Westminster United Church

 We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture, and share our gifts.” 

October 4, 2009

Worldwide Communion 

Breakdowns in relationship bring hurt and separation. In response, God enfolds the estranged and left-out ones with love that blesses with wholeness and inclusion. God’s love wisely binds grace to justice. Held in such love, we may cry out to God. Enfolded by such love, we receive Jesus’ welcome and are invited, likewise, to enfold 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. 

Need a refuge? Our Nursery is located off Memorial Hall, has a speaker system through which to hear the service, and exists for all who may need this space. Memorial Hall approach is via the pulpit side exit.

A Time of Greeting: Today we will forgo our greeting time as we prepare ourselves for worship. Our sensitivity to the realities of the H1N1 virus which is transmitted from hand contact to the mouth, nose, and eyes encourages each of us to observe good hand hygiene. It is also important for us to ovoid public gathering if we feel unwell. If we all do our part in eliminating the spread of this virus, hopefully it will be a short lived health concern. 
 
Prelude / Sharing Announcements

A Time of Silent Preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle 

Call to Worship (Responsive)

One: We gather today in the spirit of unity as we share communion with the world.

All: We join together in word and song and share the symbols of the communion meal this Worldwide Communion Sunday.

One: We are a community of faith.

All: We are a diverse community. Let us celebrate now with faith communities the world over.

 Opening Prayer (Unison)

We join together with family, friends and companions in this our faith community. May our songs, prayers and reflections be filled with spirit-connected love with others around the globe. Amen

Hymn #340 “Jesus, Friend of Little Children” 

Conversation Time 

The Sunday School leave for their classes.

Youth will leave for registration downstairs in the Youth Room.

Prayer for Transformation (Unison)

We celebrate the life which we have. We have experienced broken lives made whole, old wounds of alienation healed over, and tired spirits rejuvenated with new vision. May we be grateful for the purpose and possibilities that have been placed before us. Yet there may have been times when doubt has overcome hope, cynicism has replaced dedication, the world’s values have captured us. May we let go of the past that we might move joyfully into a new future that points to love and justice…(time for silent reflection)

Words of Assurance (One)

Our hope is found in the ever newness we encounter in the person and message of Jesus of Nazareth. For this hope, we are thankful. Amen. 

Biblical Notes / Prayer of Illumination

Anthem “Come to the Banquet”

Job 1:1, 2:1-10 From the Hebrew Scriptures Pg. 506 (NRSV) 

Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: from the Hebrew Scriptures, Genesis 2:18-24;  Psalm 26 or 8; from the Christian Scriptures, Mark 10:2-16; and from the Epistles, Hebrew 1:1-4; 2:5-12.

Reflection for Worldwide Communion Sunday 

Hymn #556 “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”

Our Church Tithes and Offerings / Offertory

Dedication Hymn #227 “For the Fruit of All Creation” (v.2) 

Prayer of Dedication (One)

For the freedom to give and for the transformation beyond us and within us, through our giving, we are thankful and blessed. Amen.

The symbols of the communion meal are received at the table 

Invitation to the Table

One: God’s banquet is coming. A time when all will gather from north, east, west and south. A banquet where the rich and powerful will sit with the weak and poverty-stricken. A table where young and old will learn from each other. A time when all will sit together in peace, “And the wolf will lie down with the lamb.” Here at this table we get a foretaste of God’s banquet. This is indeed God’s table, not the church’s, and so all who seek to follow The Way are welcome to eat and drink from it. Come and taste the grace eternal, come and see that God is good.

Hymn #467 “One Bread, One Body”

The Great Thanksgiving

One:  The Spirit of God be with you.

All: And also with you. 

It is time to give thanks to God. Let us pray. God of the table, as we gather to taste your banquet, we offer prayers of thanksgiving. In this season of harvest, we give thanks for the fruit of the earth and for the food on our tables. In this global village, we give thanks for our brothers, sisters and neighbours both near and far. In this world of strife and broken relationships, we give thanks for your hope, for the ways you draw us together.

God of the banquet, we give thanks for your witness and work in the world across the ages. We remember Moses and Miriam and the people they led to freedom. We remember the prophets who arise over and over again to call your people back to the path of wholeness. We remember the countless saints who have gone before us, preparing such a path, and we join our voices to theirs in hymns of thankfulness and praise. Amen. 

And in the midst of our thankfulness we remember the one in whose name we gather, Jesus, child of Mary.

