“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
November 18, 2007
Baptism, Membership, & Children’s Sunday
The 1994 General Council named a special Children’s Sunday to take place on a Sunday close to November 20 (to tie in with Canada’s National Child Day and the 1989 signing of The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). Congregations are urged to take this Sunday as an opportunity to lift up the needs and celebrate the gifts of children with children in their own communities and around the world.
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
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Big and small, come one and all, let us join in community.
All: May we be welcoming of all who come here.
One: We are called to seek justice and love kindness.
All: Let us worship together.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
On one hand, we call ourselves a community of hope. We believe in love and hope things might get better. On the other hand, we live as if there were no hope. We accept things the way they are and don’t know how to change them. May our hearts be filled with hope. Our wills with conviction. May these walls be filled with love and may we stretch our love beyond these walls and into the world. Amen.
Jr. Choir Sings “Sing Unto the Lord”
Hymn # 644 “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry” (vv. 1-3)
(During the hymn, those sharing in the baptism gather on the chancel.)
Darcy Fox: On behalf of the Board of Westminster United Church, I present the following child for initiation into the body of Christ through Baptism:
Jaxon Reed Franz
Son of
Christopher Allan Franz and Stacie Lynette Franz
You come to this place bringing your child. You speak for him. His care and nurture is entrusted to you. You bring him here to commit both him and yourselves to a life of faith, a journey with ever new experiences and challenges.
Do you see the act of baptism as a symbol of our celebration of the life of your child, filled as he already is with the spirit of the Divine? If so, please say, “I do.”
I do.
Do you believe that as we share the stories of life, yours, ours, those of our children and those of people of wisdom and faith who have gone before us, as we share these stories, we come to know the Divine more fully? If so, please say “I do.”
I do.
Do you commit yourself and your child to a journey of the spirit with this community of faith, seeking to find and nurture the wholeness within yourself, your child and the world? If so, please say “I do.”
I do.
Baptismal Promises of the Congregation (Please stand)
We gather at this font to celebrate the Spirit of Life that connects us all and through which we come to love ourselves, one another, and the whole of creation.
This font and the water in it, are our symbols of community and our common need for the refreshing waters of the Spirit.
Through water we are born, of water we are made, by water we are sustained. Each of you, whole and loved knows the need for support and care upon the spiritual journey. As these individuals gather to commit to the journey through baptism, let us pledge our care to them.
We stand as witnesses to the commitment these people make to the journey of faith and pledge ourselves, through the symbol of this water, to their love, support, and care as they discover the ways that the Spirit unfolds for them.
(Please be seated)
Let us Pray
May we be thankful for the gift of life, and, within it, the gift of water. Over its unshaped promise Spirit hovered at creation; by water comes the growth of the earth. Through water the children of Israel were led to freedom; in the waters of the Jordan, Jesus, was baptised. May this water be a sign for all of new life. Amen.
The water is poured.
The Baptism (All relatives and friends of Jaxon are asked to stand where they are seated in the pew).
Jaxon Reed Franz, “I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit. You are baptised in the name of love: its beginning and its end, its commitment and its challenge, its peace and its power.”
People Respond: “Amen”
Laying on of Hands
(The family and minister place their hands on Jaxon to indicate the action of the Holy Spirit.)
Jaxon, “may the Spirit work within you, that being born of water and Spirit, you may be a faithful witness of Jesus.”
People Respond: “Amen.”
The Declaration
In the name of Jesus, who was baptised as you are now, you are welcomed into the household of faith with joy and thanksgiving.
Hymn #644 “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry” (vv. 4-7)
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
Let us learn to forgive ourselves and others: If we have hurt and excluded each other, if we have failed to treat each other with respect, if we have not accepted each other’s gifts, if we have not recognized that people of all ages are created equally. May we continue to live as family, helping and supporting each other…(time for silent reflection) Amen.
Reception of New Members by Reaffirmation of Faith
Jane: We now welcome into this congregation persons who are already members of the United Church of Canada and have served within another congregation who rejoin us through a reaffirmation of faith.
I present to you: Lois and Ralph Clarkson, so that they may be received into membership within this congregation.
