Congregational Worship for Conference Weekend 2017
WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD
MUSIC PRELUDE
HYMN: "
Let Us Build a House" M.V. 1
WELCOME AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL TERRITORY:
Welcome to this service on the theme of reconciliation with Indigenous
peoples. We begin by acknowledging the traditional territory upon which we
gather this morning. For many thousands of years, the Original Peoples have
sought to walk gently on this land. They offered assistance to the first
European travellers to this territory and shared their knowledge for
survival in what was at times a harsh climate. We seek a new relationship
with the Original Peoples of this land, one based in honour and deep
respect.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Let us give thanks to our Creator, for the Creator is always with us.
All: Creator and creating God, you have given life to all around us.
One: You call us to be with you whether we are inside in the shelter of
these walls or outside in the shelter of your trees.
All: God is with us when we gather together and when we are alone.
One: We are here to answer that call.
All: We will sing joyfully and we will listen attentively for your
whispering voice.
(Adapted from "The Dancing Sun Vol. VIII," Anglican Church of Canada
and United Church of Canada, 1992).
PRAY:
Creator God, we pray for Your loving guidance as we continue the journey
towards reconciliation. As we worship this day we pray that we will be
open; open to hearing each other's stories; open to honouring our
differences; open to celebrating all that unites us as one. Ground us in
faith and hope. Help us to know we are loved, and to be true reflections of
that love in the world. These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
the light of the world, who taught us to pray as one, saying (The Lord's
Prayer, sung or spoken as is your tradition).
HYMN
"Teach Me God To Wonder" V.U. 299
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN:
What is foregiveness and why do we need it?
SERVICE OF LIGHTING THE CANDLE:
As we light the Christ candle we are reminded that Christ came into the
world to be a light and inspiration to all peoples and not just to a select
few. We are called to follow that light by living with respect for all of
creation.
Click on Scripture below for actual Bible passage Luke 15: 11-24
HYMN
: "Just As I Am" V.U. 508
REFLECTION: "To Reconcile and Make New"
RESPONSE: V.U. 400
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place,
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us power, send us grace
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
With MV Hymn # 154, Deep In Our Hearts
Sing Verse 1 of Deep In Our Hearts…
Holy God,we gather this night, aware that the church has not
always lived up to its vision.It requires the Spirit to reorient
it,helping it to live an emerging faith while honouring
tradition,challenging it to live by grace rather than
entitlement,for we are called to be a blessing to the earth. We pray for your loving guidance as we seek to be people who live
into right relations; as we seek to be people who reconcile, and make
new…
Sing Verse 2 of Deep in our hearts
Creator God, We sing of Your good news lived out,a
church with purpose:faith nurtured and hearts comforted, gifts shared for the good of all,resistance to the
forces that exploit and marginalize,fierce love in the face of
violence,human dignity defended,members of a community
held and inspired by You, corrected and comforted,instrument of
the loving Spirit of Christ, creation's mending. We offer up prayers now
for our congregation and all that is happening for the people in it
(silence petitions or spoken aloud, as is customary for your
congregation)
….
Sing Verse 3 of Deep In Our Hearts
Our story is one where we are all touched by this brokenness: the rise of
selfish individualism that erodes human solidarity; the concentration of
wealth and power without regard for the needs of all; the toxins of
religious and ethnic bigotry; the delusion of unchecked progress and
limitless growth that threatens our home, the earth; the covert despair
that lulls many into numb complicity with empires and systems of
domination. We seek forgiveness for the times when we have sat idly by, or
turned a blind eye to the needs of Your world, and our brothers and
sisters. This day, we seek to be a people that rely on Your grace, and that
create relationships built on trust, and faith. We bear witness to Holy
Mystery, who is Wholly Love, this day and always
Sing Verse 4 of Deep In Our Hearts
Amen
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD IN FAITH AND ACTION
OFFERING INVITATION:
OFFERTORY RESPONSE:
Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free, that
ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully. V.U. 540
OFFERTORY PRAYER:
Holy One, we offer these gifts to you now, and pray your blessing upon
them. May they be used for the mission work of your church, as we continue
the work of reconciliation, and making things new in your name. These
things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, Amen.
HYMN:
"Bless Now O God, the Journey" V.U. 633
SENDING FORTH:
And now may we go forth in the certainty of faith, in the knowledge of
love, and in the vision of hope. And in our going, may we be blessed with
all good things on this day and forevermore. As our worship ends, our
service begins. Amen.
