Women's Missionary Society

MISSION AWARENESS SUNDAY - APRIL 27, 2008

ORDER OF SERVICE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Let us rejoice, for morning has dawned! A new day has been born, and we are alive to enjoy it
People: We celebrate the beauty of God’s creation and the wonder of the human family.
Leader: We remember those whose love and sacrifice have shaped our lives.
People: We hope and work for a future where reconciliation flourishes and love rules.
Leader: We hope and work for the Kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in Heaven.
People: O God, bless us so that what we do in this time sows seeds of joy, gratitude, and hope.
Leader: Let us worship God.

From Psalm 66
Leader: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
People: sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.
Leader: Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
People: All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.”
Leader: Come and see what God has done. God is awesome in all deeds. Let us worship God.

PRAYER OF ADORATION

We come into your courts with thanksgiving.
We lift up our voices to praise you, O Exalted One.
You, Creator God are like the potter who has shaped your world
into the way you imagined it to be and your hands have lovingly
and skillfully molded and transformed us into a new life.

Through your Son, who calls us to obey his commandments,
you have restored the brokenness of many lives.
Through your gift of the Holy Spirit, who advocates on our behalf,
you have ignited the flame in us to obey you by being
engaged in the mission of your church.

O God you are like the constant flowing brook
whose love never stops flowing.
We magnify and glorify you for this opportunity to
gather together to worship and praise you.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
we shall adore and bless your awesome Name. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (This prayer may be done as a unison prayer)

O Holy and Merciful God,
you who are utterly different, we confess that we have settled into a state of sameness.
We have heard the call to be a people apart,
but we have stumbled around in life and found ourselves conforming to our world.
Few, would say to us, “There is something different about them. See how they love each other.”
They would not think us strange for our generosity, or our joy, or our peace.
For we are like them, searching for happiness rather than holiness.
We would rather trust in ourselves than in you.
There are times when we ignore your commandments
because we find it hard to love the way you have taught us.
There are times when we have turned our backs on the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth,
rather than to follow its directions.
There have been times when we have pushed the Comforter away
because the hurt and disappointment is too great to let go.
We would rather pursue personal gain and prosperity than
follow faithfully the way of the cross.
Forgive us, Holy God,
when we get lost or become preoccupied in the maddening crowd
and choose to follow in their footsteps.
Help us to hear your still, small voice calling us out of the chaos.
May we never forget that we can come to you, anytime
and that in your presence you will lead us in your path.
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

(Adapted from Lighting the Flame: A resource Book for Worship by Charles Cammarata,1997)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

As ambassadors of the Gospel of Good News,
we have been saved from sin and death by the grace of God,
whose Son of love gave his life for us.
Take this news into your community - and to the world -
to the highways and byways so that all might hear this news.
People: Thanks be to God!

CHILDREN’S STORY: The Story of Daniel

LORD’S PRAYER

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

O Speaker of the Word, speak into our disorganized minds a word of clarity.
Speak into our splintered hearts a word of wholeness.
Speak into our wayward wills a word of truth. Amen.

(Adapted from Lighting the Flame: A resource Book for Worship by Charles Cammarata,1997)

SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Psalm 66:8-20
Acts 17:22-31
1Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

SERMON: THE SENDING OF THE ADVOCATE!

OFFERTORY

We have been richly blessed by the fruits of our labour.
Let us return to God a portion of those fruits.
Our tithes and offerings will be received.

DOXOLOGY

OFFERTORY PRAYER
Giver of all good things, receive these gifts from the labour of our hands
May the fruits of our labour be used to further the ministry and mission of your church.
Amen.

PASTORAL PRAYER (Litany)

