BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 2

January 30, 2022

Theme: “Celebrate our Call to Serve / Give thanks for our Family Ministry”

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Noah - Valse Sentimentale (op. 50, no. 14) - Franz Schubert

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus on this 4th Sunday after Epiphany. Wherever you are joining us from today, please know that we are glad that you are with us in this worship service.

Due to the rising COVID variant cases in Ontario, we will not be offering in-person worship until further notice. Worship Services can still be accessed however, online through YouTube and by telephone. Check our website, bcuc.org, for the link each week. There you will also find links to previous services, Sunday school resources, and other announcements.

And for those of you who are able to join us, there will be a virtual fellowship time every Sunday at 11:00 am. Check your email for the Zoom link.

While the church building is not open for in-person gatherings, the work of the church carries on. Please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls, prayers or online platforms. Our annual Stewardship Campaign continues this week and next. Today we celebrate the many volunteers who help keep the work of this congregation going in all of its aspects from administration and property management to worship, education, and outreach. Please take the time to read the stewardship materials that were sent to you last week. We hope you will give prayerful thought to what you might be called to do as a member of this faith family.

I now invite you to listen to Erin tell us about one way we strive to include all ages and stages in our congregational life through our Family Ministry Team.

Stewardship Moment Erin Berard – Family Ministry Team

The Family Ministry initiative was introduced in 2017 to guide our vision and decision-making at BCUC as we strive to make our church a welcoming and loving 'family'. Goals of this initiative include facilitating family-oriented worship, fostering intergenerational relationships, encouraging a family mindset within all the church committees, and experimenting with ways to connect and welcome others from the community into our BCUC family.

During the pandemic, the worship team has provided a weekly online video and audio service with wide-ranging appeal - hymns new and old, a young person-focussed ‘Storytime’, thought-provoking sermons, and participation from congregants of all ages and stages. Along with these weekly family-oriented services, Sunday School materials that are directly aligned with the worship themes have been made available on our website. As in the past Advent and Lenten resources were delivered to families with young people in our congregation in the Spring and Fall to help those at home to feel remembered and connected.

Not being able to gather freely due to the pandemic has put a hold on or altered many of the usual activities that we enjoy together, and has delayed some of the plans we were making for family-oriented events. And, as much as we wish we had a magic wand to make it go away, the pandemic continues. Many have mentioned missing families they know from church, so I challenge you to seek out new ways to connect with your church family. This could be as simple as sending an e-mail or card to another family to let them know you’re thinking of them or popping on the 11am Sunday Zoom gatherings to say hello. Or perhaps you have a special interest, or a game, or a hobby that other families might be interested in - how could you introduce that to others and help build community? New ideas suitable for these pandemic times or the future would be welcomed by the Family Ministry Team!

It is important that we recognize and celebrate the many ways that we support, work, and worship together, even if it is distanced or online, and to look with hope toward the coming months for more and more opportunities to get together in person. Let’s continue to ensure that Family Ministry is embedded in all we do at BCUC.

Minute for Mission

In addition to the work we are called to do within this faith family, we at BCUC also have a mission to reach out to the wider community. The Service, Outreach, and Social Action Committee (SOSA) coordinates many projects by which we do this. Here is a brief introduction to one of the projects we help fund and offer volunteer support, OWECC, the Ottawa West End Community Chaplaincy. (video)

Centering for Worship

Now, let us gather our hearts and minds for worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Susan & George Young

Sometimes, the world can seem a bit dark. Conflicts, worries, and suffering seem to cloud our vision. And so, today, as we do whenever we gather as a family of faith, we light this candle to remind us of the presence of Jesus, the light that never dims. May this light kindle hope and joy in each of us - enough to light the world.

Call to Gather: Rev. Kim Vidal

(Susan Lukey, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2021 Year B, Used with permission.)

To be a church family is a blessing.
To encourage and care for one another is a joy.
To work for the common good of all people and all creation is our calling.
Come, let us worship as the body of Christ.
We come as followers of the Way of Jesus, as those inspired by the Spirit of God,
To worship, sing, and pray.

