Prelude Chilliwack United Church 12th Sunday After Pentecost 10:30 a.m. We Gather to Celebrate God's Presence Welcome and Greeting Gathering Song & Lighting the Christ Candle No. 142 MV A Song Must Rise Chorus: Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend Oh a song must rise once again Singing out God's praises and glory, the faithful voices blend, Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend. From the mountains to the valleys, from the desert to the sea, a song must rise once again. From the voices of our leaders, the voice of you and me, a song must rise for the spirit to descend. Opening Prayer (In Unison) God of the stars and seashores, we thank you for this new day. Thank you for calling us into the mystery and awe that is life lived in faith and trust. Ready us now to hear your words of encouragement and challenge, and to receive the graces of your Spirit. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. - 1 -
Hymn of Praise No. 217 VU All Creatures of Our God and King (Verses 1 & 3) Preparing for Confession No. 95 MV How Deep the Peace Prayer of Confession Words of Assurance Sung Response No. 95 MV How Deep the Peace Receiving God's Word Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 1:1-3, 15-20 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. - 2 -
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Responsive Psalm No. 50 Page 775 VU Gospel Luke 12:32-40 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, - 3 -
he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Thanks be to God! Amen. Reflection A New Creed Communion Hymn No. 468 VU The Perfection of Beauty Page 918 VU Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Sacrament of Holy Communion Prayer After Communion (In Unison) For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we thank you God. Grant that what we have done and have been given here may so put its mark upon us that it may remain always in our hearts. Grant that we may grow more like Christ, as you send us forth into the world to feed as we have been fed, forgive as we have been forgiven, and love as we have been loved. Amen. - 4 -
Sung Response No. 217 VU (Verse 4) All Creatures of Our God and King And everyone of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part: sing praises, hallelujah! All who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and yield up all your care: sing praises, hallelujah! Responding to God The Life & Work of the Church Presentation of Our Offering Sung Response We give you but your own, whate'er the gift may be; all that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully. No. 542 VU Prayer of Dedication (In Unison) Faithful God, you call us into your economy of grace and surprise us with benefit beyond our imagining. Receive what we offer here, and take it beyond our control so it may freely serve the needs of love and justice. Amen. Closing Prayer Hymn No. 236 VU Now Thank We All Our God Commissioning & Blessing - 5 -
Sung Blessing No. 649 VU - Sing Twice - (You are invited to join hands with those around you to form a blessings circle ) Walk with me, I will walk with you and build the land that God has planned where love shines through. Postlude The church has a supply of hearing units for improved sound in the sanctuary. If you wish to use a set for the Sunday service, please pick one up from the sound booth at the back of the sanctuary. Announcements Leading the Service Today: Clergy; Rev. Heather Anderson Musician; Lynda Mundstock Music Director; Marilyn Taves Scripture Reader; Lynn Catto Communion Servers; Lynn Catto, Marlene Vlahadamis, Judy Goudie Lectionary Readings for August 14, 2016 Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:1-2,8-19 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 Budget Summary Average Weekly Revenue Required to Service our 2016 Operating Budget $ 3,526.00 Average Weekly Revenue to July 31, 2016 2,819.00 Deficit as of July 31, 2016 (18,717.00) Deficit as of July 31, 2015 (14,649.00) - 6 -
Average Mission & Service Weekly Revenue Required to Service our 2016 Objective $ 211.00 Average Mission & Service Weekly Revenue Received to July 31, 2016 239.00 Mission & Service Funds Received to Date July 31, 2016 7,232.00 Mission & Service Funds Received to Date July 31, 2015 6,497.00 For your information, complete regular Monthly Financial Statements are posted in the Narthex on the bulletin board next to the ramp. Keep on top of the latest news! Be sure to contact the church office at 604-792-4634 or email chwkuc@shaw.ca, and add your name to our email list! Afternoon at the Movies Tuesday, August 16 at 1:30 p.m. In Our Church Lounge Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn Enjoy a classic movie and refreshments! Our Chilliwack United Church Women continue to collect postage stamps and Campbell Soup labels. The stamps are collected for Eastern Star and are used to purchase cancer dressings. The Campbell Soup labels are collected for McCammon Elementary School. - 7 -
