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
July 1st, 2018-6th Sunday after Pentecost
Canada Day-Multiculturalism Sunday
Let us pause to remember that in this region we live and work and worship on lands that are, by law, the unceded territories of the Wabanaki peoples—predominantly the lands of the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy. May we live with respect on this land, and live in peace and friendship with its people.
Announcements The Work of Church and Community
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Greeting One: Christ is the Prince of Peace, ambassador for God’s realm. This peace is not the cessation of war; rather, it is the deep silence of knowing God within your being. This is the peace that I wish for you when I say “Peace be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
*Introit O Canada VU 524
Call to Worship
One: We are gathering the nations, relearning the languages;
All: all will gather in the presence of our glorious God. (Isaiah 66:18b)
One: From north and south, east and west, we are coming,
All: for all are called to be citizens of God’s realm. (Luke 13:29)
One: Let us thank and praise God for our gifts of diversity!
All: Praise God from whom all these blessings flow!
Opening Prayer
One: All-inclusive God, you call us to be in right relationship with one another and promise to be with us wherever two or three are gathered.
All: Our community of faith is made up of people from many
different places and cultures. Open our hearts to truly seek the blessings of diversity among us.
One: And let the people say: All: Amen!
*Hymn Draw the Circle Wide MV 145
Prayer for Healing (Prayer of Confession)
One: Let us offer to God our failures and brokenness:
All: Creator, it isn’t easy to live out our convictions. Sometimes prejudice or fear about difference gets in our way. If we have rushed in and ignored another’s wisdom, forgive us. If we have used the church structure to limit the participation of others, forgive us. If we have designed worship that excludes others, forgive us. Push us out of our comfort zone that we might greet you in the faces of strangers. Open our hearts and minds to the mystery and beauty of your diverse creation. Amen.
Assurance of Grace
One: Friends, be assured that God, the very source of our being, loves you and has a dream about how you can best flourish in the Holy One’s creation. Thanks be to God!
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Genesis 12:1–9 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him...This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 72 Justice shall flourish and peace abound. VU 790
*Hymn Abraham Journeyed to A New Country Printed
The Gospel Acclamation
Luke 1:46–55 All generations will call me blessed.
One: This is Good News! All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Opening the Word
Litany for Multiculturalism Sunday
One: It’s hard to feel we belong, Holy One; we’ve been uprooted and hastily replanted in foreign soil. Our roots are shallow and sometimes it feels like a strong wind will blow us away.
All: Creator, may we have hearts to listen and understand.
One: It’s hard to pray in a borrowed language. It’s hard to share the pain or whisper our deepest fears and prayers. It’s hard to feel we can have a say in the way things are done around here. We learn your language. You don’t know ours.
All: Jesus, help us learn the art and artistry of welcoming.
One: For some of us, it is hard to remember when our families arrived in this place. We have often lost the thread of our culture and call it “our heritage.”
All: Spirit, help us find ways to cross the divide that lies between us, so that bridges of love and justice can be built. Amen.
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn In Christ There Is No East or West VU 606Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Song Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow VU541
Prayers of the People
One: For the Indigenous peoples of Canada, the first to offer hospitality to newcomers in this land, we thank you. And we ask:
All: Noh-ta-wi-nan peh-ta-wi-nan ea-ya-mi-ha-ya (Cree)
One: For migrants, refugees, and strangers in our midst, we pray that they may find hope in our concern for justice and feels the warmth of the Creator, we pray saying:
All: Oh God, hear our prayer (English)
One: For our politicians and leaders, that they may find ways to treat immigrants and refugees with justice, celebrating the gifts brought to our community, we pray saying:
All: O Dieu, entendent notre prière (French)
One: For migrant workers, immigrants, refugees, and all newcomers, that they may be welcomed into our community of faith, we pray saying:
All: O Dios, escucha nuestra oración (Spanish)
One: For our community, gathered here today to celebrate our unity, and that we many come to greater understanding and acceptance of our differences, we pray saying:
All: Ya allah , 'asmae salatana (Arabic) يا الله ، اسمع صلاتنا
One: For those of us who are overwhelmed by loneliness, poverty, and despair, that they might be comforted through assistance and kindness, we pray saying:
All: A Dhia, eisd ri ar n-ùrnaigh (Gaelic)
One: For those in special needs, that the Holy One, in his mercy, may heal the ill, comfort the dying, and keep those still travelling safe to their destination, we pray saying:
All: 오 하나님, 우리의기도를 들어주십시오
o hananim, uliuigidoleul deul-eojusibsio. (Korean)
One: We gather all these prayers, and those tucked away so deep in our hearts that they are only visible to you, and we lift them to you.
The Lord’s Prayer
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn May the God of Hope Go with Us VU 424*Commissioning
One: Friends, we have come from the far corners of the world
All: to create this community of faith: We will welcome as we have been welcomed, love as we are loved.
Go from this place knowing you are never alone
for you go with God, the Source of Love;
Jesus, the Love Incarnate;
and the Holy Spirit, the Love’s Power. (St. Anselm)
*Benediction and Choral Amen
Sent Out in Jesus’ Name MV 212
Adapted from a worship service From All Corners of the World
written by The Rev. Teresa Burnett-Cole, Coordinating Minister
at Glebe St. James United Church, Ottawa. Used with permission.
