“We are journeying together in God’s love . . .to discover, nurture, and share our gifts.”
May 23, 2010
Pentecost Communion
This morning we welcome Rev. Leroy Angle as our Worship Leader.
Pentecost reveals us to be the gathered and scattered people of God’s Spirit. God gathers individuals into community. In that gathering the Spirit names us God’s children. God scatters diverse signs and words and disciples-sent-to-witness. In that scattering the Spirit creates life and renews the very earth. God-sent Spirit will show us the way.
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; Don Daniels, revised)
One: A mighty wind has blown.
All: and tongues of fire have danced!
One: The Spirit of God has been poured upon us.
All: The Spirit of Christ is in our midst.
One: Come, let us rejoice, people of God! Let us celebrate the life within us, and Christ's presence in our midst.
Loving God, living, energizing Spirit, on this day of Pentecost we celebrate the coming of Your Holy Spirit in power upon Your church. We praise You that in all times and places Your Spirit has moved in and among Your people, bringing purification, and joy. As we worship today, help us to rejoice in the presence of Your Spirit among us. Fill us with joy and enthusiasm, and lead us forth in Your service in the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hymn #333 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
Conversation Time
Hymn #296 “This Is God’s Wondrous World”
Colouring packets for the children are available in the first pew on the pulpit side of the church.
Gracious God, let your Spirit descend upon us as it descended upon the crowds in Jerusalem. Let it strike us as a mighty wind, blowing away the chaff of pride. Let it burn within us as a tongue of fire, consuming the dross of selfishness. And let it lead us forth into the world, proclaiming the dawn in which the young see visions and the old dream dreams, and pursuing your mission in a community bent on becoming the body of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. … (time for silent reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
In Christ our release is secured and our sins are forgiven. Therein lies the richness of God's free grace lavished upon us. This is our faith. This is our hope. Trusting in this grace, be assured that your sins are forgiven.
Biblical Notes / Prayer of Illumination
Other lessons for your personal consideration from today’s lections are: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:24-34 (35b);
John 14:8-17 (25-27); and Romans 8:14-17).
Hymn #376 “Spirit of the Living God”
Prayer of Dedication (One)
Hymn #457 “As We Gather at Your Table”
One: Praise be to You, almighty God, Creator of the universe, who has set the stars, sun, and moon in the heavens, and blessed the earth with all its majesty and beauty.
All: Praise be to You, Source and Sustainer of life. You have populated the earth with a rich variety of living creatures, and made human beings like Yourself and for Yourself.
One: Praise be to You, gracious Mother and Father. You have revealed Yourself as a loving, caring Parent: You called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to follow Your Spirit that You might bless them, and make them a blessing to all Peoples:
All: You called Moses to lead Your people from slavery, through the wilderness, to the promised land;
One: You provided Your people with great leaders: David and the prophets, but Your people became proud and corrupt, and did not seek Your Spirit and Your way.
All: So You sent Jesus, Your Special Son, to bring Your people back to You; to establish Your reign on earth; to show the way You would have us go, to equip us to be a blessing to all peoples.
One: Through Jesus, we see You full as a gracious, forgiving, loving God, and we see the full potential of human life. Praise and thanksgiving be to You for the gracious gift of Christ.
All: But the blindness of Your people, their unwillingness to repent by giving up their own agendas to follow Yours, to exchange their own power for Yours, to give up their anger and forgive, resulted in Jesus’ suffering and cruel death on the Cross. We recognise, gracious God, that the sin, which brought Jesus to the cross, is part of us, and we struggle with the same struggles that they did.
One: So we come to this table confessing that we are not the people You would have us be, that it is not because of our own merit, but because of Your gracious forgiveness, that we are invited to come.
All: We come remembering that Jesus joyfully shared in regular meals with the oppressed and powerless, the sinful and the self-righteous, the careless and the greedy, that He might restore them to community and health and make them one with one another and with You.
One: We come remembering that Jesus died on the Cross so that we might live. We remember that His death was sacrificial; that He died for sins we have committed, and by so doing offers us forgiveness and freedom.
All: We come remembering that You raised Jesus from the grave to eternal life with You. Through His resurrection You opened up for us joyous faith in eternal life.
One: We come, remembering Jesus’ promise to come again, trusting in His presence with us now, and that He will always be with us, in life and in death.
All: So it is that we, and all Your people are grateful to You. You have revealed Yourself to us as a forgiving, accepting, loving Parent; You have set us in Your eternal Kingdom; You have invited us to Your table.
