ORDER OF WORSHIP – MARCH 19, 2023
LENT 4 – LOOK FOR THE THIRST QUENCHER
Worship led by Grace Choir, Rev. Cathy Kinsman, Lois Sonnega, Jonathan Rollheiser and the Grace
Trio
GOD INVITES US TO WORSHIP
WELCOME
CANDLELIGHTING “Show Us How to Love” (vs.1) Soloist: Karen Fawcett .
Words: Lindy Thompson Music Mark A. Miller
THRESHOLD MOMENT
SONG “Show Us How to Love” (vs.2) Soloist: Karen Fawcett . Words: Lindy Thompson Music Mark A. Miller
PASSING THE PEACE – The love and peace of Christ be with you! And also with you!
HYMN “Like a Healing Stream” MV #144
Words and Music: Bruce Harding, 2003
CHILDREN’S TIME
WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD
PRAYER OF HEALING
Holy and Merciful One,
in this season of discernment,
we come bringing our deepest longings
and our failed attempts at satisfying them.
We have often looked for love,
for acceptance and security,
in the approval of others,
giving away the power to claim for ourselves,
that we are inherently beloved, created by God.
We yearn for lives that matter.
We desire relationships which thrive.
We want to carry less regret.
At times we fail to see you have already given us what really matters: your love and acceptance.
You provide opportunities all around us to make a difference in the lives of others;
affirming their worth and dignity as they live their lives.
You give us a fresh start each day, inviting us to be better.
In the silence,
we bring to you our pleas for openness to a different way of living.
(A time for silent prayer/meditation)
WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT
Friends, be assured by the psalmist who reminds us,
our God is the “rock of salvation” in whose hand is the
“depths of the earth and the heights of the mountains.”
Let us respond together:
We open our hearts, our minds, our souls and our vision,
to the ways of love created by God, embodied in Jesus,
and already moving in us by the Spirit.
We are forgiven, loved and freed! Amen!
PREPARATION FOR THE WORD “Love Us into Fullness” MV#81(v 1) Words and Music: Daniel Charles Damon, 2002
THE SCRIPTURE SPEAKS TO US
SCRIPTURE READING – Old Testament
Exodus 17:1-7 – Water from the Rock
EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE
PREPARATION FOR THE WORD “Love Us into Fullness” (vs. 2)
Words and Music: Daniel Charles Damon, 2002 MV #81
New Testament: John 4:5-42 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman
In this is God’s Holy Word. Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
SPECIAL MUSIC “By the Well, a Thirsty Woman” Grace Trio Words: Elizabeth Stilborn, 1998, rev. 2005 Music: Diana Wilcox, 2005
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND
OFFERING INVITATION
DEDICATION in Memory of Betty Ann Davidson Grace Choir
OFFERING HYMN “Grant Us, God, The Grace” VU #540
Words: Anonymous Music: Christian F. Witt, 1715; Adapt. Henry J. Gauntlett, 1861
OFFERING PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Lord’s Prayer
SUNG WITHIN PRAYERS “O God Have Mercy” MV #68
Words and Music: Traditional Guarani song, Paraguay Arr. U.C. of Canada 2007
WE GO FORTH IN FAITH
CLOSING HYMN “Guide Me, O Though Great Jehovah” VU #651
Words: William Williams, 1745 Music: John Hughes, 1905
ANNOUNCEMENTS – Activities that nurture practices of love
BLESSING
CHORAL BENEDICTION “Go Now in Peace” Words and Music: Don Besig
Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission. One License #A-7252
Welcome to Grace! We hope you will join us for IN-PERSON worship on Sunday at 10 am. If you cannot make it to the church, you can be online. Click here to join us live on Facebook. A recorded version of the service is publicly available on Facebook by noon each Sunday. Throughout this publication, you will see underlined items. These are all hyperlinks, taking you to a website, Facebook page, or email to contact for more information. Give one a try by clicking on one of them, like the donation link. A hard copy of this publication is available in the office. Grace depends on financial contributions. You can support fantastic programming by going to our webpage, http://www.graceunitedchurch.ca/donate, or filling out a pre-authorized remittance form, available from the office. Grace depends on financial contributions.
What’s Happening This Week
March 20
1:00 pm - Souper 5
4:15 - 5:15 pm - Meri-dian Ukuleles
5:00 - 6:30 pm - Handbells
March 21
9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Community Connections Prep
2:30 pm - Staff Meeting
4:00 - 5:30 pm - Homework Program
6:45 - 8:45 pm - Forgiveness Small Group
March 22
10:30 am - 2:00 pm - Community Connections
11:30 am - 12:15 pm - Lenten Lunch
12:15 - 1:00 pm - Lenten Service
4:00 - 5:00 pm - Kidz Praize
March 23
12:30 pm - Soup Trio
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Outreach Cupboard
6:00 - 8:30 pm - Youth Nite
7:15 - 8:15 pm - Community Choir
8:15 - 9:00 pm - Grace Choir
March 24
9:45 - 11:00 am - Come as you are Bible Study
March 26
10:00 am - Worship - Lent 5
Outreach Shopping List
o Canned & fresh fruit
o Canned & fresh veggies
o Freezable meats
o Cereal
o Rice
o Peanut butter
o Kraft Dinner
o Crackers
o Juice boxes
o Larger canned protein (ham, chicken, tuna)
o Instant oatmeal pkgs
o Toilet paper/Kleenex
o Shampoo, body wash, deodorant, feminine hygiene products
o Instant coffee
o Powdered milk
o Jam or Jelly
o Cheez Whiz
YOUTH NITES │ THURSDAY │4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
This upcoming week for Youth nite the kids are going to do a LABYRINTH. What is a Labyrinth you ask! We can’t wait to learn all about it. Here’s the info. on our presenter. Joan Alexander (she/her) is a Labyrinth Facilitator who has lived (and guided labyrinth builds and walks) in Ontario, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. In October of 2022, Joan and her same-gender spouse moved to Lloydminster, SK and are happily settling into life on the prairies. A Haden-trained Spiritual Director with an active practice in Canada, the USA and the UK. Joan also teaches and supports colleagues in supervision. She presents on various topics including Spiritual Trauma: Happening, Hurting & Healing and Spiritual Direction with the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community & Allies. She is a long-time Spiritual Directors Int’l member who presented at the 2022 annual conference and contributes to various SDI publications. More about Joan may be found here: https://www.joanalexanderspiritualdirector.com Please find below the link for March 19th registration: https://form.jotform.com/220067007248247 If there are any questions about youth nites, our youth nite worker Ashley Holman can be reached at ash.holman77@gmail.com or 306 307 5735.
