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
Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca
Ministers: The Whole People of God
Minister: Sue Betuik
Minister of Music: Al Fougere
September 21st, 2014—Creation Time 2
And God saw everything that [God] had made and, indeed, it was very good.
* stand as able
* stand as able
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 Called by Earth and Sky (Refrain)
Called by earth and sky, promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust, treasure of life sanctified,
Called by earth and sky.
*Call to Worship
One: The God of creation provided and sustains this beautiful world for us to share with all and with future generations yet to come.
All: We are called to be the planet’s caretakers.
One: God created us in the Divine’s own image
All: and set us free to be stewards of the earth.
One: God calls us to work together, as one worldwide community.
All: Let us worship God that we may work well on behalf of Mother Nature.
*Hymn We Praise You, Creator VU 293
Opening Prayer
Through our worship of you this morning, may we find our hearts and minds united with your Creating Spirit. Help us to be worthy of the gift of life you share with us. Inspire us in this hour together so that we may care more deeply for your good earth. Amen.
*Hymn For the Fruit of All Creation VU 227
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
We confess to you, Creator God
that we have not always taken care of our environment.
We are sorry for the ways we’ve abused it:
wasting it,
hoarding it,
destroying it,
taking it for granted.
Forgive our foolish ways.
(A moment of silence for private confession)
For these and all our foolish ways, we pray,
forgive us, loving God.
Guide us to work diligently with our beloved Earth.
With faith and assurance may we find ourselves
in new relationships with all of your Creation. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
God is always willing and ready to forgive us and to guide us.
As we strive to live in harmony with the Holy Spirit,
our daily work and play yield abundant fruit for all.
We are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and snow come down … One: Here is Wisdom.
All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 18:1-5a My God, my rock in whom I take refuge
Opening the Word and The Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Matthew13:1-8 A sower went out to sow
One: Here is Good News.
All: Praise be to God.
Reflection
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn I Feel the Winds of God Today VU 625
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
Let us present our gifts for our Creator. And as this is the time of year when we give thanks for the harvest, for the bounty of the fields and gardens. We offer our thanks by sharing this bounty with others as a thank you for all we have. Let us take up our offering.
*Offering Prayer
Loving Father, accept these gifts we bring this day.
May they be used to further your work in this community and beyond.
May they be in some special way a rich reflection of our work on behalf of your Creation and thus of your good seed growing in our good soil. Amen
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn Now Thank We All Our God VU 236
* Commissioning and Blessing
We have gathered to seek the Presence,
to hear Christ’s word,
and to give praise for God’s gift of Creation.
Participating through leadership in worship this morning are:
Worship Leader: Sue Betuik
Organist: Al Fougere
Lay Reader (St. M.): Judy Castle
(St. D.): Alicia Vink
Greeters and Collectors (St. M.): Valli Ross, Ingram Fowlie
Greeter (St. D.): Bob Downard
Collectors (St. D.): Iaian Langley, Heather Graham
