ORDER OF WORSHIPWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

GATHERING

Welcome and Announcements [Becca] Communion elements are gluten free and grape juice Other announcements? Welcome Susan Beaver

Territorial Acknowledgement [Bill Kervin]As we come together today, let us take a moment to acknowledge this sacred land on which Emmanuel College and the University of Toronto stands.This has been a site of human activity for many thousands of years.This land is the territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations,the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. The territory was the subject of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Confederacy of the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes.Today, the meeting place of Toronto is still the home to manyIndigenous people from across Turtle Island. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on this territory. Let us always seeks to be mindful of broken covenants and the need to strive to make right with all our relations.

A candle is lit by Bill.Silence is kept.

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Call to Worship: [led by Joe]The blowing of the Conch signals the advent of the new year.

Come God Come with the frightenedCome with the poorCome with the childrenCome with those who have always been your friendsCome and lead us where you are livingand show us what you want us to do.

Opening Prayer [led by Joe]Let us join in our responsive opening prayer:O come, Emmanuel, come to us, for we are lonely for God.Come, bring the peace of God-with-us.O come, Wisdom from on high,lead us in the ways of knowledge, and show us the paths of peace.Glorious Shoot from the Jesse tree,come and bring life, fresh and green and lovely, to our spirits.O Rose which blooms in the snow of winter,come and grant to us the blessed gift of hope.O Bright Morning Star of the darkened world,come and be for us the Light, the Truth, and the Way.Jesus our Christ, we welcome you. Come and be known among us, for we want to be your people. Amen.

Hymn: O Ancient Love VU 17 (Iain Morrison on organ or piano)

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WORD

Isaiah 64:1-9 (Read by Oliver)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah:

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,    so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries,    so that the nations might tremble at your presence!When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,    you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you,    who works for those who wait you.You meet those who gladly do right,    those who remember you in your ways.But you were angry, and we sinned;    because you hid yourself we transgressed.We have all become like one who is unclean,    and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us,    and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.Yet, you are our mother and father, Yahweh;    we are the clay, and you are our potter;    we are all the work of your hand.Do not be exceedingly angry, O God,    and do not remember iniquity forever.    Now consider, we are all your people.

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

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1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (Read by Tannis)

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth:

Grace to you and peace from our loving God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

I continually thank my God for youbecause of the gift bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,in whom you have been richly endowed with every gift of speech and knowledge.In the same way, the testimony about Christ has been so confirmed among you that you lack no spiritual gift, as you wait for the revelation of our Saviour Jesus Christ. God will strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Saviour Jesus Christ. God, through whom you have been called into intimacy with Jesus our Saviour, is faithful.

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

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Song: This Your Love, so Fills My Soul Susan Beaver

All sing, led by Bill, Becca, and Matt

Holy God, our faithful witnessto the tears that take their toll.How I pray with joy while knowing:This, your love so fills my soul.

Looking on your sweet creationI see anger, fear and pain.People lost, so torn and lonely.How can we bear this again?

Broken lives and broken spiritsshattered on this bleak cold day.Warm our homes with loving kindness;by your light we'll see our way.

You give life in ev'ry moment.It's to you I give my praise.Even when I cannot feel you,you are there in all your ways.

Holy God, our faithful witnessto the tears that take their toll.How I pray with joy while knowing:This, your love so fills my soul.

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Mark 13:24-37 (Read by Jason)A reading from the Gospel according to Mark:

“But in those days, after that suffering,the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,and the stars will be falling from heaven,and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see the Promised One coming in the cloudswith great power and glory;

then the angels will be sent to gather the chosen from the four winds,from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the Promised One is near, at the very gates. 

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it—neither the angels of heaven, nor the Only Begotten—no one but Abba God.

Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake! You do not know when the appointed time will come.

It is like people travelling abroad. They leave their home and put the workers in charge, each with a certain task, and those watch at the front gate are ordered to stay on the alert. Therefore, stay alert, keep awake—for you do not know when the owner of the house is coming,

in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn.Do not let the owner come suddenly and catch you asleep.

And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake.”

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

Sermon: Rev Susan Beaver

Silent Reflection

Prayers of the People Led by Susan Beaver and Natalie WiggFrom the community at Grand River United Church

Living God of all creation:

We think of Indigenous peoples around the world. We pray your spirit of wholeness and joy upon us, accompany us as we seek justice and healing, and we send out our love for the people in all directions.

We thank you for our church and we think of all the people who work for your church. We ask a special blessing our theological schools, ANCC, the Aboriginal Ministries Council and Circle, and all the Indigenous churches. Help us as we seek to reflect your love in the world.

We are grateful for the young people in our community and all communities. We pray that you watch over them, lead them in the way of love and peace, and keep them safe from all harm. Remove anything that prevents them from living full lives and we send them our love.

