HARROWSMITH-VERONA PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Worship
Time: 10:00 am
at Trinity, Verona
Office
Phone: 613-372-2525 or 613-374-2777
Voluntary
Associate Minister: Rev. Dr. Peter
Bartlett
Retired
Voluntary Minister: Rev. Ian Mackay
Office
Administrator: Rebecca Peters
Director
of Music: Stan Stinchcombe
Website: www.h-vpastoralcharge.org
e-mail: office@h-vpastoralcharge.org
Trinity United Church acknowledges the traditional
territory upon which we gather. For thousands of years, the First Peoples
sought to walk gently on this land. They offered assistance to the first
European travelers and shared their knowledge for survival. We seek a new
relationship with the First Peoples of this land, one based in honour and deep
respect.
Nov. 30th - 1st Sunday
of Advent/Communion
Trinity United Church – Verona
Minister: Rev. Micheline Montreuil
Lay Reader: Julia Goodfellow
WE GATHER
ORGAN PRELUDE
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP:
HYMN: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (VU #1 vs. 1, 5 ,6,
& 7)
1. O come, O
Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lowly exile here until
the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to
thee, O Israel.
5. O come, O
Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that
leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice!
Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
6. O come, O
Dayspring, from on high, and cheer us by your drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy
clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice!
Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
7. O come,
Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; O bid our sad
divisions cease, and be for us the Prince of Peace. Rejoice!
Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
ADVENT LITANY: (Based on Isaiah 11:1-10)
One: Jesus
has taught us to speak of hope as the coming of God’s kindom.
All: We believe that God is at
work in our world turning hopelessness and evil situations into good.
One: We
believe that goodness and justice and love will triumph in the end, and that
tyranny and oppression cannot last forever.
All: One day ‘all tears will be
wiped away’ and ‘the lamb will lie down with the lion.’
One: True
peace and true reconciliation are not only desirable, they are assured and
guaranteed.
All: This is our faith and our
hope.
CHORAL INTROIT: All Earth is Waiting (VU #5)
PRAYER: (Unison)
Holy
and Loving God, in whom we place all our hopes, as we gather on this first
Sunday of Advent, we are keenly aware of the needs that are all around us, both
our own and those of others. We come waiting, searching, hoping, praying for renewed beginnings among us. We long for your
peace to surround us and for hope to fill our days. Hope
should be shared with everyone: families, neighbours, and enemies.
Forgive us God, for those times we fail to provide that hope, for a small ray
of hope can make a huge difference to someone. We ask your forgiveness when we
fail to offer hope in the world. Strengthen us and show us the way that we may
not fail again to share and encourage someone with your love and with hope of
wonderful things to come. This we pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND GRACE
CHOIR ANTHEM: “God of All Places (VU #4)
YOUTH TIME
LIGHTING THE CANDLE OF HOPE:
One: Today we
light the first candle of Advent, the candle of Hope.
(The candle is lit)
One: We put
our hope in the one to come, the promised one who comes from God to bring the
good news of salvation. We hope in the one who will lead us to walk in the
light of God. We light this candle in
Hope.
All:
On this day, we remember to look with hope for the coming of Jesus.
HYMN: “A Candle Is Burning” (VU #6 vs. 1)
1. A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
a candle of hope in December’s dark night. While angels sing blessings from heaven’s
starry sky, our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
LORD’S PRAYER
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
HYMN: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (VU #2)
1. Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set
thy people free: from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
2. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of
all the earth thou art, dear desire of every nation, joy of ever longing heart.
3. Born thy people to deliver; born a child and
yet a king; born to reign in us for ever; now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our
hearts alone; by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
WE GIVE BACK
OUR OFFERINGS (Offering plates are available at
the back of the church)
INVITATION TO BRING AN OFFERING
DEDICATION OF
THE OFFERING (Standing)
(VU #55)
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my
part; yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
OFFERTORY PRAYER (Unison)
Gracious
and Loving God, accept our gifts today as our attempt to walk in your light.
