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 6 June 26, 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. Prelude LIFE AND WORK: SHARING THE PEACE: One: Peace be with you. ALL: And also with you. 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) PROCESSION OF CHRIST CANDLE: Come, O Holy Spirit, Come VU 383 Come, O Holy Spirit, come. (O wise Spirit, come.) Come, almighty Spirit come. (Almighty Trinity.) Come, come, come. (O Spirit, come.) CALL TO WORSHIP: 1 One: God s way is holy. All: God works wonders. One: God has led the people in the past, All: and calls us into the future. One: As we listen for the voice of change All: may we be guided by the Spirit. One: Through the Spirit let us hear God s call among us. All: God is with us, guiding us in this time and place. One: Come let us worship. OPENING HYMN: Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet VU 245 1 Praise the Lord with the sound of trumpet, praise the Lord with the harp and lute, praise the Lord with the gentle-sounding flute. Praise the Lord in the field and forest, praise the Lord in the city square, praise the Lord anytime and anywhere. 1 Opening Prayer, Prayer of Confession, Words of Affirmation, Dedication, Commissioning from Seasons of the Spirit Seasons FUSION Pentecost 1 2016
Praise the Lord in the wind and sunshine, praise the Lord in the dark of night, praise the Lord in the rain or snow or in the morning light. Praise the Lord in the deepest valley, praise the Lord on the highest hill, praise the Lord, never let your voice be still. 2 Praise the Lord with the crashing cymbal, praise the Lord with the pipe and string, praise the Lord with the joyful songs you sing. Praise the Lord on a weekday morning, praise the Lord on a Sunday noon, praise the Lord by the light of sun or moon. Praise the Lord in the time of sorrow, praise the Lord in the time of joy, praise the Lord every moment, nothing let your praise destroy. Praise the Lord in the peace and quiet, praise the Lord in your work or play, praise the Lord everywhere in every way! OPENING PRAYER: 1 Gracious God, we give thanks for the constancy and change that are part of our everyday experiences. We give thanks for all those who have been prepared to break with conventions, take chances, and consider new possibilities for living in and sharing the love of God. May we hear the voice of change today. Enable us to discern the ways in which we have been equipped, led, and guided for such a time as this. Stir within us the grace and courage to pursue the ways in which the spirit of Jesus leads us into lives of love. Amen PRAYER OF CONFESSION: 1 One: It is not always easy to hear God in the voice of change. Yet, even when we do hear God s voice, it can be hard to let go of the ones who have mentored and led us, and accept our own call to minister amongst the world. There are so many reasons we find it difficult to attend to the call of change. It is hard to recognize that the time has come to encourage someone else to take up a ministry that we hold dear and to let them shape ministry in new ways. It is hard to put aside our own self-interest, social expectations, and even a need to prove ourselves worthy, to follow the leading of the spirit of God and discern the way of God in a changing time. All: Leading and guiding God, enable us to hear your voice of change and trust you on our faith journey. Amen. WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: One: Hear the word of grace: For freedom, Christ has set you free. You are set free, sisters and brothers, to love your neighbour as yourself. All: Thanks to God for the Spirit of freedom and grace that leads and guides us into life. 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 SCRIPTURE READING: Responsive Psalm 100 VU Page 824 Refrain: Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing. One: Shout to God, all the earth: ALL: worship with gladness and joy. One: Come before God with laughter, ALL: our maker to whom we belong. One: To the Shepherd who tends us like sheep, ALL: let us raise our voices in song. Refrain: Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing. One: Come to God's gates with thanks; ALL: come to God's courts with praise. One: Praise and bless God's name. ALL: 'Truly you are good: One: you are always gracious, ALL: and faithful age after age.' Refrain: Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing. ANTHEM: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 4: 23, 24, 35-40 23 Let anyone with ears to hear listen! 24 And he said to them, Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, Let us go across to the other side. 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith? RESPONSE TO WORD: Lead me,god VU 662 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. REFLECTION: Chris White
HYMN: Make a Joyful Noise VU 820 Make a joyful noise all the earth! Worship your God with gladness. Make a joyful noise all the earth. Come to this place with a song! 1 Know that your God has made you. Know it's to God we belong. And come to this place with joyfulness and praise. Worship your God with a song! Make a joyful noise all the earth! Worship your God with gladness. Make a joyful noise all the earth. Come to this place with a song! 2 Enter these gates, thanks giving. Enter these courts with praise. Sing thanks to your God and bless the holy Name. Worship your God with a song! Make a joyful noise all the earth! Worship your God with gladness. Make a joyful noise all the earth. Come to this place with a song! 3 Ages through endless ages, seasons of endless years, the love of our Maker ever shall endure. Worship your God with a song! Make a joyful noise all the earth! Worship your God with gladness. Make a joyful noise all the earth. Come to this place with a song! MINUTES FOR MISSION: A Safe Place Under the Rainbow In northern Ontario, Camp McDougall runs a week-long Rainbow Camp for LGBTQ campers and their allies. Director Deb Woodman talks about what makes this camp unique: Our goal is to educate and promote awareness in society regarding gender, sexual identities, and expressions. Camp is organized around the philosophy of safer space; in other words, no questions will be asked and no explanations are needed for campers to live in their chosen identities and be honoured in this. We support this each day by offering campers the opportunity to claim their identity for the day or moment. We use educational programming on gender, sexuality, sexual health, trans issues, and body image to structure the day. The programming also includes fun activities, singing, running, and exploring as well as going on a nature hike, watching films, and discussing topics. We do all of these and many more traditional camp activities like having bonfires, holding an open stage night, playing cards, and just being silly.
