Lent 5 April 7, 2019 *Please stand as you are able. Congregational responses in bold. Prelude Chair of Council Susan Fowler Greeting: Let us strive to know God, whose coming is as sure as the sunrise. God will come to us like the rain, like spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3 Introit: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying VU#400 Invitation to Worship Breathe deep! Allow the fragrance of love to entice you. We can sense a powerful presence among us. Though death threatens to come soon, in this hour of worship, let us focus on what is alive! The colours of morning stream though our windows the world is humming in activity. The warmth of our communion vibrates among us we are One Body together. And soon we will raise our voices in song, creating harmonies to sustain us on our journey toward the cross. Come, people of God, breathe deeply and take in the vitality of this moment, and let us cherish it and be glad.
-2- God s extravagance surrounds us. Let us worship and give thanks. *Hymn Let Us with a Gladsome Mind VU#234 Lenten Candle Liturgy Opening Prayer and The Lord s Prayer VU#910 *Hymn We Praise You for the Sun VU#225 Theme Time Prayer: For all your goodness, God VU#549 Invitation to Confession: Prayer of Confession: Loving God, we sometimes confuse generosity with extravagance. We have been called to be a people of love, sharing, and compassion. At times this turns us into people who allow the fear of scarcity to fill our hearts, rather than thanksgiving for the overflowing grace with which you love us. Remind us of the miraculous abundance that arose from Jesus ministry the water turned to wine; the thousands fed with just five loaves; the fishing nets strained with catch. Give us the motivation to show our love for others with the same profound generosity that Mary showed Jesus when she anointed his feet with oil. Forgive us our fear of want and help us to connect with the great abundance all around us. Teach us to love extravagantly, we pray. Amen. Words of Affirmation How Deep the Peace MV#95 Prayer for Understanding Isaiah 43:16-21 Look, I am doing something new. One: This is the witness of Israel. All: Thanks be to God. Reader: Karen Hudson Psalm 126 Those who sow in tears reap with joy. Refrain 1 VU#850
-3- John 12: 1-8 Mary anoints Jesus with costly ointment. One: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. All: Praise to Christ the Word. Reflection Anthem Romberg Sonata on cello Leoni Offering Invitation Offertory *Presentation of Gifts Tune: VU#542 These Lenten gifts we bring, our living faith express We offer them most lovingly, and thus our hearts are blessed. O loving God, receive these gifts we gladly give That show our faith & hope & trust; your way we seek to live. Prayers of the People First published in Gathering LEP, 2003. Reproduced with permission. The Life and Work of the Community *Hymn I See a New Heaven VU#713 *Sending Forth: God is about to do a new thing! God is making a way in the wilderness! God is creating rivers in the deserts and new life in our lives. Be blessed, anointed ones, and feel, see, touch, smell God s great love for you now and always. Amen. *Choral Closing Tune: VU#145 I wait for you, my comfort, eternal guide and friend. My soul awaits your presence, seeks hope until the end. Like those who keep a vigil, I watch for sunrise bright; A symbol of the sharing of love s redeeming light. Postlude
-4- Welcome to Mount Royal United Church! A Christian Family encouraging spiritual growth through Worship, Friendship, Learning and Action. Your presence enriches our worship. Newcomers and visitors are welcome and invited to sign our guest book at the back (name and address, if possible). If you are able, please join us for coffee and conversation. If you are new to Mount Royal and would like any information on giving, or how we make a difference in the world through the money we collect, please contact the church office. There are many options including envelopes and PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) which make it easier to give and tax deductible as charitable giving! Help support the vital ministry of Mount Royal! Minister: Music Director: Office Administrator: Custodian: Welcomer: Ushers: Rev Dr Beverly Daley France Henriques Tracy Parrott Wayne Surrette (David Close), Ron Berry, Randy Scott, John Brown Church Office: 855-5771 Kitchen Phone & Fax: 855-7180 Office e-mail: Mount Royal website: Office Hours: office@mountroyaluc.ca www.mountroyaluc.ca Mon-Thurs, 9am 3pm Screen Operators for the next 4 weeks: Apr 7 Erik, Apr 14 Stephen, Apr 21 Mike/Penny, Apr 28- Erik Ushers for the next 4 weeks: (chairlift operator in brackets) Apr 14 Jennifer & (Nick Smith), Bill Seaman Apr 21 David Arnold, Howard Easton, (Norman Bremner) Apr 28 Reg Henderson, Connie MacCallum, Shirley Dutcher May 5 (Don Matheson), Terry Foreman, John & Nancy Brown This Week s Events Monday 9:30am Tai Chi Church Hall 12:00pm Lenten Study Group Boardroom 2:15-3:15 Sparks Outing
