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Friday, 13 March 2015

ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MARCH 15TH 2015

Participating through leadership in worship this morning are:

Organist: Al Fougere

Lay Reader (St. M.): Jean Mac Pherson

(St. D.): Alicia Vink

Lenten Triad (St. M.): Archie, Elaine & Grace Noseworthy

(St. D.): Iaian & Susan Langley and Family

Greeters & Collectors (St. M.): Andy Palmer, Angus Mac Rae

Greeters (St. D.): Sally & George Fox

Collectors (St. D.): Sally Fox, Heather Deschenes

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s

Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s

Wednesday 9-12 noon Nan at St. David’s, Jane at St. Mark’s

Thursday 9 – 12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s

Friday – Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s

Prayer Shawl Knitting Circle Knitters and crocheters gather together in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3rd Monday of each month. Next time of gathering is March 16th at 1:00 p.m.

Wednesdays in Lent, 10:00 a.m. Half hour Scripture, Song & Silence, St. David's, Port Hastings.

March 25th – 10:30 a.m. Service at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home. Everyone is welcome to attend this Service.

April 2nd, Maundy Thursday Potluck supper and Table Communion, 6:00 p.m. St. David's Port Hastings

April 3rd Good Friday worship 11:00 a.m. St. Mark's Port Hawkesbury

April 5th Easter Sunrise St. David's 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast at Port Hastings Firehall

April 5th Easter Sacrament of Communion St. Mark's 9:30 a.m.; St. David's 11:00 a.m.

Copies of “The Upper Room” for March- April are available.

Food Bank donations received on the last Sunday of the month.

Deadline for Bulletin information is Thursday at noon.

ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

St. Mark’s Welcomes You!

Refreshments in the church hall following worship—please join us!

There is a quiet nursery space above the stage in the hall—reached via the stairs by the church office door. There you will find toys, change table, crib, rocking chair for your use. We’re so glad you came today.

St. Mark’s Courtesy Car: Contact person for the Courtesy Car is Andy Palmer. His telephone number is 625-2748.

FundScrip Order Sundays will be March 22nd and Delivery Sundays will be March 15th and 29th, 2015.

March Promotions are as follows:

M & M Meat Shops 4% Regular 3%

PetSmart 4% Regular 2%

Teriyaki Experience 12% Regular 10%

Please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838 if you have any questions.

Lay Readers:

March 22nd – Brenda Mac Innis

March 29th – Connie Fowlie

March 17th – St. Mark’s Congregational Board Meeting; 6:30 p.m. – Executive, 7:00 p.m. – Committees; 8:00 p.m. – Combined Board Meeting.

ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers:

March 22nd – Kenzie Mac Lean

March 29th – Kevin Pierce

Sunday School Classes will resume on March 29th.

Anyone who is interested in participating in a ski trip to Ben Eoin is asked to contact Alicia Vink at alicia.vink@bellaliant.net

St. David’s Official Board Meeting on April 12th following Worship Service.

St. David’s UCW Have placed a box in the narthex for new or gently used womens & children’s scarves, mittens, gloves, hats and or socks. These will be sent to the Brunswick Street Mission in Halifax once enough have been collected.

Church Hall Cleaners for the month of March are Maxine Smith and Diane Mac Kinnon

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Trivia Night: The Port Hastings Historical Society will host trivia night on Saturday March 28th at 7pm in the Port Hawkesbury Fire Hall. Admission is $5 person (teams of 4). Categories include general trivia, sports, entertainment and more. Prizes for the top team. Proceeds support the Port Hastings Museum.

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Indoor Curling will be held on the following Wednesday evenings, March 18th, 25th and April 1st, 6:15- 7 p.m., St. Mark's Church Hall. The program is a fun event, for ages 10 and up. Come on out and have some fun! Please bring a change of footwear. Please no sock feet. If you would like to curl and have some fun, please contact Margie MacIntyre, 902. 625. 1361, to sign up. Ideally, it would be nice to have 16 people, to make 4 teams

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Flea Market on Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.. Tables available to rent. $10.00 each. Tea and dessert available $3.00. St. Mark’s Church, 504 Bernard Street, Port Hawkesbury. Contact Marie to rent a table 902-625-1969.

