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: Karen Nevin
Sunday Worship - December 31, 2006 - 11:00 a.m.
New Year's Eve
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
* Procession of Light and Word
- O Come, All Ye Faithful 60
Greeting
*Passing the Peace of Christ
May the peace of grateful hearts be with you!
And also with you!
Congregational Life and Work
*Call To Worship
Hear the bells ringing! Christmas Day arrived. Let our hearts be one as we come to worship the Christ Child on this most joyful day.
We praise Jesus, our King of glory. Amen.
*Carol: Angels, From The Realms Of Glory 36
Prayer of Confession:
God's Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
What joyful good news!
God's light came into our darkened world.
Shine your light in our lives, Lord Jesus.
The light of Christ still shines in our darkness.
Forgive us for not understanding that light, O God.
Jesus, the true light of God, was not recognized by those he came to save.
Forgive us for not receiving you, Lord Jesus.
All those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, to them Christ gives the right to become children of God.
We receive you anew, Lord Jesus.
Through Christ we are reconciled to God.
Make us one with you, Lord Jesus.
Receive your pardon and see the glory of our Lord. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Sharing the Peace and New Year's Greetings
* Halle, Halle, Halle
Halle, halle, hallelujah! (x3)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Theme Conversation
* Carol: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice 35
We Listen For God's Word
* Responsive Reading: Psalm 98, (VU p. 818)
Gospel - Mark 13: 1-8
Reading: Psalm 98 Becomes A Christmas Carol
* Carol: Joy To The World 59
Reading: The Angels Sang With Joy
*Carol: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 48
First Reading: Titus 3:4-7
Reading: In The Silent Night A Saviour Was Born
* Carol: Silent Night, Holy Night 67
Reading: From A Little Town Comes A Great King
* Carol: O Little Town Of Bethehem 64
We Respond To God's Word
Invitation to Offering
Offertory
Presentation of Offering
*Doxology: Grant Us, God, The Grace
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.
*Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self (in unison):
Generous God, you have done great things for us. We offer these gifts in response to the great love you have shown us. We pray that they will be useful, not only to our congregation, but also to the world, where many babies are being born into poverty, injustice, and hopelessness. This we do in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Reading: A Christmas Prayer for Our Children
*Carol: Away In A Manger 69
Christmas Prayers
We come as faithful people to offer our prayers to God.
Hear and receive our prayers, O Lord.
We come to Bethlehem and behold our Lord and King.
Hear and receive our prayers, O Lord.
We pray that our hearts would become mangers for the Christ Child, the holy child of Bethlehem.
Hear and receive our prayers, O Lord.
We join our voices with the heavenly choirs of angels, giving praise to God most high.
Hear and receive our prayers, O Lord.
We pray for the lonely, the sick, the homeless, the grieving. Reach out, O God, and touch their hearts. We especially pray for those we make personal intercessions for now (names may be spoken by congregation). Be present to them, Lord Jesus.
Hear and receive our prayers, O Lord.
We adore you, O gracious Lord. We give you thanks and praise for hearing our prayers.
Hear and receive our prayers, O Lord.
The Lord's Prayer
*Carol: The First Nowell 91
*Carol: Go Tell It On The Mountain 43
*Commissioning & Benediction
*Musical Postlude
Resources Used in this service:
Hear The Bells Ring, Cynthia E.
Today in Prayer
We uplift those who grieve, those who feel sad and alone. May they know your caring presence God.
Stewardship Seconds
Real charity doesn't care if it's tax deductible or not. ~ Anonymous
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 - December 31 - New Year's Eve
Gander 11 a.m. All Ages
Glenwood 7 p.m.
Next worship - January 7, 2007
Gander 11 a.m. All Ages
Nightingale Manor 7 p.m. Communion
Glenwood 7 p.m.
EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Sun. 31st., A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement (Choir Room)
Mon. 1st., Al-anon, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m., C. Bsmt.
Tues., 2nd, A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church basement (choir room)
Wed. 3rd, M & P Committee, 7:00 p.m., C. Bsmt.
Mens' Choir, 7:00 p.m./Senior Choir, 8:00 p.m.
Church Sanctuary
Labyrinth available, 10:00 - 4:00 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Thurs., 4th Guatemala Mission Team 2008, 8:30 p.m., C. Sanct.
Scouts Leaders' Planning, 7 p.m., C.H. Aud.
