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