Gathering to worship ... (Meeting of Presbytery)

Today, we had a Presbytery Meeting. We drove to the bustling metropolis of Kenton south of Hamiota ... the meeting went very well (always a nice thing at Presbytery), and we had a wonderful meal.

As part of the meeting it was the turn of Minnedosa to lead the opening worship service. I am quite proud of the order of service, so I decided to post it here ... enjoy. For our worship service, we carried the banners gifted from the churches in Winnipeg and shared the stories of where they came from and the journey we've been on since the fire ... It was a time of refreshment and support, it was a good day:

Assiniboine Presbytery
Order of Service
Morning Worship – April 20th 2006

Gathering & Words of Welcome:

Call To Worship:
One: This is the Good News of Easter –
The Grave is empty,
Christ is Risen !!
ALL: HALLELUJAH !!
One: This is the Good News of Easter –
The light shines in the darkness
And the darkness can never put it out.
ALL: HALLELUJAH !!
One: This is the Good News of Easter –
Once we were no people,
Now we are God’s people.
ALL: HALLELUJAH !!
One: Christ is our Peace,
Our indestructible peace,
We now share it with each other …
(Greeting One Another in Shalom …)

HYMN: 173 Thine is the Glory

SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:19-31

PRAYER:
One: Just before daybreak,
Mary went to the tomb.
ALL: A VOICE CALLED: “MARY.”
One: As she stood in the garden a voice said,
ALL: WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE
LIVING ONE AMONG THE DEAD?
HE IS NOT HERE …
One: As she stood in the garden a voice said,
ALL: DO NOT BE AFRAID,
BUT GO AND TELL THE OTHERS
THAT THEY WILL SOON SEE ME.
One: As she stood in the garden
a stranger greeted Mary,
and she recognized a friend:
ALL: JESUS THE CHRIST, WE GREET YOU!
YOUR HANDS STILL BEAR THE WOUNDS,
YOUR FEET ARE STILL WET FROM THE DEW,
THE MEMORY OF OUR NAMES REMAINS UNDIMMED BY THREE DAYS
OF DEATH AND DARKNESS.
One: Risen One, you meet us
in the stillness of the cemetery,
you greet us in the solitude of an upper room,
your presence sends death and darkness fleeing …
ALL: YOU ARE ALIVE!!
THE WORLD CAN REJOICE !!!
HALLELUJAH !!! HE IS RISEN !!
HE IS RISEN INDEED !!!

REFLECTION:

HYMN: 703 In the Bulb

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – THE LORD’S PRAYER:
(PARAPHRASE – PAGE 916)

COMMISSIONING/BENEDICTION:
One: We are an Easter People.
ALL: IN DEATH WE PROCLAIM LIFE.
IN DARKNESS, WE CELEBRATE LIGHT.
One: We are an Easter People.
ALL: WE SEARCH FOR SUNBEAMS IN THE STORM,
WE CELEBRATE CROCUSES IN THE SNOW,
WE FIND THE SIGNS OF SPRING
STIRRING IN THE WINTER’S THAW …
One: We are an Easter People,
ALL: WE LEAP AND DANCE,
OUR VERY SOULS FILLED WITH HALLELUJAHS!!
THE LORD LIVES,
WE LIVE!!
One: We are an Easter People,
ALL: RESURRECTIONS RESOUND
IN OUR COMMUNITY
AND THROUGHOUT OUR WORLD !!
WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE !!
HALLELUJAH !!!

HYMN: 567 Will You Come and Follow Me.

BLESSING: 349 Voices United

Let us go in peace,
The world is waiting for us and
For our ministries …
Shalom !!