Service Sunday November 23, 2025

Services

Nov 19

Written By Highland Hills

HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH

Minden, Ontario

All are Welcome!

Reign of Christ Sunday

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 LAND:

We respectfully acknowledge that we are participating in this worship on the traditional territories of many different indigenous peoples. With gratitude to all of our First Nations, Metis, Inuit and all First Peoples across Canada, may we remember that we are not separate from the earth which sustains us. We respect the history, languages and cultures of the first peoples of Treaty 20, whose traditional territories we now share. We are grateful and open to the wisdom of the Elders and the teachings of those who are Two Spirit. May their wisdom inspire our actions in today’s world.

THE APPROACH

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One: Another year passes.

ALL: Things end and things begin.

One: Birth. Life. Death. Life beyond death.

ALL: Nothing is constant!

One: Everything changes. Everything except this:

ALL: God’s love is with me. God’s love is with you. God’s love is with all creation.

One: Today?

ALL: Yesterday. Today. Forever.

One: And all creation is held safe in that love.

ALL: And all creation is transformed in that love.

One: Let us worship the God who loves us, yesterday, today, and forever.

Written by Richard Bott, Grace U.C., Burlington, Ont.

Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.49. Used with permission

HYMN: “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” VU #325

1 Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ the head and cornerstone,

chosen of the Lord, and precious,

binding all the church in one,

holy Zion's help for ever,

and its confidence alone.

2 To this temple where we call you,

come, O Lord of hosts, today;

with your faithful loving-kindness

hear your servants as they pray,

and your fullest benediction

shed within its walls alway.

3 Here bestow on all your servants

what they ask of you to gain,

what they gain from you for ever

with the blessed to retain,

and hereafter in your glory

evermore with you to reign.

4 Laud and honour to the Father,

laud and honour to the Son,

laud and honour to the Spirit,

ever three and ever one,

one in might, and one in glory,

while unending ages run.

OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison

We praise you and thank you, transforming and reassuring God, in whom exist all things! Creator God, who birthed this marvellous earth on which we live, you exist in all things! Holy Spirit, who breathed over the waters of creation to give it life, you exist in all things! Holy Spirit, who breathed over the waters of creation to give it life, you exist in all things! Child of God, Firstborn of Creation, through you, God became visible and lived among us. You exist in all things, the visible and the invisible! On this Reign of Christ Sunday, we acknowledge that Christ’s realm of hope and love dwells in each of us. Transforming God, embolden us with an urgency to further Christ’s kin-dom in all communities, far and wide. We thank you Holy One, that you have made us fit to live and serve in the Beloved Son’s kin-dom. Let our aimless wanderings be things of the past. All grace and peace and mercy exist in you, Gracious God for ever and ever! Amen.

Written by Anne Mathewson, St. David’s Trinity U.C., Saskatoon, Sask.

Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.49. Used with permission

MINISTRY OF MUSIC

LEARNING TOGETHER:

HYMN: “Christ Has No Body Now but Yours” MV #171

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.

1. No hands but yours to heal the wounded world,

no hands but yours to soothe all its suffering,

no touch but yours to bind the broken hope

of the people of God. Refrain

2. No eyes but yours to see as Christ would see,

to find the lost, to gaze with compassion;

no eyes but yours to glimpse the holy joy

of the city of God. Refrain

3. No feet but yours to journey with the poor,

to walk this world with mercy and justice.

Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace

for the children of God. Refrain

4. 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

THE WORD

Scripture: Colossians 1:11-20

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

ALL: Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE:

“Christ Our King”

OUR RESPONSE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and

A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER: (paraphrase) VU #916

Eternal Spirit, Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be. Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and forever. Amen.

HYMN: “We Are Pilgrims” VU #595

1 We are pilgrims on a journey,

fellow travellers on the road;

we are here to help each other

walk the mile and bear the load.

2 Sister, let me be your servant,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to

let you be my servant too.

3 I will hold the Christ-light for you

in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

speak the peace you long to hear.

4 I will weep when you are weeping,

when you laugh I'll laugh with you;

I will share your joy and sorrow,

till we've seen this journey through.

5 When we sing to God in heaven,

we shall find such harmony,

born of all we've known together

of Christ's love and agony.

6 Brother, let me be your servant,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to

let you be my servant too.

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison

Loving God, these offerings are part of our response to your call. We also respond with other ways of supporting our church and community through visits and phone calls made, notes written, food delivered, and prayers on behalf of others. We ask that you bless theses offerings and multiply them by your grace so that the work of this congregation may be accomplished to your glory. Amen.

Written by Beth W Johnston, Bridging Waters P.C., Nipawin, Sask.

Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.50. Used with permission

SUNG BLESSING (MV #173 vs 5)

Reach out in friendship,

stay with faith in touch with those around you.

Put peace into each other’s hands;

SENDING FORTH:

A Time of Fellowship

Highland Hills