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God’s blessings through water, word, and Spirit bring life and growth. We are challenged to immerse ourselves – to drown – in the blessings that God continually pours over us. In what ways are you changed through baptism?

Sharing Announcements

A Time of Greeting

A Gathering Litany of Creation (Responsive as found on the back of the bulletin)

All: Have we been alert to the ways and people through which God’s call to serve has come?

All: Have we missed God’s call because we have been busy with other activities?

One: The call to serve God we hear clearly at times, but there are times when we fail to understand the message.

All: Have we checked out God’s call with a trusted friend or family member?

All: Have we the courage to break free from our self-imposed boundaries in order to serve the local and wider faith community? Have we the courage to bring a Christian approach to our workplace and social groups…(Silent Reflection)

Prayer of Illumination

Genesis 1:1-5 From the Hebrew Scriptures Pg. 4

Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Epistle – Acts 19:1-7; From the Psalms – Psalm 29

Solo “De Gospel Train” arr Burleigh

Mark 1:4-11 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 45

The Preaching of John the Baptist (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)

All: Thanks be to God

Reflection for Confirmation

(During the singing of this hymn – those sharing in the service of Confirmation and Reaffirmation please join on the Chancel.)

Service of Baptism, Confirmation & Reaffirmation

One: Sarah, Jennifer, Lana, and Melanie, desiring the freedom of new life in Christ, I ask you before God and this congregation: Do you profess anew your faith in God your Creator, in Jesus Christ the Word made flesh, and in the Holy Spirit, God with us?

One: Do you declare your intention to continue with the people of Westminster United Church as we seek the presence of God among us through worship, study and prayer?

One: Do you now express your hope to continue in the life and work of this church as you support it with your gifts and share in its mission to all people?

One: Will you endeavour daily to respond to God’s love, to seek God’s will, and to fulfill your Christian calling and ministry in the world?

Benevolent and Holy God, we bless you for the gift of life, and, within it, the gift of water. Over its unshaped promise your Spirit hovered at creation; by water comes the growth of the earth. Through water you led the children of Israel to freedom; in the waters of the Jordan your Child, Jesus, was baptised. Now may your Spirit be upon us and what we do, that this water may be a sign for all of new life in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

The Baptism (All relatives and friends of Sarah are asked to stand where they are seated in the pew).

Sarah, “I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, the God who has created and is creating; Jesus Christ, the word made flesh; and the Holy Spirit who works in us and others. With the sign of the Cross, you are marked as Christ's forever.”

People Respond: “Amen”

The Declaration James

In the name of Jesus Christ, who was baptized as you are now, I affirm that you are baptised into the sacred struggle for the shalom of God.

_________ the power of the Holy Spirit work within you, that being born of water and the Spirit, you may continue to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Go into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill your high calling as a servant and minister of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we welcome you to the privileges and responsibilities of membership in Westminster Congregation.

Congregation: As God has called us, we pledge to you our friendship, our help, and our prayers.

Dedication #79 “Arise, Your Light Is Come” vs 1-2

Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey,

show forth the glory of your God, which shines on you today.

Arise your light is come! Fling wide the prison door,

proclaim the captive’s liberty, good tidings to the poor.

Prayer of Dedication (One)

Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer

Go with dreams filling your head, and courage surging through your soul. Go to live out the unity we seek. Go to live the equality we share. Go in the power of the Spirit of God.

Friendship Rosters: Please sign the Friendship Roster this morning. It is a helpful record of your worship presence and a way to share special concerns (ie. prayer requests, name tag requests, etc.).

Square Circle Unit UCW will be serving soup and buns following worship today. Free to all, but donations will be gladly received. As always, any donations help fund the mission work of the UCW.

This Friday (Jan 20^th) you are invited to attend "March of the Penquins" our Friday Night at the Movies selection for January. Popcorn is supplied but please bring your own beverage. We shall gather in the lounge at 7 p.m.

Are you on PAR? If you are interested in the Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) system for your offerings, please obtain an authorization card from Donna Scharf or the office. Once completed please return your card to Donna or place it in an envelope along with a void cheque & put it in the offering plate.

The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held next Sunday beginning with a potluck lunch immediately following worship. This is the time that we take to review the past years work, show our appreciation to those who contributed to that work and make plans for the coming year. Your contribution is most important, please plan on attending. Bring your copy of the Annual Report to this meeting (found at the back of the Sanctuary or on the ramp). Highlight your report for anything you wish to have clarified or to comment on.

A newly formed Citizen’s Water Study Group meets, starting Feb. 1st, the first Wednesday of each month to: 1) learn about local water quality and quantity issues; 2) demonstrate care; 3) link with water stewardship and advisory groups. Interested? Phone 526-2226.

