BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
4th SUNDAY OF EASTER
CHRISTIAN FAMILY SUNDAY
May 8, 2022 10 am
* The live service will be broadcasted and recorded on YouTube, check your email for the link.
The service should be available by phone some time Monday at 613-820-8104
Gathering: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky – Voices United #509
Hymn request from Ross Mutton in memory of Gail
1.I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send? R
Refrain:
Here I am Lord.
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
2.I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them, they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send? R
3.I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? R
Words & Music © 1981 Daniel L. Schutte New Dawn Music
Song#80670 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.
Welcome & Centering for Worship
Rev. Kim Vidal
Lighting of Christ Candle
Acolyte: Pat & Jeff Stoate
Reader 1: Today as we celebrate Christian Family Sunday,
we remember that Jesus called us as family: siblings, parents, children.
Reader 2: We light this Christ candle, claiming the promise that
where two or three are gathered together, Christ is in our midst.
May this light of Christ guide us as we gather today as the family of God.
Sung Response: “Halle, Halle, Halle” – Voices United #958
Halle, halle, halle - lujah! (3x) Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Words: trad, liturgical text; Music: anon., arr. © The Iona Community, 1980
Call to Gather[1] (Responsively)
Sue Morrison
Sisters, brothers, children, welcome to this place!
Mothers, fathers, sing praises to God.
Grandmas, grandpas, share the story.
Aunts, uncles, dance with joy.
Family by love, Christ’s own body.
Family by Spirit, God calls us as one.
As one family, we come to worship our God.
Opening Prayer: The Heart of God [2]
God with a Shepherd’s heart, you gather us as your children.
You comfort and hold us in your warm embrace.
When we hurt, your arms enfold us.
When we are afraid, your wings protect us.
When we are hungry, you feed us with the bread of life.
God with a mother’s heart,
your love surrounds and supports us,
in good times and in tough,
in the midst of joy and pain,
always and everywhere.
You will never leave nor abandon us.
God eternal and loving one,
God with a Shepherd’s and a mother’s heart,
We thank you this day for being part of your family. Amen.
Hymn: Are You A Shepherd? - More Voices #126
1. Are you a shepherd, good shepherd who leads us
Safely through danger while calming our fears?
Are you a father who shelters and feeds us,
Shares in our laughter and tears.
Refrain:
Yes, you are shepherd, parent, and teacher
But you are greater than all that we know.
Holy and living, loving and giving,
God, you are with us, wherever we go.
2. Are you a mother, good mother who bears us,
Comforts, protects us and helps us to rest?
Are you a teacher who daily prepares us,
Challenging students to offer their best? Ref
3. Great, gentle shepherd, forever beside us,
Lead all your children through paths that are right.
Great, loving parent, wise teacher, you guide us.
We want to love you and bring you delight. Ref
Storytime
Sue Morrison
Hymn: Jump for Joy - More Voices #48
1. I can feel you near me God I can feel you near
Yes, I know you’re with me God I feel you here
I can feel you near me God I can feel you near
Yes, I know you’re with me God Heaven is here.
Refrain: And I’ll jump for joy I’m singing Alleluia
Jump for joy for you I will jump for joy
I’m singing Alleluia Jump for joy for you.
2. I can feel you loving me yes, I know you care
God, I know you’re loving me always everywhere
I can feel you loving me yes, I know you care
God, I know you’re loving me I know you’re there. Refrain
Words and Music © Pat Mayberry www.patmayberry.com arr. © 2005 Marg Stubbington
Song # 123573 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Prayer for Illumination (Together)
Reader: Pat Stoate
Nurturing God, continue to surprise us and breathe your spirit freshly upon us as your family, that renewed in faith, we may know your wisdom through this story in the Bible. Amen.
The Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18 (NRSV)
Jesus, the Good Shepherd
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 1
3 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
May we find ourselves renewed in this Gospel story. Thanks be to God!
Ministry of Music: The Lord will be my Shepherd – Besig/Price
BCUC Choir
Sermon: “Being Shepherd”
Rev. Kim
Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Kim
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
God has blessed our lives with relationships—joy inspiring and challenging. In response to God’s blessings in our lives, let us joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our 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 mail box by the kitchen door of the church. You may also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer (In Unison)
Shepherd God, you have blessed our lives with relationships that both inspire and challenge. We offer these gifts so that we might continue to build relationships
with one another and with your whole creation. Bless these gifts that they may bring wholeness and life abundance to all your people. We pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn: Would You Bless our Homes and Families - Voices United #556
1 Would you bless our homes and families,
Source of life who calls us here,
in our world of stress and tension,
teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles,
love’s expressed in many ways.
2 When our way is un-demanding,
let us use the time that’s ours.
To delight in simple pleasures,
sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking
and a heavy path we plod.
Teach us trust in one another
and in you, our gracious God.
3 From the homes in which we’re nurtured,
with the love that shapes us there,
teach us God, to claim as family
everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer,
may we in your love remain,
may the love we share in families
be alive to praise your name.
4 Let us reach beyond the boundaries
of our daily thought and care
till the family you have chosen,
spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles
love’s expressed in many ways.
Words © 1977 Walter Farquharson, Music © 1977 Ron Klusmeier, Hope Publishing Co.
Song#80568 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.
Sending Forth[3] (Responsively)
Rev. Kim Vidal
May God who brought us to birth by the Holy Spirit,
strengthen us for the Christian life.
May God who provides for all our needs
sustain us day by day.
May God whose steadfast love is constant as a Shepherd’s and mother’s care,
send us out to live and work for others.
And the blessing of God: Creator, Christ and Comforter
be with you and remain with you always. Amen.
Departing Music: (She) Shall Feed (Her) Flock – Beck
BCUC Choir
[1] Seasons of the Spirit, 2015.
[2] Christine Sine, godspace.com
[3] www.campseaashechurch.org.uk