“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .
to discover, nurture, and share our gifts.”
May 16, 2010
This morning we welcome Lisa Waites as our Worship Leader.
Unity in Christ and solidarity with those in need frame God’s call to community. Ritual and prayer anchor us in holy relationship with God and others. Unholy chains break when love extends compassion and justice unleashes freedom. The good news of God’s liberating grace cannot be contained. The Spirit leads us into the middle of life to do such ministry.
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: By his resurrection Christ broke apart the gates of death,
All: and opened to us the way of life.
One: He announced victory to the women and the apostles,
All: and offered salvation to the whole world.
One: Jesus annihilated the power of death and renewed the entire creation,
All: giving us the promise of resurrection, so that we might rise with him in new life.
One: Come, let us worship God together!
Righteous, Holy God, we have gathered together in this place as one body, united in our desire to know your goodness in our hearts, and your joy in our lives. As on the first day you began the work of creation; as on the first day you raised your Son from the dead; so on this first day, O Lord, freshen and remake us, and as the morning is new, let our lives begin anew because of Jesus, who extends your love and grace to us. Amen.
Hymn #415 “God, We Praise you for the Morning”
The Sunday School leaves for their classes.
God, we are thankful that you are intimately concerned with our human affairs. In ordinary situations you are working out your transformational purposes in our lives, through the grace of Jesus and by the power of your Holy Spirit. We are so grateful that you know us, and that you involve yourself with us. You love us too much to leave us as we are! You persistently seek us, desiring deeper relationship with your beloved human creatures. Yet we confess that we do not make ourselves available to you as often as we should. We isolate ourselves from your dynamic, living grace, and distance ourselves from each other as well. Forgive us, we pray. Even in our brokenness we know that you can restore us to you, and to one another. Heal our wounds. Soften our hearts. Open our minds, and help us to know the joy of being your body once again. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
… (time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
Biblical Notes / Prayer of Illumination
Psalm 97 Pg. 592 and
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: Acts 16:16-34; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21.
Hymn #378 “Spirit of God”
Mission Moment – Barb Grozell
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Hymn #402 “We Are One”
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 16th – 22nd)
| 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 |
| JNAC | 7:00 p.m. | Lounge |
Next Week at Westminster (May 23rd – 29th)
| Sun. | Local Food Needs | 10:30 a.m. | Narthex |
| Worship: Pentecost Communion
Rev. Leroy Angle |
10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary | |
| No Sunday School | |||
| 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 |
Please sign the Friendship Roster this morning.
Thank you to each and every Volunteer, no matter how big or how small a task performed, for helping to make our Plant & Garage Sale a success. We realized a $919.85 profit to go to assist the Elm Street School hot lunch program.
Thank you to everyone for helping at and/or attending our successful WUC Blossom Time Tea and Bake Sale yesterday.
An early reminder to mark your calendars on June 6th for our Sunday School wind-up, Annual Congregational Picnic, and honouring our 85th Anniversary of The United Church of Canada. Come join the celebrations!
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.
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.
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!
Birthdays: Clayton Richard, Evan Gardner, Arleigh Marsh, Lorraine Scott, and Garth Maier.
Anniversaries: Dale & Lenora Stein, Claude & Dawn Skogen, Doug & Judy Miller
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of our son & brother, Carl Pearson, by Doug & Velma Pearson and family.
South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for fort MacLeod Pastoral Charge and Eramus Johannes VanZyl.
| Sunday School Co-ordinators | Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson |
| Nursery Attendant | Kira Gerhardt |
| Greeters & Ushers | Dave & Myra Gerhardt
Bob Bildfell, Charlene Andreas |
| Coffee Hosts | Irene Fekete, Dub & Gwen Henderson
Larry & Vera Henderson |
| Scripture Reader | Clint Houston |
| Elder-in-Charge | Darcy Fox |
Next Week’s Readings from: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; John 14:8-17 (25-27); Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:14-17.
Stewardship Thought for Today
We are the face and hands of Jesus in the world. We walk in the world with that awesome honour and that responsibility.
by Terry Shillington