May 20th, 2012

Ascension Sunday

9:00 & 10:30 a.m. services

Liturgical colour - White

We GatherTogether

 

Greetings and Announcements:

Time of Preparation: 

Introit:

MV #45 “You are Holy, You Show Us the Way”

Call to Worship:

 

Opening Prayer: (unison) 

God of the mountains and hills, valleys and lakes, heaven and earth: Your Creation calls to us in so many ways. In the coming weeks we will find time to be outdoors and even in the wild. Grant it that we will discern how near You are and give You thanks for beauty and wonder. Help us seek You day by day and may it be that we draw nearer to You and embrace the dreams You have for us together and apart. May Your music be upon our hearts, Your laughter within our souls that in solitude and in our public life we might find courage and inspiration in You. This we pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

Hymn of Praise: 

MV #1 “Let Us Build a House"             Vss. 1, 3 & 5

10:30 am. Faith Focus:

Faith Focus Hymn:

MV #37       "Each Blade of Grass"

We Hear God’s Word

 

Prayer for Illumination:

Scripture Lessons:  

 

First Lesson:  Acts 1:1-11

Psalm 47:  VU p. 771 Refrain 2

Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:44-53

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon:

 “Give Thanks and Remember"

 

Hymn of the Day:  

VU #171  “Christ Has no Body Now but Yours”

 

We Respond in Faith

Joys and Concerns: 

Anyone wishing to share joys or concerns is encouraged to do so at this time or, if you prefer,  advise Don of your request.

 

Prayers:   

Pastoral, Silent & Lord’s  VU p. 910

Anthem:  

Alleluia (Exsultate Jubilate)                - W. A. Mozart

Offering:   

Words, Offering, & Prayer MV # 156   “Dance With the Spirit”

 

We Leave to Serve God in the World

Parting Hymn:         

MV #212 “Sent Out in Jesus' Name”

Commissioning:

 

Prayer of Dedication: 

(Back inside cover of Voices United)

---

April 22nd, 2012

9:00 & 10:30 a.m. services

We GatherTogether

 

Greetings and Announcements:

Time of Preparation: 

Introit:

MV #45 “You are Holy, You Show Us the Way”

Call to Worship:

God is alive among us.

We hear a voice:

“PEACE BE WITH YOU”

Why are we frightened, why do doubts arise in our hearts?

For the wounded one has spoken:

“PEACE BE WITH YOU”

Touch and see God’s hands and feet,

Let us prepare a feast.

FOR THE HOLY ONE IS PRESENT!

 

Opening Prayer: (unison / embodied at 10:30) 

We bow in the presence of Love.

We receive the peace of the Risen One.

We hold all in the circle of Love;

We hold and love ourselves,

For we are witnesses to a deep love.

And with a clap of awakening, 

We bow and give thanks for our rising together.

[Repeat—at 10:30]

Hymn of Praise: 

VU #415 “God, We Praise You for the Morning”  

10:30 am. Faith Focus:

Faith Focus Hymn:

MV #138       "My Love Colours Outside the Lines"

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination:

Scripture Lessons:  

(Reader: 9:00 am        ; 10:30 am - Dave Rumbold)

 First Lesson:  Acts 3:12-19

 Psalm 4:  VU p. 727

 Epistle Lesson: 1 John 3:1-7

  Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:36b-48

Sermon:

 “Beginning from Jerusalem - Witnesses”

 

Hymn of the Day:  

MV #212  “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name”

We Respond in Faith

Joys and Concerns: 

Anyone wishing to share joys or concerns is encouraged to do so at this time or, if you prefer,  advise Chris, Don or Joanne of your request.

 

Prayers:   

Pastoral, Silent & Lord’s  VU p. 910

Anthem:   

Offering:   

Words, Offering, & Prayer MV # 156

  “Dance With the Spirit”

We Leave to Serve God in the World

Parting Hymn:         

VU #686 “God of Grace and God of Glory”

Commissioning:

 

Prayer of Dedication: 

(Back inside cover of Voices United)

---

 

 

 

March 25th, 2012

9:00 & 10:30 a.m. services

We GatherTogether

Greetings and Announcements:

Time of Preparation: 

Introit:

VU #121 “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery” vs. 1

Call to Worship:

The days are here when God will make a new covenant with us, a covenant written on our hearts.

