Sunday, July 22, 2007 – 10:30 a.m.
A Combined Summer Service for the United Churches of Medicine Hat.
Today’s worship leader is Rev. James Farrell
Prelude
Announcements—Time of Greeting
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: The warming rays of the summer sun,
All: Reflect the warmth of God’s love.
One: The crops growing; strengthening and maturing,
All: Reflect our growth in faith from one season of life to the next.
One: The cool rippling water of the river, the gently flowing stream,
All: Reflect for us God’s cleansing and renewing power.
One: The laughter of families and friends gathered to enjoy food and friendship in the open air,
All: Reflect the joy and thankfulness of God’s own people gathering together.
Prayer of Approach (Unison)
May the Spirit of Jesus continue in our lives; to help us to be faithful listeners; to help us to be faithful servants. In all that we do, may we follow his example and serve as disciples. Amen.
One: If we have been so caught up with achieving and doing, that we forget to take time to be quiet,
All: Let us take time to listen to that still, small voice within.
One: If we have been so focused on reflecting and meditating that we forget to practice compassion and helping,
All: Let us remember Jesus, the healer and teacher.
One: If we are so concerned to speak out for the powerless that we forget our nearest and dearest,
All: Let us take time for our families.
One: If we are so concerned for those who are our loved ones and friends that we forget the despised and rejected,
All: May we take time for the exploited and abused. … (silent reflection)
Assurance of Pardon (One)
In calm reflection and in fresh starts, pardon and peace will be ours!
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
From the Christian Scriptures – Luke 10:38-42
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28.
Offertory
Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.
With these gifts we bring a yearning for justice, a passion for good, and a commitment to do God’s will. May our words and our works help to declare goodness, we pray. Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving & Intercession & Lord’s Prayer
Let us go from this place in peace to the place where we feel called to serve.
#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
Welcome to Westminster this morning.
Please join us for refreshments in Memorial Hall after worship.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of
husband David Schorr & his parents Emil & Hilda Schorr
by Phyllis Schorr
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers this week are requested for retired ministry personnel, especially those in South Alberta Presbytery.
Are you on PAR (Pre-arranged Remittances)? One monthly deduction for your church donations. It continues even if you are away. Applications can be filled out and put in the collection plate with a void cheque or contact Donna Scharf at 526-1555.
“Adventures in Wilderness and Faith” for young adults ages 18 – 30 years includes a canoe trip on Lakeland Provincial Park, August3-6. For more information, see the bulletin board by Memorial Hall.
There will be a Congregational Meeting for the congregation of Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church following worship on August 12 to receive the report and recommendations from the Search Committee relative to the appointment of a half-time ministry person.
Ladies Night Summer Book Read: “A Jest of God” by Margaret Laurence. Enjoy the book over the summer, and join us in September for a discussion. There are multiple copies of the book available at the Public Library.
Summer Worship Schedule: Again this summer the congregations of Fifth Avenue Memorial and Westminster United Churches shall gather in shared worship. The services in July will be held at WUC and begin at 10:30 a.m. The services in August will be held at FAM and begin at 10:00 a.m.