Westminster United Church

 “We are journeying together in God’s love . . .

 to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”

 Remembrance Sunday

November 12, 2006

 

We Remember and give thanks for those who served and remain part of this congregation:

Ed Buckholz, Darcy Fox, Hugh Harrison, Jim Hayward, Orrin Hungerford, Bill Keith, John Leask, Wilbur Lemon, BJ Maddaford, Bob Marsh, Al Mattson, Albert Parks, Tom Pragnell, Bill Scott, Alex Shand, Mary Skjenna, Al Smith, Roy Thomson

and any whose names we have inadvertently missed.

 

We Gather To Worship God

 Prelude Serenity” by Dorothy Wells

 

Sharing Announcements

 

A Time of Greeting

 

A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle

 

Call to Worship (Responsive, as found on the back of the bulletin)

 

Prayer of Approach (Responsive, as found on the back of the bulletin)

  

Hymn #706 “Give Thanks for Life”

Conversation Time

The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.

Prayer of Transformation & Assurance of Pardon

The human race does not do peace very well. So much gets in the way—greed, fear, jealousy, the desire for power…And in our desire to correct the balance of power, we sometimes increase conflict—person against person, our group against their group, nation against nation. We know this is not how to live and so we open our hearts again, and again. We ask for the peace that passes all understanding. We ask for strength to be gentle and the wisdom to find non-violent ways of resolving conflict in our own lives, and in our nations. In the name of Jesus, the one who brings peace, we pray… (Silent Reflection…)

 

Assurance of Pardon (One)  

We Listen For God’s Word

Biblical Notes

Prayer of Illumination

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 From the Hebrews Scriptures Pg. 262

Ruth Finds a Husband 

Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 127; From the Epistle, Hebrews 9:24-28.

 Anthem “Give Us Peace” by Joseph Martin

 

Mark 12:38-44 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 64

Jesus Warns against the Teachers of the Law (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)

 

One: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ

All: Thanks be to God

 

A Remembrance Service Message

 

Hymn #806 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”

 

Mission & Service Fund Update: www.wondercafe.ca

We Respond In Giving And Gratitude

Our Church Tithes and Offerings

 

Offertory “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by Miller & Jackson

                          Soloist: Al Pols

 

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)

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer

 

Hymn #586 “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”

 

Commissioning (One)

Go back into the beautiful and broken world today. Hold to the choice to be ready, a flame of hope that will not go out, a gentle, persistent defiance against despair. Follow the Light of the World.

 

Choral Amen

 

#964 “Go Now in Peace”

Go now in peace, go now in peace.

May the love of God surround you

Everywhere, everywhere you may go.

 

Postlude “Melody of Peace” by A.J. Ramler 

          The Life And Work Of The Congregation

 This 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

 Next Week at Westminster (November 19-25)

Sun.        Trustees                                  9:00 a.m.         Shalom Rm

               Worship                                  10:25 a.m.       Sanctuary

               Jr. Choir Singing

Tues.      Meditation Group                     7:00 p.m.         Adoption 2000

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

               Confirmation Class                   7:00 p.m.         Shalom Room

Thurs.    Senior Choir Practise               7:00 p.m.         Sanctuary

Once again,Thank You to all who participated in the Fall Supper in any way. Your efforts allowed the dinner to realize a profit of $2725.49, of which, $201.01 was gifted on Sunday at lunch.

 

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 or if you would like 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.

 

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, will be held this Saturday, 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.

 

Gifts & Goodies Gala Sat., November 18 from 10 – 3 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Memorial. Tickets are $1.00 and can be purchased from the F.A.M. office or any UCW member.

Organ Concert November 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Memorial. Organist: Lorne Manweiler. Tickets available at St. Paul Lutheran Church or F.A.M. adults $10, students $5, & children 12 & under – free.

 

Congregational Car Rally, November 26 @ 3:00 p.m. Potluck supper to follow, $5.00 per car: Have you got a team together yet?

 

The Blue Christmas Service will be hosted this year by Fifth Avenue Memorial. Again we shall gather on the second Sunday of Advent, Sunday December 10 at 2:00 p.m. Christmas can be a painful time for some.  You may be approaching this season without loved family members or friends who have recently died.  The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation – all can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending.  We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. Our hope is that this service will provide an opportunity for such reflection. Please share this information with any who you believe may find it a comfort.

 

Celebrations This Week

Birthdays:          Faith Buckholz, Brenda Denning, Kira Gerhardt, Andrew Lofgren, Linda Millington, Alvin Paul, & Jean Pfeifer.

 

Anniversaries:   Blake & Lisa Jo Dykema, Orrin & Peggy Hungerford, Garnet & Florence Leech, & Al & Carol Pols.

 

Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning

by

Ted & Kim Sherring

to honour the

 Veterans from yesterday, today, and tomorrow

& in remembrance of

Our Mother & Grandmother

by

Mina Petersen

 

South Alberta Presbytery

Your prayers this week are requested for Chaplains within the Canadian Armed Forces.

 

Our Order of Ministry This Morning

Sunday School Co-ordinator....................................... Tara Johnson

Greeters & Ushers........................... Roy Thomson, Alvin Mattson,

Al Smith, Orrin Hungerford

Nursery Attendant.................................................. Janice Neigum

Coffee Hosts.............................. Florence Leech, Bonnie Spruyt &

John & Betty Sidlick

Scripture Reader........................................................ Lenora Stein

Elder-in-Charge.......................................................... Stan Bohnet

 

Next Week’s Readings from: 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25; & Mark 13:1-8.

 

Spirit Connection

Renew your faith in television…

Tonight @ 4:00 p.m. on Vision TV

November 12, 2006—Affirming Congregations -Creating inclusive communities and embracing diversity, regardless of sexual orientation, is vital to the life and work of Affirm congregations and ministries. Here are two stories of United Church congregations who have made the choice to be affirming congregations. One story comes from Saint John, New Brunswick, and the other from Edmonton, Alberta. An interview about the history of the Affirming Congregation Program and its meaning follows these two stories. 

 

Visit www.wondercafe.ca for discussions on relevant spiritual topics facing all of us.

 

Stewardship Thought For Today

Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

by Alexander Pope (1688-1744), English poet

Financial Statement to October 31, 2006

We thank you for your continued contributions to your church, as “We are Journeying Together in God’s Love…To Discover, Nurture and Share Our Gifts.”

 

We are approximately $6300.00 behind in our General giving if we are to meet all budgeted expenses. However, historically we have not spent every cent that was budgeted. Our Mission & Service gifts continue to demonstrate our commitment to Outreach.

 

With your continued faithful giving, we are confident that your church will end the year financially healthy.