FIRST GRANTHAM UNITED CHURCH
Contact Information
Address:
415 Linwell Road
St. Catharines ON
L2M 2P3
Phone:
905-935-5369
Email:
office@firstgrantham.ca
Website:
www.firstgrantham.ca
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday
9 am to 1 pm
More Voices
Copyright © 2007 The
United Church of Canada
License no. A-723511
Interim Minister: Bev Robinson
bev@firstgrantham.ca
ext. 202
Coordinator of Family Ministries:
Ashleigh Kovich
kidsandyouth@firstgrantham.ca
ext. 207
Coordinator of Volunteer Ministries:
Candace Popivanov
(on maternity leave)
ext. 205
Custodian: Carey Calder
ccimages@cogeco.ca
ext. 204
Office Administrator: Judith Fraser
office@firstgrantham.ca
ext. 200
Our mission is to be ambassadors for Christ in our
neighbourhood, our city and the world.
Congregational Annual Meeting Sunday February 28.
Missing some Tupperware? Please check the counter in the kitchen.
Leftovers will be donated to the Flea Market.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Worship Leadership: Rev. Jenny Stephens
Music Ministry Team: Ryan Baxter & Shelley Passfield
The First Sunday of Lent
February 14, 2016
-2-
*Invitation to Worship
The Spirit of Christ is upon us,
Calling us to worship.
The Spirit of Christ is upon us,
Coaxing us more deeply in to relationship with self, one
another and Holy Mystery.
The Spirit of Christ is upon us.
Sending us places we would rather not go.
The Spirit of Christ is upon us.
As from the beginning of time.
Gathering Prayer
Holy Mystery we praise you for your generosity through many
generations and for your presence always with us. We thank you for
your invitation to be people who love all the time not just on
Valentine’s Day. You call us to follow Jesus. You empower us by the
Spirit. You send us in to the world you love so much. Even as we
celebrate your Holy Name, God of exodus and wilderness, we make
our confession to you.
In times of temptation, we forget what you have done for us.
You give us everything we need, yet we often remain unsatisfied;
You trust us to care for creation, yet we often abuse that trust
and spoil what we have been given. You show us the way we are to
follow,
yet we often continue on the path of self-indulgence
and self-centredness. Forgive us, we pray.
Silence
We ask for your direction, your patience, your love;
in the name of Jesus Christ, who, in spite of his temptations,
was faithful to your saving Word. Amen.
*Hymn of Praise
Choral Response
Please stand as you are able and respond where the print is bold.
Gathering Music
Opportunities for ministry and community
*We begin our worship singing
“Come All You People” (X2)
“Morning Has Broken”
Lenten Liturgy
Jesus wandered in the wilderness and was tempted.
In the desert, he encountered rock, sand and stone.
They are the landscape of a harsh environment.
As we enter Lent, we intentionally enter the harsh
environment of pain and suffering in our lives and in the
world. The temptation is to avoid suffering and pain.
(The first rock is placed)
The rock of temptation.
May God’s spirit walk with us.
MV 2
VU409
“Don’t Be Afraid”
MV 90
*Passing the Peace
Conversation and prayer with the children and the young at heart
The Lord’s Prayer
Ministry of Music
“A Journey of Faith”
Scripture Reading
Price/Besig
Luke 4: 1 – 15
Coreen Strupp
The Hymn of Preparation “On Eagle’s Wings”
Message
“Lead Us Not into Temptation”
Moment of Meditation
We offer our gifts to God
VU 808
Rev. Jenny Stephens
-3-
-4-
Offertory Music
*Dedication Song
“What Can I Do?”
MV191
*Prayer of Dedication
Prayers of the People
*The Hymn of Mission “O Jesus, I Have Promised”
VU 120
Commissioning and Benediction
*Choral Affirmation
“Sanctuary” (X2)
MV 18
Postlude
Welcome to First Grantham United Church!
Thank you to Rev. Jenny Stephens and everyone who shared in our
ministry today.
Welcome to worship at First Grantham United Church. We are so
glad that you are here. It is our hope that this time of community and
the sharing of God’s word, spoken and sung, will offer to each of you,
grace, peace and hope. If this is your first time with us, we invite you
to sign the welcome book at either of the entrances.