This is the covenant that God makes with us: that God's law will be placed within us, and that we shall be God's people.

NO LONGER SHALL WE TEACH ONE ANOTHER, OR SAY TO ONE ANOTHER, "KNOW GOD!" FOR WE SHALL ALL KNOW GOD, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, AND WE SHALL ALL FIND FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION.

 

Opening Prayer: (unison) 

Divine Spirit, may we encounter you within us: as a deep and quiet knowledge of our own wholeness and worth, and as a gentle inner teacher, holding and guiding us on our way. May we encounter your insight and love among us: in the support of this community, and may we receive from others with grace and humility. May we encounter your story weaving each of our stories together, as the strong fibres connecting our hearts. And may we know the promise of your dwelling within and among us, for we travel with you always, and mystery and miracle are found in your company. We pray in remembrance of Jesus, the one who walked among us, entering into and opening our hearts. AMEN. 

Hymn of Praise:

MV #79 “Spirit, Open My Heart” (During which the Christ Candle is lit)

10:30  Faith Focus:

 We Hear God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination:

Scripture Lessons:

(Readers: 9:00 a.m. Teri Smith; 10:30 a.m. Sharon Hoekstra)

  Hebrew Scriptures: 

Jeremiah 31: 31-34    

     Psalm 51:   

VU p. 776 Refrain 1    
 

     Epistle  Lesson:  

Hebrews 5:5-10     

     Gospel Reading:

John 12:20-33 

  

Sermon: 

“Tree of Life: Following Jesus” 

 

Hymn:   

VU #330 “Jesus Shall Reign”

 

 
 We Respond in Faith

 Joys and Concerns: 

Anyone wishing to share joys or concerns is encouraged to do so at this time or, if you prefer, advise Don or Chris of your prayer request.

 

Prayers: 

Pastoral, Silent & Lord’s  VU #910

Anthem:

“Mayenziwe” (Your Will Be Done)

  - Traditional South African / arr. Michael Hassell

Offertory: 

Words, Offering, & Prayer  VU #537 “Your Work, O God       Needs Many Hands”

 

 We Leave To Serve God in the World

 Parting Hymn: 

VU #120 “O Jesus, I Have Promised”

Commissioning:

Lenten Benediction:  

 (Back inside cover of Voices United)

 

---

 

March 25th, 2012, Fifth Sunday in Lent 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.  Liturgical colour—purple

March 18th, 2012

9:00 & 10:30 a.m. services

We GatherTogether

Greetings and Announcements:

Prelude:

 “Be Thou My Vision” - Slane (trad. Irish) arr. Lloyd Larson

Time of Preparation: 

Introit:  
 

VU #121 “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery” vs. 1

  

Call to Worship:

Jesus reveals God’s love. 

Jesus yearns for us to trust in God.

WE HAVE COME TO BE INSPIRED BY THE GLORY AND  WONDER OF CHRIST’S LIFE AND WORDS. GATHERED  BY GOD’S AMAZING GRACE WE COME TO BASK IN THE  LIGHT AND TO BE CHANNELS OF THE LOVE REVEALED  IN CHRIST.

 

Opening Prayer: (unison)

God of Glorious Dreams and Bountiful Grace, You promise to lead and guide us, so why do we spend so much time running in circles? You promise to supply our needs, so why are we so tired and drained at the end of the day? You promise to provide a refuge where we can be restored, so why do we rarely make time to rest or to find Your peace? Help us, O God! Open our ears to Your voice calling us near. Expand our vision to embrace Your purposes for this world and how we can be a part of bringing healing to this hurting world. May it be as You would will it in Christ’s name, AMEN. 

