Order of Service / Third Sunday in Lent & Annual Meeting Sunday / March 3, 2024

 *Gathering Hymn God Is Here (#389 VU| vs. 1&2)

Welcome

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: Unless God builds the house,

  All: those who built it labour in vain.

One: We have come to celebrate God,

All: the God who guided our ancestors to build this house.

One: We have come to celebrate God,

All: the God who is with us even now.

One: We have come to give thanks for our past

All: and to seek God’s presence and guidance now and for the future.

*Beth W Johnston. Gathering ACE 2023-24, page 50.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

Praise God! The Holy One is among us! We gather to worship, reflect, and do business as your beloved ones, O God. We exclaim that worship and work must be one. Today, we put that into practice. Blessed be all that we do and are! Alleluia! Amen.

*Laura J. Turnbull. Gathering ACE 2023-24, page 50.

*Opening Hymn Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (#325 VU | vs. 1,2,3)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Although we are here in church again, O God, we confess that we have not been the faithful disciples you would have us be, or that we would like to be. We have complained about church attendance, but may have done little to invite our neighbours. We have fallen short when we ought to have upheld your ways in our daily life. We have failed to embrace your holy vision of what we might be as a community of faith serving you in this world. We have been slow to use and share all our gifts for the benefit of all your children, here at home and across the world. Forgive us, we pray, God of mercy and kindness, and guide us in your paths again. Amen. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*George Allan. Gathering ACE 2023-24, page 50.

Words of Assurance

One: In the light of Jesus Christ, our personal life and our church life are put in perspective.

All: God holds out loving arms to receive each one. We are a forgiven people. Thanks be to God!

*George Allan. Gathering ACE 2023-24, page 50.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.

Psalm 19 (VU 740-741) The heavens declare the glory of God.

John 2:13-22 Jesus clears the temple.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Be Thou My Vision (#642 VU | vs. 1,2,4)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#581 VU, v. 2 | When We Are Living)

Through all our living, we our fruits must give.

Good works of service are for offering.

When we are giving, or when receiving,

We belong to God, we belong to God.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

We are your presence in the world, Gracious God. Thank you for this act of offering, the giving of gifts that allow us to maintain this place of worship and further the work of this sacred community. Thank you, O God, for the Holy Spirit, who continues to blow among us and through us, inspiring us to take on your work in the world. May we continue to dream your dream, that your kingdom might be known and experienced among us and through us. Amen.

*Sheryl Spencer. Gathering ACE 2023-24, page 50.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

With hearts filled with gratitude, we come before you today, thankful for the countless blessings you have given us. We gather as a community of faith, united in love for you and for one another. Thank you for leading us through the challenges of the past year and for being the guiding light of our congregation. Holy One, we lift up in prayer our leaders, volunteers, and all those who tirelessly serve our congregation. Their dedication and commitment have been a source of strength and inspiration to us all. We are grateful for the countless ways they have nurtured and supported our community. As we look ahead to the year to come, we ask for your continued guidance and wisdom. Help us to remain steadfast in our faith, to trust in your plan for us, and to embrace the opportunities for growth and renewal that lie ahead. May your Spirit guide us in all that we do, leading us to walk in your ways and to be a light to those around us. As we gather for our Annual Meeting, we ask for your blessings upon our discussions and deliberations. Grant us unity of purpose and a spirit of cooperation as we review the past year and make plans for the future. May our decisions be guided by your will, and may they reflect your love and grace to all who encounter our congregation. Caring God, as we engage in the Prayer Cycle for the year, we lift up every nation, every church in our regional council, and every individual in our congregation. Today we especially pray for Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales in our ecumenical cycle, pray for Clyde Forks United Church, Lanark, ON & St. Peter's Community United Church, Clayton, ON in our regional council cycle, and pray for Danny Dingwall, Nona Duncan, Erin Dunlop, Robin Dunlop, Kebbie Callan, Daniel Callan, Lois Callan in our pastoral charge prayer cycle. As we pray for these individuals and places during this week, strengthen our connections with one another and with you, Compassionate God. May no one feel abandoned or alone, but rather may they be surrounded by the prayers and support of their fellow believers. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen


*Closing Hymn We Have This Ministry (#510 VU)

*Commissioning

One: Let us go from here seeking justice, loving kindness, and living humbly with God

  All: Let us go and be the church for the sake of love.

One: And now may God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit our Sustainer be and abide with all of us this day, this year, and forevermore. Amen.

*United Church of Canada. Annual Meeting Service Order 2022. page 8.

*Commissioning Song May God’s Sheltering Wings (#214 MV)

May God’s sheltering wings, her gathering wings protect you,

May God’s nurturing arms, her cradling arms sustain you,

And hold you in her love, and hold you in her love.

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