12/29/2023
Celebration of Parkview’s 98 Years
PARKVIEW UNITED CHURCH final service
Jim Jordan, Music Director
December 31, 2023 – 10 a.m.
WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCE
Prelude
Praise Band:
#24 – I Stand in Awe
#25 – We’ll Call Him Jesus
Welcome and Announcements – Marg Engeland
Introit – MV #7 – Gather Us In
Gather us in, ground us in you.
Gather us in, ground us in you.
Gather us in, gather us in,
ground us, ground us in you. (Repeat)
Candle Lighting – David Spears
Marg Engeland: Once there was someone who said such wonderful things and did such amazing things that people began to follow him. One day they asked him who he was, and he responded, “I am the Light.”
Opening Hymn: VU #412 – This is the Day - Marg Engeland
Call to Worship – Marg Engeland
God, whose creative glory we see in the rushing wind and the swirling waters,
and whose love is revealed in the smile of a child, will remain with us
God, who we have discovered in the scriptures, and who has discovered us,
and who comes clear to us in Jesus, and in the lives of the saints, will remain with us.
God, who we encounter in the worship and service of faith communities,
whose Spirit is within the pastoral caring and the justice-seeking of this church, will remain with us.
God, gracefully known in the hard places of our earthly life’s journey,
and who laughs and celebrates joyfully with us here, will remain with us.
God, who will be with us as this life ends,
who is with us in time and beyond time, will remain with us.
Let us worship our loving and faithful God.
Anthem: Awakening Chorus
Significant Words from the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures – Marg Engeland
Words of certainty from the apostle Paul:
Neither death, nor life…nor things present, nor things to come…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Words of compassion from the Psalmist:
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and staff—they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
Words of adventure from Genesis:
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you…I will bless you, and make your name great.” (Genesis 12:1-2)
Words of thanksgiving from Luke:
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God…He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Luke 17:15-16)
The words of scripture are good words for us, words we can trust.
We thank God for God’s eternally relevant Word. Amen.
Anthem: I Am the Vine
A Statement of Purpose – Marg Engeland
We are gathered today to leave this church building which has been a faith community home for us. We are gathered to move on to new communities of faith.
Litany of Thanksgiving – Marg Engeland
Leader: After the words “Loving God”, the response is, “We give you thanks”.
Teresa Coulthard - The baptismal font, the communion table, the pulpit, this whole worship space, enable us to thankfully remember the countless services of worship and sacraments celebrated in this place, and to bring to mind the ministers and lay readers who have led worship. (time of silent remembering).
For this worship space, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Andrew Wybrow – These pews and the worshippers here today are reminders of the congregations who have gathered over the years for the Sunday services, funerals, weddings, and other celebrations that have taken place here. (time of silent remembering).
For worshippers over the years, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Angela Vanbruwaene – These crafts and pictures, these curriculum books and CDs, these Christmas-pageant clothes are reminders of the hundreds of students who over the years have begun their Christian journey in this place. (time of silent remembering).
For wonder-full young persons, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Jane Hynd – Through the years many ladies have met here as the Women’s Missionary Society and the Women’s Association, then in 1952 joined together as the United Church Women. We remember these women who came together for study, fellowship and service. (time of silent remembering).
For each of them, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
June Blaine – The smell of food, the laughter and fellowship of those working in the kitchen has been a part of Parkview since the building of this church began. We remember these dedicated workers. (time of silent remembering).
For fellowship and friendship, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Hymn: Jesus Loves Me – Sing verse 1 and chorus (stand)
Stephen Mitchell – This song reminds us of the congregation, the choir members, the organists, the pianists, and all the other musicians who have proclaimed their faith here in hymns and songs. (time of silent remembering).
For voices in harmony, for voices united, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Ross Bode – This hammer, these drill bits are symbols of the many hours dedicated men and women put in over the years to maintain this building. (time of silent remembering).
For hard work inside and outside the church, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Marg Engeland – We come together with so many good and treasured memories, but with a strong sense of grief at saying farewell to this hallowed place. We come together, also, with great hope for continuing our life of faith in various faith communities we will be joining.
For the life of this faith community, which will continue on, Loving God,
We give you thanks.
Anthem: Victory In Jesus
Prayer of Approach - Rev. Mary Fletcher (Jan.1, 2017 – June 2020)
Eternal God,
God of the present time, of ages past and of all the ages that are to be, we worship you.
Loving God,
God of the compassionate acts and of selfless caring, we welcome you.
God of the church,
who brings us together to worship, to learn, and to serve, we respond to you.
God, whose will is revealed in Jesus Christ,
who proclaimed the just and sharing way, who accepted the unaccepted, and whose unswerving love took him to the cross, we glorify you. Amen.
