ORDER OF SERVICE-SUNDAY MARCH 1ST, 2015-LENT 2

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/

Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca

Ministers: The Whole People of God; Nan Corrigan D. M.

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

March 1st, 2015-2nd Sunday of Lent

Announcements The Work of Church and Community

The liturgy for Lent follows traditional lines though it is written in a pattern to employ a “river” theme

REFLECT

Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit

Introit      Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery, v. 2      VU 121

Poem “Blessing”      For quiet reflection as we gather

After all these years,

after so much yearning,

endless disappointments,

and unfulfilled dreams

– now a blessing;

and with it, a change of name.

Do I put aside all of my past,

the woman I have been,

the pains I have endured,

and become someone totally new?

Or keep it all,

but the I

who was assured a forlorn finish,

and avail myself

of a different ending?

© Neryl McCallum

INVITE

Call to Worship At the 2nd bend in the river...a place of “elders”

People of God, we gather again:
in this sacred space, in this sacred moment.
Just for a time leave daily concerns aside,
for here we recall the stories of faith,
here we see God moving amongst us,
here we are known by name,
here we remember whose we are.

*Hymn      Great Is Thy Faithfulness      VU 288

Lenten Triad Candle Extinguishing (Tenebrae) (Four purple candles, pink candle, and Christ candle are lighted prior to worship.)

Adult: ... We have so often trusted in our own strength. (2nd candle is extinguished.)

Let us pray:

All: O God, we confess that we have put our hope in many things –
our families, our jobs, our friends, and our possessions.
Help us to focus ourselves and put our trust in you.
Give us strength to live up to the promises
we have made as your covenant people.
May your constant love be with us
as we put our hope in you. Amen.

Sung Assurance      Like a Mighty River Flowing, v. 2      VU 267

VOICE

Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16      Covenant between Abram, Sarai, and God.

One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 22:23–31 You have not hidden your face, O God. VU 746

*Hymn      To Abraham and Sarah      VU 634

Opening the Word & Lord’s Prayer

Responsive reading

A: When Abram was ninety-nine
B: …old, nearly dead,
A: Yahweh appeared to him
B: …as in many times before
A: and as they walked
B: …and spoke
A: Yahweh bound them together
B: …in covenant.
A: Abram was changed
B: …in name and nature,
A: for God promised
B: …a future,
A: an everlasting bond between God and humanity
B: …for all generations and for all time,
A: made firm as Sarai,
B: …who was childless,
A: became Sarah,
B: …a mother,
A: and took her place in the eternal flow of the divine life of faith.

A Reading of the Poem “Blessing”

Prayer

And so, God, here we are, ready to see you walking amongst us, ready to hear you calling our names and to acknowledge our true nature, seeking the assurance of that long ago promise, that you will abide with us for all our days, and be a loving presence to all your children for time eternal. Amen.

ENGAGE

*Hymn      O Jesus, I Have Promised      VU 120

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer
Just as you are the God who knows us by name, so are you the God who knows all those in need by name. May these, our gifts, be a beacon of light to those are in need. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

REALIZE

*Hymn            When We Are Living              VU 581

*Commissioning

*Choral Amen