“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
To discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
February 25, 2007
Lent 1— Communion
With joyful remembrance we confess our trust in the One who makes life possible. How can we thank God, not only with our offerings and gifts, but with the whole of our lives? What does it mean to “believe”? How does trust in God’s radical acceptance of us transform the way we respond to God – and to others?
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—Sharing Announcements—A Time of Greeting
A time of silent preparation—lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: As we enter this Lenten season,
All: May we have the courage of Jesus, who did not hang back from confronting evil.
One: As we enter this Lenten season,
All: May we have the dedication of Jesus, who was not diverted from preaching the Gospel.
One: As we enter this Lenten season,
All: May we have the compassion of Jesus, who saw the suffering ones and was moved to help them.
One: As we enter this Lenten season,
All: May we have the faithfulness of Jesus, who saw the cross but did not turn back.
In moments of reflection, may we know the peace of God. In the offering of prayer, may we hear Gods’ still small voice. In the quiet places of our life, may we be aware of the gentle leading of the Holy. In sacred church moments, may we sense the Spirit within bringing us together for service in the Way of Jesus. Amen.
Hymn # 222 “Come, Let Us Sing”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
Unison as found on the back of the bulletin
Biblical Notes & Prayer for Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 & From the Epistles Scriptures –Romans 10:8b-13.
The Temptation of Jesus (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)
One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Hymn # 113 “To the Desert Jesus Came”
We Respond In Giving and Gratitude
Offertory: “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” by J. Denton
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Invitation to the Service of the Table
Hymn #467 “One Bread, One Body”
The Peace & Thanksgiving
One: May the peace of God be with you.
All: And within this community always.
One: Let us lift up our hearts.
All: We lift up our hearts in faith and longing.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: We offer our lives in joy and promise.
One: Therefore with all creation we raise our voices to proclaim.
Holy, holy, holy, God of glory and grace.
Heaven and earth are full of your blessing.
Hosanna, Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna, all creation sings.
One: God our Creator, we offer our thanks as we greet each other around this table. We remember that you blessed human life with the Divine Presence in many traditions and with many names. But always it is in the ordinary signs of life that your Sacred Presence is revealed. In stinging sandstorms and Arctic blizzards your people have sought you, only to lose sight of you again. You call us in famine and feast to recognize your abiding love that wills abundant life for all people. In this time of pausing, teach us to see the pathway of your call and grant us what we need to follow your Beloved.
All: At the time of Passover, your Beloved, Jesus, became Christ for us so that this community might become Christ in the World. We remember the gift of that life when we learned the power of naming and challenging, the power of healing and solidarity. Jesus showed us how to act as one body and how to see our community as one family, his lifeblood.
One: One night in Bethany, Jesus sat down with his family and friends. A woman prophet anointed Jesus with oil to recognize the unique gift of his life.
All: We remember this woman, the first witness to resurrection within this life.
One: Before his trial, while everyone was eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. Then, looking at his friends and family, he said for them to receive the sign of the bread: “This, my body.”
All: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit, we were all baptised into one body.
One: Then Jesus took a cup of wine and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and all of them drank from it, like one family. And he said to them, ‘In sharing this cup is the covenant I make with you.’
All: You are the vine, we are the branches, may your joy abide in us so that we may be one family, offered for love of the world and chosen to bear the fruit of justice and peace-making.
One: And Jesus prayed, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I bless myself, so that they may also be blessed in truth. I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their words, that they may all be one.”
All: May we all be one in purpose and many in inspiration. May we all be one in compassion, although diverse in understanding.
One: Bless these, the signs of Christ for the community of hope as we unite in the prayer Jesus, who imaged God as Father, taught us to pray: “Our Father…”
(The elements are distributed)
Prayer after Communion (Unison: Please Stand)
Life-giving God, may we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring new life to others; we whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name. Amen
Commissioning (One)
As we go forward into the coming week, we will be tempted with meeting practical needs and forgetting the spiritual. We will be tempted to control others and gain personal advantage. We will be tempted to get God to change situations which are way beyond our power to change. In every temptation, may we have strength. Go in peace!
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 “Andantine” by F. Walczyski
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
Next Week at Westminster (February25 – March 3)
Sun. Worship 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
Lenten Study 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Thurs. Senior Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Next Week at Westminster (March 4 - 10)
Sun. Music & Worship 9:00 a.m. Lounge
Worship with Music Festival 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
UCW Executive Mtg after worship Lounge
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
Lenten Study 7:00 p.m. Lounge
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.)
The UCW will be serving hamburger soup following this Sunday’s worship today. There will be a free will offering with the proceeds going to the Church Education fund.
Spring/Lenten Study: Five Wednesday evenings with a starting time of 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.
World Day of Prayer will be held on March 2nd 7 pm at Fifth Avenue Memorial Church.
UCW executive will meet on March 4th following worship in the Church lounge.
On Sunday, March 4th we will be celebrating the Rotary Music Festival during worship with many festival participants.
UCW Presbyterial annual meeting will be held in Taber on March 10th 2007.
International Women’s Day Celebration, for further information, please see the bulletin board in the hallway toward memorial hall.
2007 South Alberta United Church Youth Rally (grades six to twelve), Friday, March 23rd to Sunday March 25th at Knox United Church in Taber (7:30 p.m. Friday – Noon, Sunday). Cost: $25.00/person, (this includes meals and swimming). This year’s theme: “Who is That Guy?!” Images of Jesus range from ‘a glass of warm milk’ to a revolutionary. Who do you say Jesus is? Registration forms available on the bulletin board.
If you have not renewed your subscription for the OBSERVER, please do so directly as the deadline approaches quickly. If you wish to receive the Observer it is $14 per year. Please call Jane if you would like to subscribe.
Birthdays: Harvey Staples, Joan Anderson, Paul Mehrer,
Anniversaries: Norman & Albina Jackson
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning
in loving memory of ,
Susan Hubbard
by
Husband John, Mother-In-Law, Rose and families
South Alberta Presbytery
Joyce Sasse and her mission to the Rural Churches.
Sunday School Co-ordinator........................................ Tara Johnson
Greeters & Ushers........................ Ralph & Lois Clarkson, Pat Evans
........................................................... Melanie Rattai, Jennifer Oster
Nursery Attendant..................................................... Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts...................................................... Al & Marg Mattson
Scripture Reader............................................................ John Sidlick
Cantor………………………………………………...Mia Glasser
Elder-in-Charge......................................................... Gordon Bruins
Next Week’s Readings from: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
Stewardship Thought For Today
Stewards joyfully tithe the “first fruits” of their harvest or income to celebrate all that God has done.
By Barbara Fullerton