 

Hymn of Praise:

VU #359 “He Came Singing Love”

   (During which the Christ Candle is lit)

10:30  Faith Focus:

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination:

Scripture Lessons:

 

   Psalm 107:   VU p. 831 Parts 1 & 2

   

Epistle  Lesson: Ephesians 2:1-10

   

Gospel Reading: John 3:14-21 

   

Sermon: 

“Tree of Life: Light and Love” 

Hymn:   

VU #147 “What Wondrous Love Is This”

 

We Respond in Faith

Joys and Concerns: 

Anyone wishing to share joys or concerns is encouraged to do so at this time or, if you prefer, advise Don, Chris or Joanne of your prayer request.

 

Prayers: Pastoral, Silent & Lord’s  VU #910

Offertory: Words, Offering, & Prayer  VU #537 “Your Work, O God       Needs Many Hands”

Hand Bell Choir: "Here I Am, Lord"   D. L. Schutte / arr.A.B.Sherman

 

We Leave To Serve God in the World

 

Parting Hymn:

VU #685 “God of Grace and God of Glory”

Commissioning:

Lenten Benediction:   (Back inside cover of Voices United)

 

March 11, 2012

Third Sunday of Lent

9:00 and 10:30 am services

Welcome & Announcements

Be

Introit: “Just to Be is a Blessing”

Opening Litany: Body Prayer, Candle Lighting & Song: “I Let Go”

 

Go

Call to Purpose: (Responsive)

Companions on the way,

We are called to be… to become present here, to bring our whole selves.

Spirit of Life, we choose to be.

We are called to go… to risk comfort and safety, to change and to grow.

Spirit of Life, we choose to go.

We are called to feel… to be humble and honest, to kneel in our tenderness.

Spirit of Life, we choose to feel.

We are called to stand… to gain conviction and passion, to return in strength.

Spirit of Life, we choose to stand.

We are called to sing… to share our stories and trust our voices, and to celebrate.

Spirit of Life, we choose to sing.

 

Song for the Journey: Hamba Nathi MV # 45

 

Feel

Faith Focus: The Labyrinth

Scripture Reading: Luke 15: 11-32

Prayer of Confession:

Divine Friend, we live our lives so conscious of how others perceive us, so much that we become lost to ourselves, we don’t know our own soul’s voice. Your doorway into our lives is through our own souls, support us to listen and understand the language and longing of our souls. Sometimes it takes losing almost everything to finally listen and reclaim who we are, to decide what we must do to be whole. To find our way home...

Congregational Hymn: “Take O Take Me As I Am”

Stand

Message Time: Who I Am…

Congregational Hymn:  VU #374 “Come and Find the Quiet Centre”

Sing

Prayers of the Community

The Prayer of Jesus (A Paraphrase VU# 916)

Offering

Offertory Song: Let Your Whole Life Speak (Projected) 

Be

Commissioning

Closing Song: “A New Day is Dawning” - rEvolve

 There’s a new day, a new day is dawning.

 There’s a new way, a new way to see.

 There’s a new time arriving, an’ it’s born from our striving.

 For this new way, a new way to be.

 

Second Sunday of Lent

9:00 and 10:30 a.m. services

We Gather Together

Greetings and Announcements:

Time of Preparation: 

Introit:   

VU #121 “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery” vs. 1

Call to Worship:

God has a purpose for each of us and all of us.

Will we seek to follow in God’s way or will we choose the  way of our own   devising?

WE HAVE COME TO BE INSPIRED BY THE GLORY OF  THE TREE OF LIFE, THAT WE MIGHT LOVE AND SERVE AS JESUS TEACHES US. GATHERED BY GOD’S GRACE WE OFFER OUR PRAYERS AND MUTUAL SUPPORT TO HELP SUSTAIN US FOR THE WAY AHEAD.

