“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture, and share our gifts.”
April 25, 2010
Camp Sunday
We welcome Gas Town Riot, our guest musicians; Dave & Kat Fletcher, our guests from Camp Shagabec; along with Janice Croissant as our Worship Leader this morning.
In scripture, we encounter role models of discipleship that are expressed in compassionate words and deeds. Such life-giving acts take shape in ministry with those in our communities and outside our circles. Such life-giving acts wipe away tears, restore life, and testify to God’s love. As we open our lives to the spirit and follow God’s leading, we are able to offer such witness.
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.
Prelude with Gas Town Riot
“That Old Rugged Cross”
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot”
Congregation joins in with
“When the Saints Go Marching In”
Sharing Announcements / A Time of Greeting
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: This is the place of gathering.
All: We gather to celebrate Divine, Holy, love.
One: This is the place to give thanks.
All: We are thankful for gifts, wonderful and gracious.
One: This is the place of listening.
All: We listen for words to inspire and lead us.
One: This is the place for building faith community.
All: Joined in community, we can work for justice and bring peace.
We give thanks for the opportunity we have to worship in this sacred place this day. May we be surrounded with a very real sense of the presentness of the Source of our Living, as we spend this time together. Amen.
Hymn #266 “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound” [vv. 1, 2, 4, 5]
Conversation Time
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
One: God is revealed in many ways. Many images help us to understand this special significance to us. God is revealed as Shepherd.
All: When we ignore God’s wise call, when we go our own way, may we return to what is the loving way.
One: God is revealed as Gracious Host.
All: When we focus on the faults of our fellow guests, may we return to what is the loving way.
One: God is revealed as Friend.
All: When we rely only on our own resources, when our pride refuses freely offered help, may we return to what is the loving way.
One: God is revealed as Courage-bringer to the powerless;
All: when we will not recognize the needy, when we fail to support the downtrodden, may we return to the loving way. … (time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
May we always be ready for the Spirit within to give us peace. Amen.
Biblical Notes / Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: Acts 9:36-43; Revelation 7:9-17.
Hymn #303 “For Beauty of Prairies”(tune 264)
Mission Moment—Derek Skogen
Prayer of Dedication (One)
May these gifts of money be blessed and may our gifts of energy, time, and friendship also be blessed. Amen.
Hymn “Down by the Riverside” with Gas Town Riot
Commissioning (One)
And now may the rhythms of our gathering together, the melodies of our worship, and the harmonies of our farewells, make musical our living, soothing our spirits and uplifting our souls. This day and into the beckoning future.
Choral Amen
Hymn #884 “You Shall Go Out with Joy”
Postlude with Gas Town Riot: “Hava Nagila”
Welcome to Westminster this morning. Please gather for hotdog lunch in Memorial Hall, following worship.
This Week at Westminster (April 25th – May 1st)
| Sun. | Worship: Camp Sunday | 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary |
| Tues. | Staff Meeting | 9:00 a.m. | Lounge |
| Prayer Shawl | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge | |
| Wed. | Bible Study | 9:30 a.m. | Nursery |
| Wii Fun | 2:00 p.m. | Memorial Hall | |
| Thurs. | Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary |
| JNAC | 7:00 p.m. | Lounge |
| Sun. | Music & Worship | 9:00 a.m. | Lounge |
| Local Food Needs | 10:30 a.m. | Narthex | |
| Worship: Lisa Waites | 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Jr. Choir Sings | 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary | |
| UCW Executive | 12:00 p.m. | Lounge | |
| Mon. | Property | 7:00 p.m. | Westminster |
| Tues. | Prayer Shawl | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge |
| Wed. | Bible Study | 9:30 a.m. | Nursery |
| Wii Fun | 2:00 p.m. | Memorial Hall | |
| Square Circle UCW | 7:30 p.m. | Lounge | |
| Thurs. | Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary |
| Fri. | Garage & Plant Sale
Drop Off & Set Up |
9:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. |
Memorial Hall |
| Garage & Plant Sale | 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Memorial hall | |
| Sat. | Garage & Plant Sale | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Memorial hall |
Please sign the Friendship Roster this morning.
The Life & Work of the Church continues ... and we have some vacancies. If you are able to Greet & Usher, Host Coffee, Read Scripture during worship, or volunteer in the Nursery, PLEASE SIGN UP on the way into Memorial Hall.
Today is wrap-up for Youth Group. All Youth will remain upstairs this morning for Camp Sunday.
