ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MAY 14TH 2017

Ministering through leadership in worship this morning are:
Organist: Al Fougere
Lay Reader (St. M.): Brenda Mac Innis
                    (St. D.): Erin Hart-Breen
Mission Moment (St. M.): Bruce Corrigan
Greeters & Collectors (St. M.):  Anna Marie & John Langley
Greeters (St. D.): Cathy Mac Lean
Collectors (St. D.): Alicia Vink, James MacFadyen

OFFICE HOURS: 
Monday & 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 in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3rd Monday of each month. The next time of gathering is May 15th at 1:00 p.m.

Copies of the “UPPER ROOM” for May-June are available.

Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.

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

Moving out of Leeside—clean, sturdy furniture needed for small apartment—sofa, end and coffee tables, dining table and chairs (small), chest of drawers and bedside stand, lamps. If you have any of these you might donate, contact the church office or speak to Nan.

Nan will be away from May 25th – May 28th attending Maritime Conference. The Choir will be leading the Church Service on March 28th with Combined Service at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m.

St. Mark’s Anniversary Service on June 11th  

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ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers
May 21st – Jean Mac Pherson
May 28th – Vida Hood
June 4th – Sarah Chiasson
June 11th – St. Mark’s Anniversary
June 18th – Larry Evans
June 25th – Julia Mac Quarrie

Coffee time: The first Sunday in June there will be coffee time after Worship Service. Please join us.

The May FundScrip Order Dates May 21st and the Delivery Dates are May 14th and 28th.
The May Promotions are as follows:
Winners-Home Sense                             8% (Regular 5%)
Chapters-Indigo                                    7.5% (Regular 5%)
If you have any questions about FundScrip or if you wish to join the program please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838.

Hymn Books entitled "More Voices" have been purchased by St. Mark's, you may help offset the cost by making a donation of $15. A hymn book will be labelled  if you wish to make your donation in honour of or in memory of a loved one.  Place your donation on the collection plate in an envelope marked "More Voices", please include your information. 

May 16th – St. Mark’s Congregational Board Meeting 6:30 p.m. – Executive, 7:00 p.m. – Committees, 8:00 p.m. – Combined Board.

May 21st – 8:00 a.m.; St. Mark’s Men’s Group Breakfast Meeting

May 31st – 10:00 am.; Service at Nursing Home.

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ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

A short Meeting of the Board for the purpose of voting on Remit 4: Funding a New Model will be held immediately following worship next Sunday, May 21st. All Session elders and members of the Committee of Stewards and all other Board members are asked to attend.       Per Nan Corrigan D. M.

Lay Readers: 
May 21st – Mary Jess Mac Donald
May 28th – Dave Pringle
June 4th – Wanda Radford
June 11th – St. Mark’s Anniversary
June 18th – Haley Mac Fadgen
June 25th – Margaret Ashford

If you would like to help St. David’s offset the cost of our new 
“More Voices” hymn books, please consider making a donation in honour of or in memory of a loved one. Place your donation ($15.00 per book) and dedication information on the collection plate in an envelope marked "More Voices”. 

Over the next few months St. David's UCW will be collecting mittens, socks, scarves, hats, etc. to be delivered to Brunswick St. Mission in the fall.   There is a box in the church entry if anyone wishes to make a donation.

Hall Cleaners for May are Heather Deschenes and Hazel Mac Lean.

Saturday, June 3, 8:30 am to 12 noon. A Yard and Bake Sale will be held at St. David’s Church Hall sponsored by St. David’s Board of Stewards.

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Anyone wishing a drive to New Glasgow or Truro, please contact Margie Mac Intyre at 902-625-1361 for dates and times.

Donate your gently used clothing to Port of Welcome Settlement Assoc. Drop off clothing at Cathy's Consignment shop and ask that proceeds of sales go to the POWSA account (act#4488). Once our family arrives they will be able to use the credit in that account to purchase clothing items.

