St. Mark’s United Church, Port Hawkesbury
DLM-R/MDiv Student Barb MacNaughton
Phone (902) 302-5832
Pianist: Adam Cooke
Office Administrator: Jane MacKinnon
Ministry: The Whole Congregation
Season of Creation: Creation invites - Depend Upon Me!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Sunday October 10th, 2021
The Community Gathers
Welcome and Announcements
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
This candle represents for us the light of Christ. It reminds us of the colours of creation that paint our lives, it warms us in the cold, and it brightens our paths when all seems dark. May we take this light wherever we go and share it with others! Amen.
♫ Introit: Praise God for this Holy Ground MV 42, verse 1
Praise God for this Holy Ground,
Place and People, sight and sound,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
God’s goodness is eternal.
Call to Gather:
For the beauty of our earth, for the colours of the fall,
We give thanks this day.
For the miracles we see each day around us,
We give thanks this day.
For the spirit that surrounds us and encourages us to be the people of God in this place,
We give thanks this day.
Let us come together in prayer…
Prayer of the Day:
Creator God, we are so very thankful for the bounty that we have in our lives. We give thanks this day for the beauty of creation, for the love of family and friends, and for the gifts that we receive through our faith community. We give our thanks freely, so all around us may feel your presence this day and every day. Amen.
♫Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth VU 226
Centering Prayer
♫ Hymn: Lord Listen to your Children Praying VU 400
Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord send your spirit in this place
Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us power, send us grace.
♫ Hymn: Called by Earth and Sky MV 135
The Community Explores
Prayer for Illumination:
We pray, O God, for listening ears and open hearts as we hear the words of our ancient scripture this day. Amen.
Scripture:
HS: Joel 2: 21-27
OT: Psalm 126 VU page 850
NT: 1 Timothy 2: 1-7
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6: 25-33
Message
♫Hymn: Grateful MV 182
The Community Celebrates
Minute for Mission
♫ Offering Hymn: VU 538
For the Gift of Creation, the gift of your love
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.
Offering Prayer:
Giving God, we gather on this Thanksgiving Sunday to offer this prayer of gratitude. We have been given many gifts in our lives and it is our time to give our gifts in return. May these gifts of time, talent and treasure help to bring about the kingdom here in this place and beyond. Amen.
Our Joys and Concerns and Lighting the candle of caring:
As one heart is lifted
May we share its celebration
As one heart is burdened
May we share the pain it knows
And so we take this flame and light our special care candle… in all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful of the present-ness of God among us.
Prayers for the people and Lord’s Prayer
♫Hymn: As Those of Old Their First-fruits Brought VU 518
The Community Goes Forth
Commissioning/Benediction
♫Closing: Choral Amen
One License A-401486
Ministering through leadership this morning are:
Minister: Barbara MacNaughton
Pianist: Adam Cook
Lay Reader: Barb Mac Intyre
Mission Moment: Yvonne Fox
Counters: Clark Brander, Eric Dawson
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFICE HOURS: Thursday & Friday 8-12 noon
Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.
Lay Readers:
October 17th – Larry Evans
October 24th – Wayne Simpson
October 31St – Archie Noseworthy
Minute for Mission Readers:
October 17th – Linda Howlett
October 24th – Larry Evans
October 31st – Barb Mac Intyre
Collection Counters/Recorders Needed – Please sign up. The load gets lighter when many helping hands participate.
On the 9th of October our On Line Auction starts and closes 2 weeks later.
You can help us with this as well.
Ideas for Auction
New items…everything from clothes to car parts to household items, hair products to jewellery. If it has never been used we will take it. Hand Crafted Items, wood, quilting, knitting, crocheting, needle point; if you built it we will be happy to add it.
Gift item: make a nice Christmas theme basket, or a bath basket, maybe a pickle and preserve basket, the ideas are endless… and don’t forget the little ones.
Food offerings: maybe you are a pie maker they are hot in the auctions, Christmas is coming maybe assorted sweets, cookies are always a big hit, Biscuits, breads, or maybe you would want to offer up a meal for 4, Or host a dinner for 6, and the list goes on.
We ask that you note the cost of the item as this gives people who are bidding the value of the item. Keeping in mind some items may be priceless! Also if you could include a description of the item.
These are just a few items, so use your imagination and I am sure you will come up with something.
Any items can be dropped off at the church office on the following days - Monday to Friday, in the mornings and you can call 902-625-2229 to make sure someone is there.
ADVANCE NOTICES
St. Mark’s Committees and Board meet Tuesday October 12th, 6:30 p.m.
October 17th: Service will be led by Lorna Mac Rury
Prayer Shawl Knitting
Monday October 18th in the hall from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. As we are a non essential service Phase 5 Protocol for Covid-19 will be followed.
Food Bank Sunday – Last Sunday of the month.
