September 14, 2025
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN PENTECOST
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Celebration, and, of Coming Together with Our Faith.
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Nancy Gillean
…and the small piece of wisdom for today is: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it today, you can do it again tomorrow!!”
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PRELUDE
INTROIT MV # 12 “Come Touch Our Hearts”
WELCOMING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGING THE TERRITORY (Leader)
OPENING CALL TO WORSHIP:
Leader: On an island, off of the northern coast of Scotland sits an Abbey – the Iona Abbey is its name…yes, it’s on the island of Iona…people come to this abbey from all corners of the earth to experience its deep connection to all that is holy – the air…the wind…the breath of God. In the early hours of the morning, prayer services take place and at the end of each service, these words are shared by all…”We will not offer to God offerings that cost us nothing…” Easy to say but not so easy to obey once we leave the confines of this church. May the liturgies which we share, draw attention to the challenges and issues which we must face if we are to accept the responsibilities for the care of creation…
ALL: O God, who called all life into being; the Earth, the Sea, the Sky, the Air we breathe – they are yours…
Leader: Your presence is all around us.
ALL: Every atom is full of your energy.
Leader: Your Spirit enlivens all who walk the earth,
ALL: with her, we yearn for justice to be done,
Leader: for creation to be freed from bondage,
ALL: for the hungry to be fed,
Leader: for captives to be released,
ALL: for your kingdom of peace to come on earth.
Leader: We come together in worship upon this day to learn more of how we are to become the hands and the feet of the world.
ALL: May our worship-time, together, bring us ever closer to each other, to the heart of God, and to a deeper understanding of our role in creation. May the light of Christ be lit for all to see and may the glow enliven our hearts.
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF CHRIST
OPENING PRAYER (Responsive)
Leader: By faith, I gaze up to the heavens and know, within its vastness, that this is your creation planned and effected within eternity.
By faith, I pluck an ear of corn and know within its symmetry lies the chemistry of life, the potential of creation within my hand.
By faith, I listen for your voice and know the whisper that I hear breathed a world into existence yet listens to the prayer within my soul.
By faith, I strive to do your will and know the door that I approach may lead me to shadows where my role is to become your light, your breath.
By faith, I cling to your word and know the strength that I receive has its source within the love that is at the centre of all things. May we offer each other, with the faith that we have, these words of blessing:
ALL: May the Living Spirit carry us as a feather on the breath of God; may the Creative Spirit enable us to flower in the earth of God; may the Airy Spirit uphold us as a cloud in the sky of God; may the Watery Spirit surround us as a reed within the stream of God; may the Powerful Spirit energize us as a leopard in the strength of God; may the Ocean Spirit hold us as a rock within the waves of God; may the Earthly Spirit support us as a tree within the landscape of God so that in wisdom, we may always reflect God’s glory…Amen
ASSURANCE of PARDON: (Leader)
God’s grace is over all and in all. By God’s grace, our faithfulness is possible. By God’s grace, we are renewed and can begin afresh each and every day…Thanks be to God….Amen.
*HYMN MV # 154 “Deep in Our Hearts”
Engaging the Sacred Text
(Reader: Nancy Gillean)
OLDER TESTAMENT PASSAGE
JEREMIAH 4: 11-12, 22-28 The land shall be desolation; the earth shall mourn…
EPISTLE LESSON
1 TIMOTHY 1: 12-17 Christ came to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost…
Hymn of Illumination VU # 747 “Psalm 23 The Lord’s My Shepherd”
GOSPEL PASSAGE
LUKE 15: 1-10 The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin… (Rev. Jope)
Message “Are Parables Great Intelligence…or…Just Some Sort of Rhetoric?”
Responding
OFFERING INVITATION: (Leader)
We are all called to participate in the healing of the world. Our offerings can enable this community and others to be what the church is called to be, offering healing and love…our offerings will now be taken up…
OFFERTORY CHOIR SELECTION: The Ninety and Nine by Craig Courtney
WORDS FOR OUR OFFERING:
Leader: Here we offer symbols of what we give, both online and in person: e-transfers, cheques, pre-authorized payments, coins, and paper. May you, O God, bless us in our giving through our stewardship of your gifts. May you transform our hearts by love shared and multiplied in Jesus’ name. And so, we offer a prayer of thanks…
Leader: Prayer of Dedication
Blessing
SUNDAY’S REFLECTIONS of the HEART (Unison)
ALL: O God who sings in our hearts, as the flute needs openness to receive the breath of melody, we pray to be open to the many ways that your symphony of love plays in our lives. Thank-you for the way that your enlivening Spirit touches us and moves through our beings. Remind us often that each one of us is a special instrument of yours. Together we create the wondrous music in your concert of love. Breathe through us, Music Maker, and let your song weave a melody through all we are and do. May your song of kindness and patience be sung through each of us as we share in the singing of:
The Lord’s Prayer (VU # 959)
COMMISSIONING & BLESSING: (Unison)
May the Spirit of the warm breezes caress our souls…may the winds of peace fill our hearts…may the freshness of mountain air bring us health…we now go into the world and breathe life into those who may be breathless…Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN VU # 424 “May the God of Hope Go with Us”
FINAL BLESSING
POSTLUDE MUSIC
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SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST
Jeremiah 8: 18 - 9:1
Psalm 79: 1-9
1 Timothy 2: 2-7
Luke 16: 1-13