Strathearn United Church

06/02/2026

This week's Order of Service for the 31st of May, the First Sunday after Pentecost.

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our Morning Worship.
31st of May 2026, the first Sunday after Pentecost

Musical Prelude

WELCOME & GATHERING
The Book of Genesis 1:1-5
When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

OPENING HYMN
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Voices United 291

PRAYER OF APPROACH
By Rev. Cheryl Dibeela of Gaborone, Botswana
Dear God, our builder, You have all the building materials needed to construct our societies.
You have all the strength to put wisdom on all that has fallen apart in our lives.
You have the wisdom to reshape our world.
Inspire us with all Your wisdom, strength and love, to rebuild the broken walls in our community
Amen

A UNITED CHURCH CREED
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God
Who has created and is creating
Who has come in Jesus,
The Word made flesh
To reconcile and make new
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church
To celebrate God’s presence
To live with respect in Creation
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist evil
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Send Your Holy Spirit
Voices United 370
For an algorithm, an error is a flaw to be corrected.
For a person, however, an error can be a catalyst for profound change.
Pope Leo XIV, “Magnifica Humanitas”
God, we confess
You saw Your act of creation and celebrated that it was good
Alas we decided it was not good enough for us
We corrupted Your creation to fulfill our desires
We wounded Your precious gift
God, forgive us
Heal us, so we may work with You to restore what we have broken
(Silence)
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
God have mercy
God, thank You
Let us pray
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
Forever and ever
Amen

HYMN
Shadow and Substance
More Voices 44

WE SHARE IN GOD’S WORD
Martin Luther
Dear God, let your Word shine in our hearts by your Holy Spirit.
Make it so bright and warm that we always find our comfort and joy in it.
Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING
PSALM 8
O God, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants You have founded a bulwark because of Your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established
What are humans that You are mindful of them, mortals that You care for them?
Yet You have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of Your hands.
You have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O God, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

MINISTRY OF MUSIC

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS 1:26-31
The Word of God for the People of God
Thanks be to God

SERMON

THE WORD OF GOD ENACTED
PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Voices United 541
The Dedication of Gifts
God, You bless us with gifts of time, talent and treasure and in doing so, You invite us to share these gifts as a witness to our faith in Your Kingdom.
Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
The Gospel of Mark 1:35
God, You touch our lives with healing and with justice
New life is your gift.
We give You thanks for Your Good News
Revealed through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Good News that invites and challenges us to be living witnesses to Your hope for a better world
And so in silence we give thanks for those who have been such witnesses in our lives
(Silence)
God of compassion
We pray for this troubled world
For people who struggling with sorrows
Who struggle with injustice
Who struggle with despair
Who struggle with uncertainty
Who fear the future
Who yearn for hope
And God we pray that You be with us
As we do what we can
To be your presence in this world
And God we come to You with the prayers of our hearts.
For those who we know who struggle with illness of the mind, body and spirit.
For those who are alone
For those who yearn for connection
These names we bring to you
(Silence)
Amen

CLOSING HYMN
For the Healing of the Nations
Voices United 678

SENDING FORTH
Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 13:11-13
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.
Be restored
Listen to my appeal
Agree with one another
Live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Amen

POSTLUDE

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle
Angola and Mozambique

Northern Spirit Region Prayer Cycle
Spirit of Peace United Church, Spirit River
All church volunteers, in local communities, the Region, and the wider Church

06/02/2026

This week's YouTube service for the 1st of June 2026, the first Sunday after Pentecost,

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

05/25/2026

This week's YouTube service for Pentecost Sunday, the 24th of May 2026.

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our morning worship. All a...

05/25/2026

This week's Order of Service for Pentecost Sunday, the 24th of May 2026

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our Morning Worship.
24th of May 2026, Pentecost Sunday

Musical Prelude

WELCOME & GATHERING
Rachel Held Evans
The Spirit is like breath, as close as the lungs, the chest, the lips, the fogged canvas where little fingers draw hearts, the tide that rises and falls twenty-three thousand times a day in a rhythm so intimate we forget to notice until it enervates or until a supine yogi says pay attention and its fragile power awes again.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Expand.
Release.
In the beginning, God breathed.
And the dust breathed back enough oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide to make an atmosphere, to make a man.
Job knew life as “the breath of God in my nostrils,” given and taken away.
With breath, the Creator kindled the stars, parted a sea, woke a valley of dry bones, inspired a sacred text.
So, too, the Spirit, inhaled and exhaled in a million quotidian ways, animates, revives, nourishes, sustains, speaks.
It is as near as the nose and as everywhere as the air
So pay attention!

