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RECOGNITION OF THE LAND AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land, and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
God, reveal yourself.
Here in this place of worship,
God, reveal yourself.
Here in our hearts, broken and aflame,
God, reveal yourself.
Here in our songs of praise and thanksgiving,
God, reveal yourself.
Here in this community we call home,
God, reveal yourself.
May our worship bring you Glory,
May our prayers begin with gratitude,
May our showing up be nourishment for your kin-dom come.
God, as we gather, reveal yourself.
Come, let us worship the everlasting God.
OPENING PRAYER
Holy One, with open hearts we come to you. Help us to trust that this is where we need to be, encourage us to press pause on our outside worries and grant us permission to be here exactly as we are. We ask that you bless this time together, that it might sustain us, nourish us, fill us, and keep us walking in your way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
HYMN #376 Voices United “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all. Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
VIDEO GREETINGS FROM NORTHERN SPIRIT REGIONAL COUNCIL
HYMN #23 More Voices “Come, O Holy Spirit”
Come, O Holy Spirit, set the Church on fire; strike it as the lightning hits a posing spire.
Burn away the structures and consume the sham of our holy systems;
Come, in Jesus’ name!
Refrain Come, come, come in Jesus’ name! Take our hearts by storm.
All the world lies open; Pentecost is now! I said a
Come, come, come in Jesus’ name! Take our hearts by storm.
All the world lies open; Pentecost is now!
Blow away the cobwebs of our stubborn past. Come, send flying from us myths unfit to last.
Wind of change, refresh us and disturb our calm; teach us what true love is,
Take our hearts by storm. Refrain
Free us from the babble of our Babel mind; spark in us a language all can understand.
Lighten then our darkness, come and show us how all the world lies open:
Pentecost is now! Refrain
SERMON – The Very Rev. Richard Bott
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Healing With Horses”
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #537 Voices United “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
HYMN #23 Then Let Us Sing “For everyone born”
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead,
For all who share life, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for all who share life, a system that’s fair,
Refrain and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!
For those we neglect, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for those we neglect, the right to belong,
For all who have breath, a place at the table, a covenant shared, a welcoming space,
a rainbow of race and gender and colour, for all who have breath, the chalice of grace, Refrain
For you and for me, a place at the table, though wounded and sore, will need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for you and for me, a new way to live,
For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free, Refrain
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Christ is present here.
The Spirit is among us.
Let us give thanks to God
in memory and in hope.
PRAYER OF GREAT THANKSGIVING
…They proclaimed your goodness in every language, saying:
HYMN #951 Voices United “Santo, Santo, Santo”
Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you!
My heart is glad to say the words: You are holy, God!
Santo, santo, santo. Mi corazon te adora!
Mi corazon te sabe decir: Santo eres Dios!
…We now open ourselves to Your power and presence so that our lives may proclaim the mystery of our faith;
HYMN #204 More Voices “Memorial Acclamation”
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
…We pray Come holy Spirit,
Come Holy Spirit. Amen
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
SENDING FORTH
HYMN #586 Voices United “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”
We shall go out with hope of resurrection; we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly; tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted; we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united within the vision of a new life in Christ.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken; we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer, expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping, raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story, including all in circles of our love.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. Thanks to the Very Rev. Richard Bott, Former Moderator, The United Church of Canada (2018-2022), currently serving Grace United, Burlington, ON, for the sermon and Rev. Andria Irwin, Calgary, AB for the Liturgy.
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land, and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, and wait for a time.
We wait, together, to remind each other that new life always comes.
This particular new life is special: this is God’s gift to the world.
God gave first with Creation, and Christ to renew it. We also are God’s gifts.
Let us dwell for a time, fully aware of God’s presence with us.
So let us offer our thanks and praise.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN #376 Voices United “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all. Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
THEME TIME
HYMN #374 Voices United “Come and Find the Quiet Centre”
Come and find the quiet centre in the crowded life we lead.
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed;
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we may see
All the things that really matter, be at peace and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace;
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, face to face,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain;
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain;
There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
Luke 8:26-39 (Common English Bible)
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON – Reverend Greg Powell
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #537 Voices United “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
MISSION AND SERVICE “Gathering To Remember, Reconnect, and Renew”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
…And so we pray the prayer that Jesus taught, each in the language of our hearts:
THE 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 those who 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,
for ever and ever. Amen
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
THE LIGHT CHANGES AND SENDING FORTH
HYMN #586 Voices United “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”
We shall go out with hope of resurrection; we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly; tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted; we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united within the vision of a new life in Christ.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken; we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer, expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping, raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story, including all in circles of our love.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. Thanks to Rev. Greg Powell, James Bay United, Victoria, BC for the liturgy and the sermon.
