Barrhead United Church

06/03/2026

If you have a screen you can join in on the fun!
Join in person, live on the internet or later on our YouTube channel.
See you Sundays at 10 am.
www.barrheadunited.org/live
❤

06/02/2026

God of the Rainbow,
More than those who watch for morning,
Our souls wait, for the day when each of us,
of every gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation
knows that we are meant to be:
loved, cherished, and protected; and
that we are to be:
proud of our identities; and
celebrated.

For we are your imperfectly perfect children,
called to reflect Christ’s radiant light,
embody Christ’s radical love; and
build your beloved community,
especially when storms of fear and hatred rage around us.

And so, more than those who watch for morning,
we, in our great diversity,
wait for your promised rainbow of peace,
as we work towards a world where every gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation is affirmed as beloved; and,
every soul’s spirit is able to sparkle, shine and sing your dream with pride.

May it be so,

Amen.

—Rev. Dr. Alydia Smith

06/02/2026

May 31, 2026 – Meditation
By Caitlin Clarke

As y’all know, I am a fan of The Message Bible Translation, but it really hits it out of the park with Psalm 8! I’m going to read it again, and invite you to close your eyes and let your mind see the imagery it describes.

God, brilliant Lord,
yours is a household name.

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?

Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

Open your eyes as you are ready.

In the beginning, God formed a world woven with beauty, from the blossoms of plum trees and the delicate dance of a bumblebee, to the majesty of a lonely mountain and the predators that prowl atop them. The boundless wonder of evolution is God; setting each equation, a mystery for us to unravel, leaving us amazed as its complexity reveals itself.

But in that Creation, God interconnected all living things; the network of plants that build the structure of a forest, that in turn provides life-giving fuel to the creatures who call it home. Those creatures eventually returning to the earth to feed it with what they took. The justice of the circle of life is God; genius at play, reconciling each creature in the end.

And it is good.

We see the wonder of creation through the metaphors of Psalm 8; you can feel the author’s amazement at creation, then their disappointment with themselves.

That self-consciousness pulls us away from the mystery of God.

After all, humans are amazing! Just watch a child grow and develop consciousness and realize what their arms and legs and fingers are capable of! From touch to run to jump; our bodies are amazing!

Studying the human body in my field has revealed so many intricate mysteries about how the body works, and doesn’t work, down to a cellular level. It’s fascinating that one little adjustment in how someone is built or how their molecules function can have life-altering consequences.

Every amazing thing that we appreciate in the biodiversity that we experience in Creation, is also present in us. God doesn’t bother with us! They built us! In all our complexity!

In the Creation stories, we were one with nature. We were stewards, yes, but we were still a part of Creation; not apart from it. The fall from Eden separated us from that. But the Good News is Jesus, God in flesh, restored us to that relationship! We are one with God’s creation, with the beauty of the world around us. We just need to silence our self-consciousness to accept it.

When you arrived this morning, I invited you to pick a rock out of a collection that Jesse and I gathered this week. I want you to take time to examine that rock now. It is smooth? Rough? Does it have sharp cuts where it was separated from a greater whole? Are there striations in it or it is uniform?

With each rock’s individuality, I want you to imagine for a moment how it was shaped. A smooth rock likely found its home in a waterbed where the power of a river or lake worked it against others until it became the object you hold now. If it has sharp edges, what caused it to break from the whole? Was the cause natural; a fall from a mountain-top? Or man-made, crushed near a river basin? If there’s striations, what stories do they tell about how our world was formed?

Each of these rocks are individual and unique, but originally, they all came from the same whole. As did you; from God’s Creation.

Our role as part of Creation may have been confused by our knowledge; by our interpretation of our role as stewards. We do not live with Creation, but try instead to live in domination of it.

That urge to dominate also extends to our behaviour with our neighbours.