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

OPENING HYMN
Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song
Voices United 205

PRAYER OF APPROACH
God, we gather before You.
We open our hearts to You
Hoping to be touched by the flames of Your Spirit
The fire of Pentecost is the fire of faith
Sometimes it burns brightly
Sometimes it flickers, threatened by the turmoil around us.
Yet, it still burns
A light in the darkness that brings warmth and comfort to those who yearn for better days.
God, fill us with Your Spirit so may share the fire and hope of Pentecost.
Amen

A UNITED CHURCH CREED
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God
Who has created and is creating
Who has come in Jesus,
The Word made flesh
To reconcile and make new
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church
To celebrate God’s presence
To live with respect in Creation
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist evil
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Send Your Holy Spirit
Voices United 370
“I believe that God’s word of grace can also come through simple, imperfect everyday human love.”
Nadia Bolz-Weber
God, we confess to You
Our struggles to embrace the possibility of new beginnings
On this Pentecost may we be renewed
Through the touch of Your frace
And free from our hesitation
May we witness to Your Living Spirit in this broken world
(Silence)
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
God have mercy
God, thank You
Let us pray
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
Forever and ever
Amen

HYMN
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
Voices United 468

THE CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
The Spirit of God be with you all.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts;
We lift them to God.
Give thanks to our God!
All our thanks, all our praise!

Holy God of wind and fire, your Spirit renews the face of the earth and warms the hearts of your people.
We give you thanks for your gifts of pentecostal power.
Tongues that utter prophetic words of truth and justice.
Flames that kindle new visions of compassion and peace
Fresh breezes that blow down the walls which separate us from you and one another.
And so it is that we join with every voice and tongue
on earth and in the heavens to give you praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy, God, our life, our mercy, our might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Save us, we pray, you beyond all.
Blest is the One who comes in your name.
Save us, we pray, you beyond all.

In the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Take eat; this is my body, given for you. do this for the remembrance of me.”
Again, after supper he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.”
Do this for the remembrance of me.

We pray you, God of Love, send your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here, that we, and these gifts, touched by your Spirit, may be signs of life and love to each other, and to all the world.

Come, the meal is ready, and ae share in this meal let us remember what Jesus said:
“I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

As we have been renewed at this your table, let us go out into your world sharing this vision with others as the servant church of the servant Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.

WE SHARE IN GOD’S WORD
Martin Luther
Dear God, let your Word shine in our hearts by your Holy Spirit.
Make it so bright and warm that we always find our comfort and joy in it.
Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING
A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 12:4-13
Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit
To another faith by the same Spirit
To another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
To another the working of power deeds
To another prophecy
To another the discernment of spirits
To another various kinds of tongues
To another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 2:1-21
The Word of God for the People of God
Thanks be to God

SERMON

THE WORD OF GOD ENACTED
PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Voices United 541
The Dedication of Gifts
God, You bless us with gifts of time, talent and treasure and in doing so, You invite us to share these gifts as a witness to our faith in Your Kingdom.
Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
The Gospel of Mark 1:35
God, You touch our lives with healing and with justice
New life is your gift.
We give You thanks for Your Good News
Revealed through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Good News that invites and challenges us to be living witnesses to Your hope for a better world
And so in silence we give thanks for those who have been such witnesses in our lives
(Silence)
God of compassion
We pray for this troubled world
For people who struggling with sorrows
Who struggle with injustice
Who struggle with despair
Who struggle with uncertainty
Who fear the future
Who yearn for hope
And God we pray that You be with us
As we do what we can
To be your presence in this world
And God we come to You with the prayers of our hearts.
For those who we know who struggle with illness of the mind, body and spirit.
For those who are alone
For those who yearn for connection
These names we bring to you
(Silence)
Amen

CLOSING HYMN
I Feel the Winds of God
Voices United 625

SENDING FORTH
From the World Council of Churches
Lord Jesus, the storm is life and life is the storm and there is no escaping it
But what matters is that you are in the storm with us, a beacon and a presence that is sure.
Amen

POSTLUDE

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle
The peoples and nations of the Indian Ocean

Northern Spirit Region Prayer Cycle
Zion United Church, Alberta Beach
Grace United Church, Lloydminster

05/18/2026

This week's YouTube service for the 17th of May 2026, Ascension Sunday.

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our morning worship. All are welcome!This is the 17th of May 2026, Ascension Sunday.Minister: Rev. Sandy FergusonMu...

05/18/2026

This week's Order of Service for the 17th of May 2026, Ascension Sunday.

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our Morning Worship.
17th of May 2026, Ascension Sunday

Musical Prelude

WELCOME & GATHERING
The Gospel is a very dangerous idea.
We have to see how much of that dangerous idea we can perform in our own lives.
There is nothing safe or innocuous about the Gospel.
Jesus did not get crucified because he was a nice man.
Walter Bruggemann

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Today we light the Christ Candle in memory of Reverend Doctor Don Mayne, as we give thanks for his faithful service to this congregation and the larger Church.

