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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 OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
On the 1st Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of Hope, opening ourselves to the possibilities of Emmanuel, God-with-us!
On the 2nd Sunday, we lit our candle of Peace, striving for peace that reflects God’s vision in creation of universal love and harmony for all.
On the third Sunday of Advent,
we light a candle for joy.
Joy that fulfills, joy that endures,
joy that spreads, and joy that nurtures.
As we prepare for the coming of light, love and life in the form of a child,
we can be overwhelmed by the tasks and activities.
Instead, let us rest in the mystery.
Let the joy of Advent radiate forth. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Gather at the river side and listen to John the Baptist.
We will watch the water flow and fall and bless.
Gather in the synagogue and hear the Prophet’s words be fulfilled.
We will listen and be amazed.
Open your hearts to the joy and the justice of following the Christ!
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN #40 More Voices “Never Ending Joy”
Refrain Never ending joy, never ending joy, never ending joy, never ending joy, never ending joy, never ending joy!
God of every tribe, every language, God of every river and sea, God of every mountain and island, you bring joy to me. Refrain
God of every hill, every valley, God of every leaf, every tree, God of every cloud, every raindrop, you bring joy to me. Refrain
God of every song, every story, God of every captive set free, God of every dance, every footstep, you bring joy to me. Refrain
PASSING OF THE PEACE
“The peace of Christ be with you”
And also with you.
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION [together]
Great Advent God of love and compassion, we celebrate your coming among us, yet we often act as though we have never met. We greet each other with ‘Merry Christmas’, yet we forget to live from a place of deep joy. Break into our lives and transform us again, as we journey towards the day when you are born among us once more. In the name of the Christ child, we gather and pray. Amen
GIFT SINGERS
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 61:1-4
Luke 4:16-21 (Common English Bible)
SERMON – Reverend Hilde Seal
HYMN #59 Voices United “Joy to the World”
Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns: let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground:
He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders of his love.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
YOUR GENEROSITY MATTERS ~ “Giving Gifts with Vision”
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HYMN #7 Voices United “Hope is a Star” Verse 3 & Refrain
Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. Refrain
Refrain When God is a child, there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first
And the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…we speak together words inspired by the prayers of Jesus, each in the language of their hearts:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom,
and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
HYMN #28 Voices United “Herald Sound the Note of Gladness”
Herald! Sound the note of gladness! Tell the news that Christ is here;
Make a pathway through the desert for the one who brings God near.
Refrain Herald the trumpet! Tell the Message! Christ the Saving One has come!
Herald! Sound the note of judgment, warning us of right and wrong,
Turning us from sin and sadness till once more we sing the song. Refrain
Herald! Sound the note of pardon! Those repenting are forgive;
God receives these wayward children, and to all new life is given. Refrain
Herald! Sound the note of triumph! Christ has come to share our life,
Bringing God’s own love and power, granting victory in our strife. Refrain
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
ON THE WAY HYMN #213 More Voices “Take Up His Song” x2
Take up his song of joy and go into the world. Take up his song of joy in every moment.
In every moment of the journey, we’re laying down our lives; lay them down in joy, lay them down,
And take up his song.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United. Thanks to Rev. Hilde Seal, Sydney, BC for the Liturgy and 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,
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 OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Last Sunday, the 1st Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of Hope, opening ourselves to the possibilities of Emmanuel, God-with-us!
This Sunday, we light our candle of Peace. This candle of Peace holds our hopes for a world where there is war no more. Where we nurture conversation, relationships, insights, understanding and most importantly, a common commitment to peace for all of God’s people.
May we strive for peace that reflects God’s vision in creation of universal love and harmony for all. Amen.
HYMN #7 Voices United “Hope is a Star” Verse 2 and Refrain
Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth.
Refrain When God is a child, there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first
And the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
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 we wait for is special: this is God’s gift to the world.
God gave the first new life with Creation, and then with 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
Holy Mystery, loving God, source of all life, we gather in your presence to give thanks. We gather on this Human Rights Sunday to remember the vision of peace that Jesus espoused: where all would belong, where neighbour would love neighbour, where sword would become plough.
In these days where that vision seems distant, still we gather to give thanks for all that is good. Receive our worship today. Amen.
HYMN #18 Voices United “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Crying”
There’s a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway, a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low;
Make straight all the crooked places, where God, our God, may go!
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people the coming of their king.
Like the flowers of the field they perish, like grass our works decay.
The power and pomp of nations shall pass, like a dream, away.
But the word of our God endureth, whose arm is ever strong;
God stands in the midst of nations, and soon will right the wrong.
God shall feed the flock like a shepherd, the lambs so gently hold;
To pastures of peace will lead them, and bring them safe to fold.
There’s a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway, a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low;
Make straight all the crooked places where God, our God, may go!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
“The peace of Christ be with you”
And also with you.
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
Source of Life, you love us just as we are.
We are your children.
And yet there is a version of ourselves that is even more loving, more compassionate, more faithful to the calls you place on our lives.
