“We are journeying together in God’s love . . . to discover, nurture and share our gifts.”
March 1, 2009
Lent 1— Communion—Local Food Needs
During this Season of Lent, we reflect on what it means to journey through life as God leads us. The psalmist trusts that God is faithful in mercy and steadfast love, and calls all to follow in God’s paths of truth. As we explore God’s promise for all humankind, we rejoice in God’s saving love made known to us in the new life that Christ proclaims.
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 silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Welcome, travelers, to the journey of faith.
All: The faith journey is the best route through the land called life.
One: Then come and continue the quest, acting out your faith by living life to the fullest.
All: We will let our spirits soar like eagles;
One: taking a deep breath we will stretch ourselves to the limit like fully inflated balloons, colourful, hopeful, ready to sail and to soar,
All: and to drink in the world’s colour, absorbing its light and texture, inhaling its fragrance, dancing to its music.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
As we prepare for our Lenten journey, may we have the courage to venture into the challenging places of heart and spirit. May we have the strength that we might learn and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. In faithful solidarity, we will search out dark forces of oppression and defeat them with the light of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn #289 “It Only Takes a Spark”
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation & Words of Assurance
Jesus invites us to a way of celebration, meeting and feasting with the humble and poor. Jesus beckons us to a way of risk, letting go of our security. Jesus challenges us to listen to the voices of those who have nothing to lose. Jesus points us to a way of self-giving, where power and status are overturned. Jesus calls us to follow the way of the cross, where despair is transformed by the promise of new life. Let us walk his way with joy … (time for silent reflection) [adapt. J. Berry]
Words of Assurance (One)
Let us renew our faith and practice and continue our journey with joy and determination. Amen.
Biblical Notes
Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: From the Hebrew Scriptures Genesis 9:8-17 & From the Epistles 1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15 From the Christian Scriptures pg. 45 (read from the New Revised Standard Version)
Hymn #509 “I, The Lord of Sea and Sky”
We Respond In Giving and Gratitude
Our Church Tithes and Offerings
Offertory
Dedication #219 “When All Your Mercies, O My God” vv 1 & 2
Prayer of Dedication (One)
These are our gifts, offered to bring change in the way of Jesus. May they be blessed and may all who receive them be blessed, for Jesus is at the heart of them. Amen.
Lent I Communion
Hymn #467 “One Bread, One Body”
Invitation to the Service of the Table
Jesus invited
all to the feast of peace and new life.
Jesus risked everything in compassion.
Jesus promised to make himself known in the breaking of the bread.
Thanksgiving
(Responsive)
One:
We give thanks and praise for all that is good in the world.
For the love we name Creativity God, and all that is.
For the person we name Jesus and his message of peace, justice and inclusiveness that is the realm of God.
For the renewing strength and freedom of the Spirit always present on the breath of life.
All: We give thanks for the presentness of God in the midst of life.
Celebration
(One)
We
remember the stories…How Jesus gathered with friends and foes to tell them of
a re-imagined way of living and being. A way that did not conform to the
standards of the Roman Empire or any other system of governance that
suppressed people until starvation and deprivation resulted in death. In this
way, the issues of life and death, justice and injustice, conflict and peace,
goodness and evil were talked through and made real to ordinary people.
Bread and
Wine
(One)
So in
our time and in this place, with today’s issues before us, let us continue the
tradition: to break bread together. We remember what that tradition
says...At the end of a journey, among friends, gathered around a table...Jesus
took bread, gave thanks, and broke it: ‘This bread is broken, as my body will
be.’ And he handed it to his friends, and invited them to eat: ‘Remember
all that I have been to you.’ We remember...Jesus poured a cup of wine,
offered thanks for it, and gave it to his friends: ‘This wine is poured out as
my life will be. As you drink, give thanks for all I have given.’
The bread of
life.
The fruit of celebration.
One:
May the Spirit of Life within us
All: be a source of healing and consolation
One: May the Spirit of Love within us
All: strengthen us when we feel weak, warm us
when we are cold-hearted, bend us when we are stubborn, move us when we
are uncaring, guide us in the way of love.
One:
May the Spirit of Peace within us
All: shine in all we do.
Communion
By
eating this bread and drinking this wine we become one in hope.
Prayer after
Communion
May
the celebration of the wonder and the mystery of the Holy Presence, within and
around strengthen and enable us to continue the work of Jesus in the church
and beyond.
