Service Sunday September 6, 2026
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
SUNDAY, September 6, 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
As we gather to worship, let us pause to remember that in this region we live and work and worship on territories that are, by law, the unceded territories of the Nishnaabeg people. May we live with respect on this territory, and live in peace and friendship with its people.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Come all, pay attention! God is calling. Join in the journey!
All: We’re on the path where love grows and all belong.
One: The Comforter guides us gently and awakens us to the Holy Presence within, a presence of tender love and acceptance.
All: We’re on the path where love grows and all belong.
One: It is our Creator who wants us to engage, and we, the people, are created for the journey! Let’s worship with full hearts, knowing we are welcome, we are called, we are precious in God’s sight.
All: We’re on the path where love grows and all belong.
Written by Jani Francis, St. Andrew’s U.C., Indian Head, Sask.
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2026, p.38. Used with permission.
* HYMN: “I Danced in the Morning” VU #352
1 I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
2 I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came with me and the dance went on. Refrain
Refrain Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
3 I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
and left me there on a cross to die. Refrain
4 I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it's hard to dance with the devil on your back;
they buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on. Refrain
5 They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he. Refrain
A NEW CREED: 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
LEARNING TOGETHER
* 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.
3 & 4 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 grave-stones
if we’re not prepared to die,
and realize there are worlds outside the lines.
THE WORD
Scripture: Romans 13:8-14
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
“It’s Getting Late!”
OUR RESPONSE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and
THE LORD’S PRAYER: sung VU#960
* HYMN: “We Are One” VU #402
1 We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here,
in the praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found;
and we come needful of God's grace as we meet, together in this place.
2 We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed;
and we share warmth in God's embrace as we pray together in this place.
3 We are one as we feast, as we feast, peace becomes the sign;
in the bread and the wine there's a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come, as we feed, we are fed;
and we feel God's refreshing grace as we meet at table in this place.
4 We are one as we hear, as we hear, heart and hand unite;
in the word we receive there's a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved;
and we seek justice in God's ways as we move together from this place.
AFFIRMING MOMENT
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
Collection Plate is located on the back table
OFFERTORY HYMN: VU #543 vs 1
We give thee but thine own, what e’er the gift may be; All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O God, from thee.
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison
Gracious God, who calls us to generosity, we give many different gifts in many different ways to the mission and ministry of Highland Hills United Church. We give of our abundance – our money, time, and talents. We give because we are grateful. In this way, we offer our thanks to you. Amen.
Written by Irma Nadeau, Trinity, U.C., Winnipeg, Man...
Gathering, Pentecost 1 2026, p.49 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.
