Connie Davidson

February 26, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 27, 2022

Connie Davidson

February 26, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY

February 27, 2022

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Open the Eyes of My Heart BCUC cong. Feb 7, 2016

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You, I want to see You

repeat

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome to worship with Bells Corners United Church on this Transfiguration Sunday. We are pleased that you are joining us today!

It is with sorrow that I share the news that Marion Routledge has passed away, peacefully at home. We offer our sincere condolences to her family as they deal with this loss. She was a huge part of our faith family here at BCUC. We will miss her warm smile and her gift of music. At this point, no plans have been finalized for the celebration of Marion’s life but we will keep you informed as they come to light.

Beginning last Sunday, we have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship service at 10 am. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Please take note that our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.

A friendly reminder to please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org to keep you informed and give you opportunities to respond.

The BCUC Annual General Meeting will take place on Zoom on Sunday March 6th at 11:15 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to review and receive the 2021 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements and to approve the 2022 Annual Activity Plan, Budget and Nominations Report, and various other items of importance.

As our M&S moment this morning, I will call on John MacFarlane to share news of our 2022 Lenten Appeal in support of Famsac, our local Food Bank:

FAMSAC food cupboard has been helping supplement groceries for families in our community since 1969. Last December FAMSAC assisted 262 families during the Christmas Campaign.

Many thanks to all that have helped out over the years, and a special thank you to Glenna Jackson and Helen Spearman.

Donations are always welcome and there is a list of items particularly appreciated in the bulletin. Also in the bulletin are phone numbers and websites if you would be interested in learning more about FAMSAC, volunteering, or making a financial contribution to help cover costs related to our move this year.

We are going to the new Housing Project beside Christ Church in Bells Corners, partnering with the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa and the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre.

Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in God’s presence as we gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: The Berard Family

(Fern Gibbard, Gathering A/C/E 2020/21, p 52. Used with permission.)

The light of Christ shines on us and in us.
The light of Christ leads us.
The light of Christ transforms us.
We light this candle in the certainty that Christ’s presence is here with us today.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Taylor Croissant, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22, p51. Used with permission.)

We come from busy lives to this place of sanctuary and peace, to pray and be renewed for the week ahead.

We come to the foot of God’s holy mountain.

The totality of God’s glory is obscured, but in God’s presence our lives are illuminated, and we receive instruction on how we should live. Here we seek connection, even if just for a moment, to the divine source of our life and all that is in our universe.

It is good for us to be here.

Let us make in our hearts a dwelling place for Christ. Come let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach

(Jim McKean, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22, p51. Used with permission.)

O God, we come today to refresh and restore all that is within our hearts and minds. Like the disciples climbing the mountain with Jesus, we come expecting nothing yet prepared to experience your love. During this time together, may we find our true selves just as Jesus’ true self was revealed on the mountaintop. May we find your wisdom, and its strength, for we know that your love restores and refreshes us in mysterious ways. O God, fill us anew. Amen.

Hymn: My Lighthouse Music Team June 2020

1. In my wrestling, and in my doubts,
in my failures, You won't walk out.
Your great love will lead me through;
You are the peace in my troubled sea, whoa oh, You are the peace
in my troubled sea.

2. In the silence, You won't let go.
In the questions, Your truth will hold.
Your great love will lead me through;
You are the peace in my troubled sea, whoa oh, You are the peace
in my troubled sea.

Chorus:
My Lighthouse, my Lighthouse
shining in the darkness, I will follow You!
O-O-Oh, My Lighthouse, my Lighthouse,
I will trust the promise: You will carry me
safe to sho…….re (4x)

3. I won't fear what tomorrow brings.
With each morning, I'll rise and sing.
My God's love will lead me through;
You are the peace in my troubled sea, whoa oh, You are the peace
in my troubled sea. (chorus)

Bridge 3x
Fire before us, You're the brightest.
You will lead us through the storms

Storytime Erin Berard

(Shows a solar powered light) Do you know how these work? Solar cells collect the energy from the sun's rays and converts it into electrical current. This gets saved in a battery for when it gets dark outside. All day the sun shines on it, charging up the battery, but then when this little photoreceptor detects that it's dark out, it switches on the light using the saved energy from the battery.

Have you ever sat out in the sun to warm up after a summer swim in a cool lake? In the winter, my kids like to 'sun themselves' by standing in the window where the afternoon sun shines into the house. Turtles and other reptiles pull themselves up on logs and rocks to warmed and energized by the sun, too.

What if we think about God's love being like the sun? We can soak up and gather that light and love from God, and enjoy the good, warm, happy feelings like sunshine. Ahhh…. But we can also save up some of that warmth and energy, too, just like to solar cell on this light. Then we share that love and warmth and kindness with others, especially those who might be having some dark times - feeling sad, lonely, worried, and so on. (Shows it with the lamp - look at it shine!)

In today's Bible passage we'll hear about how Jesus went up the mountain with his disciples to find a quiet place to pray. While they were up there Jesus' face changed and his clothes shone dazzlingly white, they saw visions of old prophets, and they even heard the voice of God! The disciples must have so amazed and impressed by the power of God! But, even if they wanted, the disciples couldn't just stay up there to pray and hang out with Jesus and God. They had to go back down to the real world. The passage tells us they didn’t say anything right away to others about this big experience. But they saved up that experience, just like the battery here, they took some time to try to understand it, and went on with new energy to share and teach others about God's love.

Let's share our light and love with others, too!

Let's pray:
Loving God,
Your constant love falls on us like warm sunshine on a beautiful day.
Help us transform your love for us into kind words and good deeds for others.
Help us to shine our light and share your love in the world.
Amen

Hymn: This Little Light of Mine (Traditional) BCUC congregation Feb 7, 2016

This little light if mine, I’m gonna let is shine (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Traditional Spiritual
Song #84048 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Liam Eaton

Holy One,
May we be curious visitors in long-ago times, visualizing early hearers of these words.
In company with Jesus, may we come with open minds and open hearts,
And may we find gifts of the Spirit for our own time. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 28- 43 (NRSV)

28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen.] listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Anthem: High Upon a Mountain – Larson/Jordan BCUC choir Feb 26, 2017

High upon a mountain, in a quiet place,
They were prayin’, prayin’, prayin’.
Peter, James and John with Jesus in that place,
They were prayin’, prayin’, prayin’

When there came forth from the face of Jesus
A brilliant light gleaming like the sun.
His raiment all aglow, and white as the whitest snow with radiance brightly shining.
Then appeared Elijah with Moses at his side,
Speaking to Jesus of the coming days;
Speaking of Jerusalem and of great sorrow;
Speaking of destiny.

High upon a mountain Peter, James and John
Heard the pow’r of Christ proclaimed:
“This is my beloved Son
in whom I am well pleased.”

Sermon: “Mountaintops and Valleys” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

What a contrast in the two parts of our reading this morning! We begin with a Spirit-filled, dream-like experience of being in the presence of the Holy and then are immediately brought back to the harsh reality of the day-to-day life of Jesus and his disciples.

That experience on the mountaintop is a difficult one for us to unpack, I think. Did it actually happen? Or was it just a dream? Was it a story meant to be read as a metaphor for something else? What are we supposed to do with it?

This week, in our Lectionary Study, I opened our discussion with this challenge: Can you describe a time when you felt you were in the presence of the Holy?

There followed a long pause, an awkward silence. Karen bravely waded in because it is something she has asked others to do in her PhD research. Susan began by saying that this kind of spiritual experience is so intense and so personal that it’s really hard to share it with others – that we worry that people might scoff at us, or think we’re crazy.

Interestingly, not one person said “No, it has never happened to me.”

So, was that experience on the mountaintop really so far-fetched? What really happened there?... and why did they climb that mountain in the first place?

Life with Jesus must have been very intense, don’t you think?

… month after month wandering around the countryside, with no place to call home, no familiar bed and comfort at the end of each day, not even knowing where their next meal would come from.

… days filled with pushing crowds, people desperate for healing and desperate for hope, sometimes people who were there to criticize or curse

… evenings spent listening to the teachings of Jesus, desperately wanting to understand but often feeling overwhelmed

It’s no wonder that they all – Jesus included – sometimes just needed a break and a chance to get away from it all, a chance to rest and to sort out all those swirling thoughts and impressions, a quiet place away from the hustle. I’m sure you can all relate to that feeling. I know I can. I also know that I’m not always wise enough to acknowledge that need – and sometimes my body takes over and forces me to stop, to rest and to allow my heart and my mind to catch up.

Jesus knew that he needed these breaks to refresh himself and to reconnect spiritually with God – to listen for that still, small voice that gave him his sense of direction and purpose, the stamina and drive to continue, even when the journey was difficult and the work stressful. He also knew when it was taking a toll on his disciples, perhaps especially how difficult it must be for his closest friends, his leaders. We often hear of him going off on his own to pray – but this time he took Peter and John and James as well. He was right, it seems, that they needed this too. The scripture writer tells us they were “weighed down with sleep” – but, even so, they stayed awake – still wanting, I suppose, to learn and to understand what they had been called to do. Not wanting to miss a moment with Jesus, especially this unusually intimate opportunity to be just the four of them together, away from the distractions of noise and crowds and away from their responsibilities in this community of disciples.

Because they stayed awake, the writer tells us, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him – Moses and Elijah. This is unusual in our stories and I’m sure it was a shock for the disciples who accompanied him as well. When Jesus went off by himself to pray, we imagine him in private conversation with God. So, what are Elijah and Moses doing here? This was unexpected! I read this differently this week. This time it seemed to me like an epiphany moment. That moment of “aha!”, of understanding what Jesus was all about. It was suddenly right there in front of them. Here was Jesus, in the company of the most respected prophets of their faith. Here he was, called by God to a mission so profound it could change the course of humankind. I can imagine that sense of clarity at last, for those men struggling so hard to understand what their own ministry was all about: This is what God has wanted all along. This is what the prophets have always said. This is not so much something completely different, but something that has always been an essential part of God’s dream, and Jesus is here to take that message further, to show those essential truths in action. This was a moment that went beyond the “now I get it” experience of clarity. Here, on this quiet mountaintop, Peter, John, and James experienced a moment so profound, so sacred, that they were acutely aware of God’s presence with them.

Can you imagine it? Can you imagine how they must have felt?

When I think of it in this way, I get a better understanding of why Peter wanted to stay – to build a shelter that would protect this experience and make it permanent. Who wouldn’t want to feel the presence of the Holy – a tangible, all-encompassing feeling of awe and at the same time of being wrapped up in God’s love? Who wouldn’t want to hang on to that?

How do you explain an experience so profound, something that is both inspiring and terrifying at the same time?

This feeling, this intensely spiritual, personal experience isn’t something that can be captured. It can’t be kept in a box – or a dwelling – or a church… It seems to slip away before we can really grasp what is happening. And so, just as Peter was trying so hard to cling to it, they were overshadowed by a cloud. The moment passed and there was Jesus, the very human and familiar Jesus they knew, standing in front of them – no glowing vision, no ethereal companions. In the words of the poet Andrew King:

The figure that shone
is Jesus again: the sun-browned skin
And the carpenter hands
And the feet, like yours, grimed with earth.
Gone the others you thought you saw.
Silent now the voice, the words
A memory like the calm
That follows a strong wind.

These three men who had shared this incredible experience were suddenly brought back to the real world. The moment was gone, but the voice of God still rang in their ears. “This is my son, my Chosen. Listen to him!” … Our scripture tells us they kept silent and told no one any of the things they had seen. I wonder if they even shared it amongst themselves…

Perhaps they all just went to sleep at last. Minds cleared, a feeling of being held secure in God’s love… finally a time to close their eyes and take that needed rest their bodies craved. They weren’t ready to face the real world just yet. Our story tells us they went down the mountain the next day…

Back to reality… from the bright mountaintop to the dark valley… from a glimpse of the kin-dom of God, to the harsh reality of the human world, the place where evil still exists in ugly contrast.

It must have been a jolt for them to arrive and find the great crowd there waiting. A crowd oblivious to the amazing moment they had just experienced.

My late Uncle Alec, had a saying that comes to mind for me. After a wonderful vacation, away from all the bustle of day-to-day life, where you eat foods you never cook at home, when your suitcase contains only your favourite outfits, where you sleep as much - or as little - as you want, where the days spread out before you with no must-do list… when that time would come to an end, he would say, “Well, it’s back to porridge and old clothes!” A preparation for going back to reality.

Back from the dream, back to the real world, back amongst people who have no idea what you’ve just experienced. It’s always a bit of a jolt – so imagine that feeling after something as life-altering as what these four men had just been through. Everything has changed – but nothing has changed.

The crowd is still pushing, the people are still needy and crying out for help. A father, desperate to save his son, is losing hope…

We look at the situation of this poor boy and think of the modern diagnosis of epilepsy. What the people in that mountain valley saw was the very manifestation of evil. He is the only child of this man. I can’t imagine his fear. He came to the disciples, begging for help, but was not given any. He is at the end of his rope.

They can’t help him. He’ll have to wait for Jesus.

Jesus himself goes from conferring with the major prophets of his faith to the realization nothing has changed. You can hear the frustration in his response, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you?”

From conferring with the ancient prophets, from connecting with God, from the clarity of what needs to change to save the world, from all the assurance and confidence he needs that he is on the right path, that he is doing God’s work… he comes face-to-face with the realization that he is standing alone, that even his own disciples are missing the point. One miracle worker isn’t what the world needs for heaven’s sake – every follower must have the courage to take the risk, to stand up to the evil they see, to wipe it out, not with magic words or special powers, but with the boldness and the confidence that says “this is not welcome here”.

We may have gotten rid of the notion that evil spirits move in and cause epilepsy, or autism, or Tourette’s syndrome but we still face demons. What are the demons the world faces today? Where do we come face to face with evil? We don’t have to look far… Peaceful protests being twisted with symbols of hatred and holding bystanders hostage in their own neighbourhoods, horns blaring to drown out the calls for reason… Armies with tanks and weapons of destruction poised at the borders of Ukraine, ready to pounce at the first signs of vulnerability… Rhetoric that serves to pit us against each other, even when we are all fighting the same pandemic… hunger in the midst of plenty… suffering in a world where solutions surround us.

As followers of Jesus, we gather together as a community of faith – faith that the demons of this world can be rebuked, that manifestations of evil can be healed. If we truly understand what Jesus taught, then we cannot say, “We can’t help. Better wait for someone with more power.”

So, what can we do? We can begin by keeping our spiritual connection with God and with each other. We use the strength that gives us to be part of the solution. We take the risk to say, “Evil is not welcome here.” We show that the power that comes from loving your neighbour is more enduring than violence and beating others into submission.

It is hard work… more than that, it is terrifying work at times. So, how on earth do we find the strength we need to be up to the task?

I liked Erin’s analogy this morning about the solar powered light. The sun can power as many of those receptors we can put out there – and it doesn’t diminish its ability to shine. More receptors, more light… more light, the clearer our vision becomes…

We cannot dismiss the strength we gain from being connected to that higher power – the one we refer to as God in this faith tradition… nor can we dismiss the strength we gain from being together in community. I believe the strength we gain when we combine the two can be exponentially more powerful.

Susan was right in our Lectionary Study this week; we rarely talk about our spiritual experiences – not even with those closest to us. I think it’s probably also true that we don’t take the time to seek out those moments when we can be present enough to experience the Holy. We don’t step away from the world; we don’t climb the mountain. I wonder what would happen if we did…

What Peter, John, and James experienced on that mountaintop transfigured the man they knew as Jesus – but did it transform them? Did they trust it? Like us, they kept it locked inside. Even they stepped back and counted on Jesus to heal the boy of the unclean spirit.

Peter couldn’t keep that moment from slipping away, no matter how much he wanted to try. Even Jesus knew he had to turn around and head down the mountain to what was waiting for him there. The moment was gone, the prophets had disappeared, Jesus was the familiar man they loved, fully human once again – but, surely, they could still hear that clear voice saying, “Listen to him!”

We cannot hold on to our mountaintop moments either, but maybe we can start by seeking them. Maybe we can be open enough to sense when God is near, when God wants us to listen. Each one of us will experience these moments in our own personal, intimate way for sure. They might not include the appearance of ancient prophets; they may not transfigure our faces or make our clothing glow, but I am certain they can transform us in some way if we are open to accepting them, if we trust what they bring. Perhaps the important message for us is to realize the power in those moments, to store the energy they give us so that, together, when we find ourselves in the valley once again, we can use that strength to light the world.

May it be so. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

God of Loving Presence,
We give you thanks for the wonders of each day,
For the celebrations, big and small, that brighten our lives,
For the love of friends and family and the support they bring.
We give you thanks for crisp bright winter days,
For the lengthening of the daylight hours that bring the hope of spring.
Keep us mindful of the joys we experience each and every day.

God of Compassion,
We pray for all those in our midst who are suffering:
Those faced with illness or injury,
Those struggling with difficulties of worry and stress,
Those grieving the loss of loved ones.
Today we pray especially for the Routledge family in the loss of Marion,
And we pray for all those in this faith family who loved her.
Comfort us in our pain and in our sorrow.

God of Peace and Justice,
We pray for the leaders of our city, our country, and throughout the world,
That they may put the common good ahead of personal ambition,
That they lead with compassion and work toward peace.
We pray for an end to war and violence.
We pray for healing; we pray for justice;
We pray that everyone has what they need.
Help us see our role in bringing this dream to life.

Transforming God,
We pray that we make time to be open to your presence,
That we seek the time to open our hearts and minds to you.
We pray for clarity of vision and awareness of the work you call us to do,
And the strength and courage we need to follow that call.

Holy One,
Transform our hearts
Transform our will,
Transform us that we may help transform the world.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus, the transfigured one, who inspires and guides us, using the prayer he taught his disciples…

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. Lorrie

The transformation that we feel in those mountaintop experiences when we know God is with us, can only transform the world if we move down from that lofty height into the reality of the world ready to lift others by sharing that love where it is needed most.

Let us offer our gifts of time, talents and treasures so that the ministry of this church will be a growing, vibrant witness to God’s healing love. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(David Sparks, Gathering A/C/E 2014/15, p48. Used with permission.)

You take us to the holy place, O God,
You’re inspired presence lifts us up and gives us new life.
You bring us down to earth, O God.
Through your eyes, we see what needs to be done and find the strength to begin.
Bless these gifts, O God,
Through which the ordinary shines with holiness. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie

(Susan Lukey, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22, p53. Used with permission.)

Inspired and transformed on the mountaintop with Jesus, we now journey with Jesus back into the ordinary and everyday, knowing that this is where we must share God’s love.

Go with renewed inspiration and the confidence that God accompanies us each step of the way. Amen.

Hymn: How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place (Better is One Day) - More Voices #29

BCUC Music team October Homecoming 2016
(Abe - piano, Kim & Will - guitars, Erin - flute, Leslie - violin, Dan - Cello, Sue & Wendy – drums)

1. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty.
For my soul longs and even faints for you.
For here my heart is satisfied within your presence.
I sing beneath the shadow of your wings.

Refrain:
Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house,
Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere. (2x)
Than thousands elsewhere.

2. One thing I ask and I would seek:
To see your beauty,
To find you in the place your glory dwells. (2x)

Refrain

Departing Music: Song of the Transfiguration BCUC Choir Feb 11 2018 - Soloist: Keith Bailey

Transform us as you, transfigured,
Stood a part on Tabor's height.
Lead us up our sacred mountains,
Search us with revealing light.
Lift us from where we have fallen,
Full of questions, filled with fright.

Transform us as you, transfigured,
Once spoke with those holy ones.
We, surrounded by the witness
Of those saints whose work is done,
Live in this world as your Body,
Chosen daughters, chosen sons.

Transform us as you, transfigured,
Would not stay within a shrine.
Keep us from our great temptation
Time and truth we quickly bind.
Lead us down those daily pathways
Where our love is not confined.

Bonus: Shine Jesus Shine BCUC choir Feb 7 2016

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Connie Davidson

February 19, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 20, 2022

Connie Davidson

February 19, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

7th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

February 20, 2022

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Nobody Knows the Trouble/Angels Watching Over Me arr. Hayes

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

On behalf of BCUC, I greet and welcome you to our worship service in the name of Jesus Christ on this 7th Sunday after Epiphany. We are glad that you have joined us today.

We have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Please take note that our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.

To ensure the congregation is informed and ready to discuss, and that new business items are given an adequate amount of time for deliberation, members are encouraged to notify the Board of their intent to introduce any new items of business, or new motions (on topics outside of annual plans, budgets, nominations and items arising from the minutes of the previous meeting), by e-mailing Jordan Berard before noon on Friday February 25th. A mover and a seconder for motions, as well as any background material that can be distributed to the congregation at least one week before the meeting, will also be appreciated.

Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in God’s presence as we gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Angela Starchuk

(Fern Gibbard, Gathering, ACE 2021-2022, Year C. Used with permission.)

We light this Christ candle – the light that shines in the shadows of life.
The light that bursts like sunshine through clouds of sadness.
The light that changes gloom into gladness.
We light this Christ candle rejoicing that the presence of God is with us.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Friends, we gather once more at the feet of Wisdom;
we come to learn, we desire to be changed.
These are not easy teachings, for they would have us go
beyond familiar horizons of belief and action;
we come to be challenged, we desire to grow.
Come, then, let us journey on this road together,
open to new insight and willingness to enter
God’s vision for a renewed and just world.
We have come together, we desire to uplift others.
Come, let us worship God in spirit and in truth.

Prayer of Approach

Life-giving God, whose love knows no limits
and whose embrace extends to all,
stir within us a deepening thirst for the teachings of Jesus.
Make us aware that being in right relationship
pushes us to respect and honour others
without expecting much in return.
Bend our hearts to your teaching and not selfish gain;
renew us to your promise of love
when we move away from your healing presence.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Hymn: Spirit, Open My Heart - More Voices #79 BCUC trio with violin: Leslie

Refrain
Spirit, open my heart
to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love,
in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

1. God, replace my stony heart
    with a heart that’s kind and tender.
    All my coldness and fear
    to your grace I now surrender. R

2. Write your love upon my heart
    as my law, my goal, my story.
    In each thought, word, and deed,
    may my living bring you glory. R

3. May I weep with those who weep,
    share the joy of sister, brother.
    In the welcome of Christ,
    may we welcome one another. R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie

In our scripture reading this morning, there is a verse that probably sounds familiar to you:

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

I’m sure you’ve heard those words or something very similar before. This is something we call the “golden rule”. I have a book to share with you that talks about this:

“The Golden Rule” written by Ilene Cooper and Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

(In this story a young boy and his grandfather come across a billboard that quotes the golden rule and the boy asks what it says. The conversation that follows talks about why it is called “golden” – because it’s so valuable, that the idea is common in many different faiths and cultures, that it is a rule that applies to all people – grown-ups and kids alike. The boy wonders how to start practicing that rule and his grandfather tells him that it starts by imagining how another person might feel and imagining what you’d want someone to do for you if you were feeling that way. He also tells him to think of ways he doesn’t like to be treated and wonder what he could do to make sure he doesn’t make anyone feel that way. The boy comes to realize that following the golden rule can sometimes be hard but that it is a really big thing because if everyone actually behaved that way it could change the world. The final message in the book is that “it begins with you.”)

Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide – More Voices #145 - Erin Berard with choir members

Refrain
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

1. God the still-point of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms. R

2. Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call. R

3. Let the dreams we dream be larger,
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door. R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Marion Dugas

(Karen Boivin, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019, Year C. Used with permission.)

Here we are, once again, loving God, looking to locate Jesus in the pages of the Bible and then in the hours of our days. Your Spirit has shown us the honour and responsibility of being a follower. Now today, and in the weeks ahead, reveal to us the nuances of living as a disciple day by day. Amen.

***The Gospel Reading:* Luke 6: 27-38 (NRSV) *Love for Enemies***

27 “But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;
38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Anthem: We Will Bring Your Peace into the World CGS - director : Erin Berard

Refrain
We will bring your peace into the world
With a loving hand do the best we can.

1. Jesus you ask us to be gentle, Jesus you ask us to be kind,
to take good care of each other, then your peace will be here for all to find.

2. Jesus, you ask us to be friendly. Jesus you ask us to be fair,
to take good care of each other, then your peace will be here for all to share.

Sermon: “Jesus Wants Us to Do What?” Rev. Kim

Prayer: Let your spirit of wisdom flow through us, O God, as we reflect on this difficult teaching. Amen.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” I knew this verse since I was young. I tried my hardest to apply it in real life, but one thing I can say is this: these words from Jesus are more easily said than done!

Something happened one night in 1995. I was working in a retail store as my part time job to support my studies at St. Paul University. A drunk man came into the store and demanded me to sell one of the dresses. All he had was a few coins in his pocket and I politely told him that his money was not enough to buy the dress. To which he responded in a loud voice with his fingers pointing at me – “You little Chinese girl– I must have this dress and will not leave the store!” Then he lied down on the floor waiting for my next move. Fear crept in but I stood my ground and I told him that his behaviour was not acceptable and asked him to leave the store or else I’d call the police. As soon as he heard the word police, he became agitated and stood up in front of me and called me all kinds of offensive names. He was about 6 ft tall and a bulky man and I know that if I hurled back at him the way he treated me with offensive language and racial slurs, he might have hurt me, or worse, that could have been the end of my life. I called the store manager in the back room to come right away. When the manager came, the drunk man was again lying on the floor and he said he would not get up until we gave him the dress that he wanted. I called 911 and told the dispatcher about the incident. When the man heard that police officers were coming to the store, he got up, pointing his finger at me and left the store.

“Love your enemies…” Who are the enemies that Jesus talks about in this passage? I believe the “enemies” in this text relate to anyone that may cause someone harm, injury, or death in many ways. How could Jesus tell us not only to love them but also to pray for them and bless them? I don’t know about you, but this text doesn’t make sense to me at all. It runs against the normal way of human relationships.

“If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.”
"…if anyone takes away your coat give them also your shirt.
"… if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.

How could Jesus set forth a list of values that are so difficult or even unrealistic to strive for? I think that’s exactly the point of this text. To live by Jesus’ standards is to live above and beyond human standards! But in reality, there are enough bad and opportunistic people running loose out there who would take Jesus’ words literally and run-down on people. These words encourage the bullies of the world to abuse, hurt or put down people. They could be words of invitation to the non-stop ringing of the phone or knocking on your door from those wanting to ask for donations. These are words to justify being trampled and hated by those who do not know how to love. I am just overwhelmed beyond words that Jesus would suggest such things for good living. But is this really what the Lukan Jesus intends for us to hear?

How can we love our enemies? How can we bless them and pray for them when they are causing us harm? Jesus offers 3 illustrations that I think are relevant in the context of the first century world. The first illustration: “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.”

In the ancient Jewish culture, it was an offensive gesture to be slapped with the back of the right hand. The back of the hand was given by a master to a slave or by a husband to a wife or by a parent to a child or a Roman to a Jew in that period. The only way one could hit someone on the right cheek would be with the back of the hand. What Jesus was trying to tell his listeners is this: When someone tries to humiliate you and put you down, turn your other cheek. If you turned your head to the right, that person could no longer backhand you. Your nose is now in the way. By turning the other cheek, you are defiantly saying to the assailant, I refuse to be humiliated by you any longer. You have stood your ground courageously.

The second illustration: "…if anyone takes away your coat, also give your shirt." In those days, if a person had a loan, normally they would use animals or land as collateral, but the poor could use their coat or outer garment. It was the coat that they used to sleep in at night and used as an overcoat by day. For the debtor to give both his coat and shirt means a cold, sleepless night and worse, he could be totally naked. It is obvious that Jesus' audience is made up of very poor debtors. They are never going to win a case, since the law is mostly on the side of the wealthy. So, Jesus says to them, "Okay, you are not going to win the case. So, take the law into a point of absurdity. When your creditor sues you for your outer garment, give your undergarment as well. That meant taking off the only stitch of clothing you had left on you and standing literally naked, in court. The shame of nakedness fell not on the person who was naked, but on the person, who observed their nakedness. The creditor is being put in the position of being shamed by the nakedness of the debtor. Imagine the debtor leaving the courtroom, walking out the street and all of the people coming and seeing him in his nakedness and saying, "What happened to you?" He says, "That creditor has got all my clothes," and starts walking down to his house, with head held high. The debtor certainly has won the case.

The third illustration: “Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.” Come on, folks, let's be realistic. If someone takes away all my goods without my permission, that for me is theft or robbery and the person who took my goods is legally accountable by law. However, these texts should be understood in the context from which they were drawn. These words were directed at the rich and wealthy among the crowd. You do not need any explanation to understand this. It is simply saying share what you have and do not demand back anything taken from you because you have more than enough.

Let’s admit it - loving your enemies by turning the other cheek, or gift-wrapping your coat and shirt, or giving unconditionally, will not make us get ahead in this world. Jesus knows too well the rules of this world where, most of the time, only the powerful and the fittest survive. Jesus isn’t trying to change the rules of the world. Rather, he’s starting a new movement by calling the rules of this world into question and offering an alternative - an entirely subversive or even a ridiculous way to relate to each other, inviting everyone into relationships governed not by the power to destroy but by the power to love. This is not just an ordinary kind of love. This is agape love in action. A love that is unconditional, self-giving, non-violent and life-giving!

This power of this agape love is echoed by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa who was remembered as a man of faith, social justice and wisdom who suffered under the violent regime of apartheid. His commitment to follow Jesus, particularly “loving one’s enemies”, can be found in some of his famous words:

“When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate.”

“A person is a person through other persons; you can’t be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.”

Sadly, the effects of the old order are still prominent in the world: poverty is still rampant, people still settle disputes with fists and firearms, wars are still out there, people still think with pride and seem intent on creating a world of division and discord. Some still practice the vengeful way of “an eye for an eye” and some communities are hotbeds of fear and violence.

What is the good news about this passage for us today? Jesus is not teaching us to be doormats. Jesus teaches that God’s love is unconditional. Therefore, we must also love unconditionally. Jesus is inviting us to stretch our boundaries, to raise our sights on creating a more compassionate world, and to create among us a true community of respect based on self-giving. Agape love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend because it has “creative” and “redemptive” power. Jesus is offering a way of life in which the victim and the powerless can act from a position of strength - to take an initiative which confronts the perpetrator and puts the wrongdoing into question. Jesus does not suggest that this is an easy option but a radical alternative. It is very easy to be kind to those who are nice to us - and to love those who love us in return. Jesus’ challenge is to go further. To love the unlovable, to notice and pay attention to the invisible, to give to the needy without expecting anything in return. Jesus paved the way for a new order that does not simply make the weak strong and the strong weak, but one that will transform the nature of a community.

What does it mean for you to be in this new community? Are you able to love your enemies? To bless them and pray for them? Jesus has said so far: you are to love as God loves - wholly, completely, consistently, unconditionally. That for sure is agape love! Difficult, yes - but not impossible. Acting on such love is quite a challenge, but it can change the world radically.

That unforgettable night in 1995, I have never felt so afraid in my life - but instead of succumbing to my fears and hating that man who insulted and offended me, I prayed. I prayed for that man – that whatever circumstances he had lived through, may he find his true inner self, transform his life and become a better person. I pray to myself that when things get rough, and when people put me down or harm me, may I remind myself that resisting creatively and non-violently is the way to peace. I prayed that God’s agape love would empower and strengthen me. And yes, and I thanked God that I was able to get home safe that night!

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Note: Thanks to the members of the BCUC Lectionary Group for their wisdom and insight shared in helping me craft this sermon.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim

I offer this prayer, some of which were parts of a prayer written by Rex Hunt and our Moderator Richard Bott, for strength and for hope and blessing these days. Let us pray.

This moment of quiet is an invitation to be calm in the midst of the noise of the world and our over-busy lives, to bring together thought and feeling, mind and spirit, and to find some center, some still point, of perspective and peace.

Holy God, we come to you with hope and promise. We thank you for the stories which have empowered your people through the ages and given them hope. You remind us that through the teachings of Jesus, the world will be transformed anew if we do our part to love unconditionally. May we know your promise of transformation, of hope and of your agape love among your people. May we know the promise of Jesus, whose spirit invites us to become people of the Way.

We draw near to each other in the presence of a Holy Weaver. That we may see afresh. That we may hear anew. That we may act again with vigour. May there be many new patterns woven among us: patterns of peace between strangers, patterns of love between friends, patterns of hope among the hopeless, patterns of joy among the sorrowful.

We pray, O, God, for those who seek to speak good news in a hostile world. We lift up those who are confronted with illness, grief, anxiety, fear and uncertainty. Help us to be resilient and hopeful. We continue to pray for those whom aging is a trial and a burden; for those who are lonely and those battling mental illness.

Let your agape love continue to guide us as we pray for the world where violence and persecution abound. Let our voices join those who have raised their voices to stop wars in all forms and other acts of injustice, violence and human sadness here in Canada and in many parts of the world.

In light of the ongoing truckers protest, may we echo the words of our Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Richard Bott: “Loving God…Protest I understand, even if I feel the reasons, are sometimes misguided and wrong.

Those symbols of White Supremacy, representations of a desire to enslave and eradicate— those flags of hatred's horror— they should never be flown in a way that honours them and the principles for which they stand.

God, help us to put those symbols in the places that will make us remember what they represent, with horror and grief, and fight against them ever being raised up as possibilities for the future.

God, help us to challenge the unthinking hatred, the fear and the greed that give it power, the anti-Semitic hatred, the idea that "White is Right."

God help us. Because we can't seem to do it on our own.”

All these we ask in the name of Jesus, who calls us to recite this prayer together.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie

Jesus offered compassion for the people he met and taught us to do the same. This day, you and I are called to respond to Jesus’ example to offer healing, love and compassion as the need arises. Let us offer our gifts of time, talents and treasures so that the ministry of this church will be a growing, vibrant witness to God’s healing love. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(Karen Boivin, Gathering Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2021/22, p48. with permission.)

Gracious God, the desire of our hearts for these gifts today
is that they be a source of healing:
Bringing together what is broken,
Soothing what is painful,
And allowing people to move forward
in the abundance of life with which you bless us. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

Our worship has ended and let us now go as God’s faithful people.
Go and be the compassion of God.
Go and be the love of Christ.
Go and be the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Go and do God’s business in the world. Amen!

Hymn: Take My Life and Let it Be – Voices United #506 v1,2,5 BCUC Feb 25, 2018

1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, all for thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love,
take my feet, and let them be
swift and purposeful for thee.

3 Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

4 Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

5 Take my love: and I will pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Departing Music: Go Now in Peace – Besig/Price BCUC Choir Jan 27, 2019

Go now in peace, never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of ev’ry day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love. Amen

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Connie Davidson

February 12, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 13, 2022

Connie Davidson

February 12, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

6th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

February 13, 2022

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Blessed – Valerie Crescenz (adapted from Matthew 5) BCUC Choir recorded Sunday Jan 29 2017

Blessed the poor in spirit are, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs;
And those who mourn will be comforted, for their sorrows will be shared.
Blessed are those who are gentle and meek, for the earth shall be their prize;
And those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for mercy shall they receive;
And blessed are the pure in heart, for the Lord himself they will see.
Blessed are the makers of peace, as God’s children they shall be known;
And those who suffer for the sake of righteousness,
For the kingdom of heav’n is their own.

Blessed are you when men revile you, when they taunt and denounce,
And say all manner of sland’rous things against you on My account.
Rejoice and be glad, your reward is great, in heaven will you find rest;
With all the prophets and all who have gone before, forever shall you be blessed.

Welcome Rev. Kim Vidal

Greetings and welcome to our worship service in the name of Jesus Christ on this 6th Sunday after Epiphany. We are glad that you have joined us today.

As we continue to be under pandemic restrictions, please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org to keep you informed and give you opportunities to respond.

We have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship service starting today at 10 am. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.

The 44th General Council of the United Church of Canada commences today. Here’s Nicole Beaudry, one of the elected lay commissioners representing the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council to give us more information about the General Council assembly.

GC 44 News Nicole Beaudry, Lay Commissioner

I was a Commissioner the last time General Council met in Oshawa in August 2018; that was my third General Council and the first time we were issued a digital workbook, instead of the thick brick we used to receive in the mail prior to the week-long meeting. The workbook helps us to get familiar with the reports and the issues and get ready to vote on the many, many propositions that will come before the Council.

At that meeting, a 3-phase decision-making process was put in place: Listening- Discussion - Decision. This gave everyone access to as much information and conversation as possible before voting on the proposals. The Right Rev. Richard Bott was elected as the 43rd Moderator of the United Church of Canada. GC 44 was scheduled to meet in august 2021 in Calgary.

But…..COVID happened. In June 2020, GC43 reconvened via Zoom and the Commissioners voted in favour of postponing the 2021 meeting hoping to meet in Calgary in the summer of 2022 instead. Since COVID stuck around, GC reconvened again and approved a motion for a virtual GC44 to take place in 2022 . It would be spread out over a six-month period. I was again, elected Commissioner by the Region.

And so we have come to the time of our very much anticipated GC meeting with the opening on February 13th. The theme of this GC is: Who do you say that I am?

The great 3-phase decision-making process is still in place and this means that all commissioners must attend seven 90-minute Learning sessions during March and April; six 2-hour Discussion sessions during June and July; and nine 2-hour Decision making sessions in July. The closing worship and installation of the new moderator, elected the week before, will take place on Aug. 7.

A Commissioner has tasks to fulfill during the whole 3-year period until the rise of the next Council with yearly meetings and correspondance and duties to keep informed on all the issues. One of my duties is to share the news of General Council, so I’ll try to do my best to keep you informed. I will share the places where, on line, you can access all the proceedings, reports and decisions of all the meetings, and the budget and financial reports, as well as all the news from General Council. I believe you will also have access to the Opening and Closing Worship services on the Youtube channel.

Thank you for your support.

Centering for Worship Rev. Kim

Friends, in our gathering today remember these words from A Song of Faith: “We sing of God’s good news lived out, a church with purpose: faith nurtured and hearts comforted, gifts shared for the good of all...” Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: David Stafford & Barbara Bole

This sacred light is a wonderful gift.
It clears our minds and calms our hearts.
It illuminates the space we are in.
We light this Christ candle to remind us that God’s presence
is with us now and in the days to come.
Let us welcome this sacred light in our midst.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Louise Hart, Gathering, ACE 2019-2020, Year A. Used with permission.)

For those who are tired,
may this sacred space be a place of rest.
For those who are hurting,
may this holy place be a place of healing.
For those who are seeking answers to difficult questions,
may this be a place where questions are accepted.
We come for different reasons.
We come from different places.
Here, we are all embraced by the same Spirit.
Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach

(Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, Gathering, ACE 2019-2020, Year A. Used with permission.)

Your love calls us to live in new ways, Gracious God:
Working for justice;
living kindness;
walking with you, humbly, every day.
Help us to be your blessing to the world.
Help us to notice your blessing in the world.
Help us to live your love.
Today, tomorrow, always!
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: Blessed Assurance - Voices United #337 Erin, Kim & Angela

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his love.

Ref: This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with God’s goodness, lost in Christ’s love.

Words © 1873 Fanny Crosby; Music © 1873 Phoebe Palmer Knapp
Song # 94239 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Storytime Rev. Lorrie

In our Bible reading today, Jesus is talking to his followers. Many of the people in the crowd are poor and are suffering from all kinds of problems. He tells them something that seems very strange. He tells them they are blessed! I don’t think they were feeling very blessed that day, though, if they were hungry and thirsty or blind, or being attacked by people who didn’t agree with them. It’s a hard message to understand.

There were also people in that crowd who were wealthy, well-fed, happy, and popular. And he told them to not be so full of themselves because this wasn’t going to last and they’d soon be in trouble.

Does it make sense to celebrate when you’re having a really hard time and be worried when things are going well? What a strange thing for Jesus to say! I’ve been struggling with this idea all week and wondering how on earth this can be seen as “Good News”.

Then, just this morning, something happened that made me think I might understand a little better. One of my grandkids was having a hard morning. It started by getting mad at his snow pants and deciding he needs a new pair. The more he talked about what was wrong with his snow pants, the more upset he got. Then he got mad at his sister because she wasn’t getting ready for school – so we told him she was going later because she had a doctor appointment this morning. That made him even more mad and he didn’t like any of the masks that were clean by the door, and then the bus went by before he got outside. The angrier he got, the worse his morning became. Nothing we said could make him smile. It started with the snow pants, and because that put him in a bad mood, everything else seemed bad too. Normally he would have just asked his sister why she wasn’t getting ready for school, normally he would have been able to find one of his favourite masks in the pile, and if he had been his usual self, he would have been ready and out the door long before the bus came. One bad thing made everything else seem bad too – like the world was ganging up on him. He couldn’t see anything good about the morning. I sure hope it didn’t ruin his whole day!

I imagine that the people in Jesus’ crowd who were suffering felt much the same way – not just for one morning, but day after day. But Jesus told them they were blessed, that they should be happy! And what about those wealthy, happy people in the crowd? Was Jesus telling them that being happy and healthy, and popular were bad?

This morning, if my grandson’s snow pants hadn’t still been damp from yesterday, he probably wouldn’t have disliked them so much, and then he would have been curious about why his sister was still sitting at the table instead of getting dressed. He might have been more willing to look through the pile of clean masks to find one of the ones he likes and he would have been ready and out the door before the bus came by. Getting upset about one thing led to another and, pretty soon, everything about the world was terrible in his mind.

So, how could this have been made better? I don’t expect him to be happy about those snow pants – but, if he had realized that he could talk to Mommy about it when she gets home and that she loves him and so would make sure he had clothing that was warm and comfortable – maybe then he would have carried those snow pants to school and hung them up to dry before recess. Maybe then he wouldn’t have let his bad mood ruin his whole morning – he might not have yelled at his sister and all those things that usually go smoothly in the morning would have been smooth today too.

Maybe that’s what Jesus was talking about that day. When things are really hard or scary, not just small things but even huge things like the pandemic and the honking horns of the demonstration downtown this week – take time to look for things that are still good, like people helping each other and keeping each other safe. I think Jesus was also telling us to remember, that even when things seem really bad, God loves us and is with us to help us through it.

And when things are going great? Should we be scared that someone is going to steal it all away from us? Does it mean that God won’t love us anymore if we have a good life? That doesn’t make sense! Maybe, Jesus is reminding us that sometimes we forget about God when we are comfortable and happy. I think that maybe Jesus’ message here is to not forget that God still loves us and is still with us in good times to guide us in ways to use our blessings to help others.

We know that Jesus’ messages are always about love. So, I think this one is too. If we look at our lives knowing that we are loved, then we will also be able to show love to others. If we remember that we are always walking with the God who loves us, our eyes and hearts will be open to ways we can share that love with others.

Let’s finish with a prayer,

Thank you, God, for always being with us.
Help us remember that when things are tough, you walk with us.
Help us remember that, when life is great, we are still walking with you.
Amen.

Hymn: “Christ Has No Body Now But Yours” - More Voices #171 George, Lorrie, Keith

Refrain
Christ has no body now but yours
no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work,
to serve with the joy of compassion.

1. No hands but yours to heal the wounded world,
no hands but yours to soothe all its suffering,
no touch but yours to bind the broken hope of the people of God. R

2. No eyes but yours to see as Christ would see,
to find the lost, to gaze with compassion;
no eyes but yours to glimpse the holy joy of the city of God. R

3. No feet but yours to journey with the poor,
to walk this world with mercy and justice.
Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace for the children of God. R

4. Through ev’ry gift, give back to those in need;
as Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing,
with ev’ry gift a benediction, be to the people of God. R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Neil Lowes

(David Sparks, ACE 2019-2020, Year A. Used with permission.)

This is the time of reflection.
This is the time of inspiration.
This is the time of determination.
This is the time to set out in a new direction.

May God bless our receiving of the Word. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 17-26 (NRSV) The Beatitudes on the Plain

17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now,
    for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you[a] on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now,
    for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
    for you will mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Upside Down!” Rev. Kim

Prayer: Loving God, may your words be my words and may your truth be our truth, as we reflect on your Word of Life. Amen.

Like many of you, I have been listening to the news about the ongoing Freedom Convoy truckers protest in downtown Ottawa, now on its second week. Initially, the protest was about the vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the Canada-US border, but now it has expanded exponentially to protest all sorts of issues including all kinds of pandemic-related measures and politics. I agree that freedom of expression and the right to peacefully protest is very much part of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But I’m just baffled when exercising freedom disturbs peace and does not consider the welfare of others. Imagine living in downtown Ottawa when at night you hear the blaring honking horns from hundreds of trucks causing sleeplessness? Or the unruly behaviour of some of the protesters displaying hate symbols, hate remarks and acts of vandalism?