Food Bank Sunday will be February 5^th – items that are suggested for donation are: canned tomatoes, tuna, crackers, cereal, macaroni & cheese and personal hygiene items. Sundry household items are also accepted – suggested items: soup bowls, cutlery, pillows and queen size sheets. All donations are gratefully accepted.

Our next, Baptism Sunday will tentatively be March 19^th. Anyone interested in adult or infant baptism please speak to James.

The United Church of Canada has been active in the public arena -including elections - since its earliest days. The founders of this church believed that ours is a living faith and witness to the ministry of Jesus Christ that is expressed in active, thoughtful involvement in society. A helpful, non-partisan Federal Election Kit is available on the United Church website (www.united-church.ca/elections) with suggested questions based on General Council policy to share with all candidates regarding issues of peace, justice and living in respect with creation.

If you would like to place flowers in the Sanctuary to remember or celebrate a loved one or a special occasion, please sign beside the appropriate Sunday on the flower poster in the Narthex, or phone Sharon Clay at 527-5681. The flowers will be ordered for you, and payment may be made to the UCW (via the office, Sharon, or Alice Felesky), before the end of the month. The cost is $30.00. Following the service in which your flowers are used, you may choose to either take them home, or let Sharon know what you would like to have done with them. Often the flowers have been delivered by Sharon to a shut-in or to a hospital patient from our congregation.

Year 2006 Offering Envelopes are available in the Narthex. When you pick them up please check the number on your label with the envelope number to be sure they are the same. People on PAR were not issued envelopes and their number has been changed. The cost of the Observer is $14.00.

Birthdays: Larry Brown, Flora Gaub, Vera Henderson, Natalie Johnson, Pat Marshall, Beth Miner, Roberta Playford, Adair Prouty, Lucy Renner, Grace Roth, Joyce Scott

Your prayers this week are requested for Rev. George Edmonds & Brooks Pastoral Charge.

Next Week’s Readings from: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Psalm 111; Mark 1:21-28

Gladys Cook is a highly respected healer. Her life journey is marked by great hardships and immense courage. This two-part documentary, produced by Lisa Barry of the Anglican Church of Canada, profiles this spirit-filled woman and her extraordinary gifts.

Stewardship Thought For Today

“The responsible use of God’s gifts

includes the act

of giving to the church a worthy portion

of the time, money, and ability entrusted to us

for its mission and ministry.”

Stewardship Manual, 1982

12 members, both clergy and the Chair of the Trustees were all in attendance. Lesley Berg served as secretary in the absence of Doug Henderson.

Joy Biko led us in a heart-felt opening worship. The Board sang “Happy Birthday” to Stan Bohnet. As a Board, we said Good Bye to Jean Riggins who has served on the Board for the past six years and has been an absolute delight. While Jean will be missed from the Board her efforts continue in the committee life of Music and Worship and elsewhere in the life of the congregation. Stan chaired his last full meeting as he finishes his term as Chair and will serve the Board as past chair when Alvin Cruickshank assumes the Chair during the next monthly meeting of the board.

James encouraged the Board by affirming all the hard work done in 2005 and joined the Board in reflecting on the past year and giving thanks for the threshold of the year we now enter. Thanks to the work of the congregation and its board, we are beginning 2006 as a financially healthy congregation and with consistent effort, 2006 will prove to be as God Blessed and joyous as 2005.

The Board looks forward to the Annual Congregation Meeting and encourages everyone to attend with a view to participating in this review, analysis and projection of the many facets of ministry that have been served by the friends of Westminster United Church in 2005 and those we anticipate in 2006.

Sarah McOuat: The journey of questioning, understanding, and growing within spirituality is continuous. I have found that through my discovery of the United Church, I have been able to strengthen my own beliefs. Through James and our confirmation group, I have had the opportunity to expand on my understanding of my relationship with God. I look forward to continuing my spiritual journey with Westminster United Church.

Lana West: I thought that this fall's confirmation was a wonderful experience. As I took the journey on finding more out about my religion, I learned and experienced more about my faith as well. I enjoyed the sharing of everyone's different experiences and question's about faith. I now feel a little more confident with the United Church’s beliefs and I look forward to sharing these with my husband and daughters.

Jennifer Oster: Westminster church has always been an important part of my life, since I've already gone through confirmation classes I felt it's time to reaffirm my feelings about our church and my place in it. I'm so glad I did, it was a wonderful experience and very informative and another great step on my spiritual journey through life. The class was made all the more special for me because I went through it with my sister and the other members of the group. Thank you James for all you put into making it special for us.

Melanie Rattai: Confirmation for me was a chance to be together with other members of the church and learn about our life and roles in the United Church. A chance to relive Confirmation again with my sister and grow stronger as a Christian. It answered a lot of questions about Church, some I wanted to know and others that I didn't even know that I wanted to know. Questions like why do United Church people always sit in the same seat every Sunday, and why do we clap after a great choir song? It’s all in the book we studied This United Church of Ours by Ralph Milton. A book that was good from start to finish. Confirmation reaffirmed that I love to be a United Church woman and that I am glad to bring my kids to Sunday school, and will always enjoy sitting in the same pew beside my family and watching my girls grow up in the same church I did.