The Mission Ministry Unit continues to collect food items for the Cyrus Centre for their House on Wellington Ave. They provide shelter and services for at Risk Teens and require items for lunches. Specifically, we are collecting peanut butter, Cheese Whiz and margarine. They also need breakfast cereal. Bring your donations to church for delivery to their house. Here's What is happening at First United Mission, Vancouver: THANKSGIVING In a way, every day is Thanksgiving! But in another way, Thanksgiving is the day in October when First United, Vancouver makes a feast for 350 people. They will gratefully accept food donations closer to the day. If you would like to help, contact Natalie at nlanoville@firstunited.ca or 604-681-8365 x104. More details to follow. PRAYER REQUEST - In the next month or so, several new people will be joining First United as staff. Please pray for an abundance of love and fulfillment for them and us RESOURCE - What if everything we know about addiction is wrong? Check out this TED talk on the topic of addiction. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=py9dcimgxms&feature=share First United Church Mission - Did you Know? In 2015 at First United, 111,718 meals were served! With great joy, Crossroads United Church invites you to join with them as they are designated an Affirming Ministry by Affirm United. On Friday, September 23 beginning at 7:30 p.m. there will be a speaker (to be announced) and a local choir, followed by a reception. Sunday, September 25 at 10:30 a.m. will be the formal designation. Watch the bulletin for further details. St. Andrew's United Church, 7756 Grand St., Mission has been sold. They will deconsecrate the sanctuary and celebrate the ministry that has taken place there over the last six decades on Sunday, August 21 at 10:00 a.m. Getting Grounded; Men's Retreat September 30 to October 1 - Join Scott Swanson of Manifest at Brentwood Presbyterian Church for Getting Grounded: Reconnecting to What Matters Most. Scott wonders: How good it - 8 -
would be to live with integrity as the men of faith we truly are a little bit freer of the assumptions and expectations that come with being men and of faith! Read more about this retreat on the poster in the Narthex. Register now! SAVE THE DATE: Friday, October 21, 2016 FAITH DAY: BEHIND THE SCENES From 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., youth in Grades 9-12 will have the opportunity to see what it's like to be a student at Vancouver School Theology. They'll be fed, meet some professors, attend a mini class, talk with the principal, experience worship, and learn about how faith is alive in a variety of vocations. Check out the poster in the Narthex for more information. Chilliwack United Church 45835 Spadina Ave., Chilliwack, BC V2P 1T4 Phone: 604-792-4634 Fax: 604-792-9667 Email: chwkuc@shaw.ca www.chilliwackunitedchurch.com - 9 -
Minute for Mission Sharing an Overseas Heart As Mission & Service supported overseas personnel for the past 45 years, Rob and Keiko Witmer have put a lot of effort into building links between the church in Canada and the church in Japan. This includes building links among church people, Indigenous people, and education centres in Canada and Japan. With their help, many groups from both countries have participated in exchanges between The United Church of Canada and The United Church of Christ in Japan. Rob and Keiko s main work has been with the Dohoku Centre, a rural church centre established in 1960 with the financial support of The United Church of Canada. The Dohoku Centre carries out a wide range of activities and programs, such as one related to issues of food, agriculture, and rural society called the Three Love rural network: love for God, love for humanity, and love for the soil. Rob and Keiko speak about the effects of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that transformed what farmers are able to grow. Farmers in this region now grow carrots because they are resistant to radiation. We wish Rob and Keiko well as they begin a new phase of life in retirement! We are thankful for the giving hearts of our overseas personnel, supported by our gifts for Mission & Service! Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your life of faith. Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service. Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen [Matched with a companion video. View at youtube.com/unitedchurchofcanada, or download from www.ucrdstore.ca/m4m.] - 10 -