Sunday, February 1, 2015 - Fourth Sunday After Epiphany (Year B)

News and Announcements:

Lighting of Candles: #154MV (verse 1)

Deep in my heart, there is a common vision;

Deep in my heart, there is a common song;

Deep in my heart, there is a common story;

Telling creation that we are one.

Coming Together:

When we fear poverty, God invites us to trust in the power of community.

When we fear rejection, God invites us to know our value and worth deep within us.

When we fear hunger and thirst, God invites to give thanks for the bread and cup before us each day.

When we fear solitude, God invites us to reach out in love to others in need.

Let us pray...

Holy One, move us from fear.  Help us return to the ways of your grace, and forgive us our worship of other gods. Amen.

Singing:   #326VU   “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

Sharing the Peace of Christ:

In a spirit of community and thanksgiving,
reach out to those around you and share with each other the Peace of Christ,
perhaps with the words "Peace be with you!", responding "And
also with you!"

Readings from Scripture:

1^st Corinthians 8:^1-13                HB pg 171

Mark 1:^21-28                                      NT pg 35

In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith.  This is a faithful witness of our ancestors.  Word of God for us today. 
Thanks be to God.

Singing:   #603VU   “In Loving Partnership”

Message:                 “Contextual Authority”

Giving Our Offerings:

Offering Song (#241VU) and Prayer:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Let us pray...

We give in celebration of you, our one true and great God. Gracious God, bless these our offerings, we pray. Amen.

Singing:   #402VU   “We Are One”

(Sunday School participants return from their learning circle)

Sharing Communion:

Statement of Faith  #918  "A New Creed"

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift our hearts in prayer.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is good to give God thanks and praise.

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.  For the goodness of creation and the glory of redemption, we praise you.  for the law of holiness, inviting our obedience, and the call of the prophets, rebuking our disobedience, we praise you.

Therefore, with all that is, seen and unseen, and with all of 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 the earth.

Loving God ... uniting heaven and earth.

Now, therefore, we gratefully remember: Jesus' birth into our humanity, baptism for our sin, compassion for our suffering, intimacy with our frailty, rebuke for our pride, bear of the cross of death and rising from the tomb by the power of God.

On the night before he died ... "This is the new covenant, remember me."

We proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope!

Loving God ... a sign of your eternal reign in all the world.

This sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving we offer you loving God, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, in unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

We gather these prayers and we turn to you as our Mother who loves us and

Our Father,

who art in heaven, hallow-ed 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 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.

Invitation to the Table

In the name of the One ... These are the gifts of God, for all of the people of God.

Thanks be to God! Amen!

Sharing the Loaf and Cup

Communion will be served at three stations at the front of the church. 

Gluten-free bread will be served by the piano. 

If you prefer not to come to a station, a team of servers will come down the aisle and serve communion to you in your seat.

Prayer After Communion

Life-giving God, may we, who share Christ's body, live his risen life.  May we, who drink Christ's cup, bring new life to others.  May we whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.  Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so that we and all of your people, indeed the whole of creation, will live to praise your name.  Amen.

Singing:   #194MV   “Bread of Life”

Sending Out and  Sung Response:  #145MV (verse 2)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,

so encompass great and small.

Let our loving know no borders,

faithful to God’s call.

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Sunday, January 25, 2015 - Third Sunday After Epiphany (Year B)

Hymn Sing:

#530VU   “All Beautiful the March of Days”

#135MV   “Called By Earth and Sky”

#409VU   “Morning Has Broken”

News and Announcements:

Lighting of Candles: #154MV (verse 1)

Deep in my heart, there is a common vision;

Deep in my heart, there is a common song;

Deep in my heart, there is a common story;

Telling creation that we are one.

Coming Together:

We gather as a distracted people. No matter where we are, someone or something wants our attention.

For God alone, my soul waits in silence.

We are offered endless solutions that will make it all clear, solve all our problems, guarantee our happiness and success.

For God alone, my soul waits in silence.

wWelcome to this place of worship where you can renew the silence and wait for God.

We wait for God.

Let us pray...

God, our Maker, in each second of time you are with us, you invite us into relationship one with another and with you. In the moments of this service may we experience your call, your community, your grace – and be led to respond. Amen.

Singing:   #113MV   “Fish With Me”

Sharing the Peace of Christ:

In a spirit of community and thanksgiving, reach out to those around you and share with each other the Peace of Christ, perhaps with the words "Peace be with you!", responding "And also with you!"

Readings from Scripture:

1^st Corinthians 7:^29-31              NT pg 170

Psalm 62:^5-12                                 HB pg 526

In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith.  This is a faithful witness of our ancestors.  Word of God for us today.

Thanks be to God.

Singing:   #652VU   “Be Still My Soul”

(Greeters will pick up prayer request cards)

Storytelling:

Music for Movement:  #87VU (rfn)

(Sunday School participants leave for their learning circle)

I Am the Light of the World.

You people come and follow me.

If you follow and love

you’ll learn the mystery

of what you were meant

to do and be.

Choir:

Message:                           “Stretched”

Singing:   #660VU   “How Firm a Foundation”

Giving Our Offerings:

Minute for Mission

Offering Song (#241VU) and Prayer:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Let us pray...

We offer these gifts as a sign of our dedication to a way of liv­ing. Help us make a commitment that our lives might give witness to The Way of living in which your love is both refuge and strength. Amen.

