THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

GANDER PASTORAL CHARGE

Benton Gander Glenwood-Appleton

Ministers: The People of the Congregation

The Rev. Stephanie McClellan

The Rev. Steve Atkinson

Organist & Choir Director: Karen Nevin

Choir: Mixed Choir

Sunday Worship - October 8, 2006

Thanksgiving Sunday

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.

We Gather To Praise God

Musical Prelude

Welcome

Congregational Life and Work

Passing of Thanks

*Call To Worship

In our worship, we are called to bring all that we are, all that we have, all that we hope for, all that we can be, in grateful thanksgiving.

We commit ourselves anew to God's purpose, grateful that God had given us life and filled our lives with this beautiful harvest. Teach us to be fruitful stewards of Your bounty.

Let us worship God with thanksgiving.

*Opening Prayer

Let us pray….The call of God's Spirit is like Living Water

flowing over and through us.

Living Water begins as a trickle, a few drops, the slightest

suspicion of the Holy in the ordinary pattern of life.

Living Water becomes a gentle stream, enlivening our worship,

bringing us inspiration from the scriptures, calling us to

reflection and to new endeavors.

Living Water flows into the river, embracing us and other faithful people; showing us how much we can do when we link hands and hearts in the name and in the way of Jesus Christ.

Let the call of God's Spirit flow over and through us like Living Water as we join every age, faith and tradition to say the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray…Our Father….

*Opening Hymn: "Come You Thankful People Come" VU516

Thanksgiving Ritual: (please see colored insert)

Children's Hymn: "Small Things Count" VU361

Theme Conversation

We Celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism

*Baptismal Hymn:

"I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry" VU644

Statement of Purpose

Sisters and brothers,

let us celebrate God's gift of grace,

given to us in the sacrament of baptism.

There is one body and one Spirit;

We have hope in Christ.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

one God, Creator of us all.

Out of the water of baptism, we rise with new life,

forgiven, renewed and one with Christ,

member's of Christ's body.

A Reading from John 3:1-6

Presentation of Thomas James Ingold

Questions of Faith and Promises

Affirmation of Faith

We are not alone, we live in God's world.

We believe in God:

who has created and is creating,

who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,

to reconcile and make new,

who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:

to celebrate God's presence,

to live with respect in Creation,

to love and serve others,

to seek justice and resist evil,

to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.

We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

Congregational Commitment

(The congregation is asked to stand)

Minister: Let us pledge to this family our support and care.

Congregation: As a baptized and baptizing people, we commit ourselves to support and uphold you within this community of faith.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Pouring of the Water

The Act of Baptism

Laying on of Hands

Welcome by the Sunday School

Blessing

Congregational Welcome

Thomas, into the . . . as members of God's family.

We welcome you with joy that you may learn of Christ's joy. We welcome you by name that you may know whose you are. You are a part of our family and will always find a welcome place here.

Presentation of the Light

We Listen for God's Word

Responsive Psalm: Psalm 66,

Parts 1 & 2, VU784, William Goulding

Ministry of Music Simple Thanks

Epistle Reading: Philippians 4:1-9, William Goulding

Reflection: Thanksgiving Joy

*Hymn: "Give Thanks, My Soul, for Harvest" VU522

We Respond to God's Word

Presentation of Offering

Offertory

Offertory Verse: "Grant Us, God, the Grace" VU540

Grant us, God, the grace of giving,

with a spirit large and free,

that ourselves and all our living

we may offer faithfully.

*Offertory Prayer

These are the gifts of God's people. God will bless their use.

They will be blessed as the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed; they will be blessed as the suffering are supported and the bereaved are comforted; they will be blessed as the faith community is nurtured; they will be blessed as the hungry receive food; they will be blessed as we are willing to take responsibility for their effectiveness.

There are no limits to God's blessing!

God be praised! Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayers of the People

We give thanks and praise to you, O God, for the blessing of creation.

We give thanks and praise for the harvest which provides food not only for the nourishment of our soul, but also for the world.

We give thanks to you O God, for the blessing of our physical lives.

We give thanks for the intricacy of our bodies: our skin, all of the different parts and how they work together.

We give thanks to you, O God, for our minds and our emotions.

We give thanks for the ability to think, to remember, to dream, to problem solve, to understand. We give thanks for the ability to feel and to realize how special life, love, people, you and ourselves really are.

We give thanks to you O God, for the people in our lives who enable us to catch glimpses of the Divine.

We give thanks for our families, our friends and even our enemies from whom we often learn the most about ourselves.

We give thanks, O God, for our unity.

We are a spiritual community, whose most important reality is our relationship with you, O God, in Jesus the Christ. We are called to love you, to love our neighbor, and to love ourselves. Give us strength to do so.

We give thanks to you, O God, for this weekend of giving thanks.

We will be a thanksgiving people, not just this weekend, but every day. Amen.

*Closing Hymn: "We Plough The Fields" VU520

Commissioning

Go from here with thanksgiving on your lips and in your hearts!

As we return to greet our families we will give thanks; as we search out and help our neighbours, we will give thanks; as we serve with others in the faith community, we will give thanks; as we speak out on behalf of the powerless, we will give thanks; as we praise our Most Loving God, we will give humble thanks.

Your thankful God goes with you.

*Benediction

*Organ Postlude

Today in Prayer We pray for families, that your love may be present in each home. We are thankful, Lord, for families.

Stewardship Seconds

Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can. ~ John Wesley (1703-91), founder of Methodism

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND WORK

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 - October 8^th

Gander 11:00 a.m. Sacrament of Baptism

Benton 2:00 p.m. Communion

Glenwood-Appleton 11:00 a.m.

