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
March 5th, 2017-1st Sunday of Lent
Sacrament of Communion
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 Love Us Into Fullness v 1, MV 81
Call to Worship
One: Come into the wilderness. Come to this place away from the world.All: We come to find ourselves ever more in the presence of God.
One: Come, as Jesus did, and rest a while.
All: When we rest, we find ourselves refreshed and renewed.
One: Come, knowing that wilderness is not a place to be feared, but a place to be enjoyed.
All: We come to find ourselves in this place.
One: Come into this sacred place, and let us worship God.
Opening Prayer
Loving God,today we begin our Lenten adventure,
a time of anticipation and wonder,
yet always overshadowed by the reality of the cross.
We come to this season hoping
that we might hear again in the stories of scripture
truths about your love for your people,
and find ourselves renewed in faith. Amen.
*Hymn Throughout These Lenten Days & Nights VU 108
Lenten Triad Candle Lighting Prayer of Confession
In place of a Lenten Tenebrae or extinguishing of candles, this year our ritual is one of gathering light to remember how people were drawn to Jesus during his ministry. This is symbolized by a central Christ candle from which a new candle is lit on each Sunday of Lent.(based on Psalm 32)
The first candle of Lent is lit from the Christ candle.
Leader 1: Each week during Lent we will light another candle during our prayer of confession. We light this candle as a symbol of our love for Jesus and our openness to being changed through joining our lives with his.
Leader 2: In the shining light of confession...
All: We open ourselves to you, O God.
Leader 1: Loving God, knowing and trusting you is what makes us truly happy. Yet how easily we forget you and are tempted to go it alone.
Leader 2: In the shining light of confession...
All: We open ourselves to you, O God.
Leader 1: We forget that you are the source of all we need.
Leader 2: In the shining light of confession...
All: Forgive us, and teach us your ways of life.
Words of Assurance
Leader: God’s love for us is everlasting. Those who trust in God will be surrounded by love, through all the ups and downs of life. Be glad and rejoice and shout for joy, all you seekers of God!People: Thanks and praise be to God!
Sung Assurance: Love Us Into Fullness v 1, MV 81
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 Eve and Adam Make a Choice
One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.Psalm 32 Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven. VU 759
*Hymn O God, How We Have Wandered VU 112
Opening the Word
The Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 4:1–11 The temptation of Jesus.
One: Herein is Good News. All: Praise be to God.
Lenten Call to a Holy Fast and a Holy Feast
Written by Tom Sherwood, Ottawa, Ont. Gathering, Lent/Easter 2017, page 59.
Used with permission.
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
Take these gifts we offer, loving God, and use them for your work. Take our very selves – our hopes, our dreams, our plans, our wonderings – and use them, too, to make your world a better place. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.* Communion Hymn We Will Take What You Offer MV196
Sacrament of Communion Communion Insert, cover of VU
Congregational Response during the Institution Narrative:
In a season of shadows, still your light shines.In a season of bewilderment, still your light shines.
In a season of confusion, still your light shines.
Distribution Hymn Eat This Bread Printed
Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry,Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.
1. I am the bread of life,
the true bread sent from the Father.
2. Your ancestors ate manna in the dessert,
but this is the bread come down from heaven
3. Eat my flesh and drink my blood,
and I will raise you up on the last day.
4. Any one who eats this bread,
will live for ever.
Affirmation of Faith The New Creed Back of Bulletin
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection VU 586
*Commissioning and Blessing
One: Even in times of temptations,All: God provides guidance and strength.
One: Even when we do things wrong,
All: God does not stop loving us and forgiving us.
One: Even when we are in the Season of Lent, moving towards Good Friday,
All: still there is light, and the promise of Easter.
One: So go into the world – and into this season – filled with thanksgiving for the God who never abandons us, no matter what, and know that God will be with you always.