What kind of freedom is this I asked myself when it’s not being exercised with due diligence, respect and with love? I understand that many of us are frustrated, tired and upset with the seemingly endless COVID pandemic after almost two years of living through it. The negative impacts of the pandemic especially for the vulnerable sectors of our community are alarming.

Would it really help to stage a loud and unruly protest in order to call the attention of those in power to stop all the pandemic restrictions? Personally, I trust our government, the medical officers and the scientists who are doing their best to have the pandemic situation under control. I support implementing health guidelines such as vaccinations and booster shots for those who are not exempt from taking it, adhering to 2 metre social distancing, the wearing of appropriate mask and hand sanitation. I believe that these measures will help get us through this pandemic, not only to protect ourselves and those we love, but also to help us continue living in a “new normal way”. But having said these, I also cannot ignore or turn a blind eye nor condemn those who would choose to take the other side. I may not agree with their personal decisions and actions but I will not stop treating them as human beings. As the saying goes: “Question the actions but still love the person!”

What would Jesus do in a situation like this? Which side would Jesus take? The protesting truckers? The government in power? Or the people whose lives and livelihood were affected by this protest? Knowing how Jesus had taught us that God’s love is for everyone, whether one is unworthy or righteous, or whether one is for or against the protest, I think Jesus will listen to each group’s response. Jesus will say a joyful “yes” with two thumbs up if the action or choice is life-giving, compassionate, just and loving, but he will also proclaim a resounding “no way!” to any action or decision that may cause havoc or violence or death.

Our Gospel story in Luke begins with the most powerful words : 17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon.

Jesus came down with the people and stood on a level place, not on a mountain, but on the ground with people from many different places - from every walk of life. Not only did he stand among them, he spoke to them, touched them and healed them. He acknowledged their intrinsic value and human dignity. Jesus paid attention to them in a personal way. Only after he healed those who needed care, after he showed everyone what it feels like to be on a level place – to be equally loved and valued in God’s kin-dom did Jesus offer his sermon known as the beatitudes on the plain.

The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin beatus, meaning blessed, happy, or fortunate and the Greek word, makarios meaning revered or honoured. The other version of the Beatitudes is found in the Gospel of Matthew. They are codes of behaviour for shaping a community in ways that call conventional wisdom into question, subvert the status quo, and intend eventually to re-shape it. One preacher said that beatitude is supposed to ‘be’ your ‘attitude’ for rightful living. Luke’s beatitudes identify the present human conditions and divides the community into two categories: the poor and the rich; the haves and the have-nots; the powerful and the powerless. Luke portrays Jesus as a universal teacher and Luke includes Jesus’ concern for the Gentiles, the social outcasts and the economic poor of his world.

I don’t know about you, but when I read these verses for the first time, they gave me a sense of discomfort. How could someone who is poor, or hungry, or weeping, or those who were put down and hated be blessed? Was Jesus condoning poverty and suffering? Was Jesus pushing people to experience oppression, marginalization and mockery in order to be blessed? I think of war-torn countries or a mother burying her child. I think of those dying and suffering from dreaded illnesses and leaving their families too soon. I think of those who are in abusive relationships or those who are discriminated against because of their gender, race or creed. How could Jesus say that they are blessed?

And what about those who were on the other side of the fence? The affluent and wealthy, those who were filled with food and drink, the powerful and the joyful ones –why were they cursed and woed instead? Were they not supposed to be the lucky ones? Don’t they deserve some sort of congratulations and blesisngs too from Jesus? What an upside-down world Jesus is proclaiming in this passage!

When Jesus preached that day, he was speaking to those similar to the “Occupy Movement” of our time. Jesus saw people in trouble, people who were deeply grieved because of economic poverty. These were the people who were victims of social and economic inequality and empire oppression in general. While Luke was believed to have also preached to wealthy elites in the crowd, the vast majority of the people who came to listen to him that day were literally poor. Majority of the people who listened to Jesus that day were bogged down by an oppressive system of Roman taxation, with little food, no health care and little to no opportunities to get ahead. The poor would also, likely apply to the "disciples" to whom Jesus is also speaking. They had, after all, "left everything" to follow Jesus, thereby becoming poor themselves.

Luke’s Jesus gathers all of these people who are completely bereft and without honour in their culture's world, and he turns their world upside down. He gives them honour and blessings which more than compensate for what they lack in life. And his message to the poor and the downtrodden is a message of hope. As if telling them that they will not be poor forever.

Jesus also preached a punchline to the affluent – a warning or a challenge if you want to call it, because Jesus wants to level or equalize people. He was trying to tell everyone that life is not constant. Life is like a wheel. Some days you’re on top of the world and other days you will be in the bottom. Life will change. Status will change. Human conditions will change. If you’ve ever heard of phrases like “from rags to riches” or “from famous to forgotten”, these are what I think Jesus was trying to impart. Things will change but real transformation for a better world will only happen when people change their ways. The rich must share what they have with the poor. Systems will need to change in order for the community to be a haven of love and life. I imagine Jesus was saying, “Do not think you deserve this. Do not think this is what God wants for you. You who are blessed and you who are woed, do something about this situation. Act now before it’s too late because one day your fortunes will be reversed.”

So, what is the good news of Luke’s beatitudes on the plain? Those blessings and woes are words of hope and challenge to the people and to us. It is a message of both encouragement and a word of caution. They are certainly words to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. They are words from Jesus, a master leveler who embraces everyone equally with love.

When I think of a modern beatitudes’ proponent, I think of the late Paul Dewar. His last words in his final letter before his death addressed to Canadians made a strong impact on me. Let me share you some of his words: “In my time on this earth, I was passionate about the power of citizens working together and making a difference. I wanted a Canada where we treat our fellow citizens with the dignity, love and respect that every one of us deserves. I wanted a world where we reduced suffering and increased happiness. A world where we took better care of each other... True change can only come when power is transferred to young people unburdened by cynicism. Let’s make more art. Let’s play more. Let’s embrace each other in these days of cynicism and doubt. Let’s welcome those who need a safe home. Let’s empower those who have been left behind. Let’s nurture and grow with peace, love and unity. Let’s join hands and hearts to see the beauty in ourselves through the soul of our city...May you keep building a more peaceful and better world for all.”

This whole protest movement taught me a lesson. I learned that the freedom of expression can be done in many ways. It could be peaceful or it could be unruly. It could be done with mutual respect and paying careful attention or it could be violent and deadly. Listening to Jesus’ words today made me think that freedom of expression that is rooted in Canadian values, must be done with love - a heartfelt, genuine concern for each other with an intent of building a life-giving relationship. A better world for all – where the poor and the rich, the powerful and the powerless live peacefully on a level place - that is the message of Jesus for us today.

Dear friends, life is not easy. Life is not perfect. But remind yourself that whatever situation you are in, in the midst of poverty or hunger or grief, or even in the midst of joys and celebrations, you are loved by God who was and is and will be. Today, we stand on a level place right here, right now. Jesus calls us to reach out, to heal, to respect, to treat others with love. And that is the true meaning of freedom. That is God’s kin-dom. Amen.

Sources: BCUC Lectionary Group, Alyce Mackenzie – patheos.org; Dewar’s goodbye letter posted in his facebook page Scott Gilmore, MacLean’s magazine, 2019.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Our prayers of the people this morning is based on one of the Dalai Lama’s favourite prayers. The original was written by Shantideva, a Buddhist master from the monastic university of Nalanda, India, and composed in the eighth century of the Christian era. I have changed some of the words to make it fit our context and our faith today.

May all beings everywhere
Plagued by sufferings of body and mind
Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
By virtue of our actions.

May no living creature suffer,
Commit evil, or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
With a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see
And the deaf hear,
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.

May those who see injustice find peaceful ways to open dialogue,
May those who feel unheard find listening ears and open minds,
May all our words be founded in love and compassion,
And never with the intent to hurt or attack.

May the naked find clothing,
The hungry find food;
May the thirsty find water
And delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth,
Those weak with sorrow find joy;
May the forlorn find hope,
happiness, and prosperity.

May there be timely rains
And bountiful harvests;
May all medicines be effective
And wholesome prayers bear fruit.

May all who are sick and ill
Quickly be freed from their suffering.
Whatever diseases there are in the world,
May they never occur again.

May the frightened cease to be afraid
And those bound be freed;
May the powerless find power,
And may people think of benefiting each other.

For as long as space remains,
For as long as all living things remain,
Until then may the efforts of our lives remain
To help dispel the miseries of the world.

We bring these prayers to you in the name of Jesus and in the words he taught his followers…

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

Jesus draws us from the margins to a welcoming love. He draws us out of a crowd, to healing;
from hopelessness to new life. Each day, God finds the way that we need to be loved and challenged, and then calls us be stewards of warm hospitality, healing mercies, and the promise of abundant life. We respond to this call through our offering this day.
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your 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 mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Source of Love and blessings,
for the gifts of time, talents and treasures
delightfully given to us,
we bring you our offering.
May we use them to spread your love and hope for the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

(ministrymatters.com)

Go forth, celebrating faith.
Go forth, celebrating hope.
Go forth, celebrating love.
Go forth to be the transformed people
that God calls you to be.
Go to transform the world.
Go forth with the knowledge
that you are always surrounded and blessed by God,
the Source of Love. Amen.

Hymn: Blest Are They – Voices United #896 BCUC congregation Jan 2017

1      Blest are they, the poor in spirit,
        theirs is the kingdom of God.
        Blest are they, full of sorrow,
        they shall be consoled.

Refrain
Rejoice and be glad!
Blessed are you, holy are you!
Rejoice and be glad!
Yours is the kingdom of God.

2 Blest are they, the lowly ones,
they shall inherit the earth.
Blest are they who hunger and thirst,
they shall have their fill. R

3         Blest are they who show mercy,
           mercy shall be theirs.
           Blest are they the pure of heart,
           They shall see God! R

4        Blest are they who seek peace;
          they are the children of God.
          Blest are they who suffer in faith,
          the glory of God is theirs. R

5        Blest are you who suffer hate,
          all because of me.
          Rejoice and be glad
          yours is the kingdom;
          shine for all to see. R

Departing Music: The Rose – McBroom Abe:organ recorded Aboriginal Sunday June 19, 2016

(over announcements)

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Connie Davidson

January 29, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 30, 2022

Connie Davidson

January 29, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 2

January 30, 2022

Theme: “Celebrate our Call to Serve / Give thanks for our Family Ministry”

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Noah - Valse Sentimentale (op. 50, no. 14) - Franz Schubert

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus on this 4th Sunday after Epiphany. Wherever you are joining us from today, please know that we are glad that you are with us in this worship service.

Due to the rising COVID variant cases in Ontario, we will not be offering in-person worship until further notice. Worship Services can still be accessed however, online through YouTube and by telephone. Check our website, bcuc.org, for the link each week. There you will also find links to previous services, Sunday school resources, and other announcements.

And for those of you who are able to join us, there will be a virtual fellowship time every Sunday at 11:00 am. Check your email for the Zoom link.

While the church building is not open for in-person gatherings, the work of the church carries on. Please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls, prayers or online platforms. Our annual Stewardship Campaign continues this week and next. Today we celebrate the many volunteers who help keep the work of this congregation going in all of its aspects from administration and property management to worship, education, and outreach. Please take the time to read the stewardship materials that were sent to you last week. We hope you will give prayerful thought to what you might be called to do as a member of this faith family.

I now invite you to listen to Erin tell us about one way we strive to include all ages and stages in our congregational life through our Family Ministry Team.

Stewardship Moment Erin Berard – Family Ministry Team

The Family Ministry initiative was introduced in 2017 to guide our vision and decision-making at BCUC as we strive to make our church a welcoming and loving 'family'. Goals of this initiative include facilitating family-oriented worship, fostering intergenerational relationships, encouraging a family mindset within all the church committees, and experimenting with ways to connect and welcome others from the community into our BCUC family.

During the pandemic, the worship team has provided a weekly online video and audio service with wide-ranging appeal - hymns new and old, a young person-focussed ‘Storytime’, thought-provoking sermons, and participation from congregants of all ages and stages. Along with these weekly family-oriented services, Sunday School materials that are directly aligned with the worship themes have been made available on our website. As in the past Advent and Lenten resources were delivered to families with young people in our congregation in the Spring and Fall to help those at home to feel remembered and connected.

Not being able to gather freely due to the pandemic has put a hold on or altered many of the usual activities that we enjoy together, and has delayed some of the plans we were making for family-oriented events. And, as much as we wish we had a magic wand to make it go away, the pandemic continues. Many have mentioned missing families they know from church, so I challenge you to seek out new ways to connect with your church family. This could be as simple as sending an e-mail or card to another family to let them know you’re thinking of them or popping on the 11am Sunday Zoom gatherings to say hello. Or perhaps you have a special interest, or a game, or a hobby that other families might be interested in - how could you introduce that to others and help build community? New ideas suitable for these pandemic times or the future would be welcomed by the Family Ministry Team!

It is important that we recognize and celebrate the many ways that we support, work, and worship together, even if it is distanced or online, and to look with hope toward the coming months for more and more opportunities to get together in person. Let’s continue to ensure that Family Ministry is embedded in all we do at BCUC.

Minute for Mission

In addition to the work we are called to do within this faith family, we at BCUC also have a mission to reach out to the wider community. The Service, Outreach, and Social Action Committee (SOSA) coordinates many projects by which we do this. Here is a brief introduction to one of the projects we help fund and offer volunteer support, OWECC, the Ottawa West End Community Chaplaincy. (video)

Centering for Worship

Now, let us gather our hearts and minds for worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Susan & George Young

Sometimes, the world can seem a bit dark. Conflicts, worries, and suffering seem to cloud our vision. And so, today, as we do whenever we gather as a family of faith, we light this candle to remind us of the presence of Jesus, the light that never dims. May this light kindle hope and joy in each of us - enough to light the world.

Call to Gather: Rev. Kim Vidal

(Susan Lukey, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2021 Year B, Used with permission.)

To be a church family is a blessing.
To encourage and care for one another is a joy.
To work for the common good of all people and all creation is our calling.
Come, let us worship as the body of Christ.
We come as followers of the Way of Jesus, as those inspired by the Spirit of God,
To worship, sing, and pray.

Prayer of Approach: (Phil Hobbs, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2018, Year B. Used with permission.)

(Based on A Song of Faith)

In worship this morning, Kind, Compassionate, and Present God, we sing of a church with purpose: faith nurtured and hearts comforted, gifts shared for the good of all. We are a community of broken but hopeful believers, yet, Lord Jesus, we would love as you first loved us. We are seeking to be faithful servants of God, here where we live and work. Meet us. Heal us. Empower us. Enable us. Amen.

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down - Voices United #395 Kim-guitar, Erin-flute

Refrain:

Come in come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

1 You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain,
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family. R

2 God is with us in this place,
like a mother's warm embrace.
We're all forgiven by God's grace,
for we are a part of the family. R

3 There's life to be shared
in the bread and the wine,
we are the branches Christ is the vine. This is God's temple, it's not yours or mine, but we are a part of the family. R

4 There's rest for the weary and health
for us all, there's a yoke that is easy,
and a burden that's small.
So come in and worship and answer the call, for we are a part of the family. R

Storytime Rev. Kim Vidal

Good morning!

Here we are on our second Sunday of our stewardship campaign at BCUC and today we are going to talk about how we take care of money.

Have you ever been given a daily or a weekly money allowance by your parents? What do you do with that money entrusted to you? Do you keep them in your wallet and not spend them? Or do you run to the nearest convenience store and buy your favourite snack or candy? Or have you thought of saving a part of it? How do you deal with money given to you?

Let me tell you of a story of a young boy named Pete who was given $2.50 cents as his daily allowance. Pete was so happy receiving this money from his parents that he thought of ways how to use them. He knows that this money was given freely by his parents without asking him to do any chores. It was a gift.

Pete realized that his parents work hard in earning money so that his family will have food on the table, a comfortable house to live in and enjoy the basic necessities in life. He made a promise to use his allowance wisely and not to use it for unnecessary things.

Pete also knows that not all children have the same privilege of receiving an allowance from their parents. One of his friends for example, comes to school with worn-out shoes and Pete made a promise to himself that he would give his friend a new pair of shoes for his birthday.

Every Sunday, Pete enjoys coming to church with his parents and he learned from Sunday School that the work of the church goes far and beyond the church building. One time, there was a fund raising for children with no decent beds to sleep on. Another time, there was a fundraising to help children in Zambia. Pete also learned that the church is helping some families who cannot afford to spend time on a weekend for a free family camping. Pete would like to help the church raise funds for these wonderful projects to help others.

So Pete came with a neat idea of dividing his allowance so that it will be used wisely. Pete found 3 jars and labelled one “spending”, one “saving”, and one “giving”. With his 10 quarters, he put 5 quarters for spending, 3 quarters for saving and 2 quarters for giving. Pete felt so proud of himself that at the end of the week, he spent $8.75 for his favourite snacks, saved $5.25 for his friend’s shoes and gave $3.50 for the church fund-raising!

I wonder how many of us are like Pete? I’m sure many of us are just like him. Well, I know one for sure who volunteered his time and talents to look after our finances at BCUC for so many years. I was told he was our treasurer for 17 long years! Imagine that! Today, we are honouring Mr. Bill Johnson for his exemplary work not only as a treasurer but also as the chair of the Finance Committee. Allow me to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Bill for his commitment, faithfulness and incredible skills in managing the church’s finances for 17 years.

Bill, you have blessed us with your time, talents and treasures. You have served well and we are very grateful for it. We wish you all the best as you enjoy your retirement from your work as our church treasurer with love and prayers from all of us! Thank you, Bill.

Jordan: Hello everyone!

As you know, my name is Jordan Berard and I am the Acting Chair of the BCUC Board.

On behalf of the congregation, I just want to take a moment today to acknowledge and thank and celebrate Bill Johnston for his many, many years of dedicated service, stewardship and leadership as our church’s Treasurer and as the Chair of the Financial Management committee.

As many of you know and can appreciate, Bill has steadfastly guided the finances of this congregation through surpluses and deficits. Through good times and bad times. Through years of plenty and years of pandemic, and for that we are all very grateful.

We are also grateful that Bill always encouraged committees to find exciting ways to finance projects, and to spend money on things that would enrich the building, expand our church community, and enhance our worship services. He did all of this, though, while also preaching responsible spending. As a member of the Board, I can always hear Bill’s voice in my head (even when I’m spending my own money on something…) saying “and where will the money come from”? The reality is that I learned more about responsible financial management from working with Bill than any math course could have taught me.

I know I’m not the only one who feels overwhelmed and anxious when confronted with spreadsheets of numbers and the names of directed funds and bank accounts, and revenue and expenses. As you might be able to tell, I don’t know how to talk about money very well and my math skills are slowly being eclipsed by my oldest son’s. But somehow (and with a lot of patience, for sure), Bill always managed to help me understand the state of the church’s finances and to understand what we could be doing to strengthen those finances. After many years of sitting on the church Board, I can finally look at the financial reports and make some sense of them, though I still panic a little when I see the colour red…

On a personal level, I also want to say that I’ve learned a lot from Bill’s professionalism and leadership. Bill was one of the first people to encourage me to take on my own leadership role at the church. In his quiet and humble way, Bill Johnson has been a role model to many people at BCUC, and for this, Bill, we are all very grateful.

You know, it feels strange to be celebrating someone who has contributed as much to our congregation as Bill has over a video – and without a cake!! – but the pandemic has forced us to make the most with the tools we currently have. I promise you we will get to eat that Thank You cake soon, Bill!

Bill, on behalf of the congregation, on behalf of the BCUC Board, and on my own behalf: Thank you for all that you have done for BCUC. In the words of Winston Churchill, “we make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." Thank you for all that you have given to the life of our congregation, Bill. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.

Bob: Bill, it has been a pleasure to work with you for many years on the Finance Committee. Our church finances are quite complex but you always had a good understanding of how it all fits together. As Directed Funds Treasurer I appreciated your thoughtful advice on where a deposit or withdrawal should be directed. Thanks, Bill, for all your guidance as Chair for these many years.

Ellen: It has been my pleasure to have you come to the office for cheque signing over all these years and we often had a little visit then. You came faithfully unless off at a conference in some corner of the world or enjoying a timeshare holiday. You always advise us when you would be away and that was appreciated. Well done good and faithful Finance Chair! Thank you!

Hymn: We Give Our Thanks - More Voices #187

1. We give our thanks to God, (4X)

2. We give our hands to you, (3X)
because you reached for us.

3. We give our eyes to you, (3X)
because you looked for us.

4. We give our feet to you, (3X)
because you walk with us.

5. We give our hearts to you, (3X)
because you first loved us.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: James Eaton

(Beth Johnston, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22 Year C. Used with permission)

Open our hearts to the mystery of your word, Holy God. Open our spirits to its meaning for our lives. Be with us as we listen for and receive your word today. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 21-30 (NRSV)

21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “From a Celebrity’s Welcome to the Cliff’s Edge” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.”

I chose this response to today’s reading on purpose because, quite honestly, when I realized this was the Gospel reading for my time to lead worship this month, I eagerly looked to see what else was on the Lectionary for this week. The familiar Corinthian passage about love is there – that seemed much more comfortable and it also seemed like an easy one to tie into our Stewardship theme. I thought I had my mind made up, but something kept drawing me back to this story. I was intrigued by the fact that today’s reading didn’t just follow the one from last week; it didn’t begin where the last left off; it circled back and included that last verse again – “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” – a repetition for emphasis? What is so important about this line that it is being drawn to our attention once more? What is the Spirit saying to us?

Even as I began to formulate my thoughts around that letter to the Corinthians, I felt the Spirit saying to me, “Not so fast, Lorrie Lowes! Read that line again. I have a feeling that you didn’t really get it.”

Now, in our Bible, Jesus doesn’t repeat this line but I have a feeling that he would agree with the Spirit on this one. The people sitting in the synagogue listening to Jesus that morning missed the point of what he was saying. If you remember, when we left them last week they were amazed at his gracious words. Here was one of their own, a small-town boy who was making big waves in the wider world, performing incredible healings and wondrous miracles – and now he had come home. Just imagine how much he will do for them, his people, the ones who nurtured him and watched him grow. He repeated the familiar words of Isaiah,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

It was a big task that the Spirit of the Lord gave to Isaiah so long ago – and now here was Jesus, ready to take it on for them – isn’t that what he said?

“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

As Jesus looked out on that admiring crowd, I imagine that he saw the expectation in their faces. They knew he had done great things in Capernaum. He could see that they were waiting with excitement to see what he would do right here in his hometown. And I think he knew that they didn’t get his point. They had great expectations. They saw Jesus, the miracle-worker, but they completely missed Jesus, the prophet.

“No prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown,” he says. I hear him say it with a sigh. A prophetic message is not what these proud people of Jesus’ hometown are looking for. They want to share a little of the glory that surrounds this boy who grew up down the street. They want their share of the healing he is giving to others. They want a feel-good sermon. However, prophets don’t come to make you feel better, their purpose is to make you look at your life in a new way, to make you see the changes necessary to improve the world – changes you need to make. Prophets don’t say, “Sit back and relax, I will make things better.” If anything, prophets tend to make us feel uncomfortable. They push us to see, not just the problems in the world, but our role – our responsibility – to do something new, something transformative. Prophets put the hard issues right back into our own hands.

His home congregation wasn’t just disappointed, they were filled with rage! How dare he come home to criticize! How dare he refuse to offer them the healing mercies he gave to strangers! Why did he have to spoil this feel-good moment?

Think back, says Jesus, to the great prophets you know from the past. Elijah could have kept himself busy with the widows in his homeland, Israel, but he was sent to help an outsider, a widow in Sidon. There were many lepers right at home in Israel, but Elisha cleansed Naaman, an outsider from Syria. God’s vision of a better world isn’t just about helping ourselves; it’s about seeing the places where help is needed and reaching beyond our own small circle into the bigger community. We know that, of course. It is why we work so hard at reaching out through our SOSA projects and why we support Mission and Service. But, there is another similarity in these two stories that Jesus refers to that I believe is important for us to hear. In my Midrash study group this week, we noticed that Elijah didn’t just produce a magic porridge pot for the widow in Sidon; he asked that she first take care of his needs by feeding him. When Naaman showed up at the door of the great prophet Elisha expecting healing, Elisha didn’t even go to the door to see him; he sent a messenger to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan, leaving Naaman furious at the lack of caring and respect. Perhaps Jesus is reminding the congregation isn’t about expecting someone will come along and do what’s needed, it’s about being a full participant in the healing and the work yourself.

Poor Jesus! It’s hard to deliver a hard truth at any time, maybe even especially when the listeners are people you love and care about, people you see as family. To make it even more difficult, Jesus chose to deliver that hard message in a place where people had gathered to refresh their souls, to give praise and gratitude to God and, on this particular sabbath, to welcome a home-grown hero. How dare he?!

I think Jesus was making a public commitment that morning in Nazareth. He read the words of Isaiah and promised out loud that he was taking up the challenge, taking personal responsibility to make life better for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me” he quotes from Isaiah. But, he wasn’t standing on a pedestal claiming to use some special God-given power to change the world… he was sitting amongst equals, acknowledging the responsibility that comes with receiving our blessings; he was challenging each one of them to do the same.

I wish Luke had told us more about what happened that morning. What else was said, not just by Jesus but by the people who were there to listen. What led them from being “amazed at his gracious words” to being “filled with rage”? After all, I’m sure we’ve all heard sermons that made us feel uncomfortable, but we tend to leave grumbling, perhaps telling each other, “Well that wasn’t what I was expecting to hear today!” We might even say, “Well, I won’t be back again while she’s the one preaching!” We don’t try to throw the minister off a cliff! Well, not so far anyway…

In fairness, Jesus lived that day, but it wasn’t because the crowd calmed down. Luke tells us that he passed through the crowd and went on his way. We also know that this doesn’t mean that Jesus changed his message; in fact, we know that he continued to preach about reaching out to others, even the outsiders, about sharing our blessings, about taking action to make life better for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. We aren’t told that he ran screaming into the bush or that his disciples quickly surrounded him and led him to safety … no, Luke tells us that “He passed through the crowd and went on his way. Perhaps that rage wasn’t all about Jesus after all; maybe it was rooted in something happening right there in their community, in their own struggle with what it means to follow the laws of God.

Perhaps you’ve heard the quote from the fictional Irish bartender, Mr. Dooley, a character invented for a column in the Chicago Evening Post back in 1893. He says, “The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” I’ve heard that phrase used to describe the work of a preacher too. It certainly seems like a philosophy that Jesus was following that day. Actually, it seems like a philosophy that could describe his entire ministry, doesn’t it? Jesus – healer, teacher, companion, brother, guide – all things that comfort us, for certain – but, accepting him as Christians also means we have to know him as prophet. We can’t just accept the gifts without also accepting the responsibility.

Ah! I bet you just realized why I decided to focus on this reading in the context of our Stewardship campaign!

Stewardship is one of the scariest topics to a minister. Rev. Kim told us this week that when she and her colleagues in the “Backstory Preaching” program were asked for the most difficult topic to preach on, the one they tried to avoid, stewardship was by far the most common example, and I am certain any clergy you ask would agree. We all want to be the minister who offers spiritually uplifting sermons and comfort to the community. A preacher who does that is easy to love, after all, and we all want to be loved. It takes real courage to tackle the uncomfortable topics – and talking about money is one of the most uncomfortable of all. It’s risky for a beloved minister to stand up and talk about money and time and making your contribution. And, I think it might be especially risky in a congregation where things are working well. This is an amazing community of faith here at BCUC. We are blessed with a beautiful building, a dedicated staff, wonderful music, and lots of great opportunities for learning and socializing. We have a wonderful group of caring folks that make up a congregation that is large by today’s standards in any church. We take care of each other and we also support a host of outreach activities locally and globally. It feels good just to be here on a Sunday morning… so why do we spend three of those Sundays talking about stewardship when there are so many wonderful things to celebrate?

Well, one reason is that all of these blessings wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the fact that many of the people who fill our pews to be uplifted, comforted, and connected to a faith community, weren’t also aware of the responsibility that comes with those blessings. It’s to remind us that the money we put in the offering plate or pledge on PAR, isn’t just a way to tip the minister for a good sermon on a Sunday morning. It is necessary to keep the building safe, comfortable and available to the community. It is necessary to provide all the extras like choir music and audio-visual equipment and piano tuning that make our services special. It is necessary to provide the learning materials for our Sunday School programs. It is necessary to enable those outreach projects to continue to help others. One of the things we are proud of in this church is that our givings to Mission & Service and to places like the Ottawa West End Community Chaplaincy, the Famsac food bank, Refuge N.O.W., and Multifaith Housing are not dependent on specific targeted donations; they are part of our Operating Budget, an important part of how we are being church in the world – a big part of why we are here at all. So, our budget is big, yes, but it goes beyond our get-togethers on Sunday mornings, it reflects our work as followers of Jesus. So, this campaign asks you to think about all of that when you make your decision of how you will support that work this year. You are not asked to give till it hurts – you are asked to give till it helps.

And, of course, this campaign isn’t simply about money. It is also about sharing your time and your talents. The package of materials that was sent to you last week tells the story of the many committees that bring all of this work we do to life. Even a quick read through those pages will tell you that it takes many hours and many hands to ensure that everything is in place to ensure that we continue to be the amazing presence we have become in the community. Where can your hands help? You have already committed an hour on Sunday morning to gather in worship; is there another hour or two you can offer to make sure the work of the church continues? There are many needs in the community that we haven’t been able to address yet, where might you help us expand our outreach? Take a few minutes to consider the things you are most passionate about; think of the things you most enjoy doing and the things you are good at – and look to see where those gifts can be part of the life of the church.

There’s nothing wrong with coming to church on Sunday to be uplifted and comforted. I hope that is what you find here. I also hope that you find the vision of the kind of world Jesus knew is possible – and I hope you find the courage to leave your comfort zone a bit to help make that vision a reality, even in a small way.

The story of Jesus’ return to his home synagogue that we read last week was lovely, wasn’t it? It would have been so easy to leave it at that. It was a feel-good story of our beloved Jesus. Why did Luke have to mess it up with this part about conflict and anger? Perhaps it was a reminder that blessings – our own and those we give to others – don’t fall magically from the heavens, that they are not created by one hero. They take the efforts of many – human gifts of time and talent and resources. Perhaps it is a reminder that Jesus wasn’t sent to fix the world but to teach us how to do it. Perhaps it is a reminder that setting out to fix the world is a necessary, even blessed, endeavour but that it takes work, and it sometimes comes with risks… A reminder that when we set out on this path Jesus asks us to follow, we will find some steep and rocky climbs along the way and that even when we are pushed to the very edge of the cliff, not to give up but to pass through the crowd and continue on our way…

“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.” Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Divine Spirit,

We are grateful for your presence with us, today and every day, as we discern your call to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free. Help us as we tackle the hard questions. Help as we strive to be good followers of Jesus.

In this time of stewardship and annual reports, of celebrating those whose work and generosity make us grateful and proud, open our hearts and minds to opportunities to be active participants as the life-giving call to be church in this time and place continues.

We pray for this world, for the planet we inhabit and all the diversity of life it sustains. We give thanks for all the gifts it gives us, for the water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the beauty that fills our senses. In our gratefulness, give us the courage to do the things we know are necessary to heal the earth and to ensure its bounty for future generations.

We pray for the people of the world. We pray for those who suffer from hunger and from trauma, from illness and injury, from violence and the ravages of war. Open our eyes to the suffering we know exists and the suffering we cannot see. In our awareness, give us the clarity to see the places where we need to feed others before thinking of our own wants.

We pray for this faith family, for those among us who are dealing with illness, grief, loneliness and fear. As we find ourselves weary from the worry, the uncertainty, the isolation, and the seeming never-ending changes that this prolonged time of pandemic has brought, give us the motivation to be participants in the work of healing and restoration.

As we move into a new week, a new month, we remember that in each new joy and each new responsibility and each new struggle we face, we are not alone. You are with us in the celebration and in the work. With that assurance in our hearts, we recite together the ancient prayer Jesus gave to his friends,

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your 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 slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(Jeanne Wilson, Gathering A/C/E 2021/22 Year C. Used with permission)

Loving God, when Jesus read from the writings of Isaiah, he found his own job description. It was clearly outlined. He was to bring good news to those downhearted, freedom for those in so many types of prisons, clarity for those who lacked understanding, help for anyone in need. As we offer our own gifts today, may they be used to continue Jesus’ work. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Bob Root, Gathering, A/C/E 2021/22, Year C. Used with permission)

With the confidence of the presence of God within us and around us,
With the promise of the companionship of Christ on our every journey,
With the enlivening of the Spirit to keep us joyful,
Let us go now to be God’s people in the world. Amen.

Hymn: We are Pilgrims on a Journey - Voices United #595

1. We are pilgrims on a journey
Fellow travellers on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

2. Sister, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

3. I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.

4. I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
Til we’ve seen this journey through.

5. When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

6. Brother, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

Departing Music: Family of Faith – MacKenzie BCUC Choir Oct. 4 2015

(over announcements)

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Connie Davidson

January 22, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 23, 2022

Connie Davidson

January 22, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

3rd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 1

January 23, 2022

Theme: “Celebrate our Many Gifts / Give thanks for our Life as Good Stewards”

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Beside Thy Cradle - Violin:Leslie Wade recorded Sunday Jan 7th, 2018

Beside thy cradle here I stand
O Thou that ever livest
Accept me, 'tis my mind and heart
My soul, my strength, my ev'ry part
That thou from me requirest.

Gerhardt/Luther, translation - Troutbeck, harmonization - Bach

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this 3rd Sunday after Epiphany. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere, we are glad that you have joined us in our worship service today.

Due to the rising COVID variant cases in Ontario, we will not be offering in-person worship service until further notice. The worship service will be offered online via Youtube and through telephone. Check our website for the link, Sunday school resources and other announcements at bcuc.org.
While the church building is not open for in-person gatherings, the work of the church carries on. Please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls, prayers or via online.
And for those of you who are able to join us, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11:00 am. Check your email for the link.

We are again on our annual stewardship campaign until Feb 6th. Here now is Bill McGee for the..

Stewardship Moment Bill McGee, Chair – Stewardship Team

Good Morning. My name is Bill McGee of the Stewardship Committee. You should have received the Stewardship Material for 2022 by now electronically, or any day now by Canada Post. If you have not, please notify the office.

The package is generally the same as last year. In the package is:

A colourful brochure describing the work of the church, with photos of the Church and the new Portico.
There is a message from our acting Board Chair Jordan Berard about the current trends in our church that you will find interesting. And our staff.
There a message about the projects of the Property Management people , which I always find interesting.
There is the budget for 2021 for your reference; the 2022 Budget will be available at the AGM in early March. There is a message from minister Rev Kim Vidal and me and other information.
As well, the package has a two-page pink form describing the many opportunities for volunteering.
There is another page that we would like you to return to the Church; one half to indicate your interests in volunteering, and a half-page for you to indicate your financial commitment to the Church for 2022. Instructions are on the reverse.

If you received the Stewardship information electronically, you will need to provide an envelope to return your intentions to the Church, by mailing, or placing in the letter slot by the kitchen. Please mark STEWARDSHIP on the envelope so that we may keep the information confidential as needed.

As background information I have sent you an email individually detailing your present Time and Talent entries in the church database. This will come from my personal email account.

We hope that you will be able to return the completed forms in two weeks, by 6 Feb, as this will allow planning for the virtual AGM 2022 on Sunday March 6.

There is no Committee Fair this year. Instead, we are sending you, electronically, information about the good work of the Service, Outreach and Social Action committee and the other church committees.

Thank you on behalf of the Stewardship team of Bob Boynton, Barb and Bob Noyes, Ron Prince, whose exemplary work has now been relinquished to Larry Ryan, and Rev Kim Vidal. We also express our thanks and appreciation to our ever-helpful Office Administrators, Ruth Timms and Ellen Boynton.

Centering for Worship

Friends, as we as we reflect on our call to stewardship, remember these words from Thomas Merton: “To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything that we receive…. Every breath we draw is a gift of God’s love; every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from God.” Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Jan & Norm Pound

(Bill Perry, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019, Year C. Used with Permission)

Light is a wonderful gift.
It illuminates the space we are in.
The action of light we describe in a variety of ways:
light that clarifies;
light that warns us of danger;
light that guides our footsteps;
light that calms our fears;
light that offers insights.
As we gather in worship, we light this Christ candle,
A symbol of God’s presence with us.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Catherine Tovell, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019, Year C, Used with permission.)

Come to worship, each and every one of you.
Come as individuals to be spiritually nourished.
Come as families and neighbours,
friends and acquaintances,
each one an important part of the community of faith.
Come to worship with one another,
with strangers and with all God would send among us.
We come as the body of Christ
rejoicing with each other in our joys
and suffering with one another in our sorrow.
Come, let us worship!

Prayer of Approach

(Jeanne Wilson, Gathering, ACE 2021-2022, Year C. Used with permission.)

Creator, Timeless, Loving God,
We gather to worship knowing that you are with us.
During this season of Epiphany,
we journey the path that Jesus travelled between
his birth and the start of his ministry.
We come to learn as he learned, with open hearts and minds.
We come to understand our place in your world
as Jesus learned to understand his place in this world.
Give us the courage to take our place
and to travel the path with Jesus. Amen.

Hymn: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky – Voices United #509 - BCUC Choir, Leslie-violin

1.I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest 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? R

Refrain:
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.

2.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 word to them.
Whom shall I send? R

3.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? R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

This is the first Sunday of our Stewardship Campaign. I have a feeling that when you heard that, you stopped paying attention because you think it is all about money and it doesn’t have anything to do with you… and, I also have a feeling that this happened with some of the adults in the congregation too because talk about money makes people uncomfortable. Well… I’m not going to talk about money and I’m not going to talk just to the adults. I want you to think about stewardship in a different way.

We actually talk about stewardship a lot in church and in school and even just in our everyday life. It’s not a program, it’s a way of living – of living with gratitude and care for the world around us. Stewardship is the way we take care of the things that are important to us. It doesn’t have to be something big and flashy, in fact, the best kind of stewardship happens in the little things you do every day. Every time you sort your trash into recycle or compost or re-usable items, you are being a good steward of the environment. Each time you help someone, or share a smile or a hug, you are being a good steward of relationships. Stewardship is all about taking care of the blessings and gifts that we have in our lives and sharing those blessings and gifts with others. Stewardship is all about making the world a better place.

Know what? I think the children and youth in our congregation are already practicing good stewardship! Every time the CGs or Bell Canto sing, it makes the congregation smile. It makes the church service better; it makes us feel proud of all of you. That’s stewardship – sharing your gift of music. Every time you take part in lighting the candle or reading scripture, every time you bring a donation for the food bank or help set up tables for the Christmas Fair, each time you help hand out bulletins or greet someone as they arrive at church – all of those things are part of being a good steward in the church – and every time you take what you learned in church about kindness and sharing and loving your neighbour out into the world, you are practising stewardship. And the bonus is that every time you do one of these things, you not only make the world a better place, you feel good too!

So, you might think that we really don’t need a stewardship campaign then, since we are all being good stewards anyway – but this campaign is about showing you more opportunities for sharing your gifts. I was looking through the Time and Talents pages that get sent out at this time of year. It’s more than two pages of things people can do to share their gifts in the church, things that help us be the best we can be at being church – things that don’t mean just giving money. So, when I read through it this week, I was looking for ways that kids, youth, and young adults can help…

Here are some things that children can help with – greeting and handing out bulletins, lighting the Christ Candle, reading scripture, taking part in skits or special presentations, singing in the choir, playing an instrument in the band or offering a solo sometimes, taking part in Sacred Dance, sharing your artwork for the hallway, saying prayers or making cards for people who are sick or sad or lonely, sharing some of the work you do in Sunday School online or in the Main Hall…

And there are other opportunities for our older youth and young adults to take part too: serving communion, helping with the nursery or Sunday School classes, and I know there are some youth and young adults out there that could be a big help with some of the technology involved in creating our online presence – making Powerpoint slides or videos, working on social media, helping with our website, or helping with our audio-visual system.

I also know that young voices are welcome - and needed - in some of the work we do as a church. For example, the Service, Outreach, and Social Action committee always needs extra hands to help with the work of taking church out into the world, and certainly wants to hear your ideas for other places we could help in the community. Think of the ways children and youth of BCUC have already taken part in this important work: when you brought a donation for the food bank, or helped with the “Fill the Bus” food drive, when you raised awareness and funds by launching the Sleeping Children Around the World project, or took part in a partnership visit to Nicaragua or El Salvador or Zambia. There is certainly a place for young people on our SOSA committee. Don’t just come and ask if the committee will help you with your project – come and be a part of the committee that makes those decisions!

Other committees would value your ideas and your enthusiasm too. Committees like Family Ministry, or Two Men and a Stove, or the committees that plan and organize the Christmas Fair and Garage Sale. Maybe you’d like to help at the Board level by being a youth representative. We need your voices there for sure.

Maybe you are someone who prefers to work with your hands. Setting up tables and chairs and taking them down again is a job that we often ask young folks to do when there is an event – but maybe you are really good at painting or gardening, or cooking or sewing. The Property committee or the UCW would be more than happy to hear from you!

We are surely a blessed bunch of people here at BCUC! God wants us to enjoy those blessings for sure. The Stewardship Campaign is a time to think about the good things we enjoy in our lives and to find ways to share those blessings with others. It’s a time to consider how we can use our time, our talents, and yes, our money, to take care of things that help us grow, to do the things that make us proud and happy, and to make the world a better place for everyone.

Hymn: Living Christ, Bring Us Love – Voices United #599 CGS/BellCanto/Erin Berard

1 Living Christ, bring us love,
love for every stranger;
Living Christ, bring us love,
love from cross and manger.

2 Living Christ, bring us joy,
joy of earth and heaven;
Living Christ, bring us joy,
joy of sin forgiven.

3 Living Christ, bring us peace,
peace with God and neighbour;
Living Christ, bring us peace,
peace in all our labour.

4 Living Christ, bring us love,
love shared at your table;
Living Christ, bring us love,
love from cross and stable.

5 Living Christ, lead us out,
out to tell the story;
Living Christ, lead us out,
out to show your glory.

Words & Music © Daniel Charles Damon, 1992 Hope Publishing
Song # 76605 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Mary Schmieder

God of Epiphany, open our ears to the call of your voice.
Open our eyes to see the wonders of your love.
Bless us as we hear your holy Word in fresh ways. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 14-21 (NRSV) The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.

15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,

17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Anthem: A Tapestry of Love – Chappell (UCW 50th anniversary song in 2010) in honour of UCW, Ruth and turkey pies! Grace Notes – recorded Jan 27, 2019

These are the threads of our common lives
These are the threads soft and strong
Joining together women near and far
In a tapestry of love.

Sermon: “Today, The Word Has Been Fulfilled” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayer: Loving God, as we ponder on your Word, help us to hear your call to be good stewards, as we follow the teachings and the example of Jesus. Amen.

There are three timelines that inform our existence: past, present and future, also known as yesterday, today and tomorrow. Eleanor Roosevelt in her prime years of writing once said: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why we call it the present.” “Today” is one of my favourite words. You see, I have embraced the philosophy of living one day at a time. To seize the day. To make the most of it. To embrace each day as if new opportunities come knocking at my door. And that is truly a gift!

However, the word “today” could also be dangerous and risky. It provokes one to act here and now. It calls for an urgent response to a situation. It pushes one to decide at the moment. If someone tells me to pack my bags today and only today for a free trip to somewhere warm and cozy, will I take the bite? Today? Right now? In this situation? I don’t think I’ll go. Not when Omicron is scaring many people all over the world. Not when the hospitals and health care facilities are over capacity and the number of deaths is soaring. Not when I know I’d be alone in my travel and certainly not when I would risk myself to being possibly exposed to the virus. Not today, thanks.

Currently, the world, in general, is not in a good shape, despite the many blessings that we receive day by day. The COVID pandemic is not the only current issue that’s instilling fear and uncertainty in people’s heart and mind, but also, other global issues that need our urgent attention. There is the ongoing violence and wars in many parts of the world; the ongoing challenges of climate change; the devastating aftermath of natural catastrophes and the social and religious issues confronting many societies. Add to that, the never-ending homelessness and poverty and economic recessions. On a personal level, some of us are confronted with breakdowns in relationships and the alarming cases of grief, illness, anxiety, depression, addiction, and despair. Sometimes we easily fall back into yesterday’s wonderful promises or the same-old way of thinking. There are also times when the fear of what tomorrow might bring blur us from appreciating the blessings that we receive today.

