February 4, 2007
Food Bank Sunday
God’s unlikely choices transform those who respond to God’s surprising words. There can be risk in hearing and following such words. We may wonder what makes us deserving. But there is also grace, when we hear in God’s word the gifts of setting fear aside and taking on new life. When have you had to trust God’s call in some situation that made you sceptical? In what ways have you experienced God’s word as call to ministry and as grace that makes response possible?
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
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: As the disciples encountering Jesus were acutely aware of the priorities,
All: So we come before you, God, ready to look at life differently.
One: As the disciples were ready to tell their family and friends about Jesus,
All: So we come before you, God refusing to keep our faith to ourselves.
One: As the disciples faithfully trusted and found their trust wonderfully rewarded,
All: So we come before you, God, prepared to put our loyalty to the Christian way before all else.
Opening Prayer (Responsive)
One: You are with us as we encourage each other to risk new paths, O God.
All: In the challenging times, your love is gracefully given and received.
One: You confront us with unforeseen opportunities, fresh avenues of service.
All: In the midst of self-doubt, and when we question our new motives, you secure us, O god.
One: You challenge us with a call to faithful discipleship, O God.
All: In the use of our best gifts and talents, your Realm comes closer.
One: You identify with the troubled and distressed, O God.
All As we are aware of the lowly and serve the needy, we are caring for Christ.
One: You are the Good News for our times, O God.
All: A note of hope amid the despair, a sense of truth when it seems that nothing can be trusted. Amen
Hymn #288 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer of Transformation & Words of Assurance
One: The community of faith welcomes newcomers and makes them feel at home.
All: Where our welcome is half-hearted or superficial, O God, forgive us.
One: The community of faith is sensitive to the youngest, sustains in times of hectic parenthood, and is there in the challenging later years.
All: Where our care is unfeeling, or ignores the vulnerable, O God, forgive us.
One: The community of faith searches out the talents of members old and new.
All: Where we refuse to try out new skills, where we ignore offers to help or to take responsibility, O God, forgive us.
One: The community of faith looks beyond its own fellowship to the wider church, and to the downtrodden of other nations.
All: Where our service is short-sighted, and our giving limited to the needs of our own fellowship, O God, forgive us.
One: The community of faith is not afraid to disclose new truth about the gospel, or listen to today’s prophets.
All: Where we cling to well-worn ways of interpreting scripture, and close our ears to new words of justice, mercy, and peace, O God, forgive us. (Time for Silent Reflection)
Assurance of Pardon (One)
Biblical Notes
Isaiah 6: 1-8 From the Hebrew Scriptures
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From Psalms – Psalm 138 and from the writings of Paul –1 Corinthians 15:1-11.
One: This is the word of Jesus Christ
Hymn #509 “Here I Am Lord”
Mission Moment:
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Hymn #506 “Take My Life”
Commissioning
Go from here to fulfill your calling as disciples of the Way of Jesus. Listen for God’s Word, live with abundant hope, promote justice, be compassionate, seek out new friends, and strengthen the faith community. The grace of Jesus Christ, who teaches, saves and sustains, will go with you. Amen
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 tress 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
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster ( February 4-10)
Sun. Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Jr. Choir Practice after worship Lounge
UCW Executive noon Youth Room
Tues.Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30 & 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Meditation 7:00 p.m. Adoption 2000
Wed.Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Square Circle UCW 7:30 p.m. Lounge
Thurs.Senior Choir Practise 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Electra UCW (bring knitting)1:30 p.m. Lounge
Next Week at Westminster (February 11 -17)
Sun. Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Jr. Choir Practice after worship Lounge
S.S Teachers meeting after worship Shalom Room
Ministry & Personnel Mtg noon Shalom Room
Tues.Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30 p.m. Lounge
Wed.Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Thurs.Senior Choir Practise 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.).
Ladies Night Out:. An Introduction to Yoga on Thursday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the lounge. Wear comfy clothes and join in the fun. This is for all ability levels, no experience necessary. All ladies welcome.
Hamburger Soup will be served by the UCW after church on Sunday, February 18.
Spring/Lenten Study: This year, we will be engaging the Living the Questions series of videos to inform our discussion as we meet together 6 Wednesday evenings in Lent beginning Ash Wednesday, February 21st. Our gathering time will be at 7 p.m. in the Church Lounge. All are welcome. If you intend to attend, please let James know as this will facilitate better set up and preparation for this study.
Our next Baptism Sunday will tentatively be March 19th. Anyone interested in adult or infant, baptism, please speak to James.
The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter is in need of childcare volunteers during the daytime and in the evenings. If you are interested in this, or any other volunteer opportunity at the Women’s Shelter, please call the Volunteer Coordinator at the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter at 527-8223 or e-mail volunteer@psh-medhat.com.
Celebrations This Week
Birthdays: Samantha Richard, Mia Glasser, Alvin Cruickshank, Julie Contreras, Laurier LeClair, Kimberly Hanson, Danielle Weiss
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers this week are requested for the Moderator and the General Council Staff, including George Takashima and the Right Rev. David Giuliano.
Greeters and Ushers............................................ The LeClair Family, Barb Grozell,
.......................................................................... Doug and Velma Pearson
Nursery Coordinator............................................. Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts......................................................... Wilbur & Grace Lemon,
............................................................................... Karen Hauber, and Joyce Shannon
Elder-in-Charge.................................................... Ray Yanke
Next Week’s Readings from: Isaiah 6:1-8,(9-13); Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11)
Stewardship Thought For Today
“Good stewards are like fishers who keep on fishing after a futile day and find their nets overflowing.”
Stewardship Seconds 2007