Service Sunday August 30, 2026
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
SUNDAY, August 30, 2026
All are Welcome!
Worship Leader: Rev. Max Ward
Music Director: Melissa Stephens
Watch a video recording of the whole service below using YouTube
(For a Printer Friendly PDF version click this link)
(For Rev. Peter’s Musings PDF version click this link)
Watch a video recording of the whole service below.
THE GATHERING
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOCUSING ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERRITORY In Unison
The United Church of Canada acknowledges that its buildings and ministries, from coast to coast to coast, are on traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples. Here we gather on territory where Aboriginal people have performed age-old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal. We acknowledge their living culture and their unique role in the life of the region.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: As we journey in this Ordinary Time, let us take time to remember the radical generosity of God who created all.
All: Let us remember Jesus who lived and died to save us.
One: Let us remember how the Spirit whispered: “Come, follow me.”
All: Let us discover the generosity that creates an abundance meant to be shared by all.
One: Let us witness to the light that brings hope.
All: Let us be transformed to the new life that is made for us.
One: Let us remember that it is the common things and everyday occurrences that we often take for granted that God uses to illustrate our awakening and our purpose.
All: Let us worship God!
Written by Mary Anderson, Glen Abbey U.C., Oakville, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2026, p.40. Used with permission.
HYMN: “Will You Come and Follow Me” VU #567
1 Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
2 Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
3 Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
4 Will you love the 'you' you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
5 Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison
Creator of Life and Goodness, today we celebrate the gift of community, and the belonging we find in you, not despite but because of our unique identities as your beloved disciples.
Be with us in our service, and in every moment that we need strength, comfort, courage, love, and joy.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Written by Heather Ferrier, Trinity U.C., Mahone Bay, N.S.
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2026, p.42. Used with permission.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC
LEARNING TOGETHER
HYMN: “Three Things I Promise” MV #176
1. Three things I promise, Holy God,
in age and youth, in life and death:
to bless your Name, and cling to Christ,
and listen for the Spirit’s breath.
2. Your love unfolded time and space,
and life, and all that life became,
and so, with thankful heart and voice,
through good and ill, I bless your Name.
3. I follow, serve, and cling to Christ
amid our culture’s tides and trends,
for here your Name is most revealed:
Majestic Love, and Best of Friends.
4. Enlivened as the Spirit moves
to cleanse, awaken, and renew,
I pray that justice, peace, and truth,
may seed and grow in all I do.
5. If I should live when vigour fades,
and family and friends are gone,
three acts of loving faith remain
when days are slow, and work is done.
6. Revive and guide me, Living God,
as day by day, until my death,
I bless your Name, and cling to Christ,
and listen for the Spirit’s breath.
THE WORD
Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
“Jesus Shows Us the Way.”
Listen to an audio recording of the message below or read it at the bottom of this page.
OUR RESPONSE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and
THE LORD’S PRAYER: spoken VU#921
HYMN: “Take Up Your Cross” VU #561
1 Take up your cross, the Saviour said,
if you would my disciple be;
take up your cross with willing heart,
and humbly follow after me.
2 Take up your cross; let not its weight
fill your weak spirit with alarm;
Christ's strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.
3 Take up your cross, heed not the shame,
nor let your foolish pride rebel;
your Saviour once accepted death
upon a cross, on Calvary's hill.
4 Take up your cross, and follow Christ,
think not till death to lay it down;
for only those who bear the cross
may hope to wear the glorious crown.
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison
How good it feels to give, to share, to be of help to others, O God, in whatever way we can. We pray that these gifts, of money and of ourselves, will be a positive force for your purpose, in our broken world and in the lives of others, through our Saviour Christ. Amen.
Written by George Allan, Chatham, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2026, p.50 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.
Sermon 30 August 2026
“Jesus Shows Us the Way.”
Matthew 16:21-28
Gracious God, be with us today in this place, in the Scriptures and in our words.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts praise your Holy name. Amen.
A four-year-old boy was at the pediatrician for a check up.
As the doctor looked in his ears, she asked, “Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?”
The little boy stayed silent.
Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down his throat.
She asked, “Do you think I’ll find the Cookie Monster down there?”
Again, the little boy was silent.
Then the doctor put a stethoscope to his chest.
As she listened to his heartbeat, she asked, “Do you think I’ll hear Spiderman in there?”
