CANDLE LITURGY
Jesus noticed Zacchaeus, the reviled and possibly corrupt tax collector. Jesus invited himself to dinner, transforming Zacchaeus in and for love. Then Jesus declared, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a child of God. For I have come to seek out and to save the lost.” As we light this Christ candle, let us pledge to follow the Way of Jesus as people also transformed for love.
     (Light the Christ candle.)
     Adapted/Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Gord Dunbar

Sung Response: Vu 641 “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song”
Verse 1 seated
1.  Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey,
I'll tell everybody about you wherever I go:
for our life and our peace and our love is yourself.
Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey.

2.  Lord Jesus, I'll praise you as long as I journey.
May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.
May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.
Lord Jesus, I'll praise you as long as I journey.

3.  As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant
to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears,
for you saved me by giving your body and blood.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.

4.  I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey,
but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side;
and with all of my brothers you saved by your love,
we'll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.

1.  CALL TO WORSHIP:
This is no ordinary place:
this is the house of God.
This is the place where the prophets cry out for peace and justice and righteousness.
It is the place where God reaches down into the corners of our lives, to offer us the mystery of holy love.
This is no ordinary gathering.
This is no ordinary place:
this is the house of God.
     Used with permission from Celebrate God's Presence 16A002

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Holy God, you know us as we are. You know that each one of us comes with things to celebrate and gloomy thoughts that cloud our perspective. You reach out to us in this time of worship, that our perspective may be cleared and refocused. You reach out to us and invite us to experience the healing and the joy of your company. Let us be transformed by your actions and your presence.  Amen.
     Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Ryan McNally

3. LEARNING TIME:

4. HYMN: VU 664  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
1. What a friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Christ the Saviour is our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do our friends despise, forsake us?
Are we tempted to despair?
Jesus' strength will shield our weakness,
and we'll find new courage there.

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Welcoming God, draw us close to your heart of love. Fill us with compassion and recognition of your grace. Reveal your truth in the words that are shared and in the silent moments. Help us to notice your voice of acceptance. May the familiar be heard in a new way as we receive the words of scripture today. We ask, in Jesus' name.  Amen.
     Used with permission from Gathering: Pentecost 2; 2025: Laura J. Turnbull

6.  PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Great Creator, we come to you as a people who believe we know you, and yet we struggle to recognize you in our daily interactions. We find it easier to fall back into the smallness of our lives, to let pettiness dictate our reactions and to allow cynicism to invade our thoughts. How do we find you, Lord, when the noise of the world drowns out your call? When we come together in worship, we become infused with your glory and your grace, yet during the rest of the week, those things can be far from our minds. Teach us to seek you through the clamour of the world. Remind us of your presence when daily life is swirling us away from your truth. We long for that connection with you, with your love, and with your precepts. Have mercy on us as we struggle to keep you nearby.  Amen.
      Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Leeyan Steinthorson

7.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
In Christ, we receive a glorious inheritance and God's redeeming grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are sealed with the saints in holy love.
Thanks be to God.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

8.  PASSING OF THE PEACE:
In Christ, we find peace, a gift beyond price, as we are reconciled to God. Let us share this precious gift with one another in joy and thanksgiving, as we pass the peace of Christ with one another.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

9.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
Beloved people of God, let us give to the work of God's kingdom today. May we take this opportunity to work for the common good, and especially for the family of faith. Let us present our offering.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

10. OFFERTORY VU 544 “In Gratitude and Humble Trust”
In gratitude and humble trust we bring our best today
to serve your cause and share your love with all along life's way.
O God, who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ, your Son,
teach us to give ourselves each day until life's work is done.

11.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Loving God, we recognize that your blessings come in so many ways; we seek to be a blessing to others. Use and multiply these gifts so that the work of our church here and around the world can be a sign of your caring presence.  Amen.
     Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Beth W. Johnston

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

12. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:

13. HYMN: 427 VU  “To Show by Touch and Word”
1.  To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
to hold in full regard all life that comes to birth,
we need, O God, the will to find the good you had of old in mind.

2.  Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
our hearts to long for truth till pride of self is lost.
For every challenge that we face we need your guidance and your grace.

3.  Let love from day to day be yardstick, rule, and norm,
and let our lives portray your word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have your wits about us where we live.

14.  BLESSING:
Go out from here, assured of the love of God, encouraged to bring our lives to God in prayer, and inspired to hope, trusting in God's eternal care.
May God guide us today and always, to love, pray, and hope in Jesus' name. Amen.
     Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Gill Le Fevre

15. THREE FOLD AMEN

Next Sunday:  Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
        November 9, 2025:
         Haggai 1: 15b - 2: 9;   Psalm 145: 1 - 5, 18 - 22;
         2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 5, 13 - 17;  Luke 20: 27 - 38.

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!

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