“We are journeying together in God’s love…to discover, nurture, and share our gifts.”
May 9, 2010
Christian Family Sunday / Spring Brunch
This morning we welcome Rev. Bob Cruickshank as our Worship Leader.
Barriers fall as the Spirit leads. Together. Disciples engage in acts of mutual ministry and hospitality. Together. God promises to dwell with those who make their home and open their home in love. Together. God’s praise and Christ’s body invite all to join. Together. Those who open their hearts to God receive strength and transformation. Together.
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: Imagine a place where all are welcome
All: and everyone hears the sound of their name.
One: Imagine everyone having enough food and water
All: and a home free of hatred and fear.
One: Imagine a place where creativity is valued
All: and the spirit is nurtured in love.
One: Imagine … just imagine
All: this is that place.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
With the loving vulnerability of a tiny baby, we see God’s face. With the infinite curiosity of a growing child, we search together to know God. With the joyful responsibility of young parents, we seek the Holy within. With the reflective experience of maturity, we sense God’s surrounding presence. With creaking wisdom of advancing years, we rest in a hope strong and secure. In all our living, in all our striving, in all our forgiving, we know the ever-present Divine. Amen.
Hymn #556 “Would You Bless our Homes and Families”
Conversation Time
Coloring packets for the children are available in the first pew on the pulpit side of the church.
Prayer for Transformation (Unison)
May our understanding of family be deepened. May we perceive the hidden hurt, encourage the neglected talent, and meet the unspoken need. May our understanding of family be widened that we may support the powerless stranger, recognise our struggling neighbour, and identify the lonely newcomer. May our holy understanding of family be realised so that light may defeat the darkness, Jesus’ acceptance mark our relationships, and the Spirit renew our faith community … (time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
Life within families, the human family and the family of Jesus, requires reflection, commitment, and hard, faithful work. May we be willing to grow and mature in our family life. Amen.
Biblical Notes / Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are John 5:1-9; Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:10, 22:1-5.
Hymn #373 “As Comes the Breath of Spring”
Mission Moment – Anna Marie Hancock
Prayer of Dedication (One)
We give these gifts as an act of celebration. And we celebrate our own new life, and the worldwide proclamation of the good news to all people everywhere. Amen.
Hymn #678 “For Healing of the Nations”
Grace for Spring Brunch
Commissioning (One)
Let us live joyfully in our families. Giving ourselves to the needs of the wider family circle. Doing everything in the lively Spirit of Jesus.
Choral Amen
Hymn #964 “Go Now in Peace”(x2 – round)
Postlude
Welcome to Westminster this morning. Please join us for our Annual Spring Brunch in Memorial Hall, following worship. Freewill offering.
This 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 | |
| Fri. | Mission & Outreach (M&O) | 1:30 p.m. | Unisphere |
| Sat. | Blossom Time Tea | 2:00 p.m. | Memorial Hall |
Next Week at Westminster (May 16th – 23rd)
| Sun. | Trustees | 9:00 a.m. | Shalom Room |
| Worship | 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Jr. Choir Practice | 11:45 a.m. | Lounge | |
| Tues. | Prayer Shawl | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge |
| Wed. | Bible Study | 9:30 a.m. | Nursery |
| Thurs. | Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary |
Thank you to each and every one of you, no matter how big or how small a task performed, and for your donations, towards our successful Plant/Garage Sale.
WUC Blossom Time Tea and Bake Sale will be held this 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.
The Joint Needs Assessment Committee has been working very diligently on the process and is happy to update that we’ve nearly completed the report. We have been meeting bi-weekly for the past month and a half. The committee has two more meetings scheduled for May, in which we hope to complete the compilation of all the necessary information to accurately express our churches most pressing needs for pastoral charge. It is our sincere hope that we can present our completed report to the board for review at the June Board of Elders meeting. At this time we would like to Thank all individuals, committee members, as well as our past and present pastoral staff for there involvement and participation. Yours in service, JNAC Committee.
The Visitation & Membership committee are still in URGENT need for volunteers to assist with hospital visits on a rotation basis. If this is something that is of interest to you, please contact the office.
Commune-I-Care will be making their spring “call-out” shortly. These calls provide each family with regular opportunities to receive information; 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.
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.
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.
Birthdays: Ralph Clarkson, Dianne Schneider, Ray Yanke, Vicki Gunn, Mackenzie Hanson, and Sonja Herter.
Anniversaries: Paul & Bertha Mehrer, and Penita & Noel Schnell.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in memory of, Florence Henderson and Marg & Lyle Smith, loved and remembered by Dub & Gwen, Ed & Vi, and Larry & Vera Henderson.
South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for Bow Slope Pastoral Charge and Ari Langstraat.
| Sunday School Co-ordinators | Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson |
| Nursery Attendant | |
| Greeters & Ushers | Joyce Shannon, Arleigh Marsh,
Donna Scharf, Adair Prouty |
| Coffee Hosts | Board, Spring Brunch |
| Scripture Reader | Lesley Berg |
| Elder-in-Charge | Pat Evans |
Next Week’s Readings from: Psalm 97; John 17:20-26; Acts 16:16-34; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21.
Stewardship Thought For Today
Drink deeply of God’s grand vision for the earth, for it will feed us on the walk of faith. by Terry Shillington