“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
January 20, 2008
“…it is not the production of crops that feeds humankind, but that your word sustains those who trust in you”
Wisdom of Solomon 16:26b
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: Come to us, Holy One, as we gather before you.
All: Encircle us in your love.
One: Bless us with your sustaining presence.
All: Surround us with your grace.
One: Draw us into the Spirit of the living Word.
All: Bind us to one another as we are bound to you. Amen.
Gracious God, we come together as your people. We set aside the busyness of the world outside for a while. We open our hearts, our ears, even our very selves to the balm of your Word. Fill our emptiness with the news we need. Grant us serenity of spirit, peace of mind and renewed energy to be your hands in a weary world. Amen.
Hymn # 597 “Simon, Simon, a Fisherman”
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
God our creator, we offer you our darkness so that light may shine upon us, our greed that it might be exchanged for generosity, our irritability that it might be transformed to patience, our sickness that we might be healed and our brokenness that we might be made whole. We offer up the sins of our lives knowing that to recognize them is to confess them. Let the healing spirit of your Word grant us the forgiveness we seek. Amen…(time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 40:1-11 & From the Epistle Scriptures – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.
One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Reflection
Hymn # 563 “Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”
Mission Moment: Betty Sidlick
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Hymn #626 “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
Commissioning (One)
Choral Amen
#424 “May the God of Hope Go With Us” vs 1
May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace, singing, share our joy with all,working for a world that's new, faithful when we hear Christ's call.
Postlude
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (January 20 – January 26)
|
Sun. |
Trustees |
9:00 a.m. |
Shalom Room |
|
|
Worship |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Jr. Choir Practise |
11:45 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Meditation |
7:00 p.m. |
Nursery |
|
Wed. |
Bible Study |
9:30 a.m. |
Nursery |
|
Thurs. |
Sr. Choir |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
Next Week at Westminster (January 27 – February 2)
|
Sun. |
Christian Development |
9:00 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Worship |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Jr. Choir Sings |
|
|
|
|
Annual Meeting/Potluck |
After Worship |
Mem. Hall |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Meditation |
7:00 p.m. |
Nursery |
|
Wed. |
Bible Study |
9:30 a.m. |
Nursery |
|
Thurs. |
Senior Choir Practise |
7:00 p.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.)
James and Jane are away on Study Leave in Victoria, BC, January 17 – 21st. If you have a need for a minister, please contact Gary Goran at 5th Avenue Memorial at 526-2237. Thank you to Lesley Berg for leading worship today!
The Tuesday evening Meditation Group has moved their meeting location to the Nursery beginning Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Meeting times and dates will remain the same.
Your 2008 Offering Envelopes are available in the Narthex. The cost of the Observer is $14.00. When you pick up your envelopes, please check the number on your label with the envelope number to be sure they are the same. People on PAR were not issued envelopes and their number has been changed. Destroy your old unused envelopes. Thanks for your cooperation. – Al Pols
PAR Subscribers—If you wish to receive THE OBSERVER magazine, please pick up a donation envelope in the Narthex.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, January 27th beginning with a potluck lunch immediately following worship. This is the time that we take to review the past year’s work, show our appreciation to those who contributed to that work and make plans for the coming year. Your contribution is most important, please plan on attending. Bring your copy of the Annual Report to this meeting (found at the back of the Sanctuary or on the ramp). Highlight your report for anything you wish to have clarified or for which you wish to share
comment.
Food contributions for the pot luck lunch will be as follows:
Ross Glen & Southridge – desserts
Crestwood, SE/SW Hill, Flats and
Crescent Heights – sandwiches (1/2 a loaf)
Others – pickles or any of the above.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will be held at 5th Avenue Memorial this year! Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. Come and celebrate Mardi Gras before Lent begins.
You are invited to Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, on February 5, from 1 – 4 p.m., Unisphere Office (basement of Westminster Church). Speaker: Ian Thomson, Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator for Kairos. Co-sponsored by some of the downtown churches and Unisphere.
The cost to put flowers in the sanctuary for loved ones has increased this year to $35. If you wish to place flowers in the sanctuary, please contact Sharon Clay at 527-5681 or see the sign up sheet in the Narthex.
Birthdays: Natalie Johnson, Adair Prouty, Larry Brown, Karen Madill, Mickey Staples.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of mom, Kay Romeike, Love From Gordon & Diane Schneider.
Our Order of Ministry This Morning
Sunday School Co-ordinators...................................... Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson
Greeters & Ushers....................................................... Norman & Albina Jackson
................................................................................... Elnora Heine, Adair Prouty
Nursery Convenor....................................................... Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts............................................................... Lorine Liebelt, Janice Neigum
................................................................................... Rae Wahl, Jean Whiting
Scripture Reader.......................................................... Marilynn Piotrowski
Elder-in-Charge............................................................ Ray Yanke
Next Week’s Readings from: Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23.
Stewardship Thought For Today
“One body, many parts—God’s economy celebrates the gifts of the whole church, the “Body of Christ,” which is greater than the sum of its parts and diminished when parts are missing.”
Stewardship Seconds 2007
The United Church Observer is one of the oldest and most respected church publications in Canada. Its origins date back to the first half of the 19th century, when Canadian Methodists decided to found a weekly newspaper. They called it “The Christian Guardian” and named Rev. Egerton Ryerson editor.
If you haven’t seen a copy of the Observer please feel free to check out a copy in our Lounge. This is a wonderful publication and is very informative. If you wish to subscribe please fill out an Observer envelope or call the office and tell Anne. It is a very reasonable cost of $14.00 per year for 11 issues.