World Communion 3 October 2021 Knox Bayfield Rev Dolson
May the grace of Jesus Christ be with you … and also with you. Welcome to worship at Knox Presbyterian Bayfield on this World Communion Sunday October 3rd.
Announcements
Mission Moment: Elder Exemplifies God’s Love at Place of Hope Indigenous PC
Although the work of God is sometimes accompanied by displays of power or dramatic revelations, it is often the gentle whisper of the Spirit that stirs someone deeply. The Holy Spirit has been stirring in Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is due in part to the work of an elder at Place of Hope, who simply lives out what she believes. In a quiet, loving way, this elder has been teaching the church’s young people that God cares about the details of their lives and loves them unconditionally. And in following her example, many older youths have been baptized in recent months. The elder’s faith is a compelling testimony and an example for all, as she quietly draws those around her to Christ. Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church receives support from gifts to Presbyterians Sharing.
Your contributions to the church and its ongoing work are appreciated. Your regular offerings allow the church to continue its good work. The August financial reports show income $4,596 and expenses $4,862 with a year-to-date deficit of $7,509.
Are you aware that financial offerings are provided in many ways? Post-dated cheques, PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance), and e-transfers allows you to give intentionally, proportionally, and faithfully to the church. When you provide a dependable flow of contributions it helps significantly with budgeting and reduces paperwork. It is easy to set up and easy to make changes. For more information contact Brenda McLean (519 dash 524 dash 8645 or brmclean at hurontel dot on.ca) and she will guide you through the process.
All are welcome at the book study on Zoom. Contact Rev Lisa for the Zoom link.
Tuesday at 2 pm Black Water, David A Robertson
Sunday at 9:30 am The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy Jill Levine.
Our worship services are recorded. The videos are posted on our website https://pccweb.ca/knoxbayfieldpc/ facebook https://www.facebook.com/KnoxBayfield and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUo3-FAL07sp0CcbUkEhVKg Services are recorded for people who are unable to attend due to health concerns, physical accessiblity, or geographical distance. The new audio-visual equipment will arrive this week. Please speak with Brenda McLean, Deb Cosford, or Rev Lisa if you are interested in helping.
Your patience and co-operation is appreciated as we navigate the changes in how we gather. COVID protocols require screening questions, masks, hand sanitizer, and a physical distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet). We are not yet able to sing together. We are thankful for the ongoing efforts to ensure we are able to worship in-person. Many thanks to our COVID Safety Group – Brenda McLean, Deb Cosford, and Jim Knox. Thank you!
Signs: Jesus cleans your heart we clean your pews
Have you noticed an interesting or amusing church sign or bulletin blooper? Share with the congregation by adding to our collection. Contact Rev Lisa.
Today is World Communion Sunday. We will share in communion in a new and interesting way. The elements are pre-packaged to ensure safety.
The people of Knox Bayfield acknowledge that our community worships, lives, plays, and works on the traditional lands of the Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk (Neutral), and Mississauga peoples within Treaty 29, of 1827.
Hymn Let there be light #727
Call to Worship[1]
One: The banquet table is prepared. God calls us to feast together.
All: We have come from east and west, from north and south, to sit together at the Lord’s table.
One: Compassion, love and grace pour out like fine wine.
All: God’s Word is bread for our journey.
One: We join with Christians around the world to share in God’s gifts.
All: Let us taste and see that God is good!
Prayer of Adoration and Assurance of Pardon
Genesis 2:18–24; Mark 10:2–12; Psalm 8:4; Hebrews 2:6-12
Join me in prayer
Loving God, you created us to live in relationship with you, to love and serve one another, and to care for all your creatures. Yet, there is a hardness in our hearts and we dismiss your commandments. Lord, have mercy on us. Restore and re-create us, we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.
What are we that God is mindful of us? Who are we that God should care for us? God calls us beloved children; Jesus calls us as sisters and brothers. This is the good news of God’s grace: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.
Hymn God is here! #799
Prayer For Illumination
May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Readings
Scripture
Hebrew Bible Job 1:1, 2:1-10 [B#453 / W#498][2]
Responsive Psalm 26 [B#503 / W#555]
Epistle Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12[B#218 /W#234]
Gospel Mark 10:2-16 [B#46 / W#46]
May God bless our understanding of this, God’s holy word. The Word of the Lord.
