Westminster United Church

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

to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”

Advent I - December 2, 2007

Communion/Food Bank Sunday

Peace forms Advent’s prayer and hope. Prayers and hopes are not passive good wishes that leave us unchanged. Today’s scripture passages invite choices that lead in holy directions. God sends prophets whose invitations and warnings spur our choosing. Their message is: expect the unexpected. Our calling is to journey with others.

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 (Responsive)

One:  We will lift up our eyes to the hills

All:   and there we shall see the glory of God!

One:  The entire nation shall be hold the wonders of God

All:   reflected in the peace of God’s presence.

One:  Come, let us go up to the mountain of God,

All:   Let us ascend to the heights of holiness?

One:  Come, let us worship God?

Opening Prayer (Unison)

This Sunday, we begin the journey of Advent. We journey in a world, which follows a different path. While we prepare for the birth of Jesus, who shares in our struggles, sorrows, and joys, the world prepares for the glitter of the festive season. While we celebrate the birth of the One who cries out on behalf of the oppressed, the world groans under an orgy of materialism while so many suffer in poverty. May our commitment be renewed to be witnesses to the true miracle of Christmas. Amen.

Advent I: Hope

One:      There are five candles on the Advent wreath, one for …

              … are transformed into instruments of nurture.

All:     Come let us walk in hope in the light of God.

Advent Song

Come, O hope of every nation, Cause the tree to bloom again, that the healing leaves of justice may address and heal earth’s pain.

Conversation Time

The members of the Sunday School leave for their classes. 

God of the mountains and God of the prairies, God of the oceans and God of the cities, God of the breathless expanse of creation, give us space to pause and bask in your glories!  Forgive the rush that rules out revelation.  Forgive the haste and hurry that hinders hope.  Forgive our enslavement to schedules that rules out spontaneity.  Lift up our eyes to see beyond our self-centered sight into the cares of the commonwealth of Christ.  Give us a time to amend what was, and the will to walk in your ways for your glory and the good of one another.  Amen.

Words of Assurance (One)  

Biblical Notes

Prayer of Illumination

 Isaiah 2:1-5 From the Hebrew Scriptures Pg. 667

Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms, 122 & From the Epistles: Romans 13:11-14.

 Anthem “A Dona Nobis Pacem”

 Matthew 24:36-44 From the Christian Scriptures Pg. 36 (NRSV)

Reflection for Advent 1

Hymn # 1 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” vs 1, 3, 5, & 7

Our Church Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Dedication #55 “In the Bleak Midwinter” vs 4

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a wise man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give him – give my heart.

Prayer of Dedication (One)

The Service of the Table

Invitation to the Table (One)

Hymn #467 “One Bread, One Body”

In this crossover moment, the moment of pause between preparation and celebration, heaven's membrane begins to tear and eternity silently spills into time,

 and we meet you, God.

In this crossover moment, the moment of “Aha!” waters part and the songbird sings and promise is fulfilled and belonging confirmed and the voice of the divine breaks through affirming to us “My children, My loved ones,”

 and we hear you, God.

In this crossover moment, the moment of bread and wine between prophecy and promise, heaven slips in and waits for us, haunting the Saviour's words over breaking bread and pouring wine, “This is my life in covenant.”

We listen to heaven as it steps over from symbol to presence in the breaking and spilling and rending and flowing, the splashing and pouring all around us in this sharing of promise as the whole universe gives forth voice.

Holy, Holy, Holy, God of power and light,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God!

Blessed is the one who is God's own!

From Baptism to Eucharist, from discovery through to journeying, from "Behold!" to "Aha!" our moving through is our thanksgiving as we cross over into this new moment with you, may we and these gifts, touched by your Spirit, be signs of life and love to one another and to the world. So be it.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, may our hearts rejoice as those who have met Jesus of Nazareth who taught us to pray by saying: “Our Father…”

        Breaking the Bread/Lifting the Cup

        Sharing the Bread and Cup

Prayer after Communion

We give thanks, ever present God, that you have refreshed us at this

table with the remembrance of the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world united in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.  Amen.

Commissioning (One)

The joys and the hard places of the world await us, but we have been fed with spiritual food. Let us leave with Advent hope in our hearts.

Choral Amen

#298 When You Walk From Here

When you walk from here, when you walk from here, walk with justice; walk with mercy, and with God’s humble care.

Postlude  

 This Week at Westminster  (December 2 – December 8)

Next Week at Westminster  (December 9 – December 15)

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.)

Christmas Outreach – During Advent we are, again, collecting birthday bags for the Food Bank ~ cake mixes, icing, candles, balloons, etc. Also for the Homeless Shelter ~ warm socks & personal hygiene items ~ mitts, hats & gloves are also welcome.

Salvation Army Kettles—WUC will help with the kettles on the following dates: Dec. 4^th , Division Ave Safeway,  Dec. 22^nd  at Sobeys. Please volunteer 2 hours between 10 am & 8 pm. Donna at 526-1555.

On Tuesday, December 4^th, the UCW will be holding their annual meeting.  Program begins at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon to follow at 12 noon.

Westminster will host the shared Blue Christmas Service next  Sunday, at 2:00 p.m.. You may be approaching this season of hope without the company of loved family members or friends who have recently died.  The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation – all can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and shopping.  We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. Our hope is that this service will provide an opportunity for such reflection.

Next Sunday is our Christmas Pageant. We are inviting the congregation to take part. There will be costumes available in the Narthex. If you would like to take part, please choose a costume.

Christmas Choral Celebration – Sun., Dec. 16^th at 7:00 p.m. This evening is being hosted by our Senior Choir followed by coffee and goodies in Memorial Hall. Free to all.

Congregational Carolling – Fri., Dec. 21^st  at 7:00 p.m. We will gather in Memorial Hall. For those who are not able to walk around the neighbourhood, music and carolling will be provided at the church by Chris White in the church. Bring goodies to share. Hot chocolate and cider will be provided.

Celebrations This Week

 Birthdays: Mallery Sanders, Linda Kinvig, Nathan Cunnings, Ella Hoffarth, Margaret Taylor, Anne Lonson, Graham Schneider.

 Anniversaries:  Jean & Lawrence Pfeifer.

The Poinsettia is placed in the Sanctuary this morning

in loving memory of my husband,

Hank Iwanicki and cherished daughter Sherry Carstensen

by Lil Iwanicki & Family

South Alberta Presbytery

Your prayers this week are requested for Naramata and Calling Lakes Centers.

 Our Order of Ministry This Morning

Sunday School Co-ordinators……….                                 Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson

Greeters & Ushers ……….………………                         Boyd Alcock, Irene Fekete,

…………………………….………….......                       Florence Leech, Sandra Plank

Nursery Convenor ……………………………………      Tanya Hoffarth

Coffee Hosts …    …                                                          Barb Grozell, Donna Scharf,Beth & Vern Miner

Scripture Reader ……………………………………….    Mina Carlson

Elder-in-Charge………………………………………….  Lesley Berg

Next Week’s Readings from: Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12. 

 Financial Report to November 30, 2007

We thank you for your continued contributions to your church, as “We are Journeying Together in God’s Love…To Discover, Nurture and Share Our Gifts.” We are $12,740.00 behind in our General giving if we are to meet all budgeted expenses. However, historically we have not spent every cent that was budgeted. Our Mission & Service gifts are approx. $1800 behind last year. Please consider these shortfalls prayerfully as we near the end of the church year. With your continued faithful giving, we are confident that your church will end the year financially healthy.

…..Al Pols,Treasurer