Wherever you are, whoever you are, Join us in our Journey
WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD
TO PONDER:
Certain religious practices and rituals help to provide a deeper sense of
how we can live more fully and avoid contradictions. What would you
consider to be an essential ritual in your religious life?
MUSICAL PRELUDE:
(
A time for quiet reflection and preparation for worship
)
HYMN: "
Let Us with a Gladsome Mind" V.U. 234
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
God's great love for the world offers healing from all our fears.
God's love for us lasts forever.
We never have to earn God's love.
God is a perfect source of love.
Jesus came into the world to share God's freedom with us.
Let us worship a God of undying love.
OPENING PRAYER
God, You summon the morning sun to banish the darkness. We praise You
for bringing peace out of despair and for restoring hope to the
brokenhearted. You brood over the darkness that envelops us. Raise us
by Your presence that our lives may be renewed, for Your love is more
gracious than the coming of spring. AMEN
HYMN "
Jesus Bids Us Shine" V.U. 585
THE LENTEN TRIAD LITURGY
Lent 4 - Energy Consumption and Deforestation - Climate Change
Reader:
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by
trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it
keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal,
gas and oil and clearing forests, we have dramatically increased the amount
of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere and causing temperatures to
rise. This contributes to global warming and climate change. We're already
seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced
from their habitat and the number of severe storms and droughts is
increasing.
The number of category four and five hurricanes has almost doubled
in the last thirty years.
Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Columbian
Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.
The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled
over the past ten years.
At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding
to global warming, by moving closer to the poles.
Reader:
There is something we can do to show our concern. Saturday, March 24th,
2018 at 8:30 pm is Earth Hour. Vote for the Earth by turning out your
lights for one hour. Earth Hour is gaining momentum. Millions of people
around the planet are participating and the effect is immediate and
visible. As we extinguish this candle, we acknowledge that we have burdened
creation with mountains of waste and pollution.
(Fourth purple candle is extinguished)
Let us join in our Prayer of Confession.
A PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of love, once again, we are called to confess, that we knowingly or
unknowingly have been part of the problem of global warming. Help us to
be part of the solution. Forgive us and help us to correct past wrongs
with hope and energy for creation and for our brothers and sisters
around the world. Giver of life, we who are made in the image of God
have gone astray and creation groans with us. Have mercy on us. AMEN
SUNG RESPONSE:
"As the Sun With Longer Journey"
VU 111 (vs 2)
Through the days of waiting,
watching in the dessert of our sin,
Searching on the far horizon for a sign of cloud of wind,
We await the healing waters of our Saviour's victory.
ANTHEM
LITURGY FOR MEMBERSHIP TRANSFERS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The church is a community of people with varied gifts united by the
Holy Spirit. We gather to celebrate God's presence and to discern
God's truth. We promise to follow the way of Jesus. By our baptism
and confirmation we are made members of Christ's church. We
exercise this membership in the denomination to which we belong,
which for us is the United Church of Canada, within the context of
a local community of faith. We will welcome into this congregation
those who are already members of the church of Jesus Christ.
PRESENTATION
On behalf of the congregation of Dorchester United Church I present
the following persons whom we welcome into the membership of this
community of faith:
Barbara Clark and Tabitha Carey
COMMITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS
Barbara and Tabitha, will you join with us as together we celebrate
God's presence, live with respect in creation, love and serve
others, seek justice and esist evil?
I will, with God's help.
CONGREGATIONAL COMMITMENT
Dear friends in Christ, let us rise and pledge to Barbara and
Tabitha our support and care.
As your brothers and sisters in Christ, we rejoice in the gifts
you bring to us. We pledge to you our love and our support.
With God's help, we will together live out the mission and
ministry of Christ's church.
Will you remain standing as we turn to V..U 918
<
CORPORATE PROFESSION OF FAITH
A New Creed V.U p 918
WELCOME
In the name of Jesus Christ, we welcome you to the privileges and responsibilities of membership in this
congregation. We give thanks to God for your witness among us.
BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
The grace of Christ attend you,
the love of God surround you,
the Holy Spirit keep you.
HYMN
"Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound" V.U. 266
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
PASTORAL PRAYER
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD IN FAITH AND ACTION
OFFERING INVITATION
OFFERTORY RESPONSE:
For food in a world where many walk in hunger, for friends in a world where
many walk alone, for faith in a world where many walk in fear, we give you
thanks, O God.
V.U. 552
OFFERTORY PRAYER: Merciful God, we live in a country where we are
recipients of many rich and varied resources. As we offer up these
gifts let us be mindful of the rest of the world where death from
starvation and wanton killing are commonplace. May You grant us the
courage to see beyond our own needs to a world that is longing for
change. AMEN
HYMN:
"Your Hand, O God, Has Guided" V.U. 274
COMMISSIONING AND BLESSING
MUSICAL POSTLUDE:
(
A time to quietly reflect on all that you have experienced this
morning