Leader: Bountiful God,
            we are grateful for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us.
            We are thankful for the beauty that surrounds us:
           the warm sun beating down upon us, giving us warmth after a cold winter;
           the trees beginning to come to life with new buds;
            the soil waking up after months of hibernation, new growth surfacing;
            the birds’ sweet chirping, celebrating a new season;
            the babbling sounds from streams and rivers as the ice and snow melts; and
            the brownness of the ground slowly turning to a lush green.
People: We give you thanks,
            O God for the gift of new life that is slowly unearthing around us.
Leader: Awesome Parent,
            we give thanks for the gift of family,
            for being together in good times and sad times.
            We give thanks for the gift of children,
            for the joy and energy they bring with them,
            for their amazing openness and honesty.
            We give thanks for the gift of our youth,
            for their high hopes and dreams,
            for their search for clear and decisive direction in their life.
            We give thanks for the gift of the young of heart,
            for their wisdom and understanding that has deepened through the years,
            for their experience which has been passed on down to the next generation.
People: We give you thanks
            O God for the gift of family, children, youth, and the young at heart,
            who remind us of the importance of being a family.
Leader: Eternal God, hear us as we lift up our prayers for others.
            O Holy Spirit,
            we pray for the countries where warfare and conflict rage on.
            Where each morning is greeted with the question,
            “Will this be the day when peace will come to our community, our country?”
            We pray for those who have been forced to leave their childhood behind,
            turned into child soldiers. We pray for those women and children who
            have been displaced, some who have found themselves in refugee camps
            while others have been sold into slavery.
People: Come, O Advocate and breathe hope into your suffering people
            so that they may find comfort in your presence.
Leader: O Holy Spirit,
            we pray for those who are suffering and dying from HIV/AIDS
            related illnesses and other diseases. We pray for the children and
            grandparents who are left behind to care for one another.
            May the wider community see the plight and take a strong active role.
People: Come, O Advocate and breathe hope into your suffering people
            so that they may find comfort in your presence.
Leader: O Holy Spirit,
            we pray for those who go to bed hungry because there is no food.
            We pray for those who are thirsty because there is little or
            no water or the water is not fit to drink.
            We give thanks for those who are doing their best
            to ensure that food and water are available.
People: Come, O Advocate and breathe hope into your suffering people
            so that they may find comfort in your presence.
Leader: O Holy Spirit,
             we pray for our own community. We pray for the homeless;
            those living in poverty; those who are struggling with addiction;
            those who are unable to leave an abusive relationship;
            those who are having a hard time finding work; those who are single parents;
            those who are mentally ill, constantly battling their own darkness;
            and those who have given up all sense of hope.
            We pray for those communities that face on-going violence, drug, and gang warfare.
            We pray for those experiencing bullying in schools, in the streets, or in the workplace.
People: Come, O Advocate and breathe hope into your people
            who are broken and hurting so that they may find comfort in your presence.
Leader: O Holy Spirit,
            we pray for The Presbyterian Church in Canada as it serves its people in many ways.
            We pray for those who are working in the inner city missions, in the Cariboo,
            as hospital and university chaplains, in church extension,
            and those who are regional staff. We also lift up in prayer those who have
            been called to work in partnership with churches and programs in other countries,
            dedicating themselves in the area of preaching the Gospel, providing medical care,
            education, and helping to develop better life skills.
            (At this point you may wish to mentions other areas where your church or
            WMS group is involved in mission..)
People: Come, O Advocate and breathe hope into your servants
            as they engage in the mission to which you have called them.
            (At this point you may add your own prayers and prayers for your church community.)
Leader: May the Holy Spirit, Advocate and Comforter, dwell in us.
            May we proclaim Jesus Christ to the world.
            May every knee bow down and every person confess that Jesus Christ is their Saviour.
            To the glory and honour of your name, Amen

BENEDICTION

As you go out to engage in God’s mission obey Jesus’ commandments. Know that you are not alone for the presence of the Advocate and the Comforter will dwell in you.

Go forth in the name of God, the architect of the family; Jesus, who has shown us how to love; and the Holy Spirit, who advocates on our behalf.

HYMNS

Book of Praise 1997
God of mercy, God of grace 39
God of mercy, God of grace 27
Hail the day that sees Christ rise 265
Breathd on me, breath of God 389
Come down, O Love divine 386
Like the murmur of the dove’s song 385
Come, thou almighty King 293
There’s a spirit in the air 764
Pour out your Spirit from on high 581
Who’s goin’ to tell the story 761
This is my commandment 694
A Stranger, knocking on a door 361

The Rev. Ann Blane has served The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) as a Diaconal Minister at Flora House Inner City Mission, Winnipeg, and in Cornwall, Midland, Newmarket, and as Regional Staff for the Synod of Quebec and Eastern Ontario. After Ordination, her first pastoral charge was Centreville Presbyterian Church, South Monaghan. Ann spent the first twelve years of her life on the Bhil Field in India where her parents, Bill and Lucie Milne served as missionaries with the PCC. Presently, Ann and her husband Robert, with their two cats, Charlie and J.K. (John Knox) live in Scarborough, Ontario, where she is the minister at St. David’s Presbyterian Church.