Prayer of Approach: (Phil Hobbs, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2018, Year B. Used with permission.)

(Based on A Song of Faith)

In worship this morning, Kind, Compassionate, and Present God, we sing of a church with purpose: faith nurtured and hearts comforted, gifts shared for the good of all. We are a community of broken but hopeful believers, yet, Lord Jesus, we would love as you first loved us. We are seeking to be faithful servants of God, here where we live and work. Meet us. Heal us. Empower us. Enable us. Amen.

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down - Voices United #395 Kim-guitar, Erin-flute

Refrain:

Come in come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

1 You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain,
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family. R

2 God is with us in this place,
like a mother's warm embrace.
We're all forgiven by God's grace,
for we are a part of the family. R

3 There's life to be shared
in the bread and the wine,
we are the branches Christ is the vine. This is God's temple, it's not yours or mine, but we are a part of the family. R

4 There's rest for the weary and health
for us all, there's a yoke that is easy,
and a burden that's small.
So come in and worship and answer the call, for we are a part of the family. R

Storytime Rev. Kim Vidal

Good morning!

Here we are on our second Sunday of our stewardship campaign at BCUC and today we are going to talk about how we take care of money.

Have you ever been given a daily or a weekly money allowance by your parents? What do you do with that money entrusted to you? Do you keep them in your wallet and not spend them? Or do you run to the nearest convenience store and buy your favourite snack or candy? Or have you thought of saving a part of it? How do you deal with money given to you?

Let me tell you of a story of a young boy named Pete who was given $2.50 cents as his daily allowance. Pete was so happy receiving this money from his parents that he thought of ways how to use them. He knows that this money was given freely by his parents without asking him to do any chores. It was a gift.

Pete realized that his parents work hard in earning money so that his family will have food on the table, a comfortable house to live in and enjoy the basic necessities in life. He made a promise to use his allowance wisely and not to use it for unnecessary things.

Pete also knows that not all children have the same privilege of receiving an allowance from their parents. One of his friends for example, comes to school with worn-out shoes and Pete made a promise to himself that he would give his friend a new pair of shoes for his birthday.

Every Sunday, Pete enjoys coming to church with his parents and he learned from Sunday School that the work of the church goes far and beyond the church building. One time, there was a fund raising for children with no decent beds to sleep on. Another time, there was a fundraising to help children in Zambia. Pete also learned that the church is helping some families who cannot afford to spend time on a weekend for a free family camping. Pete would like to help the church raise funds for these wonderful projects to help others.

So Pete came with a neat idea of dividing his allowance so that it will be used wisely. Pete found 3 jars and labelled one “spending”, one “saving”, and one “giving”. With his 10 quarters, he put 5 quarters for spending, 3 quarters for saving and 2 quarters for giving. Pete felt so proud of himself that at the end of the week, he spent $8.75 for his favourite snacks, saved $5.25 for his friend’s shoes and gave $3.50 for the church fund-raising!

I wonder how many of us are like Pete? I’m sure many of us are just like him. Well, I know one for sure who volunteered his time and talents to look after our finances at BCUC for so many years. I was told he was our treasurer for 17 long years! Imagine that! Today, we are honouring Mr. Bill Johnson for his exemplary work not only as a treasurer but also as the chair of the Finance Committee. Allow me to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Bill for his commitment, faithfulness and incredible skills in managing the church’s finances for 17 years.

Bill, you have blessed us with your time, talents and treasures. You have served well and we are very grateful for it. We wish you all the best as you enjoy your retirement from your work as our church treasurer with love and prayers from all of us! Thank you, Bill.

Jordan: Hello everyone!

As you know, my name is Jordan Berard and I am the Acting Chair of the BCUC Board.

On behalf of the congregation, I just want to take a moment today to acknowledge and thank and celebrate Bill Johnston for his many, many years of dedicated service, stewardship and leadership as our church’s Treasurer and as the Chair of the Financial Management committee.