“Oh, no!” the little boy replied.
“Jesus is in my heart. Spiderman’s on my underwear.”
In today’s scripture, everything began to change for the disciples.
From that time on, Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive.
Notice the words used in this version of the bible to describe Jesus: “made it clear.”
Not “tell.”
Not “teach.”
Made it Clear.
That makes a huge difference.
If Jesus tells us; we might forget.
Jerusalem?
Who said anything about Jerusalem?!
I don’t remember that; was I out sick that day, or something?
If he teaches us; we can misunderstand.
Suffer and die?!
Oh, okay: you mean metaphorically speaking, right?
This is a parable, right?
Sure; we’re with you, Lord.
Wink wink, nudge nudge.
But if he makes it clear to us, if he shows us...well, that’s different.
Then we have to look.
Then we have to see.
Jesus told his disciples who he was.
He taught them the doctrine.
Listen, he said:
I am the Messiah, the Son of God.
I am the victor and the suffering servant.
I am the one who conquers death by laying down my life.
If you want to be my follower, take up your cross and follow me, because I must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Do you hear?—Jesus said.
Do you understand?
No?
Well, I guess I’ll have to show you.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem.
How do you think he did it?
How did he begin to show them?
I suppose it happened in hundreds of ways.
Calling a child to stand in the middle of them, and talking about who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Telling a story about the tenants of a vineyard who kill the vineyard owner’s son.
Standing and talking with a Samaritan Woman at a well.
Touching, comforting and even healing sick people.
Teaching people of all kinds; even tax collectors and prostitutes.
Talking about a cup that they must drink, just as he will drink it.
I suppose Jesus tried to show his disciples in every way a teacher can think of.
But how could he show them, without the cross?
He couldn’t.
Maybe this is precisely what is missing in our churches.
We have shown one another a lot of resurrection triumph, but not a lot of suffering.
We don’t have much encouragement for showing one another our own paths to Jerusalem,
and how we have had to take up our own crosses and follow Jesus.
Fred Gaiser, an Old Testament scholar at Luther Seminary, tells a story about how he recently did an impromptu survey of church mission statements.
He looked at websites and old bulletins to see what churches were saying about themselves, and how they presented themselves to the world.
What he found, he says, astonished him.
The churches generally described their mission in terms of being warm and welcoming communities.
They wrote of their commitment to serve Jesus by ministering to the needs of the community.
They described their efforts to provide excellent educational programs, fellowship opportunities, and weekly worship.
They declared themselves committed to inspiring, biblical preaching.
But not a church he surveyed mentioned the call to suffer in Jesus’ name.
What was missing from practically every mission statement was the cross—at least, the cross Jesus is trying to show us in this passage.
The cross that Jesus is trying to make clear to the disciples.
Gaiser is a wise and loving scholar.
He understands that it is hard for any of us to look at the cross.
But how do we even begin to look if we are afraid to show it?
From that time on, Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem.
I guess it takes a long time for Jesus to show us, because it takes a long time for us to get up the courage to look.
Or to name that what is really happening in our lives is not the victory story the world tells,
but the resurrection story the church tells.
Going to Jerusalem is about the hardest thing a human being can do.
Showing someone else the nail prints in our palms is even harder.
How is this happening, where we are?
How do we show one another the cross?
How do we show the world?
Each of us has had our cross moments in life.
Some people even call these moments their testimony.
For some, the very difficult and trying time led to a new understanding and faith in following the Way of Jesus.
For others, a serious health concern has been the going to Jerusalem path.
That path is fraught with doubts and fears.
And yet, as many of us have discovered, finding that the Spirit of Jesus is there in those times has changed everything.
Here it is, the end of August, Labour Day, next weekend already.
We need to share these moments with others, even if on the other side of the world.
Think of the people in Nepal & Tibet suffering through the flash flooding.
Many of us know the hardship of flooding and we can only imagine how much worse the recent flash floods have been for those poor souls.
Do we find it easier to talk about the cross, or to preach about it, than to show it?
Let Jesus show us.
He knows the best way to do it.
Perhaps we can hold one another’s hands, take a deep breath, and look.
Jesus will make it clear.
Jesus will show us the Way.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Inspired by: Anna Carter Florence
Edited by: Rev. Max Ward
