April 30, 2006

Camping Sunday

 

 The gift of camp is the opportunity and space to recognize that every minute of every day we are in relationship: relationship with each other, relationship with creation, and relationship with God, and with this comes responsibility and connectedness. We have been called into partnership. The precious gift we celebrate is our rich history of supporting spaces and places in our church whose sole purpose is to reconnect us with our souls and the Spirit that nourishes us. So come, let’s celebrate!

We Gather To Worship God

 

Prelude “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach

              “Jesus Priceless Treasure” by Crueger

Sharing Announcements

A Time of Greeting

A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle

 

Call to Worship (Responsive)

One:        The earth is the Lord’s;

All:      Look for God’s footprints among the hills,

One:        and the fullness’ thereof;

All:      Listen for God’s voice amid the rustling leaves,

One:        the world;

All:      See God’s fingerprints upon the flowers,

One:        and those who dwell therein;

All:      Behold God’s image on the faces around you,

One:        for God has founded it upon the waters;

All:      Sense God’s vastness through the crashing waves,

One:        and established it upon the rivers;

All:      Know God’s presence by the refreshing waters.

One:        God stretches out the heavens like a tent;

All:      Gaze upon God’s paint-strokes in the skies.

One:        Come, let us worship God, the Creator,

All:      Let up praise God, our Maker.

 

Prayer of Approach (Unison)

Living, breathing, life giving Creator, we too, have gathered to give thanks and praise. We open our mouths, our lungs, our very souls to receive your breath, like the fresh invigorating breezes from the bay that colour our cheeks, sweep our hair, and cool our parched throats. Dwell within us. May we: be filled with understanding and compassion; experience community with one another; hear your voice calling from the shadows of injustice; and develop an abiding respect for the fragility of our planet. May it be. Amen.

 

Junior Choir “Celebrate This Glorious Day!” by Miller/Reynolds

     

Conversation Time

We Listen For God’s Word

 

Prayer of Illumination

Genesis 2:4b-9 From the Hebrew Scriptures Pg. 5

With God's breath humanity was born

 

Hymn #412 “This is the Day”

 

John 20:19-23 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 146

Jesus Appears to His Disciples (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)

 

One: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ

All: Thanks be to God

 

Guest Speaker: Dr. Kathy Yamashita “Canyon Camp”

 

Hymn #289 “It Only Takes a Spark”

 

We Respond In Giving And Gratitude

 

Our Church Tithes and Offerings

 

Offertory        Jade Spruyt        “Looking Glass River”

                        Jenna Spruyt      “Boom! Boom!” & “Taps”

                        Logan Spruyt      “Alley Cat Song”

 

Dedication #538 “For the Gift of Creation”

For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,

and the gift of the Spirit by which we live,

we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.

May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

 

Prayer of Dedication (One)

Generous God, may these gifts given gratefully, be brought to life through the power of your creative Spirit. Multiply and use them to bring the word and touch of Jesus to your people in this place and throughout the world. Amen.

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer

 

Hymn #224 “Sing a Happy Hallelujah”

 

Grace #549 “For All Your Goodness, God”

 

Commissioning (One)

Go forth, for the love of God within you, is yours to share, the peace of Christ within you, is yours to extend, the power of God's Spirit within you, is yours to offer.

 

Choral Amen

 

#884 “You Shall Go Out With Joy”

You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace;

the mountains and the hills will break forth before you;

there'll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field

will clap, will clap their hands!

 

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands, (clap, clap)

the trees of the field will clap their hands, (clap, clap)

the trees of the field will clap their hands (clap, clap)

while you go out with joy.

 

Postlude “Eternal Father, Strong To Save” by Dykes

          The Life And Work Of The Congregation

 

This Week at Westminster (April 30 – May 6)

Sun.        Camping Sunday                      10:25 a.m.       Sanctuary

Mon.      Property                                  7:00 p.m.         Nursery

Tues.      Meditation Group                     7:00 p.m.         Nursery

Wed.       Bible Study                              9:30 a.m.         Nursery

Thurs.    Mission & Outreach                 9:30 a.m.         Lounge

               Senior Choir Practise               7:00 p.m.         Sanctuary

                               

Next Week at Westminster (May 7 - 13)

Sun.        Music & Worship                    9:00 a.m.         Lounge

               Worship                                  10:25 a.m.       Sanctuary

               Food Bank Sunday

               UCW Executive meeting          noon                Nursery

Tues.      Board of Elders                       7:00 p.m.         Lounge

               Meditation Group                     7:00 p.m.         Nursery

Wed.       Bible Study                              9:30 a.m.         Nursery

               Square Circle Unit UCW          7:30 p.m.         Lounge

Thurs.    Electra Unit UCW                   1:30 p.m.         Lounge

               Senior Choir Practise               7:00 p.m.         Sanctuary

Sat.         UCW Blossom Time Tea         2-4:00 p.m.      Memorial Hall

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.).