Prayers of the People and Our Lord’s Prayer (#921VU):

Singing:   #278VU   “In the Quiet Curve of Evening”

Sending Out and  Sung Response:  #145MV (verse 2)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,

so encompass great and small.

Let our loving know no borders,

faithful to God’s call.

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Sunday, January 18, 2015 - Second Sunday After Epiphany (Year B)

News and Announcements:

Lighting of Candles: #154MV (verse 1)

Deep in my heart, there is a common vision;

Deep in my heart, there is a common song;

Deep in my heart, there is a common story;

Telling creation that we are one.

Coming Together:

Come, listen for the word of the one who has searched you and known you.

We are ready to listen.

Come, open your hearts to the one in whom heaven and earth are united, and offers the transforming vision of God’s love and justice.

Here we are. We are ready to listen. We are ready to follow.

Let us pray...

Giver of life, take our individual stories, our successes, our failures, and make of us a community in which your grace is revealed.  Amen

Singing:   #12MV     “Come Touch Our Hearts”

Sharing the Peace of Christ:

In a spirit of community and thanksgiving,
reach out to those around you and share with each other the Peace of Christ,
perhaps with the words "Peace be with you!", responding "And
also with you!"

Readings from Scripture:

1^st Samuel 3:^1-10       HB pg 247

John 1:^43-51                   NT pg 92

In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith.  This is a faithful witness of our ancestors.  Word of God for us today. 
Thanks be to God.

Singing:   #131MV   “I Have Called You By Your Name”

Storytelling:

Music for Movement:  #87VU (rfn)

(Sunday School participants leave for their learning circle)

I Am the Light of the World.

You people come and follow me.

If you follow and love

you’ll learn the mystery

of what you were meant

to do and be.

Choir:

Message:                         “Call Display”

Singing:   #581VU   “When We Are Living”

Giving Our Offerings:.

Offering Song (#241VU) and Prayer:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Let us pray:

All of life is in your hands, O God. We are blessed when a small portion is entrusted to our care. Fill us with gratitude and enhance our generosity that, as a community, we may live out the values, hope, and promise that we proclaim. Amen.

Prayers of the People and Our Lord’s Prayer (sung #960VU)

Singing:   #509VU   “Here I Am, Lord”

Sending Out and  Sung Response:  #145VU (verse 2)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,

so encompass great and small.

Let our loving know no borders,

faithful to God’s call.

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Sunday, January 11, 2015 - First Sunday After Epiphany (Year B)

News and Announcements:

Lighting of Candles: #154MV (verse 1)

Deep in my heart, there is a common vision;

Deep in my heart, there is a common song;

Deep in my heart, there is a common story;

Telling creation that we are one.

Coming
Together and Lord's Prayer:

The voice of God proclaims... I created it all and it is good.

The voice of God thunders... let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.

The voice of God pleads... what do I require of you?  But to do justice, love kind­ness and walk humbly with your God.

The voice of God af­firms... you are my Beloved, with you, I am pleased.

Let us pray...

Our Father,

who art in heaven, hallow-ed 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

forever and ever,

Amen.

Singing:   #710VU   “Shall We Gather at the River”

Sharing the Peace of Christ:

In a spirit of community and thanksgiving, reach out to those around you and share with each other the Peace of Christ, perhaps with the words "Peace be with you!", responding "And also with you!"

Baptism Recognition:  years ending with a “4”

Singing:   #3MV        “River”

Welcoming with Baptism:

People are asked not to take pictures during the service.

Introduction

Statement of Faith:  #918VU
"A New Creed"

Questions and Promises

Congregation's Promise

All:  As a baptized and baptizing people, we commit ourselves to support and uphold you within the community of faith.  May God grant us all grace to live out our baptismal promises!

Prayer(together):  Gracious and Holy God, Mother and Father of us all, we bless you for the gift of life and within it, the gift of water.  We recall how your
Spirit hovered over creation's unshaped waters and how, by water, comes the growth of the earth.  It was through water that you led the children of Israel to freedom.  It was in the waters of the Jordan, your child, Jesus, was baptized.  Now, may your Spirit be upon us and work through this day's water to link us with Jesus' baptism and with Christians in every time and place.  May what we do here be a sign for all of new life in Christ!  Amen.

Music for Movement:  #87VU (rfn)

(Sunday School participants leave for their learning circle)

I Am the Light of the World.

You people come and follow me.

If you follow and love

you’ll learn the mystery

of what you were meant to do and be.

Readings from Scripture:

Genesis 1:^1-5               HB pg 1

Mark 1:^4-11                      NT pg 34

In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith.  This is a faithful witness of our ancestors.  Word of God for us today. 
Thanks be to God.

Message:                         “Perspective”

Singing:   #100VU   “When Jesus Comes to be Baptized”

Giving Our Offerings:

Offering Song (#241VU) and Prayer:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Let us pray...

O God, receive what we bring together today. Speak your blessing on us and send us out to build your belov-ed community in every place we go. With Jesus’ Spirit in us, we pray and live. Amen.

Prayers of the People:  #400VU

As we sing, pray meditatively your own prayers to God. If you like, you may come and light a candle as an act of prayer as well.

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying,

send us love, send us power, send us grace!

Singing:   #382VU   “Breathe On Me Breath of God”

Sending Out and  Sung Response:  #145VU (verse 2)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,

so encompass great and small.

Let our loving know no borders,

faithful to God’s call.

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.