Prelude Chilliwack United Church Second Sunday in Lent Sacrament of Holy Communion 10:30 a.m. We Gather to Celebrate God's Presence Welcoming & Greeting our Neighbours Gathering Song & Lighting the Christ Candle They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait. Call to Worship We come with our faith and doubts, our trust and worries, to learn to walk the Way of Christ. We come with our poverties and with our praises, to learn to walk the Way of Christ. Opening Prayer (In Unison) God of presence and power, guide us in our Lenten journey to the Cross. Help us open up our lives, our spirits, our hearts to your healing love. Help us respond to your call to seek justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with Christ. We pray in his name. Amen. - 1 -
Hymn of the Month No. 142 MV Oh a Song Must Rise Lenten Candles Reader 1: Today is the second Sunday of the season of Lent. We have embarked on a journey of faith with each other and with Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. Reader 2: We remember how Jesus challenged and encouraged his disciples to embrace his way of ministry and to respond to God s call with faith-filled living. Reader 1: We give thanks for God s covenant with our ancestors in faith and for the wisdom that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. Reader 2: As we extinguish the second Lenten candle we commit ourselves to follow Jesus way even though we know that at times we will fall short of Christ-like living. (Extinguishing of one Lenten candle) Reader 1: As we watch the smoke rise we give thanks that God s Spirit is always with us and that God forgives and empowers us to live in right relationship with ourselves, others and God. Reader 2: Knowing ourselves to be people of promise and blessing, we raise our voices in prayer: God of promise and blessing, we give thanks that we do not travel alone on this journey of faith. We are grateful for the wisdom of our ancestors in faith and for the wisdom and witness of our community of faith today. Guide our steps that we may follow Jesus and continue his ministry of - 2 -
compassionate service. Encourage us when we face challenges and feel discouraged. Remind us of your constant presence as we walk together, this day and in the days to come. Amen. Anthem I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table Receiving God's Word Hebrew Scripture Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous. Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her. Responsive Psalm No. 22 Page 746 VU (Parts 3 & 4) Gospel Mark 8:31-38 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, - 3 -
Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Thanks be to God! Amen. Reflection Sacrament of Holy Communion Communion Hymn No. 480 VU Let Us Break Bread Communion Prayer May the God of the Journey be with you and also with you Pilgrims of God, lift up your hearts. we offer them to the One who gave himself to carry us into life forever. Sing songs of thanksgiving to the God who is faithful we raise our voices in joy to the One who calls us by name. Therefore, we join our voices with those from every time and in every place, with all of earth and heaven who forever sing your praise: - 4 -
Holy, holy, holy, God who calls life into being. All the ends of the earth and far corners of the universe sing your glory Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes to take up his cross. Hosanna in the highest. As we come to the Table he has prepared, we declare that in his crucifixion and resurrection we find that mystery we call faith: Christ died to bring forth life; Christ has risen to declare God has done it'; Christ will come again in glory. The Lord's Prayer No. 959 VU Prayer After Communion Sung Response (Tune: No. 480 VU) Let us praise God together with our lives. Let us praise God together with our lives. When we go from here with Christ, help us walk the Way of Life, Oh Lord, bring our hearts home to you. 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 - 5 -
Prayer of Dedication (In Unison) Covenant God, we offer our lives and these signs of our daily living. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, may empty lives be filled, may lonely ones find true friendship, may unjust ways be healed. We pray as followers of Christ. Amen. Hymn No. 161 MV I Have Called You By Your Name Commissioning & Blessing Sung Blessing No. 211 MV - Sing Twice - (You are invited to join hands with those around you to form a blessings circle ) Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ so you may be nourished by the Word of Life. 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; Sig Huth Candle Extinguishers: Adele & Marv Schroeder - 6 -
Lectionary Readings for March 8, 2014 Lent III Genesis 20:1-17 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22 Welcome bags are available for children and youth in the entryway. They contain an activity and a simple craft for young people of various ages. We encourage young people to be a part of our worship service to take in the Spirit at work in play, music and praise. Feel free to ask any of our greeters to help you find a bag that is just right for you! Large print copies of the hymn book (words only), Voices United, are available in the Narthex. Today is the last day to order your spring garden planter! Cost is $15.00, prepaid at the time of ordering. The order sheet will be in the hall at coffee time. The plants will be available for pick-up on Easter Sunday, April 5, after the service. A Presentation by Drs. Mark and Megan Mackenzie on their Medical Mission to Vietnam on Sunday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Chilliwack United Church. Refreshments to follow. A donation to the Mission & Service Fund would be gratefully received. Budget Summary Average Weekly Revenue Required to Service our 2014 Operating Budget $ 3,492.00 Average Weekly Revenue to January 31, 2015 2,371.00 Deficit as of January 31, 2015 (5,379.00) Deficit as of January 31, 2014 (5,014.00) - 7 -