Jesus has a message for us today. Let’s travel down the memory lane of yesterday when right after his baptism and his grueling temptations in the wilderness, Jesus has come home to his hometown in Nazareth, the place where he was raised. "Small town" hardly begins to describe Nazareth, since the entire village was perhaps about "two to four hundred people," more than enough to fill up a synagogue on a good Sabbath Day. Like one who is looking forward to a wonderful homecoming, Jesus went to synagogue on the Sabbath and was asked to read the scripture.

So there’s Jesus up in the pulpit. The attendant handed him the scroll of Isaiah. Jesus skimmed through the scroll and found what he wanted to read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of God’s favour.” This is Jesus’ supposed-to-be first sermon and one can only imagine how his family and friends and the whole community might react to him. When he reads Isaiah's words, Jesus places himself inside a tradition that is alive today…that of prophetic ministry and witness. This passage in Isaiah lays the foundation on which communities of justice and peace will be built. The social gospel is born in that moment and millions of people have followed Jesus down the path. When Jesus finished reading, he gave the scroll back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of all in the congregation were fixed on him. Then Jesus gave his one-line sermon: "Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

“Today” is Jesus' first public word - the first word remembered in the synagogue. Today, God’s word is fulfilled. The word “fulfilled” when translated means exactly that, “filled to the full”. It is a word that describes complete accomplishment. This word changes things. Dramatically. Nothing will ever be the same again. Borrowing words from the prophet Isaiah, the Lukan Jesus is setting forth his ministry’s agenda: bring good news to the poor and the downtrodden; to liberate the captives and the slaves; to recover the sight of those who are physically, morally and spiritually blind; to question the oppressive empire and free the oppressed; and to proclaim God's jubilee year-when debts are cancelled and land is returned to its rightful owner.

"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Debbie Thomas (journeywithjesus.net) interprets this one-line sermon this way: “God’s Word lives, here and now. It is organic, it breathes, it moves in fresh and revolutionary ways. The Word of God is neither dull nor dead. It is alive.” These are earth-shaking, life-changing words. The irony of this story, however, lies in the fact that the very people who need liberation, who need Good News, find Jesus’ words offensive. Jesus reminds them that the time for change, for transformation, for renewal is right now. Right at this very moment! It's no wonder that some people in the synagogue had a hard time listening to what Jesus was saying. His sermon caused a stir among the hearers because to my knowledge, Jesus was saying that what they hoped for did not happen in the past nor is happening in the distant future. Their hope is already in their midst. This word of good news from Isaiah is being fulfilled even as they listen.

Jesus proclaims in his message that today is God's day. God is to be encountered here and now in this real world. God is present in the human mess of intrigues, failure, betrayal, misunderstanding, selfishness and doubts. God is also present in moments of blessings and celebration. God is in the present moment whether it is a moment of joy or of pain. Whether we notice it or not, God is in every event and happenings in our lives. That is what makes this one-liner sermon of Jesus so powerful.

Sometimes the hardest lessons to learn are the things we think we already know, and the hometown crowd didn’t appreciate the one-line sermon Jesus offered. Did his sermon scare the folks in Nazareth? Did they afflict them of bringing good news to the poor, the oppressed, the captive, the blind and those who need God’s year of jubilee? Truly, Jesus’ sermon is an invitation to change and transformation. It disturbs the status quo. It challenges the existing culture and tradition; it changes neighborhoods, workplaces, the most cherished institutions, and how an individual or a community will make decisions. Surely, it is difficult to hear an inconvenient truth without getting defensive and angry.

But if the words from the prophet Isaiah were the clarion call for Jesus, a summary of his mission statement, his plan of action, as Jesus’ followers, we need to follow Jesus’ leading. What is the good news for us today? Is there good news for those who are affected by this ongoing pandemic? Is there good news for the homeless, the poor, the unemployed? Is there good news for the world where people are struggling to make ends meet? Is there any good news for the most vulnerable in our society? The children, the women, the elderly, the homeless? Is there good news for the displaced, the uprooted, the marginalized? Is there good news for the world today? Diana Butler Bass challenges me in her sermon:[1] “Today is a deeply dangerous spiritual reality – because today insists that we lay aside both our memories and our dreams to embrace fully the moment of now. The past romanticizes the work of our ancestors; the future scans the horizons of our descendants and depends upon them to fix everything. But today places us in the midst of the sacred drama, reminding us that we are actors and agents in God’s desire for the world.”

Friends, we are God’s actors and agents in transforming the world! Starting today and in the next two weeks, our faith community at BCUC, is embarking on an annual stewardship campaign. Are we ready to pledge our time, talents and treasures? Are we prepared to be co-creators and stewards of God? We do not know what the outcome of this campaign would be. We looked at the past years’ results and we cannot help but compare that those pre-pandemic years gave us better results. We do not know where this campaign will lead us, but I truly believe that today and each day, God makes all things possible! I truly believe that the ministry of this congregation, our vision and mission statements, promise a new way of being in the community. The time to take Jesus’ challenge seriously is here and now. The time to commit to action is today. Let us not dwell what happened yesterday. Let us not simply wait for tomorrow to come. Let us do what we should need to do in the name of love and justice TODAY. Hand in hand together, God will be with us. Let me close with these words by an unknown author:

There are two days in every week
about which we should not worry,
Two days which should be kept free of fear and apprehension.

One of these days is YESTERDAY,
With its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders,
Its aches and pains.
YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back YESTERDAY.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
We cannot erase a single word we said.
YESTERDAY is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is TOMORROW
With its possible adversities, its burdens, its larger promise.
TOMORROW is also beyond our immediate control.

TOMORROW, the sun will rise,
Either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
But it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in TOMORROW
For it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day – TODAY.
Anyone can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two eternities
– YESTERDAY and TOMORROW –That we sometimes break down.

It is not the experience of TODAY that drives people mad.
It is remorse or bitterness for something which happened YESTERDAY
And the dread of what TOMORROW may bring.

Let us, therefore, live but ONE day at a time.

Today, God’s word has been fulfilled in our hearing!
For this good news, let us give thanks. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Holy One, source of love and compassion, you call us today as your followers. You call us to be good stewards entrusted with gifts of your abundance so we can share these gifts with others. You have given us the ability to make incredible things happen. Remind us again to listen to your call, to experience your holy presence in our lives. Help us to see You in the moment-by-moment possibilities - to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from the wisdom of our hearts.

Strengthen us in our calling. Where there is injustice, help us to offer healing and reconciliation. Where there is poverty, help us to reach out. Where there is grief, help us to give comfort. Where there is hopelessness, help us to bring hope. Where there is hunger, help us to provide. Where there is violence, help us to be advocates of truth and peace.

God of healing and comfort, you have called us to give a word of encouragement to those overcome with illness and grief and to those who face diverse trials in life. Through us, touch them with your healing love. Through our prayers, embrace them in your gentle love. We continue to pray for our essential and health workers, for our leaders, as they continue to work hard in this pandemic time. We also pray for those families and individuals affected by COVID and other health issues. We pray for those grieving the death of loved ones here and elsewhere.

Compassionate God, we pray that you might speak to the hearts of your people in many places. We continue to pray for the world… May your light shine for those who are full of fear; for those who experience conflict, prejudice, hatred, persecution, and poverty. Through the warmth of your light may they sense justice, feel your love, and know peace.

May we follow Jesus as our leader. Speak to us, Spirit of Grace: of that hope which is our anchor; of that peace which is our rock; of that grace which is our refuge. Remind us to touch the lives of others by offering a kind word, a helping hand, a listening heart and a welcoming touch today and always. All these we ask in Jesus’ name who calls us from where we are and taught us this prayer we now recite together in the language of your choice…

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Jesus calls us from the margins into a great feast; he calls us out of a crowd, to healing;

he calls us from our old self to new life. Each day, we are called to minister to others in warm hospitality, healing mercies, and the promise of new beginnings. We respond to these calls through our giving this day. I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your 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 slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Generous God, for the gifts of time, talents and treasures delightfully given to us, we bring you our offering. May we use them to spread your love and hope for the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

(Beth W Johnston, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019, Year C. Used with permission)

Today, let us go from this place of worship
to lives of prayer and action.
May we be ready to proclaim the Good News,
despite the obstacles in our way.
May our lives set free those who are captive
and grant vision to those with failing imaginations.
May we stand firm and have courage
as we live the Good News into reality
Today, tomorrow and always. Amen.

Hymn: Who is My Mother? More Voices #178 Kim - guitar, Erin – flute, Abe

1 Who is my mother, who is my brother?
All those who gather round Jesus Christ:
Spirit blown people born from the Gospel
sit at the table, round Jesus Christ.

2 Differently abled, differently labelled,
widen the circle round Jesus Christ:
crutches and stigmas, culture’s enigmas,
all come together round Jesus Christ.

3 Love will relate us, colour or status
can’t segregate us round Jesus Christ:
family failings, human derailings
all are accepted round Jesus Christ.

4 Bound by one vision, met for one mission
we claim each other, round Jesus Christ:
here is my mother, here is my brother,
kindred in Spirit, through Jesus Christ.

Departing Music: What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Converse arr. Hyzer Abe:piano

(over announcements)

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

[1] Diana Butler-Bass sermon on January 24, 2016, “the Power of Today.

Connie Davidson

January 15, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 16, 2022

Connie Davidson

January 15, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

Second Sunday after Epiphany

January 16, 2022

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Rise Up Early in the Morning – John Ray & Susan Naylor Callaway

Sung by BCUC choir – Sunday Jan 24th 2016

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you on this 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. Today, we join Jesus in the gospel of John as he attends a wedding party at Cana, recalling the symbolic story of how Jesus turns water into wine. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere, we are glad that you have joined us today.

Due to the rising COVID variant cases in Ontario, we will not be offering in-person worship service until further notice. The worship service will be offered online via Youtube and by telephone. Check bcuc.org for the link, Sunday school resources and other announcements.

And for those of you who are able to join us, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11:00 am. Check your email for the link.

Friends, let us take this moment to reflect what running out of the symbolic turning of water into wine means for us in this season of Epiphany.

Come, let us worship God in spirit and in truth.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Ellen & Bob Boynton

We are called together in a spirit of gladness,
for the presence of God within and among us
lifts the shadows of gloom and offers us hope.
The light of Christ shines on!

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Come, feast in the abundance of God’s house!
Here, God invites us to drink from a fountain of life!
Here, we encounter the wedding feast in Cana,
when Jesus turns water into wine.
Here, God empowers us to find and share our own best gifts,
transforming our lives into newness.
Come, let us worship God who celebrates life with us!

Prayer of Approach

(Richard Einerson, and posted at http://www.richardeinerson.com/)

Empower us as we worship here and then enable us to impact the world for Jesus. Change the stagnant water of our lives to wine and touch us as you touched those people in Cana. Give us the vision to shape a new world where self-interest is tempered and corrected by love and compassion and a hunger for justice. Give to us the gift of being filled with new wine and new vision. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Hymn: Many Are the Lightbeams -Voices United #588 CGS/Bell Canto Erin:flute May 2021

2. Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
We are one in Christ.

3. Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one;
We are one in Christ.

4. Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
Servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one;
We are one in Christ.

5. Many are the members, the body is one,
Members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
We are one in Christ.

Words: Cyprian of Carthage, 252, Swedish para., Anders Frostenson, 1972. English trans. © David Lewis, 1983; Music © Olle Widestrand, 1974, arr. by Leonard Lythgoe , 1995.
Song # 01706 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

I miss parties! Do you? So many celebrations have had to be cancelled because of this pandemic -birthday parties, graduation parties, Hallowe’en parties, Christmas parties… I know that people have found ways to celebrate anyway, but it’s just not the same somehow. Nothing beats getting a whole lot of happy people together to share the fun – and the food! Parties are an important part of our culture – and I miss them.

In our Bible story today, Jesus, his mother, and his disciples are at a party. It’s a celebration of a wedding. In Jesus’ time, a wedding reception was a huge celebration. It didn’t last just a few hours; it went on for several days! It was one of the biggest reasons to celebrate and a very important part of the culture. Just imagine it! It would take a lot of planning – and a lot of food and drink! Well, at this particular wedding, something went wrong. They ran out of wine! Now, this might not seem like a big world problem but it would have been terrible for the hosts of the party.! They would be very embarrassed. It would have ruined the party.

I wonder what might be like that for us today… maybe if you had a birthday party and there wasn’t enough cake for everybody… or maybe there weren’t enough loot bags… That might kind of ruin the party feeling. It might not be life-changing in the long run – but it would have been a catastrophe at that moment in time.

Running out of wine that day was such a catastrophe that Jesus’ mother tells him, “You’ve got to do something to fix this!” At first, he says, “Not my problem, Mom. Why should I worry about this? This isn’t the time for me to do something.”

But Mary doesn’t believe that her son won’t do something to help. She has confidence in him and she is sure that he will step up. She tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. And Jesus does come to the rescue after all. He tells the servants to fill some jugs with water, and when they do, it has turned into wine. The party is saved!

It sounds a bit like a magic trick, doesn’t it? But, I think there is something more that we are supposed to learn from this story – something more than seeing Jesus as a magician.

Just like us, living through a pandemic, I think the people of Jesus’ time were tired. They were poor, they were being governed by a cruel emperor. Their spirits were low – and, even something as happy as a wedding was about to be ruined. The party would end with everyone feeling even worse than before.

We are tired. We want this Covid virus to disappear. We want to be able to hug our friends and go to school or church. We want to have a real party. We want someone like Jesus to do the magic or perform a miracle to make the world safe and happy again.

In this story, Jesus didn’t fix the world. He didn’t make the people rich. He didn’t fight the emperor. He took something as ordinary as water and used it to lift the people’s spirits – to make them happy, and less worried. He didn’t fix the world that day, he helped make this group of people happy and comfortable for a little while longer.

Mary told the servants to do what Jesus told them to do. I think that’s an important line for us to remember about this story. When the servants did what Jesus said, the wedding celebration was saved.

What if we do what Jesus told us to do? What if we showed love to our neighbour and shared our gifts and took care of our own little part of the world? Do you think it could make that small part of the world a little happier? What if everybody did some small thing to make the people around them happier?

This was Jesus’ first miracle – something small and just important to the people at that wedding. As he goes on in his ministry, he heals the sick and feeds the thousands. He takes care of the people he meets, even when they aren’t his friends or family. This little miracle of turning ordinary water into wine was just the beginning of what can happen once we start trying to make a difference for the people right in front of us, in the place where we are right now.

What little miracle can you do today to make your small part of the world a better place? I wonder what miracles you will go on to do in your life…

Let’s finish with a prayer:

God of miracles,

Thank you for all the little miracles that happen around us every day, and for the people who make them happen – front-line workers, delivery people, friends who call or send us letters, teachers who keep us connected to our friends and our learning, families who love us and keep us safe in these strange times.

Help us see that even things that seem ordinary can make a huge difference for the people around us. Help us see that we can be miracle workers in our own small way.

Amen.

Hymn: You Are Holy - More Voices #45 TeGrotenhuis family Jan 2021

1.You are holy… you show us the way. (4X)

Refrain:
You show us, you show us, you show us the way. (4X)

2.You are freedom…

3.You are justice…

Words and Music: © traditional song, South Africa
Song reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Dan Lanoue

God of abundant joy and overflowing grace, open us to your Word.
Open us to trust in your spirit’s presence and to follow Jesus’ leading to amazing renewal. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: John 2: 1-11 (NRSV) The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it.

9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom

10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

May God’s wisdom dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Music Interlude: Trumpet Tune – Purcell organ: Abe - May 2021

Sermon: “When the Wine Runs Out” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayer: God of abundant joy and overflowing love, open our hearts to reflect on your words and empower us to follow Jesus’ leading. Amen

Wedding mishaps! They happen from time to time! Here are some wedding mishaps that I have experienced in my years of ministry!

The bride was late for almost 30 minutes, during which time, the groom got nauseous and turned pale. The reason for the delay, the bride’s car had a flat tire coming to church.
The groom and best man got to the church on time, but they forgot to bring the ring.
A wedding ceremony was performed outdoors – under a canopy tent in the middle of a farm. As the bride and groom were exchanging their vows, the sky turned dark and heavy rains came pouring down and got us all wet. We have to run to the groom’s house with mud all over our shoes and clothes!

In today’s Gospel story, we meet Jesus and his mother, whom John did not name, but we all know it was Mary, at a wedding party in Cana and a mishap took place. In those days, weddings are celebrated through a 7-day feast at the groom’s house. Imagine that! John did not tell us who the host was or the two people getting married. We do not have a clue – but one can assume that it might be a "family affair" or a wedding in the village where Mary, Jesus and his disciples were invited. Mary is the one who notices that the wine has run out and tells Jesus to do something about it. You can almost feel the frustration and panic in her voice: “They have no wine!” Mary knew that the party is heading towards disaster because the wine is almost gone before the party is over. In those days, they regarded running out of wine as a social failure. It was shameful to run out of wine, especially at a wedding; and it could cause family pain and humiliation in the community - a crisis for the host family who is responsible for hospitality. Even the best laid planned and most favourable of human situations can sometimes turn sideways. I hear fear and panic in Mary's voice. “They have no wine!” With those words, Mary speaks a truth about our human condition that at some point we all experience. There comes a time in our lives when the wine runs out. When emptiness and barrenness kick in. The joyful party is over and our life is back to square one with no vitality whatsoever. Nothing seems to be sparkling within us and our world becomes bland and mundane. Like Mary, sometimes we hear concerns too, that we carry deep within ourselves familiar to many of us: “We are in a shortfall. We don’t have enough. Not safe enough. Not patient enough. Not loving enough. Not good enough.” But Jesus responds, as he always does, with a positive, radical abundance.

Jesus has an odd response to Mary: “Woman, what is your business in putting your nose into this? My time has not yet come”. For some of us listening to Jesus’ way of addressing Mary as Woman might sound disrespectful. When we call our mothers, we use endearing words like Mom, Mommy, Mamang, Eomma or Mama. Sometimes when we are annoyed at our mothers, we sometimes call them “Mother” or worse, their first and last name. Was Jesus really disrespectful or was it a translation issue? Most NT scholars agree that the word for woman used in this context in the original Greek is in the vocative case. Woman in the first century world is used as a title of respect or endearment, which is similar to “Madam” or “Lady,” than the word “woman” as we presently use it.

I interpret Jesus’ response to Mary like this: “Lady Mary, my call to show some signs has not yet began– please let me enjoy this party first. Don’t spoil the fun! It is neither my business nor yours to meddle in the host’s affair.” Jesus’ response also reminds us that Jesus is more than the son of Mary - that Jesus had a ministry entrusted to him by God to attend to and it will come in God’s perfect time. But Mary did not back down – she completely ignored Jesus’ response. It was not recorded in John but I can fully hear Mary’s voice of authority as she addressed the servants: “Do whatever he tells you! Pronto!” If I was to write a script of this conversation, I could picture Jesus as being left standing where he was, scratching his head but with a smile on his face for he knows how feisty his mother could be. And feisty mothers must never be crossed or else you’ll suffer the consequence of your actions. :)

Jesus concedes to Mary’s demand, according to John, and performed his first known miracle by turning six jars of water that are used for the ritual of purification into the finest of fine wines - better than the choice wine they had served before. Water for purification at the wedding celebration or any Jewish gathering was both a practical and a symbolic reminder of the purity system that is very much part of the Jewish tradition. The best wine is now served to keep the party last for seven days or more. The servants were amazed, the chief steward was dumbfounded and his disciples gave two-thumbs up for their leader.

For modern hearers and readers like us, we find this gospel story, this miracle, a mysterious one. Why? Because most of us still interpret this story in its literal sense. That Jesus with his magic wand literally turned the water into wine. I even read a joke on facebook when someone posted: “Hey, I’m having a party this weekend, can you tell me how Jesus turned water into wine? I need at least 60 bottles of wine!” What if we move away from its literal interpretation to something symbolic, allegorical or metaphorical? What if the gospel writer John saw something about Jesus that would make the party celebratory and life-giving? To make the party going? That the party itself is about life and the human condition? That sometimes our wine of hope, of peace, of justice or of joy depletes from time to time causing us to fear the unknown and leaving us with a sense of emptiness, isolation or breakdown? What if John had every intention of portraying Jesus as God’s sign of abundance for all and uses this story to symbolize John’s intent? What if John is calling us to focus on Jesus himself as the bringer of abundance and not on the miracle that is being laid out in the story?

Interpreting the story this way gives us a lot of possibilities. It could mean that Jesus turning the water of purification into the finest wine signifies the defeat of the old religious system, of the old self, of the old world of oppression, of exclusion, of poverty, of hopelessness, of emptiness, of injustice, of lack. Now, instead of jars of water, symbolic of an oppressive, unwelcoming system, the jars of water become the jars of new wine. The good wine represents the in-breaking of God’s abundance - of a new order, of a new way of living together in community, a new way in revealing God’s grace and love to places and people in need of healing, inclusion and a hearty welcome. John to my knowledge is presenting Jesus as our new wine. This wine is an epiphany, the revelation of God's presence in the person of Jesus. The wedding guests tasted the difference; through Jesus, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. The wedding feast is symbolic of life in community. Scarcity and lack and the old order failed and the gift of abundance and inclusion paved its way to a joyous feast. How is that for a happy ending of the story?

In the next three consecutive Sundays starting Jan 23rd, we are again launching our annual stewardship campaign. Within the financial target lie our commitment to faithfully serve the community, to achieve our vision for the church of Jesus Christ in this time and place, and our desire to be present in the world as God’s agents of love and transformation. It sounds like a lot, and it is; but our financial giving is only but one reflection of our hopes and beliefs in the creation of the community of the faithful. We are also encouraged to pledge our time, our talents, our presence and our resources to our vision of hope. No amount given is too outrageous, for surely our vision for a better community is made possible by our faith in God who lavishly gives and blesses us in return.

Dear friends, the Wedding at Cana holds before us some serious questions and wonderings. Where has the wine of our life run out? What relationships have run dry? What parts of us remain empty and hopeless? The Wedding at Cana embodies the nature of God’s radical abundance through whom all things are possible. The power of this story is God’s power of love in action through Jesus Christ. The abundance of the flowing, fine wine is the fullness of wisdom and grace which Jesus offers to all of us. The ordinary becomes extraordinary; the water becomes the wine of healing; this wine binds people together in new and exciting ways. It is about the birth of a new community. Biblical scholar Paul Meyer says it beautifully, "The Cana story is not primarily about a humble Galilean village wedding, but about the Bringer of divine gifts, Jesus Christ himself.” (Gaventa, 1995).

Let this be the story of our congregation in 2022. And then our questions will change--from the concern of "will we have enough wine to sustain us?" to a new radical one: "How shall we live this new wine offered by Jesus? how shall we live a life of radical abundance, where there is more than enough wine of welcome and grace for all to partake? Friends, please be reminded that the miracle of transformation always begins when the wine runs out.

Let me close with a prayer written by Bruce Sanguin, in his book, If Darwin Prayed:

“… And from Jesus’ heart there flows an unexpected abundance. It spills over into our own, and by the grace of Spirit, through our own extravagant offerings of love, we become living hints in a hurting world that at this wedding of hope and possibility, the dancing has just begun.” Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Written by Ted Dodd for DUCC and DOTAC)

Incarnate One,
the wine has given out,
and the jars are empty.
We live in a time of
persistent pivoting and stretched health care,
amassing troops and blockaded aid,
environmental gloom and heavy rains,
“Me Too” and murder trials.
Please, dear Jesus, do not say to us
that your hour has not come,
that all of this is of no concern to you.
We do not need divine reluctance.
The world and your people are
weary and worn-out,
tired and tempted,
sad and sorrowful.
We do not presume that you are
a Galilean magician,
a miracle ATM,
or an ancient present-bearing Santa,
but please, dear Jesus,
fill us to the brim,
turn water into wine.
We need
to remember the extravagant abundance of creation,
to celebrate the outstanding blessing of life,
to rejoice with gratitude for the gifts you offer us.
We hope that your astonishing divine generosity will turn,
war into peace,
inequality into respect,
cruelty into compassion,
despair into justice.
Give us a sign.
Reveal your glory.
Help us to keep the party going.
Let’s have the feast be joy.
May the banquet be welcome and hospitality.

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 Vidal

There are many signs we claim for our faith but ultimately it is our active love that reveals who we are, just like Jesus who revealed his abundant love for us in the Wedding at Cana. I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your 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 mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Source of Love, for the talents and gifts abundantly given to us, we bring you our offering. May we use them to spread your love and hope for the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

(Beth Johnson, Gathering, ACE 2021-2022, Year C. Used with permission.)

Just as Jesus’ presence at the wedding banquet changed water into wine,
so too, Jesus’ presence in our lives can change something ordinary
into something joy-filled and celebratory.
Let us go forth in faith-filled, joyous celebration. Amen.

Hymn: Will You Come and Follow Me? – Voices United #567 TeGrotenhuis family

1.Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2.Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3.Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4.Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5.Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Departing Music: (Over Announcements)

Entrance of the Queen of Sheba – Handel (full version) organ/piano/strings:Abe - May 2021

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Connie Davidson

January 8, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Services - January 9, 2022

Connie Davidson

January 8, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

BAPTISM OF JESUS SUNDAY

January 9, 2022

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering: More Voices 128: When They Saw That Jesus was Coming - selected verses BCUC Choir – recorded Sunday Jan 15, 2017

1. When they heard that Jesus was coming,
Sing hosanna to the chosen one!
All the people went out to meet him.
Sing hosanna to the chosen one!

Refrain Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the chosen one!

3. Blest is he, like David before him…
Blest is he, God’s blessing upon him… Ref

5. Word of God, and first-born of people,…
Promise kept, the crown of creation…

7. Wondrous bread, and stream in the desert,…
Holy thirst, and God’s living water…

9. Rising sun, the light of the world,…
Word of life, who give us your Spirit…

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As we begin our worship today, we remember that in this congregation, we live and work on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe Peoples. We give thanks for their stewardship of the land and the water, the plants and the animals, through many generations. We also acknowledge their story, and our place in it, with sorrow. As we continue to live on this land with respect for it and for its people, may we commit to working toward truth, justice and reconciliation. All my relations.

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! Happy New Year! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you on this Baptism of Jesus Sunday as we remember Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan River. Today, we are also reminded of the vows that we have professed at our baptism. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere, we are glad that you have joined us today.

Due to the rising COVID variant cases in Ontario, we will not be offering in-person worship service until further notice. The worship service will be offered online via Youtube and through telephone. Check our website for the link and other announcements at bcuc.org.

And for those of you who are able to join us, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11am. Check your email for the link.

Friends, as we welcome a New Year in our midst, let us take a moment to reflect and remember what the season of Epiphany means for us: to make way for God’s light to shine in our lives. Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Sue & Rick Morrison

We light this Christ Candle to remember that day when Jesus was baptized by John at the Jordan River. This light invites us to listen to God’s voice calling us God’s beloved. This light urges us to follow Jesus’ way of love and justice. This light calls us to be immersed in the Holy Spirit’s power so we may offer the light of Christ as hope and peace for the world.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Inspired by the words of Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, The Gathering ACE 2012-2013, Year C. Used with permission.)

Water… to quench our thirst.
Water… to cleanse our bodies.
Water… to refresh our souls.
Water… to remind us of new life!
Come, come and see Jesus being baptized,
who offers us the water of life,
the spring that will never run dry,
the one who quenches our thirst,
and invites us to be who we can even imagine!
Come to the water.
Come to remember.
Come to relive.
Come to worship God. Alleluia!

Prayer of Approach

(Kate Crawford, The Gathering ACE 2012-2013, Year C. Used with permission.)

Just as Jesus went down under the water to be baptized,
so may we immerse ourselves in worship and praise.
Just as Jesus did this to fulfill all righteousness,
so may we seek to be righteous all our days.
Just as the Spirit descended on Jesus as a dove,
may we know the blessing of the Spirit’s presence
settling gently on us now and making our intentions holy. Amen.

Hymn: River – More Voices #3 BCUC Music team 2020 (updated with Angela)

1 River, rush-a-down to the ocean blue,
River from a mountain high.
River, as you do what rivers do,
River, draw the Spirit nigh.

2 Spirit, come-a-down to the river-side,
Spirit, spark of wondrous thought.
Spirit, I am free for you to guide,
Spirit, pray that I be taught!

3 Water, let me drink of your healing pow’r,
Water, strength and life you give.
Water, as I travel with each hour,
Water, help my body live.

4 River, flow-a-down where you ran before,
River, source of clearer view.
River, as I walk your rocky shore,
River, see my journey through.
See my journey through…

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Even though it is only a short time since Christmas, when we celebrated the birth of Jesus, today we are skipping way ahead to when he was baptised. If you grow up in the United Church, it’s very likely that you are baptized when you were just a baby or a small child, but that wasn’t the case for Jesus. He was baptized when he was all grown up, an adult. It didn’t happen in a church or a synagogue, it happened in a river, the River Jordan, a very important waterway for the people of that time and place. In our church, water is an important part of baptism too. It is poured into the font and then sprinkled on the head of the person being baptized. For Jesus, it was very different. He was dunked right under the water in the river!

Your baptism and Jesus’ baptism seem very different, but there is one very important thing that makes it just the same – and that thing is love.

In our Bible story today, we will hear that, when Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened up, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice said, “You are my son, the beloved.”

Doesn’t that sound amazing! To be the son of God?! Well, guess what, you are also a child of God – and so am I and so are all the people in our church – and all the people in the world! Everyone, everywhere is part of God’s family. God loves each and every one of us.

Now, when someone is baptized here at BCUC, we don’t usually see a dove descend, and we don’t hear a voice from heaven – but that Holy Spirit and that love is definitely there. Everyone present expresses that love. It’s especially noticeable when a baby is being baptized – so many smiles on faces and “oohs” and “ahhs” as the baby is paraded around the sanctuary. Have you noticed that it’s not just the baby or the person and their immediate family that takes part in the baptism? The whole congregation stands up and makes vows – promises – to support, to care, and to love that person. That’s because they are now a part of our faith family, our Bells Corners United Church branch of God’s family. We aren’t just saying, “You are welcome here.” We say that to everyone who comes through our doors, of course. At baptism, we are saying, “Welcome home!”

Being dunked in a river might seem like a more exciting way to be baptized than what we do here. In our stories about John the Baptist, we heard that he shouted at the people to repent – to turn themselves around and live a better life. Being dunked in the river was like being washed clean, ready to start over as a new person. But I like our sacrament of baptism too, where babies are held gently and blessed with warm water. It reminds me of welcoming my babies when they were born, with a warm bath and lots of love. To me, it says, “I love you, just the way you are, and I’m here to help you grow to be the best person you can be.”

You don’t have to be baptized to receive that love; this faith family will love you anyway. At baptism we are celebrating the fact that you, or someone who loves you very much, have chosen this faith family as a place where you feel safe and nurtured, as a place where you can grow to love and nurture others.

You may not remember the day you were baptized, but if you were, I bet your parents will remember that day. I hope you will ask them to tell you about it!

Let’s finish with a prayer:

Loving God, thank you for loving me just the way I am, and thank you for this faith family who will help me grow in your way. Amen.

Hymn: Behold, I Make All Things New - More Voices #115 soloist: Erin Berard

Behold, (behold,) behold, (behold,)
I make all things new,
beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, (behold,) behold, (behold,)
I make all things new,
my promises true,
for I am Christ the way.

Repeat

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Monica Peck

As the blessing of the Holy Spirit is given to Jesus at his baptism, may the blessing of the same Spirit be given to us as we hear and reflect on this Gospel story. Amen.

The Reading: Luke 3: 15-22 (NRSV) John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus

15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20added to them all by shutting up John in prison. 21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

May God’s wisdom dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Anthem: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day

BCUC choir – Christmas concert 2016 (and verse 4 Sunday Jan 8, 2017)

1. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Chorus
Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love

2. Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance. Chorus

3. In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance. Chorus

4. Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard from above,
To call my true love to my dance. Chorus

Traditional English Source: William Sandys, arr. Gardner

Sermon: “Taking Risks” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayer: Immerse us now, O God, in the waters of your wisdom, as we reflect on this story of faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It was a foggy morning on July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence May Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island in Southern California. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman in 1950 to swim the English Channel in both directions. The water was pretty cold that day. But the fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So, she quit. . . only one-mile from her goal.

Later she said, "I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it." It wasn't the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to fail. It was the fog. She couldn’t see where she’s going. She couldn’t take the risk at that point. She needs a clear view of the land. Two months after her first attempt, Florence May Chadwick walked off the same beach into the same channel and swam the distance. This time she did not hesitate.

She plunged herself into the water, took the risk, setting a new record, all because she could see the land.[1]

How would you feel when you hear the words risk-taking? Does your heart beat fast? Do you have an adrenaline rush? or butterflies in your stomach? The thought of facing a tough challenge or taking a risk could be as exciting and adventurous to some but for others it strikes fear and discomfort. Think of all the sports and activities where the primary appeal is risk: bungee jumping, skydiving, auto racing, mountain climbing or even swimming with sharks. In hockey, Wayne Gretzky at one point said, “If you don’t take risks, you’ll always miss 100% of the shots.” What about those who would invest in a start-up business or those joining a protest movement that might land them in jail? Some people just love taking risks. In Christian parlance, we call it a leap of faith. But in reality, most of us, myself included, are not risk-takers. Most of us find it safer to remain in our comfort zones, protected and secure. We are security-seekers committed to playing it safe and I think there’s nothing wrong about this at all. So when is risk-taking necessary?

On a warm sunny, clear day around the year 30 CE, people filled with expectation came to the banks of Jordan River. For some, it must have been a week-long journey, walking with thin sandals or barefoot on dusty, muddy trails. For some, it meant sacrificing a few days’ worth of work leaving their fields and flocks untended. They did not come to swim the river from end to end. They came for one sacred purpose: to undergo a ritual of cleansing, perhaps a bath of new beginnings. They came the way people have always come to the water, intentionally, knowing they can’t live without it. From their ancient roots, they have learned that water nourished their fields and crops, cleansed and refreshed their bodies, and satisfied their physical as well as spiritual thirst. These people who came to the river had drunk deeply of the stories of their faith. They knew about the waters of creation and the dangerous waters of the flood. They knew about their ancestors’ story of how the waters of the Red Sea parted as God’s people escaped towards freedom. They came filled with expectation that stepping into this water would wash them clean and new again, and would somehow satisfy their thirst for God.

Baptisms for the first century Jewish people were essential, according to Brian MacLaren[2], because pilgrims who came from distant lands to the Temple were understood to be unclean as a result of their contact with people of other faiths and cultures. Bath places were constructed around the Temple so that pilgrims and worshippers would be able to ceremonially wash off their contamination and present themselves to God as “clean people.” Can you imagine how shocking it must have been for Zechariah to realize that his son, John, would perform the cleansing ritual not in the baths of the Temple but out in the countryside, along the banks of Jordan River? Can you imagine the risks John took in confronting those in power by disrupting the rules of the Temple? John made a choice. Through his actions, John took a risk and made a clear political and religious statement. He introduced a new kind of baptism – a baptism of repentance and called people to rethink everything, to turn around from their ungodly ways through a symbolic immersion in the flowing waters of Jordan not in the enclosed comforts of a Temple bath. John took the risk and his subversion from the religious system of his day, his protest movement, would have cost his life in the end. But he took the risk nonetheless.

On that same day, Jesus came, among the crowds, to the waters of Jordan, filled with expectations, too. Most likely, Jesus had identified himself with John’s protest movement in the Galilean countryside. In all of the gospel accounts describing the baptism of Jesus, some questions remain unanswered. Why was Jesus baptized? After all, according to John the Baptist, baptism is for the purpose of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. What did Jesus need to repent of? And what did he need to be forgiven for? Why then did Jesus undergo baptism? Did Jesus know what he’s getting into? Is he willing to take the risk?

I think Luke has the answers. It was not about forgiveness that Jesus was baptized. It was about receiving the Holy Spirit for empowerment, to inaugurate him for the work in building God’s reign on earth. If you read the passage closely, Luke omits Mark’s and Matthew’s claim that John baptized Jesus. For Luke, Jesus was baptized by the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ baptism was an awakening moment for Jesus which drove him to accept God’s call to serve people. Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism was dramatic. As Jesus came out of the water, people heard a rumbling sound from heavens. They saw something – perhaps like a smoke descending from the sky in the form of a dove landing on Jesus’ head. Then a thunderous voice of God saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

The ritual of baptism is an awakening moment, a cleansing of one’s soul – a sacrament of new beginnings. Baptism initiates one to become a traveler in the Christian faith. Perhaps, Jesus submits himself for baptism because in his young adult life, he must have at times questioned his call and he longed to immerse himself in the holy depths of his Abba-Father’s love. Jesus relies on the Holy Spirit to awaken him, to nudge him to acts of risk-taking - to lead him to doing works of kindness, justice and compassion; to be in solidarity with a world in need of healing and love. When Jesus stepped into the waters of the River Jordan, he was stepping into the whole flow of human story. He plunged himself into a life of servant leadership, a life of risk-taking as he acknowledges his oneness with the story of his people, the story of people who thirst for something, who thirst for God’s love.

When is risk-taking necessary? How do we respond to the challenge? As followers of Jesus Christ, we too sometimes, are called to step out of our comfort zones to leap in faith. When we do that, always remember that we are not alone. God’s Holy Spirit will journey with us. God’s presence will stretch and mould us into stronger, more empowered people. I take inspiration from John Piper’s words: “Is taking risks unwise and unloving? Maybe. But maybe not. What if the circumstances are such that not taking a risk will result in loss and injury? It may not be wise to play it safe. And what if a successful risk would bring great benefit to many people and its failure would bring harm only to yourself? It may not be loving to choose the comfort of security when something great may be achieved for the cause of God and for the good of others.”

Dear friends, wisdom and common sense will help you decide which road to take. Sometimes, we may need to take risks so that change might bring about something even better. Jesus did it and others followed him: Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, Fr. Oscar Romero, Malala. Whether you decide to swim or to sink, to leap or to remain unmoved, remember, you are God’s beloved and you are not alone. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer[3] Rev. Kim Vidal

Let us gather our hearts in prayer through these words inspired by a prayer written by Rev. Gord Dunbar:

The sparkling lights of Christmas are gone
and the guiding light of the Magi-followed star has moved on,
so we feel left in the darkness of wintry nights.
It seems the special quality of wonder and awe has left us.
Yet, when we wander down the river’s edge, following the crowd,
We don’t expect much to change – though we seek entertainment.
Along the way we notice a world in conflict,
striving for supremacy,
eager to force the weak to submit,
the powerless to keep silent.
We see it in Kazakhstan where fuel riots have rocked the government,
resulting in a deadly crackdown on protesters.
We see it through the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan.
We see it written on the faces of political leaders in the midst of global economic turndowns.
We see it etched in the worried faces of teachers and students fearful of another pandemic year.
We see it carved by the tears of the indigenous communities mourning the loss of loved ones.
We pause along the way,
hoping for the light of grace,
to pray for the world.
We continue along the way,
finally stopping at the river,
noticing faces in the crowd,
faces from our community,
faces showing the struggle with loneliness and isolation,
faces wearied by the ongoing strain of dealing with the COVID pandemic
and other health issues,
faces painted over with masks to hide the difficult wresting with grief and death.
We pause once more,
Feeling our connection and our interweaving,
praying for healing and hope.
We gaze at the ordinary river –
where John and Jesus engaged in a water ritual,
but nothing out of the ordinary,
yet we see grace and hope written in baptism shared,
justice practised, love profoundly proclaimed.
A leap of faith!
In Jesus’ baptism is our wholeness and we give joyful thanks!
In our journey to the river, O God,
we come to take risks,
offering ourselves, our love, our prayers.
All these we ask in the name of Jesus Christ,
baptized in the waters of Jordan, who taught us this ancient prayer.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus on his baptism is with us in amazing and powerful ways, bringing shining new hope into the world. As we remember our own baptism, may we participate in the ministry of our church with that great hope, trusting in the promises of God. In our offering today, our love overflows in generosity.

Offertory Prayer

(Fern Gibbard, The Gathering, ACE 2016-2017, Used with permission.)

In baptism, we have received the gift of the Spirit;
in return we offer these gifts of gratitude
that they may become a source of hope to those in need. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

(Inspired by the prayers of Rev. Dawn Hutchings and Beth W. Johnson)

Let the waters of baptism sooth you, nourish you,
and sustain you for all the possibilities yet to come!
We are the beloved children of a Creator who rejoices with us!
Listen closely.
Hear the flapping of the wings of a dove
as the Holy Spirit alights upon you.
Go forth as God’s beloved children,
knowing that the refreshing waters
will sustain you in your journey, now and always. Amen.

Hymn: When Jesus Came to Be Baptized - Voices United #100 BCUC Sunday Jan 8, 2017

1 When Jesus comes to be baptized,
he leaves the hidden years behind,
the years of safety and of peace.
to bear the sins of humankind.

2 The Spirit of the Lord comes down,
anoints the Christ to suffering,
to preach the word, to free the bound,
and to the mourner, comfort bring.

3 He will not quench the dying flame,
and what is bruised he will not break,
but heal the wound injustice dealt,
and out of death his triumph make.

4 O Spirit help us be like Christ:
to live in love and charity,
to walk in truth and justice now,
and grow in Christian dignity.

5 We praise you, God, source of all life,
we praise you, Christ, eternal Word,
we praise you, Spirit, gracious gift,
your triune presence fills our world.

Words v 1-3, Stanbrook Abbey, 1974, 1995; v4-5 Concacan Inc., 1989; Music Muskalisches Handbucb, 1690
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Departing Music: (Over Announcements) How Bright Appears the Morning Star - BCUC Choir recorded Sunday Jan 8, 2017

1 How bright appears the Morning Star,
with mercy beaming from afar;
the host of heav'en rejoices.
O Righteous Branch, O Jesse’s Rod,
the Son of Man and Son of God,
we too will lift our voices:
Jesus, Jesus, holy, holy, yet most lowly,
come, draw near us;
great Emmanuel, come and hear us.

3 Rejoice you heav'ns, and earth, reply;
with praise, O sinners, fill the sky
for this, His incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth Your pow'r;
ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
till all know Your salvation.
Amen, amen! Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise be given
evermore by earth and heaven.

Words: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern - Philipp Nicolai, Translation: William Mercer
Music: Johann Kuhnau Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

[1] John Cochran, sermonsearch.com)

[2] Brian Maclaren, Seeking Aliveness.

[3] Gord Dunbar, the Gathering, ACE 2009-2010, Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

January 1, 2022

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 2, 2022

Connie Davidson

January 1, 2022

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

January 2, 2022

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: In the Christmas Spirit (Hurry to Bethlehem) : spiritual tunes arr. Schram

Grace Notes – 2018 Christmas concert

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good morning and Happy New Year! Welcome to this first Sunday of 2022! From wherever you are, I hope you know that we are glad that you have joined us today.

Given the recent spike in Covid 19 cases, we have put a pause on in-person worship in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings until further notice, but will continue to offer worship through YouTube and telephone as we have for the past year and more. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and, hopefully, to stop the spread of this virus that has disrupted our lives for so long. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. As well, let’s continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

During this time of pandemic, the work of the church carries on. Please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org.

And now, let us centre ourselves for worship…

Lighting the Christ Candle Acolytes: Chris and Kaylee Brown

(Written by Richard Bott. Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2017-2018, page 40. Used with permission)

Like a star in the midst of the beautiful dark sky,
Like a bright window on the rainiest of days.
Like a beacon…
Like a grand “AHA!”
Christ’s light shines.
Now
Always! Amen!

Call to Gather

(Bob Root, Gathering A/C/E, 2021-2022, p39. Used with permission)

A new day, a new week, the beginning of a new year, and we have come to worship.

May hearts be open to all the wonders God would have us experience in this time, and when we go out from this place to serve in the world. Come, let us worship God.

Opening Prayer and Silent Reflection

(Bill Steadman, Gathering A/C/E, 2021-2022, p39. Used with permission)

Be with us, God, as we set out on the journey of a new year. Like those who have travelled through uncharted territories in the past, give us the courage to face new challenges. Like those who have known the uncertainty of what lies ahead, give us the confidence that you are there to guide us. Like those who have assumed they had all of the answers even before the questions were asked, give us the humility to be surprised by your presence and open to being upheld by your people everywhere.

