Hybrid Worship May 17, 2026 “Seventh Sunday of Easter”

Christ Church Gabriola

A Collaborative Anglican – United Church

Hybrid Church

May 17, 2026

“Seventh Sunday of Easter”

Words of response are in bold & italics

Prelude

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.

Centering & Stillness                                                                                  

"The universe is but one vast symbol of God."                      (Thomas Carlyle)
                                                           

(invitation to sit in silence)

 

Introit: Open Our Hearts (x3)                                                      MV #21

Open our hearts, open our minds.

Open our lives to you O loving God.

Opening Words                                                          (Stephen Best, worshipwords.co.uk, adapted)
In this place

            we open to the creative heartbeat of this morning,

The divine urging which is within, around and beyond us.

            Dispel our stupor.

Energise our bodies.

            Enthuse our passion.

Centre us, so this day is worthy of your holy name.

Lighting of the Christ Candle (candle is lit)

Christ is our Light.

Thanks be to God!

Opening Prayer                                                                  (William Stephenson, worshipwords.co.uk)

As we prepare for worship,

we seek a fresh breath of life into our being

and a renewal of spirit into our souls.

            As we prepare for worship,

            we look and long for a new season of serenity.

We have come to see how the chaos in this world and the conflicts in our own lives are connected to each other and often congruent.

We struggle by hugging our hurts and helping our hopelessness, fighting the temptation to turn towards those around us, blaming them for all we are feeling within ourselves.

As we prepare for worship,

we seek a vessel that will carry us to a compassionate and caring place we cannot find alone.

                        Our hearts hunger for hope.

Hymn: It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker                                  MV #30

Passing of the Peace

May 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

By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

Scripture:  Acts 1:6-14 (NRSV)                                                           Reader: Corinne Carlson

The Ascension of Jesus

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of^[James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

This is the Word of God.

            Thanks be to God.                                                                           3

Gospel Reading                                                                                   Reader: Corinne Carlson

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 John

                        Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

John 17:1-11 (NRSV)

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

This is the Gospel of Christ.  

            Thanks be to God.      

Reflection: “So They May Be One”

Hymn: Praise with Joy the Worlds’ Creator                            VU #312

A Statement of Faith                                                (John van de Laar, worshipwords.co.uk)

We believe in the Divine Creator of all that has been made,

            the Parent of the whole creation.
We believe in the Divine Saviour of all that has fallen,
            the Restorer of our broken world.

We believe in the Divine Life of all that lives,

            the Love that binds all things together
            in one divine family.                                                                        4

Offering

Doxology (sung)                                                                                                                                CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer                                                                                                              (worshipwords.co.uk)

God has blessed us with so many good things. 

May we respond to God’s generosity with generous gifts of our own to support the ministry and mission of this church and the work of Christ’s church in our community,

that all people may experience the joy of abundance, unity and justice.

Prayers of the People                                                         Lynette Jackson                                                                            

God always with us,

Hear Our Prayers

The Prayer of Jesus (sung)                                                                                        VU #959

            Our Father in heaven,
            hallowed be your name,

            your Kin-dom 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 Kin-dom, the power
            and the glory are yours,

            now and forever.

Hymn: Creator God You Gave Us Life                                       MV #27

Blessing                                                                 (Linda Douty, “Praying in the Messiness of Life)           

Send us forth, O God, with every breath a thanksgiving,
every thought wrapped in compassion,
every word filled with kindness, and every deed a channel of Love.
Through your grace may our lives become a prayer.  Amen.

Postlude