October 18, 2026
WORLD FOOD SUNDAY
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Listening,
and of filling the food bank boxes
The quote for today goes something like this:
“Listen to silence, it has so much to say…” Rumi
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Fiona Hayes
Chair of Council: Vacant
Scripture Reader: Joan Shedden
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
Prelude
Welcoming & Announcements
Beginning: (Rev. Jope) We open with words from 1 Kings:19:11-12:
“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before me, for I am about to pass by” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a sound of sheer silence.”
Opening Chant “Holy Sacred Spirit” MV # 15
Land Acknowledgement (Rev. Jope) 1986 Apology to Indigenous Peoples
Introit “God, Reveal Your Presence” VU # 391
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Rev. Jope: We come together on this Sunday morning to light the Candle of Christ, the Candle of Jesus’ presence with us. We light this to remember that we are spiritual beings and that we are connected by our spirit to our Creator God. Let us all be grateful for our existence with its joys, sorrows, teachings and all of the experiences which we have come across in our lives…
Call to Worship
Rev. Jope: From the safety and comfort of our homes…
From the warmth of our kitchens…
From the easiness of our Sunday mornings…
ALL: We gather together here.
Rev. Jope: From the busy-ness of our weeks…
From the stress-filled news of the world…
From the struggles of our daily living…
ALL: We gather together here.
Rev. Jope: We come together bringing all that has happened
this past week…
Our work, our relaxation, our anxieties, and our
celebrations…
ALL: We put everything on hold and clear out our
minds and our calendars, to be in this place
today. Here, we pause to reflect, to be thankful,
and to be re-inspired for the week ahead.
Rev. Jope: May God fill us this morning with the wonderful
Spirit which makes love a reality and makes our souls
at ease.
ALL: Come, let us bask in the Holy Presence!
Come, let us praise God! Come, let us worship
with our thankful spirits and let us lift our voices
together in song:
*Hymn “This Is God’s Wondrous World” VU # 296
Opening Prayer (Unison):
Holy God, we are here because we wish to make a start to a week that will be centred in you. Let the prayer, the scripture, and the hymns nourish our souls and prepare us for the week. We wish to savour in our hearts this feeling of worshipful living, making it easier to find it amidst the tasks of daily life. We hope to store your wisdom in our minds, so that it informs our words and actions in the days to come. And we look forward to going from here to enjoy living amid your abundant grace, recommitted to being messengers of your love. We are grateful that we always carry with us bread for the journey – living bread. In our singing, touch our hearts, O God…in our stillness, touch our hearts…in our praying and our listening, our longing and our dreaming, touch our hearts, O God. We are blessed by your presence with us, within us, around us, beside us, and behind us. Grant to each of us, illumination, as we go ever deeper into being disciples of you…Amen
SPECIAL MUSIC: Handbells (Kaleidoscope)
Engaging
Reader: Joan Sheddan
Scripture
EXODUS 33: 12-23 God speaks to Moses face to face as a friend…
1 THESSALONIANS 1: 1-10 We always give thanks to God for you….
Hymn of Illumination “And When You Call for Me” MV # 96
MATTHEW 22: 15-22 Give to God the things that are God’s…
Message “A True Gift Cannot Be Controlled”
Responding
Presentation of Our Offerings (Rev. Jope)
We have received much from God and God’s Creation. Let us give thanks and share so that this abundance may equip all disciples for their work.
Handbells Selection of Music Kalaidascope
Prayer of Dedication (Rev. Jope)
Sunday’s Reflective Prayer (Unison)
(The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi….)
Lord, make us instruments of your peace:
where there is hatred, let us sow love,
where there is injury, pardon,
where there is doubt, faith,
where there is despair, hope,
where there is darkness, light,
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine master, grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.
And with Jesus, we pray together saying:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
SPECIAL MUSIC: Lakeview UC Choir & Handbells “Flying Free” by: Don Besig
Blessing
*Commissioning (Unison)
Go now from this place of worship, filled with the love of God, ready to share that love with friend and stranger…Amen.
Benediction
Rev. Jope: The grace of Christ attends us, the Holy Spirit keeps us, and the love of God surrounds us, now and forever…Amen
Postlude