Bulletin – Sunday, October 6, 2024 – Fifth Sunday of Creation / World Wide Communion

Sunday, October 6, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Creation / World Wide Communion

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

One:   Let us be reminded that there is light around us.
All:      Let us be reminded that there is light within us.

One:   Let us be reminded of this source of light.
All:      We are reminded that Christ shines for all to see.

One:   This candle is lit to welcome and remind.
All:      The candle welcomes the light that is Christ.

Call to Worship

One:   In this season of changing colours we come before our Creator.
All:      O God of the universe we praise your holy name.

One:   With harvest upon us, we anticipate a wealth of all that is good.
All:      O God of all gifts, we thank you for your bounty.

One:   As the lights dim around us, we remember that we are not alone.
All:      O God who made day and night, we feel your presence surround us.

One:   With ears and hearts to listen, we wait for the Holy Spirit to speak.
All:      O God, send your Spirit to bring us into a new season with renewed faith.

One:   All glory to God who is our all in all.
All:      We glorify God this day and every day.

Hymn – “God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness” (VU #260)

God who gives to life its goodness,
God creator of all joy
God who gives to us our freedom,
God who blesses tool and toy:
Teach us now to laugh and praise you,
Deep within your praises sing,
Till the whole creation dances
For the goodness of its King.

God who fills the earth with beauty,
God who binds each friend to friend,
God who names us co-creators
God who will that chaos end:
Grant us now creative spirits,
Minds responsive to your mind,
Hearts and wills your rule extending
All our acts by Love refined.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

One:   We bring all that we are before you, dear God. We Bring all our faults, our weakness, our strength. Warts and all we are here. As the Creator who made us, you know our every heartbeat. As we come to you know, we find the honesty that gives voice to the ways that we have displeased you.
All:      Merciful God, we ask for forgiveness and your grace to wash over us as we confront the times when we have not heeded your voice. There have been times when we take out our frustration on you and blame you for all our sorrows. Our hearts have not always been loving and our words have not always been kind. We sometimes join in with a world that continually wants more, forgetting that these treasures will not last. Help us to humble ourselves, be filled with your Spirit, and find the love of Christ in all we do. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Sung Response – “O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

O beautiful Gaia,
O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
Calling us on.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading: Job 1:1, 2:1-10

¹ There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

¹ One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. ² The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ ³ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’ ⁴ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. ⁵ But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ ⁶ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.’

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸ Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.’ ¹⁰ But he said to her, ‘You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 26

¹ Vindicate me, O Lord,     for I have walked in my integrity,     and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. ² Prove me, O Lord, and try me;     test my heart and mind. ³ For your steadfast love is before my eyes,     and I walk in faithfulness to you.

⁴ I do not sit with the worthless,     nor do I consort with hypocrites; ⁵ I hate the company of evildoers,     and will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence,     and go around your altar, O Lord, ⁷ singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,     and telling all your wondrous deeds.

⁸ O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,     and the place where your glory abides. ⁹ Do not sweep me away with sinners,     nor my life with the bloodthirsty, ¹⁰ those in whose hands are evil devices,     and whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I walk in my integrity;     redeem me, and be gracious to me. ¹² My foot stands on level ground;     in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “We Praise You, Creator” (VU #293)

We praise you, Creator, in earth, sea, and sky:
Our Ruler, our Maker, our Sovereign most high.
Each new generation lifts voices in praise;
How good your creation, how gracious your ways!

Each springtime the blossoms bloom fragrant once more;
Each summer and autumn brings forth its rich store.
With witness compelling our praise and our prayer,
Creation is telling of your faithful care.

Your wondrous works teach us, Creator, to trace
The limitless reaches of your love and grace.
Your grace dwells among us, your love goes before:
From eldest to youngest we praise and adore.

Meditation – Walking in Your Integrity

Anthem – “Sing Out Your Song, Christians of the World”

Though we come from different places, though we speak in different ways,
So many creeds and different races, so many questions we must face.
But these things must not divide us. We know our purpose is the same.
For we have chosen Christ to guide us; we are united in His name.

So sing out your song, Christians of the world.
Lift up your voices and let them be heard,
For the gospel of peace is the message we bring.
Rejoice in our Saviour and King!

It is the love of God which binds us; we all live within His care.
Through His word the Lord reminds us of the blessings that we share.
Each of us has many talents, which we share in many ways.
Together we will meet God’s challenge; we are united in our faith.

