“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
March 11, 2007
Lent III
Our longing for God may at times find expression in a thirsting for holy and personal encounter. God’s steadfast love promises that such yearning will be satisfied. Our lives continually move between those hopes of encounter and their fulfillment by God. At beginning of day and at its end, our seeking of God is met by God’s seeking of us.
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 “Think On Me” by L. J. Scott
Sharing Announcements
A Time of Greeting
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Come to the waters.
All: Everyone who thirsts,
One: All who are hungry,
All: All: You who need a welcome,
One: One: You who are longing for home,
All: All: Come
One: One: Come to the waters.
All: Come to the waters of life.
Opening Prayer (Responsive)
One: A baby stirs in her sleep, a youngster calls out for his mother.
All: And we recall the creative and caring presence of God.
One: A family party rocks with laughter, and a bereaved family comes together in grief.
All: And we remember the joyful and compassionate presence of God.
One: A protestor shouts of injustice, and the plight of a political prisoner is made public.
All: And we are aware of mercy and encouragement.
One: The struggle of Jesus is recounted, and his death on a cross looms closer.
All: And we know that love goes beyond our imagining, Amen.
Hymn #248 “When Long Before Time”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
All: A time of decision making for Jesus: to keep to the country byways, or take the Jerusalem highway. A time of discouragement for the disciples; Jesus choosing to confront the powerful ones. A time when the rulers, religious and political, feel threatened by the good and generous Way of Jesus. When we are tempted to compromise with truth or compassion, may we listen to the God within. (Time of Silent Reflection…)
Words of Assurance (One)
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
God’s Offer of Mercy
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 63:1-8 & from the Epistles, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Anthem “Here In the House of the Lord” by Besig and Price
Turn from Your Sins or Die (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)
One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Hymn #703 “In the Bulb There Is a Flower”
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory “Prayer” by C. Kohlmann
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Hymn #120 “O Jesus, I Have Promised”
Commissioning (One)
May the compassionate love we meet in Jesus of Nazareth, draw us close together, and bring us 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 Linnea Good Selections, with June Reid
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (March 11 - 17)
Sun. Worship, Lent III 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Jr. Choir Practise after worship Lounge
M & P 11:45 a.m. Jane’s Office
Tues. Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30 p.m. Lounge
Board Meeting 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Luyten Hall
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Nursery
Lenten Study 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Thurs. Senior Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Friday Night at the Movies 7:00 p.m. Lounge
Next Week at Westminster (March 18 - 24)
Sun. Worship, Lent IV, Jr. Choir 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Tues. Prayer Shawl 1:30 p.m. Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 p.m. Luyten Hall
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.)
Lost & Found: Have you missed placed any key chains, keys or earrings lately? Please stop by the church office and check out our lost and found section. For clothing items, see the box by the coat rack in the sanctuary.
Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church would like to invite you and
your friends to thoughtful prayer, study, and song on Wednesday afternoons during Lent (from now to Easter). The sanctuary is available for personal reflection and prayer all afternoon (1 to 4:30pm), as is the
labyrinth in the gym. At 2 pm each Wednesday is the Lenten hymn sing in the sanctuary (a scant hour). At 3:30 pm in the lounge is the Lenten
study, “Water of Life” (one hour, approximately).
Unisphere invites you to view the film “Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars”, an inspiring story of an internationally famous music group, Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 7 p.m. lower level of Westminster United Church. More information call David Gue @ 526-2226 or Unisphere 529-2656.
Friday Night at the Movies: March 16th 7p.m. in the Lounge. An Inconvenient Truth, which offers a passionate and inspirational look at Al Gore’s fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it.
Linnea Good & Good Company in concert with Story-teller Nancy Reeves at Fifth Avenue Memorial on Tuesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices are Adults: $10.00, Ages 6 - 12: $5.00, Families: $25.00, Children under 6 are free! David Gue will be selling tickets after service today in the hall. Tickets will also be available at Church office.
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.
Friday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. there will be Easter Egg decorating and an egg hunt at Westminster United Church. Bring a hard-boiled egg for you to decorate and a goodie to share.
Canyon Camp: Registration forms and camp dates are posted on the bulletin board.
Camp Shagabee: Registration forms and camp dates are on the bulletin board. There are also summer job opportunities posted for this camp.
Peace United Church in Irvine would like to invite everyone to their Annual Ham & Sausage Supper. Sunday, April 1, 2007, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Celebrations This Week
Birthdays: Edith Clay, Delmar Adams, Marg McCulley, Betty Sidlick, Jeanette Merrick, Edwin Maier, Lachlan Hardiker, Amber Countryman
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning
in celebration of the 97th birthday of
Edith Clay
by
Sharon Clay
South Alberta Presbytery:
South Alberta Youth Workers
Sunday School Co-ordinator........................................ Tara Johnson
Greeters & Ushers.................................... Violet Rud, Donna Schart,
...................................................................... John and Betty Sidlick
Nursery Attendant..................................................... Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts............................................. Larry & Vera Henderson,
Gwen & Dub Henderson
Scripture Reader........................................................ Janice Neigum
Elder-in-Charge............................................................... Darcy Fox
Next Week’s Readings from: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Stewardship Thought For Today
Good stewards see potential all around them.
by Barbara Fullerton