(a time of Silent Reflection)

Give us the strength we need, the sensitivity others need from us, and the wisdom to respond in ways that nurture all of creation. This we pray in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Hymn: A Light is Gleaming - Voices United #82 Erin, Abe, Kim: guitar

Refrain:
A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night,
living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
living in the light.

1 When light comes pouring into the darkest place, it hurts our eyes to see the glow.
Sometimes a word of hope reminds us of our fears, our memories and tears. R

2 When night is round us and every shadow grows, a star is there to light our way.
It tells a story of Jesus who came near to say: “God’s light will ever stay.” R

3 And Jesus showed us a brighter path to walk. He showed us things we hadn’t seen.
Now we, like Jesus, can help creation shine,
and this will be a sign: R

4 So let us live in the brightness God has giv’n, and let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here a sparkle and a blaze, warming all our days. R

Storytime for the Young at Heart Erin Berard

Listen as one of the Wise Ones who visited Jesus to tell us what they remember about meeting baby Jesus in Bethlehem long ago. This story is adapted from the United Church of Canada's Advent Unwrapped resources.

I’m old, and my eyes can no longer read the stars. There are holes in my cloak and my memories. But there are some things I will never forget.

I’ll always remember that spectacular star. We hadn’t seen one like it before—and we haven’t seen one like it since. It was breathtaking, mesmerizing, and it compelled us to follow. We wanted to try to understand its meaning and the story it wished to share.

I’ll always remember that long treacherous journey. There were 12 travellers in our caravan and 20 camels. Oh, the stink of the camels! Ha, ha…! We carried hidden gifts with us in case we had to barter for a safe passage through a strange land.

I’ll always remember the terror in Herod’s eyes when we came asking questions. And the scribes’ quivering voices when they were summoned before him. They spoke of an ancient prophecy—a star, a new king, a descendant of King David. Glad to put Jerusalem behind us, we followed the star to David’s town of Bethlehem.

I’ll always remember that little family and the peace that seemed to embrace them. Although they were living in an obscure hovel, it wasn’t difficult to find them: we stuck out like a camel’s hump in Bethlehem, and the people were eager to share the rumours with newcomers—tales told by shepherds who had been captivated by sights in the night sky and the news of a newborn king.

And I’ll always remember that child. His family members were poor and vulnerable, yet so loving and gracious. We offered our gifts, hoping they would in some small way honour, protect, and bless the child. Watching the child, we knew that we needn’t search further or travel farther. The same compelling light that shone from the heavens shone in his eyes. That kind of light is unforgettable. That light, that love,… that little one... they have lived in my heart all these years.

Let us pray:

Loving God, thank you for all the different viewpoints and stories that tell us about the birth of Jesus - all filled with light!

Help us look for Jesus' light and love in everyone we meet and to BE loving and full of light for those around us.

Amen

In the Bleak MidWinter – Voices United #55

1 In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day,
a breast full of milk, and a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.

4 What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him – give my heart

Words: Christina Rosetti 1872; Music: Gustav Holst, 1906
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Chris Brown

(Jim McKean, Gathering A/C/E, 2021-2022, p41. Used with permission)

God of the Ages, you called wise ones to travel from afar. They came looking for a king but found a baby, a baby who had come to change the world. Today you have called us to experience the now and to seek what is just over the horizon. May we have the strength to experience this call. May we have the wisdom to discern its message, and may our hearts be uplifted as we journey. Bless your word to us this morning. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV) The Visit of the Wise Men

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

May the message in these words enlighten our lives. Thanks be to God!

Anthem: Born Today (Kuzaliwa Leo) Swahili : Dave & Jean Perry

BCUC choir & percussion Phoenix, Raven, Arcadie – 2018 Christmas concert

Sermon: “They Followed a Star” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

This is Epiphany Sunday, the day when we hear the last part of the Christmas story that we began so may weeks ago in Advent.

The visit of the Wise Men, the Kings, the Magi…

It’s a small story found only in the book of Matthew and not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Three strangers show up, make a huge fuss over the new baby, drop off expensive, rather strange gifts and then disappear, never to be heard from again. A strange little story that has captured our imaginations for centuries.

The few verses we read this morning are all there is about this visit in the Bible and yet we are sure we’ve heard so many more details

… There were three of them…
… They have names: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar…
… We can picture them, tall, riding on their camels, one with very black skin…
… They arrived at the stable after the shepherds, - didn’t they?

All details that were never in Matthew’s story but have grown from the imaginations of artists and storytellers over the centuries and have become an important part of our story, our tradition of Christmas.

It was obviously important to Matthew too or he wouldn’t have included it here. So… why did he write it? What meaning does it have for us?

Jesus was born at a dark time in Jewish history. The people were oppressed by a greedy and powerful empire. Any peace that existed was created by violent battles - a peace built on fear.

“Keep your head down, don’t call attention to yourself, and hope the tax collectors and the centurions will pass you by.”

Not my idea of a peaceful existence. No serene and comfortable life but just the absence of war.

Into this dark and fearful time, a baby was born who would grow up to challenge that system - not through violence or mighty battles but through a message of hope, a message of love. He would become a beacon of light for these dark times.

He may have been just what the Jewish people needed - but he certainly wasn’t what they were expecting. Surely, if God was to save them from the violent oppression of Rome, He would send a powerful army led by a mighty warrior - someone who could crush the empire.

A baby?

And this was not even a baby born to rich and powerful parents but a baby born among the poorest and most oppressed, in the lowest of circumstances. A baby born to young peasant parents, under suspicious circumstances, in an insignificant small town.

It was such a small event that no one in the area noticed. In his book, Luke tells us that a whole host of angels had to light up the sky to get the attention of the only other people awake - some shepherds out in a field. No need to wake up the whole town. There would be no miraculous coup that night. What was born in that stable was not an immediate solution to all their troubles.

What was born was Hope.

A glimmer, barely noticed at first but a light that would grow over time to conquer the darkness.

Well, the Jews and the Romans may not have noticed but someone did. A star appeared in the sky. Now this in itself is an curious choice of sign. It’s not a usual symbol for either Jews or Christians. Where else have we ever seen God use a star to send a message?

In the east - the direction from where dawn comes to end the darkness of night - some wise men noticed that star and they knew that something amazing was taking place, a birth so significant that they were certain it must be the birth of a great king. And they set out to find him and to pay homage.

That’s interesting, isn’t it? These wealthy, educated men left home to travel to another country to pay their respects to a king who would rule over people they had no attachment to. These men were not Jews but the birth of this king of the Jews was important enough to make them set out on this journey and to not give up until they had seen him with their own eyes and delivered their gifts.

They were foreigners

• they were of a different faith
• and they had no doubt that they would be welcome.

They went first to the palace in Jerusalem. It only made sense that a new king would be born there. They had no hesitation in telling Herod that they were coming to meet the newborn King of the Jews. This was good news! A baby who was destined to great works! A baby whose birth was so significant to the world that God himself sent a bright star as a birth announcement. An announcement that was important to the whole world. Surely, everyone would be rejoicing!

Imagine their surprise when King Herod had no idea what they were talking about.

Imagine their confusion when they saw the fear in the king’s eyes.

Not at all the reception they expected.

In one short sentence, Matthew tells us quite a bit about Herod’s reaction to the news of the learned strangers from the east. “He was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.”

Yes, I imagine that was a scary time in the palace! Not only would Herod be upset by news of a king who would take his throne - but to hear it from strangers! The meeting he called with his own scribes and wise men would not have been a cordial one. They were supposed to know these things. They were supposed to keep him informed. He was not supposed to be surprised by foreigners who seemed to know more about the happenings in his kingdom than he did himself! They would have been scrambling to get him the information he needed. They would have been desperate to find a “fix” that would calm the king’s anger - an anger that put fear in all of Jerusalem. Just find that baby and get rid of him quickly.

“There is a light shining here in the darkness of your kingdom that will change this world forever!” the strangers had told him. “It shines so brightly that we have noticed it from as far away as our home. Such great news!”

Herod didn’t see it the same way. All light must shine on him alone. That is what makes him so powerful. And what do you do with something that threatens your power, your view of the world? You snuff it out. And just to be sure, you get rid of any others who might resemble it in any way. Restore the status quo with violence and fear. Show them who’s boss!

How wise were these strangers to pretend to play along with Herod’s game! Otherwise, they might not have escaped with their lives. But then they were wise men after all. I would have been surprised if they had fallen for Herod’s lies. So, off they went, continuing on their journey to find where this spark of light might lead.

And they found it in a small, humble home. Hope for the future of the world, manifest in a young peasant child.

Matthew tells us that they acknowledged the power of this child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold for a king, frankincense for the sacred life of the temple, and myrrh to anoint his body at death. These gifts would have been lost on a child but Mary would have understood. These men were telling her that the power to change the world - the light that would lead the people out of the darkness - was here in her little son. He would rule - not by fierce battle but by teaching the Word of God and would be revered even in death.

These strange visitors saw so much hope in this small peasant child! Hope for the future of the world!

This story from Matthew would have been pretty powerful to his listeners. So many messages here! It told them -

… that others might see the hope in us before we recognize it ourselves
… that Jesus’ life and ministry was significant to the whole world - not just the Jewish people.
… that hope for the future must be nurtured in the children of the present
… that what seems like good news for humanity may not be well received by those addicted to power and greed
… that those hungry for power will stop at nothing to snuff out anything that might threaten that power - including (or maybe especially) the hope for justice and freedom
… that hope, help, and encouragement may come from unexpected places

Are these messages not still relevant today?
Where are our wise men?
Where are our Herods?

I am reminded of a young girl named Malala, who was shot in the head for daring to stand up for the right of girls to education. There must have been wise people who nurtured this in her as she grew - and the reaction of the Taliban was certainly worthy of Herod.

Are there other lights in this world being snuffed out by those in power?
Are we watching for them?
Are we nurturing them?

Or are we letting the Herods of this world crush them to maintain or grow their powerful hold?

I believe that hope is something more than a dream for a better future. Hope is born when that dream is put into action. It is not enough to dream of a better world, a more just society, peace and freedom. You have to take that dream and mount your camel. You need to risk the journey into unknown places and bear the gifts and resources that will turn that dream into hope.

Sometimes I have wondered why these powerful men didn’t stay to help raise this child. They seemed to have the resources and the knowledge to be able to help.

What trust they put in Mary and Joseph to nurture him and prepare him for his role!

But, they didn’t stay. Perhaps they knew that they would draw attention from the wrong quarter and would put the little family in danger. Or perhaps they could see that they were leaving things in good hands. Whatever the reason, they simply left their gifts and disappeared - back to their own country by another road. We never hear of them again.

They saw that star and they took the risk to follow it, to leave the comfort and familiarity of home and set out on a long and difficult journey. It wasn’t enough to dream about what that star could mean, they went into action. They took their resources - wisdom and riches - to Jesus. Then they left, knowing that they were leaving things safely in his hands. They took the kind of action that sets a dream onto the course of hope.

So, perhaps it was important that they didn’t stay. They didn’t set out to save the Jewish people from the Romans. They made the journey to ensure that the process would begin. They gave what they could but the real work belonged to Jesus.

Just as good mentors nurture proteges,
or good parents raise children,
or good teachers inspire students,

The wise men gave up some of their resources - and time out of their lives - to resource the work of Jesus in the world - the work of turning the dream of justice and freedom into real hope for the future.

They were watching the skies carefully and recognized the sign when it appeared. They sprang into action to make sure the dream it represented had the encouragement and resources it needed to grow into Hope - hope not just for the Jewish people but hope for a world in darkness.

On this Epiphany Sunday, may we be wise enough to watch for, and recognize, the signs of that hope in our world today. May we be brave enough to take the risk to leave our comfort zones long enough to nurture that hope. May we be selfless enough to share our resources to allow that hope to grow - not just here at home but anywhere in the world the signs may appear.

I believe it is what those wise men, and Jesus himself, would want us to do.

Thanks be to God

Amen

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Holy Mystery,

With the story of the magi in our ears, we come to you, seeking their wisdom, their courage, and their generosity, as we pray for our world today. We give thanks for the wise ones from the past and for those among us now, who inspire us with their insight, their words, and their actions.

In yet another Christmas season, where the spectre of the pandemic continues to restrict our celebrating and dampen our spirits, help us to be like those wise men of old who found reason for hope and celebration in the light of a star in the darkness. Enable us to see the lights that offer hope for a brighter future for all who inhabit this creation. Let us see the reasons for celebration even in small lights, no matter how far away they seem.

Give us the courage of those wise men to not only celebrate the light we see, but to take action, to leave our comfort zones and risk what might be a long and difficult journey into the unknown to offer what we can - without asking for a background check first, or with expectations of immediate miracles or outpouring of gratitude.

Each week, we pray for those in need, those suffering from pain, loneliness, illness, and grief. We pray for those experiencing fear and violence. We pray for all who are oppressed by those in power, and for those oppressed by the attitudes and beliefs of those who surround them every day. Help us to see where we might be the oppressor. Help us to see where we can offer safety, healing, dignity and hope. Give us the courage to act on what we see.

As we pray for those who lead us, help us to watch and listen with discerning minds. Help us to support where we see merit, and to speak truth to power when we see injustice. Help us to be more than followers; give us the will to be part of the solution.

As we pray for all those who we love and keep close, help us to realize that even small acts of kindness can add a great deal of light to a world that seems dark. Help us see the gifts we have and give us the strength to offer them freely.

All this we ask in the words of Jesus, the baby in whom the wise ones saw hope for the future of the world…

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

As, long ago, magi offered their time, their wisdom, and their riches to acknowledge a small peasant child they had never met, let us gather our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to move the dreams of God forward in our world today. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to the ministry of BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Holy One,

Although we may not come bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, what we offer today is given in love and in hope that all of our small offerings can help transform the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie

This week, the world lost a modern-day wise man with the passing of Desmond Tutu. Let me share some of the wise words he left us:

“God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.”

And with these words, go now into the world, ready to use your gifts, ready to bless all those who make up this human family, ready to transform the world in all the ways you can. Go, with the strength and courage that comes from knowing that God accompanies you on your journey and that Jesus lights your way. Go, ready to follow the light. Go, ready to be the light. Amen.

Hymn: I Am the Light of the World – Voices United #87 guitar: Heidi

Refrain:
I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!
If you follow and love
you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds
have found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun. R

To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children
with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above! R.

To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will, to see God’s children everywhere! R

To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby’s new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth! R

Departing Musics: A Christmas Gloria (Navidad gloriosa) Trad. Spanish: Larter

BCUC choir – 2018 Christmas concert

and

Holiday Blessing: Joyce Eilers

Grace Notes with CGS singing Jingle Bells – 2018 Christmas concert

Announcements

Connie Davidson

December 24, 2021

Worship services

Christmas Eve Service - December 24, 2021

Connie Davidson

December 24, 2021

Worship services

CHRISTMAS EVE / AGAPE MEAL

December 24, 2021

The Ministers – Rev. Lorrie Lowes & Rev. Kim Vidal
Music Director – Abe TeGrotenhuis

The video recording of this service can be found here.

The Gathering

Gathering Music: The Cradle Rocks in Glory! - Grace Notes, BCUC 2019 Concert, Percussion: Raven/Heidi/Arcadie

Traditional Spiritual, additional words © Besig & Price, arr. © Don Besig
ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Welcome Rev. Kim Vidal

Good evening. Merry Christmas! On behalf of BCUC and in the name of Jesus Christ, I welcome and greet you to our Christmas Eve Service. Tonight, we are not only celebrating the birth of Jesus, but more importantly, that we recognize the truth at the heart of this story: that Love was born at Christmas. This is the good news of great joy! May tonight’s service reminds us too that we are all God’s children - recipients of God's hearty welcome to the manger and God’s table of grace.

We will be sharing an agape meal during the service. Please make sure you have some bread or crackers and any beverage ready to partake during the agape meal.

I would like to highlight a couple of announcements:

On the First Sunday after Christmas (Dec 26) there will be a joint service with Glen Cairn and Kanata congregations. The service will be hosted by Glen Cairn United Church and it will be offered onsite at 10 am and live stream via YouTube. If you are joining onsite, you are required to be fully vaccinated and wearing a mask. Youtube link on website at gcuc.ca.

Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, all worship services, gatherings and events in the BCUC building are cancelled until further notice. The Sunday worship service will be offered online via Youtube and through telephone. Check our website for the link at bcuc.org.

Let us now prepare our hearts, mind and spirit as we gather in our Christmas Eve service.

Carol: “O Come All Ye Faithful” - Voices United #60 BCUC Choir

1.O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem: come and behold him, born the King of angels;

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him, (3x)
Christ the Lord.

2 God of God, light of light,
lo, he abhors not the virgin's womb,
very God, begotten, not created: R

3 Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest: R

4 See, how the shepherds summoned to his cradle, leaving their flocks,
draw nigh with lowly fear;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; R

5 Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: R

Words in English: Frederick Oakeley, 1841; Music: John Francis Wade, 1743.
Song # 592e04d371906 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Monica Peck, David Jones and Samantha

(Eric Hebert-Daly, Gathering, ACE 2021-2022. Used with permission.)

Reader 1: Enter, with your vulnerabilities and with your whole self just as you are.
We come seeking hope.

Reader 2: Come with your brokenness.
We come seeking peace and healing.

Reader 3: Come with your desire for new life.
We come seeking joy.

Reader 1: Come with your desire to love and be loved.
We come seeking love. We come to prepare the way of love.

Reader 2: Come at God’s invitation this night.
We come to welcome the Christ child.

Reader 3: Tonight, hope, peace, love and joy are found in a manger and throughout the world.

(The Christ Candle is lit).

Sung Response: A Candle is Burning - Voices United #6 (Verse 5)

We honour Messiah with Christ candle’s flame,
our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim.
O come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night,
as God comes among us, the Christian’s true light.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019. Used with permission)

Why do we gather here,
on a night so beautifully dark and quiet?
To celebrate the birth of a child.
Who is the child that is born this night?
The One, the Christ, the God-with-Us.
Who are we, that we commemorate this birth?
His sisters and brothers and siblings,
his disciples and friends.
Then, as family and friends, let us come together,
to tell stories and sing songs,
to share in the feast of thanksgiving,
to celebrate and worship our God!

Opening Prayer

(Kerry Parsons, Gathering, ACE 2021-20122 Used with permission.)

Loving and faithful God, as we once again celebrate the Christmas season,
we are reminded that you gave us a gift:
A gift that lets your light in.
A gift that encourages us to depend on you.
A gift that offers us hope for your reign.
A gift that sustains our faith.
A gift that tests our call to say “yes” to you.
A gift that we are allowed to re-gift freely.
A gift that abides with us eternally.
A gift of love.
The gift of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Special Music: Shepherd Boy - Charlotte Algozin CGS/Bells Canto & Erin Berard

Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, look up at the star.
Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, it guides from a-far.
Its radiant beams shine down through the night.
Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, follow it’s light.

Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, hear the an-gels sing.
Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, hear the tidings they bring.
In the city of David lies a baby so fair.
Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, go find him there.

Leave your hillside don’t delay.
Find his manger bed of hay.
Play your pipe and dance with joy.
Welcome Ma-ry’s newborn boy.

Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, see the Christ child so sweet.
Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, kneel at his feet.
He is God’s Son sent from heaven above.
Shepherd boy, shepherd boy, his message is love.

Time for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie Lowes

A Carol for Christmas – written by Ann Tompert and illustrated by Laura Kelly

Silent Night was written on December 24, 1818,
and first performed that very night
in the church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria.
It was the creation of Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber.

This is the legend of the creation of that beautiful hymn – told from the perspective of a small church mouse. In the cold winter of 1818, food is so scarce that the mice at St. Nicholas Church resort to making soup from the leather that connects the organ strings to the keyboard – making the organ completely out of service. On Christmas Eve, the pastor and the organist decide to write new Christmas music for midnight mass that would be suitable to be played on guitar. In our story, the pastor’s words to the hymn are inspired by a visit to a poor couple who has just welcomed a newborn baby in their small woodcutter’s hut in the forest of Oberndorf – and the mouse receives a miraculous chunk of cheese to share with his family.

Carol: Away in a Manger - Voices United #69

1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

2 The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

3 Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.

Words: Author Unknown; Music 1895 William James Kirkpatrick
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

The Word

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Barbara Bole

(Laura Rousseau, Gathering, ACE 2021-20122 Used with permission.)

Holy God of angels and shepherds, of magi and refugee families, we pray today:
prepare our hearts to receive the hope of the Christmas Story.
Amen.

The Nativity Reading: Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

May the light of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Ministry of Music: Noel Tidings (Sing We Now/God Rest Ye): – BCUC Choir 2019 concert

Christmas Meditation Rev. Kim Vidal

Christmas Eve is just a few hours from now. What comes to mind when you talk
about Christmas Eve - the night when we celebrate the birth of Jesus? Something hopeful and celebratory? Perhaps a grandiose family dinner? Gift-giving? A holy, silent night? To some, maybe, it is just an ordinary night like the rest of the nights? What about calling Christmas Eve “a night of great joy”? That for me, is the closest phrase I could think of. It reminds me of the angels bringing good news to Mary, to Joseph, to the shepherds, to the townfolks and yes even to the animals in the stable.

What does joy mean for you? Why would Christmas be a day of rejoicing despite the ongoing life challenges? Does joy have to do with “doing the right thing” as in meticulous preparations and perfect gift-giving? Is it about opening your homes to family and friends for dinner? Is it about carol singing or poetry reading? Does it have to do with a table set flawlessly with a full course meal, followed by gift-exchange with excited children running around the house? What makes Christmas Eve a night of great joy? The prose and poetry of our Christian faith speak about the joy of Christmas Eve that are filled with light, glory and revelation. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined." Luke's nativity story too, is filled with light bursting out of the darkness: "As shepherds watched their flocks by night, a being of light appears, and the glory of God shines around them. A message is given, be not afraid and the night sky is filled with the light of the heavenly host who proclaimed good news of great joy.”

It is so wonderful to hear these readings and yet ...what happens when the turkey isn’t cooked quite right and the table is short of some cutleries and the gift has not been fully appreciated, and you did not receive a Christmas card from your best friend and the children gets squirmy while eating cookies and the clothes you are wearing isn’t the right colour for you? Maybe Christmas Eve isn’t something you are looking forward to. Maybe it isn’t meant to be joyful for you. What do you do when the night of great joy lacks the luster you were hoping for? This year, sadly, Christmas Eve will be different from the other Christmas Eves that we have celebrated due to the ongoing COVID-variant pandemic. Not everyone are looking forward to Christmas. Being together with family is not good news for everyone. Not good news for those confronted with illness, isolation or grief. Not good news for the community where shelters for the homeless like The Mission and Elizabeth Fry are filling up again as the days get colder. Not good news for those who cannot afford a decent meal. There is nothing worse than feeling alone and hopeless, when the rest of the world seems to be gushing with joy. Globally, we might think we are not there yet in terms of joy.

Listen once more to these verses: "While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” It is so easy to forget, isn’t it, that the first Christmas didn’t go all perfect either. We hear the story almost every year on the same night and we assume that the birth of Jesus had been joyful and flawless! Sometimes the carols we sing are not in sync with the real birth story. We love to sing “Away in a Manger” especially that part that says, “The cattle are lowly; the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.” It is a great carol, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think baby Jesus was quiet at all. I’m sure he cried a lot like most newborns do.

Don’t you think it would be nice for someone to write a Christmas carols about how stinky the animals smell… about how difficult the labour was for Mary - not to mention the agony that Joseph went through as he waited and watched... or a verse about the mosquitoes biting the shepherds who endured from “keeping watch over their flocks by night”? When this happens, Christmas Eve might not be the perfect event but it becomes so close to reality – so earthy and so close to our very own lived experiences. I don’t mean to diminish the luster - all the glory and joyfulness of this Christmas Eve, All I wanted to say is that if things aren’t perfect for you, take heart! You are in good company with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus and the shepherds and all of creation. Maybe we should redefine the word “joy” to mean more like a gift from God, not something that we put in a box and tweak it the way we wanted it to be. The good news of great joy is this. The God of Christmas comes to us through the birth of Jesus, in our wildernesses, changing our darkness into light, sorrow into singing, hatred into peace, fear into joy. No matter how bleak the tragic course of history, how unnerving our personal circumstances, or how pessimistic the forecasts of intellectuals, with joy, we can expect God’s love to blossom even in the dust and dirt of our lives. There is still joy in the world!

“Joy” comes from the word “to rejoice”. It is a feeling of “great delight caused by something or someone exceptionally good or satisfying”. Other words for joy include bliss, jubilation, glee, and appreciation. And for those of us who take joy in God’s love, there is a gift of joy, on this holiest of nights, a baby born in a stable to a poor, ordinary couple, who will later on walk and talk the meaning of hope, peace, joy and love to all.

As we gather for an agape meal, let us remember that this night is made joyful not because of what or how much we do or don’t do; not because of all the meals we prepare, or the gifts we wrap, or even the worship service we celebrate. The joy of Christmas Eve shines with the brightness not of our individual candles, but the brightness of the Christ candle - the light of Jesus who will guide us in the new year to come. Every moment of our lives is infused with joy because God has indeed become like us. As the theologian Karl Barth puts it: "the God remembered at Christmas is a God with a name, a God with a human face." God was born this night to dwell in places of poverty, to take on our frailness as holy and fragile. God came as a precious and vulnerable child - who is named “Emmanuel” God-with us.

We work hard, don’t we, to make this Christmas Eve a night of great joy and yet in spite of all that we do, it hardly seems anywhere close to enough, does it? So when the turkey isn’t cooked quite right and the table is short of some cutleries and the gift has not been fully appreciated, and you did not receive a Christmas card from your best friend and the children gets squirmy eating the cookies and the clothes you are wearing isn’t the right colour for you and when we are disappointed because of the COVID pandemic, take heart! At Christmas, we remember that we are unconditionally and deeply loved by a God who cares for all people and the creatures of the world, from the smallest to the most important, from the wisest to the weirdest. God cares for the world in all its brokenness and imperfections.

Beloved friends, on this holy night, a Holy child is born - Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-Us. This is the good news of great joy! Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Response

Christmas Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

(UCC Intergenerational Christmas Service, 2016)

God of hope, of silent prayers and urgent cries,
we pray for your world and its people…
          for those who will spend this day alone;
          for those who will not enjoy a feast this day;
          for those whose tables will have an empty place this year.

Lift our hearts in anticipation of your vision.
Shine a light in the depth of fear.
Sing a song of joy in the lonely heart.

God of peace, on this Christmas day we pray
for the people of Bethlehem, of Israel and Palestine;
for refugees who have nowhere to lay their heads,
for those who find themselves in strange lands.
Watch over and protect them, God of the morning star.
Guide us in the ways of mercy and reconciliation.

Open our hearts, that we might receive you
and hear your voice, Loving God.
May we share the gift of your heaven,
your vision for all people:
hope of fulfillment,
peace in our time,
joy that persists through trial and celebration,
and love that heals the wounded heart.
In the name of Jesus whose birth we celebrate on. Christmas. Amen.

Carol: ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – Voices United #71

1. 'Twas in the moon of wintertime,
when all the birds had fled,
that mighty Gitchi Manitou
sent angel choirs instead;
before their light the stars grew dim,
and wandering hunters heard the hymn:

Refrain:
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.

2. Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped his beauty round,
But as the hunters brave drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high. R

3. The earliest moon of wintertime
is not so round and fair.
As was the ring of glory on
the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
with gifts of fox and beaver pelt. R

4. O children of the forest free,
the angel song is true.
The holy Child of earth and heaven
is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy
who brings you beauty, peace and joy. R

Words: Jean de Brebeuf, 1641, English trans Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926; Music: French Folk Song, 16th century
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Celebration of Agape Meal Rev. Lorrie Lowes & Rev. Kim Vidal

The Invitation Kim

Friends, welcome to this still, sacred night, where bread is broken for the gifts of compassion, and the wine poured for the healing of all. For in this moment of celebration of the common with the extraordinary, earth with heaven, and of the humanity with the Divine, the joy and mystery of Christmas is given, not just to behold, but to live out with gratitude, love and joy.

Prayer of Thanksgiving Kim

May the peace of the Infant Jesus be with you.
Lift up your hearts.
Pour out your souls.
It was as a baby that you came to us, gracious God.
A child in a manger, staring out in wonder and sleeping in contentment.
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth once again, fill us with wonder and joy.
As we celebrate his birth, so we commemorate his time among us.
He grew up as an adult to be your instrument of love, healing the sick,
preaching your Word, and being one among the people.

The Fraction Lorrie

We remember how Jesus sat at supper with his disciples.
While they were eating, Jesus broke bread and as he shared it, he said,
“remember me.”
Later, he took a cup of wine and shared it with these words: “remember me.”
And so, as Jesus did, we bless these gifts and share them amongst ourselves,
and in doing so, we remember his presence with us – always.
Bless us, God, in the breaking of bread and inspire us through the sharing of cup.
For these unfolding gifts, we are grateful. For this living hope, we offer our lives.

The Lord’s Prayer Lorrie

Let us recite together this prayer that Jesus taught his friends and followers in the language of your choice.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup Kim

Let us now share and partake the bread and the cup reminding us of God’s unconditional love.
This is the bread – food for the journey. Take, eat and be nourished by God’s love.
This is the cup – drink for the journey. Take, drink and be sustained by God’s grace.

Prayer after Meal Lorrie

We give thanks O God, because you have refreshed us at your table, touched our deepest needs, and called us to a life shared in memory and hope. Send us forth with courage and joy in the name of Jesus Christ, that we, too, may become bread and peace for one another and the world. Amen.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, remember that the gift of love came to all of us, enabling us to make the world a more welcoming place for the God of joy and peace. I invite you to respond to that love by offering our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to God. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(Inspired by the prayer of David Sparks, Gathering, ACE 2021-20122 Used with permission.)

Loving God, we bring these gifts of Christmas for your blessing, knowing that in the midst of a challenging time, our willingness to give joyfully and generously will be a gift. In the name of Jesus, whose birth we are celebrating, Amen.

The Blessing

*Carol: “Joy to the World” - Voices United #59

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

2. Joy to the earth the Saviour reigns:
let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks,
hills and plains repeat the sounding joy.
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins, and sorrows grow,
or thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make his blessings flow,
far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found

4. He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719; Music: attrib. George Frederic Handel, 1742
Song 592e04d32d423 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

*Sending Forth Rev. Kim

(Robin Wardlaw, Gathering ACE 2017-2018)

Send us forth this Christmas Eve, O Love Incarnate,
with the light of Jesus glowing within us.
Send us forth from this feast of love to celebrate
the One who is bread for the journey
and the cup of blessing.
Go in hope, peace, joy and love now and in the days to come. Amen.

Carol: Silent Night, Holy Night – Voices United #67

Silent night! Holy Night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace!

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Words; Joseph Mohr, 1818, English trans. John Freeman Young, 1863 et.al. Music: Franz Xavier Gruber, 1818
Song 92350 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Departing Music: Never Been a Night Like This! BCUC combined choirs 2019 concert

Bonus: Nutcracker Jingles: BCUC Choir 2019 concert

Words & Music © Pierpont/Tchaikovsky, arr. © Chuck Bridwell

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!

Connie Davidson

December 18, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - December 19, 2021

Connie Davidson

December 18, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT / LOVE

DECEMBER 19, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music / Carol Sing:

Good Christian Friends Rejoice VU 35 (vs. 1-2)
(Words: Latin, 14th century, trans. John Mason Neale, 1833;

Music: German melody, harm. Gary Alan Smith, 1988.)

1. Good Christian friends, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!
Jesus Christ is born today.
Ox and ass before him bow
And he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

2. Good Christian friends, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door
And we are blessed forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

All Poor Ones and Humble VU 68 (vs. 1-2)
(Words: v.1 Katherine Emily Roberts, 1927, alt. v. 2 William Thomas pennar Davies, 1951;

Music: Welsh carol, harm. Erik Routley, 1951.)

1. All poor ones and humble
And all those who stumble,
Come hastening and feel not afraid
For Jesus, our treasure
with love past all measure,
In lowly manger was laid.
Though wise men who found him
laid rich gifts around him,
Yet oxen they gave him their hay,
And Jesus in beauty
Accepted their duty
Contented in manger he lay.

2. The Christ Child will lead us
The Good Shepherd feed us
And with us abide till his day.
Then hatred he’ll banish;
Then sorrow will vanish,
And death and despair flee away.
And he shall reign ever
And nothing shall sever
From us the great love of our King;
His peace and his pity
Shall bless his fair city;
His praises we ever shall sing.

Refrain:
Then haste ye to show him
The praises we owe him;
Our service he ne’er can despise;
Whose love is able to show us that stable,
Where softly in manger he lies.

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good morning! Welcome to this fourth Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Love as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Jesus. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere or joining us onsite, we are glad that you have joined us today.

We continue worshipping in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 10 am. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

Lighting of the Advent Candle: Joy Acolytes: The Kelly Family

(Eric Hebert-Daly, Gathering ACE 2021-2022. Used with permission.)

Reader 1: Today we light the candle of Love.

Reader 2: Love is not always what we expect.

Reader 1: It may come through unexpected people and at unexpected times.

Reader 3: God’s love is not always what we expect.

Reader 1: God’s love comes to us in gentle whispers as well as with and insistent voice that we can’t ignore.

Reader 4: God’s love finds us when we are lost and heals us when we are broken.

Reader 5: May we allow God to love us into wholeness today,

So that we may share that love tomorrow.

All: May love be found in a manger and throughout the world.

(The fourth Advent candle is lit.)

Sung Response: Hope is A Star (Verse 4) VU 7

(Words: Brian Wren, 1985; Music: Joan Collier Fogg, 1987.)

Love is a flame that burns in our heart,
Jesus has come and will never depart.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
And none shall be afraid.

Call to Gather Rev. Kim Vidal

(Carol Frost, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)

Come! Hear the exciting news!

Elizabeth and Mary, two friends, sharing the excitement of the upcoming birth of their children, Gabriel’s announcement, and what God has chosen them to do. Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, mother of Jesus, the son of God.

Come together, as friends, to sing God’s praise, and trust that we will discover what it is God has chosen us to do.

Elizabeth and Mary, companions, ready to support one another along their spiritual journeys.

Through the love and trust of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, their world will be forever changed!

Come together as companions in our spiritual journey, ready to support one another.

Remember the birth of Christ and how it changed the world, and trust that it will change our lives as well.

As Elizabeth and Mary understood and accepted their roles, we see the strength of their faith and their assurance of the love and the blessing of God.

Come together to praise God and to be guided by God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit.

We trust that we will come to understand and accept our role in this time and place.

Let us worship God, ever thankful for Elizabeth and Mary’s faithfulness and friendship!

Opening Prayer and Silent Confession:

(Dora White, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)

Holy and Eternal God,
You call us to gather in the midst of crisis and celebration, joy and sorrow.
You are with us; we are not alone.
Like Mary, may we overcome our fears.
You are with us; we are not alone.
Like Mary, may we find a safe place to go.
You are with us; we are not alone.
Like Mary, may we recognize your call for justice.
You are with us; we are not alone.
Like Mary, may we realize that we are blessed and chosen by you.
You are with us; we are not alone.
Like Mary, may we exalt and praise your name.
For you are with us; we are not alone.
Holy and Eternal God, we praise your name today. Amen.

Silent Confession

Words of Assurance

(Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)

Praise the Lord, for unto us was born a child in the city of David, the Messiah, the Son of God, Emmanuel, God-with-us, our judge and our hope. Your sins are forgiven. Believe. Receive. Rejoice! Thanks Be to God!

Advent Hymn: My Soul Cries Out MV120

(Words: Rory Cooney, 1990; Music: traditional melody, Ireland; arr. Rory Cooney, 1990.)

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight and my weakness you did not spurn,
So, from east to west shall my name be blessed. Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn!

2. Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. R

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. R

4. Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Kim Vidal

Today is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent. This means that Christmas is really getting near! Are you getting excited? I know, I am! What are some of the things that you look forward to at Christmas, besides opening presents and having a delicious meal with your family? This year, celebrating Christmas will be different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we still can enjoy it! Maybe if we get a lot of snowfall, your family can make a snowman or go for a drive to look at the colourful lights near the Parliament Hill. Or maybe you get to decorate a Christmas Tree with your favourite ornaments. What about making a gingerbread house? Or baking yummy cookies? I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.

Can you think of some of the family traditions your family has? One important tradition in our family is a get-together and dinner at midnight after attending the Christmas Eve service. I come from a big family of 11 children so you can imagine the merriment and fun as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Oh yes, our house was very loud with laughter, games, carol-singing, dancing, food and stories!! On Christmas Day, we expect a visit from our close relatives and friends and have another good time together. Visitation is an important aspect of Christmas for my family. It reminds me of our Gospel story today when Mary went to visit her older relative Elizabeth.

Our story tells us what happened when God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary that she was going to have a baby and that she would name him Jesus. Can you imagine how Mary, perhaps a teenager, engaged to marry Joseph, must have felt to hear news like that? I’m sure she was nervous and scared or maybe a little excited? After a while, the story tells us, that Mary visited the home of Elizabeth to tell her the news. Elizabeth who is much, much older than Mary, was also expecting a baby and the story tells us that when she heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in Elizabeth’s womb!

Elizabeth blessed Mary and said to her, "God has blessed you above all women, and the baby you are carrying is also blessed." That is awesome! Before Mary even said a word about having a child, Elizabeth already knew and that Mary’s child was going to be a very special baby! Mary and Elizabeth shared a love that only mothers know when they are expecting a child. So, Christmas story begins with the celebration of Jesus’ birth and it was love through Jesus that makes Christmas so special!

Let’s close with an embodied prayer. Please repeat after me:

Holy One (reach up and out)
May your love (cross hands and lower arms over heart)
Be in my head... (touch head)
...and heart (touch heart)
May your love (keep touching heart)
Be in my actions (touch eyes and mouth)
May your love (cross hands over heart)
Be in all I say... (touch mouth)
...and do (extend hands, or in a group, hold hands)
AMEN (head down, hands at prayer with palms together)

Hymn: Love is the Touch MV 89

(Words: Alison M. Robertson, 1998; Music: John L. Bell, 1998)

1.        Love is the touch of intangible joy;
          love is the force that no fear can destroy;
          love is the goodness we gladly applaud:

God is where love is, for love is of God.

2.       Love is the lilt in a lingering voice;
          love is the hope that can make us rejoice;
          love is the cure for the frightened and flawed:

God is where love is, for love is of God.

3.       Love is the light in the tunnel of pain;
          love is the will to be whole once again;
          love is the trust of a friend on the road:
          God is where love is, for love is of God.

4. Love is the Maker and Spirit and Son;
love is the kingdom their will has begun;
love is the path which the saints all have trod:

God is where love is, for love is of God.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Will Wightman

(Beth W. Johnston, Gathering A/C/E 2021. Used with permission.)

Open our hearts to the mystery of your word, Holy God.
Open our spirits to its meaning for our lives.
Be with us as we listen for and receive your word today. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-55 (NRSV)

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

May the love of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “How Could Mary Know?” Rev. Lorrie

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we look away from John the Baptist, preaching his heavy messages from the banks of the Jordan. Oh, we aren’t leaving him altogether, of course; we will meet him again soon. He will still be preaching and baptising, urging the people to change their thinking and their actions, to turn their lives around, to repent. The crowds will still be gathering, people from all walks of life. Some will be there out of curiosity; some may be simply looking for a ritual cleansing. Some will be wondering if this wild man could be the promised Messiah… And that next time we meet John the Baptist, one person in the crowd will stand out. Jesus will come to be baptised by him.

Who are these two men – John and Jesus? Where did they come from? Where did their radical thinking originate? How did they come to be so full of prophetic wisdom?

And so, today we turn away from the banks of the Jordan River to look back to where it all began, to the time leading up to their births - two lives that were intertwined long before Jesus joined John on the banks of the river.

Today our scripture tells us the story of two pregnant women – one an unwed teen and the other a post-menopausal woman – both expecting their first child. That, in itself, is interesting, I think. Mary, of course is a familiar figure to Christians – the mother of Jesus, revered in many denominations and celebrated by all at Christmas time. But what about Elizabeth? Why don’t we hear more about her, the mother of John the Baptist?

Mary and Elizabeth, cousins who live far apart and are far apart in age but women who share a common passion and an unbreakable bond, friends who, beyond all imagination, are sharing their first experience of pregnancy. They share their fears, and worries. They share their joy and wonder. They share their hopes and dreams for the future of their sons… They share their hopes and dreams for the future of the world. They share their understanding of the responsibility they have been given. The elderly wife of a priest, and the young daughter of a peasant family from a small backwater village, share the dream of a better world, not just for their children, but for all people everywhere. These are the dreams of all new parents, I think. What sets these two apart is that their dreams are revolutionary for the time and that they believe these dreams are possible to achieve. After all, Gabriel has just told Mary that nothing is impossible with God. The immediate evidence is here, in the pregnancies of these two. Their faith that God is indeed with them gives them the courage to take the action that will set these dreams, these possibilities, in motion.

What do we know about the place of women in biblical times? For the most part they had no status of their own, their place in the world depended on the significant men in their lives – first father, then husbands, and then sons. Most of the stories in our Bible feature men as the main characters. There are some exceptions, of course, but very often the women we read about are seen as sinful. Where men might be exalted for speaking up or taking a stand, often the independent women of our stories face punishment – Eve is expelled from the garden and she is condemned along with all women to suffer greatly in childbirth… Miriam is given a disfiguring skin disease by a disgruntled God… Women are expected to be quiet, and to be subservient to their husbands. Meek and mild… hmm isn’t this how we have come to think of Mary? Mary, accepting her fate, saying “Let it be”, giving birth in a stable seemingly without complaint and immediately receiving visitors – shepherds, magi, and perhaps even a little drummer boy (just what every woman wants right after giving birth, and just what a sleeping newborn needs!) – all the while smiling sweetly, nodding quietly.

But, is that what the gospel story is really telling us? Let’s look again at the passage Will read for us this morning…

When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary – giving her the fright of her life! – Mary makes a decision that will alter the course of her life, and of the world. At first, she says, “This isn’t possible! I’m just a girl! I’m not ready for something like this!” … but, in the end, she says, “Let it be.” She could have said, “No way, Gabriel! I’m not the one for the job; tell God to find someone more capable.” But she didn’t. What if, instead of picturing her as obedient and submissive, we hear this as an acceptance of the challenge? In today’s world, I hear her saying, “OK, let’s do this!”

And then… she needs to share the news and to process it, to figure out what the implications of this might be. Does she run to her mother? To a trusted girlfriend down the street? To the man to whom she is betrothed? No, she sets out on a three-day journey – alone from all we read, and isn’t that a scary thought! – to the house of her cousin Elizabeth, the one Gabriel has told her is also experiencing an unexpected pregnancy.

Now I see a girl who is independent and brave, someone who realizes that she has been given an opportunity and a responsibility, not someone who is accepting an unpleasant fate. She goes to the one person she knows will understand what she has experienced and what she sees in her future. To make this journey and to do it with haste tells me that, although Elizabeth may be far away geographically, she is someone Mary knows and trusts, someone who accepts and even encourages Mary’s dreams, her independent thinking, her chutzpa. We are told that Mary arrives at the home of Zechariah but, rather than seek welcome from this priest, she immediately greets Elizabeth, the one whose counsel she needs and trusts.

Can you imagine their greeting?

“Elizabeth, Elizabeth! Something has happened and I need you to help me understand. How can this even be possible? Am I crazy? What have I done? What have I gotten myself into?? Please help me figure out what I’m supposed to do now!”

We know right away that Mary has come to the right place. Elizabeth, old enough to be Mary’s mother or even grandmother, is happy to see her. She doesn’t scold her, she doesn’t say, “Oh, now you are in trouble! What were you thinking?” She is filled with joy! Even the baby in her womb leaps for joy! “What a blessing, Mary! And how blessed you are to be chosen to mother this child!” Elizabeth is certain that if God needs a messenger to transform the world, Mary is the right person to raise him. Mary, outspoken, brave, and passionate; Mary who looks at the world and sees a need for revolutionary change; Mary who loves and trusts God. Elizabeth sees a mother who will instill in her child a sense of justice and a drive to make a difference.

Elizabeth gives Mary the boost of confidence she needs; she dismisses all doubt; she assures this young relative that she is on a right path; and she assures Mary that she has her support.

