Service Sunday February 8, 2026
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
All are Welcome!
Worship Leader: Rev. Max Ward
Music Director: Melissa Stephens
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The Gathering
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LAND:
As we begin today, we acknowledge the history, spirituality, culture, and stewardship of the territory of the Indigenous People of this region, most recently the Anishinaabe people. We seek to live in respect, peace, and right relations as we live, work and worship upon Traditional Territory. We are mindful of broken covenants and the need to strive to make right with all our relations. Written by Cheryl Stenson, Glebe Road U.C., Toronto, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2021, p.25. Used with permission.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: What does our God require of you?
ALL: What does our God require of you?
One: My heart.
ALL: My hands.
One: My love.
ALL: My Life.
One: What does our God require of us?
ALL: That we use all of our gifts to do justice, to love kindness, and to travel humbly with our God!
One: Let us find inspiration and encouragement in God’s presence.
ALL: Let us worship our God.
Written by Richard Bott, Vancouver, B.C.
Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Easter 2022-2023, p.44. Used with permission.
HYMN: “Like a Rock” MV #92 – repeat 3 times
Like a rock, like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky God is over our head.
Like the sun on the horizon God is ever before.
Like the river runs to ocean, our home is in God evermore
OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison
We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the church: to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC
THE WORD
Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-9
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE:
“What Does God Want?”
HYMN: “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” VU #684
1 Make me a channel of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your healing power,
and where there's doubt, true faith in you:
Refrain: O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
2 Make me a channel of your peace:
where there's despair in life, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, only light;
and where there's sadness, ever joy. R
3 Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we're born to eternal life. R
CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY
OUR RESPONSE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER: spoken VU#921
HYMN: “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” VU #575
1 I'm gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
2 I'm gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
3 I'm gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
4 I'm gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison
Each gift we give we give of our time, our talent, and our treasure seems not enough. Yet by your blessing, O God, you weave these gifts of generosity into a whole fabric—a tapestry of cheerful stewardship that transforms. Thank you for your inspiration flowing from this offered bounty. Amen.
Written by Gord Dunbar, while at Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.46. Used with permission
SUNG BLESSING: (VU #701)
1 What does the Lord require of you?
What does the Lord require of you?
2 Justice, kindness,
walk humbly with your God.
3 To seek justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with your God. ©
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.
