Contact Online is a Blog for St. Mark's United Church Community of Faith, Region 15 of the United Church of Canada. 504 Bernard Street, Port Hawkesbury, N.S. B9A 1L2, E-mail: stmarksuc@gmail.com St. Mark's United Church accepts and welcomes all people as we share and grow in acceptance, learn, love and share our Christian faith in God's love. Phone: (902) 625-2229, Church Services are held every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Good Morning Friends,
-- no social events, special events, festivals, arts/cultural events, sports events, faith gatherings, wedding receptions, or funeral visitation or receptions
Please stay safe:
wear a mask,
stay 2 metres apart
don't touch your face
and wash your hands!
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
ST. MARK’S COMMUNITY OF FAITH
Port Hawkesbury, NS
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2021 – 3:00 PM
Pulpit Supply: Pastor Keith Wiseman, DLM
Music: Adam Cooke
WE GATHER IN COMMUNITY AND APPROACH GOD
Piano Prelude
Introit ‘Jesus Stand Among Us’ VU #396
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
Welcome:
May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.
And also with you.
Call To Worship: (responsive)
Listen everyone!
The Shepherd is calling.
Listen everyone!
Can you hear the Shepherd’s voice?
Listen everyone!
It is the voice of warmth, nourishment, purpose and community. It is the voice of life. Let us come to God who welcomes us with open arms and abundant life. Richard Bott -adapted
Hymn: ‘Three Things I Promise’ MV # 176
Gathering Prayer, Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance:
WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORD
Hymn: ‘I Have Called You by Your Name’ MV #161
Prayer of Illumination: (unison)
Great Shepherd of the flock, reveal your truth to us, for it is only truth that will set us free. Amen.
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 23
A Reading From the First Letter of John: 1 John 3: 16-24
Children’s Song: ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’
Reading from the Gospel of Jesus Christ: John 10: 11-18
Choir Anthem: ‘Called by Earth and Sky’ MV #135
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD
Sermon: “I Am The Good Shepherd” Pastor Keith Wiseman
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer:
THE LIFE AND WORK OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Announcements & Minute For Mission:
Hymn: ‘What Can I Do? MV #191
Dedication of Offering:
God, you are like a shepherd to us
and you lead us in green pastures. When our cup over-
flows, inspire our generosity so that we may give joyfully
and generously for the work of the church, both here and
far away. In your name we ask it. Amen.
Kate Crawford
SENDING FORTH
Closing Hymn: ‘Know That God Is Good’ MV #104
We Bless One Another As We Go Into The World:
As we return to the world, may we listen for the voice of
our wonderful Shepherd, who gave himself for us.
May we share his love, in joy and fellowship, with open
hearts, open minds, open hands, and open lives for all
the world. Amen.
George Allan
Piano Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Church Services for May
Scripture Readers Minute for Mission Readers
May 2nd –Joyce Oliver-Snair Larry Evans
May 9th – Dave Chapman Barb MacIntyre
May 16th –Jean MacPherson Anna Marie Langley
May 23rd –Larry Evans Yvonne Fox
May 30th- Barb MacIntyre Olivia Langley
St. Mark’s will resume weekly Church services next Sunday.
Barbara Blois MacNaughton begins her ministry with us.
Sunday, May 2nd at 9:30 AM.
The next Prayer Shawl Knitting meeting will be Monday, May 16th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Church hall. Masks must be worn. Covid-19 guidelines will be followed regarding safe distancing and sanitizing. There will be no access to the kitchen.
Volunteers are needed to help with the Collection Counting. There is a Sign-Up sheet in the Narthex. Your willingness will be greatly appreciated.
Food Bank donations will be received on the last Sunday of each month.
PLEASE NOTE: We are requesting that when the service is over the Congregation exit from the back pews first, therefore eliminating people from congregating in the Center aisle during this pandemic.
Clean up week here at the Church is Monday 26th, 27th and 28th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All help is welcome.
The Bulletin and Announcements are now published in full on the blog. The address is: ourcontactonline.blogspot.com
Mission Statement
St. Marks’s United Church accepts
and welcomes all people as we
grow in acceptance, learn, love,
and share our Christian faith in
God’s love. We will celebrate
God’s presence and advance
God’s purpose within our local
community and the global village
by applying Christ’s teachings to
our daily lives.
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
ST. MARK’S COMMUNITY OF FAITH
Port Hawkesbury, NS
Second Sunday of Easter
April 11, 2021, 3:00 p.m.
Pulpit Supply: Pastor Keith Wiseman, DLM
WE GATHER IN COMMUNITY AND APPROACH GOD
Introit: “In the Bulb There Is a Flower” VU #703
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
Welcome:
May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.
And also with you.
Call To Worship: (unison)
Apart from God, we have no life;
apart from one another, we cannot find life.
We gather now to renew our covenant with God and with each other, God’s faithful people.
Let grace and peace, forgiveness and Easter joy fill this place!
We welcome you God! We welcome you Jesus!
We welcome you Holy Spirit!
We welcome you Three in One!
Karen Biovin
Hymn: “Joy Comes with the Dawn” VU # 166
Gathering Prayer, Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance:
WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORD
“Jesus got a hold of my life and he won’t let me go”
Prayer of Illumination: (unison)
You call us to be an Easter people, O God.
Open us to your words of life.
Open us to the Word of life and love.
May all we say and do show your grace at
work in us. Amen
Beth Johnston
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 133
A Reading From the First Letter of John: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Reading from the Gospel of Jesus Christ: John 20: 19-31
Choir Anthem: “On Eagle’s Wings” VU #808
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD
Sermon: Pastor Keith Wiseman
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer:
THE LIFE AND WORK OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Announcements & Minute For Mission:
Hymn: “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” VU #541
Dedication of Offering:
Loving God, we are grateful for Christ’s life, death, and resurrection among us, bringing us to the fulness of life in the Spirit. Accept these gifts we offer in his name. Through them we pray that others might know the power of your Holy Spirit, for their lives and for the world. Amen.
SENDING FORTH
Closing Hymn: “Praise the Lord” VU #245
We Bless One Another As We Go Into The World:
Let us return to the world, seeking to be instruments of God’s love. Let us go, seeking God’s goodness in
everything and everyone. Let us go and be God’s
goodness, in Christ’s name.
Three-Fold Amen
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Church Services for April:
Scripture Readers
April 25th – Vida Hood
Minute for Mission Readers
April 25th – Katherine Langley
St. Mark’s will resume weekly Church services when Barbara Blois MacNaughton begins her ministry on May 2nd at 9:30 am.
Committee Meeting
Worship & Pastoral Care
Tuesday April 13th – 7PM
The next Prayer Shawl Knitting meeting will be April 19th
from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Church hall. Masks must be worn. Covid-19 guidelines will be followed regarding safe distancing and sanitizing. There will be no access to the kitchen.
Volunteers are needed to help with the Collection Counting.
There is a Sign-Up sheet in the Narthex. Your willingness will be greatly appreciated.
Food Bank donations will be received on the last Sunday of each month.
Can You Help?
On April 26th, 27th and 28th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm we will be doing the following: Cleaning windows & floors in the lobby, church and hall, cleaning the washrooms, wiping down the pews, dusting & vacuuming, and refreshing the Parlour. This is a general spring cleaning all in preparation of the arrival of the Minister on May 2nd.
Should you be physically unable to help, could you be able to make a donation for the purchase of cleaning supplies?
Thanks in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
The Bulletin and Announcements are now published in full on the blog. The address is
ourcontactonline.blogspot.com
Mission Statement
St. Marks’s United Church accepts
and welcomes all people as we
grow in acceptance, learn, love,
and share our Christian faith in
God’s love. We will celebrate
God’s presence and advance
God’s purpose within our local
community and the global village
by applying Christ’s teachings to
our daily lives.
Peace be With You
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
ST. MARK’S COMMUNITY OF FAITH
Port Hawkesbury, NS
Easter Sunday Service
April 4, 2021, 3:00 p.m.
Pulpit Supply: Pastor Keith Wiseman, DLM
Pianist: Mr. Adam Cooke
WE GATHER IN COMMUNITY AND APPROACH GOD
Introit: “God Is Not Dead, God Is Alive”
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
Welcome:
May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.
And also with you.
Call To Worship:
Jesus said to Mary, “Woman, why do you weep?”
Mary wept because all she could see in front of her was death!
She had lost her beloved teacher and friend.
Jesus says to us, “My people, why do you weep?”
Because, so often, all we can see in front of us is death.
We often lose sight of our path because of the tears and fears.
When Mary recognized the Christ, he said,
“I am ascending to my father and your father… to my God and your God!”
And so, we look for the Christ in the new life that grows within and without.
We remember that death has lost its sting.
We celebrate that we are one with the risen Christ, and part of the family and household of God.
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!
Hymn: “Morning Has Broken” VU #409
Gathering Prayer, Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance:
WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORD
Prayer of Illumination:
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm118: 1-2 & 14-24
A Reading From the Hebrew Scriptures: Isaiah 25: 6-9
Reading from the Gospel of Jesus Christ: John 20 1-18
Hymn: “Welcome, Happy Morning” VU #161
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD
Sermon: “Signs of Life Everywhere” Pastor Keith Wiseman
Hymn: “Spirit of the Living God” VU #376
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Prayers of the People:
THE LIFE AND WORK OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Announcements & Minute For Mission:
Hymn: “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” VU #541
Dedication of Offering:
Jesus gave all he had, and continued to give even beyond the grave. He just couldn’t help it. Bless these gifts with that extraordinary love.
SENDING FORTH
Closing Hymn: “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” VU #155
We bless one another as we go into the world:
Go with Easter joy deep within your heart.
Go with Easter songs singing on your lips.
Go with the message of Easter in your heart that God loves us and will
never leave us.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Church Services for April
Scripture Readers
April 11th – Iaian Langley
April 25th – Vida Hood
Minute for Mission Readers
April 11th –Yvonne Fox
April 25th – Katherine Langley
Memorial Donation
To the General Fund: In Loving Memory of parents Hazel & Harry Smith and brother Sonny from Roy, Sharon and families.
St. Mark’s will resume weekly Church services when Barbara Blois MacNaughton begins her ministry on May 2nd at 9:30 am.
Committee Meeting - Worship & Pastoral Care
Tuesday April 13th – 7PM
The next Prayer Shawl Knitting meeting will be April 19th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Church hall. Masks must be worn. Covid-19 guidelines will be followed regarding safe distancing and sanitizing. There will be no access to the kitchen.
Volunteers are needed to help with the Collection Counting. There is a Sign-Up sheet in the Narthex. Your willingness will be greatly appreciated.
Food Bank donations will be received on the last Sunday of each month.
Can You Help?
On April 26th, 27th and 28th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm we will be doing the following: Cleaning windows & floors in the lobby, church and hall, cleaning the washrooms, wiping down the pews, dusting & vacuuming, and refreshing the Parlor. This is a general spring cleaning all in preparation of the arrival of the Minister on May 2nd.
Should you be physically unable to help, could you be able to make a donation for the purchase of cleaning supplies?
Thanks in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
The Bulletin and Announcements are now published in full
on the blog. The address is: ourcontactonline.blogspot.com
MISSION STATEMENT
St. Marks’s United Church accepts
and welcomes all people as we
grow in acceptance, learn, love,
and share our Christian faith in
God’s love. We will celebrate
God’s presence and advance
God’s purpose within our local
community and the global village
by applying Christ’s teachings to
our daily lives.