“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
March 25, 2007
Lent V
There are moments in life that call for extravagance, moments when we must lay aside calculation and caution, and give of ourselves wholeheartedly. Mary is a model of such an outpouring of love and devotion. Some things are worth giving all that we have and all that we are.
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 silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: From the wanderings of our lives, we have come to gather here.
All: We bring life with us, to this time and place.
One: We come here, offering our lives before God,
All: And the presence of God will go with us and remain with us in our play and work, in our resting a our service.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
Beginner of all things, begin in us again, take these tired limbs and rouse them to dance with joy from sunbreak to sundown.May we shake off our weariness that we may know new life within and offer it to one another. Amen.
Hymn # 232 “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
See back of bulletin.
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
Escape from Babylon
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 126 & From the Hebrew Scriptures – Philemon 3,4b-14.
John 12:1-8 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 134
Jesus is Anointed at Bethany (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)
One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Hymn # 258 “O World of God”
Mission Moment: Sandra Plank
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Our Church Tithes and Offerings
Offertory “The Penitent Heart” by E. Higgins
Dedication #537 “Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands”
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)
May our gifts be touched with generosity of spirit, that they may touch the sad, the lonely, and the powerless, in the Way of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer
Hymn #382 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
Commissioning (One)
May our mouths be filled with laughter and our hearts with shouts of joy.
May our days be anointed with grace and beauty, and my we lavish others with Holy love.
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 “In The Cross of Christ I Glory” by I. Conkey
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (March 25 – March 31)
Sun. Christian Dev. Meeting 9:00 am Lounge
Trustees Mee 9:00 am Shalom Room
Worship, Lent V 10:25 am Sanctuary
No Junior Choir Practise
Tues. Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30 pm Lounge
Meditation Group 7:00 pm Luyten Hall
Wed. Bible Study 9:30 am Nursery
Lenten Study 7:00 pm Lounge
Thurs. Senior Choir Practise 7:00 pm Sanctuary
Friday Yard Clean- 5:00 pm Outside
Easter Egg Decorating 7:00 pm Memorial Hall
Sat. Yard Clean-up 9:00 am Outside
Next Week at Westminster (April 1 – April 7)
Sun. Worship 10:25 a.m. Sanctuary
Jr. Choir Practise 11:30 a.m.
Sunday School Meeting after wor. Shalom Room
UCW after worship Youth Room
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
Friday Office Closed
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.)
Congregational Life and Work Committee is appealing to you, the congregation. The freezer is empty. On Sunday mornings most of us enjoy snacks with our coffee. We are asking for donations of loaves, muffins, cookies and fruit bread (only suggestions). Bring baking to the church anytime and place items in the Auxiliary Kitchen freezer. Please mark your items for Sunday coffee and the current date. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah McQuat, Lil Iwanicki, Barb Grozell, Kim Sherring, Yvonne Hole or Marion Shand. Thanks to all of you.
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.
Anyone wanting to use up left-over wool: We are helping the Girl Guides by knitting or crocheting squares to make blankets The blankets will be used in shelters and given to the homeless throughout Canada. For a pattern, please call Jane 526-5247.
Next week is Palm Sunday. We would ask all Sunday school children to meet in Memorial Hall before the service so we can distribute the palms. Thank you.
You are invited to meet Tiza Chewe, Zambian Guest of the United Church of Canada In Medicine Hat at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church on Wednesday March 28 at 1:30 pm for Conversation, 2:00 p.m. Hymn Sing, 3:00 p.m. Personal reflection in sanctuary or walking the labyrinth, 3:30 Water issues in the World, or March 29 at 1:30 pm. Refreshments will be served.
Peace at Home: Join us to explore with various religious representatives at Medicine Hat College, Campus Cafeteria, March 29th 2007, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Representation: Buddhism, Judaism, First Nation, Christianity and Islam. Chairperson: Mayor Garth Vallely.
Spring Yard Clean-up will be Friday, March 30, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 31st at 9 a.m. Many hands make light work, and the more we have the quicker it will go. Please bring yard tools to help.
Friday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. there will be Easter Egg decorating and an egg hunt at Westminster United Church. Bring hard-boiled eggs for you to decorate and a goodie to share.
The Senior Choir: will be taking part in a choir night, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. You are welcome to attend.
Peace United Church in Irvine would like to invite everyone to their Annual Ham & Sausage Supper. Sunday, April 1, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Jesus Seminar on the Road: Jesus in the First & Twenty-first Centuries, Lecture, Friday April 27 at 7:30 p.m., and Workshops Saturday April 28 at 9:30 a.m. till 4 p.m., at All-Saints Anglican Church. For more information, please see poster on bulletin board by hall.
The UCW will be holding their annual Easter program, featuring the “Easter Bonnet Parade” followed by Tea and Hot Cross Buns in the Hall on April 4th, at 1:00 p.m., all woman of the church are welcome.
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.
The ministry of Westminster United Church was extended into the community this week as James and Jane conducted the funeral service for Dr. Rod MacKenzie.
Birthdays: Brooke Gardiner, Joyce Carlson, Grace Alcock, Ron Scharf, Herb Frisch, Brian Walters, Fred Riedmueller.
Anniversaries: Glen & Barb Grozell, Ernie & Jeannette Mylymok, Rob & Corlaine Gardner, Anne & Garth Maier
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning
in loving memory of
Gunster and Ruth Bruins
By Gordon & Anne Bruins and Family
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers this week are requested for Redcliffe-Irvine Pastoral Charge and Blaine Schaufele.
Sunday School Co-ordinator........................................ Tara Johnson
Greeters & Ushers............................................ UCW, Square Circle
Nursery Attendant...................................................... Jackie Carlson
Coffee Hosts.................................................... UCW, Square Circle
Scripture Reader......................................................... Marion Shand
Elder-in-Charge......................................................... Gordon Bruins
Next Week’s Readings from: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49
Stewardship Thought For Today
True generosity is always extravagant.
By Barbara Fullerton