As many of you know and can appreciate, Bill has steadfastly guided the finances of this congregation through surpluses and deficits. Through good times and bad times. Through years of plenty and years of pandemic, and for that we are all very grateful.

We are also grateful that Bill always encouraged committees to find exciting ways to finance projects, and to spend money on things that would enrich the building, expand our church community, and enhance our worship services. He did all of this, though, while also preaching responsible spending. As a member of the Board, I can always hear Bill’s voice in my head (even when I’m spending my own money on something…) saying “and where will the money come from”? The reality is that I learned more about responsible financial management from working with Bill than any math course could have taught me.

I know I’m not the only one who feels overwhelmed and anxious when confronted with spreadsheets of numbers and the names of directed funds and bank accounts, and revenue and expenses. As you might be able to tell, I don’t know how to talk about money very well and my math skills are slowly being eclipsed by my oldest son’s. But somehow (and with a lot of patience, for sure), Bill always managed to help me understand the state of the church’s finances and to understand what we could be doing to strengthen those finances. After many years of sitting on the church Board, I can finally look at the financial reports and make some sense of them, though I still panic a little when I see the colour red…

On a personal level, I also want to say that I’ve learned a lot from Bill’s professionalism and leadership. Bill was one of the first people to encourage me to take on my own leadership role at the church. In his quiet and humble way, Bill Johnson has been a role model to many people at BCUC, and for this, Bill, we are all very grateful.

You know, it feels strange to be celebrating someone who has contributed as much to our congregation as Bill has over a video – and without a cake!! – but the pandemic has forced us to make the most with the tools we currently have. I promise you we will get to eat that Thank You cake soon, Bill!

Bill, on behalf of the congregation, on behalf of the BCUC Board, and on my own behalf: Thank you for all that you have done for BCUC. In the words of Winston Churchill, “we make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." Thank you for all that you have given to the life of our congregation, Bill. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.

Bob: Bill, it has been a pleasure to work with you for many years on the Finance Committee. Our church finances are quite complex but you always had a good understanding of how it all fits together. As Directed Funds Treasurer I appreciated your thoughtful advice on where a deposit or withdrawal should be directed. Thanks, Bill, for all your guidance as Chair for these many years.

Ellen: It has been my pleasure to have you come to the office for cheque signing over all these years and we often had a little visit then. You came faithfully unless off at a conference in some corner of the world or enjoying a timeshare holiday. You always advise us when you would be away and that was appreciated. Well done good and faithful Finance Chair! Thank you!

Hymn: We Give Our Thanks - More Voices #187

1. We give our thanks to God, (4X)

2. We give our hands to you, (3X)
because you reached for us.

3. We give our eyes to you, (3X)
because you looked for us.

4. We give our feet to you, (3X)
because you walk with us.

5. We give our hearts to you, (3X)
because you first loved us.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: James Eaton

(Beth Johnston, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22 Year C. Used with permission)

Open our hearts to the mystery of your word, Holy God. Open our spirits to its meaning for our lives. Be with us as we listen for and receive your word today. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 21-30 (NRSV)

21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “From a Celebrity’s Welcome to the Cliff’s Edge” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.”

I chose this response to today’s reading on purpose because, quite honestly, when I realized this was the Gospel reading for my time to lead worship this month, I eagerly looked to see what else was on the Lectionary for this week. The familiar Corinthian passage about love is there – that seemed much more comfortable and it also seemed like an easy one to tie into our Stewardship theme. I thought I had my mind made up, but something kept drawing me back to this story. I was intrigued by the fact that today’s reading didn’t just follow the one from last week; it didn’t begin where the last left off; it circled back and included that last verse again – “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” – a repetition for emphasis? What is so important about this line that it is being drawn to our attention once more? What is the Spirit saying to us?

Even as I began to formulate my thoughts around that letter to the Corinthians, I felt the Spirit saying to me, “Not so fast, Lorrie Lowes! Read that line again. I have a feeling that you didn’t really get it.”

