Sunday June 28, 2020

for such a time as this

InTouch

Chosen to Become

June 28, 2020

PRELUDE: Trumpet Voluntary   J. Stanley

OUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:  
We acknowledge that we are gathered today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Salish and Tsleil Waututh people. We rejoice in the gift of this land and give thanks that is has been shared with us. As people of faith we commit to living out the Creator’s wish for us to live as “all my relations”.

The GATHERING

*CALL TO WORSHIP:
In generous grace
the eternal God bends to embrace
this time
and bless the space within our hearts
the Spirit makes.
So come
to worship God

1. Sykes 1996   WFAS II Year A ed. T. Harding and B. Harding 2004

HYMN: Come, Christians, Join to Sing

LISTENING FOR THE WORD

SCRIPTURE READING:  Matthew 10:40-42 
Read by Rev. Deb Walker
CLICK HERE
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

We RESPOND

HYMN RESPONSE: Spirit of the Living God Fall Fresh on Me

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: led by Dorothy Cumming
CLICK HERE
I welcomed the invitation to lead the prayers of the people today and encourage others to let Nina know they are looking forward to leading some day!
Typically, in our prayers of the people, we ask for God’s redemptive presence in the church, world, community, and individual lives. And we offer our own lives to God’s mission of healing and reconciliation in the world. We, prayer leaders, I included, in our desire to be super inclusive and not miss a need for prayer, can be a bit lengthy.
I have chosen to focus our pastoral prayer on two areas and invite you as individuals, families, and small church groups across the week to hold in prayer the areas not held up today.
Last introductory remarks. You are welcome to pray aloud the whole prayer, pray aloud the words in bold or pray aloud a response after each petition. When I say, Holy One, in your mercy, you can choose to respond or not, choose to respond with your words or with the words, “hear our prayer”.

Continuing to hold up the significance of National Indigenous Heritage Month I open with thanks to the Holy One using words from The Dancing Sun
Let us give thanks to our Creator
for the Creator is always with us.
God is with us in the call of a loon
and in the flight of an eagle.
Our Creator is with us in the changing of the season.
God is with us when we gather together
and when we are alone.
Our Creator is with us in our giftedness
and in our search for new understandings of ourselves,
new visions of our communities.

Mother Father of us all, we are grateful our national church  incorporated the four colours of the Medicine Wheel and the Mohawk words on the United Church crest because the Indigenous spirituality, leadership, and participation are vital to the church’s life.
We remember today that our Indigenous peoples welcomed those who brought the Christian gospel to this land. We remember that Indigenous faith communities were part of the formation of the United Church. With great sorrow in our hearts we also acknowledge the limitations of a Christianity rooted in European origins, and the profoundly negative impact it had on the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Our National Church body, through the voice of the Moderator, The Very Rev Bob Smith, apologized for this broken relationship and today our church is actively working to heal it.
In this Community of Faith, we have a group of folks actively working to heal the broken relationship with our indigenous brothers and sisters. We pray you support these leaders giving them renewed energy to continue this important work.
Holy One, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We thank you, Wise and ever present Living God, for Calling Reverends Deb and Dave to lead us in all of our ministries and note today the strength of their knowledge and experience working to bring the 2015 National Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Calls to Action.
Give us ears to hear what Dave and Deb can bring to our reconciliation ministry and open our hearts and minds to grasp the need for us all to participate in ways that are available to us individually and collectively.
We celebrate the Indigenous communities of faith across our country. We celebrate the United Church’s Indigenous Ministries and Justice Circle work with these communities to understand their needs, share their wisdom, and support and empower their people.
We, the Shaughnessy Heights United Church faith community financially support such national work though our Mission and Service givings and perhaps through individual givings. Generous God, we thank you for all the blessings you bestow up us individually that we can in turn give to our church as generously as able.
We will learn of other entities within our national church that can support our reconciliation work. Once again, we petition you to join our Spirits with the Holy Spirit so that we feel this call to the work in small or grand ways.

Holy One, in your Mercy, Hear our Prayer.
Our teacher, Jesus, commissioned the disciples to go out into the world to do His work. Last evening our Council took a good long look at the way this community of faith plans to lead our ministries our missions. I have had the privilege of being a part of this Council for the past three years and have experienced the steadfast faithful discipleship lived out by each and everyone. I offer on behalf of this community of faith a prayer asking you, Son of God, to walk with each and all as they prepare to bring this final piece of work to our congregation.
As we, the community of faith, anticipate hearing the Council’s recommendation , the Big Reveal date as yet  unknown, help us to prepare with a spirit of excitement, an attitude or mindset of  looking forward, an expectation to grow into new structure new ways of being and doing together. Nudge us to be like children, childlike, not childish, super excited, able to ask questions. Help us also to use our ever-developing adult communication skills, respecting and honouring each other in this journey.
Holy One, in your Mercy, Hear our Prayer.

We ask all this in the name of Jesus and using the words of the Indigenous peoples of Australia.
Great Spirit, Creator of all, from the stars to all the earth, loved and respected be your name. May it happen that all should live in your way following your purpose for all creation. Enable us to find what we need for today’s journey. Forgive us when we go wrong as we forgive those who wrong us. Have compassion on us when we are being tested.  Do not abandon us to fear and evil. Our hope is in your new community. You are the One who can transform all creation, making everything new, now and for all eternity. Amen
A prayer from The Dancing Sun (United Church of Canada/Anglican Church of Canada), alt.,
for Aboriginal Sunday

The COMMISSIONING

CHORAL BENEDICTION: A Clare Benediction: J. Rutter

May the Lord show His mercy upon you; may the light of His presence be your guide: 
May He guard you and uphold you; may His spirit be ever by your side. 
When you sleep, may His angels watch over you; 
when you wake, may He fill you with His grace. 
May you love Him and serve Him all your days, 
then in heaven may you see His face.

POSTLUDE: March on a Theme by Handel A. Guilmant