Order of Service: Union Sunday / June 9, 2024

*Gathering Hymn Morning Has Broken (#409 VU)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: It has been 99 years of mission, of witness, of worship, of study, of service. A blessed anniversary to all of us in this United Church family of faith.

  All: It has been 99 years of being welcomed in baptism, sharing at table, laughing, singing, praying, and weeping together.

One: We come to worship so that we can go – go to make a difference, go to comfort strangers, go to tell of the good news, go to heal hurts, go to be with the wounded, go to live the Way of Jesus.

  All: We come to breathe deeply of the Spirit’s breath, to find our identity as disciples because we are sent out into the world.

*Gord Dunbar. Gathering Pentecost 1 2024. Page 40.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

Again and again, God, we come to this time and place with a song! Each day you give us a chance to begin anew: to drink deeply of your Spirit, to boldly follow in the Way of Jesus, and to dare to seek justice as we seek relationship with our neighbours and you. Again and again, God, you call us out of our old lives and into your new day. And so, as we celebrate the 99th anniversary of this United Church of yours, help us to reflect back with clarity upon all that deserves to be celebrated, all that deserves to be lamented, and all that deserves to be let go. We are not perfect, God, but we are yours, and we trust that you are with us every day. This day, and always, help us to be good grain that is planted and tended by your love, so that in the year to come we may flourish in this time and place. Amen.

*The United Church of Canada. “Seeds for Our Future,” 2024.

*Opening Hymn Make a Joyful Noise (#820 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Loving God, in the fields of our lives and the life of our church, not all of the ground is ready to receive your seeds of hope. There are places where the soil is so rocky that the good life you intended is choked. As we prepare for your new seeds, help us to clear the rocks and tend the ground on which we live. Receive our silent prayers as we confess our words, actions, and attitudes that have marred your good ground… (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*The United Church of Canada. “Seeds for Our Future,” 2024.

Words of Assurance

One: Dear siblings, that God is slow to anger and full of compassion. Abounding in love, God offers forgiveness to all who humbly repent. Let us be confident of this: the Great Gardener who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

All: Thanks be to God. Amen.

*The United Church of Canada. “Seeds for Our Future,” 2024.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (Don’t Be Afraid / MV #90)

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Psalm 33 (VU p. 760)

John 12:20-28

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness (#288 VU)

*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)

Gracious God, we believe that you are calling us forward into a new day. We believe that you have a future for Ingleside-Newington United Church and The United Church of Canada that is rooted in your abundant life, and we trust you with this future, even though it’s beyond the horizon of our dreams. So, we offer you the blessings you have already given us— our time, our talents, our finances, and our hopes— so that you might use them and transform them for the good of your whole world. May these gifts be a blessing to the people of South Stormont and beyond! All this we pray, in Jesus’name. Amen!

*The United Church of Canada. “Seeds for Our Future,” 2024.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn Go to the World (#420 VU)

*Commissioning

One: Blessed are we who live this life and give this life, for we are not alone in this living and dying and rising again.

  All: We are blessed to be a blessing, now and always. Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Rosemary Godin. Gathering  Pentecost 1, 2024. Page 48.

*Commissioning Song God Be with You till We Meet Again (v.2 | #422 UV)

God be with you till we meet again; unseen wings protecting hide you,

daily manna still provide you; God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet Till we meet at Jesus’ feet

Till we meet, till we meet God be with you till we meet again.

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