THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
GANDER PASTORAL CHARGE
Benton Gander Glenwood-Appleton
Ministers: The People of the Congregation
The Rev. Stephanie McClellan
Ms. Sharon Earle-Marshall
Organist: Karen Nevin
Choir: Men's Choir
Sunday Worship - April 2, 2006
At the call of Jesus Christ, we, the people
of Fraser Road United Church, seek to:
Welcome all;
Strengthen one another;
Nurture each other in faith;
Prepare and direct our people into God's world for service.
* Please stand as you are able.
MUSICAL PRELUDE
* PROCESSION OF THE LIGHT AND WORD
GREETING
* PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The God of love and peace be with you.....
AND ALSO WITH YOU.
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND WORK
*INTROIT: #506 VU "Take My Life and Let It Be' [vs.1 &4]
Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, all for thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsively)
God's Spirit calls to our spirits,
inviting us to worship.
God's Spirit calls to our spirits,
inviting us by love.
God's Spirit calls to our spirits,
calling us by name,
calling us to grow in faith,
calling us to be made new.
We come to worship in this season of the Spirit.
Amen.
* OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Loving God, open our hearts that we may feel the breath and play of your Spirit. Unclench our hands and free our spirits that we may reach out to one another, and touch and be healed. Amen.
* HYMN: #684 VU: 'Make Me a Channel of Your Peace'
THEME CONVERSATION
* HYMN: #371 VU: 'Open My Eyes, That I May See'
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In unison)
O God of mystery, we confess that, more than deep questions, we love easy answers; explaining away miracles, disarming the Good News, we domesticate your wild ways. Teach us to love our questions, O God. Teach us to struggle with faith. Teach us to live with your holy mysteries. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SERVICE OF THE WORD
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31: 31-34
"I will write my law on their hearts."
RESPONSIVE READING: Psalm 51: 1-12 (pg. 776)
Put a new heart in me, O God.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC Jesus Never Fails
EPISTLE READING: Hebrews 5: 5-10
Christ did not glorify himself; rather he suffered.
GOSPEL READING: John 12:20-33
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth.
SERMON: 'It Isn't Easy!'
OFFERTORY INVITATION
OFFERTORY MINISTRY OF MUSIC Jesus Is Coming Again
PRESENTATION OF OFFERING
*DOXOLOGY #542 VU
We give you but your own,
whate'er the gift may be;
all that we have is yours alone,
we give it gratefully.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF {In Unison}
O God - our hearts would not withhold our devotion, or our hands grasp for ourselves what you have called us to give. May these gifts signify our commitment to you and to the gospel revealed by your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Receive these offerings and lead us in his path. We ask it in his name, Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
* HYMN: #479 VU: 'Draw Us In The Spirit's Tether'
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The celebration of . . . it has ever dreamed.
The Spirit of God be with you.
And also with you.
Turn to God, the source of life.
We lift our hearts in prayer.
Let us give thanks.
We offer joyful thanks to God.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Thanks and praise . . . praising you along the way:
SANCTUS AND BENEDICTUS (sung)
O, Holy, holy, holy Lord,
O God of power and might,
all earth and sea and sky above
sing "Glory be to God!"
Hosanna in the highest Heav'n!
Creation sing your praise!
Blessed is the One who comes from God!
Hosanna and amen!
As we gather at . . . as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION (sung)
O, Christ has died!
And Christ is ris~en!
Christ will come again!
(In unison):
Holy Spirit,
unite us at this table and strengthen us
to live the resurrected life of Christ in the world.
Through Christ, with . . . now and forever.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
THE GREAT AMEN (sung):
Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!
Hosanna and Amen!
BREAKING THE BREAD AND FILLING THE CUP
SHARING OF THE BREAD AND WINE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (in unison):
We give thanks that bread broken brings wholeness;
that wine poured out replenishes;
that time spent with the Risen Christ and one another
is gift and grace. Amen.
WE GO FORTH IN PRAISE
*HYMN: #417 VU: 'God, As We Rise To Leave'
COMMISSIONING (In Unison):
In the power of the Holy Spirit we now go forth into the world, to fulfil our calling as the people of God, the body of Christ.
