Westworth United Church
1750 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba
on Treaty One Territory in the heart of the Métis Nation
Second Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2019
We Gather to Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Candle-Lighting & Prelude:
“Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” arr. Gerald Bales
Introit: “God of the Watching Ones” Lee Dengler
Advent Candle Lighting
Hymn VU 5 “All Earth Is Waiting” TAULÉ
Children’s Story
Hymn VU 7, vs 2 “Hope Is a Star” MOON BEAMS
Cherubs sing 2nd verse and the congregation joins in the refrain, vs. 1 & refrain.
Peace of Christ
One: May the peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
(Please extend to others a blessing of peace with words such as, “Peace be with you,” or “Peace,” with the response, “And also with you.” Following the Passing of the Peace, the children may go to Sunday School.)
Prayer of Confession
God of sufficiency,
Teach us how to be satisfied with enough.
Forgive our obsession with more and better.
Help us learn how to give meaningful gifts
that can build relationships and sustain the earth.
Meditative Silence
Words of Assurance
We Hear the Word
Responsive Reading: VU 790 “Psalm 72” Part One
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:1-12
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Sung Response: VU 37 “Gloria”
Anthem: “Keep Your Lamps” arr. Andre Thomas
Sermon: “Advent Conspirators”
We Respond
Hymn VU 10 “Prepare the Way of the Lord” Michael Burkhardt
Offering
Offertory: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” arr. John Carter
Dedication Hymn VU 55 “In the Bleak Midwinter” vs 4 Offertory Prayer
Prayers of the People
Prayer Introit: VU 34 “Come Now, O God of Peace”
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
The Lord’s Prayer VU 921
Hymn VU 18 “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness” ASCENSION
Benediction
Sung Response: VU 38 Chorus, “Angels We Have Heard On High”
Postlude: “Prepare the Royal Highway” arr. Michael Burkhardt
Minister: Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd
westworthminister@gmail.com 204 489-6974 Ext. 22
Director of Music: Debbie McLeod Cherub Choir Director: Jewel Casselman
Organist: Dorcas Windsor Westworth Winds Director: Ray McClelland
Minister Emerita: Eleanor Geib
Coordinator of Children, Youth & Family Ministries: Maggie Barnett
204 489-6974 Ext. 23 churchschool@westworth.ca
Office Administrator: Heather Lavery office@westworth.ca
Church Phone # 204 489-6974 Ext. 20 www.westworth.ca
Church Accountant: Jenny Jeffers churchaccountant@westworth.ca
Hosts: Shirley Ann S. and Florence B.
Ushers: Maureen L. and Janet S.
Scripture Reader: Elaine P.
Advent Candle-lighters: Ed, Phio and Ana W.
announcements
SUNDAY SCHOOL This week the children will be Rehearsing the Christmas Pageant.
Our condolences to Don G. and family on the passing of his wife, Yvonne last Sunday.
POINSETTIA SALES: The Christian Education Team will be selling poinsettias as a fundraiser in support of the VBS program. Orders will be accepted in the office and after worship in the narthex for the next several weeks. Pick up date is Sat., Dec. 14 at 1:00-2:00pm. This year, if you do not wish to purchase a plant but would still like to support the VBS program, please feel free to make a tax receiptable donation with “VBS” specified with your donation. Thank you for your support.
upcoming events
ADVENT BIBLE STUDY Have you ever wondered how our Christmas Pagents and carols came about? What did the Gospel writers want us to know and understand? This is a 5-week Bible study starting Monday Nov. 18 through to Monday Dec. 16 each Monday at 1:00 – 2:30 p.m in the Parlour. This is your opportunity to reflect and wrestle with what scripture says bout the birth of Jesus. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex. Heather Robbins, retired Diaconal minister, will be facilitating this study.
JOIN US FOR BRIDGE Dec. 12 at 1:00pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month) here at Westworth. All levels welcome!
THE WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP will meet Saturday, December 14th, 9:00am, in the Parlour. All women are invited to join us for a light breakfast and discussion. Our topic will be “Pilgrimage”. What does that mean in our travels and in our everyday lives. For more information phone Kathy W. (204 489-6617) or email wilsonka@mymts.net
MEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP MEETING: December 21, 9am in the Upper Classroom: Please join us for discussion of “Conflict Resolution”. Light nourishment @ 9am and discussion @ 9:30am. For further information contact Larry S. 204-489-9074 or larkay@shaw.ca.