Hymn Jesus hands were kind hands #631
The Offering Of Our Life And Labour To The Lord
Quote: The charitable give out the door and God puts it back through the window.
Traditional proverb
The heavens and the earth, the sun and moon and stars, the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea—all things belong to God, and to God all things return.[3]
Blessing Of Gifts & Prayers Of The People
Psalm 8:6
Let us join in prayer:
God of creation, you have entrusted us with the care of all that you have provided. We pray for the oceans and mountains, the lakes and streams, and the air we breathe. Empower us to serve you in this world by living out the ways of Christ.
In the abundance of blessings, we return a portion of your gifts with thanksgiving and praise. May they be used for the good of your world.
We pray for those who seek justice. We pray for those who feel like the weakest of the weak, those who feel ignored and unloved. We pray for those who have been abandoned or abused, neglected, or rejected. May they feel the presence of your Spirit so that they are supported, liberated, loved, and accepted.
We pray for those who are suffering with illness, loss, and loneliness. Ever faithful God, you have knit together your people from all times and places into the body of Christ. Keep us in communion with all your saints, those we have known and loved, as well as those known best to you. Inspire us to learn from the examples of their faith in action.
God of hope, we bring before you the names of people and places on our hearts this day, seeking the right gift only you can give them: Sandy and family; Judith; Rudy and Grace; Cesare and Lynn; Bonnie; Rob; Courtney and Kyla; Jordan, Sarah and Hazel; and, David and Sharon. We lift up all those who prefer to remain un-named as they face immense challenges of health and finances. We wait for you, Lord, in your word we hope. Merciful God, accept our prayers, spoken and unspoken, and strengthen us to do your will through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Invitation to the Table
The unity and love we find in communion with Christ encourages us to reach out and find unity within the church. We seek communion with Christ and with our siblings in Christ. This is the communion table where all are invited and welcome to share in the feast. O taste and see that God is good.
Hymn #534 All who hunger, gather gladly
Affirmation of Faith
#539 The Apostles’ Creed* [in unison]
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving [Responsive] #564
As we are called to come to The Table, we remember that this is the table of Jesus Christ, who has prepared a banquet for everyone.
All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith, all who seek wholeness and compassionate paths to peace and justice, and all who walk in love and charity with your companions on the Way are called to gather around the Table.
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed and holy are you, O God, creator of all things. In the beginning, you spoke… and at your word your Spirit moved over the waters, bringing order, light, and life out of chaos. You knit together our inward parts, made us in your image and breathed breath and life into us. When we turn away from you and our love fails, your love remains constant. When we wander off and follow ways of sin and death you call us from our scattered lives to repentance, unity and peace.
Therefore, with choirs of angels and archangels and with those of every time and place, we give you praise and glory. We join with the whole creation to lift our hearts in joyful praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy, mighty and tender God, in time you sent word to Mary that she would conceive a son and call him Jesus and in him we saw your promises made flesh. Dwelling among us we heard and saw Good News. Jesus preached reconciliation and the Kingdom of God. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. In his suffering, death, and resurrection, he delivered us from sin and death. He revealed your living and redeeming hope for all people. When he ascended into heaven, your Holy Spirit came to be our Counsellor and Comforter.
And so, remembering Christ’s life, love, death, and resurrection, we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ was promised. Christ was born. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we share may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, world without end. And the people join their voices together to say: Amen
O Holy One, we join our voices together across space and time to speak the words that Christ taught his disciples … Our Father who art in heaven, hallow’ed 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Words of Institution and Invitation
Jesus, in the night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you: do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood: as often as you drink of it, do this in remembrance of me.’ We break this bread, the communion in Christ’s body once broken. We drink this cup, communion in Christ’s blood once shed. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Prayer after Communion
Let us join in prayer…
Eternal God, we thank you for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us and we praise you for breaking into the world. Send us out in peace for we have seen, have heard, and been fed by your grace. Keep us faithful and alert for signs of Christ’s coming and lead us to live lives marked by truth and light, in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Hymn # 556 Now let us from this table rise
To Go Forth In God’s Name
Commissioning and Benediction
Micah 6:8, Romans 15:13
God has told you what is good. What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Postlude #623 Holy, holy, holy
Questions for Reflection
How do we persist in our integrity when the hard times come? If we receive the good things that God provides for us, what can we do with the bad things that happen in our lives? What is God’s relationship to the difficulties that we encounter?