TOPS, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Fri . 5th, Finance Committee, 7 p.m., C. Bsmt., Pre-K & K Rm
A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement
REMINDER Those people who are doing the Bible-In-A-Year program are reminded to pick up their readings at the back of the church.
ARE YOU ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HOW YOUR M & S DOLLARS ARE SPENT? The Mission & Service Fund of the United Church of Canada supports many great programs and we need an M & S Enthusiast to keep us up to date on what is happening. If this is your passion we would love to hear from you. There is lots of material available to help you share the excitement. Call the church office to leave your name and we will get back to you.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Mark your calendars for an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast: Wednesday, January 24th 7:30 -- 9:00am at Saint Martin's Parish Centre. There will be a meal of pancakes and sausages served up by the members of the Gander Ministerial Association. Special guest speaker, Mayor Claude Elliott will be with us. The meal is free, but donations to the work of the Gander Ministerial Association are welcomed. Please sign the sign-up sheet found at the back of the church.
OLD FASHIONED HYMN SING, January 21st, Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to join in this time of singing.
FIRST UNITED SCOUTS FUND-RAISING - All Proceeds are in aid of Canadian Jamboree 2007
TAKE THE BIBLE IN A YEAR CHALLENGE!!!!!
Approximately 15 minutes a day or 2 hours on the weekend will get you through the Bible in a year. On January 1, 2007, participants in our church family will start on a journey to read the Bible in a year. Those who finish will be presented with a certificate celebrating your accomplishment in January 2008.
Possible Questions:
- Do you have to join a class? No
- Will I have to go to special meetings? No
- Will I have opportunities to talk about what I am reading? Yes, if you would find that helpful but is certainly not mandatory.
- What is the goal? Just to read the Bible from cover to cover.
BIBLE TALK!!!!
This will be a time to talk about your reading is going. Times and dates to be announced. Please see sign-up sheet in the Narthax.
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 January 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.
FOR YOUR INFO Rev. Steph will be away from January 2nd to January 16th inclusive and looks forward to seeing everyone on her return.
THANK YOU Thank you all so much for your loving gifts, cards, prayers,
meals and good wishes this Christmas. Your generosity and graciousness has inspired love, not just at this time of year, but always. Thank you for
thinking of me and making me feel so special. May the spirit of Christmas continue to bless you and yours throughout the coming year.
CALLING and CARING MINISTRIES: LAB I A 38 hour course to be held at St. Catherine's Renewal Center, Grand-Falls-Windsor, February 5th- February 9, 2007. What you learn in Lab I will be useful in all areas of your life: family, church, work, school, etc. See bulletin board for details.
ALLERGY ALERT - We are aiming to make our Church Buildings more friendly for those with severe allergies. Please consider the danger you create when you wear any scented products or when you bring food items containing nuts or nut products. WE AIM TO BE SCENT-FREE AND NUT-FREE. Thank you for your attention to this very serious matter.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LETTING US KNOW
WHEN A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY OR A FRIEND
IS ILL AT HOME OR IN THE HOSPITAL
website: www.unitedchurchgander.ca
Minute for Mission
Barbara's Legacy
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
----Philippians 2:5
Some people leave more than one legacy. According to the folks at Newark United Church, in Burgessville, Ontario, Barbara Williams-Read certainly did. Barbara was a beloved teacher for 35 years. She gifted many lives with her ability to nurture learning. What a legacy!
In her life Barbara knew much sorrow. Her parents died when she was young and her high school sweetheart died four years after they were married. She knew how important one's church family is in times of grief. Perhaps that was why Barbara attended the same church all her life. Even after retiring and moving into town, she still came back to Newark United and rarely missed a Sunday. Like her parents, Barbara was a dedicated Christian. She read her Bible regularly, and she shared with others at church and in UCW meetings. Barbara was convinced by Jesus' life and ministry that caring for other people less fortunate than herself was the right thing to do. She was the M&S treasurer for her congregation for many years. What a legacy!
Barbara had grown up on a farm and was familiar with hard work and hard times. She was frugal, and when she sold her farm house there was still only one hot water tap and the original wallpaper was on the walls. Barbara had always been concerned with the sorrow and hunger in our world. In her will Barbara Williams-Read bequeathed nearly $600,000 to The United Church of Canada and over $1.7 million to the Mission and Service Fund. She left her beloved Newark congregation a special gift too.
Barbara Williams-Read has left a substantial legacy. She bequeathed her wealth, her teaching, and her leadership. Perhaps her finest legacy is that she left for those in Newark United Church, and for all of us, a model of someone who was a genuine Christian.