Sunday, November 8th, 2020.
Today, we mark Remembrance Day and Peace Sunday. As we pause to remember those who have served and sacrificed, we also stand as witnesses that war is never the answer, peace is stronger than any weapon, and that God's dream for this world is one in which justice flows like a river and righteousness like a never-ending stream.
In preparation for the following service, you may want to have a candle handy (either a real candle or one of those little battery-operated ones). We always light candles in church because they remind us of the presence and beauty of God.
Prayer
God of all, we come today with our longings and concerns, our praise and our prayers, our gratitude and our celebrations. We come to worship you as your people.
Open our hearts to realize where gratitude needs to be shown.
Open our spirits to share the words.
Open our lives to be your love.
As disciples of Jesus, open us to one another. Amen.
God be with you!
Lighting of the candle.
Our Sacred Act of Remembrance; Our Witness to Peace. Part One.
Scripture Reading: John 15: 12 - 13
Our Sacred Act of Remembrance; Our Witness to Peace. Part Two.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6: 10 - 17
Our Sacred Act of Remembrance; Our Witness to Peace. Part Three.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2: 2 - 4.
Sermon. "Lest we Forget" by Rev. Dan.
Hymn. This hymn has been a part of Remembrance Services for 'ages past.' Written by Isaac Watts in 1719, it certainly qualifies of one our 'old favourites.'
Offering
Know that God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.
And in the light of that goodness, we respond with fullness in our hearts and generosity in our souls.
In solidarity, we stand as a force for transformation.
In unity, we offer ourselves and our gifts to God's mission for the world.
In grace, we return to God that with which God has generously blessed us, so that we may be instruments of God's Good News in the world.
Drop your envelope (cheque or cash) at the church;
Mail your cheque to the church;
Go on PAR (call Rosie for details);
Use the Donate button at the top of the page (it will take you to SPUC’s Canada Helps page where you can donate online and get an instant tax receipt).
May my gifts of time, talent, and treasure generously and lovingly offered, be instruments of change and instrumental in God's mission in the world!
Amen.
Prayer. The prayer of concern and gratitude follows in video or text format. You can follow the video version, read the text aloud yourself, or do both, as you wish.
Holy, infinite, and gracious Father - God beyond all descriptions and words and God of all possibilities: embrace us and lead us as you continue to transform in us the message of what it is to follow in the way of divine love. God, be our Anchor.
Abiding Spirit, comforter, companion: blow fresh breezes to clear away the cobwebs and clouds that would dim our eyes and hearts to the reality of all the blessings that surround us, the beauty that is around every corner, the companionship that is in every heart that beats. Spirit, be our wind.
Redeeming, loving, saving, Jesus: take us by the hand and help us lift our sails to steer a course from our safe harbours to explore the stormy seas of life. Jesus; be our pilot.
And as we lift our sails, we lift our hearts and prayers in concern:
For all those and us, who live in fear, oppression, anxiety, subjugation, or isolation;
For all those and us, who long for freedom, love, understanding, or acceptance;
For all those and us, who struggle with illness, grief, despair, or anger.
For a world torn apart by hatred, bigotry, racism partisanship, and war;
For a creation that is groaning under abuse, exploitation, and pollution;
And, for all the many places in the world and in our hearts that need to feel your healing presence, O God, hear our prayers and in your love, answer.
As the wind fills our sails, we fill our hearts with gratitude:
For all those and us, who have a table and food to share;
For all those and us, who extend a helping hand in friendship;
For all those and us, who take a stand for freedom, justice, and grace;
For all those and us, who give of themselves to heal and care for others;
For all those and us, who can pause, listen, and tell the sacred story and give Good News where it is needed most;
And, for all the blessings that, like the stars in heaven, are beyond counting, O God, hear our prayers and in your love, answer.
And, of all the prayers silent and spoken, we pray the one prayer that unites us in your presence:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Benediction.
We are the light of God; we are the love of Christ; we are the breath of the Spirit.
Let us leave this time and place, taking the light, love, and breath that we have been given, sharing it with one another and the world. To this, you have been called by the Living God who creates us, sustains us, and comforts us. Amen.
One Last Thought.
Closing notes:
Don’t forget to extinguish your candle!
Muffins with the Minister on Tuesday morning at 10:00, and Meditation & Prayer on Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Note that portions of this service are drawn and adapted from 'Gathering,' a worship resource published by The United Church of Canada.
Thanks to our reader this week, Heather.
Join us for coffee after church on Zoom:
Daniel Benson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: SPUC Coffee after Church
Time: November 8th, 2020 11:30 AM America/Toronto (don't forget about the time change!)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8294323094
Meeting ID: 829 432 3094
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Meeting ID: 829 432 3094
