South Stormont Pastoral Charge

  The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” Today is the first Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the church year. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus , meaning "arrival." Over the next four weeks, we prepare our hearts for the arrival of baby Jesus. Last week, as the church year came to a close, we reflected on the ultimate hope found in the eternal God, the Alpha and Omega. Now, as we begin a new year, we turn our attention to the initial hope brought by baby Jesus. This connection between the beginning and the end of the church calendar reminds us that Christianity is a faith...

  *Gathering Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (#1 VU | vs. 1,2) Welcome& Land Acknowledgement Advent Candle-Lighting with Call to Worship   All Sing: VU 7 “Hope Is A Star” verse 1 One: On this first Sunday of Advent, we come with hope as a community of faith. All: We watch, we wait, we wonder. One: We come in hope for God’s promise to bring light to this world. All: We wait in hope for the coming of Jesus, the Christ child. One: As we light the first Advent candle, we take a moment to breathe in the Spirit of hope. All Sing: VU 6 “A Candle is burning” verse 1 * Irma Nadeau . Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 73. Opening Prayer God of hope, on this first Sunday of Advent, fill us with hope for the world and for the church, knowing that Jesus, the Christ child, brings the light of hope. Amen. * Irma Nadeau . Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 73. *Opening Hymn God of All Places (#4 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) We confess, O God, that we...

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.   Today is Reign of Christ Sunday, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Just as there is joy in celebrating the beginning of a journey, there is also something meaningful about reflecting on its conclusion with gratitude and hope. On this special day,...

  *Gathering Hymn O Splendour of God’s Glory Bright (#413 VU | vs. 3,4) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: Grace and peace from God, All: who always was and still is to come, One: the Alpha and Omega, All: the beginning and the end. One: Today we name the reign of Christ, All: the reign that was with us before, is with us now, and is not yet here. One: Let us worship together, All: today and in the days ahead. *Doris Van Den Eeckhout . Gathering Pentecost 2 2024. Page 53. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Rejoice, the Lord is King (#213 VU | vs. 1,2,4) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Dear God, on this Reign of Christ Sunday, we give thanks for the end of one year and the start of another in your care. We confess that we often ignore life’s endings, focusing instead on material success. Remind us, Alpha and Omega, that you are our refuge and strength, present through all changes and uncertainties. Though the world may tremble, y...

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished? Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.       There is nothing eternal on Earth. Even Mike Tyson can't...