Now, in our Bible, Jesus doesn’t repeat this line but I have a feeling that he would agree with the Spirit on this one. The people sitting in the synagogue listening to Jesus that morning missed the point of what he was saying. If you remember, when we left them last week they were amazed at his gracious words. Here was one of their own, a small-town boy who was making big waves in the wider world, performing incredible healings and wondrous miracles – and now he had come home. Just imagine how much he will do for them, his people, the ones who nurtured him and watched him grow. He repeated the familiar words of Isaiah,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

It was a big task that the Spirit of the Lord gave to Isaiah so long ago – and now here was Jesus, ready to take it on for them – isn’t that what he said?

“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

As Jesus looked out on that admiring crowd, I imagine that he saw the expectation in their faces. They knew he had done great things in Capernaum. He could see that they were waiting with excitement to see what he would do right here in his hometown. And I think he knew that they didn’t get his point. They had great expectations. They saw Jesus, the miracle-worker, but they completely missed Jesus, the prophet.

“No prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown,” he says. I hear him say it with a sigh. A prophetic message is not what these proud people of Jesus’ hometown are looking for. They want to share a little of the glory that surrounds this boy who grew up down the street. They want their share of the healing he is giving to others. They want a feel-good sermon. However, prophets don’t come to make you feel better, their purpose is to make you look at your life in a new way, to make you see the changes necessary to improve the world – changes you need to make. Prophets don’t say, “Sit back and relax, I will make things better.” If anything, prophets tend to make us feel uncomfortable. They push us to see, not just the problems in the world, but our role – our responsibility – to do something new, something transformative. Prophets put the hard issues right back into our own hands.

His home congregation wasn’t just disappointed, they were filled with rage! How dare he come home to criticize! How dare he refuse to offer them the healing mercies he gave to strangers! Why did he have to spoil this feel-good moment?

Think back, says Jesus, to the great prophets you know from the past. Elijah could have kept himself busy with the widows in his homeland, Israel, but he was sent to help an outsider, a widow in Sidon. There were many lepers right at home in Israel, but Elisha cleansed Naaman, an outsider from Syria. God’s vision of a better world isn’t just about helping ourselves; it’s about seeing the places where help is needed and reaching beyond our own small circle into the bigger community. We know that, of course. It is why we work so hard at reaching out through our SOSA projects and why we support Mission and Service. But, there is another similarity in these two stories that Jesus refers to that I believe is important for us to hear. In my Midrash study group this week, we noticed that Elijah didn’t just produce a magic porridge pot for the widow in Sidon; he asked that she first take care of his needs by feeding him. When Naaman showed up at the door of the great prophet Elisha expecting healing, Elisha didn’t even go to the door to see him; he sent a messenger to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan, leaving Naaman furious at the lack of caring and respect. Perhaps Jesus is reminding the congregation isn’t about expecting someone will come along and do what’s needed, it’s about being a full participant in the healing and the work yourself.

Poor Jesus! It’s hard to deliver a hard truth at any time, maybe even especially when the listeners are people you love and care about, people you see as family. To make it even more difficult, Jesus chose to deliver that hard message in a place where people had gathered to refresh their souls, to give praise and gratitude to God and, on this particular sabbath, to welcome a home-grown hero. How dare he?!

I think Jesus was making a public commitment that morning in Nazareth. He read the words of Isaiah and promised out loud that he was taking up the challenge, taking personal responsibility to make life better for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me” he quotes from Isaiah. But, he wasn’t standing on a pedestal claiming to use some special God-given power to change the world… he was sitting amongst equals, acknowledging the responsibility that comes with receiving our blessings; he was challenging each one of them to do the same.

