Service Sunday June 15, 2025
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
SUNDAY, June 15th, 2025
100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada
All are Welcome!
Guest Speaker: Mardi Tindal, Past Moderator of the United Church of Canada
Worship Leader: Rev. Max Ward
Music Director: Melissa Stephens
(For a Printer Friendly PDF version click this link)
The Gathering
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FOCUSING ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERRITORY: In Unison
Let us, in this place, remember, acknowledge, and give thanks for Indigenous and Metis Peoples, who have been the stewards of this territory since time immemorial. Especially in this place, we honour and acknowledge the Williams and Robinson Treaties that were made with the Original Peoples. May the work of reconciliation and right relations continue among us.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: We are called to be the Church,
ALL: not only on Sunday mornings as we gather, not only when it suits us, but always and in every place.
One: We are called to celebrate God’s presence,
ALL: through song, through prayer, through action and care for one another, within these four walls and beyond.
One: We are called to live with respect in creation.
ALL: Though the voice of creation comes to us in many languages and forms, we are called to be attentive, to collaborate, and to follow.
One: We are called to love and serve others,
ALL: and we do this, not because of our own rules and laws, but because it is God who asks us to do it, by Christ’s example.
One: We are called to seek justice and resist evil.
ALL: We do so every time we intentionally take time to notice injustice, because evil does not always take the shape we expect. Yet love and service are always in season.
One: We are called to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
ALL: Our hope rests in the knowledge that pain, suffering, and even death are only parts of a bigger journey. We trust that Christ will heal our brokenness and that as those who follow Christ, it is possible to celebrate our freedom from bondage.
One: We are called to be the church. God is with us. We are not alone. Let us worship God.
Written by Eric Hebert-Daly, Executive Minister, Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2025, p.31. Used with permission.
HYMN: “Faith of Our Fathers” VU #580
1 Faith of our fathers, living still in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy, whene'er we hear that glorious word:
faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to you till death.
2 Faith of our mothers, daring faith, your work for Christ is love revealed,
spreading God's word from pole to pole, making love known and freedom real:
faith of our mothers, holy faith, we will be true to you till death.
3 Faith of our sisters, brothers too, who still must bear oppression's might,
raising on high, in prisons dark, the cross of Christ still burning bright:
faith for today, O living faith, we will be true to you till death.
4 Faith born of God, O call us yet; bind us with all who follow you,
sharing the struggle of your cross until the world is made anew.
Faith born of God, O living faith, we will be true to you till death.
OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison
God in whom we live and move and have our being:
From sea to sea to sea we gather in prayer;
from generation to generation we sing;
on this anniversary we give thanks for your care, guidance and correction.
In this heritage of trust we pray for this United Church
and for faithful living on this land,
Our Source of Life, Living Word, and Bonding Love: Amen.
Catherine MacLean, 2008. © The United Church of Canada
Permission is given for congregations to copy for use in worship.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC:
LEARNING TOGETHER:
NEW HYMN: “Onward All Christ’s People” TUNE: ST. GERTRUDE
1 Onward All Christ’s People, dancing on The Way,
living out of God’s love each and every day.
Christ, our guide and teacher, shows how we’re to go —
Caring for our friend, our neighbour, even for our foe!
Refrain: Onward all Christ’s people, dancing on The Way
living out of God’s love, each and every day.
2 Know though there are moments evil strands its ground;
hate and war and hunger seemingly abound —
in these times, these places, we are called to be,
acting for God’s peace and justice, we will never flee! Refrain
3 Like one great big family, moves the church of God;
siblings, we are dancing where the saints have trod!
Sometimes we’re divided, lost, and feel alone,
then Christ’s Spirit reconciles us, unity is shown. Refrain
Refrain: Onward all Christ’s people, dancing on The Way
living out of God’s love, each and every day.
4 Time, we know, it passes, change is always here,
communities transforming, sometimes out of fear.
But we will remember, whatever change must come,
God’s love and care is reigning o’er us, we will not succumb! Refrain
5 Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in this wondrous song:
Glory, laud, and honour unto Christ the King.
this through countless ages we, with angels, sing! Refrain
Copyright © 2024 Richard Bott, Reprinted by permission.
YOUR GENEROSITY MATTERS
HYMN: “In the Bulb There Is a Flower” VU #703
1 In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
2 There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
3 In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
THE WORD
Scripture: John 12:24-25
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE:
“Heritage Seeds”
OUR RESPONSE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER: (sung VU #960)
NEW HYMN “A New Wellspring” Tune: NETTLETON VU #559
1 Now then, let us lift our voices in this hymn of hope and grace.
We have listened to words spoken. Now we know the task we face.
Let us go forth with a strong heart, seeking how we now can bring
Acts of courage, acts of caring, acts that make our spirits sing.
2 Boldly now, we join our voices, as we sing and as we say,
Words that make us ponder deeply how to put these words in play.
Let us go forth with a strong heart, seeking how we now can bring
Acts of justice, acts of daring, acts that make our hearts take wing.
3 As disciples, now we’re willing to act boldly, when we dare,
Hear the many who are helpless, those whose lives are in despair.
Let us go forth with a strong heart seeking how we now can bring
Acts of sowing, acts of tending, acts that birth a new wellspring.
Written by Doris Hollingsworth, Maynooth Madawaska P.C., Maynooth, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2025, p.52. Used with permission.
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
We offer more than the money that is on the plate, O God; we offer our commitment to this local congregation and to the work of the United Church across Canada and worldwide. We ask that the talents and time with which we have been graced and our discipleship to Jesus Christ may combine in faithful service, that “people will know we are Christians by our love.” Amen
Written by David Sparks, Summerland, B.C.
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2025, p.32. Used with permission.
SUNG BLESSING MV #150 vs 4
4 Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn…
Spirit God, be our song. ©
SENDING FORTH:
One: Beloved, as you go out into the world this year, hold this blessing on your heart: God who created you has chosen you for hope. So, may the Word of Life dance in you like the lights in the northern sky. May the power of the Spirit awaken your heart with awe, And may your witness awaken the world in which you live. May we travel together, listen together, love together, and grow together in the life of Christ, as the Body of Christ. For we are called to life— to live a Deep Spirituality, a Bold Discipleship, and a Daring Justice in Christ’s name, through whom all things are possible.
A Time of Fellowship
© Music Reproduced with permission under License number A-605748, Valid for: 26/10/2024 - 25/10/2025; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches
