Bulletin
Sunday, October 7, 2018
WORLD COMMUNION & THANKSGIVING SUNDAY
Welcome, Gathering, and Announcements:
(Portions of the service printed in bold are spoken by the whole congregation. The asterisk (*) indicates congregation stands, but please feel free to sit at any time. Children are always welcome at our services. Books/toys are available at the front and back of the sanctuary.)
Centering & Candle Lighting:
Gratitude calls us to sit together, to imagine a world as a table of hospitality. Diana Butler Bass
Invitation to Worship:
Kindred in Christ, we are called to prepare a table,
to provide a feast where all are welcome, and to serve one another as Jesus -- the host of this table -- served his friends
and his community.
This table is the place where we gather -- with all those of faith wherever they may be, near or far --
to proclaim our relationship in Christ.
https://giftsinopenhands.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/1901/
*Hymn: “I Come with Joy” #477 VU (verses 1-4)
Psalm 126 as Thanksgiving Prayer
From Psalms for Praying © 2007 Nan C. Merrill.
*Sharing Peace & Blessings
The peace of Christ, who unites us in love and discipleship, be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us greet each other with signs of this peace.
Choir Anthem
A Reading from Matthew 6:25-33
While worry shrivels us, gratitude orients our soul towards God. While worry shrivels us, gratitude orients our soul towards God.
These words from Jesus’ wisdom teachings tell us that anxiety is totally futile. A more fruitful alternative is to take one’s mind off oneself and look around at the bounty of God’s providence.
*Hymn: “Seek Ye First the Kingdom” #356 VU
Minister’s Message
*Hymn: “Make a Joyful Noise” #820 VU
Communion Prayer:
This is the joyful feast of the people of God! At this table we give witness to unity through Christ; a unity that transcends the differences and divisions among us.
All are welcome at this table.
O God, Creator of all, we give you thanks for the life you have made:
powerful, fragile, abundant, precious:
a mystery beyond us that sustains us yet needs our care.
O Host of the Feast of Life, thank you for inviting us to take a place at your great banquet,
to share life with people who are blessed by your faithfulness, challenged by your prophets, forgiven by your mercy, and ever surprised by your power to do more, working in us, than we can ask or imagine.
Therefore, we join our voice with voices of all creation, and the saints who have gone before us to praise you, singing:
Chorus: “Holy, Holy, Holy” #951 VU (please remain seated)
We thank you for our brother Jesus -- bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh -- in whose life, death, and resurrection you reveal yourself fully. We thank you that Jesus, on the night before he died, took bread,
blessed, and broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying,
“Take and eat: this is my body, given for you. Do this in memory of me.”
And in the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave you thanks and praise, and said,
“Take this, all of you, and drink it. This is the cup of the new covenant; my life poured out for you. Do this in memory of me.”
Come now, Holy Spirit of God. Transform these gifts of bread and cup into the sustaining life of Christ,
and transform us who share this meal into one body in Christ. http://www.sk.united-church.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Detailed-Service-of-Praise-2013.pdf
Prayers of the Gathered Community
& The Prayer Jesus Taught
Blessing the Elements:
God bless this food, and those who have sown it, those who have grown it, those who have bought it, and those who have brought it. God bless those who prepare it, and all who now share it.
Thanks be to God for our feast. Amen. Barbara Zimmerman, Knox, Castor, AB
Sharing the Elements
The Body of Christ given for you.
Taste and see that God is good!
The cup of God’s covenant poured out for you.
Drink and renew God’s covenant!
Procession to the Table
(Stettler United Church practices an open communion table. The distribution of bread and juice is in continuous lines. All who wish to participate are welcome, as are your donations for the church’s ministry and mission. Please indicate to the server if you’d rather have the bread and cup delivered to your pew.)
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
God of abundance and mercy -- in our celebration of bread and wine -- we give joyful thanks for your eternal love and healing presence.
Bless this body of Christ that we may attend faithfully to our call to be your servants, with each other and throughout the world. Amen. (Reprinted from Seekers Church)
*Closing Hymn: “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” #481 VU
*Commissioning & Benediction:
May we be as living loaves,
kneaded and shaped by the hands of God.
May we be as wine of the Spirit,
poured out that others might know joy.
Love be the leaven within.
Love be the flavor of thought and word and deed.
Peace be among us, and go with us. Amen.
Touch Holiness © 1990 The Pilg