Livestream broadcast will be available at 10:45 AM: (Please note that the “Order of Worship” below is an edited shorter version of the Sunday Bulletin)
“REFLECTIONS”
THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU WORSHIP!
Order of Worship
MAY 24, 2026
PENTECOST SUNDAY
Sacrament of Communion
ORDAINED MINISTER: Rev. Jo-Ann Hills
ORGANIST / PIANIST: Emilia Bacchetto
HANDBELL DIRECTOR: Kathleen Link
OFFICE COORDINATOR: Jodi Hargreaves
SCRIPTURES READER:
ORGAN PRELUDE
ACKNOWLEDGING TERRITORY:
We gather today on this sacred soil of the Treaty 6 people and the homeland of the Metis people, who for thousands of years have lived on this land, honouring the Creator and living in harmony with creation. We acknowledge their stewardship and relationship with the land, its plants and animals, and the lakes and streams with their life forms throughout the ages. Adapted and used with permission from Gathering 2023:Cheryl Dillon
WELCOME, TIME OF CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
CANDLE LITURGY
Flames dancing, tongues of fire burning brightly, illuminating the shadowed places of our lives and searing radiance, all remind us of the first Pentecost. The Christ light brings a reminder of Pentecostal splendour. May the dazzling light be for us a spark of Holy Wonder. Used with permission from Gathering Pentecost 1 2026; Laura J. Turnbull
SUNG RESPONSE: VU 381 “Spirit of Life'”
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
Jesus invites us, saying, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.” Indeed, our spirits thirst for you, Jesus, for from your word and your life the grace of God flows into our lives.
So come, drink your fill, be refreshed as we welcome the Spirit in this time of worship Used with permission Gathering Pentecost 1 2026; Rod Sykes
2. OPENING PRAYER: Come, O Holy Spirit, break into our world, for we need you.
Come, O Holy Spirit, dance your way into the corners of our lives where we are overwhelmed and angered by the tragedy, injustice, and horrors unfolding in this world, where we are grieving, questioning, wondering, and waiting. Caress us with your comfort. Mend our broken spirits. Tickle us with your joy. Inspire us with God's vision. Come, O Holy Spirit. We need you. The world needs you. Amen. Used with permission Gathering Pentecost 1r 2026; Susan Lukey
3. LEARNING TIME: Sunday School Certificates:
4. HYMN VU 402 “We Are One” V 1-2
1. We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here,
in the praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near.
we are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found;
and we come needful of God's grace
as we meet, together in this place.
2. We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed;
and we share warmth in God's embrace
as we pray together in this place.
5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION Holy Spirit, blow away all that keeps us from you. Speak to us your words of power and hope. Open our hearts, that we may hear your call for us today. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
6. PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Gracious God, we often live without relying on the Holy Spirit. We forget how much you desire for the Spirit to be an active presence in our lives. You love us as we are but you have given us the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, empower us, and encourage us. Loving God, we know the times when we have not allowed the Spirit to move within us. May we be ever more sensitive to what the Spirit has to offer us. We ask that you mould and make us into the people you want us to be through the power of the Spirit. Help us to trade in the things of this life that we may treasure but that hold us back from living as the people you have made us to be, born of the Spirit and washed in the blood. Show us our spiritual gifts and give us a passion to serve according to the gifts we have received. Make us a blessing and renew a right spirit within us. Amen. Used with permission Gathering Pentecost 1 2026; Tabitha Carey
7. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Through Christ, we are one body, each of us with unique gifts given by the one Spirit, so that the body may be whole. Thanks be to God! Amen. Used with permission Gathering Pentecost 1 2026; Wanda Winfield
8. HYMN: VU 387 “Loving Spirit” V1
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.
9. PASSING OF THE PEACE:
The Spirit lives in each of you. We bless each other as we use our God-given talents. Let us exchange the peace of Christ with one another. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
10. INVITATION TO OFFERING:
God gives so many gifts to so many people. Grateful for God's abundant love, let us also bring our gifts to God; through the presentation of our morning offering. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
11. OFFERTORY: VU 540 “Grant Us, God the Grace”
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.
12. OFFERING PRAYER OF DEDICATION: Holy one, you create all that is. Your breath sustains every living thing. In your creation, see your love of diversity. In our community, we celebrate the multitude of Spirit-filled gifts. Grateful for your are, we bring these gifts. May they spread your love to all people. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 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”
13. SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION: (see Insert)
HYMN 402 “We are One” V 3
3. We are one as we feast,
as we feast, peace becomes the sign;
in the bread and the wine
there's a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come,
as we feed, we are fed;
and we feel God's refreshing grace
as we meet at table in this place.
14. HYMN: VU 402 “We Are One” V 4
4. We are one as we hear,
as we hear, heart and hand unite;
in the word we receive
there's a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave,
as we love, we are loved;
and we seek justice in God's ways
as we move together from this place.
15. BLESSING:
The Holy Spirit inspires us and gives us clear perspective.
The Holy Spirit prompts us to discover the presence of Christ all around us.
The Holy Spirit inspires us and works through us.
The Holy Spirit prompts us to think and act in ways that reveal Christ's light to others. As we go from this place, we trust the Holy Spirit to fill us with inspiration and to prompt us to act in ways that share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Used with permission Gathering Pentecost 1 2026; Susan Silverthorne
16. THREE FOLD AMEN:
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Acts 2: 1 - 21
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
Responsive Reading Psalm 104: 43-35b part 2 VU page 827 REFRAIN: “Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation”
SCRIPTURE LESSON: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b - 13
The Gospel of John 7: 37 - 39
Streams of Life-Giving Water
Next Sunday: First Sunday after Pentecost /
Trinity Sunday May 31, 2026: Genesis 1: 1 - 2: 4a
Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13: 11 - 13; Matthew 28: 16 - 20.
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