January 14, 2007
As God’s people, we live with an abundant spirit that stands in contrast to many of the world’s realities. We imagine hope where there seems to be none, for we are guided by faith in God’s unending love. The season after the Epiphany is a good time to reflect upon the ways that God’s abundant love and Spirit are at work among us. In what ways does Jesus’ life and ministry reveal God’s abundance to you? In what ways does God continue to bring abundance into the world today?
If you would like to stay seated for any or all of the “standing” parts of the service, please feel free to do so.
Orchestral Prelude “Sinfonia Pastorale” by Giovanni Ferrandino
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Sign of wonder,
All: God’s love graced to humanity in Jesus.
One: Sign of celebration,
All: The joy of Jesus, alive in persons who have nothing of their own.
One: Sign of community,
All: Christians together, baptizing, sharing communion, learning and worshipping, giving and serving.
One: Sign of the times,
All: Getting and spending does not satisfy, but the Way of Jesus leads to the true life.
Opening Prayer (Responsive)
One: Joyfully we are thankful for this our faith community,
All: For its life of worship, its links of fellowship, its work of challenge and compassion
One: Joyfully we are thankful for the sacrament of baptism,
All: For its sign of new birth, its sign of welcoming friendship, its promise of discipleship.
One: Joyfully we are thankful for Jesus,
All: For his moment of anointing, his will to mission, his unswerving purpose.
One: We rejoice that we may be counted among the company of the baptized.
All: May we be worthy of the One whose baptism tests our faith journey and secures us within the family of God. Amen
Hymn #378 “Spirit of God, Descend upon my Heart”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer of Transformation & Assurance of Pardon
One: We remember the willingness of Jesus to choose a life of courage, compassion, faithfulness, and concern for the downtrodden.
All: We reflect on the life’s choices we have made, and the choices which lie ahead of us. (Time for silent reflection)
One: We remember the willingness of Jesus to choose a committed life with a community of disciples, very different in viewpoint, background, and ability.
All: We reflect on the choices we have made within our family and our faith community, for good or ill, and the choices which lie ahead of us. (Time for silent reflection)
One: We remember the willingness of Jesus to confront the corrupt practices, the stagnant traditions, and the evil powers of his time.
All: We reflect on the choices we have made for justice and the choices which lie ahead of us.
(Time for silent reflection)
Assurance of Pardon (One)
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
Our commitment, God’s accompaniment.
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 29 & From the Acts of the Apostles, Acts 8:14-17.
Orchestral Anthem “Jesus, My Faith Adorned” J.S. Bach
Who is this man John? Who is Jesus?
One: This is the Witness of God’s People
Hymn #100 “When Jesus Comes to Be Baptized”
Mission Moment: Marilynn Piotrowski
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory “An Indian Legend” by Maurice Baron
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer
Hymn #409 “Morning Has Broken”
Commissioning (One)
Remember the common ties which are yours in baptism. Consider the crying needs which are around you. Remember the faithful community of the baptized who have gone before you.
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.
Orchestral Postlude “Come Souls This Day” J.S. Bach
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (January 14—January 20)
Sun. Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Jr. Choir Practice after worship Lounge
Tues. Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30 & 7 p.m. Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Adoption 2000
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Thurs. Ladies Night Out 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Fri. Friday Night at the Movies 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Next Week at Westminster (January 21—January 27)
Sun. Confirmation/Membership 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Tues. Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30 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
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.)
Commune-I-care call-out begins this week (Jan. 14-20).
Edythe Hewitt UCW Unit Luncheon, January 17th at 12:30 p.m. at O’Riley’s Restaurant.
Ladies Night Out: Come and join us for desserts and coffee/tea on Thursday, January 18, and let’s discuss all of our ideas for further gatherings. Childcare will be provided for $2 per child. For more information, call Thea Toogood at 526-0195.
Friday Night at the Movies: Everything is Illuminated. A young Jewish American man endeavours to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II in a Ukrainian village, that was ultimately razed by the Nazis with the help of a local who speaks weirdly funny broken English. Friday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m. Bring your own beverage, popcorn is provided.
Pizza Games Night: Bring your favourite game or just come and join in on Saturday, January 27, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall We will be ordering pizza at a cost of $5.00 per person (12 yrs and up) or $2 for persons under 12. Everyone welcome.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, January 28th beginning with a potluck lunch immediately following worship. This is the time that we take to review the past year’s 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 for which you wish to share comment.
Food contributions for the pot luck lunch will be as follows:
Ross Glen & Southridge – desserts
Crestwood, SE/SW Hill, Flats and
Crescent Heights – sandwiches (1/2 a loaf)
Others – pickles or any of the above.
Birthdays: Vera Henderson, Pat Marshall, Joyce Scott, Flora Gaub, Roberta Playford, Grace Roth, Beth Miner, Velma Pearson, Natalie Johnson, Adair Prouty, Larry Brown.
Anniversaries: Andy & Betty Wudrich
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning
in loving memory of husband,
Don McNeill
by
Marion and family (Stan, Patti, Grant & Sherry)
Sunday School Co-ordinator.............. Tara Johnson
Greeters..............................................
Nursery Attendant.............................. Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts .............................................Barb Grozell,
Grace Roth, Phyllis Schorr, Donna Scharf
Scripture Reader................................. Sean Wilkinson
Cantor................................................ Linda Kinvig
Elder-in-Charge.................................. Gordon Bruins
Next Week’s Readings from: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19,
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
Stewardship Thought For Today
Stewardship involves recognizing and participating in God’s abundance by contributing to it.