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
February 28th, 2016-Lent 3
Announcements The Work of Church and Community
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
GreetingOne: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit.
*Introit Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery vs. 3 VU 121
Call to Worship Based on Psalm 63:1–8
One: Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!All: God, our souls thirst for you, our flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land.
One: Why do you labour and spend your money on the things that don’t satisfy?
All: We look up and see God in the sanctuary.
One: Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food.
All: Our souls are satisfied with a rich feast, and our mouths praise you with joyful lips.
One: Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you
may live.
All: We will bless you as long as we live! We will lift up our hands and call on your name!
One: Come, let us worship.
Opening Prayer A Prayer with Actions
God, we look up and see you in the sanctuary.We come to you hungry and thirsty,
ready to be filled with the bread of life,
ready to be refreshed by living water.
God, our lips praise your name,
singing songs and shouting to the heavens.
We cling to you, God, in times of trouble.
We cling to you, God, when we fall.
We lift up our hands and call on your name.
We come to this place to satisfy our souls,
to meditate on your love,
to remember the journeys of those who go before us.
God, in the shadow of your wings, we sing for joy! Amen.
*Hymn Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love VU 574
Lenten Triad Candle Extinguishing (Tenebrae)(Three purple candles, pink candle and Christ candle are lit prior to worship.)
Let us pray:
One: Today is the third Sunday of Lent. Lent is a time to think about the things that block us from following God's way of loving and caring for this world and one another.
Two: Today we will put out our third Lenten candle. This candle represents fear.
One: As the candle is put out, let us pray in silence for God to remove fear within us and in our world that stops us from trusting God.
(Snuff out third Lenten candle and then pause with head bowed for silence.)
Knowing that God accepts us for who we are, but loves us into who we can be, let us join together in this song,
Sung Assurance: Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery vs. 3 VU 121
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Isaiah 55:1–9 Come, buy wine and milk without money!
One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people.All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 63 I long for you, O God. Refrain 2 VU 781
Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn Seek Ye First the Kingdom VU 356
The Gospel Acclamation
Luke 13:1–9 The parable of the barren fig tree.
One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.All: Thanks be to God.
Opening the Word 2
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn The Church’s One Foundation VU 331
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
Generous God, we dedicate these gifts and our whole lives to you. You provide for our needs and deepest longings. Take these gifts and help them be the water that quenches others’ thirst, and the food that makes a rich feast of justice and peace in today’s world. Amen.Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah VU 651
*Commissioning and Benediction
Go out now, fed by the rich feast that God has set before you.Use your whole self to praise God and love others this week.
Listen for the promise of God this week;
seek to draw closer to God;
show others God’s love and compassion;
return to a gracious and forgiving God when you fall short;
and know that you are upheld by God’s right hand.
