South Stormont Pastoral Charge

*Gathering Hymn Arise, Your Light is Come (#79 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: In this season of Epiphany in Canada,    All: we are still in the depths of winter. One: Cold, howling winds and long nights   All: may keep us inside, and we long for spring. One: May this Christ light warm our hearts and light our way, All: so that we can be faithful disciples in this time. Amen. *Beth W Johnston. Gathering ACE 2025/2026 . Page 42. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Come, Let Us Sing (#222 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) We come today to confess that we do not always live as you want us to live, we do not always want to try to live in your way. We confess that we would rather stay with what we know than venture into the unknown. Help us to understand your call in these times of challenge. Help us to notice those in need of what we have to offer. Help us to love as you love all people. Forgive us. Restore us...

In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.” This is a powerful statement of faith that both Matthew and Isaiah share. It reminds us that God does not forget the dark places. God does not ignore people on the margins. God brings new light first to those who feel overlooked, pushed aside, or forgotten. The focus here is Galilee, in northern Israel, including the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. In many ways, Galilee was a land of abundance. The Sea of Galilee provided rich fishing, the soil was fertile, the climate mild, and the rainfall steady. A major trade route, the Via Maris, ran through the region toward the Mediterranean. Galilee was a place of travel, business, and opportunity. Over time, however, this abundant land became a place o...

  *Gathering Hymn Arise, Your Light is Come (#79 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: God created light in the beginning.    All: God calls us to be the light of the world. One: Christ reveals God’s light to us.   All: God calls us to be the light of the world. One: The Spirit reveals God’s light in others. All: God calls us to be the light of the world. One: Come, you who are light for the world, let us worship God. *Sandy Ferguson. Gathering ACE 2022/2023 . Page 43 Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Will You Come and See the Light (#96 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, through Christ you bring light into our dark places. We admit that sometimes we are afraid of that light, because it shows us the hurt and broken parts of our lives. We hide what is wounded and incomplete, unsure how you will meet us in our weakness. Forgive us when we forget that nothing about us is hidden from you, and that ...

Today we are in the season of Epiphany. Epiphany begins on January 6, the day we celebrate the visit of the wise men, and continues until the day before Lent. The word Epiphany comes from Greek and means “to reveal” or “to be manifest.” This is a season to reflect on the truth that Jesus Christ reveals, a truth that brings us life-giving awakening. One important image for Epiphany is light. In darkness, nothing is clear. But when light shines, everything becomes visible. A 13th-century Persian poet, Jalaluddin Rumi, wrote:       False gold can lie with real gold through the night,      Though real gold’s waiting for the dawn’s first light;      Gold says by means of its own inner state:      ‘Daybreak will show the truth, fake, you just wait!’ Likewise, we need light to discover what is true in our lives. Often, we forget who we really are because we are busy with the work we have to do. All of us carry many roles. We are someo...

  *Gathering Hymn Arise, Your Light is Come (#79 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: God calls you to ministry in the world.    All: We are truly thankful. One: God calls you beloved, God’s own children.   All: We are truly thankful. One: God calls you to worship here with your siblings in faith. All: We are truly thankful. One: In gratitude, let us worship. *Stephen Ernst. Gathering ACE 2025/26 . Page 39. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love (#574 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, we know we are not perfect. Some days we struggle to be kind and faithful. We forget your way and choose our own. Forgive us when we fail to love. Remind us of our baptism and your deep love for us. Lead us back to your presence, and renew us to live with hope and compassion. In silence now, we offer our personal prayers of confession. ( a time of silent confession) Amen. Words...