Transform us into that version. Make us whole, for the fulfilling of your kin-dom. Amen.
THEME TIME
HYMN #6 Voices United “A Candle Is Burning” verses 1, 2, & 5
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright, a candle of hope in December’s dark night. While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky, our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is night.
A candle is burning, a candle of peace, a candle to signal that conflict must cease: for Jesus is coming to show us the way; a message of peace humbly laid in the had.
We honour Messiah with Christ candle’s flame, our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim. O come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night, as God comes among us, the Christian’s true light.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 3:1-6
SERMON –Brenda Watt
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Helping Refugees”
It is through our offerings to Mission and Service that these things are made possible. In our own community, it is through our offerings not only of money but also our talents that the work of God can be done. And so we pray:
Generous and loving God, we give out of gratitude for the sake of your kin-dom, where each belongs and knows your love. Grant us, this community, and this church the wisdom to use our gifts as you would see fit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…And so we pray the prayer that Jesus taught:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom,
and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
HYMN #5 Voices United – “All Earth is Waiting”
All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and open furrows await the seed of God.
All the world bound and struggling, seeks true liberty;
It cries out for justice and searches for the truth.
Thus says the prophet to those of Israel, “A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel.”
One whose name is “God with us,” our Saviour shall be,
Through whom hope will blossom once more within our hearts.
Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain, open new highways, new highways for our God,
Who is now coming closer, so come all and see,
And open the doorways as wide as wide can be.
In lowly stable the Promised One appeared. Yet, feel that presence throughout the earth today,
For Christ lives in all Christians and is with us now; again on arriving, Christ brings us liberty.
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
We go from here, but we never leave God’s side.
We go to prepare the way of Jesus, and to make the world ready to know peace. Amen.
ON THE WAY HYMN #10 Voices United “Prepare the Way” [x2]
Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord.
Make a straight path for him, make a straight path. Prepare the way of the Lord.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United. Thanks to Brenda Watt, Together We Worship, Calgary for the sermon and Rev. Greg Powell, James Bay United, Victoria, BC 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,
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 OF THE CANDLE OF HOPE
God welcomes us to gather and to wait. On this first Sunday of Advent we light the candle of Hope.
Hope flows in our relationships and our wonderings.
Come and worship this first Sunday of Advent; come with hearts and eyes open to the possibilities of Emmanuel.
HYMN #7 Voices United “Hope is a Star” Verse 1 and Refrain
Hope is a star, that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.
Refrain When God is a child, there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first
And the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Wake us up, God!
… to the signs in the sun, the moon and the stars.
Wake us up, God!
… to the powers of the heavens set loose among us.
Wake us up, God!
… to the messengers of hope, peace, joy, and love around us.
Wake us up, God!
… to the hope that our praise raises.
Wake us up, God!
… to worship You here and now.
(based on Luke 21:25-36)
OPENING PRAYER [Together]
Perfect God,
Our imperfect world needs You.
Into the chaos, Your still, small voice can speak order.
Into the crisis, Your most powerful Love can bring blessing.
Into the uneasiness, Your son, Jesus, can spark Hope.
May it be so as we gather.
Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
“The peace of Christ be with you”
And also with you.
HYMN #2 Voices United “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art.
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a king;
born to reign in us forever; now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM ~ Henry Cameron Francis
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.
Luke 21:25-36 (Common English Bible)
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages,
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON – Rev. Tracy Robertson
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.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING ~ Moderator Carmen Lansdowne’s Advent Message
MISSION AND SERVICE STORIES “Nurturing New Beginnings”
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…We pray this with the words Jesus taught us, each in the language of our hearts:
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.
HYMN 1 Voices United “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” verses 1, 6 & 7
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lowly exile here until the son of God appear.
Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O Dayspring, from on high, and cheer us by your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow’s put to flight. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
O bid our sad divisions cease, and be for us the Prince of Peace Refrain
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
What would it take to spark the flame of our hope amidst the darkness?
We are ready to learn.
We are ready to wait.
We are ready to witness.
Come, God of Love.
Come, Grace of Jesus.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Rest upon us all and renew us each in our courageous hope as we go from this place in peace.
Amen.
ON THE WAY HYMN #10 Voices United “Prepare the Way” x 2
Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord.
Make a straight path for him, make a straight path. Prepare the way of the Lord.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United. Thanks to Rev. Tracy Robertson, St. Thomas United, Calgary for the sermon and Rev. Andria Barkley (nee Irwin), Calgary, AB for the Liturgy.
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
CALL TO WORSHIP
God’s the center of all Creation.
As we orbit around the sun, so we are centered on God!
God is the surprising Grace that rises every morning.
As surprising as a sunrise amid winter!
God is as constant as the moon’s phases.
Always the same, yet always changing – God is amazing!
So let us worship God!
OPENING PRAYER
God, you have made with all Creation an Everlasting Covenant and ordered weather, season and ecosystems to balance one another.
You also made an Everlasting Covenant with humans
to take care of one another and creation – in balance and in love.
Like a good ruler of old, you take care of your people.
