“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
June 8, 2008
Environment Sunday
God’s powerful and restoring love provides a fresh start. In today’s texts, those who encounter Jesus experience new lives of wholeness as they believe and respond. Abraham and Sarah follow God’s leading, “hoping against hope” in God’s promise of a new family. All find that God’s restoring work leads not to what has been, but to what can be in God’s reign.
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: Hearts and minds on fire; enthusiastically, joyfully, worship begins.
All: Cast down, sorrowing; feeling the darkness in our souls, worship begins.
One: Reluctantly, slowly, still engaged in the busyness of home; unprepared, worship begins.
All: Alert, hopeful, prayer-prepared, having confidence in Jesus, worship begins.
One: However we come before God, God accepts us, God welcomes us, God invites us to worship.
All: We are here, God is here, love is shared among us, we will worship God!
God, we know your restoring love through the welcome of a stranger, the touch of a friend, and the gift of healing and wholeness. Make us mindful of your love this day so we might be restored to you and one another.
Hymn # 310 “God, Who Touches Earth with Beauty”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
One: You call us to discipleship: to face the temptations, to listen to the voice of truth, to give of our talents wholeheartedly.
All: We will go so far, but will we go further?
One: You call us to a journey of faith: to search out the lost, to commit to the needy, to support the powerless, to grow in the compassion of Christ.
All: We will go so far, but will we go further?
One: You call us to the faith community, to the church: to worship with joy, to be there for each other, to work joyfully for the Way of Jesus Christ.
All: We will go so far, but will we go further?
One: You call us to renew ourselves: to learn and grow in the faith, to reflect carefully, to risk new directions, and to squarely face past wrongs.
All: We will go so far, but will we go further?
… (time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
God, Hearing your call requires patience and concentration. Responding to your call leads us to confession and repentance; it leads us to go further along the way of Christ. With these insights, pardon and peace are ours. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Prayer of Illumination (One)
In the words that we share from the texts of our faith ancestors may we be blessed and challenged anew. Amen.
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Hebrew Prophets—Hosea 5:15-6:6 From the Psalms – Psalm 33:1-12 or Psalm 50:7-15 & From the Epistle – Romans 4:13-25.
One: May we hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Hymn # 282 “Long Before the Night”
Mission Moment: Anna Marie Hancock
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere, and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make: be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus' sake.
Prayer of Dedication (One)
As you have been with us on so many journeys, as you have gifted us with healing beyond our dreams, as you have transformed us into new people, so we give back to you. Receive our discipleship, take our offerings of ourselves, and consecrate us to your work. Amen.
Hymn # 352 “I Danced in The Morning”
Commissioning (One)
We are not alone. We live in God's Creation. Each day, may our living, our loving and our working make us co creators with the Holy.
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 (June 8 – June 14)
|
Sun. |
Worship/Environment Sunday |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Ministry & Personnel |
11:45 a.m. |
Shalom Room |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Board of Elders Mtg. |
7:00 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
Thurs. |
Electra UCW Potluck |
12 noon |
Mem. Hall |
|
|
Sr. Choir Practise |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
Next Week at Westminster (June 15 – June 21)
|
Sun. |
Trustees |
9:00 a.m. |
Shalom Room |
|
|
Worship/Father’s Day |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
Thurs. |
Sr. 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, name tag requests, etc.)
The Bulletin Folders Roster is on the peg board by Memorial Hall.
Canyon Church Camp: Camping Season is approaching. For more information, registration forms and camp dates are posted on the bulletin board for the Summer Program.
Camp Shagabec: Registration forms and camp dates are on the bulletin board. There are also summer job opportunities available for this camp. Applications for these opportunities are available in the office.
Would you like to sponsor a child for Camp Shagabec? At present, there are more children needing sponsorship to attend camp than there is money available to cover their cost. If you are interested, please contact Anne in the church office.
Does anyone collect Canadian Tire money? If so, would you like to donate it to Camp Shagabec? Please drop off donations at the church office, knowing your donation will offset camp expenses
A reminder to support the United for Peace Campaign. As a community of faith, we are called to participate together with others in the struggle for the right to a just peace with dignity for all God’s people. The United Church of Canada is committed to pursuing peace. One expression of this commitment is the United for Peace Campaign. This is a 2 year campaign. Please find donation envelopes and brochures with more information about this project in the Narthex or on the ramp.
For up-to-date information on relief aid for Burma and China and the United Church’s official response, please see www.united-church.ca or contact the Westminster church office.
Many thanks to everyone who shared in leading worship this morning and to Corlaine Gardner for sharing with us on this Environment Sunday.
Birthdays: Amber Henderson, Albert Hoffarth, Kim Sherring, Dorothy Smith, Madge Nieman.
Anniversaries: Doug & Velma Pearson, Edwin & Lydia Maier, John & Betty Sidlick.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of Brother – Dale Hanna, Mother – Evelyn Hanna, Father, Phil Hanna By Kim & Ted Sherring and families.
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers this week are requested for McKillop Pastoral Charge, and the Reverends Terry Shillington and Cathy Coates.
Sunday School Co-ordinators........................................................... Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson
Greeters & Ushers............................................................................ Gordon & Anne Bruins
........................................................................................................ Violet Rud, Bea Hirsch
Nursery Convenor............................................................................ Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts.................................................................................... The Mattson Family
Scripture Reader.............................................................................. Sandra Plank
Elder-in-Charge................................................................................ Lesley Berg
Next Week’s Readings from: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) or Exodus 19:2-8a, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, or Psalm 100, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23).
Stewardship Thought For Today
Stewards have the courage to step out in faith, risking boldly, to follow God’s call.
by Stewardship Seconds 2008