United Church of Canada Cowan Heights United Church 141 Frecker Drive, St. John s, NL April 7, 2019 The Fifth Sunday of Lent Sacrament of Holy Communion Minister: Rev. Jim Von Riesen BA, MDiv Minister Of Music: Sgt Glenn Keefe CD, CDA Level II Office Administrator: Cindy Townsley Caretaker: Neil Richards Church Office: 745 2871 Fax: 745 1516 Website: www.cowanheightsunited.ca E-Mail: chuc@nf.aibn.com Rev. Jim Von Riesen javr819@gmail.com
We Gather as People of God Prelude Congregational Life and Work Lighting the Christ Candle Introit: Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery (VU121) God of all our fear and sorrow, God who lives beyond our death; Hold us close through each tomorrow, Love as near as every breath, Love as near as every breath. Call to Worship: L: Today, the words of God come to us, in love, P: inviting us to not be afraid, but to place our faith in God. L: Today, the word of God comes to us, in faith, P: inviting us to trust in the One who knows us, to place our hope in the One who saves us. L: Today, the Word of God comes to us, in hope, P: inviting us to be gracious in our love and in our service to others. Prayer of Approach: (In Unison) In the source of Life and Love that we name God, we live and move and have our being. With Jesus, Companion and Liberator, we walk the way of love. Through the empowering and Imaginative Spirit, we are made one. God, trinity of love, we seek you in the dance of life. We embrace your love and would join in the dance. This is the meaning of the resurrection; that we can dance. Amen Hymn: #215 Hope of the World (Tune: 491 O Perfect Love) Time for All Ages Hymn: #642 Be Thou My Vision
We Respond to God s Love Offering Invitation Offertory: 544 In Gratitude and Humble Trust In gratitude and humble trust, we bring our best today To serve your cause and share your love, with all along life s way. O God, who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ, your Son, Teach us to give ourselves each day until life s work is done Offertory Prayer: (In Unison) We present these gifts, pleased to be part of the church s mission to the world, and excited to share with those around us in our own community. May our gifts and our lives speak of divine love. Amen. Anthem We Listen for God s Word Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Reader: Harry Rowe Responsive Psalm: #850 (Psalm 126) (Refrain #2) Hymn: #713 I See a New Heaven Gospel Reading: John 11:1-45 (selected verses) Meditation: Sundays a Comin Reflection Music Hymn: #402 (verses 1-3) We Are One The Sacrament of Holy Communion (See Communion Liturgy Insert)
Sending Forth Hymn: #424 May the God of Hope Go with Us Commissioning: L: May the blessing of God give us strength for the journey; P: May the Spirit of wisdom give us vision for the road; L: May the love of Christ make us caring companions; P: As together we go from this place. Benediction Choral Benediction: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down, Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art; Visit us with they salvation, enter every trembling heart. ORGAN POSTLUDE May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder. ~~ From For Presence by John O Donohue ~~ God calls us to live fully, love wastefully and be all we can be.
Liturgy of Communion The Great Thanksgiving L: God be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift our hearts in prayer. L: Let us give thanks to God. P: It is good to give God thanks and praise. L: Loving God, Source of all, we thank and praise you with our lips and with our lives, that, having created us and all things through your Word, you welcome our prayer and praise. P: For the goodness of creation and the glory of redemption, we praise you. L: For the law of holiness, inviting our obedience, and the call of prophets, rebuking our disobedience, we praise you. ALL: Therefore, with all that is, seen and unseen, and with all the faithful of every time and place, we join in this hymn of praise and thanksgiving: Holy, holy, holy God, power of life and love! Heaven and earth are full of your glory! Hosanna through the ages! Blest is the One who comes to bring your justice to earth! L: Loving God, Holy One, we offer you praise and thanksgiving over this bread and cup, because in Jesus Christ, you have joined yourself forever to us. ~ Page 2 ~ P: Now, therefore, we gratefully remember Jesus birth into our humanity, bringing: compassion for our suffering, intimacy with our frailty, rebuke of our pride. Bearing the cross, he suffered death. Leaving the empty tomb, he experienced new life. L: On the night before he died, it was Jesus who took a loaf of bread, gave you thanks, broke it and said, Take and eat; whenever you do this, remember me (Breaking the bread) Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, saying, This is the new covenant; remember me. (Pouring the juice) P: We proclaim Jesus, Crucified and risen, Our judge and our hope. L: At this time, we also remember all with whom you would have us share your feast. P: We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain, L: All who are ill or alone, P: All who live with fear, oppression, or hunger, L: For all whom the world counts as last and least. P: We pray for the church and its varied ministries, L: For nations as they strive for peace and justice, P: For our families and friends.
~ Page 3 ~ L: And in particular we now name in the silence of our hearts those we would like to remember in prayer. (a period of silence) Loving God, creative power, Blessing your name, we seek your Spirit. May we be aware of your presence with us As these gifts of bread and juice are blessed, They become for us the symbols of remembrance. As we eat and drink together, make us one with Christ and one in Christ, a sign of his eternal presence in the world. This sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving we offer you, loving God, through Jesus Christ, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. And we continue to lift our hearts in prayer as we join in the prayer Jesus taught his disciples: ALL: The Lord s Prayer D. Haas (Vu959) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil; for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. AMEN ~ Page 4 ~ L: We have on this table, the common things of life Bread to break with each other and juice to quench our thirst. May they be for us as they have been for many, Strength and faith, nourishment and hope, Blessing and forgiveness. May we who come to this table, know the presence of that which is beyond all our understanding and which yet resides within our own hearts. All: Amen. L: The table is ready. All are welcome. Receive these elements with joy and thanksgiving Sharing the elements: (Please hold the bread or juice until all have received.) The Bread of Life The Cup of Blessing Prayer following Communion: (In Unison) ALL: For the bread we have shared, for the juice we have tasted, for the life we have received, we give thanks. May what we have done and been given here so put its mark on us that it might remain always in our hearts. And may our faith be one which issues in loving action. Amen.