Sunday Service

There will be no in-person worship services until further notice. Reverend Cathy will, however, be conducting on-line services.

Click here to download and follow along with the order of service! OR see Service Bulletin below.

Click here for a recording of the service.

Sunday Sunday March 15, 2020 Bulletin
Led by the Choir, Congregation and Rev. Cathy Kinsman

GOD CALLS US TOGETHER
GATHERING MUSIC – CALL TO WORSHIP – WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

*HYMN "This is the Day" VU #412
Words: Unknown Music: Fijian folk melody Used with permission. One license #A-725242
This is the day, this is the day that our God has made, that our God has made; we will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that our God has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day that our God has made.
Open to us, open to us your gates, O God, your gates, O God; we will go in, we will go in, to your holy place, to your holy place. Open to us your gates, O God, we will go in to your holy place. Open to us, open to us your gates, O God.
You are our God, you are our God, we will praise your name, we will praise your name; we will give thanks, we will give thanks, for your faithfulness, for your faithfulness. You are our God, we will praise your name, we will give thanks for your faithfulness. You are our God, you are our God, we will praise your name.
This is the day, this is the day that our God has made, that our God has made; we will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that our God has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day that our God has made.

CANDLE LIGHTING
There is a time for everything in creation: a time for light and a time for darkness, a time for sound and a time for silence, a time for action and a time for reflection, a time for others and a time for oneself. But all these times are God’s time and now is the time to be aware.
May these candles lit remind us of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the loving light within, we are gifted to share….
WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD
CENTERING MOVEMENT PRAYER
Creator, touch our minds, (touching head)
that we may worship with understanding.
Christ, touch our eyes, (touching eyes)
that we might recognize each other.
Holy Spirit, touch our voices, (touching our lips)
that our words would always praise you.
Love Divine, touch our hearts, (touching chest, above heart)
that your compassion would overflow.
With all that we are, (touching head, eyes, lips, heart)
We worship you. Amen.

*SONG “Three Things I Promise” (vs. 1-4) MV #176
Words: Brian Wren Music: Daniel Charles Damon Used with permission. One License #A-725242
Three things I promise, Holy God,
in age and youth, in life and death:
to bless your Name, and cling to Christ,
and listen for the Spirit's breath.
Your love unfolded time and space,
and life, and all that life became,
and so, with thankful heart and voice,
through good and ill, I bless your Name.
I follow, serve, and cling to Christ
amid our culture's tides and trends,
for here your Name is most revealed:
Majestic Love, and Best of Friends.
Enlivened as the Spirit moves
to cleanse, awaken, and renew,
I pray that justice, peace, and truth,
may seed and grow in all I do.

SHARING OF THE STEWARDS – Blessings – given – wooden chalice –
PRAYER OF HEALING
Creator of the Universe, forgive us for missing the big picture.
Forgive us for our egos that cause us to push our agenda’s loosing sight of the greatest needs for health and wellness…
Help us worship You and walk gently upon Creation.
Call us to love our neighbors as ourselves, reaching out to those most isolated.
You are the Maker of All.
We come before You in prayer now,
asking You to travel with us through this wilderness time.
(silent reflective prayer or meditation)

WORDS OF HEALING
God is always faithful, even when we are not.
God is always hopeful, even when we feel we have lost hope.
God’s love is always steadfast, even when our love waivers.
Know that God is with you. God made you and God loves you.
Take courage, hold on to faith and go forward knowing you are loved and forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
SOLO: “Now, Quit Your Care”

THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US
SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 95:1-7 (part 1 with sung refrain) VU #814
In this, is God’s story. Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE “Are You a Regular”
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND

OFFERING INVITATION
*OFFERING RESPONSE "Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands” (vs 1) VU #537
Words & Music: Joseph Kabemba Used with permission. One license #A-725242
Your work, O God, needs many hands
to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve
unless gifts we share.

