Worship Service Jan 17, 2021

 

Let us worship together as we read! You can follow along with the service which will be livestreamed on Facebook at 10AM Sunday morning.  https://www.facebook.com/kerrobertunited

For those who are not on Facebook, we will be posting the video onto our YouTube channel early in the week.

Presenter: Kathy Soloski

Resources used:
The United Church of Canada – Gathering 
Spirit-net.ca

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Good morning to all of you joining in worship. I pray that the voice of God speaks to you, inspires you, and comforts you during this time together. 

CALL TO WORSHIP
One: God has come to be with us in Christ Jesus.  We are created for dialogue with our creator through the Holy Spirit.
All: We are eternally connected with God, the Holy other with whom we are intended to converse.
One: As Jesus called and commissioned the first disciples, so we are called to participate in God’s saving dialogue with the world through Christ.
All: God waits to address us, waits for our attention, waits to light our way through life.
One: With open minds and hearts, let us together enter into the holy conversation of worship.

OPENING PRAYER (unison)     
God of presence and promise, your word was made flesh in Jesus, the Christ child.  As he listened to   you and lived his life according to your will, so we listen and long   for deepened awareness of your nearness, and for increased sensitivity to your voice.  Help us now to turn from the clamouring voices around us and within us, and attend to your communication.  And having heard you speaking, O God, help us to answer with lips that praise you, and lives that honour you in willing response.  Amen.  

HYMN:
Voices United #509 - I, the Lord of Sea and Sky

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)     
God, we confess how one-sided our conversation with you often is!  We are so eager to speak, to tell you of our wants and our needs.  We expect you to listen to us, while we are such poor listeners.  Our lives are diminished when we fail to wait upon you to listen for your life-giving, life-directing word.  And so it is, O God, that we seek to turn our ear to you, that we may find your meaning and direction for our life.  Forgive us for permitting distractions and fears to interfere.  And forgive our reluctance to take a risk and help us persist on the path you open before us trusting in your leading and sustaining grace. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: God has addressed our need for a savior in sending Jesus to this earth, to live and die as one of us, and then to rise again in glory.  This is the eternal communication of forgiveness.
All: God has spoken; we are forgiven.  Praise be to God!   Amen.

GOD’S WORD TO US
1 Samuel 3: 1-20 – The Lord Appears to Samuel
John 1: 35-51 – The First Disciples of Jesus

MESSAGE – Who Are We?

OFFERING INVITATION 

DEDICATION OF OFFERING       
O God, you have called us to be disciples of Jesus, to be faithful to you, as did the Twelve when you were walking on this earth.  And we would answer by making an offering of our lives and our resources for your saving purposes, that your realm may be furthered and your people cared for.  Accept these humble gifts, we pray.  Amen.   

JOYS AND CONCERNS, MINUTE FOR MISSION

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & LORD’S PRAYER  

HYMN:
Voices United #649 - Walk With Me

BLESSING & SENDING FORTH (unison)       
We shall go out committed to life as ongoing dialogue with God, eager to hear God’s speaking.  We go out to respond to the challenge of a called and commissioned life in Christ. God’s light shows our way, and God’s word is spoken into our hearts in peace, love and power.    Amen.