THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH
1301 - 102nd Street
North Battleford, Saskatchewan, S9A 1G4
Who are we? We are a community of faith, known as Third Avenue United Church, who have adopted and prayerfully put into words and deeds what we believe to be our Mission in this community and in the world, and that is: We seek to love and care for God’s creation through worship and service in Christian community.
THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU TO WORSHIP!
Order of Worship
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday after Easter
10:45 pm
ORDAINED MINISTER: Rev. Jo-Ann Hills
MUSIC MINISTRY: Ilene Wettergreen
HANDBELL DIRECTOR: Kathleen Link
Scriptures Reader:
ACKNOWLEDGING TERRITORY:
We acknowledge that this land on which we gather for worship is the traditional land of the people of Treaty 6 and the homeland of the Metis. We acknowledge that we live on this land as people who have agreed to share the care and use of this land as a result of a treaty that outlined the rights and responsibilities associated with our place in this land. May we be people who remember this with thanksgiving and respect.
Adapted and used with permission from Gathering: Peter Chynoweth
WELCOME, TIME OF CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
This candle's flame reminds us of the light of Christ present in the world. The flame represents the risen Christ and is for us a symbol of life dispelling death.
Used with permission from Gathering Lent/Easter 2024:Mark Dutkoski
Sung Response: “Christ Is Alive” # 158 VU (Verse 2)
2. Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now, and touching every place and time.
1. Call to Worship:
The Spirit moves over the lands and over the people.
The Spirit calls us to harmony, to unity, to joy, peace, and love.
May God fill us with the Spirit's power in these Easter days.
Used with permission from Gathering: Lent/Easter 2024; Robin Wardlawe
2. Opening Prayer:
True Vine, Gentle Gardener, we abide in your care.
You never cut us off from your love.
You tenderly lift us up when we have fallen, pruning us to make us fruitful and abundant.
Flow through us to give us new life.
May we grow by your grace into fruitful people. May we nourish others with our words and deeds. May we lift up others who have fallen and connect them to the life-giving Vine. May our living bring you glory today and always. Amen.
Used with permission from Gathering: Lent-Easter2024; Karen Pryznyk
3. Learning Time:
4. Hymn: “In Loving Partnership We Come” # 603 VU
1. In loving partnership we come, seeking, O God, your will to do.
Our prayers and actions now receive; we freely offer them to you.
2. We are the hands and feet of Christ, serving by grace each other's need.
We dare to risk and sacrifice with truthful word and faithful deed.
3. Loving community we seek; your hope and strength within us move.
The poor and rich, the strong and weak are brought together in your love.
4. In loving partnership, O God, help us your future to proclaim.
Justice and peace be our desire, we humbly pray in Jesus' name.
5. Prayer of Illumination:
God of Grace and Glory, we are ready for your good news. Let it abide deep within our souls. May we receive this scripture and the reflection with an openness of spirit, a keenness of mind, and a willingness to engage with your timeless story. We ask this in the name of the Liberating Christ. Amen.
Used with permission from Gathering: Lent-Easter 2024: Laura J. Turnbull
Scripture Lesson:
Acts 8: 26 - 40
Philip and an Ethiopian Official
The Lord's angel said to Philip, “Go south along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So Philip left. An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot. Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him. The man was reading the passage that said, “He was led like a sheep on its way to be killed. He was silent as a lamb whose wool is being cut off, and he did not say a word. He was treated like a nobody and did not receive a fair trial. How can he have children, if his life is snatched away?” The official said to Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?” So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, “Look! Here is some water. Why can't I be baptized?” He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way. Philip later appeared in Azotus. He went from town to town, all the way to Caesarea, telling people about Jesus.
Responsive Reading: Psalm 22 Page 746 VU (parts 3 & 4)
Sung Refrain: “In the presence of your people I will praise your name.”
Give praise, all you who fear God! Proclaim God's greatness, all you children of Jacob;
stand in awe, all you children of Israel!
For God has neither despised nor scorned the poor in their distress.
You, O God, have not hidden your face from them. You heard them when they called to you. Refrain
You are the theme of my praise in the great assembly.
I will keep my promise in the presence of those who fear you.
Let the poor eat to satisfaction; let those who seek you praise you.
May they be in good heart forever!
Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to you, O God. Let all the families of the nations bow down before you.
For yours is the dominion, O God, you rule over the nations. Refrain
Even all who sleep in the grave shall worship you; those who go down into the dust shall bow before you.
I too shall live for you.
Our children shall serve you, and tell generations yet to come about you.
To a people yet unborn, they shall make known the saving deeds you have done. Refrain
7. Reflection:
8. Hymn: “Loving Spirit” 387 VU
1. Loving Spirit, loving Spirit, you have chosen me to be,
you have drawn me to your wonder, you have set your sign on me.
2. Like a mother, you enfold me, hold my life within your own,
feed me with your very body, form me of your flesh and bone.
3. Like a father, you protect me, teach me the discerning eye,
hoist me up upon your shoulder, let me see the world from high.
4. Friend and lover, in your closeness I am known and held and blessed;
in your promise is my comfort, in your presence I may rest.
5. Loving Spirit, loving Spirit, you have chosen me to be,
you have drawn me to your wonder, you have set your sign on me.