OFFERING PRAYER
The bills and the coins and the numbers in the bank are symbols of the work our hands, loving God. We offer them to you, as signs and symbols of our worship going out into the world. They will be used in ways that bring healing and wholeness, here in Lloydminster and beyond, through Mission and Service. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Lord’s Prayer
SONG - Woven through prayers - we will begin with sung refrain
“My Soul is Thirsting for You” (refrain) MV #109
Words & Music: Steve Agrisano. Used with permission. One license #A-725242
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, thirsting for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, thirsting for you, my God,
Thirsting for you, my God.
COMMUNAL RESPONSE - Thank you, loving God!
The psalmist in the reading today said,
“O Come let us sing to God.”
Let us shout with joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving.
Let us joyously shout to God with songs of praise!”
So, let’s do all those things as we join together in prayer:
LET US PRAY
O God, our hearts beat with thanksgiving.
They mark every moment that we live with you!
for the earth and all it’s goodness;
for the seas and the waves so high;
for the air, which surrounds this planet;
and for all the creatures with whom we live – we say…
THANK YOU, LOVING GOD!
For the relationships we share with creation, with each other
and for love which brings new life, we say:
THANK YOU, LOVING GOD!
For your presence in and with all living things, every heartbeat, everyday,
for the fact that you are always with us – we say
Thank you, loving God!
*Sing My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
Thirsting for you, my God,
Thirsting for you, my God.

Oh God, may we be reminded of Jesus’ words to his disciples,
of certain strength in the meek and also of his teachings to care for the poor
and the least or marginalized.
Help us to act with hearts shining toward each other.
Help us to pass the peace and love you have offered us through your son Jesus Christ –
for which we say THANK YOU, LOVING GOD!
We are grateful for the communication systems that connect each country through reporting and analyzing data to understand the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are grateful for the common-sense public health measures and call to action of simple hand washing not hand wringing. For this we say, Thank you, LOVING GOD!
We pause in our hearts to grieve for the families whose elders have been swept away by the virus and we ask you to replace fear during increasing lockdowns with focus and quiet action…
Help us in unforeseen ways to grow in our understanding of our connectedness.
Safeguard the emergency and health care teams and families exposed across the world.
We ask for your mercy in these times, to increase our compassion and to sustain us in doing your will. And so we sing…
*Sing
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
Thirsting for you, my God,
Thirsting for you, my God.
We offer all these prayers, now sharing the words Jesus gave to all his disciples,
including us, saying:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

WE GO OUT IN FAITH
*HYMN “Go Now in Peace”
BLESSING
*CHORAL BENEDICTION “Sing Amen” (Asithi: Amen) VU #431
Words & Music: S.C. Molefe. Used with permission One License #A-725242
(Sing amen:) Amen, we praise your name, O God.
(Sing amen:) Amen, we praise your name, O God.
(Sing amen:) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen,
we praise your name, O God!
(Sing amen:) Amen, we praise your name, O God.
(Sing amen:) Amen, we praise your name, O God.
(Sing amen:) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen,
we praise your name, O God!
Thank you for being a part of our worship today.

Our Vision: Grace United is an Affirming Congregation which seeks through worship, study, work, actions and fellowship, to ensure a safe, nurturing environment.  We include all people into the life and ministry of the Grace family: persons of any age, colour ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation.  We celebrate the richness that diversity brings to the church.

Services: Sunday Mornings @ 10:00 am

Office: 4708- 50 Ave. Lloydminster AB T9V 0W4

Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 12 noon & 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 780-875-8959  Fax: 780-875-5850  

W: www.graceunitedchurch.ca  E: graceu@telusplanet.net

Facebook and Instagram @graceunitedch

THE LAND - We remember, as we celebrate God’s presence in Worship that G.U.C. gathers on Treaty 6 land, the traditional  territory of the Plains, Wood Cree, and Assiniboine peoples.  As Treaty people, we seek to live with respect on this land, and live in peace, and friendship with all our relations.