Hybrid Worship, 25th Sunday of Pentecost, 15 November 2026, Minister: Rev Mona Smart Music: Frances Armstrong

For everyone who has will be given more,

and he will have an abundance.

But the one who does not have,

even what he has will be taken away.

                                       Matthew 25:29

 

 

Hybrid Worship

25^th Sunday of Pentecost

15 November 2026

 

Minister: Rev Mona Smart

Music: Frances Armstrong

 

We acknowledge that 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!

 

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

 

Prelude

 

Gathering Words

We thank you, God, that you have again brought us together to praise you for your goodness and to ask for your blessing. Give us grace to see your hand in the week that is past, and your purpose in the week to come.

 

We have gathered to pray and worship together to refresh our spiritual wellspring of joy, hope, and wisdom that flows from God, so that we may remain resilient and wise as our best response to the world as we find it.

 

Acknowledgement of the Land

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen

 

Call to Worship                                                               2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Sprit, be with you all.

And also with you.

 

Lighting of Candle                                                        Adapted from the BAS, 1985

God of light:

May holy Wisdom guide us,

for her counsel is deeper and more spacious than the sea.

May the Light of Christ illuminate our way,

the light that can never be extinguished.

May the Truth of your Holy Spirit guide us in all we do.

We light this candle as we draw near to God and to one another.

 

Lighting of candle

 

Opening Hymn: We Are One                                                  VU #402

 

Prayer of Forgiveness                                            Iona Abbey Worship Book

Most merciful God,

For the wrong we have done and the good we have not done, forgive us.

For our anxieties and fear that cause us to feel separated from the peace of Christ, forgive us.

Prayer for Illumination and Grace                                           ACC-UCC

Gracious God,

We are assured that even those things that are hidden from memory, or are too deep for our words, are not beyond God’s forgiving love. We ask that you amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways. Amen

 

Affirmation of Faith                                                      Deuteronomy/Levitus

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

This is first and great and commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no greater commandment than these. Amen

 

Peace of Christ

Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you;” my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

The Peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

 

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture

Prepare our hearts as we listen to your Word and discern your call within us.

 

Scripture: Judges 4:1-7 (NRSVUE)                                 Reader: Betty Schultze

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.

 

At that time Deborah, a prophet, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Position yourself at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand.’ ” Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

 

And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand warriors went up behind him, and Deborah went up with him.

 

Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the other Kenites, that is, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had encamped as far away as Elon-bezaanannim, which is near Kedesh.

 

When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera called out all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the troops who were with him, from Harosheth-ha-goiim to the Wadi Kishon. Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day on which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand warriors following him. And the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and all his army into a panic before Barak; Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot, while Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-ha-goiim. All the army of Sisera fell by the sword; not one was left.

 

Now Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between King Jabin of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite.

 

This is the Word of God

Thanks be to God.

 

Gospel Reading:                                                     Reader: Betty Schultze

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

 

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

 

Matthew 25:14-30 (NRSVUE)

The Parable of the Talents

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the

two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

This is the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

 

Word: A Reflection on Matthew

 

Hymn of Response: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring               VU #328

 

Life & Work of the Church

 

Prayers of the People                                                         Paddy Waymark                                                                                                   

We are One in your Love,

Hear our Prayers.

 

Offering (offering is now collected)

 

Offering Prayer

In the name and in the spirit of Jesus, we bring our gifts to you, O God. Help us to give with them a ready mind, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart.

Amen.

Holy Communion

 

Invitation                             United Church adaptation of a contemporary composition

of the Anglican Church based on a 4^th century liturgy

Here is the table of the Lord.

We joyfully gather at the Lord’s table, open to all.

 

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

God be with you all.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts;

We lift them up to God.

Let us give thanks to God!

It is right to give God our thanks and praise!

It is indeed right that we should praise you, for you created all things. Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise.

At your command all things came to be:

the vast expanse of interstellar space,

galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses,

and this fragile earth, our island home;

by your will they were created and have their being.

 

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race,

And blessed us with memory, intelligence, reason, and skill;

You formed us in your own image.

You made us stewards of creation.

You made a covenant with Israel,

and through your servants Abraham and Sarah

gave the promise of your blessing to all nations.

Through Moses you led your people from bondage to freedom. Through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. Therefore, we give you thanks.

 

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord (sung)                                                   VU #942

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy God, source of life and goodness,

all creation rightly gives you praise.

In the fullness of time, you sent your child Jesus Christ.

to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us.

He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts; he opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the Good News to the poor and to those in need. In all things, he fulfilled your will.

 

Lords Prayer (sung)                                                                 VU #960

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil;

for thine is the kindom

and the power and glory,

for ever and ever. Amen

 

Breaking of the Bread

Loving God,

as we break bread and share the cup,

we give thanks for the bread and the wine,

fruits of your earth and of our labour.

We commit ourselves to your service

and that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread;

And after giving thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his disciples.

And said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given to you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

 

After supper he took the cup of wine;

And after giving thanks, gave it to them, and said,

“Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you.

Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”

 

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

We offer you, O God, this bread and this wine.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,

That all who eat and drink at this table may be one body, one holy people.

 

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

 

(Bread and wine to be served)

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God,

May our participation in the sacramental gifts transform us that we may live lives of thanksgiving and be faithful to your will.

 

Closing Hymn: May the God of Hope Go With Us               VU #424

 

Dismissal

May the God of hope fill us with all joy

and guide and comfort us in the disruptions

and turnings of our life,

so that we may abound in hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Postlude

 

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