Service Sunday September 28, 2025
HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH
Minden, Ontario
All are Welcome!
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:
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: Our hearts ponder the beauty of God’s majesty!
ALL: It’s a poem of love for Creation.
One: Our pens are ready to write, our brushes are ready to paint
ALL: the wonders of God’s work!
One: The firmament displays the sea and sky --
ALL: proclaiming the majesty of God’s presence.
One: A God of awe and wonder is worthy of all praise!
ALL: May the Creator God come bless our hearts,
One: that we may show compassion, love, and care --
ALL: for all good gifts made for God’s pleasure and our delight!
One: May we be humble, respectful, and grateful
ALL: for Creation and for a God who keeps creating.
Written by Keith Mayers, Grace U.C., Brampton Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.25. Used with permission
HYMN: “Come To My Heart” VU #661
1 Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
come to my heart today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
2 Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
fill me with love today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
3 Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
Answer my prayer today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
A SONG OF FAITH: Spoken in Unison
God is Holy Mystery, beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description.
Yet, in love, the one eternal God seeks relationship.
So God creates the universe and with it the possibility of being and relating.
God tends the universe, mending the broken and reconciling the estranged.
God enlivens the universe, guiding all things toward harmony with their Source. Grateful for God’s loving action, We cannot keep from singing.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC:
LEARNING TOGETHER:
HYMN: “Jesus Loves Me” VU #365
1 Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so;
little ones to him belong,
in his love we shall be strong.
Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
2 Jesus loves me, this I know,
as he loved so long ago,
taking children on his knee,
saying, 'Let them come to me.' Refrain
3 Jesus loves me still today,
walking with me on my way,
wanting as a friend to give
light and love to all who live. Refrain
THE WORD
Scripture: : Luke 16:19-31
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE:
“The Lazarus Principle”
OUR RESPONSE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER:
Loving parent of all life, present throughout the cosmos,
The mere mention of your name calls us to love, respect, and care for each other. May justice for all, be imbedded in the hearts of all people.
Today may we accept only what we need, respecting creation, doing our part in sustaining the delicate balance of the natural world. Renew us with your grace, as we stumble through this world and help us to share the spirit of forgiveness, with those who have hurt us. Guide us with your spirit of love when we are tempted to be of this world. May evil be removed and replaced with your love. For by living with your love written on our hearts, we may rise above injustice and share the glory of equality, and peace with all of creation. All the days of our lives and into eternity. Amen
By Rev. Stephanie Richmond Seagrave/ Greenbank UC
Used with permission
HYMN “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You” VU #232
1 Joyful, joyful we adore you,
God of glory, life and love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
2 All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
sound their praise eternally.
3 You are giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing,
let your light upon us shine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.
4 Mortals join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o'er us,
joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward
in the triumph song of life.
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison
Ever-merciful God, your love never ceases to astound us. All around us are small and large signs of your greatness. From such small things as a tiny seed grow amazing plants! From our meagre offerings grows a flourishing church community. How astounding! Bless all things great and small, so that we might live faithfully and serve you graciously. In the name of the Redeeming Christ, we pray. Amen.
Written by Laura J. Turnbull, Penticton, B.C,
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.38. 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: 26/10/2025 - 25/10/2026; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches.
