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 19th, 2017-7th Sunday after Epiphany
A thought around which to gather as we worship—“Love your enemies is as radical today as it was in ancient Galilee. Most political leaders who embrace conventional forms of Christianity ignore this saying because they consider it impracticable. The problem is that although peacemaking has been exemplified in the lives of our spiritual forerunners, it has not been lived out on a large scale on the socio-political-economic plane. Jesus’ way, and the way of peace in the major religions, is still pretty much an untried experiment.” (Susan McCaslin)
Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2016–2017
Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016, p. 179
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 spiritIntroit Listen, God is Calling MV 97
Call to Worship
One: We are called to turn the other cheek.All: We will seek to be vulnerable in our lives of faith and service.
One: We are called to go the extra mile.
All: We will be with those around us in the journeys of hope as well as fear.
One: We are called to love those who make that so hard.
All: We will rely on the One who loves us to fill us with that special grace.
Opening Prayer
*Hymn Take My Life and Let It Be VU 506
Prayer of Confession
One: God would teach us all we need in order to live in peace, to love others, to walk the right paths. Let us confess how foolish we are when we choose not to listen to such wisdom, as we pray together, saying,All: A friend hurts us, we hurt them back;
someone hits us, we strike back;
a family member ridicules us, we gossip about him or her.
That is how we have been taught to deal with those around us.
But now, God of mercy, you call us to a different life,
the life of forgiving, not avenging;
the life of peace, not anger;
the life of love, not hate.
As you forgive us of all we have done, and not done
may we walk in your new ways of living,
as we follow Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Words of Affirmation
One: It begins with God and ends with God – that love which can create, renew, restore. God loves you and forgives you – now and forever.All: As we listen to God’s songs of mercy, we are cradled in grace – now and forever. Amen.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18 Living the holy life.
One: Herein is Wisdom. All: Thanks be to God.Psalm 119 Teach me, O God, your ways Pt. 3, VU 839
* Hymn Love Us into Fullness MV 81
Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 5:38–48 Turn the other cheek; give your cloak.
One: Herein is Good News. All: Praise be to God.Opening the Word 2
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn When a Poor One VU 702
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
* Offering Prayer
We are called to share with everyone – our coats, our cloaks, our love, our forgiveness. May these gifts we offer be tangible hope to those walking in despair, real food for hungry children, safe shelter for the homeless, peace and reconciliation for the broken. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn Take Time to Be Holy VU 672
*Commissioning and Benediction
One: God teaches us to love,even imperfect people like ourselves.
All: We go to love those all around us.
One: God would teach us to deny ourselves,
even walking the extra mile with us.
All: We will seek to give ourselves to others
as generously as Jesus has been given to us.
