NOTES:With World Communion Sunday right around the corner, we are preparing our hearts to join with Union Church in person, and with churches around the world in Spirit, to break bread, share the cup and remember how deeply connected we are in Jesus Christ. How blessed we are by the abundance of God's love! The Book of Revelation opens with a striking scene of the writer encountering a message from God for the seven churches in Asia Minor in the latter part of the first century A.D. The message speaks to each of them about their calling in their specific moment of history. "Hear what the Spirit is saying unto the churches!" We too, turn our hearts, minds and spirits to listening for God's voice calling us into this moment of history to be Christ's body and to share God's love. How will we respond?
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:1-8
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants[a] what must soon take place; he made[b] it known by sending his angel to his servant[c] John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.To him who loves us and freed[d] us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made[e] us to be a kingdom, priests serving[f] his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.8:30 AM Order of Service
The Gathering
Welcome
Prelude
We Gather in The Light of Christ
Lighting the Christ Candles
Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!
Hymn of Praise:#93"Praise Him! Praise Him!" (verse 1)
Call to Worship
Leader: Blessed is the one who reads the words of this message, and blessed are those who hear it ,
People: Let us take to heart what is written in it,
because the time is near.
Leader: Look, O people, and see. Listen, O people, and hear.
People: Our God is calling, let us answer Him with praise.
~ Posted on the Mennonite Church Saskatchewan website. http://www.mcsask.ca/Worship%20Time.pdf
Invocation (UNISON)
O God of revelation and power,
we will praise you,
and exalt your name.
You are Alpha,
the beginning of all things,
and Omega,
the end.
You are with us in all that lies between.
We know your healing, your provision, your victory.
In your kingdom, our sorrow will turn to dancing
and our tears to songs of joy.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and
Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn:#570 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" (verses 1 & 3)
Praying Together
Pastoral Prayer
(inspired by
Revelation 22 and John 17)
Merciful God, we say that we want you to come
and be among us.
And yet we acknowledge
that you already are among us,
fully and completely at all times.
We say that
we want Jesus to return and we pray,
“Come, Lord Jesus.”
And yet, we confess
our fears and uncertainty
about the return of Christ
and what it will mean for
us and for the world.
Jesus prayed that we might be one with you
and with each
other. And yet, so often,
if we are honest, we wish to remain separate from
you,
maintaining our independence and control.
We resist the burden of being
unified with those around us,
especially when those around us want different
things
than we do or pull us in directions we do not wish to go.
Soften our
resistance, gracious Lord,
and draw us into an authentic relationship with you
and true community with one another.
We pray this in the name of your Son,
who
prayed and still prays for us. Amen.
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn:#393 "One Bread, One Body" (verses 1 & 2)
Communion Hymn:#393 "One Bread, One Body" (verses 1 & 2)
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn: #354 "Seek Ye First" (all verses)
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
10:40AM Service
Welcome
Prelude
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: Blessed is the one who reads the words of this message, and blessed are those who hear it ,
People: Let us take to heart what is written in it,
because the time is near.
Leader: Look, O people, and see. Listen, O people, and hear.
People: Our God is calling, let us answer Him with praise.
~ Posted on the Mennonite Church Saskatchewan website. http://www.mcsask.ca/Worship%20Time.pdf
Hymn of Praise:#93"Praise Him! Praise Him!" (verse 1)
O God of revelation and power,
we will praise you,
and exalt your name.
You are Alpha,
the beginning of all things,
and Omega,
the end.
You are with us in all that lies between.
We know your healing, your provision, your victory.
In your kingdom, our sorrow will turn to dancing
and our tears to songs of joy.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Invocation (UNISON)O God of revelation and power,
we will praise you,
and exalt your name.
You are Alpha,
the beginning of all things,
and Omega,
the end.
You are with us in all that lies between.
We know your healing, your provision, your victory.
In your kingdom, our sorrow will turn to dancing
and our tears to songs of joy.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and
Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith:#97 "Fairest Lord Jesus" (verses 1 & 3)
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn:#570 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" (verses 1 & 3)
Praying Together
Pastoral Prayer
(inspired by
Revelation 22 and John 17)
Merciful God, we say that we want you to come
and be among us.
And yet we acknowledge
that you already are among us,
fully and completely at all times.
We say that
we want Jesus to return and we pray,
“Come, Lord Jesus.”
And yet, we confess
our fears and uncertainty
about the return of Christ
and what it will mean for
us and for the world.
Jesus prayed that we might be one with you
and with each
other. And yet, so often,
if we are honest, we wish to remain separate from
you,
maintaining our independence and control.
We resist the burden of being
unified with those around us,
especially when those around us want different
things
than we do or pull us in directions we do not wish to go.
Soften our
resistance, gracious Lord,
and draw us into an authentic relationship with you
and true community with one another.
We pray this in the name of your Son,
who
prayed and still prays for us. Amen.
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#393 "One Bread, One Body" (verses 1 & 2)
Communion Hymn#393 "One Bread, One Body" (verses 1 & 2)
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn:#354 "Seek Ye First" (all verses)
Discipleship Hymn:#354 "Seek Ye First" (all verses)
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song:#495 "Weave" (sing once)
Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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