Average Mission & Service Weekly Revenue Required to Service our 2014 Objective $ 211.00 Average Mission & Service Weekly Revenue Received to January 31, 2015 181.00 Mission & Service Funds Received to Date January 31, 2015 800.00 Mission & Service Funds Received to Date January 31, 2014 788.00 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! 2014 Income Tax Receipts are ready! If you held offering envelopes in 2014, a receipt has been prepared for you. Sincerest thanks for your ongoing support of Chilliwack United Church and our work in Chilliwack's downtown community and around the world. Purdy's for Easter! The Mission Ministry Unit will be taking orders for Purdy's Chocolate for Easter. Orders will be received until Sunday, March 8 and ready for pick up approximately Thursday, March 19. Catalogues and order forms are available in the Narthex and church office. World Day of Prayer is being hosted at Carman United Church on Friday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m. The service this year is prepared by the women of the Bahamas. Fraser Presbyterial UCW Spring Rally and Annual General Meeting is at Colebrook United Church, 5441 125A St., Surrey on Tuesday, March 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Keynote speaker, Trish Garner, will address the theme End Child Poverty. - 8 -
The Annual General Meeting of BC Conference United Church Women Women's Ministry Network will take place at Bethany-Newton United Church, 14853 60 Ave., Surrey from April 28-30. The featured speaker, The Very Reverend The Honourable Lois Wilson, will help explore the theme, What Kind of House Will You Build?. Registration forms are available at the church office, 604-792-4634. Chilliwack United Church Monday, March 2 to Sunday, March 8 Monday, March 2 No meetings scheduled for today. Tuesday, March 3 9:30 Growth Ministry Unit 1:00 Thrift Shop 7:30 Choir Practice Come make a joyful noise! Wednesday, March 4 10:00 Thrift Shop Open 10:30 Drop In Bible Study 1:30 Celebration Ministry Unit 7:00 Animate.Practices Thursday, March 5 10:00 Thrift Shop Open Friday, March 6 Meeting of Fraser Presbytery at Gladwin United Church, 3474 Gladwin Rd., Abbotsford 10:00 Craft Group Everyone welcome! Bring your craft project to work on. 10:00 Thrift Shop Open 1:30 World Day of Prayer at Carman United Church Saturday, March 7 10:00 Thrift Shop Open Sunday, March 8 Lent III 10:30 Sunday School & All Ages Worship Service 12:00 Congregational Pot Luck Lunch - 9 -
Ongoing Announcements Salvation Army Food Bank Collection of non-perishable food items for the local food bank is ongoing. Bring your donations year round and leave them in the barrel in the Narthex. The Mission & Service Fund of the United Church of Canada supports mission projects and emergency responses across Canada and around the world. We encourage you to consider donating your loose change this morning to the Mission & Service Fund by placing it in the big plastic M&S jar on the table in the Narthex. Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour next weekend. Daylight Savings time starts on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 a.m. - 10 -
Minute for Mission Brighter Futures Established in 1992, Defence for Children International, Palestine Section, is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of Palestinian children in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. There are lots of children in Palestine! Almost 50 percent of the population are under the age of 18. In Gaza, about 5 percent of children aged 10 to 17 must work to support themselves and their families. The dropout rate in basic schools is significant. Palestinian children also live in high-risk situations. Many are held in detention, and of those in custody, 75 percent endure ill treatment according to international standards. Worsening unemployment and poverty across the West Bank and Gaza have forced large numbers of children into labour, placing many at risk of abuse and exploitation. On a daily basis Palestinian children face killing, detention, domestic violence, restrictions on movement, debilitating economic circumstances, and lack of access to services. Defence for Children International works with communities to change the circumstances of Palestinian children with direct interventions, legal counsel, social support, humanitarian efforts, and conferences and workshops that bring together communities to help their children. Thanks to our gifts for Mission and Service, Defence for Children International supports Palestinian children in realizing their dreams for education, a peaceful society, and a brighter future. Please continue to give and to fulfill dreams and seek justice. Mighty and tender God, through our gifts for Mission and Service we respond to your call to mend the world. - 11 -