Mersea United Church
God is our Purpose, our Passion, our Plan.
Pastor: Rev. Derek Parry (519) 326-0275 e-mail -daparry@aol.com
Musical Ministry: Norma Lott
Sunday, August 1st , 2010 9:30 a.m.
Please note that an * invites those who can to stand.
Also, please note that when God is referred to in masculine terms this should not be taken to imply that God is male. Rather, since God created both male and female, the ideal qualities of both genders have their fulfillment in God.
Hymn-Sing:
We are welcomed into worship and announcements are made.
(We offer praise and worship to God)
The responsive reading: Psalm 107:1-9 vu pg. 831
* A Song of Praise: Sing a happy hallelujah vu 224
(We draw near to God)
Prayer Song: Lord, listen to your children praying vu 400 x3
A Prayer of Confession: (in unison)
Lord God, Creator of all that is, sustainer of all that lives, you are the giver not the taker. We learned that from your dealing with Abraham and Isaac. You are always the giver. Whatever change you invite us to make is for our own good. Yet, even then, you promise to reward us for trusting you enough to heed the very commandments that benefit us and ours. We confess that much of the time we don't know enough about your will and your ways to know what it is that you do want for us. We confess also that on those occasions when we do understand what you desire for us and from us, we still don't want to give up control and do things you way. In this way we diminish our opportunities to build greater trust in you, we diminish our own growth, we diminish the benefits for ourselves, our family, our friends, and our enemies. There is no health in us. Forgive us, Lord. Do not abandon us for then we have no hope. Do not restrain you Holy Spirit for then we have no power to understand or to change. For your love's sake, forgive us and restore again to the joy of your salvation.
An Assurance of Pardon:
One: God's mercy is sure and everlasting. Receive the grace of God that seeks to transform us. Let your heart be cleansed and restored, and, having been made whole by grace through the words and music and meditations in this
service of worship, leave this place to grow as God's daughter, God's son, in heart and mind, in attitude and in action. Amen?
People: Amen!
One: Therefore, assured of God's grace and favour let us boldly join together in saying the prayer that Jesus taught.
All: Our Father, who art in heaven ...
Children's Song: Jesus, friend of little children vu 340
(We learn more about God)
The Scripture Readings Assigned for Today:
The reading from the Hebrew Scriptures: Hosea 11:1-11
The Gospel reading: Luke 11:13-21
* The Hymn: Come down, O love divine vu 367
The Sermon: Diligently running in the wrong direction
(Wheatley) A choral Anthem
(Mersea) * The Hymn: And can it be that I should gain hfg 260
(Offering, receiving, and serving)
The offertory music:
An Offertory Prayer (in unison)
Lord, we have heard your Word to us today. We have heard your invitation to new life and new growth in us and in our Church. We are willing to be drawn deeper into this life. As a token of our sincerity, receive these our offerings, and use them to extend your rule within us, and among us, and through us into the world -- for their sake, your sake, and ours.
* The Offertory Hymn: Now thank we all our God vu 236 vs. 1
* Commissioning and Benediction:
One: Enable us to hear your call to us, O Lord.
People: Enable us to understand your will for us, O Lord.
One: Enable us to discern the wisdom of your ways for us, O Lord.
People: Bless us that we might be your people and you be our God. We are here to be your people, we go out of here to fulfill that calling. Come with us, Lord. Go before us, Lord. Bless our journey, Lord.
* The Sung Response: Walk with me, I will walk with you vu 649
