BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER
BCUC 171st CHURCH ANNIVERSARY & MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY
May 1, 2022
Gathering Music
Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes
(Peter Chynoweth, Gathering Lent /Easter 2022, p30. Used with permission.)
This land on which we gather is the unceded territory and traditional land of the Algonquin and Anishnaabe people. We worship Creator on this land and acknowledge with respect the thousands of years of ceremony and relationship that are etched in footprint, fire, and faithfulness on the soil and rock that surrounds us.
Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal
Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we worship together on this 3rd Sunday of Easter. Today we are celebrating 171 years of our life together as a faith community that saw its beginnings in 1851 known as Drummond Presbyterian Church. We give thanks for the many ways God nurtures and feeds us, guides our roots to sink deep, and with God’s grace and blessing, bears fruits of love, justice, kindness and wisdom. And to celebrate this wonderful day, we welcome the Rev. Dr. George and Marilyn James as full members of this faith community. Happy birthday BCUC!
Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God who made us witnesses in the world and called us to be a loving and faithful community. Let us gather in worship.
Lighting of Christ Candle Acolyte: Sue Morrison
On this anniversary Sunday,
we light this Christ candle
to honour and to celebrate
who we are as a community of faith.
We do so by giving thanks
for the varieties of gifts that we share
and of the love that binds us together.
May the light of Christ be our guide today
And in the years, to come.
Sung Response: “Halle, Halle, Halle” – Voices United #958
Halle, halle, halle - lujah! (3x) Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes
From before the beginning, and beyond the end,
you are our God, the God who claims us as yours.
We come, as faithful people have come, for many generations.
We may break our promises and abandon our covenants,
but you meet all our endings with a new beginning.
Stir in us a joyful celebration for what you have done and continue to do among us
From before the beginning, and beyond the end, you are our God. We delight in you.
Prayer of Approach[1] (In Unison)
Loving God, Your Spirit calls us to be church.
With the faithful who went before and those who will come after,
you offer us the gifts needed to be the Body of Christ,
people of God, co-creators of your new world.
Remind us to listen to your voice when our ears are closed to your call,
to pay attention when our eyes lose sight of self-giving,
to have a grateful heart when we misuse your generosity.
Be present with us in the midst of our joy and sorrow, pain and healing, despair and hope.
We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus, the head of this church. Amen.
Hymn: Morning Has Broken - Voices United #409
1.Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the word.
2.Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew-fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.
3.Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s re-creation of the new day!
Words © 1931 Eleanor Farjeon, Music Gaelic Melody, harmony © 1982 Alec Wyton
Song # 118118 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes
Hymn: “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” - Voices United #575
I'm gonna live so (live so) God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime! (anytime!)
repeat
Work… Pray… Sing…
Words & Music © African American Spiritual Song #95386
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Prayer for Illumination Reader: Bob Wright
God, our sure foundation, open the scripture to us and open us to the scripture so that we can hear your message of love in songs, in word and in prayers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Gospel Reading: John 21:1-19 (NRSV)
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
May we find ourselves renewed in this Gospel story. Thanks be to God!
Ministry of Music: You’re Still There – Judith Snowdon
BCUC Choir
Sermon: “Being Simon Peter” Rev. Kim Vidal
Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie
Holy and Generous God,
The hallelujahs of Easter morning still ring in the sanctuary this Sunday morning,
Reminding us of the good news. The love of Christ is alive in the world!
We wish the feeling of hallelujah could fill the world outside of this worship space but it is difficult to feel that deep joy when we come face to face with so many concerns for the world, for our communities, and for ourselves.
Hear us God as we pray.
We pray for this planet we call home and for all the amazing creation that it holds.
We pray for the damage caused by climate change – melting ice caps, thawing permafrost, violent storms, floods and forest fires;
We pray for species that are suffering and facing extinction;
We pray for places where the economic drive overrides the balance of the ecosystem.
God, help us find a new way forward, help us think outside the box, help us learn to fish on the other side of the boat.
We pray for all your people in their diversity of colour, race, culture, and creed.
We pray for people living in places where the violence of war threatens their homes, their history, and their very existence.
We pray for those who are left on the margins because of poverty, disability, gender identification or anything that sets them apart from what someone has decided is normal.
We pray for all whose differences cause them to suffer in body or in spirit.
God, help us find a new way forward, help us think outside the box, help us learn to fish on the other side of the boat.
We pray for our home communities, our congregation, our families, and ourselves.
We pray for all those dealing with grief and loss – of loved ones, of jobs, of familiar ways of life.
We pray for all in our midst who are suffering from illness or injury.
We pray for people struggling with mental health concerns and for all those struggling to support them.
God, help us find a new way forward, help us think outside the box, help us learn to fish on the other side of the boat.
Holy One, when you call us from the shore, help us recognize your voice. We are eager to jump in, to join you in the work needed in this world, and to break the fast of fear and anxiety that this time of Covid has caused us.
On this day of celebrating the history of this congregation and the joy of welcoming new members, we pray in the words of Jesus:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim
The God of yesterday, today and tomorrow holds each one of us in tender love and care. God is gracious and good, and no one is insignificant in God’s eyes. So we respond to everything God is doing in the life of this faith community and the world by offering a portion of the bounty we have received. Let us joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer[2] (In Unison)
Creator God, take these gifts that represent the fruits of our love for you, for our community and for ourselves. Use these gifts, as you use us, to spread your message of love throughout the world. Amen.
Hymn: “Deep in Our Hearts” - More Voices #154
1. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.
2. Deep in our hearts there is a core is a common purpose;
Deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
Deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
Justice and peace in harmony.
3. Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
Deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
Deep in our hearts there is a common current,
Flowing to freedom like a stream.
4. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.
Words © 1995 John Oldham, Music © 1996 Ron Klusmeier, musiklus
Song #117654 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Sending Forth[3] Rev. Kim Vidal
Live wholeheartedly;
God calls us to make every minute count.
Live adventurously;
God calls us to uncharted places and challenging situations.
Live faithfully;
God calls us to remember where our true allegiance lies.
Live compassionately;
God calls us to notice and to work alongside those ignored or forgotten.
As we go from this time of worship, may we be inspired to live as God calls us to live.
May we go knowing that God goes with us this day and in the days to come. Amen.
Departing Music God Leads Us On! – Parker/Lantz III
BCUC Choir
[1] Inspired by a prayer posted in www.united-church.ca
[2] Deborah Ambridge-Fisher, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021, Year B. Used with permission.
[3] David Sparks, Gathering, Pentecost 2 – 2020 Year A. Used with permission.