I wish Luke had told us more about what happened that morning. What else was said, not just by Jesus but by the people who were there to listen. What led them from being “amazed at his gracious words” to being “filled with rage”? After all, I’m sure we’ve all heard sermons that made us feel uncomfortable, but we tend to leave grumbling, perhaps telling each other, “Well that wasn’t what I was expecting to hear today!” We might even say, “Well, I won’t be back again while she’s the one preaching!” We don’t try to throw the minister off a cliff! Well, not so far anyway…

In fairness, Jesus lived that day, but it wasn’t because the crowd calmed down. Luke tells us that he passed through the crowd and went on his way. We also know that this doesn’t mean that Jesus changed his message; in fact, we know that he continued to preach about reaching out to others, even the outsiders, about sharing our blessings, about taking action to make life better for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. We aren’t told that he ran screaming into the bush or that his disciples quickly surrounded him and led him to safety … no, Luke tells us that “He passed through the crowd and went on his way. Perhaps that rage wasn’t all about Jesus after all; maybe it was rooted in something happening right there in their community, in their own struggle with what it means to follow the laws of God.

Perhaps you’ve heard the quote from the fictional Irish bartender, Mr. Dooley, a character invented for a column in the Chicago Evening Post back in 1893. He says, “The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” I’ve heard that phrase used to describe the work of a preacher too. It certainly seems like a philosophy that Jesus was following that day. Actually, it seems like a philosophy that could describe his entire ministry, doesn’t it? Jesus – healer, teacher, companion, brother, guide – all things that comfort us, for certain – but, accepting him as Christians also means we have to know him as prophet. We can’t just accept the gifts without also accepting the responsibility.

Ah! I bet you just realized why I decided to focus on this reading in the context of our Stewardship campaign!

Stewardship is one of the scariest topics to a minister. Rev. Kim told us this week that when she and her colleagues in the “Backstory Preaching” program were asked for the most difficult topic to preach on, the one they tried to avoid, stewardship was by far the most common example, and I am certain any clergy you ask would agree. We all want to be the minister who offers spiritually uplifting sermons and comfort to the community. A preacher who does that is easy to love, after all, and we all want to be loved. It takes real courage to tackle the uncomfortable topics – and talking about money is one of the most uncomfortable of all. It’s risky for a beloved minister to stand up and talk about money and time and making your contribution. And, I think it might be especially risky in a congregation where things are working well. This is an amazing community of faith here at BCUC. We are blessed with a beautiful building, a dedicated staff, wonderful music, and lots of great opportunities for learning and socializing. We have a wonderful group of caring folks that make up a congregation that is large by today’s standards in any church. We take care of each other and we also support a host of outreach activities locally and globally. It feels good just to be here on a Sunday morning… so why do we spend three of those Sundays talking about stewardship when there are so many wonderful things to celebrate?

Well, one reason is that all of these blessings wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the fact that many of the people who fill our pews to be uplifted, comforted, and connected to a faith community, weren’t also aware of the responsibility that comes with those blessings. It’s to remind us that the money we put in the offering plate or pledge on PAR, isn’t just a way to tip the minister for a good sermon on a Sunday morning. It is necessary to keep the building safe, comfortable and available to the community. It is necessary to provide all the extras like choir music and audio-visual equipment and piano tuning that make our services special. It is necessary to provide the learning materials for our Sunday School programs. It is necessary to enable those outreach projects to continue to help others. One of the things we are proud of in this church is that our givings to Mission & Service and to places like the Ottawa West End Community Chaplaincy, the Famsac food bank, Refuge N.O.W., and Multifaith Housing are not dependent on specific targeted donations; they are part of our Operating Budget, an important part of how we are being church in the world – a big part of why we are here at all. So, our budget is big, yes, but it goes beyond our get-togethers on Sunday mornings, it reflects our work as followers of Jesus. So, this campaign asks you to think about all of that when you make your decision of how you will support that work this year. You are not asked to give till it hurts – you are asked to give till it helps.