So sing out your song, Christians of the world.
Lift up your voices and let them be heard,
For the gospel of peace is the message we bring.
Rejoice in our Saviour and King!

In Christ there is no East or West, in Him no South or North;
But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.

So sing out your song, Christians of the world.
Lift up your voices and let them be heard,
For the gospel of peace is the message we bring.
Rejoice in our Saviour and King!
Rejoice, rejoice and sing!

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Response – “For the Gift of Creation” (VU #538)

For the gift 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

Hymn – “All Who Hunger” (VU #460)

All who hunger, gather gladly; holy manna is our bread.
Come from wilderness and wandering. Here, in truth, we will be fed.
You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

All who hunger, never strangers, seeker, be a welcome guest.
Come from restlessness and roaming. Here, in joy, we keep the feast.
We that once were lost and scattered in communion’s love have stood.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

All who hunger, sing together, Jesus Christ is living bread.
Come from loneliness and longing. Here, in peace, we have been led.
Blest are those who from this table live their lives in gratitude.
Taste and see that grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

Communion

One:   This is the table to which Jesus invites us!
All:      Let us participate joyfully!

One:   God planted seeds now germinated, a tree of life, an orchard bearing fruit
All:      Such is nature, abundant life budding, and Jesus sets the table, invites us to dine.

One:   Water into wine, land where bread is born,
All:      a people on the path of perfect communion.

Prayers for the World and the Community

One:   Let us pray. In our prayers this morning we remember Marlene, Rob, Heather, Barb, Angela, Joe, Nick, Brenda, Laila, Bert, Jay, Paul, Sylvia, Helen, Grace, Cam, Flo, Greg. Reach out your healing hand with comfort.

One:   From every place on this planet, we turn our face to you, O God. Gather us, all your people, together, to pray. In the midst of the forces which separate us, bind us in your love as the Church, together. Strengthen us through the grace of your people gathered, no matter how we gather, with the truth of your presence.

One:   In a world aching to be made new, we cry out with those who suffer the pains of what powers and principalities extract from the world’s poorest. We cry out with those suffering from illness and disease, at whom the world turns a callous glance. We cry out with those stringing from the sins of white supremacy. We cry out with those seeking justice, equality, and peace.

One:   In a world stretching toward wholeness, we celebrate with those whose lives bear the fruit of your Spirit and seek to share in your call to partnership. We celebrate with those whose efforts are making the world new. We celebrate with all who gather to earnestly seek your transforming work in the world.

One:   Make us a world that grows into the shape of your communion table, where all are welcomed, and all are fed. Make us a people who grow your family by practices of mutuality, generosity, and justice, sowing seeds of peace in every action we take. And may be we bound to be witnesses, when Jesus returns, to the truth of who we were created to be—people who belong to each other, people who belong to you, O God. In your Son, Jesus. Amen.

The Prayer of Jesus

One:   Please join me as we say together the words Jesus taught us:
All:      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, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Partaking of the Elements

Breaking of the Bread

One:   We give thanks for this bread, fruit of the earth and hard work, a gift of the grace of God. We break it and share it, remembering the words and actions, gestures and glances, silences and self-offered life of the teacher from Nazareth.

The Bread is broken
(The wafer is consumed)

Pouring of the Wine

One:   And we give thanks for the fruit of the vine, for the joy of communion, for alliances that endure in the search for justice and wholeness. We take the cup, knowing we are part of a community people renewing its covenant with life.

The Cup is filled
(The juice is drunk)

(adapted from Peace and Global Witness)

Prayer after Communion

Thank you, Gracious God, for all the ways we are nourished and fed, body, mind, and sprit. Help us to be open and to hold on to the hope we have experienced at this table. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.

(Sharon Ballantyne, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2024, page 45)

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” (VU #481)

Sent forth by God’s blessing, our tune faith confessing,
The people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The supper is ended, O now be extended
The fruits of this service in all who believe.
The seed of Christ’s teaching receptive souls reaching,
Shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, God’s love shall unite us
To work for the kingdom and answer its call.

With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living,
The tasks of our everyday life we will face,
Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
Embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.
With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;
Unite us in one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
Give honour to Christ and the name that we bear.

Benediction

Response – “When You Walk from Here” (VU #298)

When you walk from here, when you walk from here,
Walk with justice, walk with mercy, and with God’s humble care.