To watch and participate in this service click here, or here.
Acknowledgement of the Land
For thousands of years, Indigenous people have walked on this land. The relationship with the land is at the center of their lives. We acknowledge the first peoples and their stewardship of this land throughout the ages. The land we worship and live on is part of Treaty 1. Our water comes from Treaty 3 and our hydro from Treaty 5 territories. We acknowledge errors made in the past by those arriving from other lands, and we pledge to work towards the right relationships with all First Nations people.
Singing: MV14 Where Two or Three Are Gathered
Where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there, I am there.
French:
Quand deux ou trois sont unis en mon nom,
je serai avec vous.
Japanese:
Fu-ta-li mi-ta-li tsu-doh-to-ko-lo, wa-ta-shi-mo to-mo-ni.
Tagalog:
kung me dalawa o tatlo sa pangalan nya nandoon ako, nandoon ako
MV13 O Let the Power Fall on Me
O let the power fall on me, my Lord
Let the power fall on me.
O let the power from heaven fall on me
Let the power fall on me.
For we want justice and truth and love, my Lord
We want justice and truth and love,
For we want justice and truth and love, my Lord.
We want justice and truth and love
Call to Worship
One: Today, this is our place of worship and of praise
All: We are glad to be here!
One: These are the friends and family who are with us in joy and in sorrow.
All: We are glad to be here!
One: This is our faith community through which compassion and justice become possible
All: We are glad to be here!
One: This is the Good News that Jesus proclaimed in deed and word.
All: We are glad to be here, let us worship together!
Singing: VU642 Be Though My Vision
1. Be thou my vision, O joy of my heart;
naught be all else to me save that thou art,
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping thy presence my light.
2. Be thou my wisdom, my calm in all strife;
I ever with thee, and thou in my life;
thou loving parent, thy child may I be,
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.
3. Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower,
raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power.
4. Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
thou mine in heritance, now and always;
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
5. Great God of heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O Bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Prayer of Approach
One: Loving God, you are light in our darkness. When we doubt our ability to affect change in the world, show us the way.
All: Help us to experience the joy of others.
One: In the celebration of life, may our laughter be heard, O God.
All: Help us to sense the loneliness of others.
One: In the hard places of life, may our friendship be felt, O God.
All: Help us to feel the hurt of others.
One: In the testing situations of life, may we stand with the troubled ones, O God.
All: Help us to bring hope to others.
One: When the outlook is bleak, may we witness to the Risen Christ, O God. Amen.
Passing the Peace
Children’s Time: “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst
Lord’s Prayer (all languages welcome and spoken)
Singing: MV90 Don’t Be Afraid
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger.
My love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger
And I have promised, promised to be always near.
N’ayez pas peur, mon amour est plus fort,
Il est plus fort que votre peur.
N’ayez pas peur, mon amour est plus fort; j
Je vous ai promis, promis d’être toujours là.
Scripture: John 11: 1-27 (Read in English and Nepali)
Reflection: Life in Troubled Times, A Questioning Dialogue
Reflection Resources
We invite you, following the service, to spend some time as a family or on your own reflecting on the following questions as they relate to the sermon today:
- What thoughts come to mind?
- How does this reading connect with your understanding of God and how God is at work in the world and through us?
- What feelings are you experiencing at this time and how can you express those feelings in a way that brings healing and right-relationship with self and others?
- What edge in your life requires a change in how you express or perceive someone or something?
Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
Offering
The ministry and mission of Knox continues, even when the building is closed. God’s love and concern for those who are struggling is shared. You make it possible to carry this message to everyone. If you normally give when you are in worship, we encourage you to continue your regular donations through Canada Helps. The link is here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/107576134RR0001-knox-united-church/ All donations made will be forwarded to Knox Winnipeg. Or, if you have envelopes, you could put your offering in an envelope each Sunday and bring them with you when we get back to in person worship. Thank you for your generosity in these times of trouble.
Offering Song: VU747 The Lord’s My Shepard
1. The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want,
he makes me down to lie in pastures green, he
leadeth me, the quiet waters by.
2. My soul he doth restore again;
and me to walk doth make within the paths of
righteousness, even for his own name’s sake.
3. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
yet will I fear no ill, for thou art with me;
and thy rod and staff me comfort still.
4. My table thou has furnished
in presence of my foes; my head thou dost with
oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
5. Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me, and in God’s house for
ever more my dwelling place shall be
Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, we offer these gifts as a way of serving you, and we offer ourselves as willing partners in that service. Bless these gifts that the questioning may receive answers, the suffering may receive help, and the way of Jesus may be honoured. Amen.
Community Prayer
May we who are merely inconvenienced, remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors, remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home, remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their school close, remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel trips, remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market, remember those who have no margin.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home, remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose LOVE.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.
Amen
(author unknown)
Singing: VU 588 Many are the Light Beams
1. Many are the light-beams from the one light.
Our one light is Jesus. Many are the light-beams
of the one light; we are one in Christ.
2. Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus. Many are the branches
of the one tree; we are one in Christ.
3. Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus. Many are the gifts given
love is all one; we are one in Christ.
4. Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
servant spirit of Jesus. Many ways to serve God, the
Spirit is one; we are one in Christ.
5. Many are the members, the body is one,
members all of Jesus. Many are the members,
the body is one; we are one in Christ.
Blessing
In the midst of the storms of life we know we can turn to Jesus, who will walk with us through the difficult times. He is always there saying “be not afraid”.
Singing: VU266 Amazing Grace
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun