Prayers & Children's Time (Jan 12, 2014, Baptism of Jesus)

Jan 12, 2014

Welcome

Welcome everyone to the First Sunday after Epiphany at Chemainus United Church.

We are celebratory and growing intergenerational church. We welcome all, and especially we extend our warmest welcome to those who are here with us for the very first time. Would you like to introduce yourself to the rest of us so that we can get to know you better? … With great joy, we welcome you. Please join us for refreshments after the worship service. As our kitchen in the C.E. Hall is in renovation, the refreshments will be served downstairs.

Announcement

Last October, some church members and I participated in the National Church initiative-led Comprehensive Review by way of video-conference – Sorry! That title is pretty confusing… The Comprehensive Review is a very important step the United Church of Canada has taken in order to listen deeply and prayerfully to the Spirit, and find out where the Spirit is calling us.  Many United Church congregations across the country have participated in this process, and we can hear some of the responses from the official video released this week. It is a three-minute-long clip.

http://www.unitedfuture.ca/

The words that really touch me every time I watch this video is the message of Colin Philips, who makes his voice heard by a vocal synthesizer. He says that we cannot sacrifice our desire to growth.

And as the last person in the video clip shares with us, a kind of new rhythm, new breath is indeed “Transferring us to imagine a church together.”

Interestingly, that’s what we are going to do today, and we are doing it even now. Today, in the Congregational Meeting after the service, we will hear and receive the Joint Need Assessment report – it’s not just a time to hear a written report from a committee, or to talk about hiring or calling a new minister, it is a part of the whole process of transferring us to imagine our church together. 

Thinking of the future, we are going to create an opportunity of three sessions to study the book “Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations.” The key in re-imagining the church is CONVERSATION. Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation. ….

-         For the conversations (chapters) 1, 2, 3 - on Jan 16 (Thurs.) @ 2 PM.

-         For the conversations 4, 5, 6, 7 - on Jan 30 (Thurs.) @ 2 PM.

-         For the conversations 8, 9, 10 - on Feb 13 (Thurs.) @ 2 PM.

-          

-     Children’s Time: A Cup of Encouragement

Good morning, my friends!

Have you ever received a cup of water from someone else? (Answers) I bet it’s something we do every day. After breakfast, when you’re playing, or any time when you feel thirsty, you can ask your mom or dad for a cup of water and they’ll give it to you. Sometimes they may ask you to get if for yourself, but I bet that they will pour you a cup of water if you ask really nicely.

Have you ever given a cup of water to someone else? (Answers) Can you share that story with us?

If you found a cat or dog which seemed to be lost or abandoned, and thirsty, the first thing you would probably do is give it some water to drink.

I have learned from someone I know that when we are with someone who is grieving, when they are very sad and crying because they lost someone that they really loved, the first thing we should do is give our friend a cup of water. Do you know why? Not only does water cool us down, 70 percent of our body is made up of water, and water helps us to make the kind of electricity that our body needs. We get more energy and we feel better when we drink a cool cup of water.

Jesus tells us that God is Living Water. That doesn’t mean that water dances or moves like us - God gives us life-giving energy like water does. And in today’s story, Jesus needs that life-giving water, that life-giving encouragement from someone he trusts. Jesus asks his friend John the Baptist to baptise him, to bless him with water.

(Prop: many, empty plastic, semi-transparent cups)

And let’s see what I’ve got. A cup for each of you. When you go back home today, fill the cup with fresh water and give it to a person you love and care for, or a person who needs your encouragement. Giving encouragement is very important. It means that you’re filling up the person with‘courage’ to hold inside.

Will you pray with me?

Dear God, thank you for encouraging us. Help me to encourage others so that we can do what you need us to do. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Gracious God, your abundance surrounds us as it sustains us. We thank you for gifts of friendship and new beginnings, for life as it unfolds, for new opportunities and growth. God of Grace, we pray for this church. As we face challenges, let us deal with them wisely and with discernment. When you lead us to opportunities for growth, let us see them for what they are, and seize them. Let us truly receive all your gifts with gratitude and share them with the people around us.

Spirit of Hope, in our lives and in our world, there are many troubles and concerns. Some face uncertainty and pain and illness. Some wrestle with anxiety and fear about work, about relationships and about themselves. We pray that your healing love may touch these lives …..(continued healing for N). (God of hope, we know you hear our prayers.)

Spirit of Compassion, be with us as we experience losses in our lives. Where there are disappointments, lead us with joy. Where there is grief, fill us with your peace. Where there is death, help us to say goodbye for now, but not forever. We pray for…….(Our brother/sister N). (Breath of Compassion, we know you hear our prayers.)

Breath of the Universe, you have created us for joy. Open our minds to your spirit. Increase our trust and guide our hearts in the ways of your truth.

God of Many Names, you transform us by grace, and renew us in peace.

Benediction

There is always reason to celebrate, and we can celebrate each other. 

Rather than criticism, we can give one another our encouragement and fill them up with courage to hold inside. 

And may God strengthen you and bless you with peace;
May Christ Jesus bring forth justice for you and among you;
And may the Holy Spirit alight on you
and affirm you as God’s beloved ones.

We go in peace to love and proclaim God’s love for all,
In the name of Christ. Amen.