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
Presbytery
Website: inverguyunited.ca
Ministers:
The Whole People of God
Nan
Corrigan D. M.
Minister
of Music: Al Fougere
December 28th,
2014
1st
Sunday of Christmas-Let All Creation Praise
Service of Scripture,
Prayer and Song
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 Il est né (chorus
only) VU 50
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
jouez, hautbois, résonnez,
musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant;
chantons tous son avènement.
He is born, little Child divine;
play on the reeds while the lutes
are strumming.
He is born, little Child divine;
join the song to announce the
day.
*Call
to Worship
One: Come and celebrate the good news:
our hope has been fulfilled!
People: Christ the Savior is born!
Thanks be to God!
One: God’s promise has come true, and
our salvation is here!
People: Christ the Savior is born!
Thanks be to God!
One: Let us rejoice and sing praises to
God!
People: Christ the Savior is born!
Thanks be to God!
*Hymn Angels
From the Realms of Glory VU
36
Opening
Prayer
Gracious
God, we thank you that you sent Jesus as one of us, to be our friend
and saviour. We thank you for this Christmas season which is just
beginning, and pray that you will walk with us through the days and
weeks to come, helping us to spread the good news of Christ’s birth
with everyone. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*Hymn The
Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy VU
73
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S
WORD
Isaiah 61:10—62:3
God clothes with salvation and righteousness.
One: This is the witness of
the Hebrew people.
All:
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 111
(refrain tune: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”)
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Has come
to thee, O Israel!
One: Praise
the Lord! With all my heart I will thank the Lord in the assembly of
the people.
All: How
wonderful are the things God does! All who are delighted with them
want to understand them!
One: All
that God does is full of honor and majesty; God’s righteousness is
eternal.
All: God
does not let us forget God’s wonderful actions;
our God
is kind and merciful.
Refrain
One: God
provides food for those who are faithful, and never forgets the
covenant he has made with us.
All: God
has shown us great power by giving us the heritage of nations.
One: The
works of God’s hands are faithful and just and dependable.
All: They
last for all time; they were given in truth and righteousness.
One: God has
set the people free, and made an eternal covenant with them. Holy and
mighty is our God!
All: The
way to become wise is to have reverence for God, who gives sound
judgment to all who obey God’s commands.
Refrain
*Hymn Away
in a Manger VU
69
Opening the Word & Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel
Acclamation
Luke 2:22–40
Jesus is presented in the temple.
One:
The gospel of Jesus
Christ. All: Praise to
you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Opening
the Word 2 A
visit from Anna and Simeon
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
Singing of Favourite Christmas Carols
Minute for Mission
Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
O generous
Creator, giver of every good gift, let our offerings keep the
life of those gifts circulating. Accept, we pray, these tokens of our
gratitude for all we have received. May they be of use in extending
the work of our faith community to the world beyond our doors. Amen.
*Affirmation
of Faith Christmas
Creed from Latin America
I
believe in Jesus Christ and in the power of the gospel,
begun
in Bethlehem.
I
believe in the one whose spirit glorified a small village,
of
whose coming shepherds saw the sign, and for whom
there
was no room at the inn.
I
believe in the one whose life changed the course
of
history, over whom the rulers of the earth had no
power,
and who was not understood by the proud.
I
believe in the one to whom the oppressed, the
discouraged,
the afflicted, the sick, the blind, the injured
gave
welcome, and accept as Lord and Savior.
I
believe in the one who – with love – changed the heart
of
the proud and with his life showed that it is better
to
serve than to be served, and that the greatest joy is
giving
your life for others.
I
believe in peace, which is not the absence of war, but
justice
among all people and nations and love among all.
I
believe in reconciliation, forgiveness, and the
transforming
power of the gospel.
I
believe that Christmas is strength and power, and that
this
world can change if with humility and faith we
kneel
before the manger.
I
believe that I must be the first one to do so.
Prayers
of the People
One:
God of
compassion, as close to us as every breath:
All:
we give thanks for the life you have granted us. May our actions come
from love, and do no harm.
One:
God of
righteousness who acts with innocent justice:
All:
grant us courage and strength to do likewise. May we in turn keep
loving covenant with one another and reach out to those in need.
One:
God of
salvation, who restored the fortunes of ancient Israel: All:
may we use our own resources well and wisely.
One:
And
lastly, we pray for ourselves,
All:
that in word, thought, and deed we be mindful of our own needs and
seek to have them met in ways that are loving and kind. May we
acknowledge what power we do have, and use it in service of Christ’s
vision for the world. Amen.
WE GO
TO SERVE GOD
*Hymn Angels
We Have Heard on High VU
38
*
Sending Out
One: As the
shepherds went forth praising God for all they had seen and heard,
All: Let us go
forth to spread the good news of Christ’s birth.
One: As Simeon
and Anna rejoiced when they saw the newborn Messiah,
All: Let us go
forth to share the joy we know as children of God.
One: As saints
through the ages like Wenceslas and countless others have shown by
their example the love of God alive in the world,
All: Let us go
forth to live the Christmas message of love, peace, joy and hope
every day!
One: And the
blessing of God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, be with you all.
*Choral Amen
