Home Church, 14th Sunday after Pentecost September 11, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church, 14th Sunday after Pentecost September 11, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Preparing the Space Around Us

Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us on God in the midst of it all. We are in the Season of Creation and will focus this week on Gratitude. 

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. As you breathe and prepare yourself for this time of worship, connect with your authentic gratitude. 

Gathering:           BAS, edited

One:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

          and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:    And also with you.

Words that Come Before All Else      Braiding Sweetgrass

Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide      (St. Paul’s United Church Choir, Riverview, NB)              MV #145

[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. [Refrain]

2 Let our hearts touch far horizons,

so encompass great and small;

let our loving know no borders,

faithful to God’s call. [Refrain]

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. [Refrain]

Peace of Christ 

Please unmute your microphones for the passing of the peace.

One:  The Peace of Christ is present in every part of God’s creation. Every plant, every medicine, every body of water, every being has a gift to share for the healing and wholeness of all. Let us celebrate these supportive gifts by sharing Christ’s peace. 

A-M: The Peace of Christ be with you!

N-Z: And also with you!

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (Lynn C. Bauman)      Reader: Don Moser

O Lord, my God, behind your work, 

your wisdom is the architect of all. 

The plentitude of life is yours.

I turn and look and see the sea aglint, 

so full of life and overflowing,

Through which our ships of commerce move, 

but deeper still those mighty ships of yours, 

Your whales, your secret creatures of the deep, 

your joy, your sport, your praise.

And everything that lives and moves on land or sea

or air turns eyes to look at you

the source of everything.

Alone, you give it all as gift,

you feed a world made hungry by your hand.

You give and give, we gather in.

Your arms you open even wider still,

And we are filled to overflowing

with generosity of every kind.

If you for one small moment would ever hide your face form us,

all creation would shrink in terror and in fear.

If you even briefly held your breath

we would die and pass to dust.

You breathe and we spring forth to life,

your breath and beauty fills the face of earth.

So may this beauty and the glory that is you and yours remain,

and may all that you have done bring highest joy.

For in your presence we are made to tremble out of awe and fear,

and we are set aflame by your bright burning blaze.

So while I live and have my breath,

all this shall be my song,

And may the poetry of heart and word I speak

rise up as joy to bless the Lord,

For we would ever bless you, God,

our hearts remembering all you are to us,

Both now and ever more . . . Amen and Hallelujah!

Gospel Reading    Reader: Don Moser

One:  God be with you.            

All:    And also with you.

One:  The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Luke;

All:    Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV) 

And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

   and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

   from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

   and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

   and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

   in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:    Gratitude for Gifts of Creation                 

Silent Reflection

Hymn: This is God’s Wondrous World (The Strathdees)               VU #296

1 This is God's wondrous world,

and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is God's wondrous world;

I rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,

God's hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is God's wondrous world:

the birds their carols raise,

the morning light, the lily white,

declare their Maker's praise.

This is God's wondrous world:

God shines in all that's fair;

in the rustling grass or mountain pass,

God's voice speaks everywhere.

3 This is God's wondrous world:

O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the Ruler yet.

This is God's wondrous world:

why should my heart be sad?

Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:

God reigns, let earth be glad!

Shema (adapted from the Hebrew prayer)                                                 Islands Liturgy

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

Hear, O Israel,

the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

This is the first and the great commandment.

The second is like it:

Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.

Prayers of the People      Paddy Waymark

One:  Foundation of our being,

All:    Hear Our Prayer

Lord’s Prayer (spoken)

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

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

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering                                                                      

I invite you to sit for a moment, perhaps with eyes closed or feet grounded on the floor . . . and taking a couple of deep breaths, I invite you to connect with your authentic gratitude for the gifts you receive from God’s world.

Offering Prayer                                                         

Loving God, the more we open our eyes to the gifts of your world, the more grateful we become. Our gratitude moves us to care for others and make our own offerings into the great gift exchange of creation. Receive and bless our gifts that they may continue the cycle of gratitude and sharing. In Christ Jesus we pray, Amen.

Hymn: Grateful (Trinity Grace UC, Vernon, BC)                                          MV #182

[Refrain]

Grateful for the life you give us,

Thankful for your Holy Son,

Joyful in your Spirit flowing

Over all, O God of Love.

Grateful for the Bread of Heaven,

Thankful for your Holy Word,

Joyful in your mercy flowing,

We will praise you.

1 You are more than we imagine,

Ancient, Holy, Living Lord.

Even when we doubt your presence

You are faithful to your Word. [Refrain]

2 May our lives proclaim your justice,

May our voices sing your praise.

May our hands work in your service

To the glory of your name. [Refrain]

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen

Blessing     Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:  The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,           guiding you, cherishing you.

N-Z:   The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories,            feeding you, challenging you.

A-M:  The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom,           comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Thank you

Coffee Groups