ALBERTA CARES 2023 HOUSING RALLY| MAR 24, 2023| 2:00 P.M.
Homelessness numbers are on the rise across the province. The cost of living is forcing more families to choose between rent and food. On Friday afternoon, March 24 at 2 pm, we need at least 100,000 Albertans to join in rallies taking place all across the province. To see the details for rallies in your local area, please visit www.interfaithhousing.ca. If you are willing to help coordinate a rally in your area, please contact Pastor Pam Richards at pamelar@telus.net. It is time for Alberta to build a wise, well-resourced, and well constructed long-term plan to address housing and homelessness challenges in Alberta. #Albertacares2023.
WOMEN OF THE UNITED CHURCH 2023 CONFERENCE & ANNUAL MTG|APR 27-29|
FCJ CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTRE IN CALGARY
All Women of the Church are Welcome to attend this in-person event, April 27 - 29, at the FCJ Christian Life Centre in Calgary. We think that you will enjoy and be enriched by the program we have prepared and by meeting and worshipping with other women once again, and considering our theme of We Are One: A Look at Bias and Racism. Registration deadline is March 24th. For more information & for the registration form, click here!
CONNECTING COMMUNITY|MAR 22 |10:30 - 2:00 PM|GUC
Reserve your ticket now by letting the office staff know you are planning to attend our final Connecting Community on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. All Seniors are invited!
HUB OF HEALING
We are looking for a note-taker for the Hub of Healing meetings. Hub meetings occur every 2nd Tuesday of the Month from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please see Lana if you are interested.
HOMEWORK│TUESDAY│4:00 PM – 5:30 PM │GUC
Homework Club is for students grade 7-10. Students from all schools are welcome and they are provided with a warm meal. We are looking for teachers or people interested in tutoring to help with the students. If you have any questions please call the office.
STEWARDSHIP SECONDS
Sharing what we have - our time, our energy, our money, our belongings - spreads water on a world thirsting for justice
UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES
Mar. 26 – Lent 5 – “Lookin’ for the Liberator”
April 2 – Palm Sunday – “Lookin’ for the Unexpected”
Apr. 6 – Maundy Thursday – “Love Looks for Us” – A feast of love and service 6:45 pm – 7:30 pm
April 7 – Good Friday – 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary – “The Weeping Tree”
April 9 – Easter Sunday – “Love Wins”
MISSION & SERVICE GIFTS FOR 2022
It is with immense gratitude that we thank everyone who contributed to Mission & Service and the work of the church in 2022. Mission & Service giving’s totalled $21.1 million, planned gifts totalled $1.8 million, and over $1.5 million was contributed for the people of Ukraine. That is a total of $24.5M and the demonstration of amazing generosity. Read more about the 2022 Mission & Service results. Together through Mission & Service we have supported life-changing work that affects people in Canada and across the globe. Stories of the impact of your gifts can be found on our website and on YouTube. You can also get an update from one of our partners assisting Ukrainian refugees. Our shared care, concern, prayers, generosity, and action in relation to the work we do together—our United Church Mission & Service—is a powerful expression of our faith.
Thank you so much for your gifts.
NATIONAL AFFIRMING/PIE DAY
This past Tuesday, March 14th, we celebrated National Affirming/PIE Day with the LGBTQ+ Society of Lloydminster & Slay the Night YLL Ltd. 16 people came to enjoy a wonderful evening of pie, educational games, a Flag Identification Contest, and lots of fun and laughter! Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a reality, to Grace United Church for the amazing pie and door prizes, and the representatives from our Affirming team & non-profits 2SLGBTQQIPAA+ communities.
As beloved children of God, all are included in the life and ministry of the Grace Family
where diversity is celebrated. Grace remembers, as we celebrate God’s presence in
worship, Grace United Church gathers on Treaty 6 land, the traditional territory of the Plains,
Wood Cree, Assiniboine and Métis peoples. As Treaty people, we seek to live with
respect on this land and live in peace and friendship with all our relations.
Board Chair - Darrel Howell - 780-870-1671 dhhowell@telus.net
Executive Director - Bev Thurlow 780-875-8959 gucbevthurlow@gmail.com
Administrative Support - Ashley Barber 780-875-8959 gucoffice22@gmail.com
Treasurer - Lynda Campbell 306-821-2575 blbcampbell@gmail.com
Family Support Worker - Lana Lane - 1-403-901-8385 lanalanegraceu@gmail.com
Playschool Coordinator - Lori Haygarth - 780-808-0959 dannyandlori@telus.net
Choir Director - Karen Fawcett - 780-875-4642 karenfawcett@hotmail.com
Affirming Support Worker - Jenson Brown - 780-875-8959 gucjensonbrown@gmail.com
Minister - Rev Cathy Kinsman 1-204-294-2142 gucminister@telus.net