Ashley MacIsaac And Friends In Concert, Saturday, May 27th, 7 P.M., First United Church, Truro, N.S.  Musicians to include Ashley MacIsaac, John Pellerin...fiddle and stepdance; Jackie Dunn MacIsaac...Piano; Cheryl Reid O'Hagan....Harpist; The MacKinnon Sisters....Vocals. Tickets $40.00 Adult; $20.00 Students. Proceeds for First United Church Restoration Fund and the Alumni Association Of The Nova Scotia Teachers College. Tickets are available from Margie MacIntyre at 902.890.1538

Breakfast at the Port Hastings Fire Hall on May 20, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Adults $8.00/Children $5.00 Sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department.

The Port Hawkesbury School of Gaelic will celebrate Gaelic N.S. Month, on Wed., May 24th  at the Knights of Columbus Hall, from 7 to 9 PM. Music, Songs, Stories, and a Light Lunch. Donations Only.
All Welcome!

17 th Annual Memorial Hymn Sing at Calvin Presbyterian Church, Loch Lomond on June 11th, 2017 at 3.00 pm. Minister Rev.Corrie Stewart.; Special Music Eddie Paris with The Inspirational Singers
Social hour to follow at Loch Lomond Community Hall.

ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MAY 14TH 2017-5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

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

May 14^th, 2017-5^th Sunday of Easter

Announcements         The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting

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

*Introit           Fresh as the Morning              verse 3            MV 28

Call to Worship

One: Come to this place, knowing that God is here.

All: We come to worship in a spirit of hope.

One: Come to this place, a safe place, where God will hold us.

All: We come to worship in a spirit of peace.

One: Come to this place to be renewed in faith, knowing the risks for us when we proclaim the gospel.

All: We come to worship in a spirit of faith.

One: Come, let us worship God.

Opening Prayer

Faithful God, our rock and our fortress,

we thank you for the many ways you protect us.

Even when we are uncertain and overcome with fear,

still you find ways to break through and hold us close.

Smile upon us, God, in the dismal times,

and remind us that with you

we are always in safe hands. Amen.

*Hymn            Let Us Build a House                                      MV 1  

Prayer for Wholeness

We cast stones, sometimes.

We hurt others with stones – literal and figurative – that we hurl without thinking.

When someone says something that bothers us, we cover our ears, and shut them out.

We block those with whom we disagree, challenging them, cutting them down, disregarding them.

We want others to conform to our standards, not caring if they are good and faith-centred standards or not.

We challenge and push aside those who seem different from us.

We cast stones, loving God, and we are sorry. Please forgive us.

Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

One: Jesus said, “Do not be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me.” Friends, know that you can trust in Jesus always, for he offers mercy and forgiveness to us over and over. Know that you are forgiven, and loved by God.

All: Thanks be to God! Amen.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Acts 6:1-8       Seven chosen to serve (diaconal ministers)

One: This is the witness of the early church. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 31   My times are in your hands.          Pts. 1 & 3     VU 758

*Hymn            Because He Lives                                          Printed

Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer

Acts 7:55–60  The stoning of Stephen. A brief drama (narrator and Stephen) using Psalm 31 as a form of Stephen’s prayer. This text is based on the Common English Bible.

Opening the Word 2

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn           How Firm a Foundation                                VU 660

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer

In a world where too many use stones to hurt and destroy, take these gifts we offer and use them as stones to build bridges that join people together. Help us break down walls, and build

instead tables for talking and sharing. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

One: In silence we pray for them.

All: Hear us.

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn           Go Now in Peace                                           Printed

Go now in peace.

Never be afraid.

God will go with you each hour of every day.

Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.

Know God will guide you in all you do.

Go now in love, and show you believe.

Reach out to others so all the world can see.

God will be there watching from above.

Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.

*Commissioning and Blessing

Go into the world in peace.

We go--but we are concerned about what is out there sometimes.

Trust in God.

But how do we do that when people want to throw stones?

Know that God will be with you. Rather than tripping over the stones in the road, pick them up and work together to build a table, a bridge, a house: places where all can come and experience God’s goodness.