One: I ask you, do you believe that as you share your stories of life and those of people of wisdom and faith who have gone before us, we come to know the Divine within more fully.
Answer: I do.
One: Do you declare your intention to join with the people of Westminster United Church as we seek the presence of The Holy among us through study and worship and prayer; and do you now express your hope to enter into the life and work of this church as you support it with your gifts and share in its mission to all people?
Answer: I do.
One: Let us rise to receive these new members.
Cong: We welcome you to the privileges and responsibilities of membership in this congregation. Be among us as eager participants in worship, join with us as seekers after truth and walk with us as co-workers for the community.
All: We pledge to you our friendship, our help and our prayers.
One: We give thanks for those persons who have been moved this day to declare anew the faith that stirs within them. May we all have a renewed vision of purpose and use our strengths and our weakness as our gifts. Amen.
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Hebrew Scriptures: Isaiah 65:17-25 or Malachi 4:1-2a, From the Psalms – Psalm 98 & from the Christian Scriptures: Luke 21:5-19.
Hymn #357 “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”(vv. 1, 2 & 3)
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory
For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,
and the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession & Lord’s Prayer
Hymn # 424 “May the God of Hope Go With Us”
Commissioning (Responsive)
One: May we be both flexible and wise in our work.
All: As we walk in hope together.
One: May we spread stories of hope that change the world,
All: As we talk in hope together.
One: May we spread hope of peace on earth,
All: As we love in hope together.
One: Go in peace to love and serve the world.
All: Amen.
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
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (November 18 – November 24)
|
Sun. |
Children’s Day/Baptism & Membership |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Jr. Choir Sings |
|
Sanctuary |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Meditation |
7:00 p.m. |
Adopt. 2000 |
|
Wed. |
Bible Study |
9:30 a.m. |
Nursery |
|
Thurs. |
Sr. Choir Practise |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
Next Week at Westminster (November 25 – December 1)
|
Sun. |
Christian Development |
9:00 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Worship |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Jr. Choir Practise |
11:30 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
Wed. |
Bible Study |
9:30 a.m. |
Nursery |
|
Thurs. |
Sr. Choir |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
Sat. |
Decorate for Christmas |
10:00 a.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, address changes, etc.)
An Evening of Singing with Cheryl and Bruce Harding on Monday, November 26 at 7 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church. Suggested donation $10 or what you can afford.
There will be a Weekender Clothing Party on November 25th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall. UCW is raising money to help pay for the new “tea tables”. All are welcome.
Saturday, December 1st at 10:00 a.m. we will decorate the sanctuary for Christmas.Call Jane if you are available to help!
Birthdays: Alice Brehmer, Carol Dureault, Andrea Judge, Jackie Schlenker, Grace Wallace, Hayden Klaiber, John Leask, Sara Harrison, Sloan Dykema.
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers are requested for Southminster Pastoral Charge, Frank Lewis and Lois Punton.
Sunday School Co-ordinators...................................... Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson
Greeters & Ushers....................................................... Rose & John Hubbard,
................................................................................... Mabel Schafer, Al & Marg .................................................... Mattson, Kim Sherring
Nursery Convenor....................................................... Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts............................................................... Keith & Joyce Scott,
................................................................................... Florence Leech &
................................................................................... Charlene Andreas
Scripture Reader.......................................................... Joy Biko
Elder-in-Charge............................................................ Ted Sherring
Next Week’s Readings from: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 1:68-79 or Psalm 46, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43.
Board Meeting Summary – November 13, 2007
The screen and projector have been installed. Many thanks to Phil Sparks of the Esplanade for his expertise and time. Salvation Army Kettle Campaign – Donna Scharf will coordinate. Thank you also to Shauna Kohls-Walters for the donation of the piano in the lounge in memory of her grandmother and mother. Resignations from Sarah McOuat and Norm Jackson were accepted with regret. Fall supper was very successful with a profit of $2939.49 from the supper and turkey buns. Thanks to all who helped. The budget was visited again with Al Pols in attendance to answer any questions. The final draft will be presented at the December meeting. Pastoral Oversight visit appeared to go well. A preliminary report is expected in December. Dec. 24 evening services will be at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by Lesley Berg