Each year campers have opportunities to have positive experiences that will help them deal with any negative experiences after they leave camp. We are thankful that through our gifts for Mission & Service, campers are offered a safe space to explore what it means to truly be themselves. 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 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: 1 All: Through these gifts that we share, may we be like Elisha, taking up the mantle in the spirit of Jesus, trusting that God will be with us as we re-enter ministry in the world around us. May what we have learned guide us into new ways to live, love, and serve. Amen. INVITATION TO PRAYER: Holy Sacred Spirit MV 15 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.) One: 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: How Great Thou Art VU 238 1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hand hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed.
2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander, I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze. 3 But when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin. 4 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, 'My God, how great thou art!' COMMISSIONING/BENEDICTION: 1 One: Let us go from this place into the world that is constantly changing, and yet still the same. Let us discern the leading of God in the voice of change. All: The Spirit is the source of our life in Christ, and we will trust the Spirit to guide our way. CHORAL AMEN: Ameni MV 651 Ameni, ameni, Amen, amen, amen, ameni. SENDING FORTH God the Spirit ( vs 1) VU 514 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 Postlude
Assisting with the Service This Morning Elder-in-Charge: Maureen Oster Worship Leaders Clint Houston, Chris White Scripture Reader Dawn Knowles Minutes for Mission Reader Betty Sidlick Greeters & Ushers: John & Betty Sidlick Coffee Hosts & Stair Glide Operators Dale & Lenora Stein, Doug & Velma Pearson Sound System Operator: Pat Evans PowerPoint Operator: Kathy Nielson 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. Coffee Time donations for the month of June will be allocated to Westminster UCW. Many folks have commented on the Pentecost display of fiery doves flying towards the cross on our chancel. A big shout out and thank you to Ron Chalifoux for his origami skills; Chris White for the idea; as well as Ted Sherring and Zack Brill for helping to install them. The first Sunday of each Month, all Communion Services, Thanksgiving Sunday, and World Food Sunday nonperishable food items are collected in the wooden box located in the Narthex, for distribution to our local food bank. If you wish, cash or cheque (made payable to M.H. & District Food Bank) donations are also accepted. 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. 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. Tuesday, July 5, 10:00 am Worship Service at Teeoda Lodge (722 Bassett Cres NW). Volunteers are welcome to assist with music and/or portering residents to and from the chapel. Thursday, July 7, 1:30 pm and 2:15 pm Worship Service at Masterpiece Retirement Home (4 River Ridge Dr NW). Volunteers are welcome to assist with music and/or portering residents to and from the chapel.
Summary of Board of Elders meeting held Tuesday, June 21, 2016. Melanie Rattai has agreed to be Board Chair at least until the Annual General Meeting in 2017. The position of Secretary is still vacant. We welcomed Al Piotrowski as a new Elder. Pat Marshall representing M & P reviewed the United Church Policy on Restorative Care. It was agreed that we would extend the Collaborative Clergy Support agreement with Gordon Memorial and Peace United for another twelve months. The Board will be holding a Retreat in Elkwater on July 9 th to reflect on the past year, and visioning for the future. It was agreed that a Stewardship event will be held in the fall using the United Church Resource Called to be the Church Salt and Light. People with a talent for this work are encouraged to volunteer. Unisphere have indicated that they will be leaving Westminster by the end of September due to lack of volunteers and financial resources. The Board agreed that we will forgive their rent for July, August and September. The next Board meeting is September 20 th. STAFF Ministers: All the People Clergy: Rev Jan Stevenson and Rev. Chelsea Masterman Book Keeper: Sara Stickel Jr. Choir Leader: Anna Marie Hancock Director of Music: Chris White Secretary: Cheryl Finnie Custodian: Chris White Security: Kelly Grozell