Hybrid Worship PENTECOST XVIII,27 SEPTEMBER 2026, Minister: Mona Smart Music: Frances Armstrong

  God said to Moses,

 “I will be standing there in front of you on the rock of     

 Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it,

 so that the people may drink.”                 Exodus: 17:6

 

Hybrid Worship

PENTECOST XVIII

27 SEPTEMBER 2026

Minister: 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

 

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                                                                                  BAS, 1985

God of light,

yours is the morning and yours is the evening. Let Christ, the Sun of righteousness, shine for ever in our hearts and draw us to that light where you live in radiant glory. Make us attentive to your presence, and eager to follow in the steps of the one who is our true light, Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord.  

 

Lighting of candle

 

Opening Hymn: We Are One                                                  VU #402

 

Prayer of Forgiveness                                                                          

Most merciful God,

In your compassion, forgive us our sins,

known and unknown, things done and left undone;

and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in the newness of life, to the honour and glory of your name. Amen

 

Prayer for Illumination and Grace                                           ACC-UCC

Gracious God,

You have heard the prayers of your faithful people; and know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Grant us our requests as may be best for us. We put our whole trust in you. Amen.

Affirmation of Faith

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

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

O Holy One,

thank you for coming to us anew this day.

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

 

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7 (NRSV)                                    Reader: Paddy Waymark

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

 

This is the Word of God

Thanks be to God.

 

Gospel Reading:                                                     Reader: Paddy Waymark

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 21: 23-32 (NRSV)

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

 

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father[a] went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.

 

This is the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

 

Word: A Refection

 

Hymn of Response: One Bread, One Body                          VU #467

 

Life & Work of the Church

 

Prayers of the People                                                          Susan Brockley                                                                                                     

Holy God, we are thirsty

            Hear our Prayer.

 

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:

male and female you created us.

You made us stewards of creation.

You made a covenant with Israel,

and through your servants Abraham and Sarah

gave the promise to a 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.

 

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 and sinners; 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 #959

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 forever.

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 and for all for the forgiveness of sin.

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: Go to the World                                             VU #420

 

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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Psalm 25: 4-9

 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me in your paths.

Lead me in your truth, and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all day long.

 

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for your goodness' sake, O Lord!

 

Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way