OPENING HYMN
All Beautiful the March of Days
Voices United 530

PRAYER OF APPROACH
Adapted from the World Council of Churches
O God, we pray for quiet courage to meet this hour.
We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age.
But let its problems challenge us
Its discoveries exhilarate us
Its injustice anger us
Its possibilities inspire us
And its vigour renew us
For your Kingdom’s sake.
Amen

A UNITED CHURCH CREED
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God
Who has created and is creating
Who has come in Jesus,
The Word made flesh
To reconcile and make new
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church
To celebrate God’s presence
To live with respect in Creation
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist evil
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Send Your Holy Spirit
Voices United 370
The call to follow Christ always means a call to share the work of forgiving others their sins.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
God we gather before You in prayer.
We confess too often we look up to heaven for glimpses of Your presence
While ignoring Your presence all around us
Especially in unexpected places
Unexpected people.
God, open our eyes and hearts to wherever You may be.
(Silence)
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
God have mercy
God, thank You
Let us pray
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
Forever and ever
Amen

HYMN
Come Down, O Love Divine
Voices United 367

WE SHARE IN GOD’S WORD
Martin Luther
Dear God, let your Word shine in our hearts by your Holy Spirit.
Make it so bright and warm that we always find our comfort and joy in it.
Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING
The Letter to the Ephesians 1:15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
So that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you
What are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ when they raised him from the dead and seated him at their right hand in the heavenly places
Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 1: 6-14
The Word of God for the People of God
Thanks be to God

SERMON

THE WORD OF GOD ENACTED
PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Voices United 541
The Dedication of Gifts
God, You bless us with gifts of time, talent and treasure and in doing so, You invite us to share these gifts as a witness to our faith in Your Kingdom.
Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
The Gospel of Mark 1:35
God, You touch our lives with healing and with justice
New life is your gift.
We give You thanks for Your Good News
Revealed through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Good News that invites and challenges us to be living witnesses to Your hope for a better world
And so in silence we give thanks for those who have been such witnesses in our lives
(Silence)
God of compassion
We pray for this troubled world
For people who struggling with sorrows
Who struggle with injustice
Who struggle with despair
Who struggle with uncertainty
Who fear the future
Who yearn for hope
And God we pray that You be with us
As we do what we can
To be your presence in this world
And God we come to You with the prayers of our hearts.
For those who we know who struggle with illness of the mind, body and spirit.
For those who are alone
For those who yearn for connection
These names we bring to you
(Silence)
Amen

CLOSING HYMN
Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song
Voices United 205

SENDING FORTH
What are we waiting for?
The Kingdom won’t build itself
Jesus has faith in us, so let us live that faith building the Kingdom together.
Amen

POSTLUDE

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal

Northern Spirit Region Prayer Cycle
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Living Spirit United Church, Drayton Valley
Mill Woods United Church, Edmonton

Send a message to learn more

05/11/2026

This week's Order of Service for the 10th of May 2026, the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our Morning Worship.
10th of May 2026, the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Musical Prelude

WELCOME & GATHERING
“I've never heard of any community that failed because it lacked material resources.
Communities fail because they lack imagination and spiritual contact and soul and a sense of others and staying power and courage to move together and to live together.”
Daniel Berrigan

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

OPENING HYMN
For the Beauty of the Earth
Voices United 226

PRAYER OF APPROACH
From the World Council of Churches
O Creator and Mighty God, You have promised
Strength for the weak
Rest for the labourers
Light for the way
Grace for the trials
Help from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love.
O Creator and Mighty God help us to continue in Your promise.
Amen

A UNITED CHURCH CREED
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God
Who has created and is creating
Who has come in Jesus,
The Word made flesh
To reconcile and make new
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church
To celebrate God’s presence
To live with respect in Creation
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist evil
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Send Your Holy Spirit
Voices United 370
Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective
James 5:16
God, in this time of prayer You invite us to be close to You
To trust You
To share with You our brokenness in faith that You will touch us with Your grace
Thank You for this moment
(Silence)
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
God have mercy
Thank you
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
Forever and ever
Amen

HYMN
O Day of God, Draw Nigh
Voices United 688

WE SHARE IN GOD’S WORD
Paul’s letter to the Romans 15:4
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

RESPONSIVE READING
1st Peter 3:13-16
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed.
Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you yet do it with gentleness and respect.
Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 17:22-31
The Word of God, for the People of God
Thanks be to God

SERMON

THE WORD OF GOD ENACTED
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Voices United 541
The Dedication of Gifts
God, You bless us with gifts of time, talent and treasure and in doing so, You invite us to share these gifts as a witness to our faith in Your Kingdom.
Amen

