Bulletin and Announcements for May 21, 2023
Dunsford United Church
Seventh Sunday of Easter – May 21, 2023
Pulpit Supply: Lisa Norman, LLWL
†= stand as you are able
WELCOME AND CELEBRATIONS (Birthdays/Anniversaries)
Announcements are done after the Choral Response
† GATHERING HYMN: VU #376 “Spirit of the Living God”
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE AND THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION CANDLE
Christ Candle: Let the light of this candle lead us to walk our life path with the risen Christ.
Candle for Truth and Reconciliation: Let the light of this candle lead us to seek the peace, justice and reconciliation you desire among all your children.
Thank you for your mercy and grace.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LANDS (Unison)
We acknowledge, honour and respect this land and the Anishinaabe / Mississauga peoples with whom Treaty 20, Williams treaty, was signed, on the lands where we are. We acknowledge and give thanks for the lands and people of treaties and unceded territories of all who are worshiping. It is up to all of us to live into truth, respect and reconciliation with all our relations.
CALL TO WORSHIP: (Refrain: from MV #90)
We join together this morning, like those first disciples, wondering what is next in our Easter story.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
We have journeyed through Lent, sorrowed through Good Friday, waited through Holy Saturday, Rejoiced through Easter. What now God? What happens now?
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
We feel your long good-bye coming to an end. Loneliness and grief are closing in on us. We come today as a praying people. O God, help us understand.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.
OPENING PRAYER
Creator,
You sent us Jesus to teach us, so that we may have life and life everlasting.
Creator,
we give thanks for your transforming love.
Guide us as we share your love in our families, communities, and world.
Amen
MINISTRY OF MUSIC: “He is Here” Sylvia V.
INVITATION TO GIVE:
Let us bring forward the offering.
† HYMN OF DEDICATION: VU #541 “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” (Words: Thomas Ken)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures high and low;
give thanks to God in love made known: Creator, Word and Spirit, One.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
STORY AND PRAYERS FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART: Ascension Art
CHILDREN LEAVE FOR JUNIOR CHURCH
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 17:1-11 (Read by Sylvia)
Jesus Prays to Be Glorified
17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
† HYMN: VU #264 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
MESSAGE: “Stay, Wait”
† HYMN: MV #154 “Deep in Our Hearts”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Include some time for people to say names of loved ones for whom they would like to have included in the prayers)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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
WE ARE SENT OUT IN FAITH TO SERVE
COMMISSIONING AND BLESSING
Stay
A Blessing for Ascension Day
I know how your mind
rushes ahead
trying to fathom
what could follow this.
What will you do,
where will you go,
how will you live?
You will want
to outrun the grief.
You will want
to keep turning toward
the horizon,
watching for what was lost
to come back,
to return to you
and never leave again.
For now
hear me when I say
all you need to do
is to still yourself
is to turn toward one another
is to stay.
Wait
and see what comes
to fill
the gaping hole
in your chest.
Wait with your hands open
to receive what could never come
except to what is empty
and hollow.
You cannot know it now,
cannot even imagine
what lies ahead,
but I tell you
the day is coming
when breath will
fill your lungs
as it never has before
and with your own ears
you will hear words
coming to you new
and startling.
You will dream dreams
and you will see the world
ablaze with blessing.
Wait for it.
Still yourself.
Stay.
—Jan Richardson
† CHORAL RESPONSE: “Go Now in Peace” (Words: D Besig and N Price)
Go now in peace, never be afraid. God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, 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
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Update about our Supervising Minister: Rev. Andrew Mcpherson is relocating and will no longer be our Supervising Minister. At this time, we have not been advised of our new Supervising Minister.
Rev. Andrew sent the following message:
I send Dunsford joy and thunder prayers for the journey ahead, I enjoyed my time with all of you, thank-you
Peace
Andrew
STEWARDSHIP SECOND: Stewards care passionately, humbly, and graciously about God’s vision for the world.
https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/2022-12/stewardship-seconds_jan-june-2023.docx
April Finances:
Income $6,255.89
Expenses $4,845.93
Net Profit $1,409.96
FROM THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
https://mailchi.mp/united-church/es230516-1052128?e=037f904864
DUNSFORD UNITED CHURCH
Office Hours: Wed. Office 9-5 † Tel: 705-793-2511
Email: dunsfordunitedchurch@bellnet.ca † Website: www.dunsfordunitedchurch.com
Supply Minister: Rev. Anne Hepburn † Cellphone: 416-305-1247
Confidential Email: annehepburn54@gmail.com
Envelope Steward: Kathy Prentice 705-324-4753
Words to hymns used with permission. CCLI #11197107