CE ADVENT SEASON We have lots of very exciting things planned for our Sunday school this Advent. We will be helping with the mitten tree in the narthex. We will also be collecting coffee mugs with a pair of socks in them for our friends at West Broadway.
Dec. 15st – Sunday school and the Cherub choir will be participating at the Lessons & Carols service.
Dec. 24th – Early Christmas Eve Service with the Sunday school pageant!
outreach
- It’s here! Today – immediately following the service – join the Outreach Team in the Parlour for Westworth’s Annual 10,000 Villages Sale. Stock up on your Fair Trade coffee and tea – and shop for the perfect gift as you help others out of poverty around the globe. Pre-ordered coffee, tea, and chocolate will be available just outside the Parlour door in the kitchenette area. All proceeds from the sale go directly to 10,000 Villages/MCC to assist them in their work for peace and justice around the world.
- Margaret’s Choir Concert – Tonight – December 8, 2:30 pm at Jubilee Place, 173 Talbot. 1JustCity is this season’s beneficiary of the proceeds from the concert. The theme is all Canadian – songs, songwriters, and singer! Tickets are available from “Len” at 204-228-2161 or Leonard_choir@shaw.ca
- Rossbrook House Turkeys: Through the work of your Outreach Committee, Westworth will once again provide cooked and sliced turkeys with gravy for Rossbrook House. The turkey may be placed in foil pans suitable for reheating and then frozen. Please cover as tightly as possible. Gravy can be frozen in plastic containers. Rossbrook offers a drop-in program over the Christmas break when they provide the hot turkey sandwiches. This is your opportunity to smell that beautiful roasting turkey and to support your community. If you are able to provide a turkey by Dec 16th 2019 for this cause please sign-up on the sheet in the narthex. A reminder card is also nearby the sign-up sheet. Contact Allan M. at 204-269-5292 or admckay@shaw.ca for questions or concerns.
- Gifts with Vision -Your 2019 edition of the United Church’s “Gifts with Vision” catalogue has been delayed, but will hopefully be available very soon. Those of you who subscribe to Broadway will have received your copy of “Gifts with Vision”. There are many opportunities for you to gift United Church projects across Canada and around the world
- Community Ministry (WBCM) Pantry– Your Outreach Team is grateful to so many of you who, each Sunday, fill the buckets to overflowing with nutritious foods destined for West Broadway. Most needed is protein: tins of meat, chili, stews, fish, beans, and small jars of peanut butter. Also needed are feminine hygiene products and bath towels. Travelling soon? Please remember WBCM by collecting those small containers of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. They are used when guests take a shower at the facility.
- Just a Warm Sleep looking for Overnight Coordinators. Job description on Outreach bulletin board.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- Travelling Youth Group Mary’s Road UC Friday, Dec 13thFor youth grade 6 and up. Contact Maggie at churchschool@westworth.ca if you are interested in attending. 613 St. Mary’s Road
Minute for Mission
Many ministries these days are wondering what they can do to serve young adults. In 2015, a small team of youth and young adult leaders in Southern Ontario met at Five Oaks Education and Retreat Centre to envision a resource that could be used by the church to accompany young adults as they discerned questions of vocation and meaningful work.
The hope was to create an opportunity for spiritual development that was more advanced than youth confirmation, but more accessible and broad than the discernment process for paid accountable ministry. The Discoverment Process was born out of those conversations. It launched as a free online curriculum in early 2017. The Discoverment Process is a seven-session small-group program that brings together young adults finishing high school, or in their 20s, with adult mentors to explore questions of faith in the 21st century.
With additional funding from Mission & Service via a Vision Fund for Flourishing Ministry Programs’ grant, the Discoverment Process is currently developing a workbook for individual use, as well as a series of retreats where young adults can engage with the Discoverment materials over a weekend.
Mission & Service supports programs like the Discoverment Process that offer a way for young adults to discern what God is calling them to.
If Mission & Service giving is already a regular part of your life, thank you so much! If you have not given, please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your life of faith. Loving our neighbour is at the heart of our Mission & Service.