And, of course, this campaign isn’t simply about money. It is also about sharing your time and your talents. The package of materials that was sent to you last week tells the story of the many committees that bring all of this work we do to life. Even a quick read through those pages will tell you that it takes many hours and many hands to ensure that everything is in place to ensure that we continue to be the amazing presence we have become in the community. Where can your hands help? You have already committed an hour on Sunday morning to gather in worship; is there another hour or two you can offer to make sure the work of the church continues? There are many needs in the community that we haven’t been able to address yet, where might you help us expand our outreach? Take a few minutes to consider the things you are most passionate about; think of the things you most enjoy doing and the things you are good at – and look to see where those gifts can be part of the life of the church.

There’s nothing wrong with coming to church on Sunday to be uplifted and comforted. I hope that is what you find here. I also hope that you find the vision of the kind of world Jesus knew is possible – and I hope you find the courage to leave your comfort zone a bit to help make that vision a reality, even in a small way.

The story of Jesus’ return to his home synagogue that we read last week was lovely, wasn’t it? It would have been so easy to leave it at that. It was a feel-good story of our beloved Jesus. Why did Luke have to mess it up with this part about conflict and anger? Perhaps it was a reminder that blessings – our own and those we give to others – don’t fall magically from the heavens, that they are not created by one hero. They take the efforts of many – human gifts of time and talent and resources. Perhaps it is a reminder that Jesus wasn’t sent to fix the world but to teach us how to do it. Perhaps it is a reminder that setting out to fix the world is a necessary, even blessed, endeavour but that it takes work, and it sometimes comes with risks… A reminder that when we set out on this path Jesus asks us to follow, we will find some steep and rocky climbs along the way and that even when we are pushed to the very edge of the cliff, not to give up but to pass through the crowd and continue on our way…

“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.” Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Divine Spirit,

We are grateful for your presence with us, today and every day, as we discern your call to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free. Help us as we tackle the hard questions. Help as we strive to be good followers of Jesus.

In this time of stewardship and annual reports, of celebrating those whose work and generosity make us grateful and proud, open our hearts and minds to opportunities to be active participants as the life-giving call to be church in this time and place continues.

We pray for this world, for the planet we inhabit and all the diversity of life it sustains. We give thanks for all the gifts it gives us, for the water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the beauty that fills our senses. In our gratefulness, give us the courage to do the things we know are necessary to heal the earth and to ensure its bounty for future generations.

We pray for the people of the world. We pray for those who suffer from hunger and from trauma, from illness and injury, from violence and the ravages of war. Open our eyes to the suffering we know exists and the suffering we cannot see. In our awareness, give us the clarity to see the places where we need to feed others before thinking of our own wants.

We pray for this faith family, for those among us who are dealing with illness, grief, loneliness and fear. As we find ourselves weary from the worry, the uncertainty, the isolation, and the seeming never-ending changes that this prolonged time of pandemic has brought, give us the motivation to be participants in the work of healing and restoration.

As we move into a new week, a new month, we remember that in each new joy and each new responsibility and each new struggle we face, we are not alone. You are with us in the celebration and in the work. With that assurance in our hearts, we recite together the ancient prayer Jesus gave to his friends,

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(Jeanne Wilson, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22 Year C. Used with permission)

Loving God, when Jesus read from the writings of Isaiah, he found his own job description. It was clearly outlined. He was to bring good news to those downhearted, freedom for those in so many types of prisons, clarity for those who lacked understanding, help for anyone in need. As we offer our own gifts today, may they be used to continue Jesus’ work. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Bob Root, Gathering, A/C/E 2021/22, Year C. Used with permission)

With the confidence of the presence of God within us and around us,
With the promise of the companionship of Christ on our every journey,
With the enlivening of the Spirit to keep us joyful,
Let us go now to be God’s people in the world. Amen.

Hymn: We are Pilgrims on a Journey - Voices United #595

1. We are pilgrims on a journey
Fellow travellers on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

2. Sister, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

3. I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.

4. I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
Til we’ve seen this journey through.

5. When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

6. Brother, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

Departing Music: Family of Faith – MacKenzie BCUC Choir Oct. 4 2015

(over announcements)

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Sunday Worship Service - January 30, 2022