We all know what it is to struggle Creator, and we pray your blessing upon those who struggle with an addiction or other issues. May we all find healing and peace on our journey and we send them our love

We pray that all those who are grieving know your presence and strength and that life once again has meaning and joy and we send them our love.

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We think of our mother the earth, and we send out our love in all directions, through all of creation.

We pray your blessing on all those who waiting or preparing for children and we send them our love.

We pray your Spirit shelter all those who are in need of housing or living with violence and we send them our love.

We give thanks for all the love in our lives and we pray your blessing upon our families and friends.

We give thanks for medicines and healing and we pray you visit those who are sick and those who love them with your comfort. May your wisdom and compassion be with the doctors, nurses and all who provide care.

Loving God, you who know us so well and accompany us in all the joys and sorrow of life: We take a moment in silence to lift up our loved ones - they might be struggling, might be dying, they might be just starting out, they might be in need of healing or hope or help.

P A U S E 3-5 minutes

God our Creator,In you we trust in all things.Accept the prayers of your people.In your great mercy,look with compassion on usand all who turn to you for help,for we ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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TABLE

Invitation & Peace: [Pam Couture]

A voice cries in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord!”Friends, let us make room in our hearts for the birth of Christ’s presence, and prepare a path in the world for the ways God’s reconciling love and peace.

The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.

signs of peace are exchanged

Presentation Song: VU 664 What a Friend We Have in Jesus(Iain on organ or piano)

During the singing of the presentation hymn, the worship team bring forward the elements to help Pam prepare the table.

The Great Thanksgiving

God be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to God.

Let us give thanks to God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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Blessed are you, gracious God,Creator of light, Giver of all life, Source of love.You guide the sun, cradle the moon, and toss the stars.At your word the earth was madeand spun on its course among the planets.

You breathe life into usand set us among all your creatures,in a covenant of love and service.

Even when we turn away from you, you do not forsake us.You send new prophets to proclaim your justice,to remind us of your promise of peace.You grieve with those who have been displaced from their homes and their land.You unsettle those who live in the lap of luxury because they claimed and settled in lands that were not their own.You journey with migrants, struggle with the enslaved and oppressed, and mourn with the broken hearted.  Creator, Christ, and Spirit,we praise you for your love revealed to us in Jesus,who walks with us, our Wisdom and our Way, Peacemaker among the Peacemakers,revealing the image and likeness of Godin all people, all languages, all cultures.On this land, you call us especially to receive your reconciling loveto heal the broken relationships between Indigenous peoples and settlers drawing us together through the Holy Spirit and setting us free to enact your liberating love.So it is that we join the song of all creation to proclaim your goodness:

Sanctus: MV 203 words on screen (Iain)

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Mighty and tender God, in Jesus of Nazarethwe recognize the fullness of your grace:light, life, and love, revealedin words that confront and comfort us,in teachings that challenge and change us,in compassion that heals, reconciles and frees us.And now we gather at this table to rememberand to be filled with such longing for your realm,that we may rise togetherto turn our worship into witnessand to follow in your way. We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends,he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it,

he broke it and gave it to them, saying:“Take, eat. This is my body, given for you.Each time you do this, remember me.”Then, he took a cup, and after giving thanks,passed it to his friends, saying:“Drink. This cup that is poured out for youis the promise of God, made in my blood.Whenever you drink it, remember me.”   Loving God, we rejoice in the gift of your grace,remembering Christ’s life and death,proclaiming his resurrection,waiting in hope for his coming again.Grant that, in praise and thanksgiving,we may so offer ourselves to youthat our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith: Acclamation: MV 204 words on screen (Iain)

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Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,that all who share in this loaf and cupmay be the body of Christ:light, life, and love in the world.In this hope and as your people, we praise you. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,all glory is yours, God most holy,now and forever. Great Amen: MV 205 words on screen (Iain)

We gather these and all our prayers, as we wait and watch for your advent among us, turning to you as to a mother who watches over her children as we sing:

(note: the version on the PPT is in inclusive language, see next page for full version)

Etc…

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words for elevation/fraction and pouring, by Pam

Communion Songs:

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Prayer after Communion: (Pam)

All the broken hearts shall rejoice; all those who are heavy laden,whose eyes are tired and do not see,shall be lifted up to meet withthe motherly healer.The battered souls and bodies shall be healed;the hungry shall be fed;the imprisoned shall be free;all her earthly children shall regain joy in the reign of the just and loving onecoming for you, coming for me,in this time, in this world.Sun Ai Park, Korea

GOING FORTH

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VU 1 (Verses 1-4)(Iain on organ)

Blessing and Sending Forth: Pam or SusanO come, desire behind our greatest needs. O come, liberator of humanity.O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

Postlude:

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