The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/
Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.
Minister of Music: Al Fougere
Worship Leader: Linda Scherzinger
March 23rd 2014-3rd Sunday of Lent
A thought around
which to gather as we worship—
Micah
6:1–8 describes
a dramatic confrontation, a lawsuit between God and Israel. What must
Israel do to be in right relationship with God? Verse 8 makes it
clear: to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
God. God’s gift of redemption can be seen in the liberation of
God’s people, and God’s people are required to participate in
God’s ongoing liberating acts in response to their redemption; an
offering of love to God.
Seasons of the
Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2013–2014
Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2013, p. 146
This
week –
"To
do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God"
sounds easy enough. What are some concrete ways God might be asking
you to fulfill these words? Do those specific requests feel
easy? This week look for a way to fulfill one of these requests.
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be
with you. All: And with your spirit.
Call to Worship
One: We come together this morning
offering
our hearts wide open with love.
All:
We come ready to nourish our spirits
and
renew our commitment to peace.
One: We come together as peace bearers and peacemakers.
All:
May we bear peace in
our hearts
and
be peacemakers in our communities.
One: Come, let us
celebrate God’s presence among us,
an unending source
of peace and compassion.
All: Praise
be to God, who calls us to pursue peace
for
the benefit of all creation.
Opening
Prayer
Holy
One, we come before you today hoping to find a sense of peace for
ourselves, our families, our neighbours, and for all of your people.
We long for the day when we and all your people walk in the way of
justice, mercy and humble faith. May we hold on with steadfast hope
for all those in times and places of violence and fear to know peace
with justice – whether in Palestine or Israel, in Syria, Ukraine or
Canada. Open us to your Word so we may fully recognize that we too
may be instruments of your way and your peace. Amen.
Placement
of Lenten Symbol—A symbol of peace (symbol
is placed on the table during the singing of the first hymn)
*
Hymn This
Day God Gives Me VU
410
Lenten
Triad Candle Extinguishing (Tenebrae)
(Three
purple candles, pink candle and Christ candle are lit prior
to
worship.)
(3rd
candle is extinguished.) Let
us pray:
All:
O God, you have given us the challenge
of
following your way of justice.
Help
us to be brave when
following
your way makes others angry with us.
Help
us to know your will,
and
give us the strength to do it. Amen.
Sung
Assurance:
Throughout
These Lenten Days and Nights,
verse 3 VU 108
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Micah
6:6-8
What
does the Lord require of you?
This is the
witness of the Hebrew people.
All:
Thanks be to God.Psalm 31 In you, O God, I have taken refuge pts. 1, 3 VU 758
*Hymn Walk with Me VU 649
Opening
the Word and The Lord's Prayer
Gospel
Acclamation
John
14:1-14
I
am the way, and the truth, and the life.
This
is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection
The
Way of Peace
 |
| Linda Scherzinger |
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn O for a World VU 697
Offering Our Gifts to God
* Offering Prayer
All:
Liberating
God, we offer you all that we are and shall be. Open our eyes and our
hearts to recognize you in each person we meet. May we have
courage to listen, courage to hear, and courage to act. Amen.
Prayers
of Thanksgiving and Intercession
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
*
Hymn On Eagle's Wings VU
808
* Commissioning and Blessing
Let
us go into the world with voices ready to speak against
injustice, to
celebrate the Life God gives us to share, and to pray
for peace
:
Pray
not for Arab or Jew, for Palestinian or Israeli
,
But
pray rather for ourselves, that we might not divide them in our
prayers but keep them together in our hearts.
When
races fight, peace be among us.
When
neighbours argue, peace be among us.
When
nations disagree, peace be among us.
When
people struggle for justice, let
justice prevail.
When Christ’s disciples follow, let peace be our way.
* Choral Amen
When you buy Fair Trade olive oil products from Palestine, you are taking positive economic action encouraged by the United Church of Canada.
 | ||
SHOP FOR PEACE! |
When you buy Fair Trade olive oil products from Palestine, you are taking positive economic action encouraged by the United Church of Canada.
 | ||
| Linda and Yvonne at St. David's |