Like a good, elected leader of today, you listen to your people.
Help us open our hearts and minds to you this day – you our Creator, Center and Christ, Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
“The peace of Christ be with you”
And also with you.
HYMN #605 Voices United “Jesus, Teacher, Brave and Bold”
Jesus, teacher, brave and bold, let us serve you, young and old.
Let us faith-filled workers be, all around, your wisdom see.
Let us play and dance and sing, your goodness find in everything.
Jesus, friend, so strong and true, show us good, brave work to do.
Show us those who need a friend, all things broken help us mend.
Free our minds and stretch our care, teach us to serve you everywhere.
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
God of all peoples, places and times, we open to you our hearts that yearn for comfort this day. It is the time of long nights and short days, and we need reminding that you are always in our hearts. Sometimes like a comforting warm dark blanket. Sometimes like a thrilling hot light. But always…with us.
We are sorry for the times this past week when we have forgotten to seek you out. We forget to ask for help, guidance, nurture and support. We are sorry for the times this past week when we have forgotten to help others, too. For when they ask for help and nurture we are called and equipped to be your hands and feet. Help us be your true people, centered always on love of other and care of self.
DISCOVERY CIRCLE ~~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The Trial and Death of Jesus, God’s Dream
HYMN #56 Voices United “Jesus, Our Brother”
Jesus, our brother, kind and good, was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around him stood, Jesus our brother, kind and good.
“I,”, said the donkey, shaggy and brown, “I carried the mother uphill and down;
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town; I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
“I,” said the cow, all white and red, “I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him hay to pillow his head: I,” said the cow and white and red.
“I,” said the sheep with curly horn, “I gave him my wool for his blanket warm.
He wore my coat on Christmas morn; I,” said the sheep, with curly horn.
“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high, “I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry,
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I; I,” said the dove, from rafters high.
Thus all the beasts, by some good spell, in the stable dark were glad to tell
Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel, the gifts they gave Emmanuel.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 95 Part One p. 814 VU with Refrain
Refrain Come, let us bow down and worship; let us kneel before God our maker.
O come, let us sing to God,
let us shout with joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyously shout to God with songs of praise. Refrain
For you are a great God,
high sovereign above all gods.
In your hand are the depths of the earth;
to you belong the heights of the mountains.
The sea is yours, for you made it;
your hands also formed the dry land.
You are indeed our God;
we are your people, the flock that you shepherd. Refrain
Matthew 25:31-46
RESPONSE
May God bless our understanding of these words handed down from the Early Church.
SERMON – Rev. Karen Medland
HYMN #271 Voices United “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God’s justice which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven;
there is no place where earth’s failings have such gracious judgement given.
There is plentiful redemption in the blood that Christ has shed;
there is joy for all the members in the sorrows of the Head.
Troubled souls, why will you scatter like a crowd of frightened sheep?
Foolish hearts, why will you wander from a love so true and deep?
For the love of God is broader than the measures of the mind,
And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERING RESPONSE HYMN #79 More Voices “Spirit, Open My Heart” [Refrain only]
Refrain Spirit, Open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.
MISSION AND SERVICE STORIES – Gifts with Vision: A Gift to All
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, bless these gifts, and those we give at other times. Bless all the baking, sewing, wrapping and loving we will do in the coming weeks too. Transform all this energy into love made known in your world! Use them as you will, for your work through Christ, Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.
HYMN #173 More Voices “Put Peace into Each Other’s Hands”
Put peace into each other’s hands and like a treasure hold it,
Protect it like a candle flame, with tenderness enfold it.
Put peace into each other’s hands with loving expectation;
Be gentle in your words and ways, in touch with God’s creation.
Put peace into each other’s hands like bread we break for sharing;
Look people warmly in the eye: our life is meant for caring.
Give thanks for strong yet tender hands, held out in trust and blessing.
Where words fall short, let hands speak out, the heights of love expressing.
Reach out in friendship, stay with faith in touch with those around you.
Put peace into each other’s hands; the Peace that sought and found you.
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
God is the center of all Creation.
We are the arms and hands of Christ reaching out!
God is the surprising Grace that rises every morning.
We are the forgiven and freed children of God going out to serve God’s children.
God is as constant as the moon’s phases.
Always the same, yet always changing – God is amazing!
So let us too – grow, change and constantly live love!
We go in peace to serve and love our God!
HYMN #212 More Voices “Sent out in Jesus’ Name”
Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready now
to make the world a place in which the kingdom comes.
Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready now
to make the world a place in which the kingdom comes.
The angels cannot change a world of hurt and pain
into a world of love, of justice and of peace.
The task is ours to do, to set it really free.
O, help us to obey, and carry out your will.
The angels cannot change a world of hurt and pain
into a world of love, of justice and of peace.
The task is ours to do, to set it really free.
O, help us to obey, and carry out your will.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United. Thanks to Rev. James McTyre, The Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN, USA for the liturgy and Rev. Karen Medland, Chinook Winds Region Pastoral Relations Minister for the sermon.