We go in peace! Thanks be to God

*Choral Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MAY 7TH 2017

Ministering through leadership in worship this morning are:
Organist: Al Fougere
Lay Reader (St. M.): David Chapman
                    (St. D.): Julia Mac Kinnon
Mission Moment (St. M.): Lorna Harvey
Greeters & Collectors (St. M.):  Anna Marie & John Langley
Greeters (St. D.): Cathy Mac Lean
Collectors (St. D.): Alicia Vink, James MacFadyen

OFFICE HOURS: 
Monday & 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 in the parlour of St. Mark’s on the 3rd Monday of each month. The next time of gathering is May 15th at 1:00 p.m.

Copies of the “UPPER ROOM” for May-June are available.
Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.
Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of the month.

Study Documents for Remit 4 Funding a New Model: Available in church entry today. Study Sessions for Remit 4 will be held on Tuesday, May 9th at St. Mark’s at 7:00 p.m. and St. David’s on Wednesday, May 10th at 10:00 a.m. Board members and interested individuals from the congregations are invited to attend whichever of these is most convenient for them. Remit 4 vote to be held at next meetings of each Board. 

Moving out of Leeside—clean, sturdy furniture needed for small apartment—sofa, end and coffee tables, dining table and chairs (small), chest of drawers and bedside stand, lamps. If you have any of these you might donate, contact the church office or speak to Nan.

***********

ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers
May 14th – Brenda Mac Innis May 21st – Jean Mac Pherson


May 28th – Vida Hood

Coffee time: Today in the church hall—everyone welcome! The first Sunday in June there will be coffee time after Worship Service. Please join us.

The May FundScrip Order Dates are May 7th and 21st and the Delivery Dates are May 14th and 28th.
The May Promotions are as follows:
Winners-Home Sense                             8% (Regular 5%)
Chapters-Indigo                                    7.5% (Regular 5%)
If you have any questions about FundScrip or if you wish to join the program please contact Patsy Brander at 902-625-1062 or Bonnie Dawson at 902-625-3838.

Hymn Books entitled "More Voices" have been purchased by St. Mark's, you may help offset the cost by making a donation of $15. A hymn book will be labelled  if you wish to make your donation in honour of or in memory of a loved one.  Place your donation on the collection plate in an envelope marked "More Voices", please include your information. 

May 16th – St. Mark’s Congregational Board Meeting

May 21st – St. Mark’s Men’s Group Breakfast Meeting

ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lay Readers: 
May 14th – Erin Hart-Breen    
May 21st – Mary Jess Mac Donald
May 28th – Dave Pringle

If you would like to help St. David’s offset the cost of our new 
“More Voices” hymn books, please consider making a donation in honour of or in memory of a loved one. Place your donation ($15.00 per book) and dedication information on the collection plate in an envelope marked "More Voices”. 

Over the next few months St. David's UCW will be collecting mittens, socks, scarves, hats, etc. to be delivered to Brunswick St. Mission in the fall.   There is a box in the church entry if anyone wishes to make a donation.

Hall Cleaners for May are Heather Deschenes and Hazel Mac Lean.

Saturday, June 3, 8:30 am to 12 noon. A Yard and Bake Sale will be held at St. David’s Church Hall sponsored by St. David’s Board of Stewards.

St. David's UCW will meet on Wednesday, May 10/17at 1:30 pm at the home of Julia MacKinnon.

********** 

Anyone wishing a drive to New Glasgow or Truro,  please contact Margie Mac Intyre at 902-625-1361 for dates and times.

Donate your gently used clothing to Port of Welcome Settlement Assoc. Drop off clothing at Cathy's Consignment shop and ask that proceeds of sales go to the POWSA account (act#4488). Once our family arrives they will be able to use the credit in that account to purchase clothing items.