Commissioning (One)
Let us go from here having honesty in our looking back; generosity in our relationships; hope in the midst of turmoil; patience when all does not go according to plan; may we have endurance as we walk this Lenten path.
Choral Amen
Hymn
#649 “When You Walk from Here” (Hymn#298)
Postlude
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
This Week at Westminster (March 1 – March 7)
|
Sun. |
Music & Worship |
9:00 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
Hymn Sing |
10:15 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Worship: Lent I/Communion |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Local Food Needs |
|
|
|
|
Jr. Choir |
11:45 a.m. |
Lounge |
|
|
U.C.W. Executive |
12:00 p.m. |
Nursery |
|
|
Ministry & Personnel |
12:00 p.m. |
Shalom |
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
Wed. |
Bible Study |
9:30 a.m. |
Nursery |
|
|
Mission & Outreach |
1:30 p.m. |
Unisphere |
|
|
Lenten Study |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Square Circle UCW |
7:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
Thurs. |
Sr. Choir Practise |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
Next Week at Westminster (March 8 – March 14)
|
Sun. |
Trustees |
9:00 a.m. |
Shalom Room |
|
|
Worship: Lent II |
10:30 a.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Jr. Choir Sings |
|
|
|
Tues. |
Prayer Shawl Ministry |
1:30 p.m. |
Lounge |
|
Wed. |
Bible Study |
9:30 a.m. |
Nursery |
|
|
Lenten Study |
7:00 p.m. |
Sanctuary |
|
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.)
Ushers, Greeters and Coffee hosts: If you can make a commitment, please volunteer your time on the sign-up sheets by Memorial Hall.
Reminder: UCW Executive is convening today at Noon in the Nursery.
Edythe Hewitt’s UCW regular monthly unit meeting is at 2:00 p.m. on March 4th at Mary Robertson’s: #341, 1395-28th Street SE.
Our 2009 Lenten Study begins Wednesday, March 4th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary covering the first six of 12 DVD sessions of First Light: Jesus and the Kingdom; a study of the historical Jesus and the Kingdom of God; featuring John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg on location throughout the Galilee and Jerusalem. If you wish to participate, please contact the church office or speak to James to ensure you receive the pre-study reading materials.
Medicine Hat & District Food Bank Association, 532 South Railway Street, is holding an open house to show off their renovations in becoming a barrier-free building on March 5th from 10:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. with ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Please join us for the celebration.
World Day of Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6th at Holy Family Parish.
Commune-I-Care: Our last “call-out” was very successful with 249 families called; 183 families spoken to; 15 referrals; 40 messages left on machines; 20 families that we couldn’t contact. Thank you to everyone who was involved in this call out. Your time and talents are very much appreciated. Submitted by Betty Sidlick
Mission Review Committee: A group of congregants has expressed interest in leading the process and can be contacted as follows:
Alcock, Boyd/Grace 527-6753 bmalcock@telus.net
Bergstreser, Wally 527-2740 wbergstreser@gmail.com
McFarlane, Patty 526-5149 kiyomin@telus.net
Marshall, Pat 527-8798 epmarsh@telusplanet.net
Prouty, Adair 529-5234 adair.prouty@gmail.com
Taylor, Marg 526-5482 taylormw@shaw.ca
Birthdays: Joan Anderson, Paul Mehrer, Carter Richard, Anne Bruins, Taylor Hanson
Anniversaries: Norm & Albina Jackson, Carol & Murray Bell
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of Susan Hubbard, by John & family, Rose & family
and in memory of, Melvin Herter, lovingly remembered by Sonja & family.
South Alberta Presbytery
This week’s prayers are requested for Northminster Pastoral Charge and Glenda Wert.
Our Order of Ministry This Morning
Sunday School Co-ordinators................... Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson
Greeters & Ushers................................................. Murray & Carol Bell
.................................................................. Wally & Vivian Bergstreser
Nursery Convenor......................................................... Jackie Carlson
Coffee Hosts............................................... Donna Scharf, Sharon Clay
....................................................................... Doug & Velma Pearson
Scripture Reader.............................................................. Boyd Alcock
Elder-in-Charge............................................................... Gordon Bruin
Next Week’s Readings from: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 & Psalm 22:23-31 & Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9 & Romans 4:13-25.
Stewardship Thought for Today
Jesus knows that we are all tempted. We are called to respond to temptation as good stewards.
by Sheila Campbell