Westminster United Church

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

 to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”

October 7, 2007

Thanksgiving & World Wide Communion/Food Bank Sunday

We learn the faith in many different ways—from parents and friends, teachers, and the study of scripture, and from living in the Christian community. We are strengthened by hearing the faith stories of others and by passing on our own. We have a responsibility to nurture this faith and hand it on to others. It is the good treasure entrusted to 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

Sharing Announcements

A Time of Greeting

A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship (Response in bold)

We gather as members of Westminster faith community; to pray, to share and to give thanks. In bread and wine we are united. We gather in solidarity with Christians of every continent; Christians of many denominations. In bread and wine we are united. We gather as disciples of Jesus Christ, to hear words of truth, compassion, and justice. In bread and wine we are united. We gather in the tradition of the saints, to be strengthened and serve faithfully. In bread and wine we are united.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

We are thankful for everything which joins us together. Our common meals and picnics, our support of the powerless, our friendship and fellowship, our sacraments of Baptism and Communion; our following of Jesus’ Way. We are thankful for this faith community, and for our membership in the wider church of Jesus Christ: Our links with other city churches, the joy we find in our own denomination, and our contacts with the global church. May the indwelling Spirit bring us closer together in faith and work, and inspire us with the hope “that all may be one.” Amen.

Hymn # 516  vv. 1, 2, & 4 “Come You Thankful People, Come”

Conversation Time

The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.

At times it is difficult for us to fully understand the sufferings of the people closest to us, let alone around the world. Yet on this Worldwide Communion Sunday, we would stand side by side, heart to heart, with all our brothers and sisters of the planet. We come recognizing the Divine in each other. We come desiring to continue to be compassionate about other’s needs. May we burn with the same love that Jesus had…(time for silent reflection)

Words of Assurance (One)

Biblical Notes

Prayer of Illumination

Luke 17:5-10 From the Christian Scriptures (NRSV)

Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Hebrew Scriptures, Lamentations 1:1-6 or 3:19-26 or  Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 & From the Psalms – Psalm 137 or Psalm 37:1-9 & From the Epistle – 2 Timothy 1:1-14.

Anthem “With Joyful Thanksgiving”

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

Thanksgiving Reflection

Biblical Notes

Our Church Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Dedication #227 vs 2 “For the Fruit of All Creation”

In the just reward of labour, God’s will is done. 

In the help we give our neighbour, God’s will is done. 

In our worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing,In the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done.

Prayer of Dedication (One)

Invitation to the Table

God’s banquet is coming. A time when all will gather from north, east, west and south. A banquet where the rich and powerful will sit with the weak and poverty-stricken. A table where young and old will learn from each other. A time when all will sit together in peace, “And the wolf will lie down with the lamb.” Here at this table we get a foretaste of God’s banquet. This is indeed God’s table, not the church’s, and so all who seek to follow The Way are welcome to eat and drink from it. Come and taste the grace eternal, come and see that God is good.

Hymn # 469 “We Gather Here”

Thanksgiving

One:     The Spirit of God be with you.

All: And also with you.

It is time to give thanks to God. Let us pray. God of the table, as we gather to taste your banquet, we offer prayers of thanksgiving. In this season of harvest, we give thanks for the fruit of the earth, for the food on our tables. In this global village, we give thanks for our brothers, sisters and neighbours both near and far. In this world of strife and broken relationships, we give thanks for your hope, for the ways you draw us together.

God of the banquet, we give thanks for your witness and work in the world across the ages. We remember Moses and Miriam and the people they led to freedom. We remember the prophets who arise over and over again to call your people back to the narrow path. We remember the countless saints who have gone before us, preparing the path, and we join our voices to theirs in hymns of thankfulness and praise. Amen.

And in the midst of our thankfulness we remember the one in whose name we gather, Jesus, child of Mary.

We give thanks for his witness, for his commitment, for the way he brought healing to broken spirits and broken bodies. Thankfully we remember his death, his resurrection, and his promised return for the banquet of grace.

And now, as we gather at the table, we remember the last meal he shared with his friends. How they gathered in an upper room to celebrate the story of liberation and freedom. How he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and passed it among them saying, “Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. When you eat this, remember me and look for the hope in your world.”Then later he took the cup. He blessed it and passed it saying, “This cup is the cup of the new covenant, made in my death. Whenever you drink from it, remember.”

And so, God of cross, empty tomb, and banquet, we remember the life and death of Jesus and we give thanks for the love he poured out on all he met:  sinner and saint, leper and clean, Jew and Gentile. We remember and we share that great and terrible mystery:

All:Christ has died, Christ has Risen, Christ will come again. Amen.

Transforming

God, you call us to eat and drink together. You call us to let the Spirit wash through our lives. As we eat and drink, may we feel the fire of the Spirit in our bellies, the wind of the Spirit in our hair, and the love of the Spirit in our hearts. May the Spirit’s presence make this meal one that changes us and, through us, the world.

God of the banquet that is and is to come, we gather with your people all around the world, this day, to remember and share this meal. Creator, Source of Love, Christ, Love incarnate, Spirit, Love’s flowing power; we pray even as Jesus taught us to by saying: “Our Father…”

Fraction and Distribution

The Bread we break is the bread of life.

