Weekly Worship Material

Order of Service for February 9th, 2025

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

 

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD

 

GATHERING MUSIC: O for the Wings of a Dove                             -F. Mendelssohn

            

PRELUDE: Ave Maria                                                                              -J.S. Bach

 

In the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

Who calls us to be the church 

And to celebrate God’s presence,

Let us worship.

 

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND:

We give thanks for the land and our ancestors who have cared for it, for Indigenous and for settlers. Thank you to the people called Haudenosaunee, Mississauga, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora (Ska-Ruh-Reh) Six Nations.

are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay), and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. 

Upper Canada Treaty and the Haldimand Treaty of 1784

 

INTROIT: When God Made Me                                                              -N. Young

Performed by Vern Payne

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:

ALL:

We gather in worship

to sing out our praise

with whole hearts and united voices,

in thanks that when we call,

You answer.

 

We can gather to celebrate,

that we are all God’s people

made in God’s image,

a multitude of love’s hues.

This Creator who knows and trusts our worth,

reaches out a hand through the ages

offered in love and care,

a hand that calls us into relationship,

calls us to love and serve our neighbour

 

ONE:

God strengthens our souls,

walks beside us and preserves us.

God calls us to the purpose God made us for,

in a love that endures forever.

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE: The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you… And also with you.

 

*OPENING HYMN: MV #10 Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom

 

            ♫1       Come and seek the ways of Wisdom,

                        She who danced when earth was new.

                        Follow closely what she teaches,

                        For her words are right and true.

                        Wisdom clears the path to justice,

                        Showing us what love must do.

 

            2         Listen to the voice of Wisdom, 

                        Crying in the marketplace.

                        Hear the Word made flesh among us,

                        Full of glory, truth, and grace.

                        When the word takes root and ripens,

                        Peace and righteousness embrace.

 

            3         Sister Wisdom, come, assist us;

                        Nurture all who seek rebirth.

                        Spirit-guide and close companion,

                        Bring to light our sacred worth.

                        Free us to become your people,

                        Holy friends of God and earth.

                                                    

~Children are welcomed to the front of the Sanctuary 

for Children’s Time following the hymn~

CHILDREN’S TIME

 

LORD’S PRAYER:

Abba with us,

hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, 

your 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 the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 

forever and ever. AMEN.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING: “Menuet – le Tombeau de Couperin”        -M. Ravel

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

“What I heard, what I saw”

Rope Burns- Kristen Mark Westwood.

 

“So why should I swim ashore?

And lose all I’ve become? 

Forget my own name

And be anyone’s son? 

 

…what if I come ashore? 

And I take what I’ve become? 

And put it all on the table

Would you call me on the question

 

Are you good for it all?

Are you good for the journey? 

Are you good for it all and did you know about the loneliness? 

‘cause I’, leaving my nets 

And my father behind

 

And then you come calling 

‘come find your way home’”…

 

Holy God, 

So often we get trapped in 

The life we have created for ourselves.

In what we create as our destiny.

What we think These hands are for

And we fail to hear Your call

Choosing the safe, controlled journey

Instead of daring to swim ashore.

Help us to see, 

Help us to take that leap of faith 

And swim ashore

Leaving our nets

Trusting that you call us by our gifts

And these hands, whether for

For rope burns, 

or words,

music or milking, 

Teaching,

or healing,

These hands are called to gather your people and lead them home to You. 

Amen.

 

*CREED:

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God. 

 

*HYMN: VU #562 Jesus Calls Us

 

♫1       Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult 

of our life’s wild restless sea,

day by day his clear voice sounding,

saying, “Christian, follow me.”

 

            2         Long ago apostles heard it

                        by the Galilean lake,

                        turned from home and toil and kindred,

                        leaving all for Jesus’ sake.

 

            3         Jesus calls us from the worship

                        of the vain world’s golden store,

                        from each idol that would keep us,

                        saying, “Christian, love me more.”

 

            4         In our joys and in our sorrows,

                        days of toil and hours of ease,

                        still he calls, in cares and pleasures,

                        “Christian, love me more than these.”

 

            5          Jesus calls us: by your mercies,

                        Saviour, may we hear your call,

                        give our hearts to your obedience,

                        serve and love you best of all.

                  

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:

God hears the prayers of the faithful, and in God’s arms, we find safe harbour and understanding...

 

OFFERING:

            INVITATION TO INVEST IN GOD’S MISSION:

“Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.”

 

            OFFERTORY: Bagatelle VII                                                        -B. Smetana

 

            *DOXOLOGY: VU #542

​

                        ♫         We give you but your own,

                                    what-e’er the gift may be;

                                    all that we have is yours alone,

                                    we give it gratefully.

 

            PRAYER:

“We send forth our offerings in blessing and thanksgiving that they may serve God’s Holy mission that has this church. May we walk humbly in your way.”

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 5:1–11

 

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

5 Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2 he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

 

MESSAGE: “They Left Everything and Followed Him”

 

*CLOSING HYMN: MV #161 I Have Called You By Your Name

 

♫1       I have called you by your name, you are mine;

            I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.

            I will not abandon you; 

all my promises are true.

            You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.

 

2         I will help you learn my name as you go;

            read it written in my people, help them grow.

            Pour the water in my name, 

speak the word your soul can claim,

            offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

 

3         I know you will need my touch as you go;

            feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.

            Like the woman reaching out,

            choosing faith in spite of doubt,

            hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.

 

4         I have given you a name, it is mine;

            I have given you my Spirit as a sign.

            With my wonder in your soul,

            make my wounded children whole;

            go and tell my precious people they are mine.

 

*COMMISSIONING

 

*SUNG RESPONSE:

 

♫        The Lord bless you, and keep you:

The Lord make his face shine upon you, 

and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, 

and give you peace.  

 

POSTLUDE: Will You Come and Follow Me                                                    -Trad.