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March 27, 2015 4-6 p.m. Spaghetti Supper at St. Mark’s Church. Adults $12.00 Children 12 and under $5.00 Support Guiding Mosaic.

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ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MARCH 15TH 2015-4TH OF LENT

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: stmarks1@eastlink.ca

Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/

Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca

Ministers: The Whole People of God; Nan Corrigan D. M.

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

March 15th, 2015-4th Sunday of Lent

Announcements The Work of Church and Community

The liturgy for Lent follows traditional lines though it is written in a pattern to employ a “river” theme:

R reflect

I invite

V voice

E engage

R realize

REFLECT

Greeting

One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit.

Introit Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery, v. 4 VU 121

The Serpent of Healing? For quiet reflection as we gather

Isn’t it interesting in today’s reading that God doesn’t take away the snakes, they remain, but the people of Israel are given a way of encountering them and surviving, a way that seems not that far from the idolatry for which they were chastised by God not so very long ago. Is this is a powerful parable regarding what it is that we need to survive the human experience?

No one is unlikely to live their lives totally estranged from fear, anxiety, and danger. Is it at the point when we look up and out of the experience that is creating fear and anxiety that we are healed?

INVITE

Call to Worship At the 4th bend in the river...a place of “dangers”

People of God, gather today;

in this sacred space, in this sacred moment.

For this time step aside from your daily concerns,

for here we recall the stories of faith.

Here we see God does not dodge dangerous places,

here we are called to stand and face our fears,

here we remember whose we are.

*Hymn Come, Let us Sing of a Wonderful Love VU 574

Lenten Triad Candle Extinguishing (Tenebrae) (Two purple candles, pink candle, and Christ candle are lighted prior to worship.)

Adult: ... Let us think also about the kind of trust Christ lived. (Pink candle is extinguished.)

Let us pray: All: You, O God, are the ever faithful one. We confess we have not understood in our heart of hearts the uncompromising forgiveness of the cross. We have not trusted in your ability to use us, even us, as builders of Shalom. O God, break through the barriers of fear which separate us from our brothers and sisters and empower us to respond with courage and conviction. Amen.

Sung Assurance Like a Mighty River Flowing, v. 4 VU 267

VOICE

Numbers 21:4–9 A bronze serpent heals the people.

One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 107 God’s steadfast love endures forever. Pts. 1, 2 VU 831

*Hymn Jesus Loves Me VU 365

Opening the Word & Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Acclamation

John 3:14–21 For God so loved the world.

One: The gospel of Jesus Christ. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Opening the Word 2

Responsive reading

A: From Mt. Hor they set out,

B: …travelling again, the round-about way,

A: by way of the Reed sea,

B: …not far from the beginning,

A: around the land of Edom,

B: …nowhere near the journey’s end.

A: And the people became impatient

B: …again

A: and spoke against God

B: …again

A: and against Moses

B: …that was new.

A: Why have you brought us here to die in the wilderness?

B: …for they had been slaves in a rich land.

A: There is no food and no water

B: …though there was both, running springs and manna that fell from heaven.

A: We detest this miserable food

B: …the food that was provided to them as a blessing from God.

A: God sent serpents

B: …poisonous snakes

A: and many people died;

B: …was that God’s intent?

A: So the people came to Moses

B: …who had always listened to them and intervened

to God on their behalf

A: and acknowledged their transgression

B: …against God and Moses.

A: So Moses prayed for the people and God heard Moses’ prayer

B: …but did not take the snakes away.

A: God instructed Moses to make a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole

B: …and when a person was bitten

A: if they looked up

B: …they would live.

A: This is their story

B: …and we recall it with gratitude as we take our place in the eternal flow of faith.

Prayer

God, we acknowledge our humanity, for when we are in danger we experience fear, when we are in intimidating places we become anxious, when times are tough, our endurance is low and we fall into a culture of complaint. More often than not, when our journey is rough we travel a round-about way. But here we would take time to stop, to look up, to take stock, to recognize your loving presence in our lives, to truly see the blessings given to us, and to once again choose love over fear, light over darkness, joy over despair, life over death. Amen.