Words of Assurance - Rev. Mary Fletcher
God hears our deepest feelings of heart and mind and spirit and has heard you this morning.
We will continue to offer these feelings as we let go this faith community. God will continue to listen to us.
God will go with you in your new ventures of life and faith. God is eternally to be trusted. God’s peace, which passes all knowledge and understanding, will be your peace.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Duet – Tom & Maureen Beecroft
Scripture Reading – Romans 12: 4-12 - Marshall Crinklaw
Hymn VU #288 – Great is Thy Faithfulness – Marshall Crinklaw
Reflection – Rev. Marg Smith (July 1997 – January 5, 2002) - Memories and Gifts
Communion Service – Rev. Tom Beecroft (July 2005 – June 2016)
Communion Hymn: VU #469 – We Gather Here
Communion Service
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, our creator. You have given us life in your Spirit. Once we were no people, but now we are your people. You raised up the church as a witness to the resurrection, breathing into it your life and power. From worlds apart, you gathered us together. When we go astray, you welcome us home. Always, your love has been steadfast.
Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with the choirs of heaven and with the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name.
(Communion Setting E Voices United pg 942)
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
In love with you and in compassion for all, Jesus healed and taught, challenged, and comforted, welcomed, and saved.
He formed a community, promising to be with his disciples wherever two or three were gathered and sending them on his mission of hope and healing in the world. Jesus trusted his life to you, and went freely to his death, so that the world might be set free from suffering and sin.
You raised him from death, and raise us also, to live a new life with him. In the power of the Holy Spirit, you send us out to make disciples as he commanded.
Remembering all your mighty and merciful acts, we take this bread and this cup from the gifts you have given us and ask that you accept our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving as a living and holy offering of ourselves, that our lives may proclaim the One crucified and risen.
Great is the mystery of faith.
(ALL) Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and cup that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and the blood of Christ. By your Spirit unite us with the living Christ that we may be one in ministry in every place. Send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
Breaking of the Bread
The Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, broke it, saying: Take eat. This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Filling of the Cup
In the same way, he took the cup, filled it, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you. Whenever you drink it, do in remembrance of me.
Communion
Prayer after Communion (in unison)
Gracious God, may we who have received this sacrament live in the unity of your Holy Spirit, that we may show forth your gifts to all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn: VU #400 – Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
send us love, send us power, send us grace.
Time of Prayer – Rev. Mary Fletcher
A Prayer of Moving on in Faith
When the chosen people left the land of Egypt for the uncertainty of the wilderness,
You, O God, went with them. You inspired and directed Moses and the people to the Promised Land. You will be with us now as we move on.
When the prophets knew for certain that the old values and traditions would no longer serve your purpose, nor bring closer your realm,
You, O God, showed the doubters a new way, and revealed fresh opportunities to the closed-minded. Ever-faithful God, you will be with us as we move on.
When Jesus realized that the trusted structures and the traditional leaders could no longer serve your purpose, when Jesus knew it was time for a change,
You, O God, were at the heart of his ministry, you sustained him all the way to the cross.
We move on to fresh ways of worship,
We move on to serve in various faith communities.
We move on to work with new partners to build up the life of the United Church and of the whole church of Jesus Christ.
With you, we move on to strive for justice and peace in our local community and throughout the world.
We move on to sing the familiar hymns with familiar friends,
With you we move on to sing new songs with new friends. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (Sung) – VU #959 - Rev. Mary Fletcher
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today 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 for ever.
Offering – Call to Offering – Rev. Mary Fletcher
Offertory Hymn – VU #81, verse 3 – As With Gladness Men of Old
As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger crude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin's alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to you, our heavenly King.
Dedication of Offering – Rev. Mary Fletcher
Presentation of 50 years in the United Church pins – Brian Lupton
Anthem – We Will Keep our Faith Alive
A New Creed – VU #918 – repeat in Unison – Rev. Marg Smith
Closing Hymn – VU #639 – One More Step Along the World I Go
Commissioning – Rev. Nancy Wetselaar
God remains with us,
Though we let go of our cherished place.
God remains with us,
Though we sing new songs and worship in new ways.
God remains with us,
Though we serve in different ways and pursue different causes.
God remains with us,
Though we find new friends in our new congregations.
God’s love remains with us,
God’s justice will inspire us, God’s realm will call us to action.
God is eternally for you and with you.
Thanks be to God!
Blessing – Rev. Nancy Wetselaar
Go now and don’t be afraid. God of our fathers and mothers goes with us. Go in peace. And may the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine through you and be gracious to you, The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Sung Blessing - Go Now In Peace
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of ev'ry day.
Go now in faith, stead-fast, strong, and true.
Know he will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
Dismissal in memory of Rev. Jason Richards of St. Marys UC – Teresa Coulthard
Postlude
