Service Sunday October 11, 2026
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
SUNDAY, October 11, 2026
Happy Thanksgiving Sunday
All are Welcome!
Worship Leader: Rev. Max Ward
Music Director: Melissa Stephens
Watch a video recording of the whole service below using YouTube
THE GATHERING
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOCUSING ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
One: We seek God’s presence in our lives today.
All: We seek God’s Spirit moment by moment in worship.
One: As we journey in faith, we strive to move forward in faith.
All: We will never turn back, except to give thanks.
One: And so we welcome the guiding light of Christ.
Written by Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, North Dakota
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2026, p.42. Used with permission.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERRITORY In Unison
As we gather today for worship, we remember with gratitude that this traditional territory is cared for by the Michi Saagiig Peoples, “those who lived at the mouth of the rivers, where the waters flow out,” who are part of the Anishinabek Nation.
The Creator, in infinite wisdom places the territory and waters at the very centre of the lives, language, culture, and spirituality of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge their stewardship and commit to join with them to care for the territory and the waters.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Welcome, family of God!
All: God has visited the earth and watered it.
One: God has provided the people with grain and crowned the year with overflowing bounty.
All: The earth has yielded its increase, God; our God has blessed us!
One: Let us give thanks and praise to God!
Written by Anne Mathewson, St. David’s Trinity U.C., Saskatoon, Sask.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2026, p.42. Used with permission.
* HYMN: “Come, You Thankful People, Come” VU#516
1 Come, you thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in, safe before the storms begin;
God, our maker, does provide for our needs to be supplied:
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home!
2 All the world is God's own field,
harvests for God's praise to yield;
wheat and weeds together sown,
here for joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade, and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear:
Harvest-giver, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.
3 For our God, one day, shall come,
and shall take this harvest home;
from the field shall in that day
all offences purge away;
giving angels charge at last
in the fire the weeds to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.
4 Even so, God, quickly come
to your final harvest home!
Gather all your people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin;
there for ever purified,
in your presence to abide:
come, with all your angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.
OPENING PRAYER: In Unison
The orchards are full, the crops are being harvested, gardens are yielding tomatoes and cucumbers, squash and potatoes. The grocery shelves may be overflowing with local produce on top of the normal imports. There is abundance in your Creation and so we praise you for your generosity, O God. Yet too often, the economic systems function as if there is only scarcity, inciting people to believe that there is not enough. But you have taught us not to fear and promised that you will always provide for our needs. Change hearts and minds, O God. Change actions and systems so that we can rejoice in your abundance and share generously all that you have entrusted to us. We praise you for your generosity, O God. Amen.
Written by Jean Leckie, Georgetown, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2026, p.43. Used with permission.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC
* HYMN: “For the Beauty of the Earth” VU#226 TUNE = DIX (VU# 81)
1 For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Refrain God of all, to you we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
2 For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light, Refrain
3 For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild, Refrain
4 For each perfect gift sublime
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven, Refrain
THE WORD
Scripture: Luke 17:11 - 19
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
“One Out of Ten”
OUR RESPONSE
CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER: spoken VU#921
* HYMN: “We Plough the Fields” VU #520
1 We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by your almighty hand;
you send the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.
2 You only are the maker
of all things near and far;
you paint the wayside flower,
you light the evening star;
the winds and waves obey you,
by you the birds are fed;
much more to us, your children,
you give us daily bread. Refrain
3 We thank you then, O Maker,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food;
accept the gifts we offer
for all your love imparts,
and, what from us you long for,
our humble, thankful hearts. Refrain
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
Collection Plate is located on the back table
OFFERTORY HYMN: VU #544
In gratitude and humble trust
we bring our best today
to serve your cause and share your love
with all along life's way.
O God, who gave yourself to us
in Jesus Christ, your Son,
teach us to give ourselves each day
until life's work is done.
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison
Giver of Great Gifts, we pray surrounded by family, friends, and neighbours. We bring our offerings to celebrate the goodness of community and all that being community entails. We lift up our hearts in gratitude to become part of the gift that we give. This we pray with sincerity and hope. Amen.
Written by Jim McKean, Orillia, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2026, p.43 Used with permission.
SUNG BLESSING Christ Has No Body Now but Yours MV #171 vs 4
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.
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. Refrain
SENDING FORTH:
A TIME OF FELLOWSHIP
© Music Reproduced with permission under License number A-605748,
Valid for: 26/10/2025 - 25/10/2026; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches.