ENGAGE

*Hymn Because He Lives Printed

Minute for Mission

Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer

Bless these gifts that we give today, for we lift our eyes and see there is much we can do to bring about wholeness and healing in our world. May they contribute in bringing light to dark places. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Response: Spirit of God, flow in and around us, flood us with compassion and understanding so we will no longer need be beholden to fears and anxieties, but that we may be awash with the light that wipes away fear and shadows. Amen.

REALIZE

*Hymn Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour VU 665

*Commissioning

One: As you leave this sacred space,

remember God stands with you in shadowed

and dangerous places.

Remember your sacredness,

remember your place in the eternal flow of life,

realize that when the road is tough, God’s love

is steadfast and overcomes every fear.

All: We will flood the world’s shadowed and dangerous

places with the love of God that is stronger than fear.

*Choral Amen

WEEKLY LENTEN REFLECTION MARCH 15TH

Numbers 21:4–9

We can probably identify with the Israelites in the desert
as they faced moments of despair, surrounded by a dangerous wilderness. They don’t like the food. They become impatient with God and with Moses. Biting serpents get their attention, and they are encouraged to confront their
fears – their impatience and inner despair – by looking at
a bronze serpent on a stick to heal their wounds. Trusting
God helps them through this difficult time. What healing
might come if we trust in God’s presence and face our
inner fears this Lent?

This week, look for an opportunity to help someone
going through a difficult time or personal wilderness.
How might you encourage them or help them along
their journey?
Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Lent • Easter 2015 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2014, p. 16

Head and shoulders photo of Gary Paterson

Head and shoulders photo of Gary Paterson

Longing for Home--Moderator's Lenten Study

http://www.garypaterson.ca/2015/03/09/longing-for-home-lenten-study-week-four/

Friday, 6 March 2015

ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MARCH 8TH 2015

Participating through leadership in worship this morning are:

Organist: Al Fougere

Lay Reader (St. M.): Karen Mac Kinnon

(St. D.): Margaret Ashford

Lenten Triad (St. M.):

(St. D.): Alicia Vink

Greeters & Collectors (St. M.): Andy Palmer, Angus Mac Rae

Greeters (St. D.): Sally & George Fox

Collectors (St. D.): Sally Fox, Heather Deschenes

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s

Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s

Wednesday 9-12 noon Nan at St. David’s, Jane at St. Mark’s

Thursday 9 – 12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s

Friday – Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s

Prayer Shawl Knitting Circle Knitters and crocheters gather together in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3^rd Monday of each month. Next time of gathering is March 16th at 1:00 p.m.

Wednesdays in Lent, 10:00 a.m. Half hour Scripture, Song & Silence, St. David's, Port Hastings.

March 25^th – 10:30 a.m. Service at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home. Everyone is welcome to attend this Service.

April 2nd, Maundy Thursday Potluck supper and Table Communion, 6:00 p.m. St. David's Port Hastings

April 3rd Good Friday worship 11:00 a.m. St. Mark's Port Hawkesbury

April 5th Easter Sunrise St. David's 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast at Port Hastings Firehall

April 5th Easter Sacrament of Communion St. Mark's 9:30 a.m.; St. David's 11:00 a.m.

Copies of “The Upper Room” for March- April are available.

Food Bank donations received on the last Sunday of the month.

Deadline for Bulletin information is Thursday at noon.

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ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

St. Mark’s Welcomes You! Refreshments in the church hall following worship—please join us!

St. Mark’s Courtesy Car: Contact person for the Courtesy Car is Andy Palmer. His telephone number is 625-2748.

FundScrip Order Sundays will be March 8^th and 22^nd and Delivery Sundays will be March 1^st, 15^th and 29^th , 2015.

March Promotions are as follows:

M & M Meat Shops 4% Regular 3%

PetSmart 4% Regular 2%

Teriyaki Experience 12% Regular 10%

Please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838 if you have any questions.

Lay Readers:

March 15^th – Jean Mac Pherson

March 22^nd – Brenda Mac Innis

March 29^th – Connie Fowlie

March 15^th – 8:00 a.m.; St. Mark’s Men’s Group Breakfast Meeting

March 17^th – St. Mark’s Congregational Board Meeting; 6:30 p.m. – Executive, 7:00 p.m. – Committees; 8:00 p.m. – Combined Board Meeting.