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle to remind us that Christ is present,
shining on our hearts and brightening the world. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 8)
How majestic is your name, O God of all!
Your splendour is greater than the universe.
What is human life, that in our smallness you care for us?
You have given us tremendous gifts.
You entrust to us the earth and all its inhabitants.
How majestic is the Holy name! Amen.
OPENING PRAYER (inspired by John 16:12-15)
HYMN #376 Voices United “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all. Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION (inspired by Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31)
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Evelyn Margaret Proctor
Statement of Purpose
Reading excerpt from “A Song of Faith”
Before conscious thought or action our part,
we are born into the brokenness of this world.
Before conscious thought or action on our part,
we are surrounded by God’s redeeming love.
Baptism by water in the name of the Holy Trinity
is the means by which we are received, at any age,
into the covenanted community of the church.
It is the ritual that signifies our rebirth in faith
and cleansing by the power of God.
Baptism signifies the nurturing, sustaining,
and transforming power of God’s love
and our grateful response to that grace.
Presentation of Candidates
Profession of Faith and Commitment
Commitment of Sponsors
Commitment of Godparents
Congregational Commitment
Will the congregation please rise and pledge your support and continued care to all those received into the body of Christ today.
As your family of faith, part of the great communion of saints, we welcome you. We rejoice in the gift that you are to this world. We promise to support and uphold you. We do not presume to tell you what you must believe, for ours is a community of free inquiry and searching. We promise to share our experience of the sacred with you and ask that you share your experiences with us. With God’s help, may we journey together in loving community.
God grant us the grace to fulfil our promises.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith p. 918 Voices United “A New Creed”
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are you O God, giver of all life. Wellspring of hope, you are with us from generation to generation: brooding over the waters of creation, leading your people Israel through the water to freedom, providing water from the rock
in the wilderness. ..
Blessed are you, O God.
In the fullness of time, you sent Jesus Christ, who was nurtured in the water of Mary’s womb. Jesus was baptized by John in the water of the Jordan, became living water to a woman at the Samaritan well, washed the feet of his disciples, and called them into service. We thank you for the
gift of eternal life.
Blessed are you, O God.
We pray that those who are baptized, knowing the death and resurrection of Jesus, may drink deeply of your living water, and discover you as a sustaining source of grace.
Blessed are you, O God.
Pouring of the Water
Act of Baptism
Congregational Blessing “In God’s Circle of Love”
In God’s circle of love, we hold on to each other;
I can see God’s love through you.
In God’s circle of love, we learn to love each other;
Each of us is special, in God’s circle of love.
Oh, Evelyn, did you know that you are very special
You’re so special to us all.
Oh, come, if you will, to our circle of love;
Each of us is special, in God’s circle of love.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
John 3:1-17 (Common English Bible)
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON – Reverend Dr. Karen Medland
HYMN #716 Voices United “My Life Flows On” verses 1, 2, & 4
My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the sweet, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear the music ringing:
It finds an echo in my soul – how can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die? My Saviour still is living.
What though the shadows gather ‘round? A new song Christ is giving.
No storm can shake my in-most calm, while to that Rock I’m clinging:
since Love commands both heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin; I see the blue above it;
and day by day this pathway smooths, since first I learned to love it.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing:
all things are mine since I am Christ’s – how can I keep from singing?
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Still Called. Still Committed. Still Together.”
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #537 Voices United “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (inspired by Romans 5:1-5)
…we pray in Jesus’ name and in Jesus’ way, saying together, each in the language of our hearts:
THE 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 those who 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,
for ever and ever. Amen
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
Holy One, we are your church, your people gathered.
Since before the beginning, you have been with us,
In the dry and desert-like times
When decline and discouragement surround us
You have shown us where to find joy and even hope
And have been our trusted guide.
We have gathered as The United Church of Canada for 100 years.
On this historic occasion we remember yet again
That we live and move and have our being in you.
Encourage us loving God
To live in your Spirit
With courage to follow where she leads.