Bless them so that they may be used to address the urgent concerns of our
world, to bring light where there is darkness, to bring hope where there is
despair, to build peace between nations and to help all of us live honourably
with each other. Bless these gifts and bless those who give them. AMEN.
WE LISTEN
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Isaiah 2:1-5 (Pg. 587)
Matthew 24:36-44 (Pg.
859-860)
MESSAGE: “Preparing For The Gift of Christmas:
HOPE”
COMMUNION HYMN: “We Gather Here” (VU #469)
1. We gather here in Jesus’ name, his love is
burning in our hearts like living flame; for through the loving son God
fashions us as one: Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord. No
one is a stranger here – everyone belongs; finding our forgiveness here, we in
turn forgive all wrongs.
2. He joins us here, he breaks the bread, the
One who pours the cup is risen from the dead; the One
we love the most is now our gracious host: Come take the bread, come drink the
wine, come, share the Lord. We are now a
family of which Christ is the head; though unseen he meets us here in the
breaking of the bread.
3. We’ll gather soon where angels sing; we’ll
see the glory of our Lord and coming King; now we anticipate the feast for
which we wait: Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.
SHARING COMMUNION:
(Please follow along from your Blue Insert)
WE GO FORTH
HYMN: “Hark the Glad Sound” (VU #29)
1. Hark, the
glad sound! The Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long: let every heart
prepare a throne, and every voice a song.
2. He comes,
the prisoners to release in Satan’s bondage held; the gates of brass before him
burst, the iron fetters yield.
3. He comes,
the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure, and with the treasures of
his grace to bless the humble poor.
4. Our glad
hosannas, Prince of Peace, your welcome shall proclaim; and heaven’s eternal
arches ring with your beloved name.
BENEDICTION/COMMISSIONING
SENDING FORTH:
(VU # 7 vs. 1)
Hope
is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is
bright. When God is a child there’s joy
in our song. The last shall be first and
the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
ORGAN POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MEETINGS
Worship
Leader for Sunday December 7th:
Rev. Ian Mackay
Lay
Reader for Sunday December 7th:
Linda Brown
Greeter
for Sunday December 7th:
David
Shane
MEETINGS:
The Stewards and Session will be meeting this Tuesday December
2. The Stewards will be meeting at
1:00 pm, and Session will be meeting at 2:00 pm.
INCLEMENT
WEATHER: It’s that time of year again when
the weather may not cooperate for us to attend our weekly church services on
Sunday mornings. If you have not updated your
contact information with Rebecca, please do so. This will allow a member from Session to
contact you should we need to cancel a service due to the weather. Thank you.
CHRISTMAS
FOOD HAMPERS: There is a sign up list
placed at the back of the church if you wish to pack or deliver Christmas
Food Hampers. Set up will take
place on the afternoon of Wednesday December 17th, and packing and
delivery on Thursday December 18th. If you have any questions, please speak to
Gayle at 613-329-8896.
TRINITY
CHRISTMAS CONCERT:
The Trinity choir and friends are pleased to present their annual
Christmas concert, “Come, Follow The Star” on Friday
December 12th at 7:30 pm.
We hope you can attend.
FESTIVE
CHRISTMAS FELLOWSHIP: Mark your calendars!! The next church potluck fellowship will be held
on Sunday December 21st. You
won’t want to miss this!
SHEILA’S
PANTRY: The cupboard will reopen
again Wednesday December 10th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Thank you for your ongoing support. Items
needed at this time:
§ Canned
meat (tuna, salmon, ham, chicken)
CHRISTMAS
ADVENT SCHEDULE:
December 7th Advent
II (Rev.
Ian Mackay)
December 14th Advent
III (Rev.
Dr. Peter Bartlett)
December 21st Advent
IV (Rev.
Catherine Oxenford-Grant)
December 24th Christmas
Eve 5:30 pm (Rev.
Dr. Peter Bartlett)