As we know, our current political climate is polarized. It’s me against you, us against them; black and white, wrong vs right with no in between. This chasm that separates different sides of an argument seems to grow larger each day. Social media is not helping the problem. Instead of getting our news from a fact-checked media outlet, it surrounds us every day, being carried in our pocket and available at a moment’s notice. However, those reporting the news on social media don’t have the ethics of journalists; they can be bought and they use their influence to mobilize a crowd with only half-truths. Using those half-truths to enflame their followers, increase post engagement and result in greater revenue for advertisers using that platform. What’s worse is artificial intelligence is worsening the divide and availability of truth. A recent study of AI used for political campaign management showed that when programmed to be truthful, the AI’s desire to win votes outweighed its requirement to be truthful in 9 tests out of 10.

Let’s consider that as the question of Alberta separation hangs over all of us. Where are we getting our news from? Consider the source; can it be trusted?

What if we spent more time talking face-to-face with our neighbours instead of online trying to convince them our way is right?

What if we started at the beginning and listened to each other’s concerns before judging a person’s point-of-view? Would we be as different as we believe?

We are called to join in Creation’s healing with humility, justice, and care. And if we are part of Creation, we need to heal ourselves, our humanity, too.

The rock you chose today is a part of Creation. Its story, how it was formed, where it came from a mystery. At some point it was part of a greater whole, but now it sits alone…

Or does it?

Despite being broken, your rock still exists in Creation. Still displaces sand, or dirt, or water to take up space in our world. Is still connected to the divine. After all, though a single pebble may not hold back the water like the mountain it used to be, if pieced together with its broken siblings just so, it can hold back the tide, dam a river or create a garden; adjusting Creation just by existing.

Today I invite you to contemplate the rock you chose; its origin and its journey. When you are ready throughout the rest of the service, please add it to the bowl at the front and as it slips into the water, consider its ripples and the echoes they make through Creation. And in that time, take a moment to be in communion with them; the grace of Jesus, the love of God and the friendship of the Holy Spirit.

06/01/2026

Looking for our most recent live stream? Find the latest service on our YouTube page here:

Guided by the Spirit, we envision a community of love capable of growth as our church, our community and our world continues to change. By keeping the example of Jesus’ love at the centre of our intentions, we work to foster an environment that is safe, welcoming and inclusive for people of all fa...

05/31/2026

NEXT WEEK! NO SERVICE AT BARRHEAD UNITED!
We will be Rejoicing in Hope!

Come rejoice and celebrate with the congregations, choirs and musicians of Athabasca, Barrhead, Fort McMurray, Westlock/Hazel Bluff, Whitecourt & Jarvie United Churches

Hazel Bluff Hall (27329 HWY-18, Westlock, right next to Hazel Bluff Church)

Date: Sunday, June 7th 2026, 11:00am -12:30pm
Free-will Luncheon to follow.
RSVP by May 22 by phone 780-674-2412 or email [email protected]

Meditation by: Rev. Kimberly Roy
Kimberly Roy has served in leadership within the United Church of Canada for more than twenty-five years. Over the years, she has supported every level of the church’s courts, most recently serving as past Co-Chair of the National Indigenous Church and as an Indigenous representative to both the General Council Executive and the General Council.

A Métis woman with citizenship in both Alberta and the historic Métis homeland of Manitoba, Kimberly lives on the Marlboro Métis Settlement west of Edmonton, where her family settled after leaving Red River. Raised largely in a settler environment, she has spent her life navigating tensions around identity in both the church and wider society.

❤

05/31/2026

Join in on our livestream. Quality may not be up to par but we’re here for you!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/31/2026

Bear with today’s possible livestream, we’re having internet issues. Likely due to the weather.

05/29/2026

Barrhead United
May 31, 2026

Trinity Sunday

Today’s Worship Leader: Caitlin Clarke
Reader: Sally Littke

Welcome!
Good morning! And welcome back to those here in person today! Good morning to those joining us on the live stream!

My name is Caitlin Clarke. Welcome to the Barrhead United Church worship service. Thank you for joining us, whether you’re here in person or at home.