Opening Prayer: (unison) 

Gracious God of Love, there are days we wish we could simply laugh and play and forget our responsibilities. You offer all of us a cross to carry. Help us to know that it can be a rainbow and a promise which give light to our lives. To take up Your cross is to fall in love with the world and beauty and mystery. To take up Your cross is to fully embrace life and to hear music for the first time or dance to the rhythms of the spheres with delight and wonder. Forgive us, O God, for all the times we turn living into mere existence and faith into severe duty and responsibility. This we pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

Hymn of Praise:  VU #112 “O God, How We Have Wandered”

   (During which the Christ Candle is lit)

10:30  Faith Focus:

 

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination:

Scripture Lessons:

 (Readers: 9:00 Brent Skinner; 10:30 Diana Kemp)

 Hebrew Scriptures: Genesis 17:1-7; 15-16

 Psalm 22:   VU p. 746 Parts 3 & 4

  Epistle Lesson: Romans 4:13-25

   Gospel Reading: Mark 8:31-38 

   

Sermon: 

“Tree of Life: Losing & Saving” 

Hymn:   

VU #643 “Faith, While Trees are Still in Blossom”

 

We Respond in Faith

 Joys and Concerns:

 

Prayers:

Pastoral, Silent & Lord’s  VU #910

10:30   Anthem:

"Just As I Am"  - trad./arr. D. Besig

 

Offertory: 

Words, Offering, & Prayer  VU #537 “Your Work, O God       Needs Many Hands”

 

 

We Leave To Serve God in the World

 

Parting Hymn: 

VU #601 “The Church of Christ in Every Age”

Commissioning:

Lenten Benediction:

         

 (Back inside cover of Voices United)

 

 

---

 

First Sunday of Lent

9:00 and 10:30 a.m. services

 

We Approach God Together

Greetings and Announcements:

Time of Preparation: 

Introit:   

VU #121 “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery” vs. 1

  

Call to Worship:

 Come before God to find refuge, solace, and peace.

   We gather as a people of faith who trust in the mercies of our God. God longs for us to be transformed by all we do to bring God’s grace and compassion to a hurting world.

CALLED BY CHRIST WE HAVE COME TO BE INSPIRED BY THE GLORY OF THE TREE OF LIFE, THAT WE MIGHT SHARE THE GOSPEL AFRESH. GATHERED BY GOD’S GRACE WE WILL WORSHIP IN FAITH AS WE LONG TO BE TRANSFORMED AND RENEWED TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY.

 

Opening Prayer: (unison) 

Gracious God, You have given us Your Word and Your Christ to guide us, Your Spirit to inspire and lead us, and still we go astray. Too often we are led by voices other than Yours. Too often we ignore our conscience and do what we want rather than what we know we should. Too often we betray Your image within us by pursuing selfish desires. Too often we are tempted by the wiles of the world and stray from Your word, Your will, Your way. Help us to know how temptation has bested us recently and help us to be more faithful as people of true character in the future. Grant it, O God, that we will receive Your mercy and forgiveness as we forgive others. Confirm in us what is right and just as we follow Christ’s way. This we pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

 

Hymn of Praise:  

VU #115 “Jesus, Tempted in the Desert”

   (During which the Christ Candle is lit)

10:30  Faith Focus:

We Hear God's Word

Prayer for Illumination:

Scripture Lessons:

   (Readers: 9:00 Sheila Wilson-Hyde; 10:30 Bob Serne)

  Hebrew Scriptures: Genesis 9:8-17

  Psalm 25:  VU p. 752—Refrain 2

 Epistle Lesson:            1 Peter 3:18-22     

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:9-15

   

Sermon: 

“Tree of Life: Where in the Wilderness?” 

Hymn:

  VU #480 “Let Us Break Bread Together”

A New Creed: VU p. 918

 

   

 We Respond in Faith

Joys and Concerns: Anyone wishing to share joys or concerns is encouraged to advise Don of your prayer request.

Prayers: 

Pastoral, Silent

10:30   Anthem: 

“A Lenten Prayer” - A. Salieri

Offertory: 

Words, Offering, & Prayer VU #537 “Your Work, O God  Needs Many Hands”

Parting Hymn: 

VU #120 “O Jesus, I have Promised”

Commissioning:

Lenten Benediction:  

(Back inside cover of Voices United)