A Nursery and Kid’s Church are available should you choose to make
use of them.
Please join us in the Ruby Carroll Hall for conversation and
refreshments following the service.
Please remember to pray for those members of our church family in
hospital, nursing homes or other care facilities. As a church, we are
called to pray for each other and for our mission in the world. On the
Prayer Cycle this week we pray for Melrose United Church, Hamilton
Presbytery.
Thank you to everyone who is serving to make worship and
fellowship possible today!
Thank you: Elizabeth Epp would like to thank everyone for their
many prayers, visits, cards and telephone calls. Elizabeth is feeling
much better and appreciated all the care that you shared.
Words worth reading for Lent: Lent For Everyone by N.T. Wright
guides us through Lent with a daily reflection, prayers and hymn
suggestions. The United Church Lenten Reflections also have
excellent daily readings. A Selection of these can be found in the
fellowship room and downstairs in the library. Please borrow them
for the full 40 days of Lent. The library also has excellent Lent and
Easter books for children. Need help? Please speak to Kay Houghton.
Lenten Collection: Please pick up a Lenten Collection calendar and
follow along through Lent with the suggested donations. It is a
different spin on the collection for Lent. All donations will be due on
Easter Sunday. All contributions will be given to our two focus groups
- Red Roof Retreat and Doctors Without Borders.
Out of the Cold: Thank you for your donations of toiletries in the
past. Once again, we are asking for your help in donating the
following items: toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, lotion,
razors and lip balm. Thank you.
FIRST GRANTHAM FRIENDSHIP GROUP invites one and all to card
games on Friday, February 19 at 1:30 pm in the Fellowship Room. Tea
and cookies and good fellowship. Members, please bring your mug.
If you have volunteered to be a Greeter for 2016 and do not have a
new list for this year, please see Nola Brown following the service in
the Ruby Carroll Hall.
First Grantham’s 2015 Annual Report is available for pick up this
morning.
-5SPONSORSHIP STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATE:
Our First Grantham New Canadian, Chris, while not yet entering into
the winter sporting life, walks daily out into the cold, attending ESL
classes daily, and YMCA strength training every second day. He works
at night on creating and ‘mixing’ electronic and dance music in his
modest but workable ‘studio’ in the basement. Several new friends
and members of the First Grantham Care Team have become good
companions. Rosemary and Dave very much enjoy his company over
dinner and he is following the Raptors. All good. He is grateful to all
who have contributed to the First Grantham Refugee Fund.
Becoming fully relaxed in Canada is still some time off, but his new
life is underway.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Fitness: Older Adult Exercise
1:00 p.m.
Fitness Older Adult Exercise
10:00 a.m.
Joint Search Committee
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Scouts
6:00 p.m.
Choir
7:00 p.m.
Friday
Project Smile
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Chair Yoga
9:15 a.m.
Friendship Club
1:00 p.m.
Scouts sleepover in Ruby Carroll Hall 7:00 p.m.
From Ashleigh…
Saturday
Join us for a Special
Valentines Dessert at Kids
Kitchen! TODAY Sun. Feb.
14th following service in
the Ruby Carroll Hall
God Squad 99 are meeting in the
teen Room TODAY Sun Feb 14th!
Check out the Kids Church board
by EB2 for more meeting dates
THIS WEEK AT FIRST GRANTHAM (February 15 to 19)
Monday
FAMILY DAY – THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
Between the Covers Book Group
9:30 a.m.
UCW Meeting
1:30 p.m.
Optimists
6:00 p.m.
Beavers
6:30 p.m.
-6Niagara Presbytery Pastoral Relations 1:00 p.m.
Structure Committee
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Cubs
6:30 p.m.
Council Meeting
7:00 p.m.
UCW 2015 Disbursements
BETHLEHEM PLACE
$150.00
BREAKFAST PROGRAM
$200.00
CAVE SPRINGS CAMP
$300.00
COMMUNITY CARE
$500.00
GILLIAN’S PLACE
$300.00
HOSPICE NIAGARA
$300.00
OUT OF THE COLD
$150.00
R.A.F.T.
$300.00
FIRST GRANTHAM UNITED CHURCH
$2,000.00
$4,200.00