Bulletin – Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Third Sunday of Easter – U.C.W. Service for the 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Third Sunday of Easter
U.C.W. Worship Service
for the 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Good morning and welcome. Please know that Windsor Park United Church is an inclusive community, and all are welcome as you are. If you are new or returning it is an honour to be together today to worship God together in fellowship with one another.
Announcements
Candle Lighting
As we light the Christ candle on this third Sunday of Easter, we gather as people of faith and followers of the risen Christ.
The Christ Candle is lit.
Call to Worship
One: Creator God, You call.
All: We come as others came before us.
One: You call your people to do your work.
All: We come to listen to your call.
One: As our ancestors listened to your call to action one hundred years ago.
All: Here we are.
Hymn – “Come In, Come In and Sit Down” (Voices United #395)
Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the fam’ly.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the fam’ly.
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 fam’ily.
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 fam’ly.
Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the fam’ly.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the fam’ly.
Children and elders, middlers and teens,
Singles and doubles and inbetweens,
Strong eighty fivers and streetwise sixteens,
For we are a part of the fam’ly.
Greeters and shoppers, long-time and new,
Nobody here has a claim on a pew;
And whether we’re many or whether we’re few,
We are a part of the fam’ly.
Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the fam’ly.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the fam’ly.
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 fam’ly.
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 fam’ly.
Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the fam’ly.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the fam’ly.
Gathering Prayer
One: Creator God, we come in search of unity with others and with you. We have not always listened. We have not always heard. We come in gratitude to you for walking with us on our journey. Be with us now as you have with hose who have gone before. Be near us as we strive to listen to each other and walk together as one United Church. We welcome all to celebrate God’s presence in their lives. Let us join to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We join our voices in the words of prayer that Jesus taught us to pray.
All: Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed by 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, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn – “Dance with the Spirit” (#MV 156)
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Dance with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Move with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Move with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Sing with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Sing with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Clap with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
Clap with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Time for All
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-19
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever.’
Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ He said, ‘Here I am.’ Eli said, ‘What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.’ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, ‘It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.’
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:5-15
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.
May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
Called as partners in Christ’s service,
Called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing,
Side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring
To fulfill God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring,
Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering,
Reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer,
All God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus, new patterns for Christ’s mission,
In a small or global sense,
Help us bear each other’s burdens,
Breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision,
Words of challenge, said with care,
Bring new power and strength for action,
Make us colleagues, free and fair.
So, God grant us for tomorrow
Ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow
With a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living,
Our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, thus giving
Hope and confidence and peace.
Reflection “Here We Are!”
Hymn – “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I am Lord)” (Voices United #509)
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?
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.
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/
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.
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?
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.
We Respond to God’s Word
Offering
Here at Windsor Park United we have been abundantly blessed. Let us bring forth our offering with joyous gratitude.
Offering Sung Response – “What Can I Do?” (VM #191)
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.
Offering Prayer
Loving God, You, have given us so much, have called us to use our time and talents and treasures, united in Your service. Receive our gifts as an expression of our love for You, and of our loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ. May they be used for the total mission the United Church responding to Your call to build a new and better world for tomorrow.
Prayers of the People
Compassionate God, hear us as we pray in this Anniversary year, for the U.C.W., with its history and hopes. We pray for the church and the various ministries: for your Church and its varied ministries, for the work of justice and the healing of Creation, for care of strangers, neighbours, family friends, for those isolated by sickness, sorrow, violence, fear, for those who face illness and death, for those broken by the world.
In our own community, we pray for…
We thank you for the many women of Windsor Park United, who formed the six original U.C.W. units and for the two units that continue to this day. We are grateful for the friendship and fellowship they have shared over the years. We offer gratitude for their tireless efforts to serve your purpose and support your church.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
(adapted from Voices United #909)
Hymn – “The Church’s One Foundation” (Voices United #332)
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation by water and the word;
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation – one Lord, one faith, one birth,
One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.
‘Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace for evermore,
Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.
Yet she on earth hath union with God the three in one,
And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
Life them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.
Commissioning
Loving God here we are. You call us to serve you to walk new paths, not knowing where we are going. We know that your hand will lead us, and your love support us. And we go out in Faith, Hope, and Love.
Benediction
And now, go with us, God, into the days ahead. Strengthen us for peace. Give us wisdom, keep us humble, and may we live and work together, and so striving, build a new and better world for tomorrow. Amen.
Sung Response – “Amen, Amen” (VU #974)
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
