assistance/subsidy is available, please contact the office (403-527-5247) for more details on the VBS and financial assistance. Summer Worship and Office Hours: Joint Worship Services will be held at 10:00 am at Westminster United Church for the month of July and at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church in August. The office will be closed July 18 through August 14. Tuesday, June 21, 7:00 pm Board of Elders Meeting in the Lounge. Sunday, June 26, 4:00 pm at St. John s Presbyterian Church (504 2nd Street SE). Bless the Fest Jazz Vespers, featuring The Medicine Hat Jazz Septet. Free Will Offering.