October 20, 2002 - Peace Sabbath
Who and what bears the image of God? The largely Jewish audience of the original parable in Matthew would recall Genesis 1:26-27 – all humanity bears God’s image and likeness. Today’s passages invite us to celebrate that everything belongs to God and to proclaim that truth with our actions.
If you would like to stay seated for any or all of the “standing” parts of the service, please feel free to do so.
Prelude “Peace Like a River” arr. Colvin
A time of silent preparation—Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
All: Grace and peace to you!
Left: We’re glad you are here.
Right: and we’re glad you are here.
Left: We want to celebrate that God is with us.
Right: So do we! We want to live God’s word in all we do.
Left: So do we! And we want to share it with others.
Right: So do we! And we want to follow Jesus.
Left: So do we! And we want to serve God.
Right: So do we! We’re glad to be here,
Left: and so are we.
One: Let’s worship God together.
One: Let us continue to pray
All: God of Love, you have loved us first and continue to love us. We come before you a people longing to love you in return. We hunger for your healing love in our lives, for we long to love ourselves and our neighbors. Come to us this day and fill our longing. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Hymn #242 “Let All Things Now Living”
Time with the Young & the young at heart
The Sunday School & Youth leave for their classes.
We Remain in God’s Presence Through Confession
Loving God, we have taken your world and possessed it turning beauty into profit, resources into power, intelligence into economy. Forgive us, God. This is your world. You have entrusted it to us. Help us make it what it should be.
At times we have taken words and said too much or too little, turning Good News into propaganda, cries for justice into whispers, stories of the poor into romance, policies of dictators into soap operas. Forgive us, God. This is your world. You have entrusted it to us. Help us make it what it should be.
At times we have taken friends and family and abused their living, turning relationships into contracts, friendships into bargaining, giving into unspoken negotiation. Forgive us, God. This is your world. You have entrusted it to us…(Silent Confession)
Assurance of Pardon (One)
God hears, God heals, God loves, God calls. Rise now, forgiven. Amen.
Biblical Notes
The Lord Promises to Be with His People
Question about Paying Taxes (Read from the New Revised Standard Version)
One: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ
Hymn #679 “Let There Be Light”
A Remarkable Journey of Faith
The journey of Trinity United Church in Vancouver, BC began in 1992, when two smaller United Churches amalgamated. One of the buildings was leased and transformed into a much-needed community centre for the neighbourhood. The other, directly across the street from St. Mark's Anglican Church, became Trinity United Church, the centre for worship and work.
It wasn't long before the congregations of Trinity United and St. Mark's Anglican began seeking ways to share resources. In time, both congregations agreed to share one space, believing that the two communities together more closely reflected the reality of Christ than either did alone.
The sale of the United Church property for condominiums assisted with redeveloping the Anglican site to meet the worship and ministry needs of both congregations. When the profits from the condominium project were received, the congregation considered not only its own needs but the needs of the wider community and the world.
With the blessing of Vancouver-Burrard Presbytery, the congregation allocated funds for several projects including student internships in the Presbytery, a Meal Ministry program, the Healing Fund, Affirm United, and a mission church in Vancouver's inner city. A gift of $10,000 was made to the Mission and Service Fund. Trinity United Church continues its remarkable journey of faith.
We are called to love and serve others. Like members of Trinity United, when we make a gift to the Mission and Service Fund, we honour the national church and support projects that help the wider community and the world. Please give generously.
We Respond In Giving And Gratitude
Offertory “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by Miller & Jackson
God, bless our offering that it may reach and touch those who hunger, who hurt, who seek new hope. As part of the global village, we care about all of our sisters and brothers. We pray for disarmament and world peace, for liberty to those oppressed, for joy to those who are weary. Amen.
One: Our God, who art in heaven, slow to anger, and of great mercy, lover of all the peoples of the earth.
All: Hallowed be thy Name.
One: Remind us that “all the nations are as nothing before you,” their governments but a shadow of passing age;
All: Thy kingdom come on earth.
One: Grant to your children throughout all the world, and especially to the leaders of the nations, the gift of prayerful thought and thoughtful prayer; that following the example of Jesus, we may discern what is right, and do it;
All: Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
One: Help us to protect and to provide for all who are hungry and homeless, especially those who are deprived of food and shelter, family and friends, by the tragedy of war;
All: Give us this day our daily bread.
One: Forgive us for neglecting to “seek peace and pursue it,” and finding ourselves in each new crisis, more ready to make war than to make peace. “We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved neighbors as ourselves”;
All: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
One: Let us not seek revenge, but reconciliations; Let us not delight in victory, but in justice; Let us not give ourselves up to pride, but to prayer;
All: Lead us not into temptation.
One: Be present to all your children ravaged by war: Be present to those who are killing and to those who are being killed; Be present to the loved ones of those who are killing and to the loved ones of those who are being killed;
All: Deliver us from evil.
One: Subdue our selfish desires to possess and to dominate, and forbid us arrogance in victory;
All: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn #424 “May the God of Hope Go with Us”
Commissioning
Serve your God with patience and passion. Be deliberate in enacting your faith. Be steadfast in celebrating the Spirit’s power. And may peace be your way in the world.
Choral Amen
#298 “When You Walk From Here”
When you walk from here, when you walk from here.
Walk with justice, walk with mercy, and with God’s humble care.
Postlude “For Spacious Skies” by R. Peery
The Life And Work Of The Congregation
New Piano Appeal
We are replacing the existing Tokai 5’0” piano with a new Yamaha 5’8” C2 piano. This instrument will provide a much richer sound and is more appropriate for a sanctuary of our size.
The balance owing after selling ours is approximately $18,850.00. We have gathered $10,446.82 from various accounts and donations to date.
You may choose to support this project in various ways.
1) Outright donation marked “Piano” fund on an envelope.
2) A donation in memory of a loved one marked again “Piano”.
3) A donation in lieu of a Christmas gift to someone. We will acknowledge the gift made by sending a card and/or a receipt to whomever you designate.
We will run this appeal for the next several weeks.
Thank you for your interest.
Al Pols
Treasurer
Our ministry was extended into the community as James conducted the funeral service for Robert Smith – World War II veteran and as Rev. Leroy Angle conducted the memorial service for Esther Zral. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families.
James is leading a workshop of the United Church Banff Men’s weekend.
Flowers are placed in the Sanctuary this morning
in loving memory of our Mothers,
Mable H. Angle & Bertha Ellen Thorp
by
Leroy & Donna Angle
Next Week’s Readings from: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22-34-46
Thought For Today
Where love is,
there is God also.
by Leo Tolstoy