“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
June 15, 2008
Christian Family Sunday
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: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
In you, O God, every family on earth receives its name. Illumine the homes of this earth with the light of your love, granting courage to those who are hurt or lonely, endurance to those who care for sick family members, and wisdom to those in fearful times of change. We thank you for gifts of love we have received from mother, father, spouse, child, or companion. As we have been loved by you and by others, so may we love. Grant us your peace, through Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Hymn # 556 “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
Spirit of God, you are the breath of creation, the wind of change that blows through our lives, opening us up to new dreams and new hopes, new life in Jesus Christ. Forgive us our closed minds which barricade themselves against new ideas, preferring the past to what you might want to do through us tomorrow. Forgive us our closed eyes which fail to see the needs of your world, blind to opportunities of service and love. Forgive us our closed hands which clutch our gifts and wealth for our own use alone. Forgive us our closed hearts which limit our affections to ourselves and our own. Spirit of new life, forgive us and break down the prison walls of our selfishness, that we might be open to your love and open for the service of your world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Words of Assurance (One)
Hear the Good News: In Jesus we are no longer slaves to fear. We have been embraced as dearly loved children of God. God’s grace has set us free!
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination (one)
O God, may we hear your way and your truth in your holy scriptures this day. Amen.
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Psalms – Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 or Psalm 100 & From the Epistles – Romans 5:1-8.
Hymn # 443 “God, We Pray at This Beginning”
Hymn # 691 “Though Ancient Walls”
Mission Moment: Sean Wilkinson
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)
This is our offering of love and service, may these gifts find their way to the hands of those in need. Amen.
Hymn # 258 “O World of God”
Commissioning (One)
Parents, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger, do not exasperate them to resentment, but rear them tenderly in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
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 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 |
Next Week at Westminster (June 22 – June 28)
|
Sun. |
Christian Development |
9:00 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Worship |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30p.m. |
Lounge |
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.
The UCW are in need of more good china tea cups and saucers for use at their teas. If you have any you would like to donate, we would appreciate having them.
The following books have been added to the Church Library: Voices United; All God’s Kids by Edith Hewson; Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists by H.L. Willmington; Celtic Treasure: Daily Scriptures and Prayers by J. Philip Newell; Paul the Apostle by J. Christiaan Beker; Songs for the Journey by Betty Radford Turcott; Songs for a Gospel People (2 copies); Behind Canadian Barbed Wire by David J. Carter. Contact person is Jacquie Heard at 527-1090.
Commune-I-Care made their second “call-out” for the year from May 4 – 11th. The “call-out” was very successful with 255 families called. 178 families spoken to. 12 referrals. 47 messages left on machines. 5 incomplete calls. Thank you to everyone who was involved in this call out. Your time and talents are very much appreciated. These calls provide each family with regular opportunities to receive information and notices of coming activities or events and to allow families to give information regarding celebrations in their lives and provide information regarding possible needs they may have.
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.
Birthdays: Grace Lemon, Sharon Clugston, Marlyn Baker, Tyler Schnell, Andrew Scott.
Anniversaries: Derrick & Kamara Adams, Frank & Irene Fekete, Gordon & Maureen Oster.
South Alberta Presbytery
Your prayers are requested for the First United Pastoral Charge, and the Rev. Elizabeth Brown.
Sunday School Co-ordinators........................................................... Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson
Greeters & Ushers............................................................................ Dick & Shirley Noon,
........................................................................................................ Jacquie Heard Yvonne
Hole, Sharon Clay
Nursery Convenor............................................................................ Tanya Hoffarth
Coffee Hosts.................................................................................... Linda Kinvig, Jean Riggins
........................................................................................................ Grace & Boyd Alcock
Scripture Reader.............................................................................. Pat Evans
Elder-in-Charge................................................................................ Gordon Bruins
Next Week’s Readings from: Genesis 21:8-21 or Jeremiah 20:7-13, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 or Psalm 69:8-11 (12-17), 18-20, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39.
Stewardship Thought For Today
Which of our stewardship decisions favour our own interests
and exclude God’s other children?
2008 Stewardship Seconds
Board Report for June 10, 2008
Grace and Boyd Alcock, and Taylor Croissant reported on the conference they attended May 29-June 1. Property Committee will be having two dead trees removed as soon as possible. Murray Bell will be assuming the church treasurer position in the very near future. Our thanks to Al Pols for his dedication over the past 15 years. Next regular board meeting is September 9, 2008.
Respectfully submitted, Lesley Berg, Board Secretary