Today we come to worship and praise our Creator. All are invited to this time of worship and
learning, teaching and praising. Let our praises ring! Let the nations sing! We are all God’s creations and we are all welcomed with open hearts and joy.

Call to Worship
As we gather today to retell stories of our faith, we acknowledge that sometimes we are like Nicodemus.
We struggle to understand the lesson being taught. We cannot imagine being reborn as an adult.
And yet each day we renew our faith,
and we are reborn again.
We feel the presence of God in creation.
We hear and try to live
the words and teachings of Jesus.
We accept the presence of the Holy Spirit
as we see the miracles of life and nature
all around us.
Yes, God is three
and God is also one.
None is complete without the other
and all work in harmony.
Let us centre our hearts and minds as we worship this wonderful, communal being.
- Marie Slivocka, Trinity U.C., New Glasgow, N.S.

Acknowledgement of the Land
Tansî? Âba wathtech! Han! Nanaboozhoo Aanii!

We are a treaty and covenant people. We acknowledge, with respect, the Neihyaw, Stoney-Nakoda, Sioux and Anishinabee First Nations, their history, spirituality, culture and ways of knowing. We recognize our responsibility as signatories to Treaty Six to live with respect on this land and in peace and friendship with its people.

We acknowledge the continuing injustice and commit ourselves to seeking right relations with all the First Peoples of Canada.

May the Creator’s wisdom work within us toward mending the torn tapestry of this land.

Opening Hymn: It’s a song of praise to the Maker MV 30

It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
the gray whale sings in the sea,

Refrain: And by the Spirit you and I
Can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing sing sing to the Maker, too.

It’s a call of life to the Giver
When waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver
When high tides break on the shore, Refrain

It’s a hymn of love to the Lover;
The bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover;
The summer breeze joins the song, Refrain

It’s the chorus of all creation;
It’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation;
A song the universe sings, Refrain

Lighting the Christ Candle
Flames dancing,
Tongues of fire burning brightly,
Illuminating the shadowed places of our lives and searing radiance,
All remind us of the first Pentecost.
The Christ light brings a reminder of Pentecostal splendour.
May the dazzling light be for us a spark of Holy Wonder.
- Laura J. Turnbull, Pentincton, B.C.

Opening Prayer
God of all knowing,
we come to you at night
to ask our deepest questions,
yet you know what we need before we ask.
Your answers connect us with the Three:
Spirit, flesh, and water,
so that we may be born from above, born again.
As you patiently reframe your answers,
you teach us to listen, to accept,
and not to procrastinate.
We respond in praise
and our commitment is strengthened
by your patience, tolerance, and love. Amen
- Norah Laverty, St. Andrew’s U.C., Sioux Lookout, ON

Hymn: There’s a Spirit in the Air VU 582

There’s a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
“Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.”

Lose your shyness, find your tongue,
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!

When believers break the bread,
when a hungry child is fed,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

Still the Spirit give us light,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!

When a stranger’s not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

May the Spirit fill our praise,
guide our thoughts and change our ways.
God in Christ has come to stay.
live tomorrow’s life today.

There’s a Spirit in the air,
calling people everywhere:
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

Prayer of Confession
Creator,
You bring many names;
Strong Mother,
Warm Father,
Aching Spirit,
Growing Child,
Living Christ.

You come to us in many forms,
Some which we find more easy to love than others.

It is our responsibility to care for creation as you care for us,
Yet we allow ourselves to be taken in by evil’s new disguises;
Despair,
Falsehood,
Unkindness,
Selfishness,
And injustice.
All efforts to separate us from You in all Your glory.

Remind us you are present in all wonders of creation,
Working night and day,
Hugging every child,
Grey with endless care, yet
Eager, on the move.
- Adapted from VU 268, Bring Many Names.

