Service Sunday October 19, 2025
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
All are Welcome!
World Food Day
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:
For thousands of years, First Nations people have walked on this territory; their relationship with the territory is at the centre of their lives and spirituality. We are gathered on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg and acknowledge their stewardship of this territory throughout the ages.
THE APPROACH
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: We come as ordinary people, with ordinary lives.
ALL: Ordinary we are, but your call to us is powerful.
One: We come to be fed at your table or grace.
ALL: We come to be fed, knowing that we are also called to feed others.
One: We come remembering your commissioning to us, to live out our faith as presence in this world.
ALL: As your called people, we proclaim justice and encourage generosity.
Written by Gord Dunbar, Kindardine, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.45. Used with permission
HYMN: “Let All Things Now Living” VU #242
1 Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
to God our Creator triumphantly raise;
who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
by guiding us on to the end of our days.
God's banners are o'er us, pure light goes before us,
a pillar of fire shining forth in the night;
till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
as forward we travel from light into Light.
2 By law God enforces, the stars in their courses
and sun in its orbit obediently shine;
the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
the depths of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
with glad adoration a song let us raise:
till all things now living unite in thanksgiving,
to God in the highest, hosanna and praise.
OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison
Holy One, your people are here. Your people are everywhere. May the Spirit be with us in our worship. May the Spirit be with all humanity and all creation, until your abundance is truly shared. We open our hearts in word and in song, in hope and in faith. Let our worship be full of your love, O God. Amen.
Written by Robin Wardlaw, Toronto, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.45. Used with permission
MINISTRY OF MUSIC
LEARNING TOGETHER
HYMN: “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” VU #577
1 I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in-a my soul.
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in-a my soul.
2 I've got joy like a fountain,
I've got joy like a fountain,
I've got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.
I've got joy like a fountain,
I've got joy like a fountain,
I've got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.
3 I've got love like an ocean,
I've got love like an ocean,
I've got love like an ocean in-a my soul.
I've got love like an ocean,
I've got love like an ocean,
I've got love like an ocean in-a my soul.
THE WORD
Scripture: Colossians 3: 1 - 11
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE:
“An Inclusive Christianity”
OUR RESPONSE
CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER: spoken VU#921
HYMN: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” VU #664
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Christ the Saviour is our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do our friends despise, forsake us?
Are we tempted to despair?
Jesus' strength will shield our weakness,
and we'll find new courage there.
YOUR GENEROSITY MATTERS:
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison
These gifts are to provide living water for lives that are parched, Life-Giving God, and actual food and water for any who live with a scarcity of these essentials.
These gifts are offered to encourage those who wonder if their hopes will ever come to fruition, and to support the gardeners who lovingly tend your world and its peoples in so many ways. Amen.
Written by Karen Boinin, Bells Corners U.C., Ottawa, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.45. Used with permission
SUNG BLESSING “God Be with You till We Meet Again” VU #422 v3
God be with you till we meet again;
when life's perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
till we meet at Jesus' feet;
till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.
SENDING FORTH:
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
