Mersea United Church
God is our Purpose, our Passion, our Plan.
Pastor: Rev. George McPhee
Musical Ministry: Norma Lott
Ministers: All the People of the Congregation
Sunday February 7th, 2010 9:30 a.m.
We Gather to Worship
Opening Music
Welcome and Announcements
*Welcoming Song: “All the Way” (#635) VU
Call to Worship:
Leader: Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord.
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
People: Let us come before him with thanksgiving.
and extol him with music and song.
Prayer of Adoration:
People: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendour,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Leader: Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
People: Wealth and power come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
Leader: In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
People: Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
*Hymn: “Will You Come and Follow Me” (#567) VU
The Prayer of Confession (unison)
Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings, and our offences against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
We Listen for the Word of God
Scripture Readings:
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13
Psalter: Psalm 107 Part 1(page 831 VU)
Gospel: Matthew 23: 1-12
Sermon: “Pie Tasting”
Prayers of the People
*Hymn: “We Are Pilgrims” (#595) VU
We Present Our Tithes and Offerings
*Offertory Hymn: (#236) VU
Now thank we all our God, with heart, and hands and voices
who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mother's arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
*Offertory Prayer (in unison)
Gracious God, we give our best, lest in gaining the world we lose life itself. As a covenant people, we seek to witness to your will and way. Help us to know more clearly what you would have us do with the wealth entrusted to our care. As we contribute to the needs of your people, we present ourselves as living sacrifices. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We Go Forth in Peace and Love
*Closing Song: “Here, O My Lord” (#459) VU
*Commissioning and Benediction
Leader: May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit
give you strength.
People: May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard our bodies, save our souls, and bring us safely to his heavenly country, where He lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
*The Choral Response: “Now Go and Pass it on”
May the Lord walk beside us
as we leave this quiet place,
For the Lord will always guide us
if we walk in the light of His grace.
May we feel God's love around us
as it keeps us faithful and strong.
for the peace of God surrounds us,
and now we must pass it on.
Go now and pass it on.
Music by Don Besig Words by Don Begis and Nancy Price copyright @1995 Harold Flammer Music
( a div. of Shawnee Press Inc.) CCLI song # 1938324-- reproduced with permission under license #2677882
*indicates for people to stand ,as they are able