Worship next Sunday - October 15^th

Gander 11:00 a.m.

Lakeside Homes 4:00 p.m. Chapel

Glenwood 7:00 p.m. Regular Worship

EVENTS OF THE WEEK

Sun. 8^th., COFFEE HOUR, in the church hall following worship.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement (Choir Room)

Mon. 9^th., Parent's 'n Tots, NOT MEETING

Women's Time Out, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., C.H. Aud.

Beavers, NOT MEETING

Cubs,. NOT MEETING

Al-anon, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m., C. Bsmt.

Tues., 10^th, Handbell Choir Practice, 6:30 p.m., C. Sanctuary

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!!

Session, 7:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour

U.C.W. Genesis, 8:30 p.m., C. H. Aud.

Kid's Sign Language, 3:30-4:30 p.m., C. Hall Parlour

Adult Sign Language, 6:30-7:30 p.m., C.Hall Parlour

A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church basement (choir room)

Wed. 11^th, Mens' Choir Practice, 7:00 p.m.

Senior Choir Practice, 8:00 p.m.

Church Sanctuary. NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!!

Men's Fellowship Group, Noon-2 p.m., C.H. Parlour

Youth Group, 7:30-9 p.m., C. Hall & Parlour

Labyrinth available, 10:00 - 7:00 p.m., C.H. Aud.

Thurs., 12^th Scouts, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Aud.

Guitar Group, 7:00 p.m., Church basement

TOPS, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Parlour

Fri . 13^th, A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement (Choir Room)

Sat. 14th. Social Club, 8:00 p.m., C.H. Palour

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Today: No Regular classes - All Ages Worship. Nursery available.

TODAY WE RECEIVE through the Sacrament of Baptism into the Church of Christ, and into Fraser Road United Church Family: Thomas James INGOLD, child of Sean INGOLD and Susan GOULDING. Congratulations to these new parents, and their families. All are invited to the church hall following worship for the cutting of the baptism cake, and a time of fellowship.

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE a donation towards the purchase of music publications for the church choir, in celebration of our mother's (VERA E. DEMPSEY) life, and dedicated to her memory, by daughters, Jane Donnelly, and Patricia M. Hiscock ..... When words fail to express the finer emotions of the human heart, music becomes the sublimated language of the soul, the divine instrumentality for its higher utterance. ~ Wendte; the donation of today's bulletins in loving memory of parents and grandparents - WILFRED & GERTIE VARDY and BEATRICE FELTHAM, by Joy, Max, and Mary Feltham; also a donation to the Hall Fund in loving memory of LOVED ONES and DECEASED FRIENDS, by Winnie Pelley.

THE OUTREACH & SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE extends thanks to everyone who supported their Walk for Water. Approximately $1200 was raised. We can put another well in India!!

The FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet on Wednesday, 18 October at 7:00 p.m. in the Pre-K room.

REMINDER The U.C.W. Rally will be held on Saturday, October 14^th at Fraser Road U.C. Hall. Registration at 9:30 a.m. Come out and enjoy a day of fellowship together.

THE GUITAR GROUP will be holding it's first practice Thursday, Oct. 12th at 7.00 p.m. in the choir room. Regular practice will be held thereafter each Thursday at 7.00pm. The group will be under the leadership of Peter Winters.

The GANDER MINISTERIAL will be hosting a SINGSPIRATION at Evangel Pentecostal Church, Monday October 23, 2006, 7:00p.m. A free will offering will be taken to help purchase a keyboard for the hospital chapel. If you would like to participate in this singspiration please call Evangel Pentecostal Church office at 256-4762. All are invited to attend. We hope to see you there!

YOUTH TALK BACK DISCUSSION GROUP will meet during Sunday School Time on October 22nd. Geof Wells will facilitate the discussion!

BEREAVEMENT GROUPS The Gander Ministerial and the YMCA are partnering to offer bereavement groups for seniors in Gander and the surrounding areas.

Seniors who have experienced the loss of a spouse may find that this group provides a safe, supportive, and empathetic environment to promote healing throughout the grieving process.

There will be two separate groups, each meeting every two weeks. The first will begin on Friday morning, October 6^th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The second group will begin on Tuesday afternoon, October 10th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The meetings will be held at the Golden Legion Manor in the second floor meeting room. To register for either Tuesday's or Friday's group, contact Tracey Hillyard @ 651-5953 or leave a message at 651-5927. Please register as soon as possible as space is limited.

GUATEMALA MISSION TEAM 2008 - If you are at all interested in being a part of the team that will travel to the Orphanage in Parramos and the school in Guatemala City from March 23^rd to April 6th, 2008, you must declare your intention to Rev. Stephanie and attend an Informational Meeting that will be held on Thursday, November 9th, 2006 at 8 PM. If you cannot attend this meeting, let Rev. Steph know you are interested. Anyone who will be grade ten or older at the time of the trip is welcome. If your youth wants to attend, it is imperative that at least one parent attend all the meetings as the team is formed and prepares for the journey. Call the office at 256-3000 or Rev. Steph's cell 424-6681.

OLD FASHIONED HYMN SING October 15, Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. Please fill in the hymn request slip in today's bulletin, and place it either in the offering plate, or in the box at the back of the church. Hymns can be chosen from either Voices United or Hymns for the Family of God.

RECEIPTS The third quarter receipts have been printed to up October 1^st, with donations included up to October 4^th. They will been delivered by zone representatives within the next week or so.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR LETTING US KNOW

WHEN A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY OR A FRIEND

IS ILL AT HOME OR IN THE HOSPITAL