Baptism of Harlow Lily Spencer
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
September 18th,
2016-Creation Time
Thoughts
around which to gather as we worship: After the first human being was created, God placed him in a fertile garden
of trees to serve and to protect it. Christ’s teaching affirms this vocation.
Disciples of Christ are called to be servants of all. By implication, the “all”
includes “all things” in creation. Our mission, then, includes a vocation to
minister to Earth and to serve our kin in creation. This role implies that we
stand in solidarity with creation and that we cooperate with God and with
nature in restoring Earth.
From The
Season of Creation: A Preaching Commentary, edited by Norman Habel, David
Rhoads, and Paul Santmire (Fortress, 2011)
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 For the
Beauty of the Earth verse 1 VU 226
Call to
Worship Based on Jeremiah 8:18—9:1
Opening Prayer
Through your mercy, generous
God,
you answered the cry of
Jeremiah for his people.
They had become so lost that
They had become so lost that
it was difficult to find their way back to you.
You dressed their wounds and helped restore their lands.
Through your grace, they had a future
You dressed their wounds and helped restore their lands.
Through your grace, they had a future
that allows us to be here
today.
Now we turn back to you and cry out for your creation,
aware that the harm we have done to her
aware that the harm we have done to her
will not easily be reversed.
Great Physician, show us how to soothe
Great Physician, show us how to soothe
the earth’s scars and nurse
her back to health.
Give us the strength to ensure
Give us the strength to ensure
that generations will enjoy her bounty. Amen.
* Hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful VU 291
Prayer for Wholeness
Your
ways require time,
and we have none to spare.
Your solutions need effort,
but we’re often too tired to care.
You expect us to be generous,
yet we often feel shortchanged.
You call us to work together,
but from so many we are estranged.
and we have none to spare.
Your solutions need effort,
but we’re often too tired to care.
You expect us to be generous,
yet we often feel shortchanged.
You call us to work together,
but from so many we are estranged.
For you, your earth, and all
your children,
make us cherish time well spent.
For the future quickly approaching,
help us serve like the Son you sent.
For equal portions of your gifts,
may we embrace the ways of sharing
For the spreading of your love,
encourage us in the arts of caring. Amen.
make us cherish time well spent.
For the future quickly approaching,
help us serve like the Son you sent.
For equal portions of your gifts,
may we embrace the ways of sharing
For the spreading of your love,
encourage us in the arts of caring. Amen.
Assurance of Love
Paul wrote to Timothy
that God desires everyone be saved,
and that it is in following Jesus
that the road to new life is paved. Thanks be.
that God desires everyone be saved,
and that it is in following Jesus
that the road to new life is paved. Thanks be.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Jeremiah 8:18—9:1
The prophet
laments that time is running out.
One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
79:1–9 People have damaged
God’s temple. VU 793
*Hymn (St. M.) I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry VU 644
(St.
D.) Make Me a Channel of Your Peace VU 684
Opening the Word/The Lord's
Prayer Baptism at St. Mark’s
The Gospel Acclamation
Luke 16:1–13 A steward uses his creativity for a better future.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. All: Thanks be to God.
Opening the Word 2
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn I’m
Gonna Live So God Can Use Me VU 575
Minute for Mission &
Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
Prayers
of Thanksgiving and Concern
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn Go to the World VU 420
*
Commissioning for Mission
One
idea is interesting. Two ideas can blossom.
Invite the Spirit into all our thoughts,
and it can be world-changing.
Let’s think, pray, and act together
for the sake of Mother Earth.
Invite the Spirit into all our thoughts,
and it can be world-changing.
Let’s think, pray, and act together
for the sake of Mother Earth.
*Blessing
May God, our Creator, who desires our salvation;
Christ, our Redeemer, who invites us into a new way of life;
and the Holy Spirit, who sustains us with a creative spark
be with us forever as we dwell on this beautiful earth
and then take our rest in God’s heavenly garden.
Christ, our Redeemer, who invites us into a new way of life;
and the Holy Spirit, who sustains us with a creative spark
be with us forever as we dwell on this beautiful earth
and then take our rest in God’s heavenly garden.
*Choral
Amen
This
service adapted from one written by The Rev. Karen Boivin who serves
Maxville-Moose Creek United Church in Maxville and Zion United Church in Apple
Hill, Ontario. Found at http://www.letallcreationpraise.org
