Sunday, March 1, 2015 - Second Sunday in Lent (Year B)

News and Announcements:

Lighting of Candles: #85MV

Take, O take me as I am;

summon out what I shall be;

set your seal upon my heart

and live in me.

Coming Together:

People of God, we gather again: in this sacred space, in this sacred moment. 
Just for a time leave daily concerns aside, for here we recall the stories of faith,

Here we see God moving amongst us.

Here we are known by name, here we remember whose we are.

Let us pray...

God, here we are, ready to hear you calling our names and to learn our true nature.  We are part of that long ago promise, that you will be with us now and forever. Amen.

Singing:   #315VU   “Holy, Holy, Holy”

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:

Psalm 22:^22-31             HB pg 501

Genesis 17:^{1-7, 15-16} HB pg 13

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:   #288VU   “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Message:                         “A New Time”

Giving Our Offerings:

Offering Song (#116VU) and Prayer:

God the holy trinity,

grant the mercy we implore;

God the one, all praise to thee

through the ages evermore

Let us pray...

Almighty One. just as you are the God who knows us by name, so are you the God who knows all those in need by name.  May these, our gifts, be a beacon of light to those are in need.  Amen.

Singing:   #161MV   “I Have Called You by Your Name”

(Sunday School participants return from their learning circle)

Sharing Communion:

Statement of Faith  #918VU   "A New Creed"

Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God, who has created and is creating, be with us.

Let us lift up our hearts, open to being reconciled and made new by our Christ.

We pray, in thanksgiving, for The Spirit, who works in us and others.

Holy One, shown to us in Jesus, we are honoured with the opportunity to share this worship and this meal. 
What we are doing, we do in remembrance of Jesus: his life, his sufferings and his resurrection.  We recall the everyday stories and experiences, which expressed your love for all creation, O God.

The potential and promise of a small seed … The ability to share a kiss, even at the moment of betrayal.

Through his life and examples, Jesus reminds us of the ancient rules for faithful living:

- To love you, God, with our whole being, and

- To love our neighbor as ourselves.

We desire to be part of this story.  And so, we find a sense of unity in repeating the experience of Jesus' last supper.

Bread:  staple of daily life; food for a liberating journey.  The loaf must be broken to be shared!

Wine, quencher of this moment's thirst … New life, renewed spirit emerged on Easter Sunday.

"Do this in remembrance of me", Jesus said.

Holy One, bless this meal as nourishment for our Body and Spirit.  In our brokenness, in our
renewal, be with us, O God.

Be among us and work through us, as we come to this table and move beyond to share in the work of our Christ.

As learners and followers of Jesus, we pray to you, O God, who is 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

Prayer After Communion

Thank you for this meal and for this company, O God.  May we know that we are connected by this loaf and cup to be the body of Christ in the world.  Amen.

Singing:  #481VU    “Sent Forth By God’s Blessings”

Sending Out and  Sung Response:  #108VU (verse 1)

Throughout these Lenten days and nights

we turn to walk the inward way,

where, meeting Christ, our guide and light,

we live in hope till Easter Day

Sunday, February 15, 2014 - Sixth Sunday After Epiphany (Year B)

ALL AGES SERVICE

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:

Go up to a high mountain, to the thin place where you can
meet God.

May we open our senses to discover God is near.

Look over the landscape, look with discerning eyes.

We see the world struggling, wondering, hoping.

Listen for the Word – present and pressing. Let us pray:

God, send your Spirit to be with us and show us how to live.  Amen.

Singing:   #1MV        “All Are Welcome”

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:

Mark 9:^2-10                      NT pg 44

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:   #575VU   “I’m Gonna Live”

Special Music:

Message:                 “What Does It Mean?”

Singing:   #289VU   “It Only Takes a Spark”

Giving Our Offerings:.

Offering Song (#541VU) 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:

Responding to your blessings on us, O God, and our love for you, we bring these offerings of our resources, our best efforts, and ourselves. May our lives shine brightly in the world as evidence of our hope. Amen.

Prayers of the People and Our Lord’s Prayer (sung #959VU)

Singing:   #232VU   “Joyful, Joyful”

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, February 8, 2014 - Fifth 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:

We gather to sing praises to God.

We gather to sing of God’s mighty deeds and won­drous works.

God, who names the stars, and scatters the proud,

God, who gathers the outcast, heals the broken-hearted,

God, takes pleasure in those whose hope is in God’s steadfast love.

Let us come before God with awe, thanksgiving, and praise.

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:   #218VU   “We Praise You O God”

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!"

Storytelling:

Singing:   #649VU   “Walk With Me”

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.

Choir:  “We Are the Hands of Christ”

Readings from Scripture:

1^st Corinthians 9:^16-23              NT pg 171

Mark 1:^35-39                               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.

Message:                      “The Next Town”

Singing:   #510VU   “We Have This Ministry”

Giving Our Offerings:

Offering Song (#541VU) 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...

God, we are all in this together.  We pray that our offerings may be one means of moving your creation a little closer to peace, justice, and reconciliation. Amen.

Prayers of the People:  #119MV

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.

God our protector, keep us in mind,

always give strength to your people.

For if we could be with you one day in time

it is better than a thousand without you.

Singing:   #8MV        “And On This Path”

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.