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
The Gospel of Mark 1:35
God calls us to be a praying people.
Let us join in prayer, offering our praise, thanksgivings, and intercessions to God.
God through our prayer we give You thanks
For the blessings You share with us.
And the presence of Your love in the people who touch our lives
In this time of silence we bring to You the names of those who have been the witnesses to Your care for us.
(Silence)
God as we celebrate the hope of new life through resurrection, we pray for Your presence among us as we struggle with the reality of our broken world
We pray for those who struggle
For those who suffer
Those who yearn for hope
In the midst of war, we yearn and pray for peace
We pray that the leaders of nations will work together to serve a world in need, and that they learn from the example of those who have served.
And God we come to You with the prayers of our hearts.
For those who we know who struggle with illness of the mind, body and spirit.
For those who are alone
For those who yearn for connection
These names we bring to you
(Silence)
Amen

CLOSING HYMN
Sing Your Joy
Voices United 253

SENDING FORTH
The Kingdom of God is at hand!
A kingdom that will challenge the expectations of our world when we embrace the hope of God that we will serve God by serving one another.
Amen

POSTLUDE

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Northern Spirit Region Prayer Cycle
Christian Family Sunday
Rural Life (Rogation) Sunday
Ascension Day (May 14)
Camrose United Church
St. Paul’s United, Edmonton

Send a message to learn more

05/11/2026

This week's YouTube service for the 10th of May 2026, the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our morning worship on this Mother’s Day. All are welcome!This is the 10th of May 2026, the Sixth Sunday of EasterMi...

05/04/2026

This week's YouTube service for the 3rd of May 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

Welcome to worship with Strathearn United Church on Sunday May 3, 2026

05/04/2026

This week's Order of Service for the 3rd of May 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Strathearn United Church welcomes you to our Morning Worship.
3rd of May 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Musical Prelude

WELCOME & GATHERING
“I pray because I can't help myself.
I pray because I'm helpless.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping.
It doesn't change God.
It changes me.”
Attributed to C.S. Lewis

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

OPENING HYMN
Morning Has Broken
Voices United 409

PRAYER OF APPROACH
God, we pray to You
In faith that You will listen to us
As we pray to give thanks
To confess
To ask for Your guidance
Maybe even to just chat with You as we share with You the stories of our lives
God, we thank You for this gift, the gift of connection through this moment of prayer
Amen

A UNITED CHURCH CREED
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God
Who has created and is creating
Who has come in Jesus,
The Word made flesh
To reconcile and make new
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church
To celebrate God’s presence
To live with respect in Creation
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist evil
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Send Your Holy Spirit
Voices United 370
Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective
James 5:16
God, You invite us to this time of confession
This moment of quiet
This moment of faith
That as we offer our brokenness to You
You will touch us with Your grace
(Silence)
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
God have mercy
Thank you
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
Forever and ever
Amen

HYMN
Out of the Depths, O God, We Call to You
Voices United 611

WE SHARE IN GOD’S WORD
O God, open our hearts and minds through the touch of Your Holy Spirit, so as we listen to Your Word, we may be guided what You are saying to us today.
Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING
Psalm 31:1-5
In You, O God, I seek refuge. do not let me ever be put to shame, in Your righteousness deliver me.
Incline Your ear to me, rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress, for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me
Take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for You are my refuge.
Into Tour hand I commit my spirit.
You have redeemed me, O faithful God.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 6:5-15
The Word of God, for the People of God
Thanks be to God

SERMON

THE WORD OF GOD ENACTED
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
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The Dedication of Gifts
God, You bless us with gifts of time, talent and treasure and in doing so, You invite us to share these gifts as a witness to our faith in Your Kingdom.
Amen

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
The Gospel of Mark 1:35
God calls us to be a praying people.
Let us join in prayer, offering our praise, thanksgivings, and intercessions to God.
God through our prayer we give You thanks
For the blessings You share with us.
And the presence of Your love in the people who touch our lives
In this time of silence we bring to You the names of those who have been the witnesses to Your care for us.
(Silence)
God as we celebrate the hope of new life through resurrection, we pray for Your presence among us as we struggle with the reality of our broken world
We pray for those who struggle
For those who suffer
Those who yearn for hope
In the midst of war, we yearn and pray for peace
We pray that the leaders of nations will work together to serve a world in need, and that they learn from the example of those who have served.
And God we come to You with the prayers of our hearts.
For those who we know who struggle with illness of the mind, body and spirit.
For those who are alone
For those who yearn for connection
These names we bring to you
(Silence)
Amen

CLOSING HYMN
To Show by Touch and Word
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SENDING FORTH
Adapted from the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed
Courage to change the things which should be changed
And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Amen

POSTLUDE

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Northern Spirit Region Prayer Cycle
Mental Health Sunday Asian Heritage Month (May)
Strathearn United Church, Edmonton
Hillcrest United, Fort Nelson BC

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