Service Sunday August 10, 2025

Services

Aug 6

Written By Highland Hills

HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH

Minden, Ontario

SUNDAY, August 10th, 2025

All are Welcome!

Guest Speaker and Worship Leader: Rev. Dr. Sharon Ballantyne,

Growth Animator for Atlantic Canada and a disciple

in the “A Place at the Table” project

Music Director: Melissa Stephens

(For a Printer Friendly PDF version click this link)

Quiet Preparation for Worship

To Ponder:

“They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength:

They shall mount up with wings as eagles;

They shall run, and not be weary;

And they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

The Gathering

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

FOCUSING ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST:

THE APPROACH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERRITORY:

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One: God be with you.

ALL: And also with you.

One: We greet this new morning grateful for all of creation and love shared among us.

ALL: We come to share God’s love, knowing we all belong and have a place at the table.

HYMN: “Spirit of the Living God” VU #376

Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of living God, move among us all,

make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:

humble, caring, selfless, sharing.

OPENING PRAYER:

Invitation & Prayer Said Altogether

Breath of God.

Giver of Peace, we open our hearts to your Good News for us. Stir us from complacency and shake us up when we go through the motions, get stuck in our ruts of old routines and habits. Breath of life, move in and through us, giving us compassion to serve and to love. Grant us courage and strength, excitement and energy. Inspire us to share love and your abundant grace. Breathe into every part of us, re-energizing and rejuvenating us. Open our hearts to receive You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

MINISTRY OF MUSIC:

LEARNING TOGETHER:

HYMN: “Spirit, Open My Heart” MV #79

Refrain

Spirit open my heart to the joy and pain of living. As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit open my heart.

1. God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender. All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender. Refrain

2. Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story. In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory. Refrain

3. May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother. In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another. Refrain

THE WORD

Scripture: : John 13: 31-35

Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE:

“A Place at the Table”

OUR RESPONSE

**PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER:**

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 those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN “My Love Colours Outside the Lines” MV #138

1. My love colours outside the lines, exploring paths that few could ever find; and takes me into places where I’ve never been before, and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

2. My Lord colours outside the lines, turns wounds to blessings, water into wine; and takes me into places where I’ve never been before and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

Refrain We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown, body and soul need a soaking from time to time. And we’ll never move the gravestones if we’re not prepared to die, and realize there are worlds outside the lines.

3. My soul longs to colour outside the lines, tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine; I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before, throw open doors to worlds outside the lines. Refrain

4. My soul longs to colour outside the lines, tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine; I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before, throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS

Response: “What Can I Do? “ MV #191

What can I do? What can I bring? I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer. I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

Prayer of Dedication:

SENDING FORTH:

HYMN: “Will You Come and Follow Me” VU #567

A Time of Fellowship

Highland Hills