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ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers:

March 15^th –Alicia Vink

March 22^nd – Kenzie Mac Lean

March 29^th – Kevin Pierce

St. David's UCW will meet on Wednesday, March 11/15 at St. David's church hall at 1:30 pm.

Sunday School Classes will resume on March 29^th.

Anyone who is interested in participating in a ski trip to Ben Eoin is asked to contact Alicia Vink at alicia.vink@bellaliant.net

St. David’s UCW Have placed a box in the narthex for new or gently used womens & children’s scarves, mittens, gloves, hats and or socks. These will be sent to the Brunswick Street Mission in Halifax once enough have been collected.

Church Hall Cleaners for the month of March are Maxine Smith and Diane Mac Kinnon

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Indoor Curling will be held on the following Wednesday evenings, March 11th, 18th, 25th and April 1st, 6:15- 7 p.m., St. Mark's Church Hall. The program is a fun event, for ages 10 and up. Come on out and have some fun! Please bring a change of footwear. Please no sock feet. If you would like to curl and have some fun, please contact Margie MacIntyre, 902. 625. 1361, to sign up. Ideally, it would be nice to have 16 people, to make 4 teams

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CEILIDH TODAY There is a ceilidh this afternoon, at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, Judique, featuring fiddle and piano, with Dawn and Margie Beaton. If you would like a drive, please call Margie MacIntyre at 902. 625. 1361, by 1:30 p.m. Margie will pick you up at your door. You pay your own admission and meal. Departing Judique by 6 p.m, for home. A fun afternoon of music and fellowship!

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ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MARCH 8TH 2015-3RD OF LENT

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: stmarks1@eastlink.ca

Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/

Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca

Ministers: The Whole People of God; Nan Corrigan D. M.

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

March 8^th, 2015-3^rd Sunday of Lent

Announcements The Work of Church and Community

The liturgy for Lent follows traditional lines though it is written in a pattern to employ a “river” theme:

R reflect

I invite

V voice

E engage

R realize

REFLECT

Greeting

One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit

Introit Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery, v. 3 VU 121

Dancing in the Garden For quiet reflection as we gather

Stewardship has been the predominant metaphor in the Christian church to describe our relationship with creation. But it has limited usefulness in the new paradigm. In the stewardship model, we still see ourselves as managers who stand over and above creation, as opposed to being one self-conscious creature embedded in an intricate ecosystem with other creatures. Our task, then, is to find our place in the fit and flow of reality. We must learn to fit in, not manage. If God as immanent Spirit is manifest in the intelligent consciousness of all creation, then what we’re involved with is a relationship between different modes of consciousness – divine, plant, animal, and human. It’s a communion of subjects, a dance. Precisely because we possess a unique power to shape the future of life on earth, it’s imperative that we learn the steps.

INVITE

Call to Worship At the 3rd bend in the river..a place of “heavens”

People of God we are here;

in this sacred space, in this sacred moment.

Briefly leave daily concerns aside,

for here we recall the stories of faith,

here we are awed by the glory of God,

who made heaven and earth, yet knows us by name,

here we remember whose we are.

*Hymn Jesus Christ Is Waiting VU 117

Lenten Triad Candle Extinguishing (Tenebrae) (Three purple candles, pink candle, and Christ candle are lighted prior to worship.)

Adult: ... Sometimes doing what is right upsets others. (3rd candle is extinguished.)

Let us pray: All: God, you have given us the challenge of following your Law. Sometimes we need to be angry with injustice and wrong. Sometimes, following your way makes others angry with us. Open our eyes that we may know your will, and give us the strength to follow you and to serve one another. Amen

Sung Assurance Like a Mighty River Flowing, v. 3 VU 267

VOICE

Exodus 20:1–17 The Ten Commandments.

One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God. Ref 1 VU740

*Hymn Jesus, Teacher, Brave and Bold VU 605

Opening the Word & Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Acclamation

John 2:13–22 Jesus clears the temple.

One: The gospel of Jesus Christ. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Opening the Word 2

Responsive reading

Together: The Psalmist’s hymn of praise to God creator.