6:30-8pm Cubs Church Hall 7:00pm Worship Committee Boardroom Tuesday 9:00am Craft Group Boardroom 11:30am UCW Unit Meeting Boardroom 1:00pm Art Club Church Hall 6:30-7:30 Beavers Church Hall Wednesday 9:30am Tai Chi Church Hall 7:00pm Choir Practice Sanctuary Thursday 12-4pm Bridge Luncheon & Church Hall Closing 6:15-7:30 Brownies Church Hall Friday 9:30am Tai Chi Church Hall Saturday 10am-12 Tai Chi Church Hall Special Notices: UCW Members - How recycling can be inspirational! Ladies it is time to declutter and recycle. Please bring earrings, bracelets and/or scarves and put them in the Memorial Room. This is an opportunity to purchase what is good for your upcoming spring wardrobe. The next Lunch with Friends will be Thursday, April 18 th at 12pm. The guest speaker will be Jack Christie, the topic is the history of Moncton and the menu is pizza. The cost is $7 and the sign-up sheet is at the back of the sanctuary or call the office before April 15 at 855-5771 The Christian Development comm is looking for a replacement for the Sunday School superintendent. If you are interested in hearing about this rewarding role, please contact Katelyn Montgomery at 852-3667. It s time to renew your Observer subscription or begin one if you do not already receive it. The cost is $25. Please place cash, or a cheque made out to Mount Royal United Church in an envelope marked Observer subscription. Place it on the offering plate or leave it at the church office. Thanks to generous donations, we have an AED Defibrillator (attached to the wall beside the Bessborough door), a transport wheelchair, rollator and walker in the church. The last three items are stored at the back of the sanctuary and are there should the need arise for them
anyone experiencing mobility issues during services or activities at the church. Please remember to continue to wear your name tags so that others may identify you and you may identify others. Do you have difficulty hearing the services? There are hearing devices available at the back of the sanctuary for your use. There are alcohol swabs available to clean the earpieces before use. Just ask an usher for assistance. Community Notices: If anyone has a used sofa bed that they would be willing to donate to a family new to Canada please contact Shirley Ritcey at 854-8242. There are allergies so it must come from a smoke-free and pet-free home. It's not the Last Supper, but it is the last Pancake Brunch! Come and enjoy the final year of pancake brunches served by Visions United at 1270 Gorge Rd, Stilesville. Saturday, April 13 th, 8am-1pm. Homemade buckwheat pancakes, local maple syrup, sausages, homemade baked beans and dessert. $12.00/person, $6.00/child. For more information, contact Claudia at 389-4320. Changes ahead! In its 190 th year of publishing history, The Observer is changing its name once again. It began as The Christian Guardian, changed to The New Outlook in 1925, and to The Observer in 1939. Now it will be named Broadview! Readers will still get United Church news and perspectives, as well as articles on spirituality, ethical living and social justice issues, providing hope and inspiration for these challenging times. Beginning in May the magazine will increase by 16 pages per issue with higher quality paper and binding. To save on postal bills there will be only 10 issues a year instead of 11. Copies will also become available on selected newsstands in drug stores, grocery outlets and major book vendors across Canada. This is an exciting time to renew your subscription, or to begin one! The 2019 KAIROS Atlantic Gathering, May 2-5 at Mount Allison, will include a public Mass Blanket Exercise with hundreds of people, a daily sunrise service and continuous Sacred Fire, elder care by Andrea Cofler, opening keynote and theological workshops by Executive Director Jennifer Henry, a Latin American feast with global partner Kelly Campo, an opportunity to delve deeper into a Stream of KAIROS work (acknowledged with a certificate of completion) with the help of regional elders and guest speakers, advocacy workshops and more! Children's
program available. 40 subsidies left. Details & registration: www.kairoscanada.org/atlanticgathering If you have e-mail and would like to receive notices regarding cancellations and other items of interest, please put your name and e-mail address on a piece of paper in the collection plate. Thank you. Please be advised that we now have the technology to permit the screen operators to record and post on the church website, any regular or special services held in the sanctuary. If anyone would like to have a copy of an upcoming service on a disk, they should contact the office. From UCW - A Special Thank You to all those who have contributed and continue to support the coffee and conversation gatherings after the Sunday service. Your gifts of food items as well as coffee and tea are very much appreciated. We welcome your help at any time and food items do not need to be home baked, healthy choices are always a plus. We hope that this fellowship time continues to be part of the warmth and friendliness shown to visitors and newcomers, Mount Royal folks, young and not so young. Thank you! There is a sign-up sheet next to the coffee window. We continue to support ReConnect. Following their reorganization, they will provide a more detailed list of required items. UCW continues to collect: stamps with ¼ inch border, pop tabs, used eye glasses and lenses, milk bags. All of these items can be left at the Bessborough entrance. The Writers Circle would like to invite any writers in the church to come join the group. You are welcome to bring any sample of your writing to share with the group and feedback will be provided. They meet twice a month on Monday mornings. No scents make good sense.