“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .to discover, nurture, and share our gifts.”
May 2, 2010
This morning we welcome Lisa Waites as our Worship Leader.
This Easter season prompts us to imagine the splendour of the new life that God is creating. Those who follow Christ are commissioned to live now in the presence of God’s promises of new beginnings, acting together with God to work toward their fulfullment.
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 / Sharing Announcements / A Time of Greeting
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Joyful is the sound we make this morning!
All: For we are liberated from doubt and fear.
One: Thankful is the song we sing!
All: For we are set free from darkness and despair.
One: Hopeful is the prayer on our lips!
All: For Jesus has given us long-awaited new life!
One: Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
All: Christ lives here and now. He is among us at this and every moment!
One: May his peace and presence be known to you in worship this day. Amen.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
God of glory, we have gathered together in this place to worship you in spirit and in truth. Fill your church with the power that flows from Christ’s resurrection so that, in the midst of a hurting and broken world, we may demonstrate the beginning of a renewed humanity, raised to new life in Christ. Death could not conquer you, nor the tomb imprison you. As you have shared our frailty in human flesh, help us to share your immortality. You are God’s expression of what love truly is, and we are here to imitate and learn from you. Amen.
Junior Choir “Joy for You and Me”
Conversation Time
Sunday School children leave for their classes.
Prayer for Transformation (Unison)
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. And yet, despite the incredible freedom you offer us through the resurrection, we must confess that we often remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death, not life. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak and abuse the earth you made, the earth you called good. In your great mercy Lord, forgive us! Help us to trust in your faithful love, love that changes our lives and makes us new, love that knows our names. Help us to know the joy of abundant, self-giving love fuelled by the presence of Jesus Christ in us. Send your Holy Spirit among us to enlarge our hearts until they are filled with your grace and beat with your compassion. Transform us we pray, and move us to righteous, loving action in your church and your world. Amen.
… (time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
Biblical Notes / Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are:
Acts 11:1-18; Revelation 21:1-6.
Hymn #307 “Touch the Earth Lightly”
John 13:31-35 from the Christian Scriptures Pg. 137
Hymn #582 “There’s A Spirit in the Air”
Mission Moment – Betty Sidlick
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Hymn #229 “God of the Sparrow”
Commissioning (One)
Choral Amen
Hymn #964 “Go Now in Peace”(x2 – round)
Postlude
Welcome to Westminster this morning. Please gather for coffee in Memorial Hall, following worship.
This Week at Westminster (May 2nd – 8th)
| 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 | 11:45 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 |
| Square Circle UCW | 7:30 p.m. | Lounge | |
| Thurs. | Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary |
| Fri. | Drop Off & Set Up for
Garage & Plant Sale |
9:00 a.m.
-3:00 p.m. |
Memorial Hall |
| Garage & Plant Sale | 5:–8:00 p.m. | Memorial Hall | |
| Sat. | Garage & Plant Sale | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Memorial Hall |
Next Week at Westminster (May 9th – 15th)
| Sun. | Christian Family Sunday
Worship: Rev. Bob Cruickshank |
10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary |
| Jr. Choir Practice | 11:45 a.m. | Lounge | |
| No Sunday School | |||
| SPRING BRUNCH | 11:40 a.m. | Memorial Hall | |
| Tues. | Prayer Shawl | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge |
| Board of Elders | 7:00 p.m. | Lounge | |
| Wed. | Bible Study | 9:30 a.m. | Nursery |
| Thurs. | Electra UCW | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge |
| Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Mission & Outreach (M&O) | 1:30 p.m. | Unisphere | |
| Sat. | Blossom Time Tea | 2:00 p.m. | Memorial Hall |
Please sign the Friendship Roster this morning.
Birthdays: Cam Lockerbie, Edna Silverthorne, Marilyn Link and Peggy Smith.
Anniversaries: Carol & Rob Henderson, Melanie & Steve Rattai,
Mike & Joan Jantzie, and Al & Marilynnn Piotrowski.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of, Florence & Ed Schaffer and Ted & Helen Stein, by Lenora & Dale Stein.