A: The heavens

B: …stars and meteors, planets and supernovas,

A: are telling the glory of God; the firmament

B: …mountains and deserts, oceans and rivers,

A: proclaim God’s handiwork. The days speak

B: …in the wordless voice of creation;

A: the nights proclaim knowledge of God

B: …known and held deeply by all of nature.

A: These voices ring out through all the world

B: …resounding through all time, into all the ends of the earth.

A: The sun encircles the earth with joy

B: …as a bridegroom embraces his community with his joy,

A: nothing is concealed from this radiance. The law of God is like the sun, nothing is hidden from it.

B: It revives our souls and grants us wisdom.

A: What God perceives brings joy to our hearts.

B: What God decrees brings light to our lives.

A: We are awed by the nature of God and when we see what is true and righteous,

B: we desire these truths more than gold and all the sweet things of the earth.

A: These are the things on to which we will firmly hold

B: …for the great reward we have in keeping covenant with God

A: …is that God will look upon us as blameless and innocent of transgression.

Prayer As all creation sings praises to God today we lift our voices to join the choir. We sing of the joy and glory of being embraced by the God of light. We sing of the sweetness of being held in love by the God of justice. We sing with voices filled with awe, knowing that we have a place in your realm, that is no less than that of the stars in the heavens, and we are grateful. Amen.

ENGAGE

*Hymn The Old Rugged Cross Printed

Minute for Mission

Offering Our Gifts to God

In our psalm reading, we hear that the sun runs, “like an athlete,” its course in the heavens, “with joy.” Will we, in turn, run the course of our lives with joy? Deep down in generosity is a joy that thanks God for the many gifts around us, the gift of our lives, our families and friends, this church and the whole United Church of Canada, all the signs of hope and new life that sustain us on our way. Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God
in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and deepest joy.

*Offering Prayer

God, we have learned that when we give away,

we are enriched; and when we let go, we receive.

Bless what we give and let go of this day,

as you also bless us. Amen.

Written by Kate Crawford, First-St. Andrew’s U.C., London, Ont.

Gathering, Lent/Easter 2015, page 37. Used with permission.

Prayers of the People

One: All of creation sings praise to the God of love.

All: We will join the joyful song.

One: The dark places of the world cry out for light.

All: We will speak of light that shines in the darkness.

One: The exploited and excluded cry out for justice.

All: We will be the sweet voice of justice.

One: The poor of the world cry out for fairhandedness.

All: We will desire rightness more than gold.

One: The God of life offers us forgiveness and fulfillment.

All: We embrace this goodness with grateful hearts.

A time for personal prayers in the silence. Amen.

REALIZE

*Hymn How Great Thou Art Insert, back of hymnbook

*Commissioning

One: As you leave this sacred space,

remember the God who made the stars in the heavens,

made and loves you. Remember your sacredness,

remember your place in the eternal flow of life,

and realize this as you travel your way

in the sweet embrace of the God of justice and light.

All: We will flood the world with God’s justice and light.

*Choral Amen

WEEKLY LENTEN REFLECTION MARCH 8TH

March 8

Psalm 19

This psalm reminds us that the ancient Israelites might
have understood God’s teachings about creation (verses
1–6) and law (verses 7–14) as the same. For example, the
psalmist calls God “rock” and “redeemer” in verse 14.
How does that affect our understanding of God’s creation
and God’s law today? Creator God desires for us to rely on
God and live in harmony with creation. This is a perfect
message for Lent, a time when we are called to recognize
and appreciate our dependence on God.

This week, look for God’s glory around you. Each day,
write down examples of God’s glory in your calendar or
journal, or snap a photo with your mobile phone and post
it to social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Head and shoulders photo of Gary Paterson

Longing for Home--Moderator's Lenten Study

http://www.garypaterson.ca/2015/03/02/longing-for-home-lenten-study-week-three/

Monday, 2 March 2015

WINTERLUDE WEEKEND-DAY TWO WAS SPECTACULAR!

St. Mark's & St. David's
WINTERLUDE WEEKEND
Day 2 March 2nd 2015
MacIntyre Mountain: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding followed by pancakes and sausages at St. David's