ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MAY 21ST 2017-6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

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: stmarksuc@gmail.com

Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/

Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca

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

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

May 21st, 2017-6th Sunday of Easter

Sacrament of Baptism-St. Mark’s

Announcements         The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

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

*Introit Fresh as the Morning verse 4 MV 28

Call to Worship 

All:  (sing) Lord Jesus, breathe on me; give me strength today. 
Holy Spirit, work in me. For this I pray.
One:  God is with us in this place.
All:  God is with us, and around us, and in us.
One:  God dwells in us and we dwell in God.
All:  God hears our prayers. God’s love is constant.
One: Come, let us worship the One here with us.
All: (sing) Lord Jesus, breathe on me; give me strength today. 
Holy Spirit, work in me. For this I pray.

Opening Prayer

We open our hearts to one another
and, in these moments of stillness,
become aware of the warmth, the breath, the life we share.
The Spirit of Christ abides
in the shared space between us.
May we inhale deeply of this sacred presence
and exhale words and actions of godly love.  Amen.

*Hymn Joyful, Joyful We Adore You VU 232

Prayer for Wholeness

We are joined together by Christ’s Spirit.
Through this joining, we know Love
and we are able to speak, and act, and be love.
Mindful of this Spirit,
let us be aware of the faith we share
and the strain that is sometimes part of our reality.
(Pause for silent prayer)
Forgive us God.
Forgive us God when we fall short
of the dream you have for us
and the dream we have for ourselves.
Refresh us with your spirit
that we may again be free to love
with all our heart.

Words of Assurance

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Acts 17:22–31 Paul points the Athenians to “the unknown god.”

One: This is the witness of the early church. All: Thanks be to God. 

Psalm 66:8–20 God preserved us. Pts. 2 & 3 VU 784, 785

*Hymn I have called you by your name MV 161

Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer (St. David’s)

Sacrament of Baptism (St. Mark’s)

Gospel Acclamation

John 14:1-21 Jesus’ farewell discourse.

One: Herein is Good News.   All: Praise be to God. 

Opening the Word 2

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn   Healer of Our Every Ill VU 619  

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer

Here we offer our gifts to you, Giving God. Take them. Use them. Take us, and use us. May we be always your arms reaching out in love to a hurting world. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

One: We call upon your Spirit to come into our world, 
All: and we name that Spirit, “Peace.”  
  “Justice”
  “Hope”
  “Comforter”
  “Friend”

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn Make Me a Channel of Your Peace VU 684

*Commissioning 

One: Take with you these words of Christ: 
“I will not leave you orphaned.” 
All: We are never alone! 
One: “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me.” 
All: God guides us in all we do. 
One: “Because I live, you will live also.” 
All: In Christ we have new and everlasting life. 

*Choral Amen