9. Scripture Lessons:
1 John 4: 7 - 21
My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows we have been given new life. We are now God's children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts. God has given us his Spirit. This is how we know we are one with him, just as he is one with us. God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. We saw his Son and are now telling others about him. God stays one with everyone who openly says Jesus is the Son of God. This is how we stay one with God and are sure God loves us. God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will stay one with us. If we truly love others and live as Christ did in this world, we won't be worried about the day of judgment. A real love for others will chase those worries away. The thought of being punished is what makes us afraid. It shows we have not really learned to love. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don't love the people we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!”
The Gospel of John 15: 1 - 8
Jesus Is the True Vine
Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already clean because of what I have said to you. Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. If you don't stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire. Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered. When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honored.
10. Reflection:
11. Hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour” # 671 VU
1. I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
no tender voice but thine can peace afford.
Refrain: I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee.
O bless me now, my Saviour; I come to thee.
2. I need thee every hour; stay thou near by;
temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. Refrain
3. I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide, or life is vain. Refrain
4. I need thee every hour; teach me thy will;
and thy rich promises in me fulfil. Refrain
12. Prayer of Confession:
Speak truth to our hearts, O God. Speak love to our lives, that we may remain in your love and share your love joyously with others. Speak grace to our souls, that we may rest in your grace and forgive others as we have been forgiven. Speak mercy to our world, that all the world may know your love and find redemption in your grace. In hope and trust, we pray. Amen.
From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
13. Words of Assurance:
God's promises are sure. The promises of forgiveness, grace, and love are true. In Christ's love and grace, we are forgiven and made new.
From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
14. Sung Response: “Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love” # 574 VU
1. Come, let us sing of a wonderful love, tender and true, tender and true,
out of the heart of the Father above, streaming to me and to you:
wonderful love, wonderful love
dwells in the heart of the Father above.
2. Jesus the Saviour this gospel to tell joyfully came, joyfully came,
came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell, sharing their sorrow and shame,
seeking the lost, seeking the lost,
saving, redeeming at measureless cost.
3. Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet; why do they roam? why do they roam?
Love only waits to forgive and forget; home, weary wanderers, home!
Wonderful love, wonderful love
dwells in the heart of the Father above.
4. Come to my heart, O thou wonderful love! Come and abide, come and abide,
lifting my life till it rises above envy and falsehood and pride:
seeking to be, seeking to be
lowly and humble, a learner of thee.
15. Affirmation of Faith: Apostles Creed, #918 VU
THE APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
16. Invitation to Offering:
Connected in love, let us share our love offerings with Christ's church and God's world.
From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
Please give by contributing online using “E-transfers” or PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) or by placing your offering in the plate.
E-transfers can be sent to: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net
answer to security question is: “payment”
17. Offertory:“Grant Us, God, the Grace” # 540 VU
Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.
18. Offering Prayer of Dedication:
Loving God bless these gifts with love. Transform lives with our ministries, that your people everywhere might know your grace, abide in your love, and connect with Christ, the vine of life. Amen.
From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
19. Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. AMEN.
20. Hymn: “May the God of Hope Go with Us” #424 VU
1. May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Refrain:
Praying, let us work for peace, singing, share our joy with all,
Working for a world that's new, faithful when we hear Christ's call.
2. May the God of healing free the earth from fear,
freeing us for peace, both treasured and pursued.
May the God of love keep our commitment clear
to a world restored, to human life renewed.
Refrain
21. Blessing
As God's children, go now to serve.
We go to serve in love.
Abiding in Christ, go with Christ to love.
We go with Christ's love to love one another.
Go to serve in love and peace.
From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
22. Three Fold Amen
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 5, 2024:
Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98;
1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17.
What's Happening
- TUESDAY, April 23, 2024 BIBLE STUDY 10:00 AM
- TUESDAY, April 23, 2024 NO HANDBELL PRACTICE 6:30 P.M. We always welcome new members. If you enjoy music please join us.
- SUNDAY, April 28, 2024 “Fifth Sunday after Easter” 10:45 AM Rev. Jo-Ann Hills “REFLECTIONS!” EVERYONE WELCOME!
- SUNDAY, May 5, 2024 “Sixth Sunday after Easter” 10:45 AM Rev. Jo-Ann Hills “REFLECTIONS!” EVERYONE WELCOME!
- SUNDAY, May 5, 2024 “Extraordinary Magic” Community Youth Choir & Guests Concert 3:00 PM Tickets $10.00 at the door For full information check the “Happenings” tab on the church website EVERYONE WELCOME!
- SATURDAY, May 11, 2024 “May Day Pie Day” 2:00 - 4:00 PM EVERYONE WELCOME!
- SUNDAY, May 19, 2024 “Seventh Sunday after Easter” 10:45 AM Rev. Jo-Ann Hills “REFLECTIONS!” EVERYONE WELCOME!
- SUNDAY, May 19, 2024 “SUNDAY BRUNCH” 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ALL ARE WELCOME!
HOW TO ACCESS LIVE STREAMING
Open up your web browser (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge)
Type in or copy the church website address into the browser: www.thirdavenueunitedchurchnb.ca
Press ENTER
Click on: SUNDAY SERMONS
Click on: WHITE ARROW in the video frame
FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF UPCOMING EVENTS AT THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH, SEE THE “HAPPENINGS” TAB ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE.
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