We give thanks for his witness, for his commitment, for the way he brought healing where there was brokenness; and we remember his life, his death, his life beyond death, and his promise to be present at the banquet of grace.

And now, as we gather at the table, we remember the last meal he shared with his friends. How they gathered in an upper room to celebrate the story of liberation and freedom. How he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and passed it among them saying, ‘Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. When you eat this, remember me and look for the hope in your world.’

Then later he took the cup. He blessed it and passed it saying, “This cup is the cup of the new covenant, made in my death. Whenever you drink from it, remember.”

And so, God of cross, empty tomb, and banquet, we remember the life and death of Jesus and we give thanks for the love he poured out on all he met:  sinner and saint, leper and clean, Jew and Gentile. We remember and we share that great and terrible mystery:

All: Christ has died, Christ has Risen, Christ will come again. Amen.

Transforming

God, you call us to eat and drink together. You call us to let the Spirit wash through our lives. As we eat and drink, may we feel the fire of the Spirit in our bellies, the wind of the Spirit in our hair, and the love of the Spirit in our hearts. May the Spirit’s presence transform this meal into one that changes us and, through us, the world.

God of the banquet that is and is to come, we gather with your people all around the world, this day, to remember and share this meal. Creator, Source of Love, Christ, Love incarnate, Spirit, Love’s flowing power; we pray even as Jesus taught us to by saying: “Our Father…”

Fraction and Distribution

One:  The Bread we break is the bread of life.

The cup we share is the cup of love.

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

All:  Thanks be to God.

The Bread of Life & The Cup of Love are shared at the two communion stations

Prayer following Communion (Unison)

We have eaten, we have drunk, we have tasted your goodness. May this meal we have shared here today fill our souls with love. May the meal we share with all the world fill the world with hope. May we leave this table refreshed and replenished, ready to be recipients and agents of grace. Amen.

Commissioning (One)

Let us love sincerely, love genuinely, love wholeheartedly, love deeply and hold fast to what is good.

Choral Amen 

Hymn #298 “When You Walk from Here” 

Postlude 

Welcome to Westminster this morning. Please gather for coffee in Memorial Hall, following worship.

 

---

This Week at Westminster (October 4 - 10)

 

Next Week at Westminster  (October 11-17)

 

Deadline for printed announcements is Thursday at Noon each week.

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 Life and Work of the Church goes on . . . if you are interested in Greeting, Ushering, Hosting Coffee, Reading Scripture during worship, or volunteering in the Nursery, please sign up on the way into Memorial Hall. If counting the Offering is more to your liking, please contact the office to be added to the schedule. 

Congregational Life Committee is reminding the congregation of the on-going need for baked goodies for Sunday morning coffee time.

PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) Did you know that in May 2009 there were 4,046 people in Alberta & Northwest Conference on PAR? Are you one of these People? Call Donna at 403-526-1555 for information.

Westminster’s Annual Fall Supper is Saturday, October 24^th with sittings at 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tickets: Adults $12, Children [under 12] $6 and families $35 will be on sale today in Memorial Hall during coffee and during office hours commencing Tuesday, October 6^th. 

Edythe Hewitt UCW will meet at the home of Lil Iwanicki, 281 Primrose Drive SE on Wednesday, October 7^th at 2:00 p.m.

Decorating the Sanctuary for Thanksgiving will take place on Friday, October 9^th at 9:00 a.m. Many hands make light work. Please consider helping out.

World Food Day is being celebrated at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church on Friday, October 16^th at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Unisphere office. Questions can be directed to Margaret Smith. 

Banff Men’s Conference Is October 16^th to 18^th. The poster and registration information is posted on the way into Memorial Hall.

Celebrations This Week

 The ministry of WUC was extended into the community as James officiated at the marriage ceremony of Sheree Neil and Ian McGuire.

 Birthdays: Lil Iwanicki, Harold Leitch, Warren Hanson, Elena Esteban, Desiree Leonard, Dakota Leonard, Tyler Prior, Jean Riggins, Debi Hoefling. 

Anniversaries: Jen Bergstreser & Kelly Kirkpatrick, Mina Carlson & Rory Sehn, Tim & Kelly Sanders, Glen & Heather Allan, Mia & Sean Glasser. 

South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for all churches celebrating World Communion Sunday and the World Council of Churches.

Our Order of Ministry This Morning

 
 

Next Week’s Readings from: Joel 2:21-27; Psalm 126; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Matthew 6:25-33.