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
The Season of Creation:
Creation calls – Nurture Me!
Sunday September 26th, 2021
The Community Gathers
Welcome and Announcements
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
This candle represents for us the light of Christ. It reminds us of the colours of creation that paint our lives, it warms us in the cold, and it brightens our paths when all seems dark. May we take this light wherever we go and share it with others! Amen.
♫Introit: Praise God for this Holy Ground MV 42, verse 1
Praise God for this Holy Ground
Place and People, sight and sound,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
God’s goodness is eternal.
Call to Gather:
If in our very humanness we call ourselves a ‘Just Society’ why do we have people choosing sides on nearly every issue, knowing that every time we choose a side, we are alienating someone.
We are so very human in our thoughts and our actions.
Jesus often pulled the rug out from under our feet with his teachings and his parables and yet, we long to follow him.
We are so very human in our thoughts and actions.
In order to live in a society where we find common ground with others, we must be able to come together to live and to follow with open and willing hearts and minds.
May all that we do in our living help us to find the key to this common ground and may we do this with love and grace in our hearts.
Let us come together in worship, let us pray…
Prayer of the Day:
Holy God, in this time and in this place so much is demanded from us. Each of us come to this place searching for some Spiritual insight and direction. May all the questions we have in our minds be calmed, and may we be filled with a peace that can only be found when we still our hearts and our minds. May all that we say and do be a blessing in someone’s life this day and every day. Amen.
♫Hymn: Each Blade of Grass MV 37
Children’s time (if children are present)
Centering Prayer
♫ Lord Listen to your Children Praying VU 400
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord send your spirit in this place
Lord, listen to your children praying,
send us love, send us power, send us grace.
♫Hymn: God of the Bible MV 28
The Community Explores
Prayer for Illumination:
We pray, O God, for listening ears and open hearts as we hear the words of our ancient scripture this day. Amen.
Scriptures:
OT: Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10, 9: 20-22
RR: Psalm 124 VU# 848
NT: James 5: 13-20
Gospel Lesson: Mark 9: 38-50
Message
♫Hymn: Be Still My Soul VU 652
The Community Celebrates
Minute for Mission
Offering Hymn: VU 538
For the Gift of Creation, the gift of your love
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.
Offering Prayer:
Holy One, it is with open hands and hearts that we make our offering this day. May the gifts we share, those time, talent, and treasure help to bring about a time of love and justice in our world. 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: He Leadeth Me VU 657
The Community Goes Forth
Commissioning/Benediction
♫Closing: Choral Amen
One License A-401486
Ministering through leadership this morning are:
Minister: Barbara MacNaughton
Pianist: Adam Cook
Lay Reader: Clark Brander
Mission Moment: Vida Hood
Counters: Clark Brander, Eric Dawson
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hello Everyone
The plans are underway for our Take-Out Turkey Dinner on October 9, 2021 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. On that day we will be launching our first On Line Auction - And now it is time to ask for your help!
We have had offers to help with the cost of the meal and we appreciate this so much. If anyone would like to make a cash donation towards the cost they can do so by putting it on the collection plate, with your name and the word DINNER on it, in church or dropping a check off to the church office. Jane is there on Thursdays and Fridays in the morning until noon and Barb is in from Monday to Thursday in the mornings as well. You will receive a tax receipt for this donation.
Tickets are $20.00 for Adults and $10.00 for children under 12.
Tickets are available by calling Ruth 902-625-2424 Joyce 902-625-0515
And the Church Office 902-625-2229.
On the 9th of October we will open our On Line Auction and close it 2 weeks later. You can help us with this as well.
Ideas for Auction
New items…everything from clothes to car parts to household items, hair products to jewellery. If it has never been used we will take it. Hand Crafted Items, wood, quilting, knitting, crocheting, needle point; if you built it we will be happy to add it.
Gift item make… a nice Christmas theme basket, or a bath basket, maybe a pickle and preserve basket, the ideas are endless… and don’t forget the little ones.
Food offerings…maybe you are a pie maker they are hot in the auctions, Christmas is coming maybe assorted sweets, cookies are always a big hit, Biscuits, breads, or maybe you would want to offer up a meal for 4, Or host a dinner for 6, and the list goes on.
We ask that you note the cost of the item as this gives people who are bidding the value of the item. Keeping in mind some items may be priceless! Also if you could include a description of the item. These are just a few items, so use your imagination and I am sure you will come up with something.
Any items can be dropped off at the church office on the following days - Monday to Friday, in the mornings and you can call 902-625-2229 to make sure someone is there.
Good Morning Everyone,
It feels strange to begin a new ministry with the restrictions of COVID and masking. I would love to get to know more of you. I am always open to an office visit, so please call if you would like to drop in or just stop by the back office door, if it is unlocked, I am here. If you are open to a visit or to meeting somewhere for a coffee/tea, I would love to get together. Please, if you are not double vaccinated, we can have a conversation by telephone instead of in-person. I respect your right to your decision but I am in contact with too many seniors to ever take a chance. In previous times, I have hosted a coffee/tea time at the church and we all brought our own beverage. This is a way we can gather together and have a chat. If you are open to any of these things, please give me a call and we will set something up. If you are still uncomfortable, I certainly understand and we will find other ways to engage in conversation to get to know one another while we await a new phase in this pandemic. I also would like to learn more about this community, what the church would like me to take part in. Previously we had a ministerial, and lots of community events, but I have never shared in ministry in a town this big so things are a bit different here. Are there things I should join? Learn? Do? I would love all the advice you can share with me!
Thanks all! Barb
Barb will leaving today for overnight to attend a clergy retreat gathering in Berwick, Nova Scotia. She will be back Monday night and Jim will be covering during this time.
OFFICE HOURS: Thursday & Friday 8-12 noon
Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.
Decorating the Church for Thanksgiving: September 28th – 10:00 a.m.
Lay Readers:
October 3rd – Jean Mac Pherson
October 10th – Larry Evans
October 17th – Barb Mac Intyre
October 24th – Wayne Simpson
October 31St – Archie Noseworthy
Minute for Mission Readers:
October 3rd – Anna Marie Langley
October 10th – Yvonne Fox
October 17th – Linda Howlett
October 24th – Larry Evans
October 31st – Barb Mac Intyre
Collection Counters/Recorders Needed – Please sign up. The load gets lighter when many helping hands participate.
The next Prayer Shawl Knitting meeting will be Monday in the hall from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Masks must be worn and COVID-19 guidelines will be followed regarding safe distancing and sanitizing. There will be no access to the kitchen.
ADVANCE NOTICES
Baptism & Communion Sunday will be on October 3rd
October 17th – Service will be led by Lorna Mac Rury
Port Hawkesbury Ceilidhs
Tuesdays: 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre,
606 Reeves Street Port Hawkesbury, NS
Sponsor: Port Hastings Historical Society www.capebretonceilidh.com
Admission: $15.00 Under 16 - FREE
Season Pass: $50 (2 free Ceilidhs)
Free Tea & Oatcakes...while they last
Nova Scotia Health Protocols will be followed
September 28th: Howie MacDonald, Mac Morin, Pat Lamey and Heather Richards
Home Energy Saving Program for Seniors
You may qualify for Efficiency Nova Scotia’s HomeWarming program (www.homewarming.ca). The HomeWarming program retrofits home to reduce heating costs by increase insulation and reducing drafts. These improvements make the home more comfortable and result in lower heating costs. This program is TOTALLY FREE FOR THE HOMEOWNER and has been designed for Low-income families and Seniors on fixed income. For further information please contact Kevin at (902) 202-5700.
