Westminster United Church

“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .

 to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”

May 6, 2007

Camping and Food Bank Sunday

The gift of camp is the opportunity and space to recognize that every minute of every day we are in relationship: relationship with each other, relationship with creation, and relationship with God, and with this comes responsibility and connectedness. We have been called into partnership. The precious gift we celebrate is our rich history of supporting spaces and places in our church whose sole purpose is to reconnect us with our souls and the Spirit that nourishes us. So come, let’s celebrate!

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 “Welcome, Happy Morning” by R. Wilson

Sharing Announcements

A Time of Greeting

 A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship: “God is Good” – Selah Singers

 Opening Prayer (Responsive)

One:     From the East, the direction of the rising sun, we receive peace and light and wisdom and                       knowledge.

All:      We are grateful for these gifts.

One:     From the South comes warmth, guidance, and the beginning and the end of life.

All:      We are grateful for these gifts.

One:     From the West comes the rain, purifying waters, to sustain all living things.

All:      We are grateful for these gifts.

One:     From the North comes the cold and mighty wind, the white snows, giving us strength and                           endurance.

All:      We are grateful for these gifts.

One:     From the heavens we receive darkness and light, the air of your breath, and messages    from your             winged creatures.

All:      We are grateful for these gifts.

One:     From the earth we come and to the earth we will return.

All:      We are grateful for your creation, Mother Earth.

One:     May we walk good paths, living on this earth as brothers and sisters should; rejoicing in one another’s             blessing, sympathizing in one another’s sorrows, and together, renewing  the face of the earth. Amen.

Hymn # 291 “All Things Bright and Beautiful”           

“Carry Me Home” – Selah Singers

 Psalm 148  (Responsive)

Paraphrased By James Taylor

Come join the joyful dance of life! Celebrate each moment of increasing light! When the sun comes out after the snow, when the south wind blows the blizzards away, all of creation creeps out of its caves to soak up the welcome warmth. All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful…the Lord God made them all. God created their characteristics and personalities; the rain falls, the wind blows, the frost forms its delicate traceries, all as they should. Rain does not rise, nor frost burst into flames – they know their form and function; the Lord God made them all. So join the joyful dance of life. The silvery fish can shiver and shimmy; peaks and ridges march in royal ranks; trees can wave and grasses weave; cattle can stomp and marmots whistle, chicks can cheep and porcupines bristle; the Lord God made them all. The planet throbs with the pulse of life; heartbeats pound their passionate rhythm. Princes and popes, outlaws and outcasts, all races, all color, all ages, all species, swirl like galaxies glowing in a summer night. The Lord God made them all. There are no wallflowers in God’s great dance; each piece of creation has its own part to play. We humans live and die; our communities come and go, our empires rise and fall; the Lord God made them all…And the dance goes on.

Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are:  From the Christian Scriptures – Revelation 21:1-6.

“We Are Not Alone” – Selah Singers

John 13:31-35 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 137

The New Commandment (Read from The Message)

One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Words About Camp

Ryan’s Story – Derek Skogen

Jessica’s Story – Amber Henderson

Hymn # 577 “I’ve Got Peace Like A River”

 Our Church Tithes and Offerings

 Offertory  “You Are God” – Selah Singers

 Dedication #289

It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing: that’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it: you spread God’s love to everyone, you want to pass it on.

Prayer of Dedication (One)

Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer

“The Lord Is My Strength” – Selah Singers

Commissioning (One)

Go into this world knowing that the love of God, the courage of the Christ, and the playfulness of the Spirit is with you and all you love. 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 “Sing Aloud to God, Our Strength” by R. Hughes

This Week at Westminster (May 6 – May 12)

Next Week at Westminster (May 13 – May 19)

Thank you to Ralph Brown, Linda Taylor and the Selah Singers for their music and song this morning.

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.)

Edythe Hewitt UCW Unit will meet at the home of Phyllis Schorr, 1675 – 28^th St. SE on Wednesday May 9 at 2:00 p.m.

Westminster’s Spring Brunch will be held Sunday, May 13 following worship. (Tickets available in the hall following worship and from the office during the week). Adults $5, Children $3, Families $15. There are helper’s sign-up sheets in the hallway leading to Memorial Hall.

Westminster Plant & Garage Sale – Saturday May 26^th. Please select items to donate to the sale (no clothing or perishables, plant donations are welcome). Remember all income goes to the Mission & Outreach programs. We are counting on your donations for our success. Please drop-off your items to Memorial Hall on May 25^th between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Contact Linda Carney at 527-7005 if you are able to volunteer on May 25^th to help with pricing or if you have any questions.

We are  needing a Sunday School Co-ordinator. If you feel you would like to offer your gifts for this ministry, please call Jane or leave a message with Anne in the office.

Canyon Camp: Registration forms and camp dates are posted on the bulletin board. Job Opportunity: A head cook and an assistant cook are needed. Both of these are paid positions, the head cook’s salary starting at $500/wk and the assistant cook $300/wk for a forty hour week.  Starting date is July 1. The camp is open until Sept. 8. This would be a great opportunity for partners to work together. If people cannot commit for the entire period, we would consider appointing for two separate week periods. We are still looking for Resource Staff (craft leaders, nature leaders, camp parents, etc.) These are unpaid positions which offer free room and board. Contact Leone Johannson 403-223-2710 or email: leonemj10@hotmail.com.

Camp Shagabec: Registration forms and camp dates are on the bulletin board. There are also summer job opportunities posted for this camp.

Celebrations This Week

Birthdays: Peggy Smith, Alex Shand, Mike and Joan Jantzie, Irene Leidal, Dianne Schneider, Ray Yanke.

Anniversaries:  Melanie & Steve Rattai, Cheryl & Kevin Carleton, Al & Marilynn Piotrowski

The ministry of Westminster United Church was extended into the community as James conducted the funeral service of Bert Hoogeveen this past Tuesday.

South Alberta Presbytery

Your prayers this week are requested for Foremost Pastoral Charge, Marie Barr, Pastoral Charge Supervisor, Don Sanderson, Educational Supervisor, Blaine Schaufele, Educational Consultant, Terry Shillington, and the Lay Supervision Team.

Our Order of Ministry This Morning

Sunday School Co-ordinator............................................................

Greeters & Ushers.............. Quinn & Lauren Toogood, Toni Carlson,

................................................... Sabrina Henderson, Keara Glasser

......................................................................... & Breanne Gerhardt

Nursery Attendant....................................................... Kira Gerhardt

Coffee Hosts..................................... Jean Riggins, Pat Thorsteinson,

                                                          Pat Marshall & Doreen Lyon

Scripture Reader.......................................................... Sandra Plank

Guest Choir….............................................................. Selah Singers

Elder-in-Charge............................................................. John Sidlick

 Next Week’s Readings from: 16:9-15, Psalm 67, Revelations 21:10, 22-22:5, John 14:23-29.