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: 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
January 28th 2018—4th after Epiphany
Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2017–2018
Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2017, p. 143
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit.*Introit When the Wind of Winter Blows Verse 1 MV 71
Call to Worship
One: We enter this sanctuary of truth.All: In the company of sinners, in cahoots with saints:
One: we gather as God’s people.
All: We come, people of deep, abiding faith;
and people seeking a way, straining our ears for the good news:
we lift our praise to God.
Opening Prayer
One: Faithful and just God:All: our songs of gratitude echo down the hallways of creation.
One: You reach out your hand to lift us up so we may follow you.
Holy God:
All: our songs of praise echo down the hallway of our hearts.
One: Without your wisdom, we would be speechless;
without your peace, we would be heartless;
without your presence, we would be graceless.
Bearer of truth:
All: our songs of joy echo down the hallways of eternity.
One: God in Community, Holy in One,
may our songs echo in your heart. Amen.
*Hymn This Day God Gives Me VU 410
Prayer for Wholeness
God of truth and love, there are times when we fill our souls with the empty sounds of our culture and miss your words of hope, of grace, of comfort.Sometimes, we do not heed your hopes for us.
Sometimes, our pride gets in the way of witnessing to your love.
Forgive us, Holy One, and be gracious to us.
Astound us with your words, so we may learn your ways;
nourish us with your mercy, so we may be filled with life;
and overflow with praise for you. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Words of Affirmation
One: Of all the astounding works of God, this may be the most wonderful: God is gracious and merciful to all!All: What is this? Good news, of the very best kind!
We give our heartfelt thanks to God.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Deuteronomy 18:15–20 God will raise up a prophet after Moses.
One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.Psalm 111 The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. VU 833
*Hymn Praise My Soul the God of Heaven VU 240
Opening the Word & Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Mark 1:21–28 A new teaching—with authority.
One: The gospel of Jesus Christ. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.Opening the Word 2 A Monologue
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
*Hymn Healer of Our Every Ill VU 619
Minute for Mission and Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
When we think we should dictate how our gifts should be used, Loving God, remind us that all we have and are is yours.May our treasures bring new hope to those in despair, words of affirmation to the bullied, and life to everyone who is broken. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Times of Silence will be offered.WE GO TO SERVE GOD
*Hymn Holy God, We Praise Your Name VU 894
* Sending Out
One: Let us go now into the world, not with power tightly grasped,All: but with the humility to know we do not have all the answers.
One: Let us go now into the lives of others, not to direct,
All: but to share in their brokenness as well as their hopes.
One: Let us go now into our communities, not with loud voices,
All: but with gentle whispers of grace and mercy.