*BENEDICTION
* CHORAL BLESSING
MUSICAL POSTLUDE
RESOURCES USED IN THIS SERVICE:
United Church Website, Celebrate God's Presence; Voices United; Gathering
THIS WEEK IN PRAYER
Please uplift the members of our Guatemala Mission Team in prayer as their departure date quickly approaches. Also remember in prayer our church, both national and local, as it seeks to live out the call of Christ.
STEWARDSHIP SECONDS
The Daffodil Principle: one woman planted 50,000 bulbs over 42 years, lovingly multiplying tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort to contribute beauty and inspiration to others in her world.
Welcome to all of you, members and visitors, who have gathered to worship this day. May this holy time bring you fellowship with God and neighbour, and many blessings. We invite visitors to sign our guest register, and please, do come and worship with us again when you are in our area.
Worship Today - April 2nd.
Gander 11:00 a.m. Communion
7:00 p.m. Golden Legion Manor (Communion)
Glenwood-Appleton 5:00 p.m. Potluck/Bible Study
Worship next Sunday - Palm Sunday - April 9th
Gander 11:00 a.m. All ages
Benton 2:00 p.m. Communion
Glenwood-Appleton 7:00 p.m.
HOLY WEEK/EASTER SERVICES
April 10 - Holy Monday
Gander 7:00 p.m. Ministerial Ecumenical Worship - St. Martin's Anglican Cathedral
April 13 - Maundy Thursday
Gander 7:00 p.m. (Communion)
April 14 - Good Friday
Gander 11:00 a.m.
Glenwood-Appleton 11:00 a.m.
April 15 - Holy Saturday
Gander 11:30 p.m. Easter Vigil
April 16 - Easter Sunday
Gander 8:00 a.m. Communion
(followed by breakfast in the church hall)
11:00 a.m. All Ages
Glenwood-Appleton 11:00 a.m. Communion
Lakeside Homes 4:00 p.m. Communion
SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Mon. 3rd., Parents 'n Tots, 10:00 - 11:45 a.m., C.Hall Aud.
Women's Time Out, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Beavers, 6-7:15 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Cubs, 7:15 - 8:30 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Guatemala Mission Team, 7:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Al-anon, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m., C. Bsmt.
Tues., 4th, Kid's Sign Language Choir, 3:30-4:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Adult Sign Language Choir, 6:30-7:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Coffee With The Minister, 4:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
U.C.W. Afternoon Tea & Bake Sale, 1-4 p.m., C.Hall
U.C.W. Genesis, 8:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Handbell practice, 6:30 p.m., Church Sanctuary
A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church basement (choir room)
Wed. 5th., Men's Fellowship, noon to 1:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour.
Men's Choir, 7:00 p.m., Church Sanctuary
Senior Choir, 8:00 p.m., Church Sanctuary
Youth Group, 7:30-9 p.m., C.Hall Aud.
Labrinth Instruction, 6:30 p.m.. C.Hall
Labyrinth available, 10:00 - 7:00 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Thurs., 6th TOPS, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Scouts, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Guitar Group, 7:30 p.m., C. Bsmt.
Fri . 7th., A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement (Choir Room)
Sat. 8th., Scouts Yard Sale, 8 a.m. to noon, C. Hall
FLOWERS are placed today IN HONOUR of KATE HANRAHAN'S 100th birthday, and IN LOVING MEMORY of Gerald P. Hanrahan, from Dolly & family, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
ANNUAL FLIPPER DINNER The Finance Committee is sponsoring our annual Flipper Dinner on April 25, 2006, with takeouts at 4:30 p.m. and eat-ins at 5:00 p.m. Tickets sell for $10.00 and are available by calling: 256-2809, or 256-3619, or 256-7687 or 256-7449.
YARD SALE 1st United Scouts will be holding a Yard Sale on Saturday April 8th starting at 8 am in the church hall. If you have items to donate you may drop them off the night before on the 7th between 6 pm and 8 pm or call Brian at 256-5057 to arrange pickup. All proceeds from the event will go towards our trip to the 2007 Canadian Jamboree in Quebec in July of 2007.
WE AIM TO BE SCENT-FREE AND NUT-FREE. Thank you for your attention to this very serious matter.