Ashley MacIsaac And Friends In Concert, Saturday, May 27th, 7 P.M., First United Church, Truro, N.S.  Musicians to include Ashley MacIsaac, John Pellerin...fiddle and stepdance; Jackie Dunn MacIsaac...Piano; Cheryl Reid O'Hagan....Harpist; The MacKinnon Sisters....Vocals. Tickets $40.00 Adult; $20.00 Students. Proceeds for First United Church Restoration Fund and the Alumni Association Of The Nova Scotia Teachers College. Tickets are available from Margie MacIntyre at 902.890.1538

Breakfast at the Port Hastings Fire Hall on May 20, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Adults $8.00/Children $5.00 Sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department.

Please join us for “ A tribute to The Beatles" a spring concert by the Inverness County Singers and the Young County Singers, directed by Laurel Browne with piano accompaniment by Lawrence Cameron. Performances will be on Thursday, May 11th, at 7:30 pm at Mabou Parish Hall, Mabou; Saturday, May 13th, at 7:30 pm St. Mark’s United Church, Port Hawkesbury; and Monday, May 15th at 7:30 pm at Inverness County Centre for the Arts.  Freewill donations go to local charities after expenses

The Port Hastings Museum is presently accepting applications from students for summer positions, who fall under the following qualifications: a Canadian Citizen between the ages of 15 – 30;  registered at a post-secondary institution and returning to the same institution for the Fall of the current year; registered at a post-secondary institution and transferring to another in the Fall of the current year; A graduating grade 12 student who is enrolled full-time in a university or college program in the coming fall term.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to the following address: Port Hastings Museum, 24 Highway 19, Port Hastings, NS B9A 1M1 or email it to porthastingsmuseum@gmail.com

ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MAY 7TH 2017-4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

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

May 7th, 2017-4th Sunday of Easter

Announcements         The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting 

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

*Introit Fresh as the Morning verse 2 MV 28

Call to Worship 

One: God, our Shepherd, invites us to this place. 
All: God invites us to rest in grassy meadows, and leads us beside restful waters. 
One: God has set a table for us in the presence of our enemies. 
All: God has given us so much, it is as if our cup over­flows! 
One: Come, let us gather in the house of our God.

Opening Prayer

We gather as followers of Jesus, who embodied love and showed us how to be the very presence of God. May our faith deepen beyond personal piety and mere tradition to become the story we tell with every breath of our lives. Amen.

*Hymn Morning Has Broken VU 409

Prayer for Wholeness

One: Loving God, thank you for community:
for those who meet here each week and for the wider community,
for all those who care for others and share generously.
We hear of the costly commitment of the early church and are aware of our shortcomings:
Left Side: the prayers we have neglected to pray,
Right Side: the community members we have not visited,
Left Side: the phone calls we have not made,
Right Side: the people we find hard to love,
Left Side: the dissension we have allowed to continue,
Right Side: the abusive behaviours we have failed to challenge, 
Left Side: the resources we have not joyfully shared.
All: We remember these and other failures to live in community, and we are sorry. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

One: Hear these words from scripture: “Though you were like straying sheep, you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your lives.” Friends, know that in the presence of our Shepherd and Saviour Jesus the Christ, our sins are forgiven. 
All: Thanks be to God! Amen.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Affirmation of Faith A New Creed VU 918

Acts 2:42-47 The early church shares everything in common.

One: This is the witness of the early church. All: Thanks be to God. 

Psalm 23          The Lord’s My Shepherd VU 747

Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn Precious Lord, Take My Hand VU 670

The Gospel Acclamation

John 10:1–10 Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Gate.

One: Herein is Good News.   All: Praise be to God. 

Opening the Word 2

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn     I Have Called You by Your Name MV 161

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer

All who believed were together and had all things in common.
We will live in balance with the world’s needs. We will possess only love for one another.
What we have is a gift to share with open hands. 
And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all. 
We will live within our needs rather than our means, working and sharing with kind and generous hearts. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Jesus said, “I came so you might have life – 
All: life to the fullest measure!

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn God Be with You till We Meet Again VU 422   

*Commissioning and Blessing

Go out in peace to follow Jesus, our Shepherd. 
Receive the shepherd’s care, and care for others. 
Model the grace of God in our world that others will know 
they want to be a part of what we have as God’s people.

*Choral Amen