Third Avenue United Church

CANDLE LITURGY: Jareth & Kaesha Balbon
Lent 2 (5 candles are lit before the service)
Questions in the night. Searching. It's a beginning.
A journey starts with one step. God is where we are; and God is also where we haven't yet been.
Let us journey through the shadows toward the light.
(1 candle is extinguished.)

Sung Response: VU 108 “Throughout these Lenten Days and Nights” Verse 2
2. The pilgrim Christ, the Lamb of God,
who found in weakness greater power,
embraces us, though lost and flawed,
and leads us to his Rising Hour.
Used with permission from Gathering Lent/Easter 2014; Cindy Randall

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
You enter into this place wondering where you will be taken this time around on the Lenten journey.
Yet we know that it is a safe place, a place of comfort.
You also know that this is a place of transformation. Yet you return.
Transformation is precisely who we are as a church.
We are not afraid.
How can you be so certain?
We've travelled this path before.
We know what it takes when times get tough.
You'll be challenged, questioned, backed into a corner…
But we will never be alone.
Praise be to God!
Praise be to God!
Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Eric Hebert-Daly

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Loving God, in this Lenten season, give us the strength to clean the slate so that we may be “born from above.” Let the Spirit be felt like the winds that come and go, taking away the debris. Let the Spirit be experienced through your son, Jesus Christ. Give each one of us the wisdom to descend into the core of our existence and identify our weaknesses and fears, then lay them before you. We will know then that you are ever-present and there is nothing to fear. In this Lenten season, may we be tools of your will, encouraging and including others in our faith journey. With this bond that strengthens and unifies, we know we can multiply our actions of kindness, encouragement, and love in your name. Dear Lord, this Lenten season, let us be “born from above” so we can offer all we have and are to serve you. Blessed triune God, this is our solemn vow now and forever. Amen.
Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Anita Ouellette

4. HYMN VU 375 “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”
     Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
     blow thro' the wilderness calling and free,
     Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
     stir me from placidness,
     Wind, Wind on the sea.

1. You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings. Refrain

2. You swept thro' the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
then you spoke thro' your prophets to open their eyes. Refrain

3. You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. Refrain

4. You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
with bold new decisions your people arise. Refrain

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Life-Giving God, grant us a hunger for your message of new life. Quench our thirst for your timeless grace with your living water. Fill us with nourishing comfort, a spicy call to action, and sweet love. We ask in the name of the One who is the host of the banquet and the giver of water at the well, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2026; Laura J. Turnbull

6. PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
We confess the times when we have lost our way as individuals. Sometimes we feel as if we are in a fog or in a far-off country. We need your help and guidance to bring us back. We confess that in families or with friends, sometimes we have lost our way and yearn to heal broken relationships. We need your help and guidance to find the healing path. We confess that as communities of faith, as people of goodwill, as folks who want to do the right thing, sometimes we have lost our compass and need your North Star to guide us. We need your guidance, like a compass, in order to point us in the right direction. We confess that sometimes as a nation, our values are off-kilter and we are rudderless. Be our captain and guide the ship of the country we know as Canada. Now, in these moments of silence, we confess the areas in our life where we feel we have missed the mark and need your guidance.
(A time of silent prayer)
Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2026; Doug Martindale

7. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Like a father or mother welcoming home a beloved child, we know that God's love seeks us out, finds us, forgives us, and welcomes us home. This welcoming home was lived through Jesus, who declared to Nicodemus that God so loved the world. We were lost, and we have been found, for we are part of God's family.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2026; Doug Martindale

8. SUNG RESPONSE: VU 115 “We are pilgrims”
1. We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow travellers on the road;
we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

2. Sister, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

3. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

4. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I'll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow, till we've seen this journey through.

5. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.

6. Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

9. Affirmation of Faith: “The Nicene Creed” VU 920
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
in accordance with the Scriptures;
On the third day he rose again
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

10. INVITATION TO OFFERING:
God of wonder, you have given us gifts, talents to be used and time to be shared. God of Creation, you have given us an abundant life, overflowing with the good things of earth. Whatever we have been given, grant that we may share in a caring and loving way. May we show our love for you as we present our morning offering.

11. OFFERTORY Tune Franconia (VU 542)
These Lenten gifts we bring,
Our living faith express.
We offer them most lovingly,
and thus our hearts are blessed.
O loving God receive,
these gifts we gladly give
That show our faith and hope and trust;
Your way we seek to live.
Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2013

12. OFFERING PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
Receive our gifts, O God. May they be used to show to the world the greatness of your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Christ, your perfect gift and our Saviour. Amen.
Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Beth W Johnston

Please give by contributing online using “E-transfers” or PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) or by placing your offering in the plate.

14. HYMN 481 VU “Sent Forth by God's Blessing”
1. Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The supper is ended, O now be extended
the fruits of this service in all who believe.
The seed of Christ's teaching, receptive souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God's grace did invite us, God's love shall unite us
to work for the kingdom and answer its call.

2. With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living,
the tasks of our everyday life we will face.
Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing God's children of each tribe and race.
With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;
unite us as one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
give honour to Christ and the name that we bear.

15. BLESSING:
We go from here as a people so loved by God and assured that God will not and cannot forget us.
God's love gives us hope and strength for our journey.
We go as a people challenged by words of hope and joy.
God's love gives us the joy we need for our journey.
Let us go forth, singing of God's never-ending joyful, loving presence.
Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Beth W Johnston

Next Sunday: Third Sunday in Lent
        March 8, 2026:
         Exodus 17: 1 - 7   Psalm 95;
         Romans 5: 1 - 11;  John 4: 5 - 42.

Note: Don't have a Bible? By Clicking on the button below, you can open a new window in an Online Bible. By entering the BOOK and CHAPTER, you will be able to look up the references in the sermon. Copy and paste will work as long as there is no other words between the book name and chapter number. Try it and Enjoy!