St. Columba's Anglican United Church

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St. Columba's Sunday Service

Rev. Elaine Julian

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Order of Service and Hymns

Playlist

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. (Psalm 139)

God’s People Gather

Acknowledgment of Land

Call to Worship:
In a difficult time, God called to Samuel.
God called Samuel to speak the truth in love.
In a tumultous time, Jesus called the disciples.
Jesus called them to help him proclaim the Good News.
God calls us.
May we answer that call with a “Yes, here I am!”

Hymn: MV#1, “Let Us Build a House” v 1, 2, 4, 5

Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions; rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of all shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace;
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Words and music: Marty Haugen.

Prayer of Confession:
Great calling God, we have noticed your voice calling our name, but we have often turned over and gone back to sleep. You have called to our innermost selves, but we have ignored your voice. You have met us where we live and work, but we have found many reasons not to respond. Forgive us, gracious God. Call us once again and we will listen. Amen.

Words of Assurance
In the deep of night, God calls to us. In the brightness of the day, God calls to us. God is there, in our heads and in our hearts, loving us, waiting for us to receive the call.
We receive God’s call boldly, trusting in God’s strength. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Story Time

To Hear God’s Word
Hebrew Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-20
Psalm: 139: 1-6,13-18 (VU p. 861)

R: God, you have searched me, you know me through and through.
O God, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You discern my path and the places I rest; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue, you know it, O God, completely. You guard me from behind and before, and lay you hand upon me.
It is beyond my knowledge; it is a mystery; I cannot fathom it.
R: God, you have searched me, you know me through and through.
Where can I escape from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I lie down in the grave, you are even there.
If I take wing with the dawn and alight at the sea’s farthest limits,
there also your hand will be guiding me your powerful hand holding me fast.
If I say, “Let the darkness cover me and my day be turned to night,”
even darkness is not dark to you: the might is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.
R: God, you have searched me, you know me through and through.
It was you who formed my inward parts; you fashioned me my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made. Wondrous are your works; that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was being fashioned in secret, intricately woven in the mystery of clay.
Your eyes saw my substance taking shape; in your book my every day was recorded; all my days were fashioned, even before they came to be.
R: God, you have searched me, you know me through and through.
How deep you designs are to me, O God! How great their number!
I try to count them but they are more than the sand. I come to the end – I am still with you.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Watch closely, lest I follow a path of error
and guide me in the everlasting way.
R: God, you have searched me, you know me through and through.

The Gospel: John 1:43-51
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “Call and Discernment”

To Respond in Prayer and Action…

Affirmation of Faith: from the Iona Community
With the whole church
We affirm that we are made in God’s image,
Befriended by Christ,
Empowered by the Spirit
With people everywhere
We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity
Planted more deeply than all that is wrong
With all creation
We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life;
The unfolding purposes of God, forever at work
in ourselves and the world
Amen

Offertory Hymn: VU 509, “I the Lord of Sea and Sky”

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and 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 words 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.

Words and Music: Daniel L Schutte.

The Doxology: VU 541 “Praise God From Whom . . .”

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Words: Thomas Ken, ca 1674; Music: Genevan Psalter 1551. Copyright Public domain.

Offertory Prayer

Prayers of the People
In our Shared Ministry Church Cycles of prayer, we pray for…

Collect

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn: VU#641, “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song”

Lord Jesus you shall be my song as I journey,
I’ll tell everybody about you wherever I go:
for our life and our peace and our love is yourself.
Lord Jesus you shall be my song as I journey.

Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.
May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.
May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.
Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.

As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant
to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears,
for you saved me by giving your body and blood.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.

I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey.
but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side;
and with all of the family you saved by your love,
we’ll sing to the dawn at the end of our journey.

Words: Les Petites Soeurs de Jésus, 1961; trans. Steven Somerville, 1970, alt. Music: Petites Soeurs de Jésus, 1961; Harmony: T. Barrett Armstrong, 1973.

The Grace:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Sending Forth

Threefold Amen

Call to Worship by Beth W. Johnston from Gathering Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2014-2015. Prayer of Confession by Beth W. Johnston, Offering Prayer by Bob Root from Gathering Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2020-2021.

Music reprinted and podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359. All rights reserved.

“I the Lord of Sea and Sky” Words and Music: Daniel L Schutte. Words, Music, Harmony: © 1981 Daniel L Schutte and New Dawn Music administered by Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net License #A-720359 (#80670).

“Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song” Words: Les Petites Soeurs de Jésus, 1961; trans. Steven Somerville, 1970, alt. Music: Petites Soeurs de Jésus, 1961; Harmony: T. Barrett Armstrong, 1973. Words and Music copyright © 1961 Les Petites Soeurs de Jésus. Translation copyright © 1970 Stephen Somerville. Harmony copyright © 1995 T. Barrett Armstrong. Augsburg Fortress Publishers. All rights reserved. Used with permission. OneLicense.net License #A-720359 Words (#50841) and music (#50842); Permission on file for harmony (St. Michael's Choir School, Toronto, administrators of the estate of T. Barrett Armstrong).

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