The cup we share is the cup of love.

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer following Communion

We have eaten, we have drunk, we have tasted your goodness. May this meal we have shared here today fill our souls with love. May the meal we share with all the world fill the world with hope. May we leave this table refreshed and replenished, ready to be recipients and agents of grace. Amen.

Choral Commissioning  # 481 “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing

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

This week at Westminster (October 7 – October 13)

Next Week at Westminster (October 14 – October 20)

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.)

Square Circle UCW Unit will meet at 7:30 p.m. October 10^th at the home of Vera Henderson, #20 Begonia Court.

Edythe Hewitt UCW Unit meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 10^th at the home of Gladys Schlenker, 146 Park Meadows Dr. SE at 2:00 p.m.

Project Porchlight will have its official kick-off on Oct 13^th  at 11:00 am at the Esplanade.  Volunteers are welcome to attend. Length of Campaign: Oct 13^th - Oct 30^th. Those wishing to sign up as volunteers may contact: Boyd Alcock Ph. 527-6753. Volunteers will be contacted re: the date for picking up campaign materials.

2007 Banff Men’s Conference begins this Friday. For more information: www.banffmen.org or Herb Klassen at hklassen@accesscomm.ca.  Also see blue brochures on bulletin board by Memorial Hall.

World Food Day Dinner, 5:30 p.m. October 17^th, St Patrick¹s Church Downstairs. Tickets:  Unisphere 529-2656. Proceeds to Canadian Food Grains Bank. See poster by Memorial Hall.

Ladies, please consider yourselves personally invited to Western Women’s Conference 2007, at the Delta Lodge, Kananaskis, Alberta, November 2^nd – 4^th. Brochures are available on the bulletin board by Memorial Hall or call Anne at the office for more information.

Celebrations This Week

Birthdays: Desiree Leonard, Dakota Leonard, Travis Nabe, Quinn Toogood, Jean Riggins, Mary Warnell, Debi Hoefling, Walter Link, Ken Spruyt, Doug Pearson.

Anniversaries: Mia & Sean Glasser, Emil & Marian Bauer, Delmar & Erma Adams, Janice & Wes Archer. 

Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in memory of departed members of Electra UCW Unit. 

The ministry of Westminster United Church was celebrated as Jane and James conducted the wedding services of Steven Heid & Charman Hepfner, Kelly Kirkpatrick & Jennifer Bergstreser and Rory Sehn & Mina Carlson.

South Alberta Presbytery

Your prayers this week are requested for all churches celebrating World Communion Sunday & The World Council of Churches.

Our Order of Ministry This Morning

Sunday School Co-ordinators Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson

Greeters & Ushers......................... Stan and Pat Bohnet

.................................... Curt, Barb, Eric & Megan Moll

Nursery Convenor................................. Tanya Hoffarth

Coffee Hosts................................. The Mattson Family

Scripture Reader..................................... Ted Clugston

Guest Trumpeteer.......................... Johnathon McClung

Elder-in-Charge............................................ Darcy Fox

Next Week’s Readings from: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 or Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, Psalm 66:1-12 or Psalm 111, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19.

Carrot, Egg or Coffee?

Melissa slumped over her cup of coffee at the kitchen table. It wasn’t hard to see that she was troubled and tired. “It’s just one thing after another, Mom.” I have too many bills and I hate my job. I’m tired of struggling.”

We’ve all been there, haven’t we, in a situation where we feel bent over with life’s pressures, with no choices left. Melissa’s mom knew that wise decisions seldom come from feeling desperate or hopeless. She also knew she needed to get Melissa’s attention before helping her think through her problems.

 

Mom quickly crossed to the stove, ladled an egg out of the boiling water and put it beside Melissa’s coffee. Then she speared a cooked carrot from another pot and placed it beside the egg. Dumbfounded, Melissa stared at the steaming carrot, egg, and coffee. “So which are you?” asked Melissa’s mom.

“What do you mean?”

Her Mom pressed on.  “All of these have been in boiling water, just like you are in hot water. But each one reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  They’re the ones that changed the water.

 

"So again, which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When tough times come, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

For most of us the answer will be all three depending upon the situation. Even when we consider our experiences in church we can answer, “All three.” Some experiences within a United Church congregation soften our hearts, while others do just the opposite. Then there are those experiences that change the entire congregation, or even  community, such as helping those bent over from life’s troubles.

Jesus raised up the bent woman. He calls us to do what he did. It demands something of ourselves. We can be a carrot or an egg. Or we can do more; we can make coffee.

Consider ways that you can help. Your gifts can be transformative. What about sharing a Gift of Securities?   For example, some people have given gifts of BCE shares  before the pending sell of BCE. If you give your shares before they are sold, then you pay no capital gains tax, which can be substantial. You also receive a charitable donation receipt for 100% of value of those BCE shares. 

Or donate any publicly traded securities and save not only the capital gains tax, but make a difference in people’s lives through your church.  

Coffee anyone?

Westminster 3^rd Quarter Financial Update

Treasurer’s Report to September 30, 2007

During the summer months we had fallen behind our budgeted amount on Envelope Giving by about $15,500. During September 2007 we have reduced this amount to $11,675.

Please prayerfully consider the above shortfall during the remaining three months of our fiscal year.