-Silence-

Words of Assurance
When we acknowledge that we still have much
to learn, we also admit that we’ve made mistakes along the way.
God never abandons us in this process, moving with us as we grow, learn lessons, and become the people God wants us to be.
We are forgiven and we are loved. Blessed are we!
- Éric Hébert-Daly, French Ministries, UCC

Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty VU 574

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Prayer of Illumination
O God, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that as the scriptures are read
and your Word is proclaimed,
we may hear what you are saying to us today. Amen.

Scripture Reading
Psalm 8, The Message

1 God, brilliant Lord,
yours is a household name.

2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.

3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?

5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

9 God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

This is the witness of Israel.
Thanks be to God for the Word.

Gospel Reading
2 Corinthians 13: 11-13, The Message

11-13 And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. Greet one another with a holy embrace. All the brothers and sisters here say hello.

This is the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Praise to Christ, the Word.

I offer these words of hope,
and our fears are calmed.

I offer these words of peace,
and our conflicts are resolved.

I offer these words of challenge,
and we are ready to respond.

I offer words of Jesus,
and the Christian way becomes clear.

I invite you to listen with an open mind.
We will, and with loving hearts are well. Amen.
- David Sparks, Summerland, BC

Meditation

Hymn: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky VU 509
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain,
I have wept for love of them; they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain

Responding to God’s Word
In our struggle to hear your Word, O God,
bless even our doubts, our wonderings,
our wanderings, our soul-struggles,
life’s deep questions, and deeper mysteries.
Teach us to love our questions
as well as our answers.
In the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray singing:

Lord’s Prayer VU 959
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil
for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.

Minute for Mission: Belonging with Barriers
Every child should be able to experience the joys of camp: laughing around a fire, trying something new, and feeling the joy of community.
But for some children, camp is not always accessible. When needs are more complex, when extra care, training, or equipment is required, families can be left wondering if there is a place where their child will be able to participate and truly belong.
Through Mission and Service partners, that answer is yes.
At Pearce Williams Summer Camp & Retreat Facility, inclusion is part of the foundation. Staff are specially trained. Adaptive and sensory supports are built into the experience. Care is taken to ensure that every camper can participate fully and safely.
At Pearce Williams, inclusion is more than access. It is about belonging without barriers. Children are not sitting on the sidelines, but fully part of camp life, joining in the singing, swimming, creating, and connecting alongside others. It means families can trust that their children are not just welcomed, but fully supported.
Our gifts to Mission and Service help make this possible. They provide the tools, training, and care needed to ensure no child is turned away because their needs complex.
Every child deserves a place at camp, and every child deserves to know they belong. Make your gift(opens in a new tab) to Mission and Service today.

Invitation to Offering
We are always looking for volunteer help with our church community. For those who are technologically-inclined, we need someone to run the PowerPoint each Sunday. You can speak with Steve Lyster about helping out with that. For those who don’t mind public speaking, you can sign up for weekly scripture and Minute for Mission readings on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary. You can contact the office if you’d like to be added to the roster for our weekly greeters; all you need is a warm smile. Those who would like to share their musical talents with us can contact Lisa Gehring for more information or join the choir that meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM starting in the fall. Anyone willing to volunteer their time in other ways can speak with Margaret Osbourne or Florette Measures. For monetary donations, methods available to you for this type of gift include the offering plate in the entryway. For those who find it easier to give electronically, pre-authorized remittance is available; contact Kristin at the office for more information on how to set that up. For those of you joining us from home, please select the “Help Us” button at the top right of our website for more information on how to help us with your gifts after the service has concluded.