South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for Foremost Pastoral Charge and Terry Shillington.
| Sunday School Co-ordinators | Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson |
| Nursery Attendant | Rae Wahl |
| Greeters & Ushers | Ron & Janice McEwen
Gord & Brenda Wallsmith |
| Coffee Hosts | Dale & Lenora Stein
John & Betty Sidlick |
| Scripture Reader | Linda Kinvig |
| Elder-in-Charge | Jackie Carlson |
Next Week’s Readings from: Psalm 67; John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9; Acts 16:9-15; and Revelation 21:10, 22:1-5.
Stewardship Thought For Today
In its brokenness, we hear Creation’s cries for help.
In its unfinished possibilities, we dream with God.
In its cries of anguish, we hear our own call to serve.
by Terry Shillington
A huge thank you to Cam Lockerbie and Gas Town Riot for sharing their lively talents with us last Sunday.
James and Jane are thrilled to announcement the arrival of their grandson, Benjamin James, born April 26th. Mom, babe, Dad, and sister Katie are doing great. We extend our sincere congratualtions to them.
The Mosaic Group for Persons with Disabilities will be having their first gathering TODAY at 10:30 in Memorial Hall. This group is open to all individuals with special needs and meant to facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the church setting. Church is often an important support for individuals with disabilities so please spread the word to anyone who may be interested. Questions can be directed to Angie Irvine at (403) 488-0278 or angie.irvine@gmail.com.
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.
WUC Plant & Garage Sale: Please remember to drop off your donations [please, no clothing, perishables, or broken items] this Friday, May 7th between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Westminster’s Annual Spring Brunch is next Sunday, May 9th with a freewill offering. All are very welcome to join together in Memorial Hall.
WUC Blossom Time Tea and Bake Sale will be held Saturday, May 15th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at a cost of $3.50 per person. Everyone is cordially invited. Please come and enjoy the fellowship with refreshments.
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 15th. If we have not received your info by this date, we will contact you in the following 2 weeks.
Baking Containers: There are a number of empty containers in Memorial Hall waiting for their owners to claim them. Any remaining at the time of the Garage Sale will be donated and sold.
The Wii Group has wrapped up until September. Watch the calendar and announcments for a start up date.
The Visitation & Membership committee are still in URGENT need for volunteers to asist with hospital visits on a rotation basis. For more information on what this entails, please speak to Lenora Stein. If this is something that is of interest to you, please contact the office.
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.
A service of thanksgiving, commemorating the Sixtieth-Fifth Anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands is being held May 6th at 2:30 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church, 300 Primrose Drive SE. While the Dutch community in the Netherlands and here in Canada will be forever grateful to the Canadian Nation, the Dutch Nation has decided that this will be the last year for a formal event of commemoration. The May holiday will continue to be a national holiday in the Netherlands. We hope that you will be able to attend and join in this service of thanksgiving here in Medicine Hat. Sincerely, The Dutch-Canadian Society of Medicine Hat and District.
Medicine Hat Public Library presents Gem Munro, author of South Asian Adventures of the Active Poor, at the library on Sunday, May 9th at 2:00 p.m. Gem Muhnro’s talk will be followed with book sales, signings, and afternoon tea. For more information about the Amarok Society and the Munros, go to: www.amaroksociety.org.
Fifth Avenue Memorial will hold their annual FAM Fair and Multiple-Family Garage Sale on May 7th from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and May 8th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The sale will include Home Based Vendors, baking, books, silent auction, and food court. Tables may be rented at a nominal fee for your own personal “garage sale” by contacting Helen at 403-527-4727.
A reminder of the 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.
If you wish to join in the Leadership in the Emerging Church seminar with, Bruce Sanguin, author of The Emerging Church: A Model for Change and a Map for Renewal at Calling Lakes Centre, Fort Qu’Appelle, SK from June 23-25, please see the poster on the bulletin board leading into Memorial Hall.
Western Women’s Conference in September – “Rich, satisfying, uplifting,” “Meaningful – a beautiful setting.” Join women of faith from BC, Alberta and beyond to sing, laugh, pray, learn, and explore the theme Centrepoint and Promise at Naramata Centre. Omega Bula, Donna Sinclair, Keri Wehlander, and Barb Myers will be featured. Price still $375 (plus tax). Visit www.naramatacentre.net for more info and to register. Thinking of putting together a group from your congregation? You are all welcome!