Today is a special service…the service of Adult Baptism and Confirmation is a wonderful time to reclaim our own baptism and to re-affirm the faith that draws us together in this place today.

In the Christian church baptism is the vehicle that speaks to a person becoming part of the Catholic or Universal church. When I say catholic some may think I'm speaking about "Roman Catholicism" but the word Catholic, simply stated means "Universal."

The vehicle of baptism is an entrance into the Universal Church of Jesus Christ. It is a uniting with folks throughout history and geography who have made the claim to join Jesus…to live differently…to nurture the spirit within and to honor the God that both dwells within us and others.

The formula we use during the action of baptism is in the name of "the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" and we use it as it is a formula recognized by the world council of churches and it satisfies the need for there to be a common connection to the baptism of all other baptizing churches.

To our modern ear it may well sound patriarchal and we can be sure that these were not the words used when John baptized Jesus, but they are the words we have come to expect. There are other words shared in our liturgy that speak to the evidence of God and the character of God more than these names we have come to know for God.

So, we say "the God who has created and is creating" "the word made flesh" and the Spirit who works in us and others". In 2006, I believe these are important elements to embrace as we seek together to understand the presence and ministry of God among us in and through Baptism and confirmation.

Now, concerning the other part of this special service, Reaffirmation, I should say that usually reaffirmation is reserved for folks who have left the church but were at one time members…they re-enter the church through an action of reaffirmation…they once again recommit to the mission and work and life of the church that they were once a part of and for any number of reasons have not been able to live out.

…today, however, two of our current confirmation class members are folks who have been very much involved in the church and don't re-enter, but have simply revisited the confirmation program that they originally participated in as adolescents …so, like so many of us, they take this opportunity to reaffirm the faith that lies within them not to satisfy a requirement for membership but simply to refocus on their personal journey of life and faith within this congregation.

I applaud their interest and their commitment and I certainly enjoyed their participation in the classes. We all grow together as we share our faith stories with one another and the journey we all take is one that constantly needs renewed commitment.

In this service of word, music and sacrament we have an opportunity to rededicate ourselves as we share the liturgy that is focused on the members of this confirmation class but it is also a liturgy that allows each of us the opportunity to invest once more in our faith commitments.

A thousand times [church members] have been told that membership in a church cannot save a person, that baptism cannot save, that the Lord's supper is not magic, and that personal conscience is greater than the rules of any church assembly. For these the church exists for personal growth and as a means for mission. That said, identification with the body of Christ (the visible church) is an essential part of being Christian.

I know people have their own reasons for identifying with churches…for being active in a church. In fact, I read an article recently that held up the question "Why Be Active in a Church?"

[The Rev. Jim Farrer, a Synod Associate for Congregational Development in the Synod of the Trinity, says] The Alban Institute, cites these reasons why people should become active members of a Christian church:

Research has shown that: Active church members have a 60% less chance of a heart attack.

that Active church members have a 55% less chance of having a single-car accident.

that Active church members who see God as a partner have fewer colds, headaches, and ulcers.

While only 30% of the highly unchurched people say they are 'very happy', 70% of committed church people say they are 'very happy.'

In the U.S., The National Institute of Health has now developed five protective factors that help fight coronary disease. The leading one is weekly church attendance.

A Life Insurance "Survey of the Values of People, reflected that "the single most important variable" in the health promoting lifestyles of persons, was religious affiliation.

I think it is entirely appropriate to think of our faith life being a wellspring of healthy endeavors…God continually offers us life and wellness and it makes sense that we are going to be more open to that invitation when we gather with others of like mind and spirit…so there should be no real surprise about this encouraging information.

When we gather as we do today to reflect, to share in liturgies, to learn from one another, to enjoy the musical gifts of others, to offer our energies in congregational singing and to share in the action of rededicating our lives to all that is life-giving…in this oasis amid life's storms I genuinely believe if we are listening, we can hear the voice of God saying: "You are my Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Amen.

We Gather To Worship God

Sharing Announcements

A Time of Greeting

We Listen For God’s Word

Prayer of Illumination

Genesis 1:1-5 From the Hebrew Scriptures Pg. 4

Solo “De Gospel Train” arr Burleigh

Mark 1:4-11 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 45

All: Thanks be to God

Reflection for Confirmation

Service of Baptism, Confirmation & Reaffirmation

People Respond: “Amen”

The Declaration James

Dedication #79 “Arise, Your Light Is Come” vs 1-2

Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey,

show forth the glory of your God, which shines on you today.

Arise your light is come! Fling wide the prison door,

proclaim the captive’s liberty, good tidings to the poor.

Prayer of Dedication (One)

Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer