St. Mark’s United Church – Port Hawkesbury

DLM-R/MDiv Student – Barb MacNaughton (Phone #902-625-0407)

Pianist – Adam Cooke

Office Administrator – Jane MacKinnon

Ministry – The Whole Congregation

Sunday August 1^st. 2021

 

The Community Gathers

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle:

♫ Introit:  Rise Up                              130 MV

Gathering Words:

In this place, at this time, we seek to feel the presence of the sacred,

Whose presence we often forget to seek.

I invite us to relax into this holy place, to be one with the spirit

The spirit is within us and surrounding us always

Let us pray together… 

In the beauty of this day we see and feel the Holy that swirls among and within us. We are in awe of all life and all living.

May we feel the gentle breeze and be reminded that Spirit is love and love is everywhere. May we acknowledge that as we face new challenges, new dreams and new phases of our lives, sacredness is truly within each one of us. We are truly never alone. Amen

♫ Hymn: Come and Find a Quiet Centre     374 VU

Children’s time (if children are present)

Centering Prayer:

♫ Lord Listen to your Children Praying       400 VU

♫ Hymn:    Open My Eyes                          371 VU

The Community Explores

Prayer for Illumination: In our reading of the scriptures, the ancient stories of Faith are shared. In these sacred texts, may we be challenged, nourished and fulfilled. Amen.

Scriptures:

OT: 2 Samuel 11: 26-12: 13a    

RR: Psalm 51:      776 VU

NT: Ephesians 4:  1-16

Gospel Lesson: John 6: 24-35

Message

♫ Hymn:  When I needed a Neighbour   600 VU

The Community Celebrates

Minute for Mission: Yvonne Fox

Offering Prayer: 

With grateful hearts we offer ourselves this day, all that we are and all that we can be. With thankful hearts, we offer our gifts. May they be used to further the kingdom of God here in this place and beyond. Amen.

Our Joys and Concerns and Lighting the candle of caring:

As one heart is lifted

May we share its celebration

As one heart is burdened

May we share the pain it knows

And so we take this flame and light our special care candle … in all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful of the present-ness of God among us.

Prayers for the people and Lord’s Prayer

♫ Hymn: Come Let us Sing of a Wonderful Love      574 VU

The Community Goes Forth

Commissioning/Benediction

♫ Closing:   Strathdee Choral Amen (3x)

           Music Licence # A-401486

Ministering through leadership this morning are:                             

Minister:    Barb MacNaughton                                                                  

Pianist: Adam Cooke                                                                                  

Lay Reader: Jean Mac Pherson                                                             

Mission Moment: Yvonne Fox                                                                                                            

Collectors: Clark Brander, Anna Marie Langley

Announcements

*There will be Communion next Sunday, August 8th during the morning service.

Office Hours: Thursday & Fridays 8-12 noon.  

Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.

Lay Readers:                                                                                                                                                                  

August 8^th – Barb Mac Intyre

August 15^th – Wayne Simpson

August 22^nd – Archie Noseworthy

August 29^th – Iaian Langley

Minute for Mission Readers:

August 8^th – Linda Howlett

August 15^th – Larry Evans

August 22^nd – Barb MacIntyre

August 29^th – Anna Marie Langley

Collection Counters/Recorders Needed – Please sign up. The load gets lighter when many helping hands participate.

Sunday July 25 th, 2021 – 9th after Pentecost

St. Mark’s United Church – Port Hawkesbury

 

DLM-R/MDiv Student – Barb MacNaughton 

(902-625-0407)

Guest Minister – Jim MacNaughton, DLM-R 

(902-302-5923)

Pianist – Adam Cooke 

Office Administrator- Jane MacKinnon 

Ministry – The Whole Congregation

Sunday July 25 th, 2021 – 9th after Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Today we light our Christ Candle as a reminder that we are called to be followers of Jesus, to bring light to a darkened world, to help one another in our quest for goodness and justice. May our lights shine forever. Amen. 

Introit ♫: Rise Up, Rise Up   130 MV (x2)

Call to Worship: (reading responsively) 

We are a privileged people who for the most part have enough of everything to have a full life. But what happens when we think we need even more than this?

Some of us have serious health problems, some of us can barely pay all our bills, some of us are alone and afraid, so why shouldn’t we be entitled to ask for more? 

Our seeking more for ourselves needs to be in partnership with what is it that we can do for those who have far less than we do. Are we content with a balanced life where we take care of ourselves and then following what we think God asks of us?

On this day we come together as a Christian family being concerned for all people of this community, this country and this world. We look for ways to walk into our future, not just with humankind but with the Creation we live on and in faith with the God who calls us now. Come people of God let us worship together on this day!

Hymn ♫: We have this Ministry   510 VU

Prayer of Approach: (In Unison)

Gracious and Loving Spirit of God with us this day, we come in prayer seeking the mandate of who we claim to be as Christians in a world that is so diverse that sometimes we are rejected even by our own for pushing for a just and healing society. We have the opportunity in this God/Human relationship to do great things in this world if only we do not lose sight of the bigger picture that still calls us to be a servant people, just as Christ called himself to be the servant of all people. Looking at all the things we hope to achieve, we seek a balance of equity for all. Bless us O God as continue this Spiritual journey in our human form, as we pray for guidance and Grace, in Jesus name we pray. Amen

Centering Prayer:  ♫ Lord Listen to your Children Praying    400 VU

The Word:  Larry Evans

 

Scriptures: 

OT-2 Samuel 11:1-15

RR- Psalm 14; page 735 VU 

NT- Ephesians 2:14-21

Hymn ♫: Christ has no body now but yours    171 MV

Gospel: John 6:1-21

L: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church through these words today.

All: Thanks Be to God! 

Prayer before Message: God of thundering voice and quiet whisper, May the words which I speak, become by your Spirit, the words which you want each of us to hear. May our minds and our ears be quieted as we listen to hear your words of affirmation and acceptance. Amen

Message: Falling from the High Wire or “When is enough, enough?”

Hymn: One more step along the world I go   639 VU

Minute for Mission:  Anna Marie Langley

Offering our gifts

Offering Prayer: 

our offering will have been brought forward              

Bread of Life, you are our constant nourishment for our hungry souls. Bless these offerings, that they may become sustenance for our bodies, minds and spirits. May we use all of these gifts with compassion, justice and common sense. Amen 

Our Joys and Concerns and Lighting the candle of caring:

As one heart is lifted

May we share its celebration

As one heart is burdened

May we share the pain it knows

And so, we take this flame and light our special care candle... in all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful of the present-ness of God among us.

Prayers for the people and Lord’s Prayer

Hymn: ♫   Wherever You may Go        216 MV

Commissioning/Benediction

Closing Strathdee Choral Amen ♫  (3x)

  Music Licence # A-401486

Ministering through leadership this morning are:                          

Guest Minister: Jim MacNaughton                                    

Pianist:      Adam Cooke                                                  

Lay Reader: Larry Evans                                                             

Mission Moment: Anna Marie Langley                                                                                                            

Collectors: Clark Brander, Yvonne Fox

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This is Jim’s last Sunday with us as our guest Minister, Barb will be in the pulpit for our service on August 1st and she is excited to be back into her role as your Minister! 

Office Hours: Thursday & Fridays 8-12 noon.  

Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.

Lay Readers:

August 1^st – Jean Mac Pherson                                                                                                                                                                                          

August 8^th – Barb Mac Intyre

August 15^th – Wayne Simpson

August 22^nd – Archie Noseworthy

August 29^th – Iaian Langley

Minute for Mission Readers:

August 1^st – Yvonne Fox

August 8^th – Linda Howlett

August 15^th – Larry Evans

August 22^nd – Barb MacIntyre

August 29^th – Anna Marie Langley

Collection Counters/Recorders Needed – Please sign up. The load gets lighter when many helping hands participate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Sunday July 18 th, 2021 – 8 th after Pentecost

St. Mark’s United Church, Port Hawkesbury 

DLM-R/MDiv Student – Barb MacNaughton (902-625-0407)

Guest Minister – Jim MacNaughton, DLM-R (902-302-592

Pianist – Adam Cooke 

        

Office Administrator- Jane MacKinnon 

       

Ministry – The Whole Congregation

Sunday July 18 th, 2021 – 8 th after Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle:

Today we light our Christ Candle as a reminder that we are called to be followers of Jesus, to bring light to a darkened world, to help one another in our quest for goodness and justice. May our lights shine forever. Amen. 