Elizabeth is older, more experienced, and therefore we presume, the wiser of the two women in our story…and yet she seems to put this young girl above herself. “Why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”

Mary responds with a song from her heart. “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on, all generations will call me blessed…”

In many denominations, this is where the reading of the Magnificat ends – with Mary praising God and looking toward a future where everyone will know that she is favoured in God’s eyes. Back to Mary, meek and mild – convinced that this tricky situation is actually a blessing and all will be right with her world. It’s clean, it’s comfortable. It fits with our beautiful nativity stories, and it doesn’t ask us to do anything. Our UCC resources give us the option of stopping even before this, with Elizabeth’s enthusiastic welcome of Mary and her news…

But, I think we need to go on, to hear the parts that are avoided because they are uncomfortable, especially to those in power and those with privilege. The parts that show Mary’s revolutionary thinking, her vision of what God wants for the world… a scattering of the proud, removing the powerful from their thrones, lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry with good things, and sending the rich away empty…

In our Lectionary Study this week, we wondered if this song of Mary that we call the Magnificat could really have come from her. It was remarked that it seems very polished for a 14-year-old girl. How would Mary know all this? How could she possibly have so much insight at such a young age? Why would Elizabeth value the thinking, the dreams, of a child? Maybe it was really Elizabeth who said these things, as some theologians believe… or maybe it was a quote from the song of Hannah in the Hebrew scriptures… maybe it was something written by Luke and put into the mouth of Mary …

And then we thought about Malala, and Greta Thunberg, and Amanda Gorman, and Autumn Peltier… all young girls who have raised their voices in today’s world, young women with passion, insight, and wisdom… strong women who make us uncomfortable, strong women who will go on to raise strong children…

None of these young women came into the world fully formed, with minds aware of not only the beauty of this world but also its inequities, its injustice, the destructive behaviour of its people. All of these young women were born into families and communities who taught them to see and to think.

God didn’t send John or Jesus into the world as fully formed men, ready to take on the problems in the world. God sent newborn babies to families with vision, families who had strong faith in God – but not blind faith or passive faith – families who knew that the world would never change without putting faith into action, families who nurtured strong minds and strong voices.

It all began with a family.

Both Matthew and Luke spend time sharing the genealogy of Jesus. Matthew starts with Abraham and Luke goes all the way back to Adam. Is this simply to prove that Jesus is descended from David as was prophesied? If that’s the case then why continue back so far?

Family Trees traditionally go down through the male line, but Matthew mentions five women in the family tree of Jesus – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, all determined and resourceful women who took matters into their own hands and all women who had a shady history - seducers, an adulterer, and even a prostitute! All women who were not willing to be passive when they saw a need for action. And he ends with Mary… I wonder, did Matthew see something other than a meek and mild servant of God?

I know many people today are interested in genealogy. We are intrigued by our roots, by the people and the circumstances that played a part in creating us and who we have grown to be. If you have studied your own family tree, you know how complicated it can become when you try to define relationships… is he a first cousin once removed or a second cousin? We want to know more than what appears in a birth announcement; we want to know where they lived, what they did in their lives – because our family history is a lot more than our genes, it is all part of what makes us who we are today. We want to know about the women in our past, not just the men. How did they meet? Why did they marry? Who were their children? Am I the first to follow this career path or do I follow a long line of ministers? It’s not a straight line, it’s a spiral. And it all plays a part in who we are today.

The mothers of John and Jesus were cousins, John and Jesus are part of the same family tree. They were raised by strong, free-thinking women who were likely married to men who thought and lived in the same way. They grew up in families and communities that nurtured, their faith, their intellect, and their sense of social justice.

Our scriptures tell us little to nothing about the childhoods of these two men – at least not directly – but they do tell us where they came from and where they began. Perhaps that’s all we need to know. The messages that they gave the world are as linked as their roots.

And so, today we celebrate their mothers who had the courage and the faith to say yes to God, and the insight to raise men who would have the insight and the tools needed to transform the world.

There is a beautiful song that we hear at this time of year called “Mary Did You Know?” It asks if Mary had any idea of who her son would grow up to be. One of my colleagues calls the words a bit “mansplainy” as if Mary was just the vessel to bear Jesus and nothing more. Of course Mary knew! She had a big part in who he would become! So, she found new words to this song that were written by Jennifer Henry, a name you may recognize as she was the speaker from Kairos who came to BCUC a few years ago on an Indigenous Sunday. My friend and classmate, Bri-Anne Swan recorded it and I’d like to end by sharing this version with you.

Thanks be to God for Mary and Elizabeth. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Holy One,

In this time when the world seems lost to injustice, violence, despair, and self-centredness, we, like Mary, pause to remember the great things you have done for us. We remember that, no matter how bleak the situation may seem, you are always with us, not to simply rescue us but to give us the strength, the courage, and the compassion to do the hard work of creating your perfect kin-dom here in this earthly place.

We pray with thanks for all the people in the world who are working for transformation – the helpers, the leaders, the writers, and the activists, young and old, who use their skills to heal, their hearts to comfort, and their voices to prophesy.

We pray for those who suffer at the hands of the proud and the powerful – that violence be replaced by peace, neglect by compassion.

We pray for those who hunger - for food, for spiritual nourishment, or for love and kindness – that they might be filled in all these ways.

We pray for the marginalized that they might find welcome in community - welcome for who they are now, not who we wish they could be.

We pray for ourselves with all of our pride, our power, and our privilege – that we might find the clarity, the faith, and the courage of Elizabeth and Mary, to not only hear your message but be moved to action.

As the day of celebration approaches, keep us aware of the amazing gift that Jesus was – and is – to the world. Help us to truly share this gift in transformational ways.

All this we pray in the ancient words of prayer that he gifted to his followers:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

(Lori Van Santvoort-Jansekovich, Gathering Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission)

It is the season of Advent, the season of gifts and giving. With love in our hearts, let us worship god with our offerings as we anticipate in wonder the birth of the Christ Child. Let us gather our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to God. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(Bob Root, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)

In these days of waiting, O God,
As Mary grew Jesus in her womb, so grow in us a spirit of generosity.
Bring to birth within us a passion for justice and peace.
As we share these gifts, which you have entrusted to us,
so may your dream for the world come closer to fulfillment.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie

(Bill Steadman, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)

In the words of Luke’s gospel:
“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment
of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
May we also seek to fulfill our calling
and to be open to the blessings of God,
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, now and always. Amen.

Hymn: There Was a Child in Galilee MV134

(Words and Music: Janet Gadeski, 2005; arr. Patricia Wright, 2006.)

1. There was a child in Galilee
who wandered wild along the sea.
A holy child, alone was she
And they called her Dreaming Mary.
And she dreamed, rejoicing in her saviour; She dreamed of justice for the poor. She dreamed that kings oppressed no more. When she dreamed, that Dreaming Mary.

2. One holy day an angel came
With voice of wind and eyes of flame.
He promised blessed would be her name, When he spoke to Dreaming Mary. Then she spoke, rejoicing in her saviour. She spoke of justice for the poor. She spoke that kings oppressed no more
When she spoke, that Dreaming Mary.

3. And did she dream about a son?
And did he speak, the angel one?
We only know God’s will was done
In the son of Dreaming Mary.
Then she prayed, rejoicing in her saviour. She taught him justice for the poor. She taught that kings oppressed no more. When she taught, that Dreaming Mary.

4. Then Jesus grew in Galilee,
They wandered wild along the sea.
Now he calls to you and me
To dream with Dreaming Mary.
And we dream, rejoicing in our saviour. We dream of justice for the poor. We dream that kings oppress no more. As we dream with Dreaming Mary.

Departing Music: Mary and Elizabeth – Pepper Choplin

Sung by Erin Meyers and Sarah Parker, Advent Concert 2015.

Advent Memorial Flowers

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Connie Davidson

December 15, 2021

Worship services

Blue Christmas Service - December 15, 2021

Connie Davidson

December 15, 2021

Worship services

A Service of Healing and Renewal
BCUC Blue Christmas Service

December 15, 2021 – 6 pm

Ministers: Rev. Lorrie Lowes & Rev. Kim Vidal
Music Director: Abe TeGrotenhuis
Members of the Pastoral & Spiritual Care Team

The audio recording of this service can be found below.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Come and Find the Quiet Centre VU 374

(Words: Shirley Erena Murray, 1989; Music, attrib. Benjamin Franklin White, 1844)

Come and find the quiet centre
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, face to face.
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we're shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other's pain,
let our loves and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there's a place for deepest dreaming,
there's a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit's lively scheming
there is always room to spare

Words of Welcome Rev. Kim Vidal

Welcome to our annual service of hope, healing and renewal also known as Blue Christmas service. For some of us, memories of past experiences and the pain of present experiences and situations can become overwhelming. For some of us, this season of joy and wonder can be very difficult and sometimes it reminds us of the challenges in our lives, particularly, as we go through the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite all the decorations, the greeting cards received, the Christmas carols sang, the anticipated presents and dinner with families and loved ones and the advertisers who want you to believe that you can buy joy, I’m sure that some of us don’t really feel very much like celebrating. The idea that a Merry Little Christmas is all you need for your troubles to be miles away has a hollow ring to it.

I hope that you’ll find this service a safe place to be transparent with yourself and with God, a comforting place to admit that maybe you’re not ok at the moment, that maybe what you’re really feeling is sadness, grief, or even anger. This healing service is a place for you to be real with your struggles and your questions.

Those of us feeling blue at this time of the year, particularly those who lost a loved one this year can feel edged out and forgotten as everyone else seems caught up in the mad frenzy of preparations and celebrations. I hope that as you think about Christmas, you’ll find comfort and hope in knowing that you are not alone. We are here to give you comfort and healing love.

In this service, I invite you to listen. I invite you to pray. I invite you to sing. I invite you to meditate upon the pain and anguish you may have—and I invite you to offer your heart and tears. And as you do so, I trust that you will find hope, healing and comfort as we seek God’s light. I now invite you to open your heart and mind as we come together in God’s presence.

*Call to Gather**[1]* Rev. Lorrie Lowes

All around us, lights are lit and carols play.
The season heaps joy upon us.
Yet, we who come here, we carry more than joy;
we carry loss, worry, grief and pain.
We come weary, seeking rest from expectations.
We also seek a holy presence to be with us.
We come to this place, by the resilient grace of God:
love that never lets go.

Hymn: Stay with Us VU 182

(Words: Walter Farquharson, 1988; Music: Ron Klusmeier, 1989)

Stay with us through the night
stay with us through the pain
stay with us blessed stranger
till the morning breaks again.

Stay with us through the night
stay with us through the grief
stay with us blessed stranger
till the morning brings relief.

Stay with us through the night
stay with us through the dread
stay with us blessed stranger
till the morning breaks New Bread.

*A Prayer of Lament**[2]* Rev. Kim Vidal

The human journey is thwarted with struggles and challenges. Our prayer today comes in acknowledgement of this journey and in our primal need for God’s presence in our lives.

I now invite you to reflect with me in this Lament for a Blue Christmas by Heather Grobb.

Oh God, my God,
Why do I feel so far away from you?
Why does it seem like you are nowhere to be found in my life right now?
I feel so separated from your love in this time of distress?

Moment of Silence

My nights are long with sorrow.
My days are dull with pain.
No one seems to understand me.
I move wearily through life alone.
My heart is heavy with grief.
The light has gone from my eyes,
eyes made red from crying.
O God, my God, hear me in my times of sorrow.
O God, my God, be with me in my time of need.

Moment of Silence

And yet, you are the all-loving One.
The Alpha and the Omega.
The Everlasting Day after the seemingly ceaseless night.
Beyond all time and space, you are God.
The meager things of this world will soon fade away
into the presence of your love for us. Praise be to you name, O God, my God.

Words of Assurance

When burdens get piled on top of other burdens, the load can crush us or at least seem like it is crushing. Jesus offers to help carry our burdens and responsibilities. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

Reflections of the Heart

Reading 1

Reader: Barbara Bole

God is our hope. We remember all those we have loved and lost.
We pause to remember their names, their faces, their voices.
We give thanks for the memory that binds them to us during this season of holy waiting.
May God’s eternal hope surround us all.

Advent by Jessica Powers

I live my Advent in the womb of Mary.
And on one night when a great star swings free
From its high mooring and walks down the sky
To be the dot above the Christus i,
I shall be born of her by blessed grace.
I wait in Mary-darkness, faith’s walled place,
with hope’s expectance of nativity.
I know for long she carried me and fed me,
Guarded and loved me, though I could not see.
But only now, with inward jubilee,
I come upon earth’s most amazing knowledge:
Someone is hidden in this darkness with me.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid MV 90
(Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, 1995; Music: John L. Bell, 1995)

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Reading 2

Reader: Susan Young

God is our healer. We remember before us the pain and loss:
the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, and the loss of health.
As we gather up the pain of the past, we offer it to you, Holy One.
We pray that into our broken hearts and open hands, you place the gift of peace.
Refresh, restore, renew us, O God, and lead us in your way.

The Shadow Falls Past Christmas by Andrew King

Shadow falls past Christmas.
But see the light still shining;
faith and hope still singing; the contest
for the human heart goes on.
May we, as Mary and Joseph did,
Keep listening to the words of visions and dreams.
Keep moving the feet
toward morning’s hope,
free as a gift of love,
however distant the dawn.
And may the darkness fail to chase us down.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid MV 90
(Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, 1995; Music: John L. Bell, 1995)

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Reading 3

Reader: Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God is our comforter. We remember our faith and the gift of love
which God offers to us in the Christmas story.
We remember that God, who shares our life,
promises us gifts of hope, peace,
joy and love through the birth of Jesus.
Let us remember the One who shows the way
and goes with us into tomorrow.

An Unending Love by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

We are loved by an unending love.
We are embraced by arms that find us even when we are hidden from ourselves.
We are touched by fingers that soothe us even when we are too proud for soothing.
We are counseled by voices that guide us even when we are too embittered to hear.
We are loved by an unending love.

We are supported by hands that uplift us even in the midst of a fall.
We are urged on by eyes that meet us even when we are too weak for meeting.
We are loved by an unending love.

Embraced, touched, soothed, and counseled,
Ours are the arms, the fingers, the voices;
Ours are the hands, the eyes, the smiles;
We are loved by an unending love.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid MV90
(Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, 1995; Music: John L. Bell, 1995)

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Prayer of Healing and Hope & The Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(selections from Celebrate God’s Presence)

God of comfort and compassion,
Hear us as we pray for ourselves and for all who live with loss and loneliness, pain and grief, hurt and isolation.
We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow, and peace for the past.

God of hope,
Give us this night a glimpse of trust and assurance,
A sense of purpose and possibility.
Come into our hearts and our minds, bringing comfort, health, and peace.
Recreate in us a sense of thanksgiving, in the joy of your love.

And now we raise our hearts together as we pray the ancient prayer that Jesus taught his friends.

Carol: Silent Night VU 67

(Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818, English trans. John Freeman Young, 1863; Music: Franz Xavier Gruber, 1818)

1 Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

2.Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing 'Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

3.Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

Benediction [3] Rev. Kim Vidal

May the love of the faithful Creator,
the peace of the wounded Healer,
the joy of the challenging Spirit,
the hope of the Three in One
surround and encourage you,
today, tonight and forever. Amen.

Departing Carol: Dreaming Mary MV 134

(Words & Music: Janet Gadeski, 2005)

1.          There was a child in Galilee
             who wandered wild along the sea.
             A holy child, alone was she,
             and they called her Dreaming Mary.
             And she dreamed, rejoicing in her saviour;
             she dreamed of justice for the poor.
             She dreamed that kings oppressed no more
             when she dreamed, that Dreaming Mary.

2.          One holy day an angel came
             with voice of wind and eyes of flame.
             He promised blessed would be her name
             when he spoke to Dreaming Mary.
             Then she spoke, rejoicing in her saviour.
             She spoke of justice for the poor.
             She spoke that kings oppressed no more
             when she spoke, that Dreaming Mary.

3.          And did she dream about a son?
             And did he speak, the angel one?
             We only know God’s will was done
             in the son of Dreaming Mary.
             Then she prayed, rejoicing in her saviour.
             She taught him justice for the poor.
             She taught that kings oppressed no more
             when she taught, that Dreaming Mary.

4.          Then Jesus grew in Galilee,
             they wandered wild along the sea.
             Now he calls to you and me
             to dream with Dreaming Mary.
             And we dream, rejoicing in our saviour.
             We dream of justice for the poor.
             We dream that kings oppress no more
             as we dream with Dreaming Mary.

Bonus: I’ll Have a Blue Christmas - piano Abe

Extra Bonus: God is Good (Joy Comes, Tears Fall) - Francesca Battistelli

[1] Loss, Healing, and Hope: A “Blue Christmas” Service. United Church Website.

[2] Heather Grobb, Gathering ACE 2020-2021, p. 73. Used with Permission.

[3] Kathy Galloway, The Pattern of Our Days, Wild Goose Publications, 1998

Connie Davidson

December 11, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - December 12, 2021

Connie Davidson

December 11, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT / GAUDETE SUNDAY / JOY

DECEMBER 12, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music / Carol Sing:

He is Born VU 50 (Words: trad. 19th-century French carol, trans. George Evans, 1963; Music: 18th-century French carol)

Refrain:
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.

1 Through long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold His coming;
through long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!

Chorus:
Il est ne, le divin Enfant,
Jouez, hautbois, resonnez, musettes;
Il est ne, le divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son avenement!

2 Ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant,
Que ses graces sont parfaites!
Ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant,
Qu'il est doux le divin Enfant!

Refrain:
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing VU 48 (vs. 1-2)

(Words: Charles Wesley, 1739; Felix Mendelssohn, 1840)

1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate deity.
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel! R

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! Welcome to this third Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Joy, as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Jesus. This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday-a day of rejoicing, a respite from the penitential blues in Advent. Today, we embrace the meaning of joy symbolized by the pink colour. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere or joining us onsite, we are glad that you have joined us today.

Friends, in the busyness of this Advent season, it is easy to get sidetracked with the business of preparing our homes and finding the perfect recipe for Christmas dinner. Let us take a moment to reflect and remember what Advent is meant to be: to make our hearts ready for the birth of Jesus, giver of joy. Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of the Advent Candle: Joy Acolytes: The Berard Family

(Eric Hebert-Daly, Gathering ACE 2021-2022. Used with permission.)

Reader 1:

Today we light the candle of Joy.
Joy can be elusive.
In shadowed times, it is difficult for us to find joy.

Reader 2:

The night may feel like it is closing in on us on these shortest days of the year.
Yes, we believe that joy is possible.
We believe that light will return.

Reader 3:

Embracing joy in times of trouble is a choice.
May we find the strength to choose joy.

Reader 4:

May we let God lead us through the tears
to the places and people of joy.
May joy be found in a manger and throughout the world.

(The Advent candle of joy is lit.)

Sung Response: Hope is A Star (Verse 3) VU 7

(Words: Brian Wren, 1985; Music: Joan Collier Fogg, 1987)

Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn,
telling the world that the Saviour is born.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Barbara Johns, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)

We come before God this day,
waiting, waiting.
With trepidation and longing.
With joy, anticipating the glorious news.
With expectant delight at the miraculous babe to be born.
With wonder at the promise of salvation.
With hearts open to God’s message of love.
We come before God this day
to worship as we wait!

Opening Prayer and Silent Confession

(Larry Doyle, Bob Root & Darrow Woods, Gathering, ACE 2013-2014, Used with permission.)

Let us pray…
God of light and love, today we rejoice and celebrate in your reign
And seek to participate in it through our acts of faithful living.
We celebrate justice and righteousness, and with joy,
we accept your Christmas presence as we strive to give you our presence.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray that you might bless us
with an audacious, daring and joyful faith.
Let’s take a moment of silent confession…

Silent Confession

Words of Assurance

(Catherine Tovell, Gathering, ACE 2017-2018. Used with permission.)

Even within the deepening shadows of this season, the joy of God abounds.
We are a pilgrim people. God will be with us wherever we go.
Let us not be discouraged. Let us rejoice and be open to the Light.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Advent Hymn: All Earth is Waiting VU 5

(Words & Music: Alberto Taule, 1972; English trans. Gertrude Suppe, 1987)

1. All earth is waiting to see the Promised One,
and open furrows await the seed of God.
All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty;
it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.

2. Thus says the prophet to those of Israel:
'A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel,'
one whose name is 'God with us' our Saviour shall be;
through whom hope will blossom once more within our hearts.

3. Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain;
open new highways, new highways for our God,
who is now coming closer, so come all and see,
and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.

4. In lowly stable the Promised One appeared;
    yet, feel the presence throughout the earth today,
    for Christ lives in all Christians and is with us now;
    again, on arriving, Christ brings us liberty.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie

Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? We have. Neil and I bought an artificial tree this year for our new little place. I kind of miss having a real tree – but this way I get to enjoy it for a longer time, so that’s good. The other thing that’s happening is that presents are starting to pile up under it already!

Take a look at this one, isn’t it pretty? I wonder what’s inside? Hmmm… I could just open it up now and take a look… No one else is home, so, if I’m really careful removing the tape, I bet I can wrap it up again and nobody will even know that I peeked… I am excited, just thinking about it! It’s from somebody I love, somebody who knows me well, so I know it is going to be really nice, something I will really love… oh, I wonder what it is!... maybe just a little peek…

But, you know what? I’m not going to do it. Just looking at this gift and knowing that it is there waiting for me under the tree, gives me joy. If I open it and see what’s inside today, I am sure it will make me happy, but after that? Well, the joy will be gone, or at least it will be a lot smaller; I will have to pretend to be surprised on Christmas morning, and every time I look at this present between now and Christmas, I think I might feel a little bit guilty. That’s not very joyful. So, I think I am going to leave it just the way it is and enjoy the feeling I have today right up to Christmas.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. The candle we lit this morning is the candle for Joy. Did you notice that it is a different colour from the others in our wreath? The others are a dark blue or purple, but this one is pink. In this time of Advent, when we are waiting for Christmas, each candle gives us things to think about. We have been hearing stories about John the Baptist. In the first two Sundays, his words have helped us understand the meaning of Hope and Peace. He has had some hard messages for people to hear and some hard things for us to do to make sure that hope and peace are present in the world. Today, this pink candle reminds us that Joy is also important, because Joy gives light to the world, no matter how dark it sometimes seems. So, the candle today is a lighter colour to remind us of how Joy lightens the world and how important it is to spread that feeling around. We need Joy to help us as we wait – and work – to make the world a better place.

Advent is a busy time. As Christians, we take this time to reflect on the gift that Jesus was to the world. As Canadians in our culture, we also use this time to decorate and bake and shop and wrap and send cards and write letters to Santa… sometimes we just wish Christmas could just hurry up and be here! That would be fun, right? and then we wouldn’t have to do all this work to get ready. But, then it would all be over and we would miss all the good things that happen in this time of Advent – the Santa Claus parade, going to get our Christmas tree and decorating it, all the Christmas music, all the movies, all the lights and decorations, all the crafts and baking cookies, all the dreaming of what might be under the tree for us on Christmas morning.

So, I think this candle we lit today is a reminder to us to lighten up, to slow down, and to find the joy in all the busy-ness of waiting for Christmas. So, let’s take the time to notice the joyful parts of all this preparation and waiting. And, let’s not forget to spread joy to others while we’re at it! I think it will make the big celebration on Christmas day even more special. In fact, even the hard work of getting ready will begin to feel like a celebration too!

Let’s finish with another body prayer:

Holy One (reach up and out)
May your joy (put hands toward centre, wiggle fingers)
Sustain me (reach arms to sides, flexing fingers)
May your joy
Bubble up in me (wiggle fingers, bringing over head)
May your joy
Grow in all of creation (circle wiggling hands around head)
Amen (head down, hands at prayer with palms together)

Song: He Comes! - CGS/Bell Canto with Erin Berard

He comes, He comes!
He comes in the name of the Lord our God.
Let all rejoice with heart and voice and thankful be.
The chosen one, God's only son, blessed is He.
Light for Him a candle, He is drawing near.
Sing for him a carol loud and clear!
He comes, He comes!
He comes in the name of the Lord our God.
Let all rejoice with heart and voice and thankful be.
He comes, He comes!
He comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Denis Watson

Show us the way, O God, to reshape our lives
with your Word of wisdom.
Open our hearts to rejoice in renewed relationships
so we can look forward to the birth of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 3: 7-18 (NRSV)

The Ministry of John the Baptist

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”

11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

May the joy of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Advent’s Expectation: Justice Overload!” Rev. Kim & Keith Bailey

Introduction (Kim)

Prayer: Empower us all O God, by your indwelling Spirit, so that we may listen to your voice and move us to concrete actions. Amen.

I read an article this week entitled, “Who Are the Best Preachers?” In that article, about 150 people were asked what they value in a preacher. The responses were overwhelming. The characteristic most often mentioned was the sincerity, compassion and deep faith of the preacher. Others liked preachers whose sermons were short & sweet. Over half of the respondents commented on the importance of the sermon relating to their everyday life. A surprising number mentioned good preaching as one that is solidly grounded in the Bible and a sound theology. Names of modern preachers like Billy Graham, William Willimon and Barbara Brown Taylor came up. And the last word was a plea from one of the respondents to all preachers. He said: "Please talk to us. Apply what you preach. A pinch of humour would be nice. When I leave the sanctuary, I want to remember what the message was."

The plea of that fellow caught my attention. So, without the knowledge of the Worship/CE Committee, I invited a guest preacher today - one who might share good news or bad news depending how one listens to him. He doesn’t need any further introduction since I have introduced him to you in my sermon last Sunday. But just a word of warning, his words might offend or insult you. So, prepare yourself accordingly. Friends, on this third Sunday of Advent, please welcome our guest preacher, no other than the famous prophet, John the Baptist.

The Message of John the Baptist: (Keith)

So I see that another large crowd of you have come out here into this dry, rugged and barren wilderness to see and hear me, the one you call John, son of Zechariah, the priest. But some of you call me The Baptist! I know that everyone in Jerusalem and all of Judea is talking about me, this strange, smelly prophet ranting and raving out in the desert calling for repentance. Some of you have probably come here, just because you are curious; you want to see what I look like, and if I really dress as strangely as people say. You may even hope that I will reach down and pick up a bug or two and munch them down, because you have heard rumours that for food I eat locusts dipped in honey. Others among you may have heard that I am a fire and brimstone preacher, and with nothing better to do today, you thought you might as well come out here in the hope of hearing an inspiring message, so that you can return home feeling good. Feeling good? Hahaha! You wish!

You might have heard that I often harshly criticize those “brood of vipers” – those good-for-nothing, corrupt religious and political leaders of our time, and you have come in the hopes of being entertained by some of my famous rantings. But there may even be some of you, who are here because you are truly searching for ways in which you can be more faithful in your life, and more committed to serving God. For centuries our ancestors have been waiting for the coming of God's promised Messiah. God's special anointed servant who would come and fix all that is wrong with this crazy, mixed-up world, and make it the kind of place God intended it to be.

Well, I am here to tell you that our time of waiting is almost over, God's Messiah will soon come and God's love and power will be made real among us. But we need to prepare ourselves – to be ready and undergo a total make-over – a re-construction of our lives - or we might miss it. We could be so busy and preoccupied with the day to day tasks of life, that when the Messiah comes, we will not even notice.

We should remember what the great prophets taught, prophets like Isaiah who spoke to our ancestors when they were in exile as slaves in Babylon. Isaiah said that the Spirit of God would rest upon this Anointed One, so that he would rule with justice, equity, and righteousness, bringing good news to the poor, and release to the oppressed, while establishing a reign of peace and security for all of God’s people. Isaiah told the people of his day to prepare the way for this coming Anointed One, to make the road straight and smooth for him to travel. In the same way, our lives are the road on which the Anointed One will travel, and we need to get our lives ready, straightened, paved and levelled for his coming.

Now some of you might ask, “How do we get our lives ready for the arrival of the Anointed One?" Well, have you listened to your heart? Do you feel accountable of your sins and misdeeds? Each of you must look at your lives and consider what is most important to you in order to make sure that you have your priorities straight. Where do you spend most of your time, energy, and resources? What is it that hinders you from having a deeper faith in God? What limits your ability to live the way you know God wants you to live? What is it that holds you back from loving and being loved?

What did you say, brother Joseph? What should you do?” Well, you have a closet full of coats, while others have none. I’m sure you sleep well at night while others are shivering in the cold. Give away some of your coats! You there, brother Andrew – I know that you have pantries full of food and wine but your next-door neighbours don’t even have food and drink on the table. You want to be changed? Then go and share food and drink to your hungry neighbours! Or better yet, invite them to come to dinner!

Oh- who do we have here? Ah – the famous tax collectors who serve the temple and the emperor! What are you doing here? What did you say, Matthew? Are you asking me what you should do? Do you and all the tax collectors realize that people shun away from you because you were reputed to be scheming, dishonest and good-for-nothing cheaters! As long as you can exploit others with a big kick back in your pockets, you couldn’t care less. You want me to tell you what you should do? Simple! Collect no more than the amount prescribed to you! Do not cheat, do not lie. Treat others, especially the vulnerable, the gullible and the innocent fairly!

You – out there – yes – you in uniform! Have you come to be insulted by me? Is that you Cornelius? Are you asking me what you should do? Are you not here by the order of your commander to maintain peace and prevent chaos in case I might incite a rebellion? Don’t you represent the Imperial Rome in all its glory? Are you ready to be offended? Then listen to what I tell you! Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation and be satisfied with your wages! Do not take advantage of your authority or the weight of your badge. Do not take bribes – respect your position by respecting others. Do not assume that you are always correct. Treat others justly.

Repent!! See what things you need to change. Shift the direction of your lives and re-orient yourselves towards God. Don’t you go on waving your patriarchal cards at me; who cares if you are the descendants of Abraham? God could care less. Show you are serious by living justly! It is true that we have a covenantal relationship with God – a promise of hope, joy and reconciliation, but what is of true importance is what’s in our hearts. our own lives must reflect the faith we have in God today.

I do not know each of you well enough but I will say this. Do not use your power and influence to take advantage of others. Be completely honest in all you do, not just selfishly doing only that which is good for yourself and helps you get ahead, but also to consider the good of others in your dealings with them. I also encourage you to share what you have with those who are in need. Each of us must look at our own lives, and find the ways we can continue to serve God where we are, for this is how we prepare for the coming of the Messiah.

I know that I preach a harsh message of doom and gloom which is hardly good news in your hearing. But I make no apologies for being blunt. Whether you like it or not, the news I am announcing is good news. Because I believe there is hope. No matter how bad things seem to be in our world, or how far we ourselves have strayed from the path God has set for us, things can get better. We can change - we can change our own lives, and we can change the world, when we repent and turn to back to God. I know that change is not easy, and can be quite frightening. In fact, I think the more comfortable we are, the less we want to change. And yet it is obvious that if our world is to survive, there must be changes, and those changes start with us.

Some people say my message of change and transformation through repentance is radical. It upsets the status quo, and they want to stop me. Well the status quo needs to change too. We must never become complacent when it comes to our faith in God, and our love for God’s people. And even if I will be imprisoned or killed for preaching my message, that won’t stop the changes which are coming, because they are God’s changes, and the Messiah is on his way.

As a symbol of your changed lives, I invite each of you to come and be baptized in the Jordan River. Each of you needs a good refreshing, cleansing, renewing bath. Remember, I baptize you with water, symbolic of your change of heart, and renewed faith in God, but there is one coming after me who will baptize you with Holy Spirit and with fire; it is he that will truly fill your lives with the power of God's love. Now I tell you – Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near!

Closing Words (Kim)

Thank you, John, for engaging us in your radical message of repentance and transformation. Friends, like his audience in the past, we, too, must ask the same questions, “What should we do in this big messy world? What should we do with our lives so we can experience God’s news of salvation?” I’m sure John doesn’t mind telling us what to do as he did in his world. “Share your resources. Don’t accumulate things you don’t need. Don’t cheat. Live within your means. Give of yourself. Serve dinner to the community. Wrap gifts for the less privileged. Give food to the Food Bank. Stop worrying and start praying. Trust fully in God because God loves you unconditionally. Give thanks.”

“The whole tenor of Advent”, according to Walter Brueggemann, “is that God may act in us, through us and beyond us, more than we imagined because newness is on its way among us.” The good news of joy is almost here. God-in-the-flesh will soon come and will usher in a transformed world of kindness, generosity, compassion, justice and love. That is the good news John preached. It is the good news that we long to hear, the hope that sustains us, the vision toward which we work as a faith community. And it is no wonder then, why we celebrate this Sunday of Joy. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim

Our prayer today was written by Rev. Ted Dodd, a Diaconal Minister of the United Church of Canada. (Used with permission).

Holy One, Divine Friend, Spirit of Life,
these days of Advent, leading to Christmas, have a special magic,
but these days are also full of
the wrath of gender-based violence,
the raised stones of political polarity,
the tree axing of clear-cut forests, and
the fruitless languishing impact of COVID.
One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire,
renew and change us, and the world, during this Advent time.
One who gathers wheat into the granary,
pull us together as your people.
One who burns the chaff with unquenchable fire,
help us sort out what is important, essential, and faithful.
Holy One, what then shall we do?
You teach us to share, be generous, and to care for the needy and naked.
Encourage us to offer this kindness to those in our lives and
to work to convert the systems that keep poverty and hunger in place.
Divine Friend, what then shall we do?
You urge us to be honest, fair, and to not take more than our share.
Empower us to act in this way of integrity and grace in our personal lives,
and to insist this way is followed in our political, social structures.
Spirit of Life, what then shall we do?
You admonish us and tell us not to extort, not to threaten, not to accuse falsely.
In our relationships, our communities, our world,
inspire us to live without dominating, controlling, and power-grabbing.
Holy One, Divine Friend, Spirit of Life
proclaim your good news.
May joy ring through your children.
Advent heralds the coming of love,
may unexpected and amazing newness arrive in our midst again this year.

All these we ask in the name of the one whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, Jesus, who in his later life would teach his disciples this prayer that we all recite together:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie

Even in difficult times we remember that God has done great things for us. We choose to live our lives in joy, counting on the goodness of God in every way. As a sign of our trust in God, we share our gifts this morning, strengthening the ministry of this church as we seek together to extend joy to others. Let us gather our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to God. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer (spaciousfaith.com)

Holy One, this Advent season we wait in joy,
and we give with joy.
Joy for all you have given us;
joy because of your sacred promises.
Receive these generous offerings,
and use them to spread your joy in our world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

Go into the world with joy.
We are not alone. God is with us.
Joy is promised in these Advent days.
God bless you as you wait.
God bless you as you work for joy.
Your rejoicing is blessed. Go in joy! Amen.

Hymn: Joy Shall Come VU 23 (Sung 3X)

(Words & Music: Israeli traditional)

Joy shall come, even to the wilderness,
and the parched land shall then know great gladness;
as the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom,
deserts like a garden blossom.
For living springs shall give cool water,
in the desert streams shall flow;
for living springs shall give cool water,
in the desert streams shall flow.

Carol: Silent Night VU 67

Advent Memorial Flowers

Departing Music: You Shall Go Out with Joy – Mark Hayes

Announcements

Connie Davidson

December 4, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - December 5, 2021

Connie Davidson

December 4, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT / HUMAN RIGHTS SUNDAY

DECEMBER 5, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music / Carol Sing:

Away in a Manger VU 69 (vs 1, 2)

(Words: Author Unknown; Music: William James Kirkpatrick, 1895)

1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

2 The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Joy to the World VU 59 (Vs 1, 2)

(Words: Isaac Watts, 1719; Music: attrib. George Frederic Handel, 1742)

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room
and heaven and nature sing
and heaven and nature sing
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns;
let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hill and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! Welcome to this second Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Peace as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Jesus.

Here now is Bill McGee, Chair of Finance to give us some financial updates.

Financial Update Bill McGee

Good Morning. The members of our Board have asked our treasurer Ross Mutton and me to give a short update on our financial position. This talk is based on complete results for the first 3 quarters of the year. I will concentrate on the Operating Fund which covers salaries, payments to the Mission and Service Fund and a United Church assessment, building expenses, support for local charities, and miscellaneous operating expenses.

Our Operating expenses are down somewhat. Although there was a furnace unit malfunction that has replaced, the efforts of Jean and Ross Brown around the church have kept the building in good order without the usual janitorial expense.

Our Revenues to cover Operating expenses are below budget. PAR receipts are as expected, and the successful Fall Fair has helped our balance sheet a lot. But envelope givings are down, and the rental situation is still below expectations.

The situation with Directed Funds is positive, but of course these cannot be used for operating expenses.

Here are our year-end projections. These are hard to make, but show our mean estimate. As shown expenses are expected to be down a bit, but income is expected to be lower than budgeted. Therefore, it seems that there may be a deficit of about 10 percent at year end. This follows some past years when the year-end gave small surpluses.

Here are a few ways to help us make up the difference. One is to check that our givings are up to date. The second is to consider a special contribution to the Operating Fund for 2021.

Thank you on behalf of the Board, our Treasurer, and the Financial Management team.

Centering for Worship Rev. Kim

Friends, in the hustle and bustle of the Advent season, it is easy to get swept up with the business of preparing our homes and finding the perfect gift for our loved ones. Let us take a moment to slow down and remember what Advent is meant to be: a time of waiting for the birth of Jesus. Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of the Advent Candle: Hope Acolytes: The Fowler Family

(Eric Hebert-Daly, Gathering ACE 2021-2022. Used with permission.)

Reader 1:
Today we light the candle of Peace.
Peace doesn’t always mean being quiet.
We seek to be a people of peace, living from a place of justice.
We join our voices with others who want to give birth to a new way of being.

Reader 2:
Peace calls out to us, so that we may help it become a reality.
God is our peace.

Reader 3:
May we let God reconcile in places of conflict,
creating bridges where divisions have grown,
sewing all of creation into a new tapestry.
May peace be found in a manger and throughout the world.

(The Advent candle of peace is lit.)

Sung Response: Hope is A Star (Verse 2) VU 7

(Words: Brian Wren, 1985; Music: Joan Collier Fogg, 1987)

Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth,
giving a promise of safety and worth.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie

(Bill Steadman, Gathering ACE, 2018-2019, Used with permission.)

We are a people open to anticipation and ready for a celebration.
Behold the birth of the Christ Child is expected.
We are a congregation that remembers the message of peace.
Behold, the birth of the Christ Child is near.
We are a community inspired to live lives of service and of wholeness.
Behold, the birth of the Christ Child will transform our hearts.
As we gather today and beyond.

Opening Prayer and Silent Confession

(Larry Doyle, Bob Root & Darrow Woods, Gathering, ACE 2013-2014, Used with permission.)

Let us pray…

We live in a world where peace seems like a distant dream, O God.
And so, we pray – not just for the absence of violence and conflict,
but for the deep peace of knowing and trusting your will and your way.
As the darkness and coldness of December set in,
we trust that the light and the warmth of your Holy Spirit will enfold us and remind us of the shalom that is to come and the shalom that is already within us.

Let’s take a moment of silent confession…

Silent Confession

Words of Assurance

Take heart! The God of peace will encourage us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are loved! Thanks be to God.

Advent Hymn: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus VU 2

(Words: Charles Wesley, 1744; Music: Psalmodia Sacra, 1715)

1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

2 Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art,
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

3 Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

4 By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Here’s a fun repeat-after-me action poem that I think you will all recognize:
We’re going on a bear hunt!
We’re gonna catch a big one!
We’re not scared!
What a beautiful day!

Oh, oh! Grass!
Long wavy grass…
Can’t go over it
Can’t go under it
Can’t go around it
We’ve gotta go through!

Swishy swashy, swishy swashy…

Oh, oh! A river!
A deep, cold river…
Splash, splosh, splash, splosh…

Oh, oh! Mud!
Thick oozy mud…
Squelch, squerch, squelch, squerch…

Oh, oh! A forest!
A big dark forest…
Stumble, trip, stumble trip…

Oh, oh! A snow storm!
A swirling whirling snow storm!
Hoooo woooo, hoooo woooo…

Oh, oh! A cave!
A narrow, gloomy cave…
Tip-toe, tip toe…

WHAT’S THAT!
One shiny wet nose!
Two big furry ears!
Two big goggly eyes!
IT’S A BEAR!
Quick!
Back through the cave! Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe!
Back through the snowstorm! Hoooo woooo! Hoooo woooo! Hoooo woooo!
Back through the forest! Stumble trip! Stumble trip! Stumble trip!
Back through the mud! Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch!
Back through the river! Splash splosh! Splash splosh! Splash splosh!
Back through the grass! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy!

Get to our front door.
Open the door.
Up the stairs
Into the bedroom
Into the bed
Under the covers
I’m not going on a bear hunt again.

Isn’t this a funny way to start a children’s story on the day we light the Peace candle?

This story doesn’t make me feel very peaceful at all! In fact, when I do this poem with kids, they usually get all excited and fired up and then I can’t get them to settle down again!

In our Bible reading this morning, we meet John the Baptist. He was a guy that got people all excited and fired up – like our Bear Hunt poem. Most of the descriptions of him in the Bible tell us that he was like a wild man, living in the wilderness. He dressed in the skins from animals and ate bugs and wild honey – and he shouted a lot! He told people they needed to repent – to change. I don’t think he made people feel peaceful at all.

John the Baptist told the people that they needed to prepare a path for God – to make it straight… to fill up the valleys and bulldoze down the mountains to make it flat… and to smooth out all the rough places. It sounds like hard work!

What a strange story for us to read on the day we light the Peace candle…

Let’s think about that Bear Hunt again…

We wanted to find a bear, right? But by the time we actually found one, we were exhausted and excited. We couldn’t quietly watch the bear sleeping and then tip-toe out of the cave; we ran through all of the obstacles again and finally jumped into bed and covered our heads – as if that would protect us from a bear!

But what if we followed John the Baptist’s idea and made a smooth and easy path to the bear’s cave… If the grass was cut, if there was a bridge over the river, if there was gravel filling the mud hole, if a smooth path was cleared through the forest, if we took the time to plan our trip for a day with no storm in the forecast …

Maybe then we would have arrived calmly – peacefully – at the bear’s cave. Maybe then we would be able to be quiet enough to not disturb the bear, to enjoy seeing him and then leave him in peace.

If this was the way the bear hunt went, rather than hiding under the covers with our hearts pounding and being afraid to go to sleep, I think we would be able to climb into bed at the end and doze off to sweet dreams.

Maybe that’s our message for today. Peace isn’t just about stopping wars – though that’s important too – it’s about making life calm and stress-free for everyone.

How can you make a peaceful path as you get ready for Christmas?
How can you make this season peaceful for the people around you?
How can we make life more peaceful for people in our world who are struggling to find enough food to eat, or warm clothes, or a safe place to sleep out of the cold?
How can we make their paths smooth?

Maybe that’s what John the Baptist meant when he asked us to prepare a path for God…

Let’s finish with another body prayer:

(from “Advent Unwrapped” UCC)

Holy One (reach up and look out)
May your peace (clasp hands over heart)
Surround me (circle arms in front of body)
May your peace (clasp hands over heart)
Work through me (use some force to push arms to sides with fingers up)
May your peace (clasp hands over heart)
Extend to the world (unfold arms in front with open hands)
Amen (head down, hands at prayer with palms together)

Hymn: CGS/Bell Canto with Erin Berard

(Words: Isaiah 40:3, adapt. & Music: Michael Burkhardt, 1990)

Prepare the way of the Lord!
Prepare the way of the Lord!
Make a straight for him,
make a straight path,
prepare the way of the Lord!

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Erin Berard

Open us, O God to your unfolding vision of peace.
Through your Word, shape us for shalom
by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 3: 1-6 (NRSV)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,

2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
    and the rough ways made smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

May the peace of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Advent’s Yearning: Prepare the Way!” Rev. Kim

Let your spirit of wisdom flow through us, O God, as we reflect on your Word of life. Amen.

On this second Sunday of Advent, an important figure takes center stage, one who is the “front man”, the harbinger of Jesus, who with his outspoken and rash behaviour, prepares the people for Jesus’ arrival. Walter Brueggemann calls him the “checkpoint” and declares that one cannot get to Jesus on Christmas without passing through him. I guess you know who I’m talking about. Mark calls him the Baptizer. Matthew calls him the Baptist and Luke calls him “John, son of Zechariah.” We meet him this time of the year and we somehow can never get rid of him. It was Matthew who described John’s fashion and eating habits. Imagine for a moment if he was at your party! His outrageous outfit of smelly camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist would not blend in very well with red silk or tuxedos – or any designer’s clothing. His hair is unkempt and his beard long and straggly. You would also have difficulty cooking his favourite recipe: locusts drizzled with wild honey! And what a downer if he starts mingling with people and calling them brood of vipers!