The Choirs of St. Patrick’s and Westminster United churches are pleased to present “Dueling Keyboards” an “Organ and Piano” concert this evening at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. Admission is $5.00 per person or $15.00 per family and/or an item for the Food Bank. Proceeds to local musicians. For more information, call Chris White at 403-952-0792.
This evening, join at St. John’s Presbyterian Church for EarthBeat - Finding the Rhythms of Life from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Led by an ecumenical team, God's call to live in rhythm with the seasons in this patch of creation will be explored. This worship will draw on the traditions of the Four Directions from plains First Nations in conversation with Biblical wisdom. Join in the conversation - and celebration. Refreshments, too!
All Saints Anglican Church presents: Thomas Merton: Mon, Mystic & Spiritual Guide with guest speakers, Dr. Ron Dart and Rev. Judith Hardcastle. Friday April 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday May 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets $50.00—includes Friday evening reception and catered lunch (with refreshments) on Saturday. Registration and information contact Judy Howe at 403-527-7090 or email howej@shaw.ca
Westminster has recently initiated a Child/Youth/Family Committee. The purpose of this committee is to include and bring together families of our congregation whom have children/youth age 0-18. Our primary focus is to have family-based activities (4-6x/year), to increase communication and awareness among families with children within our congregation, and to fundraise within WUC to ensure further family events and to purchase resources for the Sunday School program. Our first goal is to create an electronic newsletter which will be emailed every 2nd month to families with children/youth age 0-18. In order for this to happen, we need to collect emails of families with children/youth along with their children’s birth dates. We ask that either you give this info to one of our committee members or email the info to Kara Anton (stacyanton@shaw.ca) by May 15. If we have not received your info by this date, we will be contacting you in the following 2 weeks.
The United Church is celebrating 85 years with a project called Making Connections. We have been invited to 'make a connection' with the LINCOLN ROAD PASTORAL CHARGE in WINDSOR, ONTARIO. If anyone in the congregation has some sort of connection with this church, ie. relative attending, marriage, etc, we are asking that you pass on your story to the office or the Christian Development Committee. We will be corresponding with this church in early May.
Selah Singers with Pianist, Linda Taylor, and conducted by Ralph Browne in their Spring Concert, present “Feels Like Home!” Saturday May 1st at 7:30 p.m. Medicine Hat College Theatre or Sunday May 2nd at 7:30 p.m. St. Johns Presbyterian Church. Freewill offering.
Please remember to drop off your donations [please, no clothing, perishables, or broken items] for the Garage & Plant Sale on Friday, May 8th between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Westminster’s Annual Spring Brunch is May 9th – with a freewill offering. Sign-up sheets are now hanging IN Memorial Hall on the white bulletin board. Please consider food donations or your time to help the Board with this fundraiser.
There will be an E-waste Roundup on May 15th in the old Wal-Mart parking lot. If you have any old computers or other electronics to drop off, they will appropriately dispose of them for you.
Birthdays: Kennedy Blatz, Dorothy Wilkinson, Elizabeth Oster, Sean Glasser, Vi Schneider, Rae McLeod, Evan Gunn, Ken Sanders, Edna Forsythe, and Emily Schlenker.
Anniversaries: Darcy & Jaci Fox, Grace & Ralph Roth, Yvonne & Ron Hole.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of husband, Ed Felesky by Alice Felesky.
South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for United Church Camps, their staff, and volunteers.
| Sunday School Co-ordinators | Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson |
| Nursery | |
| Greeters & Ushers | Kira Glasser, Jesse Glock, Amber Henderson, Derek Skogen, Jen Oster, Rae Wahl |
| Coffee Hosts | Edythe Hewitt UCW |
| Scripture Reader | Grace Roth |
| Elder-in-Charge | Pat Connell |
Next Week’s Readings: Psalm 148; John 13:31-35; Acts 11:1-18; and Revelation 21:1-6.
Stewardship Thought for Today
Christians refuse to let a culture of entitlement and high expectations silence them as they join the chorus of faithful praise over the ages. by Terry Shillington
Board Report:
The Secretary of the Board has now been filled by Ron McEwen; the Chairman welcomed him to the Board. Spring Brunch is on May9th. We will utilize freewill offering vs. charging a set fee. Volunteers and donations of food etc. are required. Sign up sheets are in the auditorium. Power raking and lawn clean up will be done by Gas City Properties Management and the Property Committee will attend to yard clean up etc. when weather permits. Contact will be made prior to May 1st with Lincoln Road Pastoral Charge who is our connecting church. This to be done by Jackie Carlson from Christian Development Committee. Representatives from South Alberta Presbytery will be visiting our Church in the near future to hear our voices and concerns regarding Mission Implementation Strategy. Submitted by Ron McEwen