Bulletin – Sunday, November 9, 2025 – Remembrance Sunday

Sunday, November 9, 2025
Remembrance Sunday

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One:   What do we remember today?
All:      Decisions made to stand in the face of injustice. Lives lost because of that call. Hopes and dreams that it might never happen again.

One:   Why do we remember this time of pain and sorrow?
All:      We remember that we, too, might challenge justice – In times of peaceful conversation and in times of painful conflict.

One:   But where is God in this?
All:      God is with “us”. God is with “them” God is with the soldier and the civilian. God is with us all, face covered in tears, hoping we will find shalom. What is this shalom? Peace with Justice. Peace with Hope. Peace that brings new life. God’s Peace.

One:   Then let us remember…Wars past…Wars present…
All:      and let us worship our God – the God of Shalom.

(words by Richard Bott, Vancouver, Gathering Year C 2019)

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “God, Make Us Servants of Your Peace”

God, make us servants of your peace:
Where there is hate, may we sow love;
Where there is hurt, may we forgive;
Where there is strife, may we make one.

Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
Where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
Where all is night, may we sow light;
Where all is tears, may we sow joy.

Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
To be consoled, but to console,
Nor look to understanding hearts,
But look for hearts to understand.

May we no look for love’s return,
But seek to love unselfishly.
For in our giving we receive,
And in forgiving are forgiven.

Dying, we live and are reborn
Through death’s dark night to endless day;
God, make us servants of your peace
To wake at last in heaven’s light.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

O God whose heart is broken by the violence in the human race, forgive us that we have lacked the imagination and collective will to create a warless world.

Forgive us for breaking faith with those who gave their lives, for the unconscionable gap between rich and poor, for corruption and deceit in high places, for the profit gained by the sale of weapons, for the spirit of domination in our world leaders, for learning solitude from the deaths of 100 million in the past century (and many more in this 21^st century).

In you alone is our hope; in your power, which can purify the human heart and set our feet upon the path of peace, we trust You can do great things in willing hearts.

Break then our heartened hearts. Break them with grief, with memory, and with hope. In the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Words of Assurance

God loves in our brokenness and fear and directs us in our struggle for a whole and healing world. God is closer to us than even our breath. God is with us always and shows us Love and Forgiveness through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.

Sung Response – “Come and Fill Our Hearts” (Move Voices #16)

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace,
Alleluia

A Time for All

Please join in the singing of the hymn “Peace for the Children” (More Voices #149)

Peace for the children, peace, peace.
Peace for the children we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
We work for healing, we work for peace;
Peace for the children today.

Peace for the nations, peace, peace.
Peace for the nations we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
We work for healing we work for peace;
Peace for the nations today.

Peace for the creatures, peace, peace.
Peace for the creatures we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
We work for healing we work for peace;
Peace for the creatures today.

Peace for our planet, peace, peace.
Peace for our planet we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
We work for healing we work for peace;
Peace for our planet today.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading: Micah 4:1-5

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

Gospel Reading:     Matthew 5:1-12

¹ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!

Sermon

Anthem “Tribute to Veterans

We remember the years, we remember the tears.
We remember the cost, and the lives that were lost.
We will never forget. We remain in your debt.
As we sing, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Many years have gone by since you served in this land.
Many years have gone by since you felt the sea and sand.
Sailing on, flying high, marching on to victory
Guarding bravely what it means to be free.

We remember the years, we remember the tears.
We remember the cost, and the lives that were lost.
We will never forget. We remain in your debt.
As we sing, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

There is no greater love than to lay down your life.
For your friends, family, and for all humanity.
Sacrifices were made and with blood, the price was paid.
Guarding bravely what it means to be free.

We remember the years, we remember the tears.
We remember the cost, and the lives that were lost.
We will never forget. We remain in your debt.
As we sing, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Men and women go on keeping order and peace
In a world torn by strife, and by conflict and pain.
And the story goes on in the loves of those who serve.
Guarding bravely what it means to be free.

We remember the years, we remember the tears.
We remember the cost, and the lives that were lost.
We will never forget. We remain in your debt.
As we sing, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Sung Response – “Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (Voices United #540)

Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.

Offering Prayer

God, sometimes your people are required to offer much, even their lives in the service of justice and freedom. We off less gifts, time, talent, money, but we also serve justice and freedom. May our offering be pleasing in your sight. In Jesus name we pray.

Prayers of the People

One:   For this we pray…
All:      Jesus, Prince of Peace, hear our prayer.

Passing of the Peace

The Prayer Jesus Taught Us:

One:   Please join me in praying as Jesus taught us: Our Creator who is like
All:      Our Mother and 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, forever and ever. Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Let There be Peace on Earth”

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are wee;
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth and let it being with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we;
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Commissioning

Let us go, trusting God’s never ending care. Let us go seeking to be God’s people. Let us go enfolded in praise and prayer. Let us go to be people of peace, justice, and right relationships.

Benediction

May the blessing and love of God go with you. May the blessing and peace of Christ go with you. May the blessings and wisdom of the Holy Spirit lead you home and inspire your week to come. Amen.

Sung Response – “Amen, Amen, Amen” (Voices United #967)

Amen, amen, amen.