As son of Zechariah, John comes from the line of priests. His call to ministry was similar to the prophets – the hopers, the demanders and the bidders who called for change, for transformation, for renewal. He was fearless, denouncing sinfulness and acts of injustices wherever he found it. For 400 years before his birth there had been no prophet in the land of Israel. Scripture reminds us, "There was no voice, nor any that answered." With John's emergence from the wilderness, the sound of the prophetic voice was again heard in the land. And this wildman prophet trot into our worship service today who promises us an Advent of repentance. Are we ready to listen to him?

According to Luke, John’s prophetic ministry took place in the first century during the reign of Roman Emperor Tiberius, Governor Pontius Pilate of Judea and King Herod, ruler of Galilee – three infamous political leaders who were known for terror, cruelty, corruption and persecutions. Luke also added Annas and Caiaphas – High Priests of the Temple, in cohort with the Roman rulers, who took part in the trial of Jesus. They were people of power - the center of religious and political authority. But God’s word doesn’t come to any of them. Rather, the Word of God comes to John in the wilderness. Did I say wilderness? What is it about the wilderness that draws one closer to hearing God’s word? Debie Thomas writes: “In the wilderness, there’s no safety net. No Plan B. No fallback option. In the wilderness, life is raw and risky, and our illusions of self-sufficiency fall apart fast. To locate ourselves at the outskirts of power is to confess our vulnerability in the starkest terms. In the wilderness, we have no choice but to wait and watch as if our lives depend on God showing up. Because they do. And it’s into such an environment — an environment so far removed from power…that the word of God comes.”

From the wilderness, John cries out to the people: “Prepare the way of the Lord! Get ready for God’s arrival!” He was like a thundering voice. He called for repentance for the forgiveness of sins - difficult words to ponder in this time of Advent. These words invoke a sense of guilt, of not doing enough, of not measuring up. A theologian once said that “Repentance doesn't mean to feel bad, but to think differently. To repent doesn't mean to grovel in self-hatred, morbid introspection, or pious sorrow. It consists of both outward acts and an inward disposition. When you repent you turn around, change directions, choose a different path, and make a radical rupture. Repentance signals an abrupt end to life on auto-pilot or to business as usual.”

Rabbi Eliezer taught his disciples to "Repent one day before your death." One of his disciples asked, "How will we know when that day is?" To which the Rabbi replied, "All the more reason to repent today, lest you die tomorrow" (Blomberg, 194). In the first century world where John lived and preached, the call to repentance, to scold the people of their wrongdoings, makes the people turn around, to change their ways, to come back to God. John proclaimed a baptism of repentance – a cleansing bath in the wild waters of Jordan. A bath that says it all: “Examine your life—examine your priorities, your values, and your behaviour. Check out your emotional, your spiritual, and your moral-ethical lives. Are you headed in the right, life-giving direction? Are you headed in the direction towards God? If not, then repent. Turn around. Have a change of heart.” John is drawing us to the paradox of our faith—that the free and lavish grace of God makes no difference unless we realize that we are accountable for our behaviour. The Rev. Susan Andrews writes: “the unconditional love of God cannot find fertile soil unless we first uproot the weeds in the wilderness of our souls. The truth of the gospel is that we must judge ourselves—we must face the truth of who we are and claim the hope of who we want to become. And after we judge ourselves—after we honour this call to accountability—then we can receive God, as God recreates us in holy image.”

Why do people need repentance then and now? The dark world of John is not too far from our world today. The present world is still in great distress. The crooked path is choked with consumerism and materialism. The rocky valleys are groaning with the cries of those whose human rights are violated, the indigenous community, people of colour, those from other faiths, the marginalized and the ignored. The mountains of power are the stronghold of leaders whose priorities are questionable. The unlevelled road is screaming from the cries of those who live in poverty, the homeless, or those who were denied access to resources because of their gender, class, or ethnicity. The highway is barricaded with armaments and weapons of war and destruction. The muddy plains are filled with refugees - children, women, and men fleeing their homeland and seeking refuge from countries of wealth. The earth too is groaning in pain. We sacrifice animals, plants, soil, water, and air for the sake of those who wield the most power. God’s voice through John calls us to repent! To repent of the things that betray the holiness and the love of God. To repent from words and actions which hurt our neighbours, the strangers, our loved ones and ourselves. To repent from plundering and destroying Mother earth. We need to repent from our sins – all those things that alienate us from God, from others, from ourselves and the whole of creation.

John did not stop there in the river of Jordan. John nudges us to listen to Second Isaiah’s words: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.”
These words do not simply call us to be waiting patiently in silence or busying ourselves with pointless preparations, but rather, they call us to action. Friends, this is hard work! Who is going to buy into this kind of preparation? Is this the yearning of Advent - to undergo a road construction project? But this is how true repentance works. We need to undergo construction, deconstruction and reconstruction in order to fully access the Good News of God’s salvation.

At our lectionary discussion this past Tuesday, Susan Young shared a personal story that brings John’s words to life. With Susan’s permission, let me share her story with you:

“You don't always need a big four-lane highway to get where you need to go. When I was growing up, my family had an old log cabin by a small lake. It had been built long before I was born, by a distant relative that I never knew. We liked to go to the camp on weekends and holidays to fish, pick berries and mushrooms, swim or toboggan, depending on the season. Since there was no road access, we had to park our vehicle a few miles from the camp and then walk the rest of the way. The first part of the trail crossed a field and, in the summer, the grass grew very tall. I remember my grandmother cutting it with a scythe, so it would be easier for us kids to walk and we wouldn't get stung by the wasps that made nests in the ground. There were some swampy places along the trail too. My grandfather made a dry place for us to walk by putting some fallen logs in the mud. I remember my dad carrying my little brother in a packsack because it was too far for him to walk. That's how the whole family made many happy trips to the camp.”

Susan’s story resonates well with John’s call to repentance and transformation. There is hard work involved. But at the end of it all – when all the tall grasses were cut off, when swampy places were turned to dry land, when logs are laid down in the mud, when we carry each other’s burdens and joys – then the journey will be happy, comfortable and meaningful – “and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Friends, what kind of wilderness are you experiencing in this Advent season? How is God calling you to participate in that uncomfortable but essential work of leveling, straightening, smoothing out those rocky roads and filling those potholes in your life? Whether we agree with John or not, repentance is something that we should aim for in Advent. John’s invitation is a call to root ourselves in truth rather than false pride. Because when we repent, truth emerges and our self-deception ends. God’s word came to John, son of Zechariah in the wilderness. May God’s word come to us too, as we prepare for the birth of Jesus into our own lives. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

(Written by Ted Dodd for DOTAC and the Diakonia World Federation)

In the second year of the reign of COVID,
when climate change governs over the planet,
when racism and injustice rules in so much of the world,
when siblings, violence and war, preside in so many regions,
and the high priests of inequity and imbalance dominate our earth,
please, dear God,
we pray for your Word to come to this wilderness.
We long for a prophet to speak your good news, for this time.
We urgently plea for a proclamation of hope,
for the particular places where we live and interact with others and Creation.
In this Advent time,
As we make ready for Christmas,
may the tender, strong voice of the divine reach us.
May we prepare in your way of compassion.
May we walk paths of reconciliation and respect.
May the valleys of
poverty and hunger,
grief and loss,
loneliness and desperation, be filled with comfort and kindness.
May the mountains and hills of the powerful and the privileged,
be brought low with sharing and equity.
May the roughness of addiction and homelessness be made smooth.
Transform us, individually and corporately.
Change us, personally and collectively.
Turn us around, God of grace.
And may we all feel your presence,
alive in our lives.
Reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Disclose the divine in our human encounters.
Expose the miraculous in the everyday.

We pray as we hear the cries of John and Isaiah; we pray in the words of Jesus, the long-awaited one:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

In this busy season, our most important preparations will happen here in our hearts when we make a way for God to come into our lives, when we "prepare the way of the Lord." In the midst of our preparations, we bring gifts to share so that God's love will shine brightly through the ministry of this church and in our own lives as well.

Let us gather our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to God.

If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer: (spaciousfaith.com)

Holy One, this Advent season we wait in peace,
And we give in peace.
A peace deeper than our anxiety and fear.
A peace growing from our trust in your loving power.
Receive these generous offerings,
And use them to bring your peace to our world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

As you go from this worship,
may the light of peace burn brightly in your hearts.
Go and be signs of peace in the world
as you prepare the journey towards Bethlehem.
And may you always know that you are not alone.
May God’s peace sustain you now and always. Amen.

Hymn: Herald! Sound the Note of Gladness VU 28

(Words: Moir A. J. Waters, 1968; Music: adapt. From Joachim Neander, 1650)

1 Herald! Sound the note of gladness!
Tell the news that Christ is here;
make a pathway through the desert
for the one who brings God near.
Sound the trumpet!
Tell the message!
Christ the Saving One has come!

2 Herald! Sound the note of judgement,
Warning us of right and wrong.
Turning us from sin and sadness,
Till once more we sing the song.
Sound the trumpet!
Tell the message!
Christ the Saving One has come!

3 Herald! Sound the note of pardon!
Those repenting are forgiven;
God receives these wayward children,
and to all new life is given.
Sound the trumpet!
Tell the message!
Christ the Saving One has come!

4 Herald! Sound the note of triumph!
Christ has come to share our life,
bringing God's own love and power,
granting victory in our strife.
Sound the trumpet!
Tell the message!
Christ the Saving One has come!

Carol: ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime VU 71

(Words: Jean de Brebeuf, 1641, English trans Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926;

Music: French Folk Song, 16th century

Advent Memorial Flowers

Departing Music: African Advent Carol Michael Barrett

– sung by BCUC choir Advent 2015

Announcements

Connie Davidson

November 27, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - November 28, 2021

Connie Davidson

November 27, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT / AGAPE MEAL

NOVEMBER 28, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music / Carol Sing:

O Come All Ye Faithful (vs. 1, 2) VU 60

(Words in English: Frederick Oakeley, 1841; Music: John Francis Wade, 1743)

1 O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him,
born the King of angels.

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

2 God of God, light of light,
lo, he abhors not the virgin's womb,
very God, begotten, not created. R

Angels We Have Heard on High VU 38 (vs. 1, 2)

(Words & Music: from a French Carol, 1860)

1 Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o'er the plains,
and the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain:

Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, on this first Sunday of Advent - a time of waiting, of preparing, of getting ready, as we welcome and celebrate the birth of Jesus. As our usual practice, there will be an agape meal later in the service today. Please make sure you have some bread or crackers ready along with your favourite juice or drink.

Advent Poinsettia Memorial Flower Fund is back. You may donate a minimum donation of $10 to remember a loved one who had passed. A virtual poinsettia will be included in the online version of the service until Dec 19 with live poinsettia flowers will adorn our sanctuary. Please send in your request with a memorial note to the church office now until Dec 16.

If you are planning to attend the Christmas Eve Service, please register as soon as possible by calling or sending an email to the office. The list will help us plan for the service.

Friends, in the quiet of this moment, in the stillness of our hearts, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of God as we prepare to receive the gift of Advent hope. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Advent Candle: Hope Acolytes: The Wightman Family

(Eric Hebert-Daly, Gathering ACE 2021-2022. Used with permission.)

Reader 1:
Today we light the candle of Hope.
Hope admits that we’re not quite there yet.
Hope means that something good is within reach.

Reader 2:
Hope calls out to us, so that we come to see the good that awaits.
God is our hope.

Reader 3:
Let us taste, see, hear, feel, smell and anticipate that hope.
May hope be found in a manger and throughout the world.

(The first Advent candle is lit)

Sung Response: Hope is A Star (Verse 1) VU 7

(Words: Brian Wren, 1985; Music: Joan Collier Fogg, 1987)

Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
the last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie

(David Sparks, Gathering, ACE 2021-2022)

It is Advent. Be alert.
In times of joy and abundance, we are ready.
In the midst of difficulty and danger, we are ready.
In times of uncertainty and fear, we are ready.
In times of apathy and despair, we are ready.
With anticipation and with hope,
We look for God’s long promised one.
We will not be disappointed,
We will not be disheartened.
Jesus’s birth is coming and we are ready!

Opening Prayer and Silent Confession

(Larry Doyle, Bob Root & Darrow Woods, Gathering, ACE 2013-2014, Used with permission.)

We enter, O God, into this season of preparation and anticipation, longing to skip ahead and celebrate the coming of your light into our darkness. You would have us first slow down, breathe deeply and prepare ourselves to receive your gift. We know that your Holy Spirit comes in powerful and unexpected ways and so we pray we might recognize you moving in and through the season. In Jesus’ name and in Jesus’ way, we pray in hope.

Let’s take a moment of silent confession…

Silent Confession

Words of Assurance

(Catherine Tovell, Gathering, ACE 2017-2018, used with Permission)

Even within the deepening shadows of this season, the light of God abounds.
We are a pilgrim people; we set out on journeys that lead to new insights and reveal new experiences, knowing that God will be with us wherever we go.
Let us not be discouraged. Let us be open to the light. Let us give thanks to God. Amen.

Advent Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (vs 1-4) VU 1

(Words: trans by John Mason Neale, 1851; Music: 15th Century plainsong melody)

1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. R

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. R

4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave. R

Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Did you hear what Rev. Kim said?? This is the first Sunday of Advent!! That means Christmas is coming up really soon and we need to get ready! That’s what “advent” means after all. It’s more than getting to open a window on the calendar every day and getting a chocolate treat… well, maybe that’s what it is for you kids, but I’m not a kid anymore and Advent means getting things ready. I’ve already started decorating but there are some other things… so many things to do!

Let’s see… I need to make a list…
Put up the lights
Send cards
Shop for food
Bake sweets
Wrap gifts

Oh, wait! First, I need to buy those presents!

So, here’s my list. It’s making me tired just thinking about it! I think I will be exhausted by the time Christmas gets here. I am getting tired just thinking about it! Sometimes I wish I was still a kid and could just enjoy the season…

There must be something I can do. I don’t think Jesus would want us to celebrate his birth by being anxious and tired… I think maybe I need to change this list. Let’s see… not much I can leave out really, but maybe there is something else I can do to make it better …

Put up the Lights (BE the Light)
Send cards (Send LOVE)
Shop for food (DONATE food)
Bake sweets (USE sweet WORDS)
Wrap gifts (Wrap someone in a HUG)

Maybe if I do all these things, I can get through my busy to-do list and still feel the happiness of this season. Yes! I can…

Buy presents (BE present)!

And then I can ENJOY THE SEASON!

So… this is the first Sunday of Advent and we light the first candle in our Advent Wreath – a purple or blue candle that stands for HOPE.

Jesus brought hope to a world that was hurting more than 2000 years ago. Our world is still hurting today, isn’t it? We are dealing with a pandemic, worrying about climate change, hearing about terrible weather causing floods and landslides in BC and now threatening the east coast as well. I think we could all use a little hope today too. So, let’s open our hearts to the love of Jesus and the lessons he taught so that we can be the hope our world needs today.

Let’s finish with a body prayer:

(From Advent Unwrapped – United Church of Canada)

Holy One,                                            (reach up and look out)
May your hope encircle me;                (spread arms wide and then move arms in an arc))
May your hope grow within me;          (spread arms wide, then put them on your heart)
May your hope reach beyond me.        (spread arms wide, the stretch them out in front of you)
Amen                                                   (head down, hands folded in prayer)

Hymn: Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary MV 18

(Words & Music: John W. Thompson and Randy Scruggs, 1982)

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy tried and true; with thanksgiving,
I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Rev. Dr. Karen Boivin

Help us, O God, to be alert to signs
of your reign breaking into our lives.
May your Word of hope inspire us to bring
your promises to life in our waiting world. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-36 (NRSV)

25“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

May the hope of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Advent’s Imagination: Notice, Attend, Look!” Rev. Kim

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of your Word and as we reflect on them, open our hearts and our minds to hear your message for us in this Advent time. Amen.

Alas! Advent is here. We think that the opening of the new liturgical year would be cheery, or celebratory, or joyful particularly as we anticipate the birth of Jesus. But before we jump for joy as the hymn goes – please be reminded that each year, the gospel reading in the first Sunday of Advent gives us a taste of “little apocalypse”. Darkness, fear and foreboding define the landscape of the first Sunday of Advent, falling over the human spirit. Advent, as a path towards Christmas, is filled with dark tales; risky and dangerous journeys - fear and uncertainty in Mary’s heart, anguish in Joseph’s mind, shepherds stumbling through the Bethlehem night, rumors from foreigners that alarm Herod and ignite his rage, the Refugee Baby and his parents in their flight to Egypt and so on.

This year, Luke will be our storyteller telling us first of a “fear and foreboding” scenario. We read of celestial signs, natural catastrophes, distress on earth, the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke has an important message to tell. He wants his audience to know that the followers of Jesus must be on guard – to look, to take notice, to pay attention, to be alert at all times, ready for the coming of the end. They should therefore not be caught up in either the excessive pleasures or worries of the day, but rather remain watchful and confident, eager for the events Luke describes as they signal the approach of the deliverance of Jesus’ followers. Eugene Peterson’s version of this verse makes sense for today’s hearing. He writes: “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping.” Indeed, the events Luke describe will be most worrisome for the "world" and the "powers of heaven". As I ponder on this text, however, rather than assuming there will be an end of time, I am far more convinced in the idea of God's time and God's actions throughout time. Rev. Patricia de Jong puts it this way: “The advent of God's time is not solely about God's coming at the end of time, but God's intrusion into our human story in this time – here and now.”

Luke is not offering these images in order to scare the pants off people but rather to assure his listeners that the healing of the world is at hand, and that we need to stay awake, stay alert, and learn to watch for the signs of what is ahead. Are we looking forward to such experience as Luke’s community had been forewarned?

Watch for the signs! Fear and foreboding too have fallen over our world in these past weeks and months. The COVID variant pandemic tops the line; the flooding in BC; the drowning of 27 migrants crossing the English Channel; the continuing plight of the Indigenous people; climate change protests, running down, killing and injuring people at a Christmas Parade in Wisconsin. We who are watching and listening are terrified. Anguish and panic have arisen among world leaders giving voice to our fears, our desire to keep peace at hand, to keep violence away from us. And many rises to offer us false hope, the false assurance that we can keep ourselves safe if we keep certain evil people away.

Barbara Kingsolver has a new book of essays called "Small Wonder," and it is a poetic proclamation of the power of hope. It is also a harsh criticism against the excessive self-centeredness of America. Taking a sharp look at the wars, the natural disasters, the political violence of the 21st century, she writes a modern translation of Luke's little apocalypse. By the end of the book, the reader is confronted about the wastefulness of food consumption, the natural disasters caused by genetic crop engineering, the distortion of patriotism, the horrors of war and capital punishment. But she ends with good news - soaring words of hope--a call to self-discipline and compassion and tolerance and moral living--a vision that matches the energy of Jesus' words for us today. Rather than feeling hopeless, Kingsolver suggests that we should bang on the door of hope and refuse to let anyone suggest that no one is paying attention. She writes, "What I can find is this and so it has to be: conquering my own despair by doing what little I can. Stealing thunder, tucking it in my pocket to save for the long drought. Dreaming in the color green, tasting the end of anger." She concludes: "Small changes, small wonders. These are the currency of my endurance and my life. It is a workable economy."

Inspired by Kingsolver’s wisdom, I thought to myself, what if we prepared differently this year? I read about a project called the "Advent Conspiracy." It was started by a group of Christians who conspired to change the way we celebrate Christmas. These co-conspirators discovered that North Americans spend over $450 billion each year buying Christmas presents. They also learned that the greatest health problem in the world today is the lack of clean water. It would cost $10 billion to solve that problem. They wonder--what if we bought one less Christmas gift this year--you know, the sweater that will never be worn, the candle that will never get lighted, or the knickknack that will get returned the day after Christmas? They wonder--what if we took the money saved by not buying that gift and gave it to help someone in need, like folks who need clean water? They wonder--since Christmas began with a group of people who follow the ways of Jesus Christ, what if we conspired together to begin this season of preparation by walking the talk? Why not make this year a better Christmas story for you? What if we conspired with the folks in Chimpembi to support their building project? What if we conspired to support the Christmas Hampers to feed the hungry? What if we conspired to buy less and donate to the Mission and Service Fund? What if we conspired as advocates of truth and reconciliation? Instead of paying more attention to “doomsday conspiracy”, let us start our own "Advent conspiracy" as we anticipate the birth of Jesus.

One of the ancient signs of hope is the fruitfulness of fig trees. Fig trees can live hundreds of years and are some of the oldest living trees on the planet. It was believed that Rabbis often studied Torah under the cool shelter of fig trees, and the tree was associated with a quiet place to seek wisdom. In today’s parable, Jesus compares the signs of hope to the budding leaves of a fig tree, to note that we also must be patient with the work of God. One day you look closely and the first tiny, yellow-green leaves unwrap themselves and spread toward the sky. Then you know the seasons are changing. Soon there will be juicy figs ripening in the sun. For Jesus to use this symbol of fruitfulness and growing life, is a bit unusual. The rest that we yearn and the peace in the world we long for, does not always come quickly. We have to be watchful, paying attention to the signs of hope in our midst – it could be in the form of nature, or through music or a warm smile from a child. Signs of hope are everywhere if we only notice them.

Advent reminds us, that although we are to watch for the signs, we must, like the fig tree that Jesus evokes in this passage, be rooted in the life of the earth. What signs of hope have you been called to imagine, to look, to notice, to pay attention to? Perhaps you’ve seen shooting stars and comets that give you some sign of being called to a vocation? An earthquake that shook your faith? A red cardinal with a message pecking at your window pane? A fog that caused you to panic but still you arrived home safely? Signs are everywhere and all we need to do is to be alert and to pay attention. All of these signs unveil or reveal something. A message is there for us to discover. Jesus calls us in each moment through these signs that will stir up our imagination and hopefully nudge us to keep our faith alive. There is a sense, after all, in which we as Christians live the apocalypse on a daily basis.

Friends, we have lit a candle of hope this morning, and during the coming week it is our job to keep that flame of hope burning. As we come to God’s table of grace on this first Sunday of Advent, how is God inviting us to be imaginative and attentive at the same time? How are we preparing for the birth of Jesus? What are the things or experiences that keep us centered in God? What is it that we long for in these Advent days? Sometimes we must be patient with God, like waiting three or four years for the fig tree to bear fruit. Hope is like planting and tending a fig tree, paying attention and being patient that we may reap a lifetime of good fruit. Nancy Rockwell says it beautifully: “Be part of the fruitful time, not part of the terror. Be a fig tree, stand in the darkness and begin to blossom, do not join the world in its fear and foreboding, but let your faith in God’s coming shine in you. Let your light shine.” Welcome to Advent. Amen.

Sources that helped me with my sermon:

The BCUC Lectionary Group
Nancy Rockwell, “Fear and Foreboding”, patheos.org.
Rev. Bill Britt, Wake Up! Christmas Is Coming, Day 1. Org
Barbara Kingsolver, Small Wonder.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim

(Source: faithandworship.com)

Advent God, as we wait, we journey with you,
to Bethlehem’s stable,
ears attuned to the song of angels,
eyes alert for Bethlehem’s star.

This is Advent, the season of preparation.
The shops are full of gifts that we might give or receive.

Streets are decorated and carols are being played.
Forgive us, if on our journey,
we are distracted by the tempting offers of this world.

Prepare our hearts not only for the celebration to come,
but also, for sharing that Good News with family, friends and strangers.

Grant us courage and a real willingness to talk about the love
that came down to earth and walked among us.
Let us be your agents of mercy and healing.

May we conspire to help those who lack resources for medical care,
for the homeless, for the hungry,
for those who are broken in body, mind, or spirit,
for those who are grieving and for all who are struggling.

Let us not overlook all those who need compassion and comfort
and those who yearn for hope.

Keep our hearts aflame with the hope of Christmas,
and the promise of birth. All these we ask in the name of Jesus Christ and in the words of this ancient prayer that we recite together:

Communion Hymn: One Bread, One Body VU 467

(Words and Music: John B. Foley, 1978)

Refrain:

One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the earth
We are one body in this one Lord

1 Gentile or Jew, servant or free
Woman or man, no more. Refrain

2 Many the gifts, many the works
One in the Lord, of all. Refrain

3 Grain for the fields, scattered and grown
Gathered to one, for all. Refrain

The Agape Meal Rev. Kim Vidal & Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Kim)

“Agape” is the New Testament Greek word for “self-giving love”. The kind of love that comes from God and models God’s loving choice for our well-being and all of Creation. In the Christian tradition, agape is also the name for informal meals and times of togetherness and mutual sharing which remind us of all those meals Jesus shared with his friends and the unity that his Spirit continues to give us even today.

Invitation (Kim)

(Peter Chynoweth, The Gathering, ACE 2019-2020. Used with permission)

Sharing food is an important part of our holy celebrations and gatherings with friends and family. We know that eating at table is one of the ways we experience companionship, share love and stories, nurture our social connections and satisfy our physical needs for sustenance. Today, we are invited by God to gather at this table where we share bread and drink as important symbols of our existence as a faith community, symbols of welcome to those who come to worship and eat at table with us. This is God’s table! These are God’s gifts. May we know and experience the welcome that is intended.

Prayer of Consecration (Lorrie)

Loving friend and companion, we welcome your presence with us. May these gifts of bread and cup, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds. And may our spirits be refreshed as we live in the light of your presence, with us now, and at all times and places. Send now your Holy Spirit upon this bread and this cup, O God that they might be our remembrance and our proclamation of the presence of Jesus Christ with us, through us and in us. Amen.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup (Kim)

Let us now share and partake the bread and the cup reminding us of God’s unconditional love. This is the bread – food for the Advent journey. Take, eat and be nourished by God’s love.
This is the cup – drink for the Advent journey. Take, drink and be sustained by God’s grace.

Prayer after the Meal (Lorrie)

(Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, Gathering, ACE 2015-2016. Used with permission.)

With this taste of the bread of life,
with this taste of the cup of Love,
send us into the world, God –
so that we might whisper your coming,
so that we might sing your Advent.
so that we might live your birth,
now and forever. Amen!

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie

We are the work of God's hands, the psalmist says, and God continues to shape us each day into a people of goodness and peace. That is why we bring gifts this morning: to be part of creating a more beautiful world through the ministry of this church and the witness of our lives each day. Let us gather our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to God.

Offertory Prayer: (spaciousfaith.com)

Holy One, this Advent season we wait in hope.
And we give in hope.
Hope for your coming reign;
Hope because of your presence with us even now.
Receive these generous offerings,
And use them for your work of healing and hope in our world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

(Bob Root, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019, Used with permission.)

And now, may the brightness of hope
be our gift as we leave this time and place.
May we go out strengthened because we have been together
and touched by God’s Spirit.
May we continue to be a light of hope to the world,
that everyone might see the good ness of God!

Go in hope. Amen!

Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (vs 5-7) VU 1

(Words: trans by John Mason Neale, 1851; Music: 15th Century plainsong melody)

5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

Refrain

7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain

Carol: In the Bleak Midwinter VU 55

(Words: Christina Georgina Rosetti, 1872; Music: Gustav Theodor Holst, 1906)

Advent Memorial Flowers

Departing Music: Minuet (G. F. Handel)

Announcements

Connie Davidson

November 20, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - November 21, 2021

Connie Davidson

November 20, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY

NOVEMBER 21, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Fairest Lord Jesus (arr. Phillip Keveren)

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who reigns in our hearts forever! Today, the Christian Church is celebrating the “Reign of Christ” which is also referred to as Christ the King Sunday. This Sunday signifies that our faith in Jesus the Christ is founded on the principles not of tyranny & violence but of justice, compassion, integrity and love.

Please join us next Sunday, on Nov 28th, we begin a new liturgical season. It’s the First Sunday of Advent and we are celebrating the sacrament of communion at our onsite service and agape meal online.

Advent Poinsettia Memorial Flower Fund is back. You may donate a minimum donation of $10 to remember a loved one who had passed. A virtual poinsettia will be included in the online version of the service from Nov. 28 until Dec 19 with live poinsettia flowers will adorn our sanctuary. Please send your request with a memorial note to the office now until Dec 16.

Friends, in the quiet of this moment, in the stillness of our hearts, I now invite you to centre yourself in the spirit of Jesus Christ who reminds us that his reign is the reign of love and justice. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: George & Susan Young

We light this Christ candle reminding us that God’s light reigns in our hearts.
We long for God’s love and justice to come to our world,
to break through and reign over us in this time and in this place.
May this flame renew our faith that we may live in Jesus’ way.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Susan McAllister, Gathering, Pentecost 2, Year B, 2021. Used with Permission.)

Grace to you and peace from the One
who is, and who was, and who is to come.
Grace to you and the peace of Jesus Christ,
the faithful witness and bearer of truth.
Lift your voices in praise and thanksgiving,
For the end is no longer the end, but the beginning.
Shout your alleluias,
so we may renew our world with the vision
of peace and justice that God would have us live.
God is the Alpha and the Omega,
the One who is and who was and is to come.
Alleluia!

Prayer of Approach

(Moderator Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, Gathering, Pentecost 2, Year B, 2021)

You are the source of all things.
You are the beginning and end.
You are the great “I am”.
And we are blessed in knowing you.
God of all things,
we ask for your help.
Help us.
We ask for your wisdom.
Guide us.
We ask for your compassion.
Love us.
So that we might be compassionate and wise
As we help in your world.
May it be this way,
By your grace, Loving God. Amen.

Hymn: I Danced in the Morning VU 352

(Words: Sydney Carter, 1963; Music: Shaker Melody adapt. and harm. Sydney Carter, 1963)

1 I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.

Refrain:
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.

2 I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came with me and the dance went on. R

3 I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
and left me there on a cross to die. R

4 I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it's hard to dance with the devil on your back;
they buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on. R

5 They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he. R

Dedication of the Steinway Piano & The New Portico Rev. Kim

Words of Dedication:

Dear friends, this is a day of rejoicing. We come together to dedicate two special gifts to Bells Corners United Church for the glory of God.

First, we dedicate the Steinway Baby Grand Piano in loving memory of Cynthia Watson. We give thanks for the gift of music which she lavishly shared with all of us. Thank you, Denis Watson & family, for this precious gift.

In the name of the holy and triune God, Creator, Christ and Spirit, we dedicate this Steinway Grand Piano to the glory of God. May our worship services resonate with music that lifts our hearts and fills our senses, in hymns that support and nourish all who worship here, in songs that strengthen our faith and inspire our work, in melodies that proclaim our praise and joy, and in harmonies that heal and comfort all.

We also dedicate the new portico in grateful appreciation of all who have donated funds towards this project and in loving memory of Irene Stinson. We also thank the members of the Portico Project Team – Ron Chuchryk, Rory Gardiner, Bob Wright and members of the Property Management Committee for overseeing this project from conception to finish.

In the name of the holy and triune God, Creator, Christ and Spirit, we dedicate this new portico so that the life of our congregation and the community may be enhanced, deepened, and enriched.

In grateful remembrance of all who have loved and served this church in the past and for those who will serve it in the future, with sincere gratitude, consecrate and dedicate this Steinway Grand Piano and the New Portico.

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Let us pray.

Loving God, giver of all good gifts, we give thanks for all those who by witness, generosity and work have contributed to the improvement of this sacred space, and in doing so have made a commitment to the long-term prosperity of this congregation. Bless these gifts for their usefulness. Help us take care of this grand piano and the new portico, be blessed by them,Ded care for them and pass them on to future generations. May we share the blessing of these gifts with others and the community. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie

I bet you all have someone in your life who cares about you and wants to make sure that you are safe and happy. Most of us have parents or someone in our lives who would do just about anything to keep us from danger.

I read a very funny story about a mother who took that idea a little too far. It is called “Warner, Don’t Forget” and was written by Lynn Seligman. Warner’s mom was always reminding him of things… “Don’t forget to wear your hat and mitts… don’t forget to bring your bike home from the park… don’t forget to come straight home after school… don’t forget to brush your teeth…” mostly things that Warner wouldn’t forget – and you could almost hear Warner rolling his eyes. One day Warner brought home a note from school saying that his class was going on a field trip to the zoo. His mom wanted to go along but Warner told her that no moms were allowed. Can you imagine how his mom felt? She was really worried that he wouldn’t be safe if she wasn’t there to remind him of things – so she did something very creative. She dressed up in disguises and followed the class on the trip.

She dressed up as a crossing guard and reminded Warner, “Don’t forget to look both ways!” She dressed up as a ticket taker at the zoo and, when Warner came through the gate, she said, “Don’t forget to stay with your group.”

She dressed as a zookeeper and reminded him, “Don’t forget to stand back from the cages.” She even dressed up as a scuba diver and held up a sign in the window of the aquarium that said, “Warner, don’t put your nose against the glass!”

She didn’t fool Warner, though. At bedtime that night, he told her, “Don’t forget to tie your shoe laces, Mom; they’ve been undone all day.”

Warner wanted to be independent but I think he also knew that his mom did these things because she loved him. He didn’t get mad at her, he just let her know that he knew she was there beside him the whole way, making sure he was safe.

We are all glad to have someone who looks out for us and wants us to be safe, comfortable, and happy – but I don’t think we want our parents to be quite as obvious as Warner’s mom. At some point, she will have to trust Warner to make his own decisions. I think she can be pretty sure that he has learned a lot from her that will help him make good ones. And Warner will still know that she loves him, even without the reminders.

Our Bible reading this morning talks about God “who is and was and who is to come”. This is a God who was with us from the beginning of time and will always be with us. It’s comforting to know that God is always there, but God isn’t always as obvious as Warner’s mom. God sent Jesus to teach us the best way to live and now trusts us to make those good decisions that will make the world a better place. We don’t always notice that God is with us – unless we choose to look carefully. I bet Warner’s mom’s disguises would have worked and he would never have known she was following him if he wasn’t so observant. If we take the time to really look around us, I think we will see God is following us too. We can feel God’s presence in all the beautiful things in nature; we can feel God’s love in a warm hug from someone who loves us; and we can see God in the faces of people we meet – but we need to be looking, we need to be observant.

It’s comforting to know that God is always around us – is, and was, and will always be there. Knowing that helps us feel safe. Knowing that helps us remember all the things Jesus taught. So, keep your eyes and ears and hearts open!

Where did you see God today?

Let’s finish with a prayer:

Holy One,
We are happy to know that you love us and will always be with us.
Thank you for all the lessons Jesus taught that will make this world a better place.
Thank you for trusting us to make our own decisions, and for still loving us no matter what happens. Help us to watch for you in all the places we go, and in all the people we meet. Amen.

Hymn: I’m Gonna Shout MV 183

(Words & Music: Bruce Harding, 1998)

1 I’m gonna shout, shout, shout out my love for Jesus, for Jesus!
I’m gonna shout, shout, shout out my love for God’s most holy child!

For whatever I might do today,
at home, at school, at work, at play,
I’ve got Jesus’ love deep down inside of me!

2 I’m gonna raise, raise, raise up my hands for Jesus, for Jesus!
I’m gonna raise, raise, raise up my hands for God’s most holy child!

For whatever I might do today,
at home, at school, at work, at play,
I’ve got Jesus’ love deep down inside of me!

3 I’m gonna dance, dance, dance all around for Jesus, for Jesus!
I’m gonna dance, dance, dance all around for God’s most holy child!

For whatever I might do today,
at home, at school, at work, at play,
I’ve got Jesus’ love deep down inside of me!

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Ian Howes

(Richard Bott, Gathering, Pentecost 2, Year B, 2015)

Holy God,
you are the Storyteller,
you are the Word.
Bless the reading.
Bless the listening.
Bless the sharing.
Bless the love in Christ’s name. Amen.

The NT Reading: Revelation 1: 4-8 (NRSV)

The Alpha & Omega

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.

So it is to be. Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,
who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty

May the wisdom of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “The First and Final Words” Rev. Kim

In the early 1920’s, the world was not in a good shape. There was a huge rise in secularism in the aftermath of World War I in which people lived their lives as if God did not exist. Dictatorial governments flourished and people were mass murdered by oppressive leaders. Those of the Christian faith began to doubt the authority and existence of Jesus Christ. There was a huge dissension against the Roman Catholic Church and people questioned the power of the Church to continue using Christ’s authority. Pope Pius XI felt the need for a feast celebrating the kingship of Jesus Christ over all humanity especially at a time when respect for Christ and for the Church was declining rapidly. In 1925, Pope Pius XI assumed as his papal motto "Pax Christi in Regno Christi," translated "The Peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ." He then proclaimed the Celebration of the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe known today as Christ the King Sunday or in some denominations like ours, The Reign of Christ Sunday. Pope Pius XI wanted to name Christ as King to remind Christians that their allegiance must remain in Christ – the true king, as opposed to any earthly rulers.

I’m sure, that some of us are not comfortable with the image of Jesus as a king especially when it is understood to be an imperial title, or a monarch who could easily use his power in oppressing people; someone who is detached and remote from the realities of the everyday world. My personal understanding of Jesus is not one who is “high and mighty” but rather one “among the least”, the compassionate one, the one who lived humbly as a servant-leader. Instead of calling Jesus a king, I would rather describe him as kin to all. One who is among us. Is this the same Jesus Christ that John of Patmos talked about in the book of Revelation?

The word revelation is “apocalypse” in Greek which literally means “unveiling” or “disclosure”. For modern-day readers and hearers of this book like us, the word apocalypse evokes fear and mystery. The book is shrouded in symbols, images and numbers that speak of the end times and the “judgment day” - a time understood by many to be the end of the world. Sadly, the interpretation of this book has been left in the hands of many fundamentalists who take each and every word literally which are not useful at all. I admit - Revelation is full of violent language, riveting imagery and coded language. I would highly recommend that paying attention to its historical, social, political and religious contexts are essential in interpreting the book properly. If we do that, however, be prepared to be confronted with a revolutionary, subversive message that speaks directly to our own times.

Revelation reveals a story of the first century Christians who need assurance and hope as they persist in their faith. It is a story of the early followers of Jesus Christ, who lived under the terror of Roman power. It was a time when they were persecuted, murdered and exiled for following Jesus - a different “Christ” - not the Christ or Saviour or the Anointed One personified by Caesar of the Roman Empire. These early believers may well have wondered if God was in control.

John, the writer of Revelation, believed to be an elder of the early church, was exiled as a political prisoner in the Island of Patmos, off the coast of present-day Turkey. While imprisoned in Patmos, he wrote his prophetic visions in coded forms addressed to the seven early churches in Asia Minor. John personally shares the suffering of the churches, hoping that it will bring an end to the old world of fear and oppression brought about by Caesar and in its place, a new movement with Jesus Christ. John strongly urges the early Christian that those who will remain loyal and faithful to God and acclaim Jesus as the true ruler until the end will be granted a utopian world – a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more tears nor sorrow nor pain. John believed that God through Jesus, the Ruler of the Universe, will come down when the end is at hand and tidy up the mess. Early Christian communities believed that. Unfortunately, they were wrong. The world did not come crashing down as predicted by John.

What is the message of John’s revelation for us today? What does it mean to be faithful in a time when faithfulness seems pointless? What does it mean to resist when resistance seems futile? In Chapter 1, John saw Jesus as the one "who is and who was and who is to come" echoing the God revealed to Moses in the burning bush. This God, according to the Rev. Jim Kast Keat “has been up to something, is up to something, and will continue to be up to something in our lives and in our world. It is this Jesus as God incarnate, the word made flesh, loving us and freeing us.”

John’s salutation in Chapter 1 introduces us to two important words: grace and peace. Grace is the standard gentile greeting. Peace or shalom is the standard Jewish greeting. By putting these two words together in the opening suggests that the message of Revelation is for everyone. Grace and peace are gifts from a God who is dynamic not static. Through grace and peace, we proclaim a dynamic faith in a God who was part of our history; a God who is present in the world; and a God who will midwife a new era or a new birth.

Grace and peace come from Jesus too, who according to John, is the Alpha and the Omega. the beginning and the end. As the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus reveals who God truly is – a God of love and justice. A God who was with us at birth and who will meet us at the end of life. It’s unfortunate that John of Patmos used coded language that are violent, exclusive and derogatory particularly for those who are not in the circle. But we have a responsibility to take John’s words, disagree with them and lay down our honest interpretation of our perception of who God or Jesus is. I cannot speak for each of you but I can start the ball rolling for a good dialogue. For me, Jesus Christ is not a tyrant ruler but a lover of humanity. He is not a power-greed leader but a servant-leader. Jim Kast-Keat writes: “This is not a Revelation of logical arguments or sound reasoning, but a Revelation of a person, a Revelation of a human relationship. And it is this person, this relationship, this Jesus that offers the hope for change, from hate to love, from sin to salvation… Change has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen. In Jesus we see God incarnate, the word made flesh, loving us and freeing us.” Revelation, though a very difficult book to understand, proved that no matter how much forces of evil are in the world, God will be God. There is no denying that forces of evil are very much present in our world today. We need God’s grace and peace to love one another because in loving one another we come to know God incarnate in Jesus.

Here we are, on this Reign of Christ Sunday, the end of a liturgical year, marked by the unending saga of the Covid-19 pandemic; of wars, violence and protests in many parts of the world; of stories of racism and discrimination; of millions of refugees fleeing their homeland and awaiting doors of refuge to be opened. All these things deserve our undivided attention because human life is sacred and precious wherever it is. We surely are living in desperate times.

Here is my challenge to all of you. If the book of Revelation teaches us how to resist evil violently, which I do not embrace, we need to counteract John’s words by resisting evil creatively. Through the power of grace and peace, creative resistance occurs when one reacts to any negative experience, be it pain, violence or death, in a creative way – like the use of music or art or humour to stop violence and hate. An African-American comedian who died not too long ago by the name of Dick Gregory has been credited by most as the first African-American comedian to reach fame by challenging racism through comedy. One of his classic jokes on this topic was about him going to a restaurant in the segregated South and being told by the white waitress, “We don’t serve colored people here.” To which Gregory replied: “That’s all right, I don’t eat colored people. Just bring me a whole fried chicken.” That’s what I call creative resistance. The actions of creative resistance bring communities together against the powers of evil of this world.

Dear friends, when you embody grace and peace to such a degree that you can mock evil to its face, that’s the way to resist evil in the world today. Grace and peace are always present when we love. Loving God and loving others are the ways of Jesus Christ in the world today. One final word. I don’t think Jesus wants us to call him King. Or treat him like one. I think he wants us to recognize him as our brother. Our kin. One who is like us. This good news requires lives of courageous faithfulness in key moments of our lives. This I know for sure. Change will come when the power of God’s love is greater than the love of power. This, here, now, is the time for Advent to begin. God’s first and final words to all of us: grace and peace be with you. Christ reigns forever. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Holy One, who is and was and is to come,
We approach you today holding the many joys and concerns of our hearts.

We pray for those in our community and in this faith family who are struggling with illness, injury, and grief. Cast your light and love on all those who feel they are walking in dark times. Give them healing and hope.

We pray for those who feel abandoned, marginalized, or unloved. Wrap them in your loving embrace.

We pray for those dealing with insecurity – financially, and emotionally. We pray for those living in war and conflict. Give them peace and safety.

We pray for Creation: for this planet and for all its people as we deal with the many crises that face us.

This day, we hold the people of British Columbia in our hearts and prayers as they deal with the flooding and mudslides that have closed highways and threatened lives. We pray for the world leaders as they grapple with the complicated issue of Climate Change.