UCW will hold an AFTERNOON TEA, BAKE AND BROWN BAG SALE on Tuesday, APRIL 4th at 2:30 p.m. in the church hall. Anyone who would like to contribute to this event may do so by bringing their donation to the hall on Monday evening between 8 and 9:30 p.m. For more details or tickets call Jean at 651-2632.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED! For the Confirmands who asked, I did not forget... Here's your answer!
Doxology means - words sung in praise; hymn or verse of praise to God (short) from the Greek for 'words of praise' - Usually has the Trinitarian formula - Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
Benediction simply means blessing; or words of blessing.
Thanks for asking. Rev. Steph
EASTER MEMORIALS are now being accepted at the church office. If you would like a memorial acknowledged in the Easter bulletin, please have the info to the office by no later than APRIL 11th. Please get your memorials in early.
GUATEMALA MISSION TEAM 2006 is collecting school supplies - specifically, plain yellow pencils, regular blue bic pens, small pencil sharpeners, crayons (the big
classroom size boxes as well as some
smaller colour packs) NO exercise books please. As well, general donations in support of the Guatemala Mission Team 2006 will be gratefully accepted. Income
tax receipts will be issued. Thank you to those who have already contributed.
LENTEN CARDS have been placed at the back of the church for those who wish to use them. Your Lenten offerings can also be placed in your regular church envelope under the "other" section.. Please mark "Lenten Offering"
ARE YOU ON PAR? The Pre-Authorized Remittance Program is now in place here at Fraser Road. To take advantage of the next automatic account debit date of April 20th, additional par registrations need to be received by the end of the month, when they will be forwarded for processing. You'll find info brochures on bulletin boards.
COMMENTARY ON TODAY'S BIBLE READINGS are printed and available at the back of the Church. Be sure to pick up your copy each week.
The Gander Branch of HIP HIP HOORAY will be hosting A SPRING FASHION SHOW 2006 at Hotel Gander on APRIL 2 starting at 2 P.M. Tickets are $7.00 each and are available at the door. Great door prized to be given away. Come out for an afternoon of fun and relaxation and get a chance to see all the latest fashions. Lunch will be served. All proceeds donated to HIP HIP HOORAY for much needed ORTHOPEDIC EQUIPMENT.
SPIRIT CONNECTION every week - Sunday nights on VISION TV - 10:00 p.m. Nfld. Tonight: Lenten Series: Caring for Waters - Invisible Residue With their key water source polluted by mining residue, an Aboriginal community in northern Ontario struggles to improve water quality. www.united-church.ca/spirit
Upcoming Shows
April 9 -- One Drop at a Time
April 16 - A Lighter Lens on the Church
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LETTING US KNOW
WHEN A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY OR A FRIEND
IS ILL AT HOME OR IN THE HOSPITAL
Next Week's Readings
Mark 11:1-11
Psalm 118 (VU pg. 837, parts 1,3 & 4)
Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47
Minutes for Mission
Daring to Hope
Through the Mission and Service Fund we support those who dare to hope for a better life. Here's a story from a young woman who was helped by an M&S-funded program.
My mother was abusive.
As a young person I was exposed to much conflict and violence. At seventeen I could endure it no longer and I sought help from my guidance counselor. I was put in touch with Safe Homes for Youth in London, Ontario, and my caseworker immediately found a home to host me. The couple that opened their home to me were emotionally, mentally, and physically supportive. Together with my caseworker I began to plan my future and hope for a better life.
Over the years the support of Safe Homes continued. They helped me find an apartment and plan a budget. I finished high school and started my post-secondary education. Even then they continued to contact me now and again to check in with me and help me choose options for my future.
Today I am working on a degree in nursing science and am employed as a registered nurse at Toronto General Hospital. My journey to this place in my life was made easier with the constant support of Safe Homes for Youth. While I didn't like the situation that led up to my entering Safe Homes, I will always be grateful for their support and friendship.
Safe Homes has received funding from the Mission and Service Fund for about 15 years. They need our help, and we can be grateful for the difference they are making in many young lives in London Conference. Mission and Service----working in partnership across Canada to make lives better.