Fifth Avenue Memorial presents the Gospel Girls in concert – Sat. May 6 @ 7:00 p.m. Featuring a mix of gospel favourites and new Christian music by this women’s ensemble. Freewill offering.

Edythe Hewitt Unit UCW will meet on Wed. May 10 @ 2:00 p.m. at the home of Fran Cove (#460, 2879 - 13 Ave SE).

Westminster U.C.W. Blossom Time Tea & Bake Sale –Saturday, May 13th from 2 - 4 p.m.  Tickets: $3.50/person, available at the door.

Westminster’s Spring Brunch will be held Sun. May 14th. Tickets available from the office during the week. Adults $5, Children $3, Families $15. There are signup sheets in the hallway leading to Memorial Hall.

 

Westminster Plant & Garage Sale – Saturday May 27th. Please select items to donate to the sale. All income goes to Mission & Outreach programs. Let’s make this the biggest sale yet. It’s the time to start seeding plants and remember, we will not be selling consignment items, but we will be grateful for articles donated.  Also, if persons wish they may rent a table for $15.00 to “staff” themselves. These tables will be on a “first come – first serve” basis. Income from the rental tables remains at the discretion of the renter.

Donated items can be brought to the church on Friday, May 26 from 9 – 4:00 p.m. (no clothing or perishables. Plants welcome). Contact Linda Carney 527-7005.

Any who are seeking membership within the congregation of Westminster, either through transfer or reaffirmation of faith, please speak to James.

Attention Canyon Camp Resource staff – positions available are: Camp mom or dad, camp medic, nature leader, chaplain, craft leader and lifeguard. Paid staff – positions available are: custodian, head cook, assistant head cook. Campers – applications are on the bulletin board for camps dated:    

 Jun 9-11: Women’s retreat        

Jun 16-18: Family Camp                     Aug 25-27:  Adult retreat

Jul 2-4: 6-12 yr old (intro I)                  Jul 5-7: 6-12 yr old (intro II)

Jul 9-14: 7-9 yr old (junior I)                Jul 16-21: 9-11 yr old (junior II)

Jul 23-28: 10-13 yr old (junior III)        Aug 6-11: 13-15 yr old (intermed I)

Aug 13-18: 14-16 yr old (inter II)         Aug 20-25: 14-18 yr old (inter III)

We have an education opportunity for a Sunday School Coordinator(s) for September (a job description is available). Opportunities also exist for teachers for the Fall. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Jane or Lesley Berg.

AJ’s Loan Cupboard is a private charitable society that loans out various types of medical equipment as well as additional items (free of charge, with no time limitations and no questions asked). To donate items (or financial donations), or to access items, call 580-5580. Brochures are on the ramp.

 

Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning

in loving memory of

Dan Blatz

by

Lana & family

and in loving memory of

Stella & Raymond Clark

by

Brenda, Sandra & family

 

Jane conducted the funeral service of one of our church family, Lyle Smith, yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Our condolences also go out to Joan Anderson following the passing of her sister, Jessie Blake (nee Guthrie) in Abbotsford this past week. Also, the ministry of Westminster was extended into the community as James conducted the funeral service of Hilda Arndt yesterday.

Celebrations This Week

Birthdays:       Myrtle Bangs, Sonja Herter, Marilyn Link, Ryan O’Reilly, Wyatt Scoble, Alex Shand, Edna Silverthorne, Peggy Smith

Anniversaries:       Kevin & Cheryl Carleton, Rob & Carol Henderson, Bob & Arleigh Marsh, Steve & Melanie Rattai

 

South Alberta Presbytery

Your prayers this week are requested for Marie Barr and Foremost Pastoral Charge, Pastoral Charge Supervisor: Don Saunderson, Educational Supervisor: Blaine Schaufele; Educational Consultant: Terry Shillington and her Lay Supervision Team.

 

Our Order of Ministry This Morning

Sunday School Co-ordinator................................. Carol Henderson

Greeters, Ushers ............................ Sunday School & Youth Group

Nursery Coordinator.............................................. Tanya Hoffarth    

Scripture Reader...................................................... Grace Lemon

Coffee Hosts.................................................... Electra Unit UCW    

Elder-in-Charge............................................................ Lana Blatz

 

Next Week’s Readings from: Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18

 

Spirit Connection

Renew your faith in television…

Tonight @ 6:30 p.m. on Vision TV

April 30—Taking Action: Small Arms: A hot topic, concern around the increase in handgun violence across the country is growing. On this program a United Church congregation works with the surrounding community to find ways to decrease youth violence. We also include an interview about Project Ploughshares' initiative to rally Canadians to find ways to reduce violence worldwide and press for government control of small arms.

 

Stewardship Thought For Today

Money choices offer clues to value systems. What is important to you?