On this Reign of Christ Sunday, we share the words written by Ted Dodd for DOTAC, the Diakonia of the Americas and the Caribbean:

Alpha and Omega,
Beginning and End,
Transcendent and Imminent,
you are our God.
Reveal yourself in the beauty and extravagance of your vision.
Help us see creation from your divine perspective.
Allow us to imagine the world from your eternal point of view.
Transport us into your grace and your presence.
Renew the hopes of your tired people.
Dwell with us in the work of justice.
Write words of compassion on our hearts.
Unveil the beauty of a new Jerusalem.
May the tears of the distressed and the lonely,
be wiped away from their eyes.
May the deaths of the persecuted and exploited,
be no more.
May the mourning of the those crying and grieving,
pass away.
Make all things new:
enough of the hatred and horror;
enough of the inequality and prejudice;
enough of the apathy and greed.
Alpha and Omega,
Beginning and End,
Transcendent and Imminent,
you are our God.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

All of the joys and the concerns that we express aloud, and all those we carry in our hearts, we bring to you as we repeat the ancient prayer that Jesus taught his followers:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

I invite you to give lovingly, as we serve God through the sharing and offering of time, talents and treasures. These gifts empower the ministry within our congregation and respond to the needs of our community and the world. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

You are the Alpha and the Omega, the one who was, and is, and is to come. |
We give thanks for your faithfulness and love.
Receive now our response to your abundant grace.
Strengthen our generosity so that we may continue
to change the world according to your will.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

Sisters and brothers in Christ, as you leave this place,
offer to God your hopes and dreams for a better world.
Keep your hearts steadfast on the priorities to which Jesus Christ taught us:
to love God and your neighbours, to do justice, and to walk the talk.
Let us go forth with confidence in the name
of God the Alpha & Omega
of Jesus Christ, Love Incarnate,
and of the Holy Spirit, Comforter and Sustainer. Amen!

Hymn: I See A New Heaven VU 713 (vs 1, 3, 4)

(Words & Music: Carolyn McDade, 1979)

Refrain:
I see a new heaven. I see a new earth
as the old one will pass away,
where the fountain of life flows
and without price goes
to all people who abide in the land.

1 There, there on the banks
of a river bright and free,
yielding her fruit, firm in her root,
the Tree of Life will be. R

3 There, there where the darkness
brings visions from above.
There where the night, bearing new light,
reveals the promise of love. R

4 There, there where we work
with the love of healing hands.
Labour we must, true to our trust
to build a promised new land. R

Departing Music: (over announcement slides) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (arr. Phillip Keveren)

Connie Davidson

November 13, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - November 14, 2021

Connie Davidson

November 13, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

25th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Youth and Children Sunday

November 14, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: “Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet” VU245

1. Praise the Lord with the sound of trumpet,
Praise the Lord with the harp and lute,
Praise the Lord with the gentle sounding flute.
Praise the Lord in the field and forest,
Praise the Lord in the city square,
Praise the Lord anytime and anywhere.
Praise the Lord in the wind and sunshine,
Praise the Lord in the dark of night.
Praise the Lord in the rain or snow or in the morning light.
Praise the Lord in the deepest valley,
Praise the Lord on the highest hill,
Praise the Lord, never let your voice be still.

2. Praise the Lord with the crashing cymbal,
Praise the Lord with the pipe and string,
Praise the Lord with the joyful songs you sing.
Praise the Lord on a weekday morning,
Praise the Lord on a Sunday noon,
Praise the Lord by the light of sun or moon.
Praise the Lord in the time of sorrow,
Praise the Lord in the time of joy,
Praise the Lord every moment, nothing let your praise destroy.
Praise the Lord in the peace and quiet,
Praise the Lord in your work or play,
Praise the Lord everywhere in every way!

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning! Welcome to this service of worship on a day when we especially spotlight the children and youth here at Bells Corners. We sure miss their voices and their energy here in the building! This year and a half of YouTube and hybrid services has been good in many ways, but most difficult when it comes to feeling that wonderful sense of family that we enjoy as a congregation. So I hope this time of worship will help to lift your spirits and remind you that we are together in our hearts, even if we are not all together in the sanctuary.

We do continue to offer in-person worship in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 10 am. It is a modified hybrid of video recordings and live participation. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

Friends, in the knowledge that, even when we can’t all be together in one place, we know we are embraced in a wide circle of love. We begin our service this morning with a Minute for Mission highlighting one of the many ways the United Church of Canada takes this love out into the world.

Minute for Mission

Every Person Is a Superhero: Esbikenh’s Story
A story about a teacher using Superheroes to teach indigenous languages.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Virginia & Sadie Davidson

(Scott Martin, inspired by Godly Play, Gathering Pentecost 2 2021, p30. Used with permission)

There once was a wonderful man who did wonderful things and they said, “He is the light of the world.” In his light, the light of Christ, we gather.

Call to Gather Bree & Jack Kelly

(Selina Mullin, Gathering Pentecost 2 2021, p30. Used with permission)

All are welcome in this place, all are welcome in God’s space.
Young and old and in between,
Short and tall, large and lean.
Those who are lonely, tired, and hurting,
Or giggling, smiling, or practically bursting.
Each as we are, wonderfully made,
We join in God’s house together, today.

Prayer of Approach

(Jim McKean, Gathering Pentecost 2 2021, p33. Used with permission.)

Strong and Tender One,
We approach you today, filled with childlike wonder and a willingness to express ourselves beyond our comfort level. Open us so we may soar beyond the comfort of the present. Move us into your presence, more and more, day by day. Amen.

Hymn: “Small Things Count” VU361

1. Small things count so Jesus said:
Cups of water, crumbs of bread,
Small things done because we’re kind
Count as big things in God’s mind.

2. Small things make the big things grow:
Grains of yeast inside the dough,
Puffs that fill a big balloon,
Notes that make a happy tune.

3. Every hair that’s on our head,
Every sparrow, Jesus said,
God takes care of, counts and knows,
God loves us from top to toes.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Noah & Nicholas Berard

“Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed” by Emily Pearson

This is the story of an ordinary girl named Mary who changed the world by one act of kindness that inspired others to do the same.

Music: “Peace in My Fingers” – The CGs (Christian Generation Singers)

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Raven Miller

Holy One,
These ancient words, so carefully preserved, are sometimes difficult for your children to understand today. Open us to the messages you want us to hear. Help us see our path in this world, through the wisdom of our ancestors. Amen.

The Reading: Hebrews 10 :11-25 (NRSV)

11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” 13 and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds,”

17 he also adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

From this letter, written so long ago, may we find guidance for our living today.

Sermon: Superheroes and Ordinary Marys Rev. Lorrie Lowes

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Superman!

Superheroes capture our imagination, don’t they? I’m not just talking to the kids here, we adults love the stories, the comics, and the action films too. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman… we love them all – and we all have times in our lives when we wish one of them would suddenly appear to save the day.

I think many of us can identify with that feeling these days. After a year and a half of fighting against this pandemic with its restrictions and protocols, months without being able to gather with friends and family, worry over every cough or sneeze, and confusion over what is safe and what is not, we just want life to be normal – whatever normal will look like at the end of this.

In our Lectionary Group this week, we noted that it’s not just Covid 19 that has our minds in turmoil. There is a climate emergency to deal with as well, and both of these things affect our own sense of security – economic security, job security, food security, the hope for a secure future. And, as if all that isn’t scary enough, it seems that other evil things are raising their heads – things we thought we were making progress on – things like racism, violence, conspiracy theories, and all the phobias that keep us from being part of a loving community. We hear so many differing opinions and theories that we can’t tell what is true anymore. We don’t feel safe in the world and so we build walls around us.

There are days when the idea of a superhero swooping in to save the day seems like the only solution.

Our reading today is from a letter written to a Hebrew community that, it appears, might have been feeling the same way. The audience is not specifically named but it seems to be a community of Jewish people who were followers of Jesus. What is clear is that they are being persecuted for their beliefs and that their faith is wavering. They are ready to abandon what they have been taught in order to make life easier…safer. Things were bad before Jesus… and they really hadn’t gotten better since he died, in fact, in many ways, they were worse.

We know that the people of Jesus’ day were hoping for a Messiah – a kind of superhero who would swoop in like Superman and destroy the oppressive Romans. But who they got was more like Clark Kent, a man like them. He was human. He wasn’t wealthy or powerful in the expected way. He didn’t come with a huge army or powerful weapons. He was a humble man who came with love in his heart and a sense of justice.

This letter to the Hebrews is not an easy one to understand. I have to say, it grates a little on my own theology with its message of Jesus being the sacrifice for the world, as if his death was all that was necessary to make things right, that the work was done and now Jesus was just waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” I can imagine that the people who received this letter were feeling a bit abandoned by Jesus. Miracles had happened, progress was being made, and then, like Superman, he disappeared. Where was Jesus now when life was so difficult? Had he really been just a human being after all?

Where this reading redeems itself for me is in the new covenant, a direct quote from Jeremiah – so not really new to this community of Jews – “I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

This, to me, sums up Jesus’ messianic mission… to present the laws in a new way, a way that gives both hope and responsibility to each person for creating a better tomorrow, a way of life that becomes a part of who we are, so strong that it is indelibly written right on our hearts and minds.

The letter writer points out that, with the death of Jesus, much of life has gone back to the old normal. The priests still make sacrifices every day, avoid unclean foods and clothing, and people. They follow the laws to the letter – at least their interpretation of those laws – but nothing changes. The world goes on in its same corrupt way. There seems to be no magic in these laws carved in stone. These laws have no life. What’s missing is the understanding that God’s laws are not arbitrary actions to please a supernatural being, but an internalized way of living that ensures the health and growth of this world and everyone – everything – in it.

When these laws are part of our very selves, written on our hearts and minds, we see the world in a different way. We see the world in the way that Jesus did where everyone is worthy of love whether they are like us or not, where we don’t classify people as friends or foes but realize all people are trying to figure out the best way forward. A world where we stop avoiding or fighting each other but rather engage with each other in love, have those hard conversations and really hear what is being said. A world where we truly want the best for everyone, the best for all of creation.

It’s hard work! Work that takes courage and perseverance. This is the kind of work that takes generations to even come close to making a difference. It would be so much easier if all it took was a superhero … or a sacrificial lamb.

And so, the author of this letter implores the people to not give up now. Jesus began the hard work but we need to carry it on. The Hebrews who received this letter were told how this needs to be done… “to provoke one another to love and good deeds.” Some translations say “to encourage one another” but I like this word “provoke” – it seems to have more intention, more purposeful power.

And just how do we do that – provoke each other to love and good deeds? Do we do it by writing it into law and then creating a system to enforce it? We know that isn’t the answer. There will always be some who will break those laws; our justice system is full of them. We do it by continuing to show love, by continuing to help others – even when we are feeling pretty beaten ourselves.

The characters in the story Noah and Nicholas read for us today were all doing just that. The little acts of kindness didn’t solve all of their problems, Louise still didn’t have a home, Joseph was still poor, Sophia was still grieving…They could have simply been grateful for a little happiness in their day and left it at that. But they didn’t leave it there, they did something nice for five others. They provoked others to love and good deeds. No big, flashy miracles or displays of power, just small acts of kindness. The power was in the sheer number of little kind actions.

We aren’t asked to be superheroes. We are simply asked to love, even when it’s hard, even when we aren’t feeling very lovable ourselves.

This letter gives us one more nugget of wisdom. It comes right on the heels of provoking one another to love and good deeds… “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

It’s advice that seems written for us in this time when we are all isolated in our homes, advice that speaks to the power of community. The harder it gets, the more we need each other. We weren’t able to gather as a congregation for so long and we still aren’t back to the full house we were used to. I think we were all good at keeping in touch when this pandemic first reared its ugly head. Phone calls to check in… running errands for those who couldn’t risk going out even with a mask and a bottle of sanitizer… emails, cards and letters… but we’re getting tired now. We’re getting used to being at home in our own cocoons. We keep up with those closest to us, but we’ve started to forget the neighbour down the road or the people we would only see once a week at church. We keep our loved ones close, in our own small bubbles. Our personal sense of family or community has gotten smaller as this time has gone on. And those connections are more important now than ever. Don’t neglect them, warns the letter writer.

I have used the analogy with the kids that going to church is like taking your car to a gas station to fill the tank so you can keep going. We get filled up on Sunday morning with love, with learning, with purpose, with all the things that encourage us to go out into the week as good followers of the Way. Let’s not let each other’s tanks run dry now. Watching the service on YouTube is great and certainly keeps us connected to our faith but we also need the wonderful community that has been built here at BCUC. It’s a reminder to reach out to those we miss…to keep the Circle Wide.

To connect to the children’s story this morning, what would happen if you contacted five people and they each reached out to five people…

We are all hoping for a miracle – or a superhero. We just want one perfect vaccine that will wipe out all the variants and is accessible to everyone in the world… We just want one wise and benevolent government leader who can make everyone happy, everyone in the world… We just want someone to stop the wars, stop the hatred, stop the global temperature from rising…

The people of the Bible were a lot like us. They were looking for a Messiah to solve the problems of their world. They wanted Jesus to be a superhero. Was he?

If Jesus had raised a heavenly army and defeated the Roman Empire, would that have changed the situation forever? Or would another power have taken its place?

What does it really take to change the world?

Long before Jesus was born, Micah told us… “Seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God”.

Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Imagine if we all truly lived that way, not because these laws were written in stone, not because breaking them would lead to punishment or eternal damnation, but because they are part of who we are, because they were good laws written on our hearts?

Here’s a trivia question for you…What is Superman’s motto?

Well, according to Marvel Comics, for a very long time it has been “Truth, Justice, and the American Way”.

However, I read this week that it has just been changed. Now it is “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow”.

A motto worth remembering, one to write on our hearts.

Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Let us gather our hearts in prayer.

Miracle of life,
may we honour your presence
in the promise of the chilly morning,
in the dancing brightness of the sun,
in the music of our spirits,
in the laughter and joy of all.

We are grateful for our youth and children whose voices we hear and whose presence we celebrate.

We are thankful for our young adults and elders whose wisdom and faithfulness move us to acts of kindness and love.

We are struck in awe before the great mystery of I Am who calls us to take heart. We are powerfully moved by a deep concern for our world and our care for one another.

May ours be a faith that is more than words and ideals.
May ours be a faith of vitality and compassion.

(Silence)

We lament that there are many people especially youth and children in the world who are burdened
by hunger and pain,
by sorrow and anxiety,
by violence and loss.

May they find comfort and peace, and may their burdens be lifted from them by our actions as peacemakers and doers of justice.

For we are the body of Christ on earth.

(Silence)

May we find it in ourselves today to work toward a better world.
May we make use of that energy to take part in the lifting of burdens.
May our gratitude find expression in the care of others, both near and far.
May we find ways to live and grow on the margins.
May we leave behind us a trail of encouragement and hope.

To make all things new: to restore peace where there has been hatred, to reduce tension where there has been anger, to rekindle friendship where there has been enmity, to relieve suffering where there has been violence and to recreate a community; for the good of the people and for the peace of the world.

These we pray in the name of our superhero, Jesus Christ who brings us to God’s reign as we recite this prayer that he taught his friends.

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. Lorrie

We may not be able to save the world with super powers, but we do have the power to make a difference in many humble acts of love. Let’s take this time now to share our gifts of time, talents, and resources. Every gift we give, big or small, is a message of God’s love sent out into the world.

Offertory Prayer

(Rev. Dr. Karen Boivin, Gathering Pentecost 2 2018, p40. Used with permission.)

Here are our offerings of faith, O God: to provide resources for ministry and tools and education for abundant living. We share your gifts in hopes this will encourage others to gather and share your love and bounty. Amen

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God’s call is not for the faint of heart,
God’s call is not for the timid or weak.
We worry that we do not have the courage, the strength, or the will required to follow.
But God’s call is not for superheroes.
God’s call is for ordinary people like us, people with extraordinary powers of love and hope for this world.
Go out into the world, knowing that the God who calls us to make the difference the world needs, accompanies us every step of the way.
Go in love, go in hope, and go wrapped in God’s blessings. Amen.

Hymn: “May the God of Hope Go With Us” VU424

May the God of hope go with us every day
Filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
Bringing light and hope to every land and race.

Refrain:
Praying, let us work for peace, singing, share our joy with all,
Working for a world that’s new. Faithful when we hear God’s call.

May the God of healing free the earth from fear
Freeing us for peace both treasured and pursued.
May the God of love keep our commitment clear
To a world restored, to human life renewed. Refrain

Departing Music: “Pass It On” VU289

1. It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it:
You spread God’s love to everyone, you want to pass it on.

2. What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding,
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it:
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, you want to pass it on.

3. I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found –
On God you can depend, it matters not where you’re bound.
I’ll shout it from the mountain top; I want my world to know:
The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.

Connie Davidson

November 5, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - November 7, 2021

Connie Davidson

November 5, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

November 7, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Jimmy Findlater – bagpipe: David Brown

Remembering our Veterans and those Active in Uniform (Photo Slides)

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Kim Vidal

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ in this time of remembering. Today we remember those “who shall not grow old” and to honour those who knew what those wars were like and lived to tell their stories. We remember the brave souls who are out there currently serving in many parts of the world that peace may prevail. We honour and give thanks to the veterans and their loved ones. From those who shivered and starved through the winter, crouched in the muddy trenches of France, to those seaborne in the Battle of Normandy and liberation of the Netherlands, those who fought in the Korean War, or the peacekeepers in Kosovo, Rwanda, Afghanistan and Iraq, we remember and honour them all. Our presence today reminds us that we cannot be silent when the terrors of wars confront us. In today’s remembering, I invite you to reflect within the context of our faith, to uphold the teachings of Jesus when he declares, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

Friends, in the quiet of this moment, in the stillness of our hearts, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of God who opens us to the Spirit of peace and freedom. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Kael Fowler

We light this Christ candle as we honour and celebrate those who have offered their lives in the name of peace and freedom.

The light of this candle represents our grief, our courage, our memories, our love and our hope.

It also reminds us that the light of Christ shines on the road to peace and illuminates our most difficult moments.

Call to Gather Nicole Beaudry & Gerald Okolowsky

The United Church of Canada - Contributed by Capt (Rev.) Nathan Wright—Chaplain, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Fredericton, NB). French Trans – Nicole Beaudry. Used with permission.

From east and west, north and south, we gather on this day of remembrance to give thanks and praise.
Nous sommes inspirés par la Parole de Dieu et honorons les sacrifices de ceux qui se sont engagés à servir les autres avant de se servir eux-mêmes.
(We come to be inspired by the Word of God and honour the sacrifices of those who have committed themselves to service before self.)

In times of peace, in times of conflict, and in times of uncertainty,
Nous nous souvenons que nous ne sommes pas seuls.
(We remember that we are not alone.)

We are the people of God, connected across time and space, from generation to generation.
Nous sommes unis par l’amour de celui qui a dit: “Il n’y pas d’amour plus grand que celui de donner sa vie pour ses amis.”
(We are united by the love of the One who said: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”)

As we gather to remember, let us sing and pray.
Ensemble, adorons Dieu!
(Let us worship God together!)

Opening Prayer Nicole Beaudry

Let us pray…God of our past, present, and future, we have come together today as a people of hope. We hope for a future without war and a world that lives together in peace. In years past, and in the present day, members of our armed forces have put their lives at risk for this hope, with some paying the ultimate cost. May what we do here today strengthen our resolve to work together so that this hope may be fulfilled. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Prière d'ouverture

Dieu de notre passé, présent et futur, nous sommes ici en tant que peuple d'espérance. Nous espérons un avenir sans guerre et un monde qui cohabite en paix. Au cours des années passées et de nos jours, des membres de nos forces armées ont risqué leur vie pour cet espoir, certains en donnant leur vie. Que ce que nous faisons ici aujourd'hui renforce notre détermination à travailler ensemble pour que cet espoir se réalise. Au nom de Jésus, nous prions. Amen.

Hymn: I Feel the Winds of God VU 625

(Words: Jessie Adams, 1907; Music: English & Irish Traditional melody)

1 I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.

2 It is the wind of God that dries
my vain regretful tears,
until with braver thoughts shall rise
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease
or pleasure I should be,
O let me feel your freshening breeze,
and I’ll put back to sea.

3 If ever I forget your love
and how that love was shown,
lift high the blood-red flag above;
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way,
you will not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today,
today my sail I lift.

Storytime for the Young at Heart: Why We Remember by Nicole Beaudry

(Show a Memory Stick). This is a Memory Stick. On this small stick there are thousands of photos all stored in different albums - Family photos - travel photos - people, places….There are also letters written to special people over the years - notes and reports from meetings . If I want to see a photo , say….of my parents’ wedding: I just pop this into my computer and Voilà! the image shows up. Isn’t this great!

There are things that we don’t want to lose or forget. We want to be able to find them - to remember them : like some special person’s birthday or anniversary- an important appointment or meeting- when to take our medication , dates of holidays, of visits…. We use different ways to make sure we remember: (demonstrate) calendars - sticky notes - bulletin boards - pill dispensers - tying a string to your little finger….- even asking someone to remind us - using Alexa or Eco….(demonstrate: Eco…. remind me….)

…. There are things we really want to keep in our memory and never , never forget: they are stored on our big Memory Stick: our brains. Everything we’ve ever done, ever seen - ever heard - people we’ve met - names - places - everything is stored there in our memory. Sometimes - things get messed up or lost in that memory box - we don’t know where we’ve put things. Sometimes we find them - other times they are lost for good . We have to rely on others to help us remember, to jog our memory for us.

One of those things that we need to remember is all those who fought and gave their lives so we can have peace. If we never talk about it we will forget. So to remember: we tell the stories - we share the photos - we wear poppies - we lay wreaths - we hold moments of silence -we visit cemeteries -we tell children - we have special days and ceremonies. Some are like here today, in church - others take place at cenotaphs, at war cemetaries, in town squares. Some are simple and quiet, others have hundreds, maybe thousands of people attending - with parades and veterans wearing their uniforms and medals, with cannon salutes and fly-by planes. We call this day Remembrance Day - it is a very special day all over Canada and around the world. All this goes to our memory stick in our brains - in our memory drawer - for safe keeping.

That’s what we do here today. And we’ll do this again next year, and the next and the next. Many of those who served in the wars and peace keeping missions have died. Many are old with memories failing. So it is our duty remember - to remember them and to remember for them . Lest we forget! Let us not forget!

Hymn: Make Me A Channel VU 684

(Words: St. Francis of Assisi, 1220; Music: Sebastian Temple, 1967)

1 Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me bring love
Where there is injury, your healing power
And where there's doubt, true faith in you

2 Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness ever joy

Chorus:
O, Spirit grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
to be loved as to love with all my soul

3 Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

An Act of Remembrance

The Story of Remembrance:[1] Rev. Kim

Across Canada, and in many other countries, people gather on November 11 to honour the courage and devotion of brave men and women who made the supreme sacrifice of dying for their country. The hostilities of the First World War ceased on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m. the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The following year marked the first observance of a day to remember and honour those who died, as well as to give thanks for the sacrifices of those who came back from serving their country. Since then, Canadians have fought in other conflicts and many have given their lives so that we might enjoy freedom today. They too should be remembered.

*Laying of Wreath Maj. Angela Starchuk & MCpl (ret’d) Trevor Starchuk

Poem: “In Flanders Fields” (by LCol John McCrae) Liam Eaton

In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
between the crosses row on row that mark our place;
and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing,
fly scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago we lived,
felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved,
and now we lie, in Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw the torch;
be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep,
though poppies grow in Flanders fields.

*Response Rev. Kim Vidal

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them. We will remember them!

*The Last Post

*Two-Minute Silence

*Rouse

*Lament: Flowers of the Forest – bagpipe: David Brown

*National Anthem: O Canada (Bilingual Version)
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command,
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits,
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Capt. Angela Starchuk

Gracious God, as we hear your Scripture today, bless us with your spirit of understanding.
Heal us from the pains of war and make us instruments of your peace. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 38-44 (NRSV)

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

May the light of Christ dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Everything She Had!” Rev. Kim

Let us pray.

Use me and my words, gracious God, as I invite your people in remembrance. Make us open to your Good News so we may become Good News for others. Amen.

I was reading some postings on Facebook one day and I stumbled upon an article written by the Rev. Trisha Elliott, columnist of the former Broadview magazine, The Observer, that she titles: Canadian artist who painted horrors of post-war Europe was nearly forgotten. Under the title was a short blurb that drew my undivided attention. “Mary Riter Hamilton created more than 300 paintings that capture the death and destruction of the Great War. But years later, some of her works ended up molding in a library.” I immediately found myself reading the whole article with enthusiasm and I thought to myself, what a wonderful story to share on Remembrance Day.

Mary Riter Hamilton was born in Teeswater, Ontario in 1843, and was raised in Clearwater, Manitoba. She studied art in Europe, where her paintings garnered considerable attention and then returned to Canada. In 1919, she undertook a "special mission" for the War Amputations of Canada. Her task was to provide paintings of the destructions caused by the battlefields of France and Belgium for publication in a veterans' magazine, The Gold Stripe. She stayed in Europe for several years, producing over 300 battlefield paintings during the years 1919 to 1922.

During her lifetime, Ms. Hamilton endured incredible hardships: makeshift shelters, inadequate food and hostile weather. Her deep desire to document the horror and carnage of war for fellow Canadians eventually left her emotionally and physically drained. She was never able to paint with the same intensity again. Despite her poverty, Mary Riter Hamilton refused to sell any of her battlefield paintings, choosing instead to donate the canvases to the National Archives (now part of Library and Archives Canada). She wanted them to remain in the hands of all Canadians for the benefit of war veterans and their descendants. She offered everything she had. Rev. Elliott writes: “Her hope that Canadians would recall the realities of war she portrayed in her art mirrors my hope for her—that they will also deem her an artist worthy of remembrance.”

Today’s gospel reading has two parts. The first part shows Jesus’ remark against the scribes who, according to Jesus, were attention getters - walking around in their expensive robes, desiring the best seats at gatherings or expecting people to greet them with honour and respect. But Jesus’ critique of the scribes’ practices became more serious, as Jesus questioned their behaviour towards the lowly and the poor. Mark accused them of “devouring widows’ houses”. In the modern language, could this mean that the scribes foreclose or take away the widows’ houses? Or, could it mean that these scribes exploit and use up the resources from widows’ homes? We certainly don’t know. Mark wants to let readers like us know that the account regarding the scribes is a continuation of the second part of the reading which is the main gist of my sermon today - the widow offering her last two mites!

Who hasn't heard of the moving account of the widow who went into the Temple, drops her very modest offering into the treasury, and had been used by preachers to illustrate the meaning of giving and stewardship? But before we hold her up as the ultimate example of generosity, before we applaud her behaviour as matchless and sacrificial, before we start using her as our model for our giving plans, let’s take another look at her story and why Jesus used her as a point of a teaching moment.

This story is quite challenging- not because it indicts my personal giving, but because the story has other twists to it that I'd like to admit. Something in me doesn't want this story be reduced to a moral example, or being exploited for the sake of stewardship campaigns and annual budgets. In our lectionary group discussion last Tuesday, Jan Pound wondered about the widow's state of mind. What was the widow thinking as she walked up to the treasury box and put in every cent that she owned? Did she feel a sense of responsibility? What if she had children? Is giving everything to the temple more important than feeding her family? Was she expected by the religious leaders running the temple that even she, a lowly widow, must contribute to the temple, even if it's the last scrap of wealth she has? Did she fear a rebuke or retribution or shame if she didn't give? Should we cheer her on because of her self-sacrificing attitude or should we get upset because for some of us, she is irresponsible and naïve?

The widow was a sharp contrast to those in power. Jesus, in my opinion, used her as an illustration of the corruption of those in political & religious power who trampled the poor and the destitute. Those who flaunted their authority and wealth in public but ignored the plight of the needy. Often misread as a statement in praise of ‘sacrificial’ giving, Mark included the widow’s offering to condemn exploitative structures that prey upon the most vulnerable. We should not be able to read this account without reflecting upon systems of economic injustice in our current times.

The religious leaders who were supposed to look after the vulnerable such as the widows, the orphans, the women and children, to name a few, are not doing their responsibility yet expects them to offer money in order to access the temple. I wished Mark had included the widow’s name. I wished the widow realizes that her fierceness exceeded the piety we've imposed on her. I wished Jesus was able to talk to her in person just like he did with the Samaritan woman at the well.

Mark did not tell us if she had lived longer or died few days after she offered her last coins. Yes, I’m sure she died. She died, probably mere days after she dropped those two coins into the Temple treasury. In case that's a surprise, consider again what Jesus said about her as she left the Temple that day: "She - out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." Jesus wasn't exaggerating at all. If he says the woman gave everything she had, well, she gave her all - everything she had. We know she was an impoverished widow in first century Palestine, a woman living on the margins of her society. She had no safety net. No support system of any sort. No husband to look after her, no social status to be proud of. She was vulnerable in every single way that mattered.

Centuries of stewardship sermons on this story make us think that Jesus commends the widow. In my opinion, Jesus never did. He did not applaud her self-sacrifice, nor invites us to follow in her footsteps. Jesus simply notices her, and tells his disciples to notice her, too. Jesus sees what everyone else is too busy, too grand, too spiritual, or too self-absorbed to see. For me, this is the good news of the story — that Jesus' eyes are ever on the weak, the insignificant, the invisible of the community. What did Jesus notice in her?

The members of the lectionary group came up with some answers. First - Jesus noticed her dignity. Surely, she had to brace herself when widowhood rendered her worthless — a person marked as useless even in the Temple and the community she loved. Surely, in faith, she had to trust that her tiny gift had great value in God's eyes because she believed that God values her as the giver.

Second - Jesus noticed her courage and boldness. In the midst of the affluent and pompous rich people dropping their heavy bags of coins in the treasury, she did not feel embarrassed nor did she hesitate to show her generous offering of 2 mites. She didn’t care if she did not make it to the top ten givers to the temple.

Third - Jesus noticed her calling. Whether she knew it or not, the widow's action in the Temple that day was prophetic. She was a prophet in the sense that her meager offering amounted to a statement of denunciation of injustice and corruption in those days. She had to offer everything she had to live on. A self-sacrifice if you ask me.

Fourth and finally, Jesus I’m sure, noticed her faith in a God who provides. She knew in her heart that somehow, God will provide for her needs and those who she loves and cares for.

As we ponder on the widow’s sacrificial offering, we also take time to notice that today is a time of many complex emotions. When we think of the “crosses row on row….” we mourn for the many, many young lives cut short by war. Those fallen soldiers who never got the chance to grow old. They have given everything they had – they offered their future, their lives. If their deaths could awaken in us an understanding of our need to break down barriers of hate and the call to all of humankind to giving peace a chance, then we are remembering them as they should be remembered. And remembering what they gave for us - a better world. Today, we honour and notice intentionally their courage, their dignity, their vocation.

Remembrance Day is not just about remembering – it is more about affirming gratitude. We need to earnestly say “thank you.” But our thanksgiving should lead to action, not in idleness, both in support of the well-being of the veterans and survivors and their loved ones, especially those who have been injured or traumatized by war. Let us remember the mothers and fathers who grieved the death of their sons and daughters for the sake of peace and freedom.

Many of us have stories to tell – stories of both joy and sorrow. Stories of loved ones lost and those who stood proud after the wars were over. We are not here to glorify wars – we are here to remember human sacrifice and suffering with a commitment to support the veterans as well as those who are still serving and their families. To say no to terror, violence and hatred that prevails even to this day.

And when the sun sets and we face the darkness in the world, all we can do is pray that God will give us some relief from our moments of uncertainties, from our very own storms in life. Remember the story of Mary Riter Hamilton. Remember the story of the widow and her offering. Remember those who fought and are still fighting for true peace and freedom. Lest we forget. Amen.

Remembrance Day Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim

Contributed by Capt (Rev.) Nathan Wright—Chaplain, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Fredericton, NB)

Holy One, we come before you now with praise and thanksgiving, as well as sorrow and concern, in our hearts. With gratitude on this Remembrance Sunday, we call to mind the soldiers, sailors, air personnel, and RCMP who have paid the ultimate price that we might live in freedom. We remember those who died in distant wars and those more recent. By sacrificing their lives, they left us the responsibility and the duty to continue their work on the things that make for peace. From generation to generation, may their valour and selflessness never be forgotten.

We are especially mindful today of the effects of military life on the body, mind, and spirit. Give courage, comfort, and healing to all those who suffer wounds, both visible and invisible. Help us to remember that the effects of conflict reach far beyond the battlefield and can last a lifetime. Enable us to provide the support our service members need to live happy and healthy lives. May our commitment to them be as full and complete as their commitment to serve Canada before self.

Lest we forget, the families and friends of our service members share in the burdens of military life. Bring comfort and strength to the relatives and friends of those who serve. When they are grieving the loss of their loved ones, may they know your compassionate and comforting presence. When they are separated from one another due to deployments or other operational requirements, may their bonds be strengthened. When their lives are uprooted because they are posted to a new location and everything is new all over again, may they be upheld by the constancy of your steadfast love. Accompany them in their daily joys and protect them in difficulties.

May our act of remembrance this day honour those who have put themselves in harm’s way for the safety of others. May we never forget their sacrifice, the families who grieve for them and support them, and their example of integrity, loyalty, courage, and duty.

As people of faith, we re-commit ourselves to work together for peace in our world. May the hope that we carry in our hearts lead us to seek new and creative ways to resolve our differences. We look forward to that day when your reign is fully realized among us and swords are turned into plowshares and nation no longer lifts up sword against nation.

We also long for the moment when mourning, suffering, and sickness are no more. Until that day comes, we ask that you respond to us when we lift before you in the silence of our hearts the names of those people, places, and situations that are in need of your tender loving care this day…(moment of silent prayer)…Restore them to health and wholeness, O God.

We lift these prayers in the name of Jesus who taught us the way to peace, as we recite together these words he taught his friends:

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

There are opportunities to give every day, certainly through gifts of time, talents and money, but also through brave and courageous action, faithful service, and loving devotion. Let us share of ourselves and of what God has so graciously given. I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents, resources, bravery and courageous acts as expressions of your 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 slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer (Gord Dunbar, Gathering, 2015)

Our gifts seem so insignificant against the needs and conflicts of the world, yet we still are called into witness and service. Bless us God and these gifts we offer, that we may fulfill your mission for all creation. Amen.

Sending Forth (Sandy Ferguson, Gathering, 2014)

People of God, once more we return to the world,
remembering what was lost to secure what we have today.
Let this Remembrance renew our faith in the peace
that God continues to create through us.
Let our witness be a guide to others
so that we will no longer have to add names
to our sacred task of remembering.
Go in peace. Amen.

Hymn: Your Hand O God Has Guided VU 274

(Words: Edward H. Plumptre, 1864; Music: Basil Harwood, 1898)

1 Your hand, O God, has guided
your flock from age to age;
the wondrous tale is written,
full clear, on every page.
Our forebears owned your goodness,
and we their deeds record;
and both of this bear witness:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

2 Your heralds brought glad tidings
to greatest as to least;
they bade them rise, and hasten
to share the heavenly feast.
And this was all their teaching,
in every deed and word,
to all alike proclaiming:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

3 Through many days of darkness,
through many scenes of strife,
the faithful few fought bravely
to guard your people's life.
Their gospel of redemption,
sin pardoned, earth restored,
was all in this enfolded:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

4 And we, shall we be faithless?
Shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
Shall we evade the conflict
and cast away our crown?
Not so: in God's deep counsels
some better thing is stored;
we will maintain, unflinching,
one church, one faith, one Lord.

5 Your mercy will not fail us,
nor leave your work undone;
with your right hand to help us,
the victory shall be won;
and then, by earth and heaven,
your name shall be adored,
and this shall be our anthem:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

God Save the Queen (instrumental)

Music: Something Told the Wild Geese (Field/Porterfield)

sung by Grace Notes recorded May 7, 2017 (over Announcements)

Departing Music: Maple Leaf Forever – bagpipe: David Brown

[1] Veterans.gc.ca

Connie Davidson

October 30, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - October 31, 2021

Connie Davidson

October 30, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

23rd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
REFORMATION & ALL SAINTS SUNDAY / WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS

October 31, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: O A Song Must Rise MV 142

(Words & Music: Paul B. Svenson, 1995; arr. Bryn Nixon, 2006)

Refrain
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh a song must rise once again (again)
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
the faithful voices blend,
Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend. (descend)

1. From the mountains to the valleys,
from the desert to the sea,
a song must rise once again.
From the voices of our leaders,
the voice of you and me,
a song must rise for the spirit to descend.

2.From poverty and riches,
from the voice of young and old,
a song must rise once again. (again)
From the free and the imprisoned,
the timid and the bold,
a song must rise for the spirit to descend.

3.From ev’ry house of worship,
in ev’ry faith and tongue,
a song must rise once again.
From the villages and cities
a new song must be sung,
a song must rise for the spirit to descend.

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ in today’s worship service. We gather from many places, distant yet connected by the spirit of God’s love that calls us to gather. We are delighted to welcome four new members to our service today. They are Simon & Ruby Linforth and Rev. Dr. Victor & Sally Lujetic. Thank you for choosing BCUC as your new faith community. Today, we also pause and remember the works of Martin Luther, the father of Reformation and many other reformers whose legacy of transforming the Christian faith continues to live in many Protestant and mainline Christian churches. We are also commemorating All Saints Day to remember all the saints past and present who are part of the cloud of witnesses of our faith. Wherever you are, whether you are joining us via online, or onsite, or even reading the printed text of the service in the comfort of your homes, we are glad that you have joined us today.

We continue worshipping in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 10 am with a maximum number of 50 people. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

Friends, in the quiet of this moment, in the stillness of our hearts, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of God who calls us to gather in Spirit and in Truth. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Wendy Morrell & Dan Lanoue

In our praying and in our listening,
in our longing and in our dreaming,
in our singing and in our stillness,
we light this Christ Candle to remind us that
we are One in the Spirit of Love.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Sue Webb, The Gathering, Pentecost 2 2021,Year B. Used with permission.)

Come, you saints of God,
let us praise and worship the God
who has gathered us together.
Come, you saints of God,
you who are called
to carry out God’s work in the world.
Come, you saints of God,
remember all those who have gone before us
the faithful who have carried the torch of faith
and lit the way.
We remember those who have helped us on our journey
and accompany us still.
In the communion of saints, let us gather in worship.

Prayer of Approach

(Seasons of the Spirit, Reformation Resources)

Reforming God, we give you thanks
for your love and your blessing.
As we gather today,
Fill us with a spirit of openness to your Spirit,
to hear and receive your promises
and to keep our covenant with you.
Where we commit mistakes, guide us.
Where we are in error, direct us.
Where we are in need, provide for us.
Where we are divided, reunite us.
And where we are close-minded, reform us and make us new.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: A Mighty Fortress VU 262

(Words & Music: Martin Luther, 1529)

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper sure amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing:
for still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
power and malice great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth he has no equal.

2 Did we in our strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing:
dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
the truth to triumph through us:
the prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure,
one little word shall fell him.

4 That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through Christ, who with us sideth:
let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
God's kingdom is forever.

Welcoming New Members Rev. Kim

In our onsite worship service today, we warmly welcome Simon & Ruby Linforth and the Rev. Victor & Sally Lujetic. Today we welcome them into our church family as they transfer their membership to BCUC. Let us offer our support, our prayers and our heartfelt wishes to these new members on this momentous occasion.

Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie

If you have been in the church at all during this long time when Covid has kept us from enjoying our usual activities, you will have seen that lots of things have happened to make our great building even better. The two labyrinths – outside and in the main hall - have been repainted so the paths are clear and bright; there is a brand-new floor in the gym with no more pieces of wood loose and dangerous; there is a lovely new portico over the front entrance that is welcoming, especially on rainy days. Other things have been fixed and improved too, things that you might not notice right away like fixing the furnace or painting the garden furniture. We are very proud of our church building, not just for Sunday mornings but for all the activities that happen here during the week – both church activities and community ones – nursery school, meetings, special events and celebrations, music lessons, martial arts classes… It’s a place that the whole community of Bells Corners has access to – a place where learning, gathering, planning, and building relationships all happen. And we can’t wait for this pandemic to be over so that our building will be bustling with activity again!

This makes me think of the building project that is happening in Chipembi, Zambia. They don’t have a place where things like this can happen. The money we are raising, along with our partners at Emmanuel United Church, is making it possible for the people of that village to build a place where this kind of community building can happen. Just like here at BCUC, it will have some offices for the people who work in the church but it will also have space for things like literacy lessons for people who didn’t have a chance to go to school, for social gatherings and meetings, for the young folks in the area to get together, for music, and for the children to enjoy activities like Camp Chipembi!

When we talk about Jesus’ commandment to love other people as we love ourselves, I think this is the kind of thing he was hoping would happen – that we would all share our gifts so that everyone has the opportunity to live happy lives and to build strong communities.

Here at BCUC, we have already raised over $10,000 to help with making this dream of a place like ours come true for the people of Chipembi. But we still have a way to go. Have you thought about how you might be able to help with this project? Maybe you can do some chores around the house that Mom and Dad might be willing to pay for… even a small donation is a big help and it’s kind of exciting to be taking part in a project that will make such a big difference in the lives of our friends so far away!

We still need a few thousand dollars to make it possible for the people in Chipembi to complete this project - and we hope we will be able to continue helping our friends in Zambia even after the building is finished. We would also like to show our love by making sure that Camp Chipembi can happen again next year, and as time goes on, we’d like to help them realize some of their other dreams, like having more classrooms in the school and improving the medical centre. We want to continue to build our relationship with the people of Chipembi, to make new friends, to share our cultures, to make a connection right around the world… to show them that we care.

Who knows? Maybe one day you will have the opportunity to meet our friends in person and to see the community we’re helping them build. Maybe one day they will even be able to visit us here at BCUC! Wouldn’t that be cool?! In the meantime, we can show our love by helping their dreams come true, and I think it will help make God’s dream for the world come true too.

Let’s close this time with a prayer:

Loving God, we know that when Jesus talked about loving our neighbour, he didn’t mean just the people next door but people all over the world. We are grateful for the many opportunities we have and we want this kind of opportunity to be possible for all children in the world.

Thank you for this chance to show our love for our neighbour by helping this dream come true for the community of Chipembi. Amen.

Hymn: Jesu, Jesu VU 593

(Words: Tom Colvin, 1969; Music: Ghanaian Folk Song)

Refrain:
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.

1. Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them. R

2. Neighbours are rich and poor,
varied in colour and race,
neighbours are near and far away. R

3. These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love,
all are neighbours to us and you. R

4. Kneel at the feet of our friends,
silently washing their feet,
this is the way we should live with you. R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: John MacFarlane

(Susan Lukey, Pentecost 2, Gathering 2018, Year B. Used with Permission.)

Scripture alone! Faith alone! Grace alone! Christ alone! For the glory of God alone! With these gifts, the Reformers led by Martin Luther invited all of us to study and interpret scripture. May we receive your Word, gracious God and let it stir in our hearts and shape us anew. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 12: 28-34 (NRSV)

The Great Commandment

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;

30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’;

33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

May the light of Christ dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “It’s All About Love!” Rev. Kim

Prayer: (Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises)
Take, and receive all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my entire will,
all that I have and possess.
You have given all to me, to you I return it.
All is yours, do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me. Amen.

The famous American theologian Frederick Buechner once said: “Of all powers, love is the most powerful and the most powerless. It is the most powerful because it alone can conquer that final and most impregnable stronghold that is the human heart. It is the most powerless because it can do nothing except by consent.”

Love is a radical word. We say it almost all the time. We try to express it in many ways. And yet for some reasons, love is also the most violated, abused and misunderstood of all words. In our gospel reading today, a scribe, an ancient Jewish record-keeper, approached Jesus with a question: "Which commandment is the first of all?” I’m not sure if he was testing Jesus or if he was really sincere. I’m leaning toward sincere because there’s no animosity in the question. This Scribe seems genuinely impressed with Jesus’ answers and he honestly wants to hear Jesus’ views on what the greatest commandment was.

I’m sure the scribe knows that there were 613 laws in the Torah. How was a person to keep track of them all, let alone prioritize them? And Jesus brilliantly and insightfully answers with two commandments from the Torah that he learned growing up: The first was the shema - “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” (Deuteronomy 6: 5) and the second, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19: 18). “There is no other commandment greater than these.” In this text, the word used to define love is the Greek word agape, meaning self-giving love, unconditional love or a love without thought of return or reward. Loving God –loving your neighbours as you love yourself – these two cannot be separated. You cannot love God if you hate or do not love your neighbour. Similarly, you cannot love your neighbour if you do not love God who is the source of love.

