South Stormont Pastoral Charge

Welcome & Announcements  Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Opening Prayer Opening Hymn Morning Has Broken (#409 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal Loving God, we confess that we have turned away from you and your ways. Like the prodigal son, we have wasted the gifts you have given us—our land, our resources, and our relationships. We have ignored those who are hurting and built walls instead of bridges. We have judged unfairly, caused harm, and tried to cover our guilt instead of facing it. Yet, we come to you now, asking for your mercy— forgive us and welcome us home. (a time of silent confession) Amen. Words of Assurance Beloved children of God, hear the good news: No matter how far we have wandered, God’s love is always reaching for us. In Christ, we are forgiven, renewed, and made whole. Thanks be to God! Amen. Scripture Reading Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Sermon Immeasurable Love Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer Closing Hymn The Care the Eagle Gives Her ...

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  So he told them this parable:“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here ...

*Gathering Hymn Open My Eyes, That I May See (#371 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. All: The old has passed away; the new emerges. One: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. All: We celebrate the promises of God that shower our lives. One: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. All: We shall not fear, for Christ is by our side. One: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. All: Each of us here, and each person through the world, is invited to reflect God’s glory. We worship God. *Bill Steadman . Gathering LE  2025. Page 31. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (#326 VU | vs. 1,2,3) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, we confess that we have turned away from you and your ways. Like the prodigal son, we have wasted the gifts you have given us—our land, our resources, and our relationships. We have ignored those who are hurting and built walls in...

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and go...

*Gathering Hymn Open My Eyes, That I May See (#371 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: We come together to praise our God. All: God leads us and God preserves us. One: We remember times of both pain and plenty. All: God did not abandon us in any of those times. One: God pays attention and does not reject our prayers. All: Let us raise to God our joyful praise. *Wanda Winfield . Gathering LE  2025. Page 30. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Jesus, Stand among Us (#396 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, we are like children who have erred and find themselves in front of a loving, understanding parent. We are shy to name our mistakes and quick to find excuses. Mistakes are hard to confess, because they cause us pain, pain in acknowledgement and pain for disappointing you. Yet, without confession, how might we learn? How might we be freed from our past and opened to the new possibilities?...

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”  Immature people see the world through a me-centred lens. They put their desires first, judging, criticizing, and looking down on others. They sow division with arrogance and hatred, justify violence against the vul...

*Gathering Hymn Open My Eyes, That I May See (#371 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: We come to church today, All: as faithful disciples, following Jesus. One: We come to church today, carrying burdens, whether visible or invisible, All: seeking comfort, seeking grace, seeking community. One: We come to church today, knowing that our hope lies in the merciful love of God, the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, All: and so, we come, we connect, and we worship. *Sandra jenkinson . Gathering LE  2025. Page 30. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn God Is Here (#389 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, we know from the scriptures that we have abundant life through you. Yet we are told the opposite in today’s world: that we are playing a zero-sum game, that the criteria for success is having a high-paying job, and that we deserve wealth and good things only when we ourselves worked hard ...