Watchword for the Week
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
(Psalm 30:4)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2016)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
(Verses from Psalm 146)
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life.
Happy are those whose hope is in
the Lord their God, who made heaven and
earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
who always keeps his promises,
executes justice for the oppressed,
and gives food for the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
and gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who have fallen;
And loves those who are righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
and looks after the widows and orphans.
The Lord will reign forever, your God,
O Zion, for all generations.
Hymn 160 * Praise, my soul, the King
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
PRAYER of APPROACH
God of time and God of seasons,
we come before you today,
marveling at your love and grace.
You create our good earth with all its riches;
you make each one of us in your likeness;
you grant us freedom and hold out to us
your wisdom, so that our lives may be led by
your divine guidance.
We thank you for clothing us in our humanity:
with minds to think for ourselves;
with arms to reach out to others;
with feet to walk your way of truth and peace.
Despite the glory of Christ’s Good News in our
lives, we know that so often we resist your
calling to us. Too readily we go our own ways,
and ignore your better path for our lives. So,
gracious God, we come before you now,
seeking your forgiveness.
For all that you have given us, we thank you.
For all the times when we have not done as you
wish, we are truly sorry.
When we feel empty,
fill us with life fresh and new.
When we haven’t lived as you have directed us,
help us make our paths straight.
When we have not spoken out against injustice,
enable us to speak for all who have been
silenced. Renew us with your love. Amen.
WORDS of ASSURANCE
For all our failings and stumblings, God is
faithful and true. God forgives us, renews us,
gives us life afresh and new directions for our
journey. Thanks be to God! Amen!
CHILDREN’S TIME
Spirit of God in the clear running water,
Blowing to greatness the trees on the hill –
Spirit of God in the finger of morning,
Fill the earth, bring it to birth, and blow where
You will. Blow, blow, blow till I be
but breath of the Spirit blowing in me!
(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
I Kings 17:8-16 OT p. 353 (351)
St. Luke 7:11-17 NT p. 84
People may stand for the Gospel reading.
The word of God: Thanks be to God!
Hymn 257 * Singing, we gladly worship
SERMON Rev. Dr. Robert Haworth
(United Church of Christ, USA)
Hymn 673 * Let us talents and tongues employ
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
AFFIRMATION of FAITH United Church of Canada
We are not alone. We live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made
flesh, to reconcile and make new;
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church,
to celebrate God’s presence,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
COMMUNION PRAYER
God be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to God.
Let us give thanks to God most high.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Holy God, our loving creator… with the faithful in
every place and time, we praise with joy your
holy name:
Hymn 769* Holy, holy, holy
Consecrate, therefore, by your Holy Spirit… and
we may continue faithful in all things. In the
strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves
to you, eternal God, and give thanks that you
have called us to serve you. Amen.
BREAKING of BREAD
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy upon us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy upon us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.
Let us pray as Christ our Saviour has taught us:
The Lord’s Prayer (No. 652, Version 2b)
SHARING the ELEMENTS
(Please come forward for Communion.)
PASSING GOD’S PEACE
NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS
Response: O God, work in us:
inspiring both will and deed.
Hymn 175 * Praise, I will praise you, Lord
BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)
ORGAN POSTLUDE
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