The scribe totally agrees, and elaborates on Jesus's answer with an insight: to love God and neighbor is “much more important than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Showing love is more important than piety, ritual, tradition, or religious practices. Jesus commended the scribe and calls him “wise’. But for Jesus, the scribe is still on the edge of entering God’s reign. He was almost there but not quite there yet. Something was still missing. Jesus tells him, "You are not far from the kin-dom of God" (12:34). There are some possible ways of interpreting this line from Jesus. First - all it will take for the scribe to enter God’s kin-dom is to love God holistically - with all his heart, all his soul, all his mind, all his strength. The word "all" appears a lot of times in this short text. Apparently, all it will take to enter God’s reign, according to Jesus, is all of the love the scribe has got! Second – Jesus was telling the scribe to walk the talk! To show love in action not only in words. Three– perhaps Jesus is telling him that the kin-dom is very close to the scribe. Jesus is the door to that kin-dom – and he is standing right in front of the scribe - if only the scribe will pay attention and notice how Jesus is teaching about God’s reign through his parables and examples, to follow Jesus’ way of life. Jesus knows that God’s love permeates all areas of life and it is this love that challenges the scribe and us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. I like what Bruce Epperly writes about this passage: “Today, we need to love God with all our minds – to be wise and intelligent Christians, placing the quest for truth above all else whether in theology, in politics, in science and research…wherever there is truth and healing and love, God is its source…”

And who is our neighbour that we are called to love and serve? In his book – The Great Spiritual Migration, Brian McLaren writes: “You can’t learn to love people without being around actual people—including people who infuriate, exasperate, annoy, offend, frustrate, encroach upon, resist, reject, and hurt you, thus tempting you not to love them…The way of love, is the way of annoyance, frustration, disappointment, unkindness, need, conflict, humiliation, opposition, and exhaustion. No one would choose love if love weren’t in the end, its own reward.” Our neighbours are not only those who are close to us through friendships and familial connections. Our neighbours are also those who long to be accepted of who they are. Our neighbours are those ignored by the society yet wanting our care and compassion. Our neighbours are the street marchers who confront those in power. Our neighbours are the homeless people with the desire to have decent lives. Our neighbours are the privileged and the affluent wanting to reach out for friendship and understanding. Our neighbours are those facing life’s uncertainties because of illness or loss of employment. Our neighbours are those in our community wanting to be affirmed and welcomed. Ours is not only about seeing others as a neighbour; our calling is also to become the neighbour we would like to meet.

Today marks the 504th anniversary of the Reformation, a movement that began on October 31, 1517 when the religious reformer Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic priest, nailed 95 theses to the door of the Church at Wittenberg in Germany. This action was a result of Luther's lifelong struggle to get beyond his questions, his doubts and his struggles, in order to gain a more desirable faith, particularly on the issue of indulgences being practiced at that time. As a young monk and theologian, Luther struggled with the human incapacity to love God holistically and sought a satisfying answer to his questions. He believes that the Christian life is made manifest by loving God and one’s neighbour. Luther understands this love as self-giving divine love. To love God for Luther means to consider God to be goodness itself and the source of everything good. Going back to the Gospel story, it seems to me that Luther was saying, if we truly love God with all of our being, no religious institution or empire is over and above God’s love. As human beings created by God, we bear God’s image and God’s love. And this is the love that we offer our neighbours – friends and strangers alike. Luther ushered in a new faith movement grounded in love that United Church is now part of.

What can this mean in these hard days when families, communities, and churches are breaking apart over political, social, religious and cultural differences that seem unbridgeable? In this time of pandemic crisis, you might ask, “How is God calling me to love others?” There are many tangible needs in our communities. Loneliness and isolation, fear, grief, uncertainty, the lack of human touch – these are just some of the issues we are facing these days – add to that the ongoing social ills – poverty, racism, violence in all forms. As you are able, consider how God might be calling you to listen to others or speak a comforting word, to help provide food or other necessities to those who are lacking, or to share other blessings with those who are struggling. Even in times of social distancing, we can safely reach out in love. God calls us to be a blessing and, most importantly, to provide hope to those who are hopeless through our prayers and actions. We are the face of God on earth. We are bearers of love to the world. God is at work in each of us. Remind ourselves Victor Hugo’s line from his famous novel Les Misérables, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

Today at BCUC, we have welcomed 4 new members to our church family. They have made their commitment to be witnesses and doers of God’s love. BCUC is a spiritual home where humble, loving saints, past and present, lived and continue to act out their faith on a day to day basis. You are saints who practice radical love, deep compassion, connectedness and hospitality. Saints who share their gifts and talents for the betterment of the community and the world. Saints who embody the vision Jesus has shared throughout his life. Saints who remember their history of being a reformed Christian Church. I am blessed to journey with saints like you as you inspire and teach me to walk the talk. Dear friends, on this Reformation and All Saints Sunday, as we celebrate who we are as God’s beloved people –I offer these words from a song written by Leonard Cohen as we go about our mandate of loving God and our neighbours:

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
Ring the bells that still can ring:
the bells of friendship, the bells of hope.
the bells of love, the bells of joy
The cracks are there for all to see. Let the light shine in.
And still we connect. And still we embrace.
And still we stand. And still we find time.
And still we become light of the world.”

Thanks be to our loving God. Amen.

Sources:
BCUC Lectionary Group, “Walk In Love” by Debie Thomas, journeywithjesus.net, 2021; Commentary on Mark 12 by Bruce Epperly, patheos.org

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim

Let us gather our hearts and minds in prayer. Gracious God, source of all life, you dwell beyond us and within us and you call us to gather as a community of faith. Empower us as we reflect by word and action the good news of your love that has touched all of us. Inspire us by the prompting of your Spirit: that we may dream new dreams and find wisdom in our visions. Give us a courageous heart, a bold voice and openness of mind, and above all else, ears that listen and hearts that empathize. Help us, to discover Your way: storytelling and dialogue which leads to understanding; ideas which challenge growth; a journey which will bring hope.

Faithful God, giver and renewer of life, with hearts full of hope we look expectantly forward as we reflect on what it means to be church in this day and in this age. Let your enduring and sustaining love continue to support and direct us along new paths. Help us to celebrate the diversity of spiritual gifts within our congregation and in the wider community. We give thanks for the dedication and faithfulness of this congregation and celebrate the legacy of the past and the nurturing of new beginnings.

Loving God, we confess that often we are overwhelmed by life's problems and challenges. Help us to seek your guidance, to consider the burdens of others and not just our own. May your healing presence and comfort be experienced by all those who are in need especially in this time of pandemic. We pray for those suffering from loneliness and depression, for those who are facing life’s difficulties, those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. We pray for those awaiting medical test results and those who are recuperating in hospitals and homes. We pray for our new members – Victor, Sally, Simon & Ruby, that they may continue to be your instruments of love and light. Awaken in us the joy of serving you through our prayers and through our acts of kindness.

God of peace, we are grateful: for our family, children in our midst, friends and loved ones who bless and enrich our lives; for the challenges of living together; for your call to work for peace and justice in our world. Help us to look beyond boundaries, beyond denominations, beyond doctrines and beyond our own self-interest. Protect us not to lose heart in the face of so many challenges: the threat of war, famine, environmental destruction, diseases and natural disasters.

Open us to the depth of your love and grace that we might know ourselves, and others, as beloved in your sight. Remind us that we all have important gifts to offer in your service.

Empowering God, Grant us vision, which is open to all the surprising ways you choose to make yourself known. Grant us courage and faith in you, knowing we are blessed by your love and mercy. All these we ask in Jesus’ name who taught his disciples this ancient prayer we now recite together.

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. Lorrie

The Swiss theologian Karl Barth once said that grace and gratitude go together like heaven and earth. The Way of Jesus Christ is the life lived in gratitude for the God who created us and claimed us as children.

Offertory Prayer

(Kate Gregory, Pentecost 2, Gathering 2017, Year A. Used with permission.)

Creator God, you gave us gifts and we have used them: we offer them now to you in love and wonder. Be pleased to accept our gifts in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

(Wanda Winfield & Carol Frost, Pentecost 2, Gathering 2021, Year B. Used with permission.)

May we leave this place,
Conscious of our heritage of faith.
All good things come from God.
As we leave this place,
May we remember God’s blessings to us.
We are children of the living God.
Let us leave this time together, renewed and inspired by those
who have lived as saints before us and among us.
May we continue to grow in our faith
as we seek to live the Way of Jesus. Amen.

Hymn: For All the Saints VU 705

(Words – William W. How, 1864; Music – Ralph V. Williams, 1906)

1 For all the saints, who from their labours rest, all who by faith before the world confessed, your name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Hallelujah, hallelujah!

2 You were their rock, their fortress, and their might: you were their captain in the well-fought fight; you, in the darkness drear, the one true light. Hallelujah, hallelujah!

3 O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one within your great design.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

4 The golden evening brightens in the west,
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest; sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

5 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day the saints triumphant rise in bright array: as God to glory calls them all away.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

6 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Departing Music: I, The Lord of Sea and Sky VU 509

(Words & Music: Daniel L. Schutte, 1981)

1 I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest 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?

Refrain:
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.

2 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 word to them.
Whom shall I send? R

3 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.

Connie Davidson

October 16, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - October 17, 2021

Connie Davidson

October 16, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

21st SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM

October 17, 2021

The video recording of this service can found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104.

Gathering Music: River MV3

(Words & Music: Julian Pattison, 2003)

1.       River, rush-a-down to the ocean blue,
          River from a mountain high.
          River, as you do what rivers do,
River, draw the Spirit nigh.

2.       Spirit, come-a-down to the river-side,
          Spirit, spark of wondrous thought.
          Spirit, I am free for you to guide,
          Spirit, pray that I be taught!

3. Water, let me drink of your healing pow’r,
Water, strength and life you give.
Water, as I travel with each hour.
Water, help my body live.

4.       River, flow-a-down where you ran before, River, source of clearer view.
          River, as I walk your rocky shore,
          River, see my journey through.
          See my journey through. (2x)

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 on this 21st Sunday after Pentecost. Today, we are happy to welcome the families and friends of Jessica & Kory Thomas as we celebrate the baptism of their child, Makenzie Bertrand Thomas during the onsite service in the sanctuary. Wherever you are, whether you are joining us via online, or onsite, or even reading the printed text of the service in the comfort of your homes, we are glad that you have joined us today.

We continue worshipping in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 10 am with a maximum number of 50 people. Due to the Covid variants that continue to pause some health threats to the community, the Public Health recommends staying at home, but if you wish to attend the service, you are most welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, let us be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. It is also highly recommended to get vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others.

Friends, at the font and at the table, in the church and in the world, in our tears and in our laughter, we meet Christ. Let us come as faithful people, centering ourselves in God as we worship together.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Peck-Jones Family

Friends, as we light this Christ candle, remember the promise expressed by these words: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” (Isaiah 43: 1-2)

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(Bill Steadman, Gathering Pentecost 2-2018 Year B. Used with permission)

We come into this space,
prepared to celebrate the God of energy and truth,
aware of the needs of the world,
and open to the Spirit that leads us.
We trust in God to guide our journey.
God supports us as we seek to share life with others.

In words and in songs, in stories and in prayers,
in quiet times and happy times,
God is with us!

Opening Prayer

(Gord Dunbar, Gathering ACE 2016-2017 Year A. Used with permission)

Let us pray…
Holy God, you have fashioned and formed us in your image, calling us by name.
You fire in us a shining glaze that reflects your tender loving care.
We ask that you pour your love upon us, a refreshing, cleansing water
calling out all that is Christ in us, shining into our world.

Remind us in our gathering today that we are your beloved,
for we see your love reflected in ourselves and in one another.
In the name of God: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, we pray. Amen.

Hymn: Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet VU 245

(Words & Music: Natalie Sleeth, 1975)

1 Praise the Lord with the sound of trumpet,
praise the Lord with the harp and lute,
praise the Lord with the gentle sounding flute.

Praise the Lord in the field and forest,
praise the Lord in the city square,
praise the Lord anytime and anywhere.

Praise the Lord in the wind and sunshine,
praise the Lord in the dark of night,
praise the Lord in the rain or snow

or in the morning light.

Praise the Lord in the deepest valley,
praise the Lord on the highest hill,
praise the Lord, never let your voice be still.

2 Praise the Lord with the crashing cymbal,
praise the Lord with the pipe and string,
praise the Lord with the joyful songs you sing.

Praise the Lord on a weekday morning,
praise the Lord on a Sunday noon,
praise the Lord by the light of sun or moon.

Praise the Lord in the time of sorrow,
praise the Lord in the time of joy,
praise the Lord every moment,

nothing let your praise destroy.

Praise the Lord in the peace and quiet,
praise the Lord in your work or play,
praise the Lord everywhere in every way!

Celebration of Baptism: Makenzie Bertrand Thomas

Parents: Jessica & Kory Thomas
Godparents: Cheryl Moore & Mark McCue

In our onsite worship service today, we welcome Makenzie Bertrand Thomas, child of Jessica and Kory Thomas. Today we welcome her into our church family through the sacrament of baptism. We also welcome the godparents, Cheryl Moore and Mark McCue. Let us offer our support, our prayers and our congratulations to Makenzie and her family on this momentous occasion.

Children’s Anthem: Welcome to the Family of God (N. Sleeth) CGS & Bell Canto Directed by Erin Berard

Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome to the fam’ly of God!
You’ve been washed in the water
and given a name;
Never again will you quite be the same!
So, Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome to the fam’ly of God!
Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome to the fam’ly of God!
You’ve been blessed by the Spirit and greeted with love
Chosen and claimed by the Lord up above!
So, Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome to the fam’ly of God!

Storytime Rev. Lorrie

When I was setting the table for our Thanksgiving dinner last weekend, I counted all the people who would be there – and we were 13! So, I put all the leaves in the table and figured out how to get that many of us around the table… I put 5 chairs on one side of the table, against the wall, and 6 on the other side where there was more room to pull your chair out, and one at each end. When I was just finishing, my grandsons came in and started choosing where they wanted to sit. This is a new house for all of us, so nobody has a “usual” seat.

What seat would you pick? Would you want to be on the wall side where there was more elbow room or on the other side where you could push your chair out if you wanted to leave the table? Or would you want to sit at one of the ends – at the head of the table? Which is the best seat?

In our Bible reading today, two of the disciples – James and John – come to Jesus with a request. They want to pick the best seats in heaven, one on each side of Jesus. They want to get their dibs in first and they want Jesus to promise them those best seats right now. And Jesus says, “Really? Are you sure you want those seats?” He understands that those places come with a lot of work and responsibility. They will have to be willing to face all the work and suffering that Jesus has to deal with – but they assure him that they are up for the challenge.

When the other disciples hear what James and John are trying to do, they aren’t very happy. What makes those two think they are so special? Well, Jesus tells them all that he can’t make that decision anyway and that the places of honour they imagine in heaven will be places that are earned, not just picked. To earn that special place, they will be expected to be servants to each other and the world. Leaders don’t just have privileges, they have huge responsibilities. If you want to be a leader, Jesus tells his friends, you have to be willing to put others ahead of you, to help them first. You don’t become a leader by pushing your way to the front, you become a leader because you make life better for the people around you.

Our Thanksgiving table worked out really well. In the end, the kids picked seats on the side with more chairs – because they know they are smaller and take up less space than the adults. They also were proud to be able to help clear the dishes and let the adults relax after dinner.

Everyone was comfortable and happy. I’m proud of those kids! Can you guess which seat I picked? The one right next to the kitchen! I think it’s the best place of all – and it was even better because I had three helpers!

Let’s finish with a prayer:

Loving God, sometimes we think we can ask you for anything and you will give it to us because we know you want us to be happy. But often you know better than we do what will be best.

Help us to think carefully about the wishes we have and the choices we make. Help us see that we are happiest when we make sure the people around us are happy too. Amen.

Hymn: Let Us Build A House MV1

(Words & Music: Marty Haugen, 1994)

1        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 Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

2        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.

3        Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat;
          a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
          Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
          as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

4        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.

5        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.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Jordan Berard

God of Wisdom, as we ponder on your Word, remind us again that we are your beloved children. Open us to receive your spirit of grace and inspire us to embrace your life-giving Word. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10: 35-45 (NRSV)

The Request of James and John

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?”

37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;

40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.

42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.

43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,

44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.

45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Who Wants to Sit Beside Jesus?” Rev. Kim Vidal

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our rock and our strength. Amen.

Let’s admit it! Seating arrangements can be at times frustrating, tricky or deceiving! How many of you have attended a wedding reception and did not enjoy every minute of it because you were seated with someone that you are not on good terms with? What about in a public gathering when someone asked you to move because you are sitting in a VIP seat? Or that time in a restaurant when you waited to be seated for more than 30 minutes because you were in a party of 2 and those in larger groups were seated first even if you were way ahead of them?

In high school, I always wanted to sit in the front row so I could listen well to the teacher. But I also had a selfish motive behind this. I would like the teacher to notice how attentive I was so if I ask a question she would at least remember me and perhaps give me a good mark. On one particular day, the class was preparing for project presentations. One classmate asked if she could switch seats with me because she was a bit nervous and sitting in front will give her enough confidence. I told her I was in the same boat with her and I don’t want to be called first. I managed to convince her to stay where she was. With assurance, I told her not to worry because I felt that the presenters would be called by their last names in alphabetical order as that was the usual practice. My classmate’s last name is M and mine is V so that would have given us enough time to muster our confidence when it was our turn to speak. To my surprise, the teacher announced that the presentations will be done row by row beginning with those sitting in the front row. My assumptions were totally wrong. To add to my consternation, I was called first. That did not sit well with me and I was not able to deliver my presentation with confidence. A lesson learned.

“Be careful what you wish for.” How many times have we heard this aphorism? Singer
songwriter Luke Combs wrote a song with the same title and this is what he said:

“…sometimes things are not what you think they're going to be. What you want is not always what you need…Sometimes what you think you'll find. It is not quite what real life has in store
So be careful what you wish for.”

In our Gospel story today, brothers James and John made a peculiar request to Jesus. Known as the Greek word “boanerges” meaning “sons of thunder”, the brothers were outspoken, hot-tempered and were not shy to ask or tell Jesus or anyone else what they want. They were the ones who asked Jesus, in another story, to rain down fire on those people who refused to offer Jesus and the disciples hospitality. But there’s another side of their upbringing as to why they are so assertive. James and John came from a more affluent family than Simon and Andrew and the rest of the other disciples. Their father Zebedee, owned a fishing business with large fishing boats and employed many people. They must have received whatever they have asked from their wealthy parents. They felt they were entitled to be treated differently from the other disciples. After all, didn’t they follow Jesus and left a life of comfort behind? Why wouldn’t they expect a little something in return on the day when their leader moves up on top? They were counting on Jesus to be a winner not a loser. They followed Jesus and had seen him in action – teaching, healing the sick, socializing and doing some extraordinary things - someone who will bring down the Roman oppressors and liberate the people from their impoverished state. They truly believed that Jesus was a winner and being on the good side of the winner makes them winners too!

James and John approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Whatever we ask! We have words for this attitude: demanding? high maintenance? arrogance? “We’re entitled to something here, Jesus. After all, we’ve sacrificed a lot to be your disciples.” The request sounds a bit like children asking their mom or dad to promise to give their request or their wish without even telling them first what it is. “Please swear on your heart that you’ll do this for me!” This way of asking is almost always part of our prayers. “Oh, God, please give me this and give me that. I am counting on your answering this prayer of mine because I deserve it.” Ever requested or prayed for one like this before? Well, Jesus, being how good and considerate he was, listened to the brothers’ request but Jesus did not make any promises. Neither did he reprimand them – something he is quite capable of doing at other times. He simply listens to their question, and responds with a question, “What is it that you want me to do for you?” How may I be of service to you?

Without mincing their words, James and John say: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” “Glory” isn’t a word we use much these days. It sounds very churchy and sacred. But let’s face it: we do have our modern version of glory in this day and age. Prestige, fame, entitlement, privilege, distinction, success, honour, pride. James and John do not only want to get the best seat with Jesus but they want to retire as privileged disciples of Jesus. In fact, they don’t simply want this honour; they’re convinced that they deserve them. That they’re entitled to them. So what’s the big deal about sitting at the right and left of Jesus? It was customary in Jesus’ time, when gathering for a dinner or a feast, for example, to have the places of honour assigned to the VIP’s – the very important people. The most coveted positions were at the right or the left hand-side of the host. Those seats were reserved for those representing people with power.

Jesus replied with disbelief at their request, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” Jesus was actually telling them, “I am going to suffer a great deal, I don’t think this is the joyride you’re expecting. Are you willing to drink the cup – to experience tremendous challenges and hardships and be baptized with the baptism of rocky road and service? Do you still want to follow me?” Impulsively, the brothers replied, “Yes, we are able!” This may be a call to all of us. How much do we say “I am able” when really, we are not? Not because of our own limitations or inabilities. But because what is being asked of us is not who we are and should be. James and John and perhaps the rest of the disciples do not understand who Jesus is or what his whole mission is about. Jesus did not come to be a powerful ruler but to be a servant-leader.

The word that is translated as follow in most instances in the Gospel is rooted in the Greek word for "road." To follow Jesus, to claim a place in the reign of God, is to be on the road, journeying with the rest of humanity, embracing what may happen along that road. To follow Jesus, first and foremost, is not merely to secure a glorious seat. To drink the cup and to be baptized by the same spirit as Jesus is to be on the road, encountering life in movement and motion, rather than anticipating a stationary life seated at the right or left of some royal throne. To drink the cup and to be baptized is to feast at a table of grace; and this life is a life far more concerned with giving than with keeping, a life more attuned to sharing than possessing, more committed to caring than indulging. To live this life, one must be prepared for living, a life of service. Out of this service, a spirit of servant leadership emerges. Leadership comes through those who are prepared, not to dominate, but to serve and even to suffer at the side of Jesus. Jesus is saying not only to James and John but to all of us – “If you will be my followers, prepare to serve with love because that is what your faith is about.”

We may be angry at James and John’s request like the other 10 disciples. But on a more positive side, I think the two brothers placed their full trust in Jesus. Debie Thomas writes: “James and John cling to the belief that Jesus will win in the end. They put their trust in him — his word, his love, his leadership, his faith. Given what they’ve seen, heard, and experienced, they can’t conceive of a meaningful future apart from their Teacher. Their personal hopes and dreams —imperfect though they might be — are rooted in Jesus… Jesus tells his disciples that true greatness is not found in climbing to the top and exercising power over others. Rather, true greatness, true leadership is found in serving and loving others.”

Today we have witnessed the baptism of Makenzie. We have committed to nurturing her, supporting her and her family to live a life of love and justice. Remind yourself that our true worth lies in our relationships: with God, with each other, the whole of creation and how we treat one another. When we treat the other with value and dignity, loving each other, encouraging each other, recognizing each other’s gifts, and helping each other live out our individual callings in the world… when we are free of the desperate need to “be on top,” free of our fear, that we find our self-worth and real selves.

Do you want to sit beside Jesus? Then prepare yourself for a life of service and love.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Sources: The BCUC Lectionary Group
Joseph S. Pagano, “Winners and Losers”, October 17, 2021, Sermons That Work website.
Kathleen L. Wakefield, “How We Want” October 19, 2003 Sermons That Work website.
Debie Thomas, What Glory Looks Like, 14 October 2018. Journey with Jesus. net

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Holy One, we give you thanks today for the blessing of welcoming a young child into our faith family, for the joy of hearing a little one’s voice in this place after so many months of pandemic restrictions. We miss the sounds of children in this place. We miss seeing familiar faces, raising our voices in song, and gathering together for fellowship. Give us the patience and the wisdom we need to see this dark time through.

Open our senses to the many blessings that surround us at this time of year – the changing colours, the bountiful harvest, the busy-ness of birds, animals, and people as we all begin to prepare for the winter ahead. Thank you for the rhythms of life that remind us that life is still abundant, constant, and hopeful, even in times of ongoing restrictions.

We pray for those in our faith family who are facing difficulties due to illness, isolation, insecurity, and grief. May they continue to feel your presence and our love. May these be the lights on their paths to comfort and healing.

We pray for all those in our home communities, especially those dealing with struggles we cannot see. We pray for our neighbouring communities of faith, our friends at Christ Church, St. Martin de Porres, and the Jami Omar mosque. Help us in our common work toward making the world a better place for all.

We pray for our leaders, municipal, provincial, and federal and for leaders around the globe. Give them the wisdom to see responsibility of the privilege and power they possess so that they are used for the common good rather than personal gain. May we all learn to align our wishes and wants with the dream of your kin-dom on earth.

Source of gratitude, love, and hope, hear the joys and concerns we express aloud and the ones we hold silently in our hearts as we recite together the words that Jesus shared with his followers so long ago…

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

On a morning like this, when we celebrate the blessing of a new baby and the joy of baptism, we are reminded to share our many blessings with others. And so, we take this time to offer our gifts of time, talents and treasures. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

(Glad Faith Klassen, Gathering, Pentecost 1, 2021 Year B. Used with permission)

God our Creator, giver of all good and perfect gifts, we bring our praise for who you are, the one who is and was and is to come. You continue the work of creating, of giving and forgiving, and we give thanks for it all, embracing your grace and love. Help us on our journey to live the mystery of being born of water and spirit. Be patient with us as we learn to embrace your grace and extend it to others. We offer up to you all we are, all we have, and all we are becoming, in the name of Jesus, our perfect example. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

(Inspired by the prayers of David Sparks and Beth Johnson, Gathering 2016-17. Used with permission)

People of God,
We have listened, we have shared.
We have sung, we have prayed,
We welcomed a new child and her family.
We have been about God’s work.
Go forth from this holy place with hope.
Christ will be recognized among family,
friends and strangers.
Go forth as God’s baptized people,
knowing that the refreshing waters
will sustain you in your journey. Amen.

Hymn: Would You Bless Our Homes and Families VU 556

(Words: Walter Farquharson, 1974; Music: Ron Klusmeier, 1974)

1 - Would you bless our homes and families,
source of life who calls us here,
in our world of stress and tension,
teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles,
love’s expressed in many ways.

2 – When our way is un-demanding,
let us use the time that’s ours.
To delight in simple pleasures,
sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking
and a heavy path we plod.
Teach us trust in one another
and in you, our gracious God.

3 – From the homes
in which we’re nurtured,
with the love that shapes us there,
teach us God, to claim as Family
everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer,
may we in your love remain,
may the love we share in families
be alive to praise your name.

4 - Let us reach beyond the boundaries
Of our daily thought and care,
Till the family you have chosen
spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles
love’s expressed in many ways.

Departing Music: I Have Called You by Your Name MV 161

(Words & Music: Daniel Charles Damon, 1995)

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.

Monthly Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

Connie Davidson

October 9, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - October 10, 2021

Connie Davidson

October 9, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

CREATION TIME 5 / THANKSGIVING SUNDAY

ALL-AGES WORSHIP SERVICE

October 10, 2021

The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104.

Gathering Music: Touch the Earth Lightly VU 307

(Words: Shirley Erena Murray, 1991; Music: Colin Gibson, 1991)

1 Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently,
nourish the life of the world in our care;
gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,
trust for the children tomorrow will bear.

2 We who endanger, who create hunger,
agents of death for all creatures that live,
we who would foster clouds of disaster,
God of our planet, forestall and forgive!

3 Let there be greening, birth from the burning,
water that blesses and air that is sweet,
health in God’s garden, hope in God’s children,
regeneration that peace will complete.

4 God of all living, God of all loving,
God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,
Teach us, deflect us, Christ reconnect us,
Using us gently and making us one.

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 on this Fifth Sunday of Creation Time in the Season of Pentecost. Today, we are celebrating Thanksgiving Sunday. Wherever you are, whether you are joining us via online, or onsite, or even reading the printed text of the service in the comfort of your homes, we are glad that you have joined us today.

Friends, on this Thanksgiving Sunday, we come with grateful hearts, not just for all the blessings that we have received, but for who God is within us. We gather now in worship to show our gratitude in song, in word and in prayer.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Amelia & Georgia Baynes

The Light of Christ brings hope.
It is the Light of Life and Love.
A beacon of Creation fire.
Let us give thanks for the Light
That shines for all of us!

Call to Gather[1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

We gather this morning to celebrate the Harvest Home!
We are surrounded by the beauty and bounty of the earth.
We gather with hearts filled with gratitude as our senses take in all that we’ve received;
the warm embrace of our church family;
the sight of produce fresh from garden, orchard and field;
the aroma of roast turkey and fresh baked pumpkin pie;
the sound of wild geese overhead and the crush of leaves beneath our feet;
the expectation of a feast awaits us.
For the bountiful blessings, in praise and thanksgiving,
Let us gather as friends and neighbours.

Embodied Echo Prayer [2] Berard Family

Please repeat after me…

Holy God,
you were with us when we were born,
you are with us as we grow,
you are with us when we hurt,
you are with us when we are whole.
Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!
Would you help us to see?
Would you help us to hear?
Would you help us to love?
So we might change ourselves.
So we might change the world! Amen.

Hymn: This is the Day that God Has Made MV 122 (English & French)

(Words & Music: Bruce Harding, 2003; French trans. David Fines, 2005)

1 This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad!
This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad!

2 Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.

Repeat 1

Storytime Rev. Lorrie

“The Secret of Saying Thanks” written by Douglas Wood and illustrated by Greg Shed, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2005.

From the cover flap:

“Perhaps you’d like to know a secret, one of the happiest ones of all. You will surely find it for yourself one day. You’ll discover it all on your own, maybe when you least expect it. If you’ve not yet discovered the secret of saying thanks, it’s waiting for you. The secret can be found in the sunrise that offers promises for the day ahead, or in the gentle shade of a tree sheltering you from the hot rays of the sun, or on the rock that offers rest from a long walk. In the inspirational text that made him a bestselling, internationally acclaimed author, Douglas Wood offers a spiritual homage to nature, home, and family. Greg Shed’s stunning portraits of the natural world tenderly portray all of the many ways in which we can say thanks for the wonders we sometimes take for granted in life.”

Here is the secret if you’ve not already guessed it…

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time… We don’t give thanks because we’re happy. We are happy because we give thanks.”

Hymn: Ev’ry Day is a Day of Thanksgiving MV 185

(Words & Music: Leonard Burks)

Ev’ry day is a day of thanksgiving, God,
you’ve been so good to me.
Ev’ry day you’re blessing me.
Ev’ry day is a day of thanksgiving.
I will glorify you, O my Lord, today!

Repeat

You keep blessing me, blessing me, blessing me.
You opened the door that I might see,
you’re blessing me.
And you keep blessing me, blessing me, blessing me.
I will glorify you, O my Lord, today!

Prayer for Illumination[3] Reader: Ruth Howes

Without the guidance of your Spirit, O God,
your Word would be mere words on a page, tales of long ago.
Inspire our hearing and quicken our faith,
so that your Word may become a message from you. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:25-33 (NRSV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,

29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Thanks-Giving, Thanks-Living!” Rev. Kim

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of your Word being opened to us in our hearing today. As we reflect on your Word, open our hearts and our minds to listen to them with understanding. Amen.

In an anxious-driven, worry-wart world, we are sometimes comforted by popular songs that make us shun away from the worries of the day. In the movie Lion King, for instance, there is a song called Hakuna Matata, which literally means “do not worry for the rest of your days!” Another song called “Don’t Worry Be Happy” popularized by Bob McFerrin in the late ‘80s has a light-hearted fun to it which makes the song unforgettable. “Don't worry. Be happy. Cause when you worry your face will frown, and that will bring everybody down.”

While it’s true that these songs do not exactly convey the same sentiment that Jesus expresses in today’s gospel reading, they offer us a kind of wisdom that life is much brighter when we stop worrying and get on with life. I think we can all agree that everyone is worried about something. The sad truth is – there are still millions in the world, particularly those in third world countries who live below poverty line. They worry about the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, clothing, safety, health, education.

In Canada where we live, we may not worry so much about what we will eat or wear, as many did in Jesus' time. The first century Jewish people were under an oppressive regime that condoned poverty, illiteracy and social injustices - a society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The poor peasants worry about the next food on the table or clothes to protect them from the harsh scorching sun or to keep them warm at cold nights. The rich worry about their lands and animals and whatever property they own. Will the Roman rulers seize their properties if they could not pay their taxes? Will they be killed for fighting for their rights? Were they risking their lives when they follow the Rabbi Jesus?

Today, we may have different worries from those of Jesus’ time, but we worry all the same. I once read an article as to what an average person's anxiety is focused on. Results show that 40% are about things that will never happen; 30% -- about things in the past that can't be changed; 12% -- about criticisms by others, mostly untrue; 10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress; and 8% -- about real problems that will be faced.

We worry about the COVID pandemic. When will this pandemic ease up on us? We worry about our health and those we love. What will the test results show? When will I get better? Will I make it to retirement, to see my children's children, or even another year on this earth? We worry about relationships. We worry about what people think about us. Will they like me or hate me? Will they remember me? Will I fit in the circle? I often observe that parents, love to worry about their children. Will they be safe, successful, and financially stable? Will they get into the right school, get the right job, marry the right person (and stay married)? Will they have children and will those children ever learn to behave? Will our kids keep the faith, go to church and treasure the values we raised them with, or will they go their own way? Some of us are worried about getting old and being fragile.

We worry about ongoing wars, or political upheavals in the world – of terrorism and the threats of those who would harm Canadians abroad or at home. We worry about natural disasters that disturb our quiet stability or even take the lives of people.

Some of us worry about our congregation – how we will get everything done around here in this pandemic time with finances tight and expenses getting higher? And some of us might even worry about our faith in God. Will God continue to be present in my life despite my shortcomings? Will I have to answer for those unpleasant things I have done or unkind words that I said?

Yes, we could go on and on about our worries and they never seem to end. Worry comes in many flavours, shapes and sizes. And sometimes we make the mistake of masking them by saying “Oh, I'm not worried, I'm just concerned”. Sometimes we tend to rationalize things in order to justify our anxious state. Here is where worrying would take its toll. If we allow the worries in this life to take charge of us, we would not have time for anything else. Life can be stressful and may not be worry-free, but I believe there is a better alternative than unwarranted worrying. How many of us realize that worrying leads to fruitless results and wasteful use of time and energy? Walter Kelly writes: “Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster and belief in defeat...worry is wasting today's time to clutter up tomorrow's opportunities with yesterday's troubles.”

Jesus asked the same question: “And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” I think Jesus is trying to point us to the heart of the question of worry. Do we trust God? Do we trust God to provide for our daily needs? Do we trust God to hold us in times of uncertainties and seemingly hopeless situations? Do we rely on God’s grace to journey with us through life?

In order to understand his argument why we should not worry, Jesus points us to nature and uses two examples: the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. What we see when we look at the birds is not a lesson on laziness or waiting for their food to come. They still dig their worms and hunt for bugs and pad their nests with twigs and leaves. They fly from yards to forests, finding seeds from bird feeders, or from trees or from the earth. But Matthew’s Jesus says it is God that feeds them. It is God that provides for their needs. Birds are birds and yet they go about their work not worrying when the sun comes up tomorrow. Look at the lilies of the field; which have no will of their own to labour and spin, they don’t lie awake at night fretting over which pair of slacks would go best with a red sweater. Again, Jesus claims God takes care of them. If God delights in adorning grass like lilies, that's here today and gone tomorrow, then surely God will look after our human needs.

What then should we do when worries attack us? Should we just sit down and do nothing? Some of us understand this text as an excuse for taking little or no responsibility for one’s life, that we should just completely trust God to provide everything we need as we sit tight and become idle. Yet, as one Bible commentator notes, the challenge to trust in God does “not exclude working and having property. The words are directed to people involved with sowing, reaping, storing in barns, toiling, and spinning, but who are called to see that their life is not obsessed with these things.” (from The New Interpreter’s Bible). Our culture is anxiety-driven, it keeps people consuming, it keeps us busy, competitive, grasping at too much power, and to sustain in our belief system that having control and wealth makes one successful in life. With these weighing on our hearts and minds, our priorities can lead to further anxieties about whether we will have enough or be enough. It follows that the more worried we are, the less loving we can be; and the less loving we are, the less satisfied and thankful we’ll be for what we already have and who we already are. Jesus is teaching us to move away from obsessions that create and sustain chronic acute worrying.

We are not birds or lilies. We are God’s human family. The birds and lilies have taught us that God can be counted on to provide for us and does so abundantly. Through God’s grace, we are given daily bread, roof over our heads, not to mention family and friends, fresh air, the warmth of the sun, land, animals and all of creation. I believe that God uses others and human situations to lead us to opportunities in making our lives far better and enriching; providing comfort when we are scared. God enters our lives though others with inspirational nudges, with power to cope, with the will to make wise choices and with comforting and healing grace.

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, let this prayer inspire us: “I thank you, God, for waking me up this morning.” Waking up to a new day provides us with new possibilities and adventures, for giving thanks and for living a life of gratitude. When we give thanks and live thanks, we trust that even in the wilderness, there is a wellspring of fresh water and bread for the journey. St. Brigid, who embodied the Divine Feminine in Celtic spirituality, teaches us that gratitude is grounded in appreciation and sharing. Our abundance does not fully belong to us; it is intended to uplift the vulnerable in our midst and delight the spirit of those whom we encounter, sharing our abundance in response to the abundance we receive. In the world St. Brigid imagines, everyone has enough because everyone is willing to share with their neighbour. This is the lesson that Jesus taught his followers to rely on God’s providence, not to worry, but to have a grateful heart. “Being thankful makes sense”, says Melody Beattie. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Instead of worrying, let us give thanks instead. Give thanks and live thanks! Live faithfully. Trust in God. Let me close with this prayer written by St. Brigid:

“I should like a lake of finest ale, for the king of kings. I should like a table of the choicest food, for the family of heaven. Let the ale be made from the fruits of the earth, And the food be forgiving love. I should welcome the poor to my feast, for they are God’s children. I should welcome the sick to my feast, for they are God’s joy. Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place. And the sick dance with the angels. God bless the poor, God bless the sick, And bless our human race. God bless our food, God bless our drink, all homes, O God, embrace.” Amen.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving & the Lord’s Prayer: “Choose Thanks”[4] Rev. Kim

God, there are days we do not feel grateful.
When we are anxious or angry. When we feel alone.
When we do not understand what is happening in the world or with our neighbors.
When the news is bleak, confusing. God, we struggle to feel grateful.
But this Thanksgiving, we choose gratitude.

We choose to accept life as a gift from you,
and as a gift from the unfolding work of all creation.
We choose to be grateful for the earth from which our food comes;
for the water that gives life; and for the air we all breathe.

We choose to thank our ancestors, those who came before us,
grateful for their stories and struggles,
and we receive their wisdom as a continuing gift for today.

We choose to see our families and friends with new eyes,
appreciating and accepting them for who they are.
We are thankful for our homes, whether humble or grand.

We will be grateful for our neighbours, no matter how they voted,
whatever our differences, or how much we feel hurt or misunderstood by them.

We choose to see the whole planet as our shared commons,
the stage of the future of humankind and creation.

God, this Thanksgiving, we do not give thanks.
We choose it. We will make this choice of thanks with courageous hearts,
knowing that it is humbling to say “thank you.”

We choose to see your sacred generosity,
aware that we live in an infinite circle of gratitude.
That we all are guests at a hospitable table around
which gifts are passed and received.

We will not let anything opposed to love take over this table.
Instead, we choose grace, free and unmerited love,
the giftedness of life everywhere.
In this choosing, and in the making, we will pass gratitude onto the world.
We choose thanks. Amen.

We ask this prayer of thanksgiving in the name of Jesus Christ who gave thanks and lived thanks and taught his disciples this prayer:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

In this season of harvest and plenty when we are grateful for God’s amazing bounty, we are called to share the gifts we have been given with others. Time, talents, and treasures are all wonderful ways to further the mission of this church and the building of God’s kin-dom in the world. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Fill us with gratitude, O God. From you, all blessings flow.
To you, all gratitude shall return. Empower us, as a gracious people,
overflowing with compassion and love, to shape our lives and the world for good. Amen.

Sending Forth[5] Rev. Lorrie

Let us leave this time and place of worship
remembering God’s goodness to us:
a goodness known in Creation, in relationships.
Let us commit ourselves to lives of thanksgiving and thanks-living,
remembering that when we are simply grateful, life is simply great!
Let us go now with smiles on our faces,
with joy in our hearts,
with purpose and in kindness,
To be God’s people in all the places life calls us to be.
May you go forth in peace. Amen

Hymn: Sing to the Lord of Harvest VU 519

(Words: John Samuel Bewley Monsell,1866; Music: Johann Steurlein, 1575, harm. Healey Willan, 1958)

1 Sing to the Lord of harvest,
sing songs of love and praise,
with joyful hearts and voices
your hallelujahs raise;
by whom the rolling seasons
in fruitful order move;
sing to the Lord of harvest
a joyous song of love.

2 God makes the clouds drop fatness,
the deserts bloom and spring,
the hills leap up in gladness,
the valleys laugh and sing.
God fills them all with fullness,
all things with large increase;
and crowns the year with goodness,
with plenty and with peace.

3 Bring to this sacred altar
all things God's goodness gave,
the golden sheaves of harvest,
the souls Christ died to save:
your hearts lay down before him
when at his feet you fall,
and with your lives adore him
who gave his life for all.

Departing Music: Great is the Lord (Michael W. Smith)

Monthly Zoom Fellowship – No Zoom meeting today. Join us on October 17, 2021 at 11 am.

[1] Phil Hobbs, Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2016.

[2] Whole People of God, October 4, 2015.

[3] Inspired by the prayer of Beth W. Johnson, Gathering, Pentecost 2, Year C, 2013, Used with permission.

[4] Diana Butler Bass

[5] Bob Root, Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2018. Used with permission.

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY

Gathering Music: Open the Eyes of My Heart BCUC cong. Feb 7, 2016

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: The Berard Family

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach

Hymn: My Lighthouse Music Team June 2020

Storytime Erin Berard

Hymn: This Little Light of Mine (Traditional) BCUC congregation Feb 7, 2016

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Liam Eaton

The Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 28- 43 (NRSV)

Anthem: High Upon a Mountain – Larson/Jordan BCUC choir Feb 26, 2017

Sermon: “Mountaintops and Valleys” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie

Hymn: How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place (Better is One Day) - More Voices #29

Departing Music: Song of the Transfiguration BCUC Choir Feb 11 2018 - Soloist: Keith Bailey

Bonus: Shine Jesus Shine BCUC choir Feb 7 2016

7th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Gathering Music: Nobody Knows the Trouble/Angels Watching Over Me arr. Hayes

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Angela Starchuk

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach

Hymn: Spirit, Open My Heart - More Voices #79 BCUC trio with violin: Leslie

Storytime Rev. Lorrie

Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide – More Voices #145 - Erin Berard with choir members

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Marion Dugas

The Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 27-38 (NRSV) Love for Enemies

Anthem: We Will Bring Your Peace into the World CGS - director : Erin Berard

Sermon: “Jesus Wants Us to Do What?” Rev. Kim

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

Hymn: Take My Life and Let it Be – Voices United #506 v1,2,5 BCUC Feb 25, 2018

Departing Music: Go Now in Peace – Besig/Price BCUC Choir Jan 27, 2019

6th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Gathering Music: Blessed – Valerie Crescenz (adapted from Matthew 5) BCUC Choir recorded Sunday Jan 29 2017

Welcome Rev. Kim Vidal

GC 44 News Nicole Beaudry, Lay Commissioner

Centering for Worship Rev. Kim

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: David Stafford & Barbara Bole

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach

Hymn: Blessed Assurance - Voices United #337 Erin, Kim & Angela

Storytime Rev. Lorrie

Hymn: “Christ Has No Body Now But Yours” - More Voices #171 George, Lorrie, Keith

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Neil Lowes

The Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 17-26 (NRSV) The Beatitudes on the Plain

Sermon: “Upside Down!” Rev. Kim

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth Rev. Kim

Hymn: Blest Are They – Voices United #896 BCUC congregation Jan 2017

Departing Music: The Rose – McBroom Abe:organ recorded Aboriginal Sunday June 19, 2016

4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 2

Gathering Music: Noah - Valse Sentimentale (op. 50, no. 14) - Franz Schubert

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Stewardship Moment Erin Berard – Family Ministry Team

Minute for Mission

Centering for Worship

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Susan & George Young

Call to Gather: Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayer of Approach: (Phil Hobbs, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2018, Year B. Used with permission.)

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down - Voices United #395 Kim-guitar, Erin-flute

Storytime Rev. Kim Vidal

Hymn: We Give Our Thanks - More Voices #187

Prayer for Illumination Reader: James Eaton

The Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 21-30 (NRSV)

Sermon: “From a Celebrity’s Welcome to the Cliff’s Edge” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Hymn: We are Pilgrims on a Journey - Voices United #595

Departing Music: Family of Faith – MacKenzie BCUC Choir Oct. 4 2015

***The Gospel Reading:* Luke 6: 27-38 (NRSV) *Love for Enemies***