♫Introit: Rise Up, Rise Up     130 (x2) MV

Call to Worship: (reading responsively) 

There is a time and place in our lives when we find that what we think is our priority in our lives, both secular and in our faith life, may not be the priorities of what God asks of us.

So, that may be true, but how do we know the difference? After all we are mature adults and we know what we want to do!

This morning’s readings challenge us to look for a balance in our lives where we can try to honour what we perceive that God wants from us or for us and balance that perception with what we need for ourselves.

Let each of us come to this time of questioning with honesty for ourselves and for the Ministries that each of us are called to. Come people of God; let us worship together on this beautiful morning!

♫Hymn: I love to tell the story       343 VU

Prayer of Approach: (In Unison)

Gracious and Loving God, we come together in an attempt to discern the priorities that govern our lives of faith and of our living together. For so many of us, especially as we become older, know that this strange dichotomy that is both comfortable and challenging is all about a balanced life. We can be so heavenly minded that we are at times no earthly good, but you O God call us back again and again and remind us that we live in this physical world, that requires us to practice moderation in all things, but centering ourselves in our life of faith as shown us by the Way, the teachings and parables of Jesus Christ. Touch us gently through our prayers, guide us if we falter for You O God are the pivotal center of where we need to be. We pray for your Spirit to be present with us now on this day. Amen

Centering Prayer: Lord Listen to your Children Praying      400 VU

The Word:  Dave Chapman

Scriptures:

OT-2 Samuel 7: 1-14a

RR- Psalm 85; page 802 VU 

NT- Ephesians 2:11-22

♫Hymn:  In Christ there is no east or west     606 VU

Gospel:  Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

L: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church through these words today.

All: Thanks Be to God! 

Prayer before Message: God of thundering voice and quiet whisper, May the words which I speak, become by your Spirit, the words which you want each of us to hear. May our minds and our ears be quieted as we listen to hear your words of affirmation and acceptance. Amen

Message: Trying to find the Balance in our lives

♫Hymn:     Draw the Circle Wide   145 MV

Minute for Mission:   Barb MacIntyre        

Offering our gifts

Offering Prayer: (our offering will have been brought forward )

Take all that we offer this day O God: take our caring for our neighbours from a distance, take our phone calls and our texts, and social media greetings with our families, take our actions of physical distancing and now our gathering family carefully together, being conscious of how we keep one another safe and yet welcome, and now in all our donations of time, talent and money, bless us and our giving in Jesus name we pray. Amen

Our Joys and Concerns and Lighting the candle of caring:

As one heart is lifted

May we share its celebration

As one heart is burdened

May we share the pain it knows

And so, we take this flame and light our special care candle . . . in all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful of the present-ness of God among us.

Prayers for the people and Lord’s Prayer

♫Hymn:  Ask me not O gentle Saviour        665 VU

Commissioning/Benediction

♫Closing:  Strathdee Choral Amen (3x)

Music Licence # A-401486

Ministering through leadership this morning are:                          

Guest Minister:     Jim MacNaughton                                    

Pianist:     Adam Cooke                                                  

Lay Reader:     Dave Chapman                                                               

Mission Moment:     Barb Mac Intyre 

Collectors:                   Eric Dawson, Linda Howlett                                                                                                           

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jim MacNaughton is on call for us and will be our guest minister, while Barb completes this summer session of her Master of Divinity program virtually from AST.  June 14th until July 25th.

OFFICE HOURS: Thursday & Fridays 8-12 noon.  

Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.

Lay Readers:

July 25^th – Jean Mac Person

August 1^st – Larry Evans                                                                                                                                                                                          

August 8^th – Barb Mac Intyre

August 15^th – Wayne Simpson

August 22^nd – Archie Noseworthy

August 29^th – Iaian Langley

Minute for Mission Readers:

July 25^th – Anna Marie Langley

August 1^st – Yvonne Fox

August 8^th – Linda Howlett

August 15^th – Larry Evans

August 22^nd – Barb MacIntyre

August 29^th – Anna Marie Langley

Collection Counters/Recorders Needed – Please sign up. The load gets lighter when many helping hands participate.