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: Mens' Choir
Sunday Worship - January 14, 2007 - 11:00 a.m.
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 Word and Light
Greeting
Congregational Life and Work
*Passing the Peace of Christ
The Peace of Christ be with you….
And also with you.
*Call to Worship
You are here for us, O God;
you give us security in an uncertain world.
You encourage us to sing new songs;
you joyfully set our worship free
You challenge us as we go on the journey of life;
it is your gracious way that leads to fulfillment.
There is no end to the love you lavish on us;
we know your love is there for us, in time and beyond time.
*Opening Prayer
*Opening Hymn: "Arise Your Light Has Come" 79
Prayer of Confession
The call that comes to us to serve God is sometimes in an unexpected form.
Have we been alert to the ways and people through which God's call to serve have come?
The call to serve comes sometimes at an inconvenient time.
Have we missed God's call because we have been busy with other activities?
The call to serve God we hear clearly, but its message we fail to understand.
Have we checked out God's call with a trusted friend or family member?
The call to serve God is often a call to venture into new territory.
Have we the courage to break free from our self-imposed boundaries in order to serve the local and wider faith community? Have we the courage to bring a Christian approach to our workplace and social groups?
Time of silent reflection….
Living God,
With Samuel we reply to your call, "Speak, your servant is listening."
Words of Assurance
The Word of God continues to be heard.
In the sharpening of our listening skills, with fresh insight into your call, in a determination to serve faithfully, you define our discipleship.
Pardon and peace are ours. Know it; believe it!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
*Children's Hymn: "Come, Children, Join To Sing" 345
Children's Time
We Listen for God's Word
Hebrew Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (Linda Sweetapple)
Responsive Psalm: Psalm 139, (VU p. 861)
Ministry of Music Just A Whispered Prayer
Gospel Reading: John 1:43-51
Reflection: "Did You Hear That?
*Hymn: "Here I Am Lord" 509
We Respond to God's Word
Invitation to Offering
Presentation of Offering
Offertory Ministry of Music O To Be Like Thee
*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.
*Offertory Prayer
Bless us as we work out our faith in community:
In our gathering together, in our praising, in our learning, in our supporting, in our speaking out, in our keeping silent, in our serving and in our giving, enable us to share wisely the resources you have granted us.
Bless these offerings, which enliven this community of faith and faith communities far from here.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
The Lord's Prayer
* Hymn: Will You Come And Follow Me 567
*Commissioning
What does God call us to do as we leave this morning?
Does God call us to listen for God's call in unlikely places? Does God call us to forgiveness, when it is the last thing we want to do?
Speak God! We are "all ears"!
*Benediction
* Choral Amen
*Postlude
Today in Prayer - We pray for joy in our hearts. God wants us to be joyful!
Stewardship Second - Stewardship involves recognizing and participating in God's abundance by contributing to it.
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 - January 14, 2007
Gander 11 a.m.
Benton 2 p.m. Communion
Glenwood 7 p.m.
Next worship - January 21, 2007
Gander 11 a.m.
Lakeside Homes 4 p.m. Chapel
Glenwood 11 a.m.
EVENTS OF THE WEEK
Sun. 14th., COFFEE HOUR (in the church hall following worship)
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Scouting Group Committee, 8:30 p.m., C.H,. Aud.
Session, 8:00 p.m., C.H. Parlour
A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement (Choir Room)
Mon. 15th., Parent's 'n Tots, 10-11:30 a.m., C. H. Aud.
Women's Time Out, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Beavers, 6-7:15 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Cubs, 7:15-8:30 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Church Council, 7:00 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Handbell Choir Practice, 6:30 p.m., C. Sanct.
Al-anon, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m., C. Bsmt.
Tues., 16th, Kid's Sign Language, 3:30-4:30 p.m., C. H. Parlour
Adult Sign Language, 6:30-7:30 p.m., C.H. Parlour
UCW Fellowship, 8:00 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Handbell Choir Practice, 6:30 p.m., C. Sanct.
A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church basement (choir room)
Wed. 17th, Men's Fellowship Group, Noon-2 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Youth Group, 7:30-9 p.m., C. Hall & Parlour
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., 18th Scouts, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Aud.
Guitar Group, 7:00 p.m., C. Bsmt
TOPS, 7-9 p.m., C.H. Parlour
Fri . 19th, A.A., 8-10 p.m., Church Basement
SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
SOCIAL CLUB ANNUAL BEAN SUPPER will be held on February 7, 2007. Adults $6 Children $3 Takeout at 4:30 p.m. Eat in 5:00 p.m. Tea or coffee and dessert included.
ANNUAL MEETING of Fraser Road United congregation will be held on February 11th. Details to follow. REMINDER! Chairpersons, and all others who are responsible for reports for the ANNUAL REPORT are asked to please have them in to Maude Goulding or the Church Office, by JANUARY 26th or before. NO LATER PLEASE.
THE SESSION of Fraser Road United will meet on Sunday, January 14 at 8:00 p.m. in the Church Hall Parlour.
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."
"As the holiday season comes to a close, Rev. Steve and Arlene would like to extend our appreciation for the cards, gifts and best wishes we received. Our prayer for each one of you is that this year be filled with good health, happiness and many blessings."
Thanks, Steve and Arlene
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.
SATURDAY'S FOR THE SOUL - BECAUSE LIFE IS JUST TOO BUSY! A time to give yourself the gift of sacred time, inner peace? Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Feel free to drop in any time throughout and leave at your own pace. The sanctuary will be open for quiet meditation and there will be prayer resources on hand. The labyrinth will be available and someone there to get you started if you need it. AND a spirituality discussion group will be included from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
OLD FASHIONED HYMN SING, January 21st, Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to join in this time of singing, followed by a cup of tea in the church hall.
BEREAVEMENT GROUPS The Gander Ministerial and the YMCA are partnering to offer bereavement groups for persons who have lost spouses, in Gander and the surrounding areas. Persons 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. The meetings will be held at the Golden Legion Manor in the second floor meeting room. To register or for further info, for Tuesday's group call Rev. Steve Atkinson, 256-3000, for Friday's group, contact Rev. Stephanie McClellan, 424-6681.
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 February 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.
CALLING and CARING MINISTRIES: LAB I A 38 hour course to be held at St. Catherine's Renewal Center, Grand-Falls-Windsor, February 19th- February 23, 2007. (please note change of date) 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.
CAN YOU HELP? The Board of Directors of the Gander and Area Food Bank has three empty seats. If you are interested in what goes on at the Board level or think that you would like to sit on The Board, please feel free to attend the regular monthly meetings in Jan. (9th ) and Feb (6th) These meetings will be held in the board room at the Lancaster Building (corner of Memorial and Edinburgh) and will commence at 8 pm. Attendance at those meetings would not obligate you to sit on The Board. We hope to fill those empty seats at the annual March meeting. The time and place for the Annual meeting will be announced at a later time.
PLEASE NOTE ALL persons having any keys to the church please advise our caretaker, so they may be properly recorded. This is absolutely necessary for both security and insurance purposes. Your immediate attention to this matter is most appreciated.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LETTING US KNOW
WHEN A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY OR A FRIEND
IS ILL AT HOME OR IN THE HOSPITAL