We were created to live in relationship—with neighbors, friends, loved ones, & above all with God. Think about the relationships in your life. Where do you find help & partnership (Gen. 2:18)? Where do you feel the strain of separation (Mark 10:9)? Who do you allow to get close to you, and who do you turn away (Mark 10:13–16)? In what ways do those relationships reflect your relationship with God?
Morning Prayer
Help us, God, as we rise this day, to seek out your will as we enjoy the good and suffer through the bad. Prove us, O God, and try us so that we can learn the steps we need to take to follow your ways. Amen.
Evening Prayer
When I felt like a dejected child, rejected and lost, your comfort surrounded me, and I felt as if I was home. Thank you for your embracing heart, for making me feel special and loved, for helping me up, and for saying that you are my brother, my Savior, my friend. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Daily Prayer Job 1:1; 2:1–10
God, sometimes we do not understand why bad things happen to good people. Sometimes all we can do is lift up our eyes and hearts to heaven, and scream out loud, Why? Sometimes we do not want to persist in our integrity; we allow our suffering to lead us into despair. Yet wisdom comes from listening to your Word. Enable us to see the life you have given us through the laughter, joy, trial, and tribulation of your son Jesus Christ,
who lived, suffered, died, and was raised for us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Scripture readings next week
Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
#727 Let there be light
Let there be light; let there be understanding; Let all the nations gather; let them be face to face. Open our lips; open our minds to ponder; Open the door of concord, opening into grace.
Perish the sword; perish the angry judgement; Perish the bombs and hunger; perish the fight for gain. Hallow our love; hallow the deaths of martyrs; Hallow their holy freedom; hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come; your spirit turn to language; Your people speak together; your spirit never fade. Let there be light; open our hearts to wonder; Perish the way of terror; hallow the world God made.
623 Holy, holy, holy Words: traditional Music: F Schubert
Refrain: Holy, holy, holy, God almighty Lord!
Holy, holy, holy, everywhere adored!
God without beginning, God eternal One
reigns and rules forever all beneath the sun Refrain
Power and love and wonder circling round God’s throne
Praise our God most holy, Lord of Life alone Refrain
631 Jesus hands were kind hands
Jesus hands were kind hands, doing good to all, Healing pain and sickness, blessing children small, Washing tired feet, and saving those who fall; Jesus’ ands were kind hands, doing good to all.
Take my hands, Lord Jesus, let them work for you; Make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do. Let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too, Till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.
God is here! #799
God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer, May we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts.
Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; Here are table, font and pulpit, here the cross has central place. Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech, here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.
Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd’s flock and fold; here, as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us, as of old. Here the servants of the Servant
Seek in worship to explore what it means in daily living to believe and to adore.
Sovereign God of Church and Kingdom, in an age of change and doubt keep us faithful to the gospel; help us work your purpose out. Here, in this day’s dedication, all we have to give, receive; we, who cannot live without you, we adore you; we believe.
All who hunger, gather gladly #534
All who hunger, gather gladly; Holy manna is our bread. Come from wilderness and wandering. Here, in truth, we will be fed. You that yearn for days of fullness,
All around us is our food. Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
All who hunger, never strangers, Seeker, be a welcome guest. Come from restlessness and roaming. Here, in joy, we keep the feast. We that once were lost and scattered in communion’s love have stood. Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.
All who hunger, sing together; Jesus Christ is living bread. Come from loneliness and longing. Here, in peace, we have been led. Blest are those who from this table
Live their days in gratitude. Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
The Apostles’ Creed [in unison] #539
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Knox Presbyterian Church, Bayfield
Box 565, 2 Bayfield Main St N, Bayfield, ON N0M 1G0
Website: www.pccweb.ca/knoxbayfieldpc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnoxBayfield/
Church Office: (519) 565-2913 [messages checked weekly]
Ministry of Music: Jean Walker and Betty Lou Norris
Session: Deb Cosford; Brenda McLean Clerk of Session
Minister: Rev. Lisa Dolson (519) 955-2158 [call/text] revlisa.knoxbayfield@icloud.com
[1] PCC Worship Planner, World Communion Sunday October 3, 2021 Year B
[2] Page numbers shown for pew bibles with Blue or White edged pages
[3] Psalm 8