Grant us deep faith,
Help us to see where you are moving among us.
Give us bravery, peace in heart, creativity in imagination, and a spirit for justice and healing.
Lead on, Holy One, we are ready to follow.
Amen
HYMN 174 More Voices “Soil of God, You and I”
Soil of God, you and I, stand ready to bear seeds of faith nourished by God’s tender care.
Growing in everyone for here God is found. All stand together, we are… Holy ground.
Soil of God, you and I, now ready to be part of God’s promise, for others to see.
Open to everyone for here God is found. All stand together, we are … Holy ground.
Soil of God, you and I, now called to re-birth, joining as partners with all of the earth.
Living in harmony for here God is found. All stand together, this is… Holy ground.
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
THE LIGHT CHANGES
SENDING FORTH
Holy Wisdom calls us gently onward.
Let us listen for God’s whispered word.
Holy Redeemer leads us toward justice.
Let us transform our pain into blessings for all.
Holy Creator offers us abundant life.
Let us spread life wherever we go. Amen.
BLESSING (based on Romans 15:13, 33)
HYMN #586 Voices United “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”
We shall go out with hope of resurrection; we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly; tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted; we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united within the vision of a new life in Christ.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken; we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer, expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping, raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story, including all in circles of our love.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Karen Medland (Chinook Region) for the sermon, and Rev. Murray Speer, Calgary, for the Liturgy.
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nehiyawewin, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Once there was a man spoke so wisely and acted so lovingly that hope spread wherever he went, and people asked him
Who are you?
And he answered in many ways, but one time he said
I am the Light.
On another occasion he said to the people
You are the Light
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.
May the Light shine in this time of worship and may our light shine beyond!
CALL TO WORSHIP (slightly adapted from the Centennial Worship Service of The United Church of Canada)
When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were all together in one place…
Today, we gather here at First United Church in Wetaskiwin and in homes and other places online.
Even though we are in several places, we are one in heart. Touched by the Spirit the disciples were livened
By the Spirit we live and thrive!
On the day of Pentecost, the Church was born.
Today, we celebrate 100 years of being the United Church of Canada.
In their gathering that day, people were changed by the Spirit.
In our gathering today, we seek the Spirit’s direction for tomorrow
With open hearts, let us worship God and pray that we become aware of the Spirit’s presence amongst us.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
OPENING PRAYER (slightly adapted from the inaugural service of The United Church of Canada)
O God Eternal, whose name is great and whose goodness is inexhaustible, who is adored by the hosts of heaven and accepts offerings blessed by the Holy Spirit: sanctify us, bless us we ask you, in body, mind and spirit; touch our understandings, search our consciences and cast out every unbecoming thought and base desire, all falsehood and vainglory and indifference, every motion of the flesh and spirit not in accordance with Your holy will. And grant us, O Lord, with freedom, with a pure heart and contrite soul, without confusion of face and with sanctified lips, boldly to call on You, our holy God in heaven. Amen.
HYMN #376 Voices United “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all. Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
THEME TIME
HYMN #375 Voices United “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”
Refrain Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to each thing:
– wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings. Refrain
You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
And you goaded your people with a law and land;
And when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
Then you spoke thro’ your prophets to open their eyes Refrain
You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill.
Then you whispered in silence when the whole was still;
And down in the city, you called once again,
When you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. Refrain
You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes;
From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
with bold new decisions your people arise. Refrain
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:1-6
Psalm 104 (Parts 1 and 2 with Refrain 1 p. 826 VU)
Refrain Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation.
Praise God, O my soul.
Eternal God, you are great indeed.
You clothe yourself with light like a garment.
You spread the heavens like a tent;
you lay out the beams of your dwelling on the waters above.
You make the clouds your chariot,
and ride on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flames of fire your servants.
You fix the earth on its foundations,
so that it can never tremble.
You cover the earth with the ocean as with a cloak. Refrain
When the waters covered the mountains,
they fled at your rebuke;
at the sound of your thunder, they took flight.
They flowed over the mountains, ran down the valleys
to the place you had appointed for them.
There you set limits not to be passed,
that they might not again cover the earth. Refrain
O God, how manifold are your works!
With Wisdom at your side you made them all,
the earth is full of your creatures. Refrain
There lies the great and might Sea,
teeming with living things both great and small.
Upon it sail the ships,
and there is Leviathan, the monster you made to play in it.
All these look to you,
to give them their food in due season.
What you give them they gather up.
When you open your hand,
you fill them with good things.
But when you hide your face they despair.
When you take away their breath, they die, and return to dust.
But when you send out your spirit, they live again,
and you renew the face of the earth. Refrain
May your glory, O God, endure forever.
May you rejoice, O God, in your works.
When you look at the earth it trembles,
when you touch the mountains they smoke.
I will sing to God as long as I live.
I will praise my God while I have being. Refrain
John 14:8-17, 25-27
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON “Around the United Church in 100 Years”
HYMN #156 More Voices “Dance with the Spirit”
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Sing with the Spirit sitting down at mid day
Share with the Spirit wherever you go
Serve and laugh while you’re shaping a new way
Learn from the Spirit to go with the flow
Search for the Spirit later in the evening
Rest with the Spirit, it’s calling your name
Pause and grow there’s a mystery of meaning
Play with the Spirit it’s rarely the same.
Wait for the Spirit whispering at midnight
Trust in the Spirit to comfort your fear
Watch and hope in the silence of starlight
Love with the spirit till heaven draws near.
Dance with the Spirit early in the morning
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day
Work and pray for a new day a dawning.
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
Holy One, we are your church, your people gathered.
Since before the beginning, you have been with us,
In the dry and desert-like times
When decline and discouragement surround us
You have shown us where to find joy and even hope
And have been our trusted guide.
We have gathered as The United Church of Canada for 100 years.
On this historic occasion we remember yet again
That we live and move and have our being in you.
Encourage us loving God
To live in your Spirit
With courage to follow where she leads.
Grant us deep faith,
Help us to see where you are moving among us.
Give us bravery, peace in heart, creativity in imagination, and a spirit for justice and healing.
Lead on, Holy One, we are ready to follow.
Amen
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Still Called. Still Committed. Still Together.”
CHOIR ANTHEM “We Are the Church”
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #537 Voices United “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
…and so together we say, each in the language of their heart…
THE 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 those who 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,
for ever and ever. Amen
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
HYMN #161 More Voices “I Have Called You by Your Name”
I have called you by your name, you are mine; I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true. You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.
I will help you learn my name as you go; read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim, offer Jesus’ body given long ago.
I know you will need my touch as you go; feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt, hold the hem of Jesus’ robe,
Then let it go.
I have given you a name, it is mine; I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
Go and tell my precious people they are mine.
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH:
Voice One:
Holy One, We are your church, your people gathered.
Since before the beginning, you have been with us,
In the dry and desert-like times
When decline and discouragement surround us
You have shown us where to find joy and even hope
And have been our trusted guide.
Voice two:
We have gathered as The United Church of Canada for 100 years.
On this historic occasion we remember yet again
That we live and move and have our being in you.
Voice Three:
Encourage us loving God
To live in your Spirit
With courage to follow where she leads.
Grant us deep faith,
Help us to see where you are moving among us.
Give us bravery, peace in heart, creativity in imagination, and a spirit for justice and healing.
Lead on, Holy One, we are ready to follow.
Amen
THE LIGHT CHANGES
BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
Beloved, as you go out into the world, hold this blessing in your heart:
God who created you has chosen you for hope.
May the power of the Spirit awaken your heart with awe
Just as those who gaze upward to the northern lights feel awed by the mystery.
May your kind words and good works awaken others to sacred love.
Praise be to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine!
Glory to God from generation to generation.
Amen
A DELIGHTFUL SONG TO PASS FROM ONE GENERATION TO THIS GENERATION
United Church Centennial Song (Sung to the tune of the Expo 67 Centennial Song by Bobby Gimby)
The United Church
-a loving faith community
Welcomes you
-affirming all who gather
The United Church
-we honour truth and justice
Called to be
Love, Joy, Hope, Peace
Bold Discipleship
Church bells will ring, ring, ring
It’s the 100th Anniversary of Amalgamation
Everybody sing together…
The United Church
-a loving faith community
Welcomes you
-affirming all who gather
The United Church
-we honour truth and justice
Called to be
Love, Joy, Hope, Peace
Bold Discipleship
Voices will sing, sing, sing
-Jesus loves me this I know…
-We’ll jump for joy, singing hallelujah…
-What a friend we have in Jesus…
It’s the 100th Anniversary of Amalgamation
Let us worship altogether…