Prayer of Invitation
Our offering today, and every day, is an act of love. We give from what we have and as we are able; but always, we give in hope and faith and love.
- Gill Le Fevre, Walton Memorial U.C., Oakville ON

Offertory Hymn: For the Gift of Creation VU 538
For the gifts of creation, the gift of your love,
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

Offering Prayer
Loving God, Three-in-One, One-in-Three,
we offer your gifts for your blessing.
As you have transformed us by your Spirit’s presence – weaving us into a beautiful tapestry of relationship – may you bless us and our giving for all our relations.
By your blessing, may we become ever more the people Jesus called us to be, ever more intentionally aware of our interdependence. Amen.
- Gord Dunbar, Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, ON

Upcoming Worship
June 7 – Rejoice in Hope! @ Hazel Bluff Hall (No service at BUC)
June 14 – TBD
June 21 – Roger Manuel

General Givings Income
2026 Goal ~ $100,000.00
YTD ~ $39,556
Last week’s General Givings ~ $4,492
M&S YTD ~ $6,025

Refreshments will be served after worship.
All are welcome!

Announcements
« June 2 – UCW meeting @ 4:30
« June 7 – Rejoice in Hope! Join us in celebration at Hazel Bluff Hall @ 11:00am. Free-will Luncheon to follow. RSVP TODAY.
« June 14 – UCW is hosting a Strawberry Tea/Cake Celebration after service. Free-will donations to benefit the continued efforts of our UCW; upon which our church community relies greatly.
« June 17 – BUC Board Meeting @ 7:00
« Thank you, Jan Pype, for folding our bulletins

Praise and Prayer List
Thanks be to God for prayers answered.

Continue to pray for:
-Those affected by Mental Health Concerns
-Residents of Long-Term Care and Lodges
-Grieving Families in our Community
-All Victims of Violence
-Survivors of Residential Schools
-For all Churches, Local, National and Worldwide

World Council of Churches-Ecumenical Prayer Cycle:
Angola & Mozambique
Prayers of the People
Let us offer our prayers of intercession and concern
for all those in need:
Let us remember those who suffer from illness,
from the pain of memory,
from torture, from victimization,
especially for those hurt by the church or its members.
Let us pray for those who are outcast,
or in prison, or oppressed,
Let us pray for those who are hungry, or homeless, or poor,
and those who are unemployed, or exploited.
Let us pray for the coming of justice in the world,
offering what we have and receiving what we need
of the earth’s beauty.
Let us pray for peace that is a just reconciliation.
Let us pray for the earth on which we walk
and to which we will one day return.
And let us offer our own petitions,
trusting in God’s wisdom and compassion.
God hears the prayers of the faithful,
and in their arms we find safe harbour and understanding.
Amen.

-Silence-

Closing Hymn: Praise Our Maker VU 316
Praise our Maker, peoples of one family;
God is love, God is love!
Praise our Maker, peoples of one family;
God is love, God is love!

Love our Saviour, followers of Jesus;
God is love, God is love!
Love our Saviour, followers of Jesus;
God is love, God is love!

Care for others, children of the Spirit:
God is love, God is love!
Care for others, children of the Spirit;
God is love, God is love!

Extinguishing the Candle
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again. Let us carry the flame of peace, hope and love until we meet again and we shall see a world of light and a world of joy.

Commissioning
As we leave this place, renewed in faith by receiving the good news and reflecting on it,
may God fill us with love.
May Jesus fill us with courage,
and may the energy of the Holy Spirit inspire us
to serve as disciples in our community
as we work with God and with each other
to recreate the world as God would have it. Amen.
- Tom Walkling, Utterson U.C., Port Sydney, ON

Blessing
May the grace of God,
deeper than our imagination;
the strength of Christ,
stronger than our need;
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
richer than our togetherness;
guide and sustain us today
and in all our tomorrows.

More Voices 30 - Its a Song of Praise to the MakerWords: Ruth Duck...

05/27/2026

Hit the road and take us with you! If you have a screen you can join us.
Join in person, live on the internet or later on our YouTube channel.
See you Sundays at 10 am.
www.barrheadunited.org/live
❤

05/24/2026

Good morning!
Join us for a Sunday Service lead by Lisa and featuring a special guest!

Welcome to another Sunday Service Lisa leads and a very special gue...