Order of Service / Camping Sunday & Easter 5 / April 28, 2024

 *Gathering Hymn God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness (#260 VU)

Welcome& Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: We are summoned here by our holy God,

  All: who calls us each by name, and gathers us together in the unity of Jesus Christ.

One: From home and community, from camps and classrooms,

  All: we are called into God’s presence.

One: Young and old and middle-aged, individuals and families, soft-spoken and outspoken,

  All: we hear our names being called to join in worship.

One: This house of worship is a place to pursue God’s vision for all people:

  All: unity and joy and faith expressed through different gifts. Let us worship together!

*The United Church of Canada, Back to the Future of Camping: Camping Sunday Service 2016.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

Creator God, We thank you for bringing us together in this place, to celebrate the recreation, the re-creation, of enjoying the fun and community of camping. We thank you for all the people in our lives, and especially those who have gathered with us. We also thank you for all of creation; the hills and trees, the rocks, the water, the animals of field and forest. We thank you for your love for us; the love that we in turn share with one another. Open our hearts to receive your word, to learn more about creation and your love. Guide us in your love and the spirit of creation so that we might be examples for others to follow. Amen.

*The United Church of Canada, Pass It On! A Service for Camping Sunday 2018.

[*Passing the Peace - Ingleside Congregation

One: When we share “Peace be with you,” we are offering the very same words with which Jesus greeted his disciples after the resurrection. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus once again engages with us through these words of blessing and comfort.

“Peace be with you.”

  All: And also with you.]

*Opening Hymn The Spring Has Come (#187 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Dear God, we love your creation, yet sometimes refuse to care enough for it. We love our neighbours as you have taught us, yet sometimes we hurt them or refuse to allow our differences to transform us. Your love for us surrounds us in every way, yet sometimes we fail to acknowledge it. Out of your timeless greatness, dear God, please keep loving and forgiving us. Guide us to do, say, and think according to your will. Guide us to live in respectful relationship with creation. And when there are temptations or other examples to follow that lead us away from you, we ask that you set us aright, yet again. Our trust in you is complete. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*The United Church of Canada, Pass It On! A Service for Camping Sunday 2018.

Words of Assurance

One: God is the beginning, and through God all things have come into being.

All: God is life and that life brings abundant freedom and live-giving peace for all people.

One: God’s love shines in the most difficult times, and nothing can separate us from that love. Thanks be to God.

*The United Church of Canada, Pass It On! A Service for Camping Sunday 2018.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (This little light of mine)

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

1 John 4:7-21 Everyone who loves is born of God

Psalm 22:25-31 (VU p. 746|P 3&4) Praise God who has heard our call.

John 15:1-8 Jesus is the true vine.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (VU 333)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#541 VU| Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit, One.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Loving God, accept our gifts for the work of your church, in this community and beyond.

We share what we have so that the warmth and light of your love will spread to everyone,

and we shout from the mountaintops: Pass it on. Amen.

*The United Church of Canada, Pass It On! A Service for Camping Sunday 2018.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn All Praise to Thee (#327 VU| vs. 2,3,5)

*Commissioning

One: As we go out this day, may God teach us to be welcoming in radical ways, reminding us of the joys of community at camp, towering trees, lapping lakeshores, and Spirit in silence.

  All: May we learn to live our lives to new extremes, experiencing growth and understanding, and above all, loving and welcoming everyone as our neighbour. Amen.

*The United Church of Canada, Living Radical Welcome: A Camping Sunday Service 2013.

*Commissioning Song God Now in Peace (#211 MV)

Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ.

So you may be, nourished by the Word of Life. (x2)

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