“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
November 5, 2006
Please support our Food Bank drive the 1st Sunday of each month
Leaving home forms a metaphor for journeys we all undertake at various points in our lives. While we may feel we are setting out alone, the gift of community or companionship on such a journey changes us. In the course of the journey, we may be surprised to find ourselves “at home”. Who needs you to accompany them on life’s journey, come what may? What does it mean to show love toward these persons?
The Requiem is one of Mozart’s most celebrated works. This morning we will hear excerpts from it by the Medicine Hat College Adult Choir directed by Joanne Collier and accompanied by Con Shandro.
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 “Alleluia” by Mozart
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Praise the maker of the earth.
All: Happy are those whose help is in God.
One: Praise God who cares for the oppressed and provides enough for all.
All: Happy are those whose help is in God.
One: Praise God who watches over those who feel included and those who feel left behind.
All: Happy are those whose help is in God.
One: Let us worship God.
God, who is to us the loving Mother and Father of all peoples, we open our hearts to you and the life you give. Help us to breathe in deeply of your wild and wonderful Spirit and inspire us with your presence so that we might be at peace with all of who we are, and more fully become the people you have called us to be. Amen.
Hymn #223 “Eternal, Unchanging, We Sing”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer of Transformation & Assurance of Pardon
God of each unfolding moment, you bring all of creation into being. Again and again we receive your gifts of love and friendship in family and community. We trust that you are with us always and everywhere. Yet we often act as if we do not trust you. We try to keep ourselves safe rather than reaching out to others. Sometimes we do not even care for ourselves, and are unable to care for others. We let fear inhibit our courage. We find it difficult to love. Forgive us, and help us to find your life-giving presence in every moment we live and every person we meet... (Time of Silent Reflection).
Assurance of Pardon (One)
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 146; from the Epistle—Hebrews 9:11-14
The Great Commandment (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)
One: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ
Hymn #424 “May The God Of Hope Go With Us”
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory “Sanctus” by Mozart
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)
Hymn #427 “To Show By Touch and Word”
Commissioning (One)
Renewed and refreshed we step out into the world anticipating God’s spirit strength as we love our neighbour and ourselves.
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 “Andante” by Mozart
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (Nov 5 - 11)
Sun. Music & Worship 9:00 a.m. Lounge
Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Jr. Choir Practice after worship Lounge/Sanctuary
UCW Executives after worship Lounge
Ministry & Personnel 12:00 p.m. Shalom Rm
Mon. Property 7:00 p.m. Westminster Rm
Tues. Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Adoption 2000
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
M&O 10:00 a.m. Jane’s Office
Confirmation 7:00 p.m. James’ Office
UCW Square Circle 7:30 p.m. Lounge
Thurs. UCW Electra 1:30 p.m. Lounge
Senior Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Next Week at Westminster (November 12 - 18)
Sun. Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
No Jr. Choir Practice
Tues. Board of Elders 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Adoption 2000
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Thurs. Senior Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Fri. Friday Nite at the Movies 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Sat. Poinsettia Tartan Tea 2:00 p.m. Memorial Hall
Thank you all who contributed to our Fall Supper in any way.
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.)
Please note: our e-mail address is now: westminsteruc@gmail.com If you have an email address, please send us an email to this new address so we can rebuild our email address book.
The Photo Directories have arrived! They can be picked up at the office during the week. To purchase one of the overprint copies, the cost is $8.00.
Nursery volunteers are needed to help on Sundays during worship. Please contact Tanya Hoffarth at 526-7570; also wanted for the Nursery, gently used interactive toys for toddlers (ie. plastic food, Fisher Price barn, or Little People house; No Lego, blocks, trucks, toy cars, or baby rattles are needed). Toys may be brought to the nursery or church office. Thank you!
Youth confirmation: Anyone in grades 9-12 interested in confirmation,
please contact Jane or the church office at 526-5247.
A new year of Bible Study has begun and all are welcome. We meet Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Nursery.
P.A.R. (Pre-Authorized Remittance) application forms can be picked up & returned to the church office or call Donna Scharf at 526-1555. On PAR your giving’s are constant and paid only once monthly.
UCW Edythe Hewitt Unit will meet Wednesday, November 8th at 2:00 p.m. at the home of Lil Iwanicki.
UCW Square Circle Unit will be meeting in the Lounge on Wednesday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m.
The Requiem in its entirety by the Medicine Hat College Adult Choir, and orchestral accompaniment November 11th at 8:00 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church. Tickets available at the Esplanade.
Friday Night at the Movies: November 17th at 7 p.m. in the Lounge. This month, “Dear Frankie”. After having responded to her son's numerous letters in the guise of his father, a woman hires a stranger to pose as his dad when meeting him.
Poinsettia Tartan Tea, to be held on November 18 at 2:00 p.m. The ladies of the UCW would like to invite any women of the church to participate in our tea. If you would like to donate baking for the bake sale table or help in any way please contact Yvonne at 504-1249.
The Medicine Hat Ballroom Dance Club is teaching 3 free dance lessons exclusively for Fathers and their Daughters (10 yrs and up). Quality Time has never been so much fun! Call Sarah at 548-2899 or email: mhbdc@hotmail.com for more information.
Baptism & Membership Sunday is scheduled for November 19th. Anyone interested in either Liturgy, please call Jane at 526-5247.
Congregational Car Rally, November 26 at 3:00 p.m. Potluck supper to follow: stay tuned for more information.
Celebrations This Week
Birthdays: Heather Allan, Ted Sherring, Hilda Welling, Adrianna West.
Anniversaries: Larry & Julie Brown, Ted & Ila Dillabough, Ed & Elnora Heine, Harvey & Mickey Staples.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning
in loving memory of
George Forsythe
by
Edna & family
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers this week are requested for Southminster Pastoral Charge and Frank Lewis & Lois Punton.
Sunday School Co-ordinator........................................ Tara Johnson
Greeters & Ushers.............................................. Ken & Bev Empey,
Barb Grozell & Janice Croissant
Nursery Attendant.......................................... Shauna Kohls Walters
Coffee Hosts...................................................... Vern & Beth Miner,
Edna Silverthorne & Jim Neigum
Scripture Reader.............................................. Anna Marie Hancock
Elder-in-Charge......................................................... Gordon Bruins
Next Week’s Readings from: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Psalm 127; Hebrews 9:24-28; & Mark 12:38-44.
Stewardship Thought For Today
Nothing is more dangerous
than to be blinded by prosperity.
By John Calvin (1509-64), French theologian and reformer
Spirit Connection
Renew your faith in television…
Tonight at 4:00 p.m. on Vision TV
November 5, 2006—The Power and the Grace: Canadian Servicewomen of the Second World War. The untold stories of the United Church women who served during wartime. Some toiled in cold, damp British offices, breaking secret codes, while others worked in hospital corridors and under tarpaulins caring for dying and wounded soldiers. Sixty years later they talk, many for the first time, about their experiences. A documentary by Vancouver filmmaker Alison MacLean. (R)