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“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
September 17, 2006
If you would like to stay seated for any or all of the “standing” parts of the service, please feel free to do so.
Prelude “The Glory of God” by Beethoven
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: We gather together in community:
All: a sign that we are part of a family of faith.
One: We greet each other with smiles:
All: a sign that we trust and support each other in this community of faith.
One: We listen for God's word to us:
All: a sign that God, who has spoken in times past, still speaks to all who seek God's voice.
One: We resolve to serve the living God:
All: a sign that our faith has meaning and purpose for good, meaning and purpose for ourselves, and meaning and purpose for those in our community who have practical and spiritual needs.
God, at the dawn of a new day, you are with us, filling us with hope and giving us a clear vision of the way to be taken. In the heat of the day, you are with us, strengthening us in the struggle and encouraging us when the way ahead is rough and testing. In the cool of the evening, you are with us, calling us to thanksgiving and enabling us to reflect on our experiences along the way. In this service, you are with us, calling us to discover who Jesus is for us. Amen.
Hymn #245 “Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet”
Conversation Time
Prayer of Transformation & Assurance of Pardon
God, rejection is difficult to endure – rejection by our family, by our friends, by community members or by our faith family. We will seek to affirm our chosen goals, our proven abilities, our right to walk the path of faithfulness. God, following our commitments is a challenging process. It calls for strength beyond our accepted limits. We will face the daily tests, the temptation to practise self-serving ways, to ignore community, the temptation to compromise our beliefs. In your strength we will walk the path of commitment. Keeping true to gospel values is no easy task, being honest, showing compassion, confronting the powerful, accepting the despised. In your presence we will find strength in the spirit to share the example of Jesus Christ. We will walk his Way with determination (…a time of silent reflection).
Assurance of Pardon (One)
Biblical Notes
James 3:1-12 From the Epistle Pg. 286
The Tongue
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 19 & From
Proverbs 1:20-33
Mark 8:27-38 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 57
Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death
(Read from the New Revised Standard Version)
One: This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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Hymn #224 “Sing a Happy Hallelujah”
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory “Festival” by B. Price
Hymn #703 “In the Bulb There Is a Flower”
Commissioning (One)
As we have been replenished through our gathering, now we are blessed in our going. God sows us like seeds back into the world. God loves to bring healing and justice everywhere we go. May the blessing of God go with you now and be with you always.
Choral Amen
#884 “You Shall Go Out With Joy” (x2)
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 “Grand Processional” by J. Brahms
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (September 17 - 23)
Sun. Trustees 9:00 a.m. Shalom
Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Mon. OFFICE CLOSED
Tues. Baptism Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Adoption 2000
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Shalom
Thurs. Senior Choir Practise 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Next Week at Westminster (September 24 - 30)
Sun. Christian Development 9:00 a.m. Lounge
Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Mon. OFFICE CLOSED
Tues. Staff Meeting 9:00 a.m. Lounge
Ministry & Personnel Meeting TBA Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Adoption 2000
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Visitation & Membership Mtg 1:30 p.m. Lounge
Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Shalom
Thurs. Senior Choir Practise 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Sat. UCW Weekender Party 1:30 p.m. Memorial Hall
Family Movie Event 7:00 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.).
Nursery volunteers are needed to help on Sundays during worship. Please contact Tanya Hoffarth @ 526-7570.
An opportunity for ministry exists wherein one person, or two, can coordinate the roster for ushers and greeters that share in weekly worship.
The fall has started and goodies are needed for Sundays on behalf of our Congregational Life Committee…please drop off at the auxiliary kitchen.
Youth Confirmation: Anyone in grades 9-12 interested in confirmation, please contact Jane or the church office @ 526-5247.
Adult Confirmation begins Wednesday, Sept. 20, if you are interested in knowing more about this opportunity, please speak to James.
Bible Study has begun again for the year. All are welcome. We meet Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am in the Nursery.
Membership & Baptism – tentatively Sept. 24, please speak to James.
Western Women’s Conference 2006 – Sept. 29 – Oct 1 at Naramata Centre, BC. A retreat for women of all ages, a time to be in community—to share our stories of abundant joy! Brochures can be picked up at Fifth Avenue Memorial or phone 526-2237 for more information.
Weekender Fashion Show & tea hosted by Westminster UCW @ 1:30 pm, Sat. Sept 30 in Memorial hall. No charge for admission, everyone welcome.
Movie Event for all ages – Sat., Sept. 30 @ 7:00 p.m. “Racing Stripes” An abandoned zebra (voice of Frankie Muniz) grows up believing he is a racehorse, and, with the help of his barnyard friends and a teenage girl (Hayden Panettiere), sets out to achieve his dream of racing with thoroughbreds. This event is free and open to all. Popcorn provided, please bring your own drinks.
2006 Banff Men’s Conference Oct 13-15 in beautiful Banff, AB. Theme speaker is Rod Sykes. Come and explore the four different ways men experience faith, four quite different styles of faithfulness. Check it out at: www.banffmen.org or phone Gary Briggs, Registrar @ (403) 329-6887 or John McIntyre @ (403) 380-4685.
Celebrations This Week
Birthdays: Marian Bauer, Joy Biko, Liz Fox, Rob Gardner, Evan Harrison, Bea Iverson, Andrew Maier & Janice Neigum
Anniversaries: Leroy & Donna Angle, Bruce & Michele Gardiner
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers this week are requested for Ari Langstraat and Rolling Hills Pastoral Charge.
Sunday School Co-ordinator....................................... Tara Johnson
Greeters & Ushers....................... Myra, Breanne, & Kira Gerhardt
Nursery Attendant................................................. Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts................................................... the Mattson Family
Scripture Reader....................................................... Yvonne Hole
Cantor........................................................................ Pat Connell
Elder-in-Charge.......................................................... Lesley Berg
Next Week’s Readings from: Proverbs 31:10-31; Psalm 1; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
Stewardship Thought For Today
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
1 Peter 4:10 NRSV
Board Summary
For the September 12, 2006 Board of Elders Meeting
We welcomed to the Board two new members: Sarah McOuat & Ray Yanke.
Succession of Board members was discussed for 2007.
The date of November 4 was set for the Fall Supper. A committee was struck to coordinate volunteers, food, etc.
Each Board committee is to submit a preliminary 2007 budget to the office before the end of the first week of October to be included in the October 10th Board meeting materials.
Re-roofing of the church is in progress to repair hail damage done in 2005. We discussed repairing the main front steps with a low maintenance durable material, how to improve storage of garbage for City pick-up and concerns were expressed regarding vandalism and security along the east and rear of the Church property. A solution to this appears to be quite complex.
Respectfully submitted,
Alvin Cruickshank
Chairperson the Board of Elders