We acknowledge Your greatness and goodness by saying, “We thank You, God. We thank You, and we worship You.”
One: Here we not only remember, but celebrate Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and eternal presence with us. So we do what Jesus did the night He was betrayed. He took bread, thanked You, broke the bread and gave it to His followers, saying, “Take, eat, this is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” He also took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
All: By Your gracious Spirit, God, grant that as we break bread and drink wine we may be united with Christ, He is us and we in Him, that we who are many may be one in Him. Make us strong in faith and love that we may become truly human, as Christ was truly human.
As our Lord Jesus, the Christ, offered Himself to You, O God, we offer ourselves to You, as Your people have done before, as they still do everywhere.
Accept us, bring us to repentance, reform us, restore us to health, fill us with Your love, and use us as You will that we may die to self to live for You as a living sacrifice.
To You we scribe all honour and praise, God almighty, gracious Spirit, and loving Lord.
Hymn #477 “I Come with Joy”
Commissioning (One)
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 (May 23rd – 29th)
| Sun. | Local Food Needs | 10:30 a.m. | Narthex |
| Worship: Communion | 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Tues. | Prayer Shawl | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge |
| Thurs. | Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary |
Next Week at Westminster (May 30th – June 5th)
| Sun. | Trustees | 9:00 a.m. | Westminster Room |
| Worship: Angie Irvine | 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary | |
| Jr. Choir Practice | 11:45 a.m. | Lounge | |
| Ministry & Personnel | 11:45 a.m. | Shalom | |
| Tues. | Prayer Shawl | 1:30 p.m. | Lounge |
| Thurs. | Senior Choir Practice | 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary |
Please sign the Friendship Roster this morning.
A sincere thank you with loud applause to Linda Carney for her years of organizing our successful Westminster Garage & Plant Sale. Linda has decided it is time to step down from these duties. PLEASE let Mission & Outreach know if you are interested in coordinating this task to raise funds for a very worth while cause.
Unisphere cordially invites everyone Thursday, May 27th at 7:00 p.m. to hear Dr. Ken & Deanna Siemens speak about their experiences in Mozambique. No charge.
The Upper Room booklets have finally arrived and will be available on the ramp today and in the office during the week. For those interested, the purchase price remains at $2 each.
HEY, CHILDREN & YOUTH and those still young at heart, mark your calendars on June 6th for our Sunday School wind-up, Annual Congregational Picnic, and honouring our 85th Anniversary/Birthday of The United Church of Canada. Come and join in the celebrations with lunch, games, and activities following worship!
The Visitation & Membership committee is 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.
ATTENTION all Groups and Committees: As we approach the summer months, please notify the office as soon as you can with regards to your wind-up dates.
Birthdays: Don Lonson, Violet Rud, Al Mattson, Alaiya Hermanson, Donna Angle, Samantha Henderson, and Annie Stelter.
Anniversaries: Calvin & Gina Kronebusch, Dave & Anne Harris, and
Al & Marg Mattson.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning in loving memory of, Shirley Bellby Jody Davison.
South Alberta Presbytery: Our prayers this week are requested for Alberta and Northwest Conference Staff, especially Regional Development Officer, Joel Den Haan.
| Sunday School Co-ordinators | Jackie Schlenker, Kim Hanson |
| Nursery Attendant | |
| Greeters & Ushers | Electra UCW |
| Coffee Hosts | Electra UCW |
| Scripture Reader | Pat Connell |
| Elder-in-Charge | Al Olson |
Next Week’s Readings from: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; John 16:12-15; Romans 5:1-5.
Stewardship Thought for Today
Spirit, help our gifts to shine and help us to trust that what we have and what we offer is enough.
by Sheila Campbell
Board Summary:
Spring Brunch reported a profit of $656.00 from food and goodwill donations. There were no expenses. A great big thank you to all those who helped and donated food and money. A letter was sent to Lincoln Pastoral Charge, in regards to the 85th Anniversary “Make a Connection.” JNAC is close to completing the process, regarding a replacement for Jane and should have a report to the Board in June. The Board approved a quote from Creative Flooring to replace the kitchen linoleum and hopefully this will be done soon. Darcy Fox will contact the UCW and welcome a representative at the Board of Elders meetings. Property Committee will